DISCLAIMER: If you recognize it, I don't own it.

His lips were soft and warm on her fingers. Already it seemed as though they had been separated far too long.

Maria was tucked beneath Manolo's arm as they sat leaning against the wall of the Mondragon parlor. He had said barely more than a few words to any of them, but instead held her injured hand in both of his and gently kissed it. "It's not that bad," she murmured. At least not bad enough to deserve his affection.

Joaquin set the broken bones and wrapped the whole hand in gauze. "It could take a month to heal," he said. "Maybe longer. Make sure she doesn't use it," he added, turning to Manolo. "It's been through a lot already."

"…Will she be able to paint again?" His voice was weak with disuse, almost less than a whisper.

"I…I don't know." Standing up, he slowly walked away.

"Silly thing to worry about," Maria said when they were alone.

"Not for you." He paused a moment, then pulled her even closer. "I saw it," he whispered brokenly. "I was there."

Maria held her breath. "What…what was it like?"

"…It's dark. You can't move at all - there's nothing for you to move. All you can do is watch, and you can't stop."

You should have listened to me, she waited for him to say. You were stubborn again, and now look what you've done.

"…I never should have left you two alone…"

She leaned up and kissed him, wiping away his tears. "You wanted to protect us. And we're safe now. We're with you."

He sigh in relief as he stared back at her, and there was nothing in his eyes but his pure heart.

There was a clatter, and Ixa hurried into the room while repeatedly glancing behind her. "We found her!"

Joaquin looked up from the window. "Where was she?"

"Hiding in a wardrobe." She turned around and gestured. "Come along."

Ofelia took a few steps forward and paused in the doorway, looking smaller than usual. Her eyes were red and puffy from tears, and when she caught sight of her parents, she stiffened as though preparing to run once more.

Manolo, on the other hand, relaxed for the first time as he looked up and saw her. "Don't go. Please."

She approached him slowly, still trembling. Joaquin and Ixa exchanged a glance before slipping out of the room.

Holding out his free arm, Manolo smiled weakly. "Hey, princesa. Guess you're better at saving me than the other way around."

Ofelia sank into his lap, wrapping her arms around his torso and burying her face in his shirt as she sniffled. Her father hugged her back, running his hands through her hair.

"I don't get it, though," Maria said. "How did she know that would work? How did she know where that bottle was?"

"Because she could hear me," Manolo answered. "Couldn't you, mija?"

The girl reluctantly nodded. "They told me."

"They?"

"The other people. In the bottles." She reached into her pocket and took out the vial with its shimmering light. "Like this one."

Maria grabbed it. "They got you to hear them?"

Ofelia shook her head as she stood up. "…I already could."

Her parents stared at her, confusion and concern plain on their faces. "What do you mean?" Maria asked, her words stilted and her tone wary.

Ofelia bit her lip and shifted her gaze downwards.

Reaching out, Manolo gently took her by the hand. "I think I know what you mean."

She took a breath and looked up at them. "I…I can see them when they come back. Abuelo and abuela and everyone else. And I can hear them and talk to them, too. It's always been like that. And sometimes I see the gods you told me about, Papa. They watch us."

Maria stared at her with wide eyes, a hand over her mouth. Manolo didn't move a muscle, his gaze fixed on his daughter as he listened intently. It was as though some fragile, ethereal being had suddenly appeared to bless him with her presence, and he didn't dare risk frightening her away. Finally he spoke. "Does…anyone else know about this?"

"Just Vin and Bry."

"Why didn't you tell us until now?"

Ofelia began to tremble again as she slowly backed away. "Because you thought there was nothing wrong with me, and - "

She yelped as her father suddenly pulled her back into his arms, holding her tightly. "Because there isn't," Manolo whispered, his voice cracking. "I've always known that and I always will. Nothing's ever going to change that."

"You don't think it's bad?"

"Do you wish you didn't have it anymore?"

"…No."

"Then what's so bad about having a gift?"

Ofelia tried to wipe away her tears, only for fresh ones to form. "I thought it meant I was a…" the last word lodged in her throat, too horrible to be uttered.

Maria helped dry her eyes, resting a hand on her birthmark. "I know who you are," she said. "You're our little girl, and you've been very brave tonight."

Ofelia hugged her. Manolo put his arms around them both, and Maria melted into both embraces. It's finally over…

Then the shrieks of a frightened crowd began to leak in from outside.

Manolo looked up. "What's that?"

"Guys? Guys!" Joaquin came running into the parlor, his face pale as he panted heavily. "You need to come see this."

Ixa and the twins were upstairs by a window, peering through the curtains. "Is something wrong?" Maria asked her as she and the others ran to join them.

"Look!"

Outside, the townspeople were screaming as they fled from their houses, running towards the center of San Angel. Many of them were pointing towards the edge of the island, out at the lake.

Maria's gaze traveled up, following their outstretched fingers. When she saw what they were seeing, her face went pale. "Oh, God…"

A wall of fire was flaring up from the surface of the water and spreading out in a ring, blocking the town off from the mainland.

"No one gets out," Manolo whispered, his eyes widening with realization. "Not until she finds us."