Dolores was usually the first to wake this morning being no exception, opening her eyes she sat up in confusion when instead of a stall in an old donkey barn she was laying in a nice soft bed. Blinking as she looked around the room the brain fog began clearing and the events of yesterday came back to her.
They were not in the small village of Encanto any longer. No, they were in the big capital city of Bogotá. Sliding off the bed she quietly stepped out onto the small balcony surprised to already see the hustle and bustle going on in the streets below. She couldn't wait to get out and explore this whole new world.
Turning back into the room she went to pick out an outfit to wear today, her and Mirabel were both donated brand new dresses, skirts and shirts. She had to laugh when she saw some of the dress they gave Mirabel with the frills and ruffles they looked like something straight from Isabela's wardrobe, something Mirabel would refuse to wear if she saw it.
She finally decided on a simple red dress for herself and for Mirabel a red skirt with yellow shirt just like the combination she usually wore. It was perfect she was definitely putting her claim on Mirabel as really being her hermanita now. A gentle knock came from the door Dolores quickly made her way over trying to not wake Mirabel but the door still creaked when she opened it "Oh, good morning María."
María beamed "Good morning, Dolores. I didn't think Mirabel is quite ready to come have breakfast in the dining room so I brought you both some oatmeal and juice." she handed Dolores to tray careful not to spill anything "Any plans for today?"
"Gracias." Dolores said as she accepted the tray "Well I'm hoping to go explore but I have to convince Mirabel that she is safe and to come with me."
"Well if you want to go out, theres plenty of people here who can keep an eye on your hermanita."
Dolores firmly shook her head "No, as much as I want to go out I won't leave my sister alone in this strange new place after only one night here."
"Your love for your sister is admirable. Well if you do go out come see me before you go, I'll give you a map." María smiled again "I'll leave you two be."
Dolores watched her leave before closing the door putting the tray of food down and walking over to Mirabel "Mira...Mira..." she shook her gently "Wake up before breakfast gets cold."
Mirabel opened her eyes with a groan "Dolores you wouldn't believe the crazy dream I had. You got me on a horse and we rode through that tunnel and we left the Encanto but I couldn't see anything because the magic didn't work and ended up in this city called Bogotá. There these two people called María and Andrés gave us a room and all these people kept coming and giving us clothes, food and money and...why do I smell oatmeal and why DON'T I smell donkeys? she sat up and felt around surprised to find herself in a real bed "Wait. It was real?"
Dolores chuckled quietly "It was real, we found freedom Mira." she went to retrieve their breakfast passing Mirabel a bowl "Eat up, you need some real meals in you." she began to eat her own in content silence sending glances over at Mirabel ready to help at a moments notice but just like the night before after a a small struggle to start with she managed just fine. "So, you feeling up to going out today?"
"I suppose.." Mirabel murmured "But I am not getting into one those...automobile things whatever they are. The horse was enough, thank you."
"No worries there, I have no plans to get in one either." Dolores took the empty bowl off Mirabel holding them in the air when Salomé tried to get to them "Mira, your cat is hungry."
"I'm on it, come on Salomé." Mirabel stood up and felt her away across the room "Where is the cat food we got?"
"Where you put it yesterday."
"Oh right." Mirabel went silent for a moment "Where did I put it yesterday?"
Dolores put the bowls down and stood up "Turn around and it's on your left." she watched as Mirabel did that finding it after some fumbling around. Everything inside of her was telling her to take over and do it for her but she knew Mirabel was determined to prove she could do things on her own despite being blind. "Right, I'm gonna take these dishes downstairs." she picked the bowls back up making it a few steps before realising she was still in her nightgown "Maybe I should get dressed first."
"Yeah maybe you should." Mirabel put the bag of kitty kibble back down after putting some in a dish "...I got it everywhere didn't I?"
Dolores looked over to see the tiny brown bits of the kittens food everywhere "Yeah you did but it's fine Salomé is cleaning it up." turning back to the dress she had picked for herself quickly changing tying her hair back with her usual red headscarf. "Right, I'll take these bowls down. There's an outfit you on the bed if you want to give it a go yourself otherwise I'll help you when I get back."
Mirabel heard the door open and close and felt her way back across the room to the bed feeling for the clothing "It can't be that hard. Just put the shirt on over my head." pulling the night dress off she picked up the shirt getting it over her head just fine but struggled with the sleeves. "It's fine...it's fine. I'll get better at this...right? Course I will. I don't want to have to depend on Dolores to help me with everything after all." a pause "Who am I talking to?" she asked herself sighing. Jumping when a knock came from the door relaxing when she recognised that familiar special knock "You can come in Dolores."
Dolores entered closing the door behind her pausing at the sight in front of her "Umm you got your shirt back to front."
"I do? Dammit."
"Do you want help?"
Mirabel nodded in defeat "Please..."
"You gave it a good try though." Dolores reassured her pulling the shirt back over her head and fixing it and helped her with the skirt and shoes "I promise it'll get easier."
"If you say so."
Dolores studied her for a moment "Something is missing..." she thought about it for a moment "Ah I know..." she grabbed one of the headscarves they given which to her delight included a red one which she picked up and tied a bow in Mirabel's hair "There we go, you really do look like my sister now."
"Right, are we going to go now?"
"Of course." Dolores pocketed some of the money they had and hooked her arm through Mirabel's "Let's go and see what this whole new world has to offer. Salomé you stay."
Mirabel allowed herself to be guided down the hall the pair returning the polite greetings of the other guests as they passed.
"Stairs." Dolores whispered gently "Just grab the handrail it's right next to you."
Mirabel grabbed the handrail and slowly made her way down the stairs feeling relief when her feet touched level ground again "I hate stairs." she muttered.
"I know, sorry. But you're going to have to go down more to get out of here."
"UGH."
Dolores laughed to herself "It's not that bad."
"You two headed off then?" María smiled from behind the desk "Would you like a map?"
"Ah yes please." Dolores walked up to the desk accepting the map she was offered studying she realised she had no idea how to read it. You didn't need a map in the Encanto after all everyone knew where everything was.
"You right with that?"
Dolores forced a nod "Yes yes of course." she didn't want people to think the pair were completely useless "Thank you."
"Of course darling, a bus will stop right outside here in about ten minutes it'll take you straight to the heart of the city."
"A what stops outside?" Dolores asked.
María paused for a moment, how would she describe a bus to someone who has never heard of not before? "A bus, it's like an automobile-"
"Nope, not getting on one then." Mirabel said quietly.
María chuckled gently "They are perfectly safe darling. And I mean no offence Mirabel but with your...disability taking a bus is a lot safer then attempting to traverse the streets on foot. It's not dangerous it's just theres a lot of...obstacles."
Dolores bit her lip unsure what to do "Are you sure this...bus is safe?"
"It's perfectly safe."
"And you're sure it'll be better for her?" Dolores pointed a thumb at Mirabel.
"Well you know your sister best, but I do believe so."
"Mira, do you want to try the...bus? I think we should."
Mirabel hesitated for a moment before sighing and nodding "How bad can it be?"
"That's the spirit." the older woman beamed at the two "You two best be along you wouldn't want to miss it, you'll know it when it gets here. Can't miss it."
"Right well we'll be on our way." Dolores guided Mirabel out the door and down the stairs "They are never going to believe us back home." she said quietly "This place is crazy. and I love it."
Mirabel chuckled quietly whispering "We come from a magical village and a family that has a magic candle that gives us powers and have a sentient house and yet it's this place that has us amazed. No one here would believe us if we told them."
"Not believe us? Oh they'll put us down as crazy."
"That's what they do to me back in the Encanto."
"That's because they think you're the devil on earth." Dolores whispered with a short laugh she sat down on a bench pulling Mirabel down with her. She knew they had to go back at some point, she knew their mothers would be worried to death and but at the same time she had never felt so free.
She wanted to learn everything about this new world. She thought about the pros of staying a while. They were far safer then they were in the Encanto, they didn't have to sleep in a barn, they both got proper meals, they can learn more about living here before they bring the rest of the family here, Mirabel would get to learn how to read. But there were the cons she had to consider like how the family will probably think they have met their deaths on the outside and the fact Mirabel has no vision whatsoever.
Leaning back against the bench Dolores sighed she didn't know what to do. She glanced over to Mirabel who sat there humming unseeing eyes unfocused just what would be best for her? Dolores grew more and more concerned each day about Mirabel's mental health. Would some time away do her some good or would she be better off having Julieta nearby? "Mira?"
"Yeah?"
"You still want to learn to read?"
"Read? With the dot things? Yeah, I can't read a normal book so I want to learn to read somehow."
That just made things harder. Should she really take this chance away from Mirabel? She knew Mirabel wanted her revenge as did herself, but don't they both deserve a break? To be able to go for a walk without checking over their shoulder for an attack, to not hear insults, to not always needing to be on the defensive? A couple of days Dolores said in her mind we'll stay here a couple of days like we planned yesterday...then we'll see. She watched as the bus pulled to a stop in front of them "Mira I think our...bus is here." she stood up pulling Mirabel up with her so suddenly it startled the younger girl. "I think it's a bus." she edged to the door and peeked in "I mean theres people inside."
"Never seen a bus before?" the driver chuckled.
"No."
"Oh you must be the two girls I heard about. Dolores and Mirabel right?"
"Yes." Dolores tilted her head "You heard of us?"
"Some passengers I picked up here yesterday were talking about you two."
"Oh."
The man chuckled again "Well come on aboard take a seat, just watch your step when you climb on."
Dolores climbed onto the bus turning to help Mirabel "Alright just lift your leg yeah just like that and there you go, you're on a bus."
Mirabel threw her hands in the air "And I still don't know what a bus is!" she felt her way over to a seat and plopped herself down.
Dolores at next to her and the bus began moving "Isn't all this just so incredible?" she asked quietly "Yesterday we were waking up in a donkey barn and today we're on a bus...I don't even know how to tell you what it looks like."
"Where is this..bus thing taking us anyway?"
"To the heart of the city."
Mirabel leaned back in the seat listening to the sounds around her, she knew people were talking about them, she could hear her and Dolores's names mentioned and she was sure people were looking at them "Are people looking at us?" she whispered.
Dolores glanced behind her before looking forward again "Yeah." she whispered back.
"I can hear them talking about us. Are we the most interesting thing to happen around here or something?" Mirabel muttered as the bus came to a stop "Guess where here." she stood up only to fall flat on her face when the bus suddenly began moving again "Take the bus she said, it's perfectly safe she said."
"You alright?" Dolores asked in concern pulling her back onto the seat.
"Yeah..please tell me no one saw."
Dolores looked around the bus everyone but the driver looking in their direction with concern "Sorry, sis. Everyone saw...just sit still until I say so, ok?"
Mirabel groaned instinctively reaching to pull her hood over her head before realising she didn't have one. She really wasn't sure how to feel about this strange new place with all these strange new sounds without being able to see what they were. Part of her was longing to be back in the Encanto where she has the comfort of familiarity. There she knew everyone, she hated most of them but she knew them. Here the only person she knew was Dolores. And while the people here have treated her with nothing but kindness she was afraid the people of the Encanto had completely destroyed her trust of anyone outside her family.
Did she want to go home? Where was home anyway? Did she even have a real place to call home? She missed Julieta, while the food they were given here was amazing it wasn't her mothers food. It wasn't the same, she wanted her food.
She wanted to go back but at the same time she didn't. Free, she was finally free. After ten years she was truly free. Here no one thought she was some kind of demon, no one thought she was a curse. They went out of their way to make sure she was fed and comfortable, while back in the Encanto they left her to rot in the donkey barn.
She could feel the cracking of her own mind with each day that passed. They called her insane, they called her crazy, they called her unhinged. All which she would not deny, but why couldn't they just understand she couldn't help it? She didn't choose to have her mind work this way. And how could they blame her? Were they going to stand there and tell her they could go through everything she did and come out with all their sanity intact? Why didn't they just understand?
"Mira, we're here time to get off-" Dolore's face filled with concern when she saw Mirabel was crying "What's wrong? Why are you crying?" she looked around again everyone was looking at them. For Gods sake we are not an attraction, stop staring at us Dolores knew they were just concerned but she didn't care about that right now, all she cared about is something has upset her hermanita she stood up pulling Mirabel up with her "What's wrong?"
"Everything okay?" the driver walked over to them "You alright miss? Did you get hurt when you fell? I am so sorry about that." he reached out and grabbed Mirabel's arm from behind.
Instinct kicked in for Mirabel as she pulled away screaming "LET ME GO!"
The man backed up hands in the air "I'm sorry...I'm sorry..."
"It's okay Mira he is just trying to help." Dolores rubbed Mirabel's back "You startled her when you grabbed her."
Mirabel nodded "I'm sorry for screaming...but like she said. You startled me by grabbing me out of nowhere." she wiped at her eyes.
"My apologises." the driver kept backing away to give them space "Are you hurt?"
Dolores wrapped an arm around her "You okay?"
Mirabel just mouthed "Talk later."
Nodding Dolores guided her off the bus "She's fine..just a little overwhelmed. Neither of us are used to so many people. Thank you for the ride."
"No problem young ladies."
Dolores lead Mirabel away turning down a small alley and put her hands on Mirabel's shoulders when they came to a stop "Are you sure you're okay? We can go back to the room if it's to much."
"It's not that...it's the Encanto..."
"Do you want to go back?"
Mirabel sighed "I don't know what I want...but that's not what I'm talking about. I'll tell you tonight okay?"
"Alright, hermanita. Now lets see what we got here shall we?"
Mirabel nodded "Well...you'll see anyway." she gave a small chuckle.
"Of course, of course." putting her arm through Mirabel's she smiled "Let's go." she kept a smile on the outside but on the inside she was frowning, she knew something was bothering Mirabel but she also knew she wouldn't get it out of her when they were out in public. "Just tell me if it's getting to much, alright? We'll go back whenever you want." she whispered looking around at all the buildings, people and automobiles as they walked down the pavement "One thing is for sure we are definitely not in the Encanto anymore."
-V-
"I'm worried about them."
"Me too."
Luisa and Camilo both sat in in the stall Mirabel and Dolores's had been calling home, both hoping that the pair would walk through the barn door any minute now. They had been spending a lot of time together, often bringing Antonio with them but today it was just them both sharing the same worry about a missing sister and prima. The rain Pepa had caused to fall onto the town beat steadily on the roof.
Camilo frowned as he tapped his hand on his knee "Do you think Abuela did something to them?"
"I...I'm not sure. She doesn't like them everyone knows that and she was the last one to see them. But what could of done that would make them so scared they'll run?" Luisa held Mirabel's plush jaguar in her hands studying it as it held the answers to where Mirabel and Dolores went "None of this makes sense."
"Well they couldn't of just vanished into thin air. I know our parents blame Abuela. I overheard Mami saying even if she didn't directly cause it she helped influence it with the way she allows the townspeople to treat them the way they do. The townspeople are smart enough to know to not it in front of Mami or Tía Julieta but they know but they know they can't do anything unless they catch someone in the act of doing it."
"If the town knew we were sided with them to destroy the miracle, would they treat us the same?"
"Probably, they all have become dependent on our gifts to make their lives easier. What are they going to do when Mamá's gift is no longer around? They won't be able to instantly heal their injuries anymore."
Camilo shrugged "Not our problem." he went silent for a moment "Did you hear Isabela last night?"
"Ah...no?"
"She was crying outside Dolores's door saying how it was all her fault. She thinks she made Mira and Lolo runaway. What is going on between those three exactly?"
Luisa sighed "Well you know how Isabela pretty much helped Dolores get kicked out so that's one thing. And of course there was that fight between Isabela and Mirabel which nearly resulted in Mirabel's death. Mirabel obviously is pretty hostile because of that and Dolores hasn't gotten over it either. And I know Isabela tried to talk to Dolores alone but that didn't go well either she told me she slapped Dolores and in return Dolores punched her. Ever since that she has been trying...and I will admit she is getting better every encounter she has had with Mirabel has been far from friendly. They don't get along."
"But doesn't Mirabel need all of us for her plan?"
"Yes, so eventually the three of them will have to make peace with each other...that is if they come back." Luisa shook her head "I hope wherever they went they are happy and safe. But we have to face the fact they could very well be dead."
"No..no...they are not dead. Why would they be dead?"
"We don't know what's out there and Abuela always goes on about how dangerous it was before the Encanto was formed, there's a good chance they both met their deaths. But there's just as good as chance they are perfectly safe and are just hiding out somewhere. Who knows maybe they are even having fun." Luisa put the plush jaguar down "We just have to hope one day they do come back to us. Honestly wouldn't surprise me if they are just waiting until Abuela gets comfortable again then come back to stir her up again. They are playing with her mind."
Camilo chuckled "They does sound like an idea Mirabel would come up with. Tormenting Abuela is her favourite pastime."
"Exactly...but still until I know they are safe I'm still going to be thinking the worst possible things. Murdered, kidnapped, taken by a wild animal..."
"Whoa whoa, we have to think positive, you know what I bet they are having the time of their lives right this very moment."
-V-
Dolores was having the time of her life, she practically danced around the streets taking every little sight with every little detail dragging Mirabel along by the arm. "I love it here! I absolutely love it here!"
Mirabel was growing increasingly more fatigued "I'm glad you love it because I'm not sure if I walked so much in my life, can we please take a break or you'll end up carrying me back to the room."
Guilt shot through Dolores she was so caught up in exploring she didn't stop to think Mirabel might be having a hard time "Oh..of course. I'm so sorry, let's stop and get something to eat okay? There's a café right over here."
Mirabel all but collapsed into the chair Dolores sat her in "Remind me that I really need to work on my stamina...I'm out. And my legs feel like they are about to fall off." she groaned dramatically plopping her face down onto the table.
"I'm sorry I didn't stop to think...you okay?" Dolores couldn't push the guilt away.
"Yeah just really tired, I'll be fine Lolo I just need to catch my breath."
"I'll get us some lunch." Dolores rubbed her shoulder and made her way to the counter, she had money in their pocket she could actually buy something like a normal person. She ordered something she knew the both of them would enjoy and paid returning the table after being told their food would be brought out shortly "Look at us, getting to live like normal people."
Mirabel lifted her head "You think Señora Díaz is missing us today?" she joked.
Dolores giggled "Probably paranoid we are up to something worse."
"You think Alma is missing us?"
"Oh yeah I bet she is just crying her heart out in sorrow. Now who is she going to blame for everything wrong in her life?" Dolores laughed.
Mirabel snorted with laughter "Oh she'll find a way to still blame us. Probably say we put a curse on the valley or something." she laid her head back on to the table "Ugh I'm so tired."
"Are you sure you're alright?' Dolores leaned forward in her chair face etched with concern "You're not going to pass out on me are you?"
"No no nothing like that. I just greatly overestimated my fitness level we have been walking for what feels like hours. How are you NOT tired?"
"I dunno, I'll probably feel it later though." Dolores looked up smiling as their food was delivered "Eat your food then we'll go back to the room you can have your nap there instead of a table in a café."
Mirabel sat up as Dolores pushed a plate forward "Ooh another real meal, how lucky am I."
"We get a real meal for dinner to as well." Dolores smiled again as they were both brought a dink "We can even eat in the dining hall if you want."
"That means going down the stairs then back up them." Mirabel commented "Once I'm up those stairs I don't want to have to go back down them until tomorrow besides...the dining hall means people...and I'm still...you know." she took a bite of her food "I just keep expecting an attack...when that man grabbed me today...I was preparing myself for the hit...the way he grabbed me is just like the way they would grab me...you know who they are..."
"Rafael and Alejandro.." Dolore's narrowed her eyes as she hissed out the names "They can't hurt you here, Mira...they can't hurt you here."
"I know...I know they aren't here." Mirabel sighed "I know the people here just want to help...it's just so overwhelming I can hear and feel all these people near me but I can't see them...but all that aside I do like it here so far I really do."
Dolores smiled "You think you'd enjoy living here?"
"Once we get used to it I'm sure we will be every happy here...and.." Mirabel paused to take a bite of food and smiled "I get to learn to read." excitement picked up in her voice.
"You are pretty excited about that."
"I am can't wait actually."
Dolores didn't think she saw Mirabel so excited over something before it really did warm her heart "I'll ask María when we get back if she can arrange it as soon as possible maybe we can even get your first lesson tomorrow...I'll ask if this woman can come to us so you don't have to go out."
"Question...how are we getting back to our room? Cause I was serious you will have to carry me if we have to walk back."
"Theres another bus stop outside-"
"Another bus?"
"Last time wasn't so bad, just stay on your seat this time."
Mirabel sighed "Fine..." eating the last bite of food and drinking the last drop of her drink "Ready when you are."
"I'm ready, let's go hermanita." Dolores stood up pulling Mirabel out of her chair "Oh when we get back I'm just going to a quick check in on the horses, they brought us here after all."
"I'll come with you, I owe Reina a pat."
"Reina?"
"I named the horse we rode." Mirabel smiled "I don't know what her real name is but it's Reina now."
"Fair enough, and our packhorse can be Princesa."
"Queen and Princess...how original." Mirabel giggled softly.
Dolores hummed as they waited for the bus that would return them to their hotel room, before they knew it they were getting dropped off at the entrance of the hotel and headed around the back towards the stables to check on their horses. The stable manager waved to them but was caught up in a conversation and so only pointed in the direction their horses were stabled.
Mirabel reached her hand up to the horse now named Reina placing her muzzle into it and nuzzling Mirabel's palm "Hey hey that tickles." she reached up with her other hand and stroked the mare on her soft face "See? Friends ain't we? Please don't throw me off when I ride you again."
Reina stared at Mirabel with deep brown eyes and let out a low snort and tossed her head.
"Was that a snort of agreement or disagreement?"
Dolores chuckled "That was a snort of agreement "Besides that first spook with the automobile I swear that horse knew you were on her back and had to be more gentle." Dolores stroked Reina's neck "Animals can be like that, they sense things. While I can't understand them with words I know they know."
"Like Salomé?"
"Exactly like Salomé, alright everything seems right here. I'll get you up the room now we can both lay down...I think my fatigue is starting to kick in."
Mirabel collapsed on the bed the moment they were back into the room "I'm not moving for the rest of the day." she smiled feeling something furry brush against her hand "You have a nice day Salomé? I rode on a bus twice...I would tell you what a bus is but I don't know myself."
Dolores was studying something new she noticed in the room a radio had been placed on a desk "Hey Mira theres something here...it's like a box thing."
Mirabel sat up and felt her way over to Dolores "A box?" she reached out touching the radio "Is there anything in it?" she moved her hand around turning it on and a woman's voice drooned out from in "Dolores! The box is talking!"
Dolores couldn't help but laugh at the look on Mirabel's face "No it's not talking, the sound is coming from inside of it." she looked around the desk noticing a note she picked it up and read it.
Dear Dolores and Mirabel,
I thought you two but get some enjoyment from this, if you have never seen one before it is a radio.
You can listen to the music, news or some radionovelas. It's pretty easy to figure out how it works but if you need help don't be afraid to ask.
-María
"Radio?"
Dolores turned the dial changing to another station "This thing is so cool...how come we don't have these back in the Encanto? Why does this place get all the cool stuff?" she changed to a station where a radionovela was starting "I'm going to listen to this."
Mirabel returned to the bed "I'm going to take a little siesta. Pfft automobiles..those bus things...radio...this place has some really weird stuff." she closed her eyes as the story began unfolding from the radio "Imagine what everyone will say if we return with this thing."
Dolores chuckled "It's sad though...the whole world has moved on but us..times are changing but in the Encanto it's the same as it's always been. It's 1950 but it's like we never left 1900."
"Frozen in time?"
"Exactly. Frozen in time." Dolores turned her attention back to the radio listening to the romance story unaware of time passing until it was over with a voice telling the listeners to tune in tomorrow to see what happens next which Dolores had full intentions to..provided Mirabel didn't get her reading lesson at the same time that was more important.
She looked over to check on the younger girl to find her fast asleep, how she always managed to fall asleep so easy Dolores never figured out. Figured she'll take the chance to go downstairs she quietly left the room just hoping Mirabel didn't wake up and freak out before she got back.
Reaching the hotel lobby she spotted María and made her way over "Hello, María."
María smiled "Oh, hello Dolores. Where's your hermanita?"
"Sleeping in the room, she's worn out from todays adventure."
"You two have fun?"
"Yes, we both love it here it's nothing like we are used to." Dolores paused for a moment "Actually I'm here to ask you about Mirabel's reading, she is very excited by the prospect I was wondering how soon we can arrange a lesson."
"Oh, allow me to introduce you to a dear friend of mine." María gestured to a woman beside her "This is Sofia Sanchez she specialises in teaching blind and vision impaired children how to read. She's more than willing to teach young Mirabel."
Sofia extended her hand to shake Dolores's "It is a pleasure to meet you Dolores, María has told me all about you and your sister. Mirabel is fully blind, correct?"
"It's lovely to meet you as well, yes Mirabel is fully blind. Can't see a thing, if you can teach her to read despite that we would be forever grateful."
"Oh of course, it is what I do. How old is she?"
"Fifteen."
María looked surprised "Fifteen? I would never of guessed a girl her size was fifteen I thought she was younger."
"Ah yeah she was born pretty premature and was sick a lot as baby which stunted her growth. And we have been on our own for quite a while I've done my best but she doesn't always get the proper nutrients."
"Oh, the poor dear. And let me guess your age...twenty?"
"Twenty one. You were pretty close."
María smiled sadly "And you're raising your fifteen year old sister alone, well not alone anymore I can ensure you that." she turned to Sofia "I know you usually teach children younger than Mirabel but do you still think you can help?"
Sofia nodded "Of course, it's no troubles at all. How about we start tomorrow, around 1pm. Would they work for the both of you? I'll come to your room I have a feeling it'll make you both more comfortable."
"That would be perfect, and yes the room would be best. Thank you umm...what do you prefer to be called?"
"Just Sofia is mine."
"Right, thank you Sofia." Dolores shook both women's hands "I better get back to her before she wakes up and realises I'm not there. Oh and thank you for the radio María we never seen one before but we figured it out just fine."
"Of course, Dolores. Will you be eating in the dining room tonight or would you like a delivery again?" María asked her.
"Oh a delivery if we can."
"Of course, that's no trouble."
Dolores flashed both a smile returning to the room sighing with relief when Mirabel was still asleep sitting on the edge of the bed with a contented sigh as she picked up the novel she got yesterday and began to read. She was content, she was happy truly happy. No Alma on her back, no townspeople calling her a devils helper.
This was the life she wanted, she was happy and safe. Mirabel was happy and safe. All that was missing was the rest of their family. One day this life will be theres just as soon as they got rid of that cursed candle they can sneak the family out through the tunnel and leave Alma and the town to pick up the pieces.
"No...no...no..."
Dolores looked over to Mirabel "Mira?"
"No please..let me stay...I'm sorry...don't make me leave..."
"Mirabel wake up." she reached over shaking her "Wake up. You're safe, wake up."
Mirabel's eyes shot open as she sat up "Dolores?"
"Bad dream again?"
Mirabel nodded "The one where Alma threw me out...but it wasn't just a dream was it? It was real...it actually happened..why do I have to relive it over and over? Can't I even get peace in my sleep?" she placed her head in hands "They torment my thoughts when I'm awake, they torment my thoughts when I'm asleep. When I walk the streets of the Encanto I can hear everything they say. They all call me crazy, insane, unstable, unhinged...but they don't understand...they don't see. They don't see just much I suffer inside...they don't see the pain. The pain THEY caused...they don't understand...they don't understand...they don't understand..."
Dolores reached out as tears starting falling from Mirabel's "Mirabel...is this what was bothering you earlier?"
Mirabel nodded "I don't know what brought it on so suddenly it's just...it's hard to explain you won't understand."
"I want to understand though..I really do."
"Like I said it's hard to explain..." Mirabel clutched her cat close "I just want the thoughts to go away. Can you make them go away?"
Dolores shifted closer putting her arm around her "I wish I could I really do."
"You know this revenge thing...I'm not just doing it for me. I'm doing it for the family, Alma needs realise what really matters and she won't do that until she loses it all. As for the town well...if revenge is want it takes for them to realise what a grave mistake they have made then revenge it will be...let them see how it feels to be helpless." Mirabel leaned her head onto Dolores's shoulder "Besides me destroying the miracle was prophesied...who am I to deny my destiny? Once it's over...only then can I start to heal.
Yes this chapter is pretty much filler cause I can't decide what I want to do.
Voting time guys.
Have them go back to the Encanto now or have them stay in the city for a while?
Pros of staying:
Mirabel gets to learn to read
Mirabel gets a break for her mental health.
Dolores gets to have the time of her life.
They get to live in a luxury hotel with a couple who treat them like their own daughters.
Isabela's growing guilt of thinking she made them leave will open her even more to to the pairs manipulation.
Cons of staying:
Family would be distressed not knowing what happened to them
They will be kinda abandoning the family even if it's just for a while.
I mean I can write either but if they do stay I'll just time skip and summarise what happened during that period.
Please let me know because I seriously can't decide.