El Club de la Medianoche Chapter 2: The Tower, an encanto fanfic

A/N Grab a pillow and a blanket, and come join the family for another night of tales.

Genre: Dolores's story was inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Raven'. It's a ghost story recited in pros.

The Tower

"We're doing that again tonight, right?" Mirabel asked with a yawn as she placed her empty cup on the kitchen bench in front of the coffee jug. The Casita tipped the jug with a flip of a tile, refilling her cup which she then carried sleepily into the dining room.

"I insist that we do," replied Abuela with a warm smile.

Julieta stepped down from the kitchen and placed a bowl piled with rice on the table. "But where? The library was far too small."

Mirabel had an idea. "The library's the same size as the vision cave, right?"

"Technically," answered Bruno from the end of the table.

The family didn't typically all eat breakfast at the same time, and they often didn't sit down, but Bruno made a point of always sitting at the table and eating from his personalised plate. He was always one of the first to come down and often the last to leave, ensuring he saw each member of his family before they set off to do whatever the day demanded of them, at which point he would either take himself up to the balcony to read or else help to take care of the Casita with the 'unceptionals'—the family members without gifts, that Bruno somehow decided he belonged with.

"But, the books and everything take up a lot of space… so…."

"So what about the vision cave itself?" asked Mirabel, taking a seat at the corner of the table beside her uncle.

Bruno eyed her curiously but didn't reply.

"It was rebuilt, right?" she asked.

He shrugged. "Dunno."

"You don't know? The old tower's still there, isn't it?"

The previous version of the tower was still there. When Bruno's room moved, it lost the kitchen but the door to it remained, and now led to the bottom of the steps to the vision cave, just in case he ever changed his mind about not using his gift. The new miracle left everything up to the family members but wasn't taking anything off the table.

"Yeah… but…"

"You've never been up there?"

"Why would I?"

"To see what's there?" Mirabel suggested.

Bruno leaned closer and whispered for dramatic effect. "But I don't care."

Julieta came to her brother's rescue. "Even if it is there, do you really want to climb those stairs every time we want to tell each other stories?"

Mirabel recalled the one time she had climbed the stairs, and it wasn't fun. "You have a point," she admitted with a sigh, then started to throw out some other ideas. "I guess Antonio's room might be big enough. Or Isabela's?"

Bruno shuffled in his seat, then mumbled something into his coffee.

"Sorry, what was that?" Mirabel asked.

Dolores had caught it. "He said there might be a shortcut," she translated, carrying a plate from the kitchen and joining them at the table.

All eyes turned on Bruno.

"What?" several voices asked at once.

"Yeah… uh…." He hesitated, looking around uncomfortably. "So… heh, the day of Pepa's wedding… I found the way into the walls. And uh…" he scratched his head and winced. "There was… kind of a secret entrance to my room."

"Bruno!" Julieta gasped. "And you never told us?"

He glanced at Abuela and then to the kitchen where Pepa had just arrived, before whispering, "Well, things weren't exactly…."

Julieta got it. "It's fine. But, do you think the shortcut would still be there?"

"Only one way to find out, I suppose."

Mirabel jumped down from her chair. "Then let's check it out!" she said, grabbing Bruno's arm.

He refused to budge. "Go ahead. Would you like me to draw you a map?"

Realising his reluctance, Mirabel decided to wait. "You know what, let's just all meet on the balcony at eleven fifty tonight. We can check it out together. Mamá and I will bring the snacks again."

"Buñuelos!" Bruno reminded her. "Oh, and everyone should bring a light. It's pitch black in there with the doors closed."

That night...

When Julieta and Mirabel arrived on the balcony, the rest of the family were all waiting in their nightclothes. Just as the previous night, everyone had brought a cushion and blanket, and this time they each had a candle too. Some candles were lit and some were not, some were in lanterns, others in jars, and a few were just freely held in their hands. Antonio had arrived with Parce, having completely ignored his dad's advice not to bring him. He'd at least had the foresight to ask his toucan friend, Pico, to fly up the old tower and check that the vision cave was definitely there, which none of the grown-ups had the sense to consider.

"Well, let's see if this shortcut is still there!" Mirabel said, motioning towards the painting.

Bruno reached out to touch it but pulled back his hand at the last second. "You know," he said, turning towards his family. "Maybe the library wasn't so bad after all... I'm sure it's—"

"For crying out loud," exclaimed Pepa as she nudged him out of the way and opened the painting. "It's just a hole in a wall."

Bruno peered inside, then said, stepping away. "Fine, well… after you then. But just know you're leaving yourself wide open to—"

Pepa felt mildly irritated, although she secretly loved the sensation. Not for some soppy sentimental reason along the lines of being glad her brother was home and so could irritate her again. Though maybe that too. It was just nice to feel any degree of negative emotion and not have it broadcast to the entire Encanto, and she was relieved to finally be able to retaliate to a sarcastic comment with a playful nudge without running the risk of giving the person an electric shock. The new versions of their gifts truly were splendid.

"I don't know the way, genius," she said, pushing him back towards the hole.

Bruno sighed and looked at the passageway inside. It was a lot like the previous one, but with far fewer cobwebs. The floorboards were intact, and there wasn't a single crack on the walls.

Julieta put her hand on his shoulder. "I'll come with you."

Bruno smiled at that. It was just a hole in a wall. He nodded and handed his candle to her before hopping up and sitting halfway through the opening. There was a pause while he took a deep breath and crossed his fingers. He then dropped down onto the wooden floor, letting out his held breath with a sigh, before turning back and taking the candle from Julieta.

Julieta climbed in behind him and took his hand. "Go on then. Lead the way."

The rest of the family followed close behind, walking single file.

"So… what's that all about, anyway?" Mirabel whispered to her mom.

"My brother has a problem with thresholds."

"It's not thresholds," Bruno replied over his shoulder. "It's liminal space. And if you had any sense, you'd be cautious too."

"What's—?"

Julieta signalled to be quiet. "Trust me, it's not worth it," she whispered.

The family followed the passages around to the location of the tower; two rights and then a left. The shortcut had meant that Bruno could access his old room while living in the walls, although he only did that on rare occasions because being there would cause the sand to stop falling, and he suspected his door lit up too. It had been absolutely for emergencies only. He would never forget the very last time he used the secret entrance though. That had been quite an emergency.

Bruno came to a stop and then climbed up to the floor above, beckoning his family to follow.

"Yep. It's here!"

The area before the stone door was too small for all twelve of them, so some waited below.

"Aren't you going to open it?" Pepa called up impatiently.

Bruno pushed the door that used to lead into his room, but as that had now relocated to a much more favourable position, it instead opened directly into the vision cave. Almost as soon as it opened, there was a loud bang as the heavy, round door on the opposite side of the vision cave slammed shut, causing everyone to jump.

"Why's it always open?" he grumbled. He turned to his family members who were making their way up one by one. "Sorry. The pressure's all weird up here and it makes the doors slam… a lot."

He entered the cave with the others following close behind, their candles gradually illuminating the space.

"Wait a minute!" said Mirabel, her eyes narrow. "The door slams shut when the other one is opened?"

Bruno pretended not to hear her. "So… make yourselves at home. Enjoy the…" he looked around, "…sand," he decided on, then walked over to the pit of sand in the centre of the room.

"You were there weren't you?" Mirabel continued. "Tío Bruno?"

"Oooh look!" Bruno said with forced enthusiasm as he picked up a handful of sand. He let it fall through his fingers near a candle. "It sparkles!"

It did sparkle. The light caught tiny green particles that were mixed with the sand, causing it to shimmer like glitter. Mirabel wasn't finished with him though.

"I did wonder how you knew I'd destroyed the vision cave… And then, of course, it struck me as kinda weird that the door had presumably been open for ten years and yet suddenly chose to slam shut at that exact moment."

"See… it sparkles!" Bruno repeated, letting another handful of sand fall from his hand in case Mirabel had missed it the first time.

The family arranged themselves in the same order as the previous night, with the triplets along the wall to the far right. Even with Parce lying beside Antonio, there was enough space for everyone to spread out a little more. Bruno started a small fire in the centre of the circle for extra light and advised that they leave the door to the shortcut open, to allow a constant flow of air, explaining that it could get stuffy with so many people in there.

Julieta placed plates of snacks where everyone could reach them, while Mirabel and Antonio poured out the chocolate and passed the mugs around the circle. Soon they were ready to begin.

"So, who's up next?" asked Mirabel.

Her question was met by silence. Well, silence and slurping to be precise.

"Really? Nobody?"

"Why don't you tell one of your Grecian spy stories?" Bruno suggested to Pepa.

"I will. Eventually. Just… not tonight. I'm still working out some details."

"You said you had loads of stories, Bruno," said Julieta. "What are your feelings about going second?"

"A lot like my feelings about going first," he replied.

"Well, someone's got to tell a story," said Mirabel.

There was a faint squeak from beside the vision cave door, and everyone turned towards the sound.

"I might have something," whispered Dolores. "I'll need to read it out, and it's a bit experimental…"

"That's okay," Pepa reassured her. "Experimental how?"

"It's a poem," she said, taking out a piece of paper. "I've been thinking about what Mirabel said. About us all being 'more than just our gifts.' And well, for some of you, your 'more than' is obvious. Like Camilo, you have a talent for comedy and storytelling, and Isabela, for you it's dance and acrobatics. Tía Julieta doesn't just heal with her food, her cooking is sensational in and of itself, and—"

Bruno interrupted. "For me, it's—"

"It's not acting!" Mirabel cut him off.

He stared at her with his mouth open in shock.

"Ugh." Isabela had a similar expression. "Ignore her, Tío Bruno, she doesn't know what she's talking about."

"No, no. I didn't mean… Your acting's great. Truly," Mirabel said, a little flustered. "I just meant that based on our first meeting, I'd say your real gift is parkour!"

"Anyway," Dolores continued before the conversation went too far off-course. "I've been thinking about what my own 'more than' might be. Everyone assumes it's music, because of my gift. But while I do like music, it's not exactly a passion. But words though… I think I'd like to try my hand at writing lyrics. Creating a melody with language rather than notes."

"How wonderful!" Pepa beamed.

They all agreed that they'd like to hear Dolores's poem, and settled down to listen.

"Well, if everyone's ready," she said, nervously clearing her throat. "I call this poem, 'The Tower'." She then began to read, the paper shaking a little in her hands.

"Encased within my sombre tower, I wonder sleepless, hour by hour,
Taunted by the ticking clock upon the bedside chest.
Trapped am I by my desire, to escape this ghastly spire.
Called am I to river's basin, wooded hill and mountain crest,
But Mother's words I acquiesce, that of this shelter I am blessed,

For after all, Mother knows best.

"Of need for sleep I give no care. I ravel out the reams of hair,
That thrice around the tower wind, untressed.
Faintly comes a singing fair, but sure as night there's no one there,
And soon return my thoughts of rest, but with that voice I'm now obsessed.
Yet foolish is it to protest, for some things can't be second-guessed,

Like these three words; Mother knows best.

"In the cold and silver light of moon, my hair it nestles round the room.
Upon the silken pillow I lay my head at last.
To sleep, I wonder, would it come? Then again I hear that ghostly hum.
The singing of some unseen guest, and gone are all my hopes of rest.
There's someone here I can attest, but plain my senses do protest.

Be still, sweet child, for Mother knows best.

"Into the baleful dark I glance, a trick my mind has played, perchance?
A song inviting me to dance, a dance I've never chanced to test.
Could it be my soul is longing? Wishing once to taste romance?
A dream, a wish, a folly at best, a voice by my mind manifest,
But such a dream could never be, for well I know the mantra so;

Mother knows best.

"The humming now, it turns to speaking, utterance forced through quiet weeping,
From the bed I spring unthinking, now my mind convinced.
'Speak up! Come out!' say I, quite shaken. 'Who sings and speaks and weeps unbreaking?'
Is this some unforgiving quest? A wish my fortitude to test?
Once more those words from Mother in my mind are stressed;

'Back to bed, Mother knows best.'

"My Mother's words I must ignore, the call, the draw, the pull once more.
That unseelie voice unto my mind so firm impressed.
A tapping now, as of a door, but not from door, the wall, I'm sure.
A sound so weak and far and dainty, coming from the wall, quite—"

"You know what…?"

The mood was suddenly broken as Bruno jumped up throwing his blanket aside. Pepa just managed to catch it before it hit a candle.

"I… could really use some air. Could anyone else really use some air? I'll be right back. Great story Dolores. You're doing great," he said, as he rushed towards the door, agitating the candles as he passed, then quickly disappeared into the passage outside.

Dolores's hands slumped onto her lap, still holding the piece of paper. "I didn't…"

"Woah, Dolores," exclaimed Félix. "Too soon!"

She was frustrated at accidentally saying the wrong thing, yet again. "I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to upset him."

"No," said Julieta gently. "You've done nothing wrong. Maybe we should just give warnings first if our stories are a little dark. Or might hit a nerve?" She stood up. "My brother's a lot tougher than he seems, but I'll check he's okay, just in case."

As she went to leave, Agustín stood up as well. "I'll come with you."

"No. You stay here. Enjoy the rest of Dolores's story." She turned to Dolores before she left. "You've done an amazing job, by the way. I'm looking forward to hearing how it ends."

Agustín sat back down and folded his arms. "Aaand I'm back to being the third wheel," he sighed.

"Ha! Third wheel?" Pepa remarked, reaching over and putting her hand on his shoulder. "Just be thankful you're on the cart," she added with a wink.

"That's what we sign up for when we marry a triplet," said Félix with a grin. He then turned to Dolores. "So, who is in the wall anyway? Is it Bruno?"

"Oh, it's worse than Bruno."

"'Worse than'? Damn, Dolores. What have you got against your uncle today?"

"Nothing… it's just coming out all wrong."

Pepa could see her daughter was becoming distressed so intervened, tapping her husband lightly on the arm.

"Félix, stop teasing her! Dolores, we all know you love your uncle. Now come on, finish your poem. Let's find out what's really in the wall."

Dolores didn't feel much like continuing, but her mom was right. They needed to know how it ended. So she went back to where she was interrupted and started again from there.

I must concede I'm never leaving; Mother knows best.

"Now angered by my hateful captor, through soft and lonesome bitter laughter,
I seize a mallet from beside the chimney breast.
With aberrant strength, I smash a hole; a minute break within the wall.
Then peering through the tiny cleft; a tear, a break inside my chest.
Swaddled there, within my hair; my decaying corpse's final rest.

I never will, I've never left; for all along, Mother knew best."

"She was dead the whole time?" Luisa cried out, horrified. "These stories had better start being happier. I swear if the next one doesn't have a happy ending, I'm out!"

Meanwhile...

Julieta pushed open the picture and climbed onto the balcony. She found her brother sitting in the armchair just outside.

"You okay, Bruno?"

"'Course I am. Like I said, I just needed some air."

As Julieta walked closer, she felt something grainy under her foot. "Just, you know… that story maybe hit a little close to home for you."

Bruno rolled his eyes and forced a chuckle. "Oh come on. I did say it gets stuffy in there. I was struggling to breathe."

"Hm-hmm. So why am I standing in a pile of salt?"

When he didn't answer, she tried again. "It's understandable you know. We've all been through a lot, and none of us more than you."

Bruno made firm eye contact. "I thought you of all people would know how happy I am now."

"I do. We all are. But that's not to say we don't still need to heal the past."

"Yeah, well the past isn't really my thing, so…."

Julieta laughed. "Well just know… eventually, it all has to come out somewhere."

"You know, I think I've had enough air now," Bruno said, jumping to his feet. "Let's go back."

"Okay." Julieta then remembered something Bruno had said earlier. "You said there's a story you'd like to share. What is it? Is it one I've heard before?"

He looked a little uncomfortable. "Oh, it's just a silly, kind of…," he said to his feet.

"Go on, tell me."

"Well, okay." His demeanour suddenly changed and he became much more animated. "It's about this super-intelligent man who builds a device that can travel through time and space. He tries to use it for good… to help people… but something always goes wrong. That's when his assistant comes in handy. She's just as intelligent, maybe more so. But it's a different kind of intelligence. She notices details. Things he misses. And then the day is finally saved!"

"This assistant. Does she wear glasses by any chance?"

"She does, and she's got—" he suddenly stopped and his eyes snapped onto Julieta. "Oh! I see your point."

Julieta chuckled affectionately. "Like I said… it all has to come out somewhere."