Chapter 2
Mirabel hummed a misery tune. It has been a couple of hours since she had been locked up. After Abuela had locked her up, everyone went back to partying. Mirabel was stuck in here, being drowned by her own hatred.
Her room was now a jail cell. All the windows and doors had bars around them. Mirabel could now see out her bedroom door. She could see people walking in the halls. Dolores was the first to actually stop by to visit her.
" Well, well. Look at the trouble you have gotten yourself into," Dolores stated.
" Ha, ha. Have you come to mock me?" Mirabel asked.
" No, I came to help," Dolores told her.
" How?" Mirabel inquired, intrigued.
" I want to destroy the candle and you can help me," Dolores said.
" Why would you want to destroy the candle? And more importantly, why do you need me?" Mirabel questioned.
" Because my gift is just a curse. And to answer your second question, people with a gift can't destroy the candle. Which is why you have to do it," Dolores answered.
" Ah, I see. And how am I to destroy the candle?"
" That's what we need Bruno's vision for."
" And how do you suggest we find that vision?"
" Simple, it's hidden in his room. I heard him hiding it ten years ago. Once again, only one without a gift can go into Bruno's room," Dolores said.
" And how am I to do that when I am locked up?" Mirabel asked.
" Abuela can't keep you locked up forever. Julieta won't let her," Dolores replied.
" Hm… it's a pleasure doing business with you, Dolores," Mirabel said, holding out her hand.
" You too, Mirabel," Dolores replied, shaking Mirabel's hand. " Oh, also, I think Luisa knows something. She's been mumbling to herself, saying her gift is fading," she added.
" Looks like once I'm out of here, I need to have a talk with my sister," Mirabel said.
" I should get back to the party. I don't want to seem suspicious."
" Buh, bye."
Mirabel waved until Dolores was out of sight. Sure enough, Dolores was right. The next morning, Abuela let Mirabel out of her jail cell. They all ate breakfast outside. Mirabel made sure to sit next to Luisa.
" Pft, Luisa, I need to talk to you after breakfast," Mirabel whispered.
" Okay, sure," Luisa whispered back.
" Good morning, everyone," Abuela said.
" Good morning, Abuela," everyone replied.
" As you all know, today is- woah,"
Rats were sitting on Abuela's seat.
" Oh, sorry, Abuela, they were keeping your seat warm for you," Antonio said.
" Thank you.. As I was saying today is a very special day. Today, Mariano is going to propose to Isabela. Dolores, any news?"
" Yes, he says he wants five babies," Dolores said.
Mirabel held back laughter as flowers sprouted all over Isabela's hair.
" Perfect!" Abuela exclaimed as she plucked a white flower out of Isabela's hair.
She continued to talk as she walked away. Camilo turned into Mariano and made kissing noises. Isabela shot a bunch of flowers in his mouth. Camilo turned back, spitting out flowers.
" La Family Madrigal!" Abuela shouted.
" LA FAMILY MADRIGAL!" Everyone repeated.
Mirabel hurried up with her breakfast. She then followed Luisa into town. Everyone was asking Luisa to do the simplest of chores. Some of the favors were hard though. Like moving a building or catching the donkeys.
" So, uh, Lusia, I heard from Dolores that you're having trouble with your gift," Mirabel said.
" What? No, she heard wrong," Luisa replied.
" Are you sure? Because Dolores's hearing is… enhanced," Mirabel pressed.
" Look, it was probably just a dream or something."
" Look, if something is wrong-"
" NOTHING IS WRONG!" Luisa snapped.
Mirabel blinked several times.
" Uh, oh, sorry, don't know where that came from. What I meant to say is the magic is fine. Luisa is fine."
" Uh, your eyes are twitching," Mirabel stated.
I'm the strong one, I'm not nervous
I'm as tough as the crust of the Earth is
I move mountains, I move churches
And I glow, 'cause I know what my worth is
I don't ask how hard the work is
Got a rough indestructible surface
Diamonds and platinum, I find 'em, I flatten 'em
I take what I'm handed, I break what's demanded
But under the surface, I feel berserk as a tightrope walker in a three-ring circus
Under the surface, was Hercules ever like, "Yo, I don't wanna fight Cerberus?"
Under the surface, I'm pretty sure I'm worthless if I can't be of service
A flaw or a crack, the straw in the stack
That breaks the camel's back, what breaks the camel's back?
It's pressure like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop, whoa
Pressure that'll tip, tip, tip 'til you just go pop, whoa, oh, oh
Give it to your sister, your sister's older
Give her all the heavy things we can't shoulder
Who am I if I can't run with the ball?
If I fall to
Pressure like a grip, grip, grip, and it won't let go, whoa
Pressure like a tick, tick, tick 'til it's ready to blow, whoa, oh, oh
Give it to your sister, your sister's stronger
See if she can hang on a little longer
Who am I if I can't carry it all?
If I falter
Under the surface, I hide my nerves and it worsens, I worry something is gonna hurt us
Under the surface, the ship doesn't swerve as it heard how big the iceberg is
Under the surface, I think about my purpose, can I somehow preserve this?
Line up the dominoes, a light wind blows
You try to stop it tumbling, but on and on, it goes
But wait, if I could shake the crushing weight of expectations
Would that free some room up for joy or relaxation, or simple pleasure?
Instead, we measure this growing pressure
Keeps growing, keep going
'Cause all we know is
Pressure like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop, whoa
Pressure that'll tip, tip, tip 'til you just go pop, whoa, oh, oh
Give it to your sister, it doesn't hurt, and
See if she can handle every family burden
Watch as she buckles and bends but never breaks, no mistakes
Just pressure like a grip, grip, grip, and it won't let go, whoa
Pressure like a tick, tick, tick 'til it's ready to blow, whoa, oh, oh
Give it to your sister and never wonder
If the same pressure would've pulled you under
Who am I if I don't have what it takes?
No cracks, no breaks
No mistakes, no pressure
Luisa breathed heavily. Not knowing what else to do, Mirabel embraced her. Luisa cried softly.
" Maybe I do work too hard," she said.
Mirabel nodded in agreement.
" Look, if there's anything wrong with the miracle, you should look for Bruno's vision. It's the only way to tell for sure," Luisa told her.
" Okay, thanks, Luisa," Mirabel replied.
Luisa nodded before walking away. Since there were two people telling her that Bruno's vision was the key, Mirabel decided to uncover the mystery. She snuck into Casita. She had to be cautious. When she was sure no one was watching, she went into Bruno's room.
Bruno's room was… interesting. It was basically all sand. Even the waterfall was made of sand. The ground crumbled beneath Mirabel, and fell through the waterfall. On the other side, there was a case of stairs. Figuring that's where the vision must be, Mirabel climbed up the stairs. Ten minutes later, she was still climbing.
" Ugh, Bruno, your room is the worst!" Mirabel yelled.
After five more minutes of climbing, Mirabel finally made it. She panted, trying to catch her breath. Ahead of her was a metal door. She went inside. It was surprisingly bright inside the room. The floor of course was made of sand. However, Mirabel saw glowing green underneath the sand.
" It must be the missing vision!" she exclaimed.
She began collecting all the pieces and shoving it into her purse. She wanted to get out of here as soon as possible. Once she got all the pieces, she left Bruno's room. She shook out all the sand in her hair. Since her room was still a cell, she had to find a place more private. So, she went into the laundry room. Once she was in there, she began putting the vision back together. It was hard to tell which piece went where. Suddenly, Pepa stormed into the room. Mirabel moved in front of the vision.
" I- I am so sorry, Mirabel," Pepa apologized as she shoved a cloud out of the laundry room.
" No problem," Mirabel replied.
" I was out there and someone mentioned the name of… him…"
Mirabel blinked in confusion.
" Oh, great, now I'm thundering. Clear skies. Phew."
" Uh, Tia, this might be bad timing-"
" Uh, huh."
" But when Bru- he has a vision, what does it mean?"
" We don't talk about Bruno."
" Yes, but, like, is it a bad thing or a good thing or both?"
" It was a nightmare!"
" Felix!"
" All his visions were bad and he frightened the town!"
" We don't talk about Bruno!"
" But what if you didn't understand what he saw?" Mirabel inquired.
" Then you better figure it out because it was coming for you!" Felix said in a suspenseful tone.
We don't talk about Bruno, no, no, no!
We don't talk about Bruno... but
It was my wedding day
It was our wedding day
We were getting ready, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky
No clouds allowed in the sky
Bruno walks in with a mischievous grin-
Thunder!
You telling this story, or am I?
I'm sorry, mi vida, go on
Bruno says, "It looks like rain"
Why did he tell us?
In doing so, he floods my brain
Abuela, get the umbrellas
Married in a hurricane
What a joyous day... but anyway
We don't talk about Bruno, no, no, no!
We don't talk about Bruno!
Hey! Grew to live in fear of Bruno stuttering or stumbling
I could always hear him sort of muttering and mumbling
I associate him with the sound of falling sand, ch-ch-ch
It's a heavy lift, with a gift so humbling
Always left Abuela and the family fumbling
Grappling with prophecies they couldn't understand
Do you understand?
A seven-foot frame
Rats along his back
When he calls your name
It all fades to black
Yeah, he sees your dreams
And feasts on your screams (hey!)
We don't talk about Bruno, no, no, no! (We don't talk about Bruno, no, no, no!)
We don't talk about Bruno (we don't talk about Bruno!)
He told me my fish would die
The next day: dead! (No, no!)
He told me I'd grow a gut!
And just like he said... (no, no!)
He said that all my hair would disappear, now look at my head (no, no! Hey!)
Your fate is sealed when your prophecy is read!
He told me that the life of my dreams would be promised, and someday be mine
He told me that my power would grow, like the grapes that thrive on the vine
Óye, Mariano's on his way
He told me that the man of my dreams would be just out of reach
Betrothed to another
It's like I hear him now
Hey sis', I want not a sound out of you (it's like I can hear him now)
I can hear him now
Um, Bruno...
Yeah, about that Bruno...
I really need to know about Bruno...
Gimmie the truth and the whole truth, Bruno
(Isabella, your boyfriend's here)
Time for dinner!
It was my wedding day, it was our wedding day ( It was our wedding day)
We were getting ready and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. ( No clouds allowed in the sky)
Bruno walks in with a mischievous grin. ( Thunder)
You telling this story or am I ( I'm sorry mi vida, go on)
Bruno says it looks like rain ( Why did he tell us)
In doing so he floods my brain ( Abuela get the umbrella)
Married in a hurricane ( What a joyous day)
He's here!
Don't talk about Bruno, no! ( Look what I found about Bruno!)
Not a word about Bruno!
I'm really glad I brought up Bruno!
Mirabel stared at the vision she had put together. Casita was destroyed. The candle was destroyed. Everybody in town looked around in despair. Abuela was down on her knees. And Mirabel… Mirabel stood in front of the crumbled Casita with a triumphant look on her face.
Mirabel stuffed the vision back into her purse. She smiled evilly. Tonight, she would let Abuela and the family have their moment. Tomorrow, she would work on destroying them all!
…