School had ended for the day, and most of the kids in town were gathered around in a dirt field, preparing for the weekly game of fútbol.

The teams were quickly split evenly, girls versus boys, and the game was fierce. The kids are playing fútbol, smiles on their faces. A few of the grown-ups came and watched the small game.

Everything was perfect, the cheer of the crowd grew louder when one girl was dodging past the boys. She made her way to the goal, the cheers of the kids being heard throughout the town. She kicked the ball but missed the net. The ball flew over the goal and went deep in the trees.

The audience groaned and began to disperse. Both teams gathered behind the net, but no one set foot in the woods. The sun hadn't set yet, but the thick branches didn't let much light pass through.

"What are you waiting for?" One girl, who just moved into Encanto, asked. "Someone go in and get the ball."

"Don't you know the stories,'' an older boy whispered. The girl shook her head but was curious. She heard someone tell her mama to never go out at night, or in the woods. Every time she asked why her mama would just tell her that there are monsters hiding in the trees.

"No one goes in there," Another child said.

"Why?"

"Los Madri-"

"We don't talk about the Madrigals!" Everyone jumped and turned to see a young boy, 11-year-old Oscar. He wasn't the most talkative in school, almost not saying a word to anyone. Yet when it came to this family, he always shared the same story.

He whispered in a hushed voice "You may be wondering, 'who are the mysterious Madrigals?'"

A few of the younger children nodded. Oscar continued and made it into a small performance. "There is an old house beyond an iron gate hidden in the forest. It's been there before the first settlers moved here,"

He used a sun hat from a child in the audience and covered his face with his hooded sweater, imitating an elder. "They are led by an old woman, a witch! She found the house years ago and raised her children. Then, they had children of their own."

He returned the hat and led the children to the town square and continued the tale. Dark clouds gathered in the sky, creating a frightening atmosphere for his performance. The children gasped in shock, the smiles quickly turned into frightening faces.

The boy jumped on a nearby stone wall, tossing a rock in his hand "There is a girl who can break through walls and not get a scratch on her,"

He picked a flower, but crushed it. "a girl who controls plants. She has a carnivorous plant, feeding it dead animals,"

Oscar led the children to the now 44-year-old Osvaldo's delivery service, holding two green emerald necklaces over his eyes. "and a man with glowing eyes and an army of rats."

Osvaldo popped up from behind a pile of boxes. Oscar returned the jewels, as the man told the child more about the kin in the woods.

"This is an odd family, not like you and I. They are creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky. Those who dared to go see within the gates say they are monsters! I made that mistake! They will place a curse on the town!"

"There is a house," Another villager said. "It's haunted! The family there would trap and curse you!"

Ever since Osvaldo and his friends came out screaming in terror from the woods over 30 years ago, telling the people about the Madrigals, it became clear that no one is to go in them. Especially nearing and after sunset. The townsfolk would go on about the stories, each one becoming elaborate each time.

More adults joined in on the growing show. One claimed that the witch would curse anyone who crossed the gate. Another said a woman will poison you just by looking into her eyes.

There were, however, those who chose to not listen to the stories. Rebellious children and teens or hunters would go too far deep in the woods. Even after confirming the existence of the creepy family, some people were foolish enough to see the home. Few were brave enough to go past the iron gates, only to run away in terror when they saw the house come to life. Or when they saw the members of the household and their powers.

A young teen, who recently saw the family a month ago, said that the man with glowing eyes will jinx and use his rats to spy on the village.

Oscar finally led the remaining children who didn't leave his warning to the edge of town, to the only known path that led to the cursed house. No one could see past the trees, the thick leaves and branches didn't allow much sunlight to pass through.

"I once went in, past the gate,"

*1 year ago*

He was only 10, but he thought he was brave enough to face them. This was his chance to show everyone that he was no coward. A chance to be taken seriously.

Of course, he told no one of this plan, knowing well that they will forbid him from going. No one except for Mariano, who obviously objected to the idea.

Mariano was like an older brother to Oscar. The poet never believed in the magic the family supposedly possessed, but he still listened to the unspoken law.

Once Oscar made it to the large gate, the little confidence he had disappeared. The house was barely visible because of the fog, yet it was clear that it was a large home. Two floors at least, with a tower to the side. A garden grew beside the home, and a cemetery surrounded it.

Oscar opened the gate, a loud creak filled the silence. He didn't move any closer to the house, instead staying near the fence and snuck around the perimeter. He breathed heavily, the sounds of silence occasionally being filled by bat cries and rat squeaks.

He soon saw the garden, but couldn't see anything past the thick fog and tombstones. He crept past the tombs hiding behind them before stopping as he got a clear view of the garden.

Oscar saw a girl, slightly older than him, tending to her plants. The boy didn't see it as strange until he saw her feeding chunks of meat to a large, sharp-teeth, mouthed plant.

"He's here," A quiet voice said. The boy jumped at it before noticing another girl sitting on a tomb behind him. Isabela gave her plant the rest of the meat, petting it as it wolfed down his meal. She turned to the boy, vines grew beside her.

"A trespasser," she answered. Lightning flashed across the sky, revealing a sinister smile on her face as Oscar started to back away from them., "Just like Tío Bruno predicted,"

Oscar noticed a green illumination at the door of the home. He looked to see a man with glowing eyes, rats scurrying around him.

He backed away slowly before sprinting through the maze of tombs. Thunder roared above them, and the wind pushed him away from the house.

The boy turned around, seeing a woman with a tornado forming around her. A cloud floated above her head, lightning striking after each step she took.

*Present*

Oscar shuddered at the memory. A few children ran away back to town. The fútbol game was clearly not going to continue.

"I barely made it out," he muttered.

"You did come in without notice," some kids screamed and turned around, but it was only the calm Mariano.

"They tried to kill me!" Oscar argued.

Mariano shook his head, "I've been telling you this for a year, it's all in your head."

"They will curse us all some day!" Lightning flashed across the sky, thunder roared along with it. The remaining children screamed and ran away from the forest.

"It was dark, you couldn't see anything, and you were scared." Mariano continued. The two teens made their way back to town as the clouds continued to darken. Some of the citizens packed their things and scurried to dry shelter.

"I know what I saw! And others have seen them too,"

"No one can control the weather, or control plants, or have glowing eyes. And why do you need to scare the kids about it?"

"To make sure they don't make my same mistake!"

"You don't even know them,"

"And you do?" Oscar scoffed.

"I know that they're a family who likes their privacy, and they clearly don't like trespassers. I mean, really, who does," Mariano sighed. He's had this kind of argument with Oscar ever since he returned from his secret mission. Oscar told the people what he saw. Some believed him, as they too had dared to see the Madrigals.

The thunder boomed loudly above them, the wind blowing like a hurricane. Everyone rushed to shelter, the two heading for Mariano's home.

"Looks like rain!"

call Manas

Author's note

Sorry it took so long for a new chapter. I had writers block. I was planning on writing on how Augustin and Felix met Julieta and Pepa, but couldn't think of anything. I'll probably write later as a flashback, we'll see.

You can follow me on Instagram @dzny_oddity00 I post a lot of updates on my story there.

Fun fact: this was the first chapter I wrote for this fanfic!

Thanks for Reading!