Worth The Shot

Creeping at Midnight

"We should do something." You rushed toward the door, feeling sick. Mirabel fervently shook her head and blocked your path. 

"No. Trust me; that's the worst thing we could do for him." She pinched the bridge of her nose. "We all try to avoid her. If nobody confronts her, it's never that bad." 

It was over quickly. When the noise stopped, you exhaled a breath you didn't realize that you had been holding. You finally understood why the Madrigals acted like they were walking on broken glass around their Abuela.

"Before Bruno disappeared," Mirabel finally began, trying to distract you both, "He had a vision about the cracks. I know where we need to go first." 

"His door," You realized. "Do you think we'll find anything?"

Mirabel shrugged. "I hope we'll find something." She rolled her shoulders back. "I wish Bruno were still here. He could've helped us." 

You and Mirabel waited until night crept into the house through the windows, painting the nursery with shadows and sending the Madrigals to their rooms. 

The door creaked disturbingly loudly as you slid it open. Maribel made a face. You silently laughed. 

"This way," Mirabel softly directed, starting past Camilo's door and towards Bruno's. She tripped, but caught herself with a loud thump. Your heartbeat sped up. You were totally getting caught.

"We're not very good at this," You nervously whisper-giggled, helping her up.  

Camilo suddenly flung open his door, startling you. You started to open your mouth. 

He clapped a hand over your mouth before you could scream, pulling your head to his shoulder.

"Gosh, Mariposa." Camilo grumbled into your ear, blinking sleepily. "It's bad enough that you woke me up. Leave the rest of the house alone." 

Maribel pressed her eyes shut. "Great. You caught us. Now go away, Camilo." 

Camilo released you. "Don't scream." He warned, pointing a finger in your direction. He turned to face Maribel. "No. I want in."

She suppressed a groan. "In on what, exactly?" 

"I heard you guys talking in the kitchen. I'm coming with you." Maribel started to protest, but Camilo grinned nastily. "Or I could wake everyone up."

Mirabel gave you an annoyed glance. 

"Fine." You exhaled. You definitely owed him one. "We'll fill you in on the way." 

"So you need new glasses and you had a scary dream?" Camilo skeptically raised his eyebrows after Maribel finished. 

"It wasn't just a dream, Camilo." You objected. "It felt different; more like a..." Then it hit you. "A memory! It was a memory." That didn't make sense. Why can't I remember the face? Why was I flying? 

"We're here," Mirabel whispered, pausing in front of Bruno's door. Why wasn't it golden like the other doors? She reverently pulled it open, and the three of you cautiously stepped inside. 

Stairs. Thousands of stairs. 

Camilo smirked at your daunted expression. "Better start climbing."

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

You, Camilo, and Maribel climbed in silence, breathing too heavily to make conversation. Almost there, You dismally thought, trying to focus on anything other than your burning legs. 

When you finally tumbled onto the top of the staircase, a shaft of light illuminated a menacing, dark tower. Maribel shuddered next to you. That's where you had to go. You glanced to your left to check Camilo's expression and froze.

A purple-gray bruise discolored his cheek, just beneath his eye. His other eye was rimmed with swollen red skin. He'd been hurt. Badly. 

Camilo's eyes darkened and fell to the ground. "Stop looking at me like that." 

"Like what?" 

"Don't do that. Don't play dumb," He muttered. "Like I'm a- a kicked puppy or something." 

"Camilo-"

"I can take care of myself." He shouldered past you without making eye contact and disappeared into the shadowy tower entrance.