The Chameleon's Grin ll Camilo Madrigal

Chapter 19 : ...Casita?

Carmen's pov:

"I didn't see this hall before." I noted. "Why are the doors... blank?"

Mirabel walked to one of them.

"Mirabel, don't touch it." Julieta said.

"Are they for.." She trailed off, gesturing towards me.

"There's only one way to find out," her mother said, and then called, "EVERYONE, COME QUICKLY!"

The Madrigals and Diana gathered around the hallway entrance, everyone equally confused about the doors.

Abuela brought the candle known for giving their familia their gifts.

Since I was a part of the family now, I guess I would get to touch the candle.

I had no idea what was happening, but right now I was standing in front of a glowing door with Abuela and her candle.

She analyzed Diana and I as we approached her.

The Madrigals watched quietly, all of them as focused as Abuela was.

I had never been to a gift ceremony, but this was not how I imagined them. I expected big festivals and gatherings of Encanto, not just the family itself.

I stood there stiffly, while Abuela nominated Diana to go first.

My sister looked to me. "Are we really getting gifts?"

I shrugged. "We don't know."

"Are you ready?" The eldest of the family asked her.

"I think so, but is Carmen getting a gift too?"

"I'm not certain, but these doors must be for someone." She supposed.

"Okay, I'm ready." Diana confirmed, but she still looked nervous.

I squeezed her shoulder, and gently pushed the girl forward.

Abuela held out the candle for her to grasp, and my little sister did so accordingly.

"Will you use your gift to honor our miracle?"

She nodded.

"Will you serve this community and strengthen our home?"

Diana nodded once more, and Abuela made way for the girl.

Hesitantly, she touched the door nob with her initial on it, and the hall wall illuminated a brilliant glow, one only magic could create.

The door's wood made way for a portrait of Diana. In it she was holding a book and pencil, and surrounding her there was swirls and dashes.

I wondered what her gift was, and we all followed her into the new room.

My excitement was kicked down as soon as I saw inside.

It was blank.

It was a huge space, but everything was a paper white. The walls, the ceilings, and the floors. The only thing in the room was a pedestal smack dab in the middle of the area. On it there was a journal and pen of some sort, resembling the one on her door.

She walked up to it and picked it up, opening the first page.

"What does it say?" I asked her.

Diana was too lost in thought to answer. She grabbed the pen and began to scribble something in it.

Then, on the wall in front of her, something began to move.

It was a line, a black line, but then something added to it. There was a curve, making it the letter 'D'.