Worth The Shot

Ivy on the Wall

Today's fanart is by @thelovelytoby! They drew (y/n), Camilo's "Mariposa." I love the beautiful swirly detailing on the butterfly wings!

BACK TO THE STORY

"Bruno!" Camilo thundered. His face contorted in a mess of rage, terror, and confusion. "What is this?"

"It's a true story!" Bruno shouted, panicked desperation bleeding into his choppy arm movements. Begging the village to believe in his dark fairytale.

The Encanto residents blinked like a mass of darkness, gazing blankly. Overhead, the stars glinted, cold and curious like beady eyes.

"That's enough, Bruno!" Alma sharply barked, towering above the field of seated villagers as she lifted like a tornado. "Think before you say something you don't mean!"

Casita's tiles practically quivered, rumbling underfoot with tension.

"I've been thinking for the past ten years," Bruno accused, but fear crept into his eyes for the brutal war he was about to unleash on his family. His shoulders caved in on themselves, collapsing like a tent. "It's time everyone sees who you really are."

"I am Alma Madrigal, the matriarch of this village and the creator of our home!" Alma asserted, turning to address the crowd.

"She abused me!" Bruno exploded, his voice sinking to a whimper. "She beat me. That's why I left."

"Mama, is that true?" Pepa incredulously gaped. Her reddish eyebrows furrowed, stormy as a volcano boiling to erupt. Julieta breathed in a squeaky gasp, smothering her mouth with her hand.

"I-" Alma's guilty, helpless expression condemned her. With uncharacteristic distress, she clutched at the stiff, wool-heavy fabric of her strawberry dress. Her cracked hands, spotted with age, fumbled to her chain locket.

"That's not all," Bruno insisted, straightening his back and swallowing hard.

"Bruno," Camilo hissed through gritted teeth, sinking down into his seat. Jittery from nerves, his leg bounced, as if high on caffeine. He leaned his white-sleeved elbows onto his knees. The balled fingers of his right hand pressed against his mouth. He looked like he was about to throw up.

Bruno hesitated. For a moment, the fate of the Madrigal family tottered on its balance. A toy ball, courting gravity before tumbling down a cobblestone street.

Camilo glanced up from the flimsy knives of grass. He widened his eyes pleadingly at his uncle. "Don't."

He's... scared. Why is he so scared to have everyone find out? Doesn't he want it all to stop?

"They need to know, kid," Bruno gently whispered. His words churned above the crowd like the overhead, night clouds. But they belonged to Camilo alone.

"It wasn't only me," Bruno gruffly sighed, now regretting this horrible task. "She hurt Luisa. She hurt Isabela. She hurt Mirabel. She hurt Dolores. She hurt... Camilo." Each uttered name sucked shocked gasps from the crowd.

Camilo burrowed his face into his hands, humiliated. You fiercely longed to flash across the stage like moonlight and deflect the curious eyes that lingered on his crushed posture. Stop looking at him. Stop looking at him!

Felix dumbly gawked at Alma, shock blurring his mind. Augustin reacted faster, blazing through the crowd with the fury of a swarm of hornets.

"You hurt my daughters?" Augustin demanded, dangerously raising his voice at Alma to a defensive shout. His wiry copper glasses gleamed like fire in the castoff light from the blinding stage.