The Lights They Snuffed Out

🕯 Chapter 3 🕯

There were numerous sets of hands this time. It had always just been the man's before. They picked at her, prodded, and felt her up like she was food and they were starving. Everything else was the same. She was in the small room that was barely big enough to fit a bed in with a lone hanging light that was always slightly swinging, never still. Like the man's, the rest of the faces were blurry. Their hands held her down, not letting her move an inch. Unlike the man's, the rest of the face's were blurry while pure scribbles covered his. Rough and unkind fingers began trailing up her legs and up her skirt, slowly before abruptly forcing her legs apart.

Mirabel gasped and shot up with such posthaste that she didn't register she was sliding off until it would have been too late. Luckily, the boards under her bed were quick to rise, preventing her from hitting the floor. Still, there was no control of her back colliding with the wall due to the momentum.

Her breath was raspy, like someone had taken a jab at her gut. Fear-stricken eyes trailed around the room, making sure she wasn't back there.

After discerning the room and bed as her own, Mirabel scooted off the mattress. She made her way to her wardrobe, her feet pattering on the wood. The window shutters squeaked in a concerning manner as she began assembling an outfit.

"I'm okay, Casita," Mirabel murmured, throwing a blue butterfly sundress over her head.

One after the other, the floorboards formed a small wave, assisting her with the sandals. Taking the satchel that was sitting in her chair, she then headed out.

Making her way to the bathroom, the sizzling of dough being set down on the stove could be heard from downstairs, no doubt produced by her mama.

The teen pushed open the sole lavatory's door and set her bag on the counter. Taking a look at herself in the mirror, Mirabel knew she had some work to do. She opened the cabinet under the sink and began searching for a present that was gifted to her by Felice. It was two small containers of concealer and foundation, which she was still new to using. Well, it wasn't as if she was adept at makeup in general, but as long as it covered the dark circles under her eyes, she was satisfied.

When finished, she inspected her handiwork in the mirror. For the most part, she appeared as if she had had a good night's sleep. The girl started putting away the cosmetics when a high-pitched sound began rattling her brain.

She attempted to rise from her crouched position, which turned out to be a mistake. The pain overwhelmed her and she began teetering. Grabbing the counter, she eased herself into sitting down, her back pressed against the sink.

Immediately, she covered her ears, even though the noise had already infiltrated them. Mirabel took deep breaths, trying to bring her pulse down. Her head felt as if it was being beaten repeatedly. The girl didn't know how long she sat there until finally she began feeling a sweet sense of relief.

When the ringing in her ears fully subsided, she was able to take in the frantic knocking on the door. The teen hurriedly put everything back before grabbing her valise and opening it. She soon found herself face to face with her oldest hermana.

"What took you so long?" Isabela hissed. "I was banging on the door for like 10 minutes."

Mirabel dismissed the attitude as she took the state her sister was in. The commonly prim and proper's hair mirrored that of someone who had been caught in one of Pepa's whirlwinds. There were also dark bags that were evident under her eyes, similar to the ones she had just covered up. The teen opened her mouth to reply when their mother's voice rang out from the kitchen.

"¡Desayuno!"

Isabela huffed, attempting to tame her hair into presentability as she made her way downstairs.