The Forgotten...? ••• 𝐂.𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐥

(28) 𝐍early forgot...

Narrator's POV:

Asking a simple question, such as: "What's happened?" Or "What's going on?" can bring a whole other wave of dreariness or weariness. Even though regretting the question Mirabel knew she had to ask it, that she had to know why it was so urgent as to leave Antonio to Bruno and not within her arms. So she knows for definite that he is secure and happy-as happy as one can get right now anyways- with her. Not saying that she doesn't trust her tío Bruno, she does immensely but the girl would have much more closure if she could keep tabs on him herself. A motherly, or cousinly, instinct kicking in, if you will.

Mirabel rubbed her eyes, her eyelashes somehow stung when she brushed along them and a new sense of stinging grew within the corners of her eyes. But when she peered up at Dolores she could tell that she was about as clueless as Mirabel felt, which wasn't as much comfort as one would think. Even though a person can be in the same boat as you, it doesn't bring you much happiness in knowing none of you has any knowledge of the situation. Or the mystery the two were waiting to know the answer to, why had Camilo ushered them over for such a private-not so private-meeting.

"Well, I'm not sure. Camilo dragged me over here a bit ago but hasn't told me a thing, saying that we had to wait until you were here." Dolores hummed, as she scanned and skipped through pages of a book. But not just any book, Lucia's book. How Mirabel had managed to miss Dolores holding such an object that held such newfound importance to them was shocking.

Mirabel watched half fascinated by the flipping pages and the short peeks she caught of pictures whilst she crouched there waiting patiently for Camilo to come back. When she finally managed to tear her eyes away from the fast flipping images, she peered around the pillar, falling on the huddled Madrigals before finding Antonio, Camilo and Bruno, with an additional member, tío Felix. They were all chatting with one another, but Camilo's main focus was on his little brother before he pointed behind him, in Mirabel and Dolores' direction, before skipping back towards them.

"Finally Mirabel, it took me ages to get your attention. This is a very important matter, you know." The shapeshifter mocks criticised, joking as per usual. The second youngest Madrigal couldn't help but groan, the tolerance for her cousins was dwindling at a speedy pace.
"Camilo, please. For once put your humour or just your entire being on the back burner whilst were together. I can't be bothered with your jokes when I'm this stressed." Mirabel hung her head, everything seemed like a chore and even harder to do when she felt pressured to keep up the facade of "nothing wrong, I'm fine". But then again who knows you better than family, right.

"So, please..." She practically begged, but she just let the rest of her words drift off as she crumpled in on herself. Even though Camilo had no intention of bringing out the sadness and utter devastation she felt, he had and he apologized profusely as he sat next to her. Criss-crossed legs and wrapping an arm around her shoulders in a side hug, he just nodded and pulled her closer to him. The shapeshifter looked to Dolores and she just shook her head, bringing her hand to her chest and double-tapping it every couple of seconds, symbolising a rapid human heartbeat. With a slight gesture, Camilo understood. The rest of the family may have the ability to hide their fear impeccably well but sometimes Mirabel cracked under the pressure. Not that she was weak but this wasn't exactly an easy day to day occurrence for the family or anyone.

"Whats the "very important matter" you wanted me to know anyway?" Mirabel whispered, changing the subject and affectively bringing their attention away from her mini-breakdown.
"Oh- heh- yeah, about that. I kinda feel like I have to tell you, uh- not that I want to. Uh- um, but the page from the book, the soaking wet one it's kind-"

"Get away from the windows!"

"What." It barely broke over the noises and sounds coming from the family as they rushed to their nearest family member or child to drag them away from everything. As she blinked back, somehow snapping her attention to her family's frantic movements she ran to the centre of Casita.
"What's going on!?" Mirabel ran to the nearest adult, which happened to be her auntie-Pepa- who had developed a large and very unforgiving cloud full of lightning and rain. Ushering Mirabel to her mother, Pepa practically ignored her question, brushing it off as she ran to her youngest and cradled him in her arms.
"Má?" She whispered when her mother pulled her into a hug and slowly yanked her away.