We Don't Talk About the Madrigals

Chapter 3- The Family We Don't Speak

**Not Edited**
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School had ended for the day, and most of the kids in town were gathered around in a dirt field, preparing for the weekly game of fútbol.

The teams were quickly split evenly, girls versus boys, and the game was fierce. The kids are playing fútbol, smiles on their faces. A few of the grown-ups came and watched the small game.

Everything was perfect, the cheer of the crowd grew louder when one girl was dodging past the boys. She made her way to the goal, the cheers of the kids being heard throughout the town. She kicked the ball but missed the net. The ball flew over the goal and went deep in the trees.

The audience groaned and began to disperse. Both teams gathered behind the net, but no one set foot in the woods. The sun hadn't set yet, but the thick branches didn't let much light pass through.

"What are you waiting for?" One girl, who just moved into Encanto, asked. "Someone go in and get the ball."

"Don't you know the stories,'' an older boy whispered. The girl shook her head but was curious. She heard someone tell her mama to never go out at night, or in the woods. Every time she asked why her mama would just tell her that there are monsters hiding in the trees.

"No one goes in there," Another child said.

"Why?"

"Los Madri-"

"We don't talk about the Madrigals!" Everyone jumped and turned to see a young boy, 11-year-old Oscar. He wasn't the most talkative in school, almost not saying a word to anyone. Yet when it came to this family, he always shared the same story.

He whispered in a hushed voice "You may be wondering, 'who are the mysterious Madrigals?'"

A few of the younger children nodded. Oscar continued and made it into a small performance. "There is an old house beyond an iron gate hidden in the forest. It's been there before the first settlers moved here,"

He used a sun hat from a child in the audience and covered his face with his hooded sweater, imitating an elder. "They are led by an old woman, a witch! She found the house years ago and raised her children. Then, they had children of their own."

He returned the hat and led the children to the town square and continued the tale. Dark clouds gathered in the sky, creating a frightening atmosphere for his performance. The children gasped in shock, the smiles quickly turned into frightening faces.

The boy jumped on a nearby stone wall, tossing a rock in his hand "There is a girl who can break through walls and not get a scratch on her,"

He picked a flower, but crushed it. "a girl who controls plants. She has a carnivorous plant, feeding it dead animals,"

Oscar led the children to the now 44-year-old Osvaldo's delivery service, holding two green emerald necklaces over his eyes. "and a man with glowing eyes and an army of rats."

Osvaldo popped up from behind a pile of boxes. Oscar returned the jewels, as the man told the child more about the kin in the woods.

"This is an odd family, not like you and I. They are creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky. Those who dared to go see within the gates say they are monsters! I made that mistake! They will place a curse on the town!"

"There is a house," Another villager said. "It's haunted! The family there would trap and curse you!"

Ever since Osvaldo and his friends came out screaming in terror from the woods over 30 years ago, telling the people about the Madrigals, it became clear that no one is to go in them. Especially nearing and after sunset. The townsfolk would go on about the stories, each one becoming elaborate each time.