Date-30-9-1968
This is Carlos, reporting another day in his miserable life.
I've starting going to church with my ma, I think it's all bullshit but she likes me going.
Quote "it will help me connect with the outside world a bit more."
It's ridiculous.
I've also got suspended yet again from school, dad beat me up outside the house before I came inside. He happily told ma that it was just from the fight I had gotten in.
Evita knew what was going on, he hits her too but she doesn't seem to care. I wish I was strong enough to help her.
Ma is too scared she'll have to leave him again so asking questions is off the table and Evita thinks this is all normal. Considering it's still legal in Australia to hit children I presume it is normal.
I prayed about that during church, that I could someday help Evita, provide her with a strength that could make her untouchable.
I've been planning how I want to die. I know it's dark to be talking about this already but I think I wish to go in a way that will hurt as many people as possible while still only truly destroying one. Does that make any sense?
Anyways ma is leaving to go shopping and Evita has been left alone with dad so I better go downstairs and make sure he doesn't take his anger for me on her.
Signing off, your alive Carlos Voide.
Marivita's POV
A tear drops down my face, I wipe it away and put the book away. I'll get this book finished one day. I put a purple bookmark into the page and shove it to the bottom of my drawer.
My eyes feel heavy and I find myself drifting asleep.
7:25 am
I'm woken to someone shaking me, I open my eyes a crack. Daniela is standing in front of me with a smug grin.
"So, where are we gonna hide?" She says with excitement in her eyes.
"Hide?" I groan
"Sí, everyone is looking for you. Running away from the Madrigals was badass," she says
"Badass? Why is everyone looking for me."
"When you left the casita started going bonkers, and all their gifts aren't working right. They think you opening the door will fix things up. So instead, you and I are gonna go hide out somewhere, they're already heading here so come on." she grabs my arm and pulls me out of bed.
"Let me get some clothes on!" I say covering myself, I'm only in a bra and shorts.
"I've seen way better tits hun, don't worry." She looks through my clothes, "Ooooo, you should wear this."
"That's a miny skirt!" I protest.
"Yeah but you'll look cute, plus I'm not gonna let you wear anything else so don't bother." She hands me the miny skirt which I put on, it only covers a quarter of my thighs. I put on a black crop to and jacket. "See you look great."
I roll my eyes and follow her out of the house.
"You look like a whore." dad yells as we walk past him, he must have eyes on his forehead because he doesn't bring his eyes up from his paper.
"HOW DARE YOU!" Daniela shouts at him.
"Hey it's fine. Come on," I whisper, tugging on her sleeve.
"No! This is not ok," she says to me. "YOUR DAUGHTER IS BEAUTIFUL! NO MATTER WHAT SHE WEARS!"
My dad slams his fist on the table and stands up, "Who raised you to be so opinionated? No one really asked you how I should raise MY daughter!"
"SHE IS NOT YOURS!" Daniela is still shouting but quiets down when my dad storms towards her.
He grabs her collar, "You might wanna stop talking big mouth. And you." he says averting his gaze to me, "I'll deal with you later."
He lets go of Daniela, she looks stunned.
Before she can say anymore I yank her out of the house and start walking down a random alleyway. We walk in silence down past all the houses into farmland. I realise I've been watching for snakes but they don't have many venomous ones in Columbia.
Daniela stops at a small shack, it looks as though someone had put it together by hand. The roof has a hole in it caused by rust and the door is almost off its hinges. inside there is wooden furniture, all looking handcrafted.
An old lady is sitting on a rocking chair, crocheting a yellow and blue square.
"Buenas días (good morning), Carolina." Daniela says, giving the lady a kiss on the cheek.
"Si es esta marivita (is this Marivita)?" I look at her confused. Her voice is crocky, "Me muero por conocerte (I've been dying to meet you)."
"Disculpe (excuse me), how do you know my name, ?" I ask still confused, maybe Daniela told her about me.
"Oh, I just like tampering with magic here and there. You have a powerful spirit surrounding you, I have noticed and I wish you the best with how you use it." Carolina says.
"Magic? I thought only the Madrigal have magic." I say.
"They aren't the only ones, as I see it your gift will be the strongest of them all," Carolina says.
"That's ridiculous. Why out 3 billion people do I have to get a gift?" I ask
"As I see it, the spirit that surrounds you portrays a great power which they're wishing to pass on." She seems to be nuts and she keeps saying as I see it.
"I think this sounds a tiny bit ridiculous," I say in a higher pitch voice.
"Believe what you want, but I'd suggest you go and open that door. I have enough knowledge to believe great danger is coming this way and your gift might just save us all" Carolina says.
"Si, well it was lovely to meet you. We must be going I'm sorry to say." I walk out of the house with Daniela behind me. when we're out of Carolina's earshot I turn to Daniela, "Your abuela is fucked up in the head. Everything she just said was stupid."
"But it adds up in a way." Daniela replies.
"Well kinda, not really. What spirit would b-" I gasp. "Is the spirit most likely someone I knew when they were alive?"
She shrugs her shoulders, "Sometimes, I mean the Madrigals had Pablo die for his family to live."
Is this Carlos' spirit?
"I'm gonna go open the door," I say picking up pace.
"Finally, I wanna see what you get," Daniela says excitedly.
We almost run to the casita. I see Felix and he seems to be looking for something.
"Mari!" he calls out, rushing towards me. "Everyone has been looking for you. You're all ok right?"
"Yes, I'm all fine." I sigh.
"Abuela is waiting, come on," Felix says, ushering me with him.
Abuela Alma is at the top of the stairs holding the candle. I walk up to her and she stares at me silently.
"Let's get this done." Abuela Alma says.
All the Madrigals stand at the bottom of the staircase except Camilo. I don't know where he is.
"I'm not exactly sure what to say," Abuela Alma says, "Do you Marivita Voide promise to serve this community and make this family proud."
I don't think that's how it should have been done but no the less I put my two hands around the candle, it feels warm. I take them off and reach for the door.
The doorknob glows and a pattern forms on the door, I look at my hand.
I scream.