Neophyte

Confusion

*Drip*

*Drip*

*Drip*

Three drops of water hit Metztli on the forehead; she slowly opened her eyes and noticed that darkness surrounded her. She slowly sat up while a minor migraine hit her head. "What happened to me? Where's my phone?" It was too dark, and Metztli crawled on the floor and found her phone that wasn't too far away. She felt relief that her bag was still on her. 

When the young woman looked at her phone to turn on the flashlight, she noticed something was wrong. The time was said, "00:00". There was also no WiFi connection. "Huh? That's weird, the Mission always has WiFi unless it went down. Also, what's going on with the time? Maybe I broke my phone." Metztli stilled when memories flooded her about the previous events. People surrounded her as they followed her in a language she didn't recognize. When she turned on her phone's flashlight, there was no one, but something was off. The prison walls and the cells weren't in disarray, but the prison walls were well-furnished and built. 

Hand chains dangled in different parts of the ceiling. A couple of wooden barrels on the left corner of the prison were parts from the cells. Metztli slowly tried to process what she was looking at. "I need to get out of here, or I'm going to get in trouble. She slowly went up to the well-built upstairs until the exit door was reached. Metztli slowly opened the door and looked around to see if anyone was in sight. Her body stiffened when she noticed that the outside looked different. She remembered that there were some status and small amounts of plant life in the center of the Mission. However, there was nothing but dirt, and the walls weren't as nicely kept as she remembered; they looked slightly worn. 

Metztli was about to leave the room but noticed someone walk past it. It was a man in dirty white clothes. She gasped and slightly closed the door to hide herself. The person was someone she had never met or seen before; the clothing looked off. "That wasn't Carlos, and I know he or anyone else would wear those clothes. Was there another event that I didn't know about?" The young woman slowly opened the door to see if the stranger was seen again, and after waiting momentarily, she slowly walked out of the prison and tiptoed to the end of the corner.

On sight, the center of the Mission was plain dirt grounds; there were many wooden barrels in different areas. One brick-made stove in the center was lit, and from afar, what seemed like a small field of vegetables was being grown. Confusion was absolute, and Metztli tried to comprehend what was happening. "Am I going crazy? What in the world is going on!? Am I still in the Mission?"

"¡Oye, tú (Hey, you there)!" said a masculine voice. Metztli flinched as she slowly turned to the left and noticed what looked like a Padre who wore a gray wool robe. The man was bald but had dark brunette hair on the sides of his head. He looked in his early twenties and had beige skin but looked slightly burnt from being in the sun for long periods. His teeth slightly cooked teeth were yellow; there were bags under his eyes that made him look sickly. "¿Qué estás haciendo (What are you doing)?"

Metztli slowly emerged from her hiding place; she felt no point hiding. "M-Me, sir?"

The Padre stopped in his tracks as he looked confused. His confusion then turned to rage. "You speak the English language!? Who taught you such a skill!?"

"Eh? Uh...." Metztli tried to find the appropriate words, "También sé hablar Español (I can also speak Spanish)."

The Padre continued walking toward Metztli, who returned to try to find space between them. "I heard you speak English, savage! Who taught you!?"

"Excuse me? Did you just call me a savage?" Out of the corner of her eye, Metztli noticed occupants walking into the center of the Mission. Most of them were men, with a few women. Many of them had dirty clothes with some tears and looked sweaty. They all looked to be of Indigenous descent, and most carried wooden baskets filled with vegetables, wood, tools, hay, and other things. Many of them noticed Metztli and the Padre; worry became apparent.

"You dare speak to me that way, you filfthy woman!? You dress in such a manner in the house of god!?"

Metztli's migraines slowly worsened; she couldn't believe that someone who worked for the church called her a savage. What was worse was that no one even tried to help her. "What are you talking about!? Are you new here!? Are you mad that I crossed over the sign!? Look, if you want, we can talk to Padre Santiago and he will handle the situation!"

The onlookers flinched; they couldn't believe Metztli raised her voice toward the Padre. The Padre was slightly confused, but his rage slowly rose. "You speak with such insolence, filthy savage! You speak to a man of good with such disrespect! You-!"

"What is with all the ruckus!?" echoed a masculine voice.

The voice came from behind Metztli; she noticed that the Padre also flinched and looked uneasy. The young woman slowly turned around and noticed another man who looked to be another Padre. He wore a gray robe and hairstyle similar to the other Padre, but it looked as if his dark blondish hair was slowly growing back in the center. Unlike the other man, the one before Metztli was handsome and tall. He reminded her like an average version of Henry Cavill. His facial hair looked like it was slowly growing back, but it didn't affect his good looks. Metztli couldn't deny that he would make many women tremble. The more she looked at the Padre, the more she noticed his blue eyes; they were like sapphires. Yet, his eyes were emotionless, and it wasn't easy to read him. 

The unknown Padre eyed Metztli; he didn't blink. He was still as stone. 

The other Padre cleared his throat, "Padre Federico, th-this savage spoke English. You know that these savages are not supposed to-!"

"You may leave, Padre Lucas."

Metztli refrained from smiling as she glanced at Lucas, who looked shocked. "B-But, she-"

"Must I repeat myself? I am tired of your nagging, so I am thinking of speaking with Padre Victoriano to send you back to Spain."

Padre Lucas flinched. "F-Forgive me, I will no longer cause a fuss. But what shall we do with this savage? She spoke English and you know these savages are not allowed to..."

"Worry not. I will take her to Bishop Victoriano and we shall decide what is to be done. Now, go do your daily chores."

Padre Lucas felt defeated but didn't want to anger his superior further, so he left the two alone. He shooed the other spectators, who couldn't help but be curious, watching everything unfold.

Metztli sighed in relief as she focused on the Padre. "Th-Thank you for that, Padre Federico. I couldn't believe that a man of god would call me and others savage." She then looked around the Mission and noticed that the museum wasn't seen, and other parts of the buildings looked out of place. "What happened to the Mission? It's like it got damaged."

"What is your name?"

"Oh, the name is Metztli De La Cruz. What is happening around here? The Mission's workers are dressed weirdly. Is there a reenactment event that I didn't know about?" The young woman noticed that Padre Federico had his focus entirely on her; it was as if he wanted to look deep within her soul. "S-Sir?"

"It is best that I take you to Bishop Victoriano. It would be best for you not to be seen in such a manner."

The young woman raised an eyebrow. "Bishop Victoriano? Where is Padre Santiago? I know that he's in charge of the Mission's well-being."

The Padre finally blinked. "Bishop Victoriano is the one in charge of this Mission; there is no one of Santiago. Now follow me. Some questions need to be addressed."