Neophyte

Rage

Manuel awoke early to begin his shift, but what was strange to him was that Esteban wasn't in his bed. He believed that Esteban went for a walk, as he usually did. The Soldado quietly got dressed so that he didn't have to wake his other comrades. When he finished dressing and gathering his weapons, Manuel walked out of the barracks. He sighed as he saw it was raining, which Manuel despised. "Podría ir a la iglesia para orar un poco (I might as well go to the church for a little prayer)."

The Soldado ran toward the church to escape the rain. He was getting closer to the church when he noticed the doors were open. He believed that there was someone in the church. Still, it didn't faze him, since Manuel wanted to pray to God for protection. As he got close to the door, a noise echoed.

He stopped while standing outside, listening to the noise. It sounded like screaming, making Manuel immediately go inside. Stopping in his tracks, Manuel saw Esteban punching Padre Federico while screaming profanities. Manuel was processing what was happening, but noticed that Padre Federico lost consciousness. Realization hit, jolting Manuel out of his shock and into a run toward Esteban. The Soldado forcibly pushed his comrade away from the Padre. "¿¡Qué estás haciendo (What are you doing)!?" Esteban was breathing heavily and tried to get to Padre Federico, but Manuel immediately stood in his way. "¡Detene! ¡Vas a matarlo (Stop! You're going to kill him)!"

"¡Él iba a hacerle daño (He was going to do her harm)!" Esteban's rage soon subsided, and he immediately ran to Metztli. She lost consciousness. Esteban immediately carried her bridal-style and looked at Manuel. "¡Vigílenlo y llevaré a Metztli con Mariana! También debo informar al Obispo (Keep an eye on him, and I will take Metztli to Mariana! I will also inform the Bishop)." Esteban immediately left the church with Metztli in his arms and ran into the Mission. The rain was coming down hard, and he tried not to get Metztli wet. Inside, Esteban ran toward Mariana's quarters and called out to her. "Mariana! We need your help!"

The thunder echoed in the skies, making it difficult for Esteban to be heard. He eventually made it outside Mariana's door, violently kicking it, begging her for help. The door suddenly opened, revealing Mariana in her nightly gown. The older woman was about to ask what was happening, but when she saw Metztli's unconscious state, she knew that it was serious. "Get inside!" Esteban walked inside, gently placing Metztli on the bed. "What happened?" Mariana asked as she closed the door behind her.

"I woke up to do my duties, but I heard Metztli crying in the church. Going inside, I saw her struggling against Padre Esteban. I was enraged, and I beat him unconscious."

Mariana gasped as she went to the young woman. "She is not hurt."

"No, but she could have been! I knew that Federico had a deranged attraction, but I didn't think he would stoop so low to-"

"Be silent. Though you protected Metztli, you still laid a hand on a Padre of the Mission. It could affect your position as a Soldado de Cuera."

Esteban sarcastically scoffed. "I don't care anymore. I was never thrilled with my duties, and it is just a terrible as the Padres. I have to speak with the Bishop; the plan must move on forward."

"Plan?"

Esteban didn't answer as he opened the door, but looked at Mariana and said, "Watch over her." He went off toward Bishop Victoriano's room and then knocked on the door. "Bishop, it is I. I need to speak with you urgently!" It was a struggle to speak since he was still filled with rage.

 It was silent, and Esteban was about to knock on the door again, but Bishop Victoriano opened it. "My word, it is still early to-"

"Bishop, we need to act now."

The Bishop was taken aback but motioned for the Soldado to come inside, fearing unwanted attention. "You have my attention. Calm yourself and tell me what happened?"

Esteban tried to calm his breathing while scrunching his hair. He explained everything that he witnessed, heard, and did. Bishop Victoriano listened intently, and his stomach quelled when he heard what happened between Metztli and Padre Federico. "Where is he now?"

"Manuel is keeping an eye on him. I thought it would be best that he be put in prison."

"With Padre Fermin and the Bishops, they will be outraged of what you have done to a fellow Padre of the Mission, but it would be best at the moment. Unfortunately, they care very little with what happens to the Tongva. Still, I will suggest him be removed from the Mission. Where is Metztli, now?"

"She is with Mariana; she fainted."

Bishop Victoriano massaged his entire face and the back of his neck. "Once she wakes, I will speak with her. Metztli must make her decision today or else everything can go wrong. Please tell your Soldados to take Padre Federico to prison. Everything must be prepared of what is to happen."