Neophyte

Missing

Victoriano had his eyes closed, feeling like he was floating in mid-air. Darkness surrounded him as he opened his eyes. The feeling of despair overwhelmed him, confusing him since there was nothing to despair over. 

"Papa (Father)."

Someone was calling him; the voice sounded so far away. Papa was what the voice said. It was either Guillermo or Valentina.

Which one?

 He tried find where the voice was coming from. "Who is calling me!? Guillermo!? Valentina!? Where are you!?"

Victoriano ran within the darkness, not caring what would happen to him. His children were on his mind.

*Clank!*

Stopping in his tracks, Victoriano heard the sudden noise. He then felt something slightly heavy on his waist. Looking down, he realized he wore a buttoned white shirt, black pants, and boots, and had a sword belt with a sword on his right side. "What?" 

Why did he have a sword? It had been so long since Victoriano held one. Taking it out of the sword hanger, Victoriano saw his reflection upon the sword. The sword felt heavy; it was almost surprising that he forgot how a sword felt. He used it to defend himself and kill those who needed to be killed and...those who didn't. 

"Papa."

It was the voice again, and it sounded closer. 

"Valentina?"

The feeling of despair returned. Victoriano dropped the sword to the ground and kept on running to find Valentina. She was the one who called out to him. Her voice sounded broken, which made him want to weep. "¡Valentina, mi hija (Valentina, my daughter)! ¿¡Dónde estás (Where are you)!?"

Valentina was nowhere to be seen, making Victoriano terrified. He wanted to go to his daughter, to beg for her forgiveness for lying and hurting her. 

He was about to call her again, but another voice echoed. No. It sounded like a cry. "A baby?" 

"Papa."

Valentina sounded as if she were behind her father. Victoriano immediately turned around and finally saw Valentina. "Hija, I-" He stopped on his tracks, realizing that his daughter looked different. She wore a plain white dress that had a large stain of blood. Her eyes were tear-stricken, and her long hair was disheveled. Blood was seen dripping down her feet. "V-Valentina?" Seeing his daughter in such a state broke his heart. She looked as if she were in pain. Victoriano wanted to take it all away. "H-Hija, what...?"

"Me duele (It hurts me)..."

"Estás herida; déjame ayudarte, hija mía (You're hurt; let me help you, my daughter)." Victoriano extended his arms and hands out to her. When getting to his daughter, Valentina suddenly fell. Before landing on the ground, Victoriano caught her. "Valentina! I will save you! I-"

Then, a baby's cry echoed loudly. Victoriano flinched at how low the cry was, which hurt his ears. "Ximopalehui!"

Victoriano looked down on his daughter; her skin was slowly turning pale. Touching the side of her neck, he felt her pulse weakening. Her life was leaving, making Victoriano terrified. Holding his daughter tightly, afraid of letting her go, he pleaded, "Valentina! Please! Fight! Tell me what I need to do!" 

"Ximopalehui."

*BAM* *BAM* BAM*

"GAH!"

Victoriano woke and sat up in his bed, looking around his environment. "A-A nightmare..."

Knocks on the door echoed. "Obispo, soy yo, Manuel. Metztli desea hablar con usted (Bishop, it is I, Manuel. Metztli wishes to speak with you)."

Looking at the small opening from his window, it was early morning. He knew that the Padres and Bishops were at church for morning prayers. Getting out of bed, he put on a robe to hide his night garments. "Ella puede entrar (She may enter)."

The door opened, and Manuel motioned for Metztli to enter the room. Victoriano took one look at the young woman and noticed that something was off. "Metztli, what's wrong? Did something happen to Mariana?"

Metztli shook her head. "No. I stayed with her all night to ensure that she would be okay." Manuel closed the door to ensure their privacy. 

"So what is wrong? It is not wise for you to visit me during times like these and-"

"I cannot find Valentina."

Victoriano stilled. "What do you mean, you can't find her?"

"I woke up early to not wake Mariana. I was worried for Valentina since she seemed to take the truth about you too hard. I went to our room to see if she was there. I went to the gardens, kitchen, cemetery, and all over the Mission. She is nowhere to be found. I went to our room again to see if I could find anything of hers that could help. Looking at her clothing trunk, it was empty. I-I think she may have run away."

Valentina found out the truth that he was her father, which was devastating for her. Victoriano believed that she needed time to digest the information, but hearing that she may have run away made his stomach drop. He then remembered his dream regarding Valentina. He wondered if the nightmare was a warning.

Was she trying to communicate with him?

Was it a sign that something happened to her?

"What of Guillermo!? Did you tell anyone else!?"

"N-No! I swear it! I came to you as soon as I found out! I know that Padre Fermin is going to decide everyone's fate, but with Valentina nowhere to be found, the situation has become dire!"

Victoriano paced back and forth, scrunching his hair. Usually, he is calm and collected in stressful situations. Since he was no longer a bishop, he was powerless. He couldn't protect anyone in his current position. "¡Manuel!" The Soldado immediately opened the door, surprised by the sudden call. "¡Por favor, pídeles a algunos soldados de confianza que busquen a Valentina! Se cree que se ha escapado. ¡Por favor, intenten encontrarla y asegúrense de que esté a salvo (Please tell some trusted Soldados to look for Valentina! It is believed that she has run away! Please try to find her and ensure that she is safe)!"

Manuel wasn't sure whether he should follow Victoriano's order, since Victoriano was no longer the bishop. Still, Victoriano helped him many times when he became a Soldado. It was the least he could do. "Lo haré. Sin embargo, habrá un guardia aquí para ocupar mi lugar (I will do so. However, there will be a guard here to take my place)."

Victoriano nodded as Manuel went on with his duty. "I want you to stay with Mariana. Do not tell her of this. She is in a fragile state, and I don't want her to worsen. Swear to me."

Metztli nodded. "I swear it." It was one stress after another. All Metztli could do was hope that Valentina was safe.