Neophyte

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Esteban couldn't sleep. He was trying hard to find Padre Lucas, but it was difficult because the land was vast. There were nearby ranchos and towns, but he could have gone anywhere.

He was running out of time, but Esteban refused to give up. He continued onward and decided to look farther away from the Mission. Commanding his horse, Esteban went to a nearby village of neophytes and asked if they had seen Padre Lucas. No one in the small village of neophytes had seen Padre Lucas or any Padre arrive their way; only Soldados.

"Esteban!" a voice called out. 

The voice sounded familiar; Esteban also heard a couple of horses approaching. Looking behind him, he was surprised to see Manuel and a couple of Soldados. He commanded his horse to the group of men. "¿Qué pasa? ¿Qué hacen todos aquí ? (What is it? What are you all doing here?)." Manuel was noticed.  "Manuel, ¿no se supone que deberías estar vigilando a Victoriano? (Manuel, aren't you supposed to be guarding Victoriano?)."

Manuel looked concerned. "Esteban, venimos aquí con urgencia. El obispo quiere que encontremos a Valentina (Esteban, we come here with urgency. The Bishop wants us to find Valentina)."

"¿Valentina?" It was odd that Victoriano would order Manuel and the others to find Valentina. Hearing the truth about Victoriano being Valentina's father was a shock to everyone. Esteban believed that Valentina needed time for herself, but seeing Manuel and others was not a good sign. "¿Le pasó algo? (Did something happen to her?)"

"No lo sabemos. Por lo que pudo haber dicho Metztli, es posible que Valentina esté desaparecida (We don't know. From what Metztli may have said, Valentina may be missing)."

Missing.

Esteban didn't want to believe it was true, but it made sense why Victoriano would send Manuel and other Soldados. He had his orders to try to find Padre Lucas, but finding Valentina was his top priority. "Ayudaré en la búsqueda. Yo estaba buscando por esté lado, pero sigan buscando por aquí y yo iré en la dirección opuesta. Recuerdo que Valentina solía pasear por un camino en particular (I will help with the search. I was looking through this way, but keep on searching this side, and I will go the opposite way. I remember Valentina would take walks on a certain path)."

Manuel led the small group of Soldados to begin their search since there were many nearby villages. Esteban went in the opposite direction from the Mission, toward a path through more barren land. He thought it would be better, since Valentina was more of a loner. Commanding his horse to go faster, Esteban hoped that he could find Valentina as soon as possible. Passing by the Mission, Esteban didn't notice that Guillermo stood outside the door. "Esteban!"

Esteban commanded his horse to stop and saw Guillermo waving and running toward him. His stomach dropped; he didn't know whether to tell Guillermo about the current situation. "Guillermo, why-?"

"Esteban, forgive me but I am concerned for my sister. I cannot find her anywhere!"

Guillermo was also worried about his sister. Esteban was relieved that he didn't have to lie. "Yes, Manuel informed me that Victoriano commanded him and some of the Soldados to look for her."

"So he knows..."

"Yes. I'm shocked about him being your father and I-"

"I knew before my sister did. I overheard the truth; Metztli knew before I did."

"What? Metztli knew?"

Guillermo nodded. "She is not at fault. It was more of my mother and Victoriano's responsibility to tell me and my sister the truth. Now, I fear for my sister. I cannot find her anywhere. Will you help me?"

"Of course. I was going to look this way. I would think that Valentina would be the type of person of wanting privacy than being with many people." Esteban motioned with his hand, assisting Guillermo to get on his horse. "Or what do you think?"

On the horse, Guillermo sighed. "Whenever my sister is angered, she prefers the quiet, but I fear this is more than just a tantrum. My sister is hurt as I am, but her emotions get the best of her. She can be rash but I can't help but feel something terrible."

"What do you mean?"

Guillermo expressed hesitance. "I had a dream regarding my sister that she was in pain. I don't usually have dreams with intensity, but this one felt very real. It was as if she or god was trying to call out to me."

Esteban's worry intensified. Everyone had a terrible feeling, but all he could do was hope that Valentina could be found. He commanded his horse to go onward.

Guillermo became vigilant, hoping to get a glimpse of his sister or any indication of her. He called out to her, but he knew that his sister wouldn't answer. Esteban also called out to her, but he couldn't help but feel dread. "Something terrible happened," he whispered to himself.

"What did you say?" Guillermo asked.

"Never mind. I will make a turn here. We need to continue looking."

Something caught Guillermo's eye. Pointing, he said, "There! I see something!" 

Esteban commanded his horse to stop and looked in the direction Guillermo was pointing. It looked like a bag with a couple of items of clothing sprawled. Before reacting, Guillermo immediately got off the horse and ran to the bag of sprawled clothes. "Guillermo, wait!" Esteban also got off the horse and ran to catch up with Guillermo.

Guillermo got the bag where he knelt, getting partial clothing. He recognized them. Esteban got to him and noticed the clothing. "These are my sister's."

The feeling of dread didn't disappear; it intensified as he noticed something. 

"Blood..."

Guillermo looked down as he also noticed a small pool of blood. His eyes widened, clenching a piece of his sister's clothes. "N-No..."

"Guillermo, we mustn't think the worst. We-"

"Valentina! Where are you!?"

Esteban stood helplessly, listening and watching as Guillermo called out to his sister. That was when he knew that something terrible happened to her.