Neophyte

Passing Bells

Metztli was in her cold cell; she couldn't sleep. She knew that she would face punishment. Strangely, it didn't frighten her. What frightened her most was her family's safety.

The urge to protect her family was strong. 

A question plagued her mind.

If she died in the past, would she die in the future?

Metztli slowly sat up as she looked at the only window of the prison; it was slowly turning morning. It was only a matter of time before she faced her punishment. Her punishment was going to be whipped. 

She squeezed her hands together.

"I may not survive, but why am I not scared?" Metztli then hugged herself as she motioned herself to the wall. The memory of what Federico did and told her made her skin crawl. She realized that it was people like Federico who terrified her the most.

Death was mercy.

Death was freedom.

"Maybe that is why I am not afraid. Mother Earth, please lend me strength and survive whatever awaits me." Her thoughts were interrupted when the church bells tolled. Morning prayers either started or ended. It was learned that Padres in the past began Mass extremely early; they prayed every couple of hours.

"What a sad life," Metztli thought.

Closing her eyes, Metztli listened to the bell tolls; the sounds were soothing to her. The sound of the bells vibrated throughout her entire body. It was as if the bells were giving her strength; the bells that were made from the Earth. 

Her time was coming closer, and Metztli was still surprised that she felt no fear. 

She waited.

Metztli kept looking at the window for what felt like hours. 

The door was opened, and two Soldados entered. Looking at them, Metztli recognized one of them. "Manuel?"

Manuel was silent as he stood in front of the door; his eyes looked saddened and drawn from sleep. He looked at his fellow Soldado and told him he would handle it. The Soldado was about to protest, but Manuel insisted; he would take Metztli outside. The Soldado relented and waited outside, but the door was still kept slightly open.

Manuel walked toward Metztli's prison cell and opened it. "Oí lo que pasó (I heard what happened)."

"Si (Yes)."

"Deberías haber permanecido en silencio. Ahora, sufrirás el latigazo (You should have remained quiet. Now, you will suffer the lash of the whip)."

Metztli nodded her head. "Lo sé (I know)."

"¿Por qué? ¡Tu piel quedará hecha jirones! ¡Puede que no sobrevivas! (Why? Your skin will be ripped to shreds. You may not survive!)"

Slowly standing up, Metztli looked at Manuel and said, "Lo sé. Estoy cansada de esconderme. Estoy cansada de ver cómo le arrebatan a mi gente su identidad y su hogar. No permitiré ser esclavizada por ello. Prefiero morir libre que vivir encadenada (I know. I'm tired of hiding. I'm tired of seeing my people have their identity and their home taken away. I will not be enslaved in that. I would rather die free than live in shackles)."

Her words made Manuel silent. His eyes slowly widened. He didn't want to tell or if he could tell her anything. Manuel felt that she spoke the truth about everyone within the Mission; they were enslaved by the system they were either forced into or manipulated into following. Seeing Metztli and her eyes, he didn't see fear, but acceptance.