Neophyte

Rebellion Pt. 2

"Metztli..."

"Valentina!?" Metztli trembled while looking around.

Manuel stood by her side, not sure what he should do.

Metztli listened as gunshots, arrows, and screaming echoed from the other end of the Mission. She couldn't help but believe that Valentina called out to her. Her voice sounded as if she stood beside her.

Metztli didn't know why, but she felt intense sadness in her heart and spirit. She unconsciously put her hand over her heart as the pain didn't leave. Tears slowly formed as they dripped uncontrollably. It was almost strange to Metztli that she couldn't help but feel loss.

One of her previous dreams involved a body covered with a sheet. Mitena wept as did many people. "C-Can it be? No...Valentina...." Metztli fell onto her knees.

She knew.

Metztli knew why she believed Valentina called out to her.

Valentina was saying her farewell. 

Metztli covered her mouth to prevent herself from screaming. She cried and screamed into her hand as she tried not to be heard by the enemy. Metztli wanted to go after Esteban and Guillermo, but she would have been put at risk; she would put them at risk. 

All Metztli could do was hope they would return alive.

Meanwhile, Victoriano was hiding behind a tree as he was trying to avoid getting shot. He had a pistol, bows, arrows, and a sword. It wasn't enough. Toypurina's army didn't have the firepower to defeat the Mission. 

Seeing the situation and the many dead bodies on the ground, Victoriano knew that they wouldn't be able to win. Toypurina's army was not only slowly becoming outnumbered, but they also lacked advanced weapons.

He accepted the fact that they were not going to win. All that was left to do was to give Esteban and his son time to free Metztli and escape. He tried to find Toypurina while hiding from the bullets and arrows. 

Victoriano looked in a particular direction where he saw Guillermo running out of the open, holding a pistol, and he shot and killed two Soldados. "Guillermo!?" Victoriano yelled toward his son. He couldn't believe his son. He couldn't believe his son had disobeyed his orders and was now in the middle of the rebellion they were losing. He watched as his son dodged attacks and gunfire, hiding behind certain trees.

Yelling at Guillermo wouldn't work since there was a lot of screaming and bullets. Vicotriano didn't want his son to get shot. He ran. Victoriano ran toward his son's direction as he avoided getting shot or being seen. While running, Victoriano saw that many of the Tongva were killed, injured, or captured. 

He couldn't see Toypurina anywhere; Victoriano feared the worst, but he had to continue. Victoriano went to his son, surprising him.

"Gah!" Guillermo gasped. "Y-You scared me!"

"What are you doing! Why aren't you with Esteban and Metztli!? Was Metztli found!?"

"Metztli was found with Manuel until Federico arrived!"

Victoriano's eyes widened. "Federico!? Where-!?"

"He was beaten until unconscious! I told Esteban to take Metztli far from here! They-"

Victoriano grabbed his son's shirt, enraged. "You were to go with them and return to your mother and sister! You fool! You fool! Why did you come here!?"

Guillermo pushed Victoriano's hands away from him. "I should have known! You wanted me to go with Esteban because you didn't believe that I could fight alongside our people! You have always viewed me as weak!"