Neophyte

Aftermath

"Guillermo!" 

A shot was fired.

Metztli screamed and trembled when hearing the sound of a gunshot. "G-Guillermo!?"

Manuel heard the sound and became worried when hearing Guillermo's name. He didn't want her to go to the battle; it would put them at risk.

"¡Tengo que ver a Guillermo! (I need to see Guillermo!)"

"¡No puedes! ¡Me han encomendado la responsabilidad de sacarte de aquí! (You can't! I was given the responsibility to take you away from here!)"

Manuel grabbed her arm and tried to motion her toward the horse, but she refused to go along. She took her arm away and ran to where the battle was. There were no more gunshots or any other noises. 

It was as if the battle stopped.

Was it over?

Metztli stood by the wall where she could watch what was happening. She gasped at the sight of many dead bodies, and some lay on the ground, injured. Many Soldados walked out of the Mission as they took in Tongva captives. "Oh no..."

At the center of everything were Esteban and Victoriano. Esteban stood while Victoriano knelt, holding Guillermo.

Manuel arrived behind her and saw what transpired. He knew that the rebellion was over. He then noticed Esteban with Victoriano; Guillermo was shot. Soldados in different uniforms arrived at the Mission. Seeing them closer, he remembered who they were. "¡Son los soldados del gobernador! ¡Escuché que el gobernador de Las Californias estaba de visita en la Misión! (They are the Governor's soldiers! I heard that the Governor of the Californias was visiting the Mission!)"

"¿El gobernador? (The Governor?)" Metztli felt overwhelmed by everything that occurred. She wanted to go to Esteban and the others. However, Metztli feared that she would cause more distress.

The Mission's doors were fully opened, and more of the Soldados de Cuera ran out with weapons drawn. 

They weren't alone.

The Bishops and Padre Fermin walked out of the Mission with anger and disgust. The two Bishops looked at the dead bodies of Soldados and Tongva men. Padre Juan made the sign of the cross when seeing the bodies. "May god have mercy upon their souls."

Padre Fermin was silent as he processed the massacre that had happened. He put a hand over his chest when seeing the aftermath of the rebellion. Padre Fermin also did the sign of the cross over the dead bodies of the deceased, no matter if they were Soldados or Tongvas. "Oh, so many innocent souls have been lost." He then looked at the corpse of an adolescent Tongva who was part of the rebellion. Padre Fermin said, "Poor boy, you lost your life for nothing."

Bishop Samuel scoffed in rage. "They disobeyed us, Padre Fermin! We offered these traitors peace, and yet they fought against us! The dead do not deserve pity!"

"Hush, Bishop. Remember our life purpose: save the souls of the natives. They do not know what they do. They are vulnerable. I am certain that they were fooled." Padre Fermin then noticed the Governor's soldiers and a carriage that were behind him.

The Governor had finally arrived.

Padre Fermin sighed as he massaged the back of his head. It was a moment he dreaded. He and the Governor would write to one another regarding the stability of the Mission. They would have disagreements regarding the many native people. Padre Fermin believed that he and his fellow brothers knew how to treat and view the natives.

The Governor would always have disagreements. 

The Governor's soldiers saw the massacre, and they all looked on with disgust and horror. One of the soldiers went to the carriage and opened it.