Chapter Text
Esther is absent from their clerical studies.
And ignoring their chores.
They disappear into the cemetery grounds for most of the day. At night they retire to their dorm without a word to anyone.
And without having eaten all day.
It's bad enough that Brother Tomas gets worried. He marches up to Esther while they're smoking behind the Perez family sarcophagus.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Tomas demands.
Esther just inhales a long drag, watching his expression get more annoyed. "Leave me alone." Esther walks away. They stub out their cigarette and resort to staring at the wall in their room.
Anything to be alone.
That night, Esther runs into Tomas again but this time, Tomas hands them a fresh pack of cigarettes
"I heard the news." Tomas shrugs. "Sorry."
Esther is a little surprised at him. "Did Monica tell you?"
"I'm resourceful enough to figure it out myself." Tomas looks like he's offended. "Anyway...God's judgment be upon these supposedly holy men."
Esther nods solemnly. They accept the smokes.
"Does he know yet?" Tomas asks.
"Huh?"
"Does your angel? Does he know?"
"Oh. Not yet." Esther thinks about what Crisostomo might do when he finds out. "He will, eventually."
~
They don't tell him.
In fact, he hears it from Dominimon.
The File Island Unrest is still going on. Angewomon reports that with the five Chosen all deciding to fight on the side of the Metal Empire, they are quickly overpowering the Nature Spirits. So the Nature Spirits' new tactic is to enlist the help of another faction: the Nightmare Soldiers. Historically, they have no issue with either faction, but have an old grudge with the Angel Corps that works out for the Nature Spirits, who were unable to even the odds with getting Chosen humans for themselves thanks to the Angel Corps' intervention.
"They are being led by IceDevimon, who has a Chosen human," Angewomon reports.
Dominimon brings up their profiles. "His Chosen is an injured human."
Crisostomo immediately recognizes him.
"Sir, if I may?"
Dominimon nods his permission.
"I was the one who injured him."
"You?" Piddomon gasps. The photo of the injured human shows him with a neck brace and a face splotchy with healing bruises that he attempts to hide with sunglasses and a flu mask.
"What is your explanation for attacking this human?" Dominimon asks. The rest of the Angel Corps in attendance look at him, surprised that Angemon would purposefully harm a human, especially to this extent.
"Sir, he was harming my Chosen. Esther worked to collect evidence to convict him and to my understanding, this human, Father Zephaniah Cho-Mendoza, should be incarcerated. How is he free to travel to the digital world?"
Dominimon scans through his reports for a possible explanation. "He couldn't have escaped incarceration in that state," Dominimon says, gesturing to Father Zeph's photo. "Perhaps IceDevimon had a hand in it."
"Where is he currently located?" Crisostomo asks.
Piddomon brings up a live feed of the exterior of ruined building built into the side of a mountain. "He and IceDevimon were seen here, at a place called Neo Vein Opera, a known Nightmare Soldiers stronghold west of File Island."
"Dominimon, sir, permission to investigate IceDevimon and Father Zeph," Crisostomo asks.
Dominimon takes a moment to think, looking over photos of Father Zeph and IceDevimon providing him relief from his injuries with the cold compress of his claw.
"This is personal to you?" Dominimon asks.
Crisostomo nods. "Highly, sir."
"Tell us your plan."
"I want to find out how Father Zeph escaped prison. I'm not well-versed in the intricacies of human security systems when it comes to prisoners, so that will be the first goal, sir," Crisostomo explains.
The image of Esther in the aftermath of Father Zeph getting arrested comes to mind.
But here in the human world, this is how justice works, they had said with sadness in their eyes.
"And I would learn how he made contact with a Digimon belonging to the Nightmare Soldiers. All known portals have been sealed for months now, including the one at the old church. And...well...of course, I have to find Esther."
Piddomon puts a hand over his own heart. Esther and Crisostomo have not seen each other in almost six months due to a combination of things, including the File Island Unrest. He looks at his comrade with a pang of pity.
Dominimon thinks with a hand over his chin. "The Nightmare Soldiers are hostile to us. Do not engage them. If your investigation requires you to open a portal, you may do so once. Permission granted."
"Permission to accompany Angemon, sir," Piddomon asks.
"Granted," Dominimon nods. "I expect a report as soon as possible."
~
Just as the meeting is dismissed, Crisostomo receives an unexpected call from Monica.
"Good afternoon, Monica," he greets.
"Hey Tomo, do you have a sec?"
"Yes. I have something to discuss with you too." Crisostomo moves to the end of the hallway outside of the boardroom. "Please, continue."
"So...we just got news that..." Monica sighs deeply. "That Father Zeph is getting off with just a slap on the wrist. They gave him community service hours and probation, with credit for time already served in custody. And now he's somewhere out there."
"He's been spotted here in the digital world, Monica," Crisostomo says.
"What!?" Monica's eyes bulge wide.
"He's been Chosen. His partner is IceDevimon. This is all in connection to the File Island Unrest as well, so I was about to look for information that you just told me. The Angel Corps thought that IceDevimon broke him out."
Monica sighs again. "He didn't have to. The stupid courts just let Father Zeph walk! And after all our hard work..."
Crisostomo swallows a lump in his throat. He has to know.
"H-how is Esther?"
"Esther isn't doing too hot. Thought they might have told you already though."
"No, I haven't heard from them for a few days. I'll give them a call."
"Please do. I'm worried! I've been so busy with my studies. I'll call them too, okay?"
"I'm deeply disappointed in the justice system if this was allowed to happen." Crisostomo mutters.
"You can say that again. If the church doesn't at least excommunicate this heinous disgusting man, I might have to be locked up for strangling him myself!" Monica mimes doing just that, shaking her imaginary victim vigorously. "I'm so upset. I gotta tell the Sistermons. It's–ugh! After everything Esther went through to get that recording and shit just–!" She makes another snarling noise.
The days Esther spent getting close to Father Zeph.
The drugs.
The chocolate.
His cock in their throat.
His fingers between their legs.
All of it gone to waste.
"Stay on the line, Monica," Crisostomo says. "I will call Esther right now."
"You sure you want me here? Thought you two might wanna talk."
"I'm not the only one who cares about them." Crisostomo goes ahead and calls Esther's digivice. The two of them wait anxiously.
They don't pick up. Crisostomo tries again.
Still no answer.
"Hmm...they might be in class or something. It's still the middle of the day."
"I'll try again later. Thank you, Monica."
"Anytime, Tomo. Later!"
~
"No..." Even Cupid is disheartened at the verdict to release Father Zeph. "That bastard. I know the Angel Corps remain neutral, but...there must be something we can do."
"That's what we are here to do, Cupid," Crisostomo reminds him. The two of them land at the garden of the old church and are greeted happily by the digimon there. Guilmon offers a bite to eat but the two of them decline.
Crisostomo tries calling Esther again. Still no answer.
Crisostomo tries a sixth time. As usual, it continues to ring.
But this time, the call is actually rejected. In big, red letters, in front of Crisostomo: Call Declined.
"Esther?" He shakes his head. "Perhaps it really isn't a good time to call."
"But we need them to open the portal, right?" Cupid asks, growing even more concerned.
Then suddenly, a call. The two of them are hopeful for a half second but it's Monica.
"Hey, Tomo, Esther's not there in the digital world, are they?" She says, frantic. "Oh, it's Cupid."
"Hello, Monica dear!" Cupid gives one of his winning smiles. "Shall I step away? Give you and 'Tomo' some privacy?"
"It's fine, you can stay."
Crisostomo brings up a history of notifications he's received. "I would know right away if Esther is in the digital world. I haven't gotten anything from them since...six days ago." He internally chides himself for going so long without speaking to Esther.
To think what they must be feeling right now.
"Thats not good." There is a bunch of commotion coming from Monica's end. Cupid and Crisostomo catch a glimpse of Tomas walking past behind Monica.
"Monica," Crisostomo says. "Where is Esther?"
She huffs a breath and looks straight at the two of them. "I asked around and no one has seen Esther for over a day. They missed their classes yesterday and today. They didn't leave no note, no word about their whereabouts..." Monica runs her hands through her curly hair. "We're gonna have to call it in."
Tomas sighs offscreen. "I'm calling the cops."
Crisostomo turns to Cupid. "Do we know where Father Zeph is right now?"
He shrugs. "Last sighting was here, at Neo Vein Opera, but he's got access to both worlds."
"Why did they release him?!" Monica yells. "Who is his probation officer? Guys. Crisostomo. I have a really bad feeling."
Crisostomo has to agree. "We find Father Zeph, we find–"
Just as he's speaking, he receives a notification that Esther has arrived in the digital world.
~
Cupid is first to react. "Esther is here?!"
Monica leans in to try to peer through her digivice's screen. "What? No way."
Crisostomo flies towards the old well. It remains undisturbed and sealed, as if there is a glass window blocking all access to humans and digimon.
"Did they use a different portal?" He muses to himself. He touches the old well's bricks, willing Esther to pop through and tell him they're alright.
But it's quiet.
"Let's check all known portals," Cupid says. "To rule anything out. I know where they all are and I'm willing to bet there is one inside of Neo Vein Opera."
"I think that's where we should start," Crisostomo says. He tries to call Esther's digivice again but to no avail.
"I'll leave the search in the digital world to you," Monica says. "I have to go now, alright? Gotta...gotta report Esther missing to the authorities. Keep calling their digivice."
"Understood. Thank you, Monica."
The call ends.