Chapter Text
Season 4 Episode 3; Miminal Loss
"Tell us about the 911 call." Jacinto inquired. Her dark brown eyes set ahead of her, looking out into the streets ahead of them.
Nancy sighs. "I believe the 'he' that they referred to is the church's leader, Benjamin Cyrus." Jacinto nods absentmindedly. She has a bad feeling about this, she believes that there's no way this ends well.
Prentiss is the one to ask the next question, "Benjamin Cyrus?"
Mira flips through the file on him, but to her discontent there's absolutely nothing on him. "There's no record on him." She states.
The woman nods, and Prentiss asks that they not be identified as FBI agents. It's at that point that they arrive at the destination.
The car parks and Jacinto is the first one to step out of the car, Prentiss is right beside her as she does. Elmira keeps a blank face, but her head is spinning—focusing on trying to reel her powers back in and banishing the thoughts of others from her mind.
You see, Elmira Jacinto is a mutant—an omega level mutant who is on par with Wanda Maximoff magic wise. Elmira's magic connects with the eldritch world, along with minimal telepathy and telekinesis.
"We're looking for Mr Benjamin Cyrus." The CPS worker says, Emily and Mira trailing behind her. "You found him." Jacinto has to suppress a shudder, his energy is unlike others. He is pure horror and evil... perhaps the most evil in the circles of Eldritch.
"I'm Nancy Lunde, we spoke on the phone about the allegation."
Jacinto takes a subtle look around, making sure not to stare at anyone or anything for too long. She sees Prentiss do something similar.
Benjamin sighs, pulling off his glasses. "Savages, they call us. 'Cause our manners differ from theirs." Jacinto has to stop herself from rolling her eyes. She can't stand men like this.
"We didn't come here to hear you cite scripture, Mr Cyrus." Nancy claps back. The woman straightened her posture even more, seemingly to appear even more professional.
Jacinto was never one for God or monotheistic religions. She found them impractical. However seeing as Thor and Loki do exist in this world she supposes it is not so impossible.
"These are, Elmira Jacinto and Emily Prentiss, they are child victim interview experts." Mira nods her head slightly at Emily, watching as the man gets closer.
"How far from God's word must we have strayed for there to be the need to invent a job called child victim interview expert?"
Elmira isn't one to make sense of unsub's words—yet these words she finds herself wondering about too. Why should there be a job like this? She internally shakes her head, getting rid of the thought as quickly as it came.
"We wish we didn't have to be here." Emily answered. Jacinto nodded along with her.
"So do we," He agreed. "But you are welcome nonetheless. The children are in the school as I indicated." He continued, looking in the direction of the school as he said the words.
"Thank you." Jacinto forces a smile, and begins walking past him and to that direction.
As Jacinto walks towards the school she can't help but wonder how badly this will go. She always had trusted her gut—it almost seems too easy.
•••
"We go to school. We do our chores," The girl begins. "And we treat ourselves and each other with the respect God demands."
Jacinto squints at the girl, trying to decipher her meaning or should she say any underlying meaning. Nonetheless she doesn't see or find any so she stops looking for it.
"But you've never been off the ranch?" Mira asks, her eyebrows furrowing a bit.
"I brought Jessie here when she was two." The mother of the girl answers. Jacinto finds that to be odd, but she doesn't comment on it.
"You've talked to lots of children in your work," The girl pauses.
"Tell me, are their lives better than ours?" Mira sighs at that question, because the answer to that is not cemented. There are no answers her or Emily can give the girl. Some do have a better life than this but some don't. That's how the world works unfortunately.
"We devote ourselves to God, that doesn't mean we don't devote ourselves to our children." The mother continues for her daughter.
Prentiss and her share a look.
"We are not here because of your religious beliefs." Prentiss shakes her head, despite how stressful it must be she keeps her cool.
The mother nods, and the daughter just looks confused. "Why are you here?"
"We received a phone call." Prentiss starts to say but pauses as Jacinto looks down at her.
"Alleging that an adult male member of your church was having inappropriate relations with the younger women here." Jacinto finished for her partner. Her hands find themselves fidgeting with a loop in her jeans.
"You're talking about Cyrus." The girl states. Jacinto almost winces at the accusational tone of voice, the hostility is very apparent.
"What makes you say that?" Emily responds, her chin jutting upwards in question.
Jacinto doesn't say anything, merely watching the interactions. She watches the mother in particular, something about the mother doesn't add up.
"Jessie, come on." The mother begins interrupting the girl of her rant about Cyrus being her husband and how it's normal. The mother is trying to shush Jessie, but to no avail.
Mira's eyebrows shoot up at that. "You're married to Cyrus?"
"Oh my god..." Jacinto whispers quietly, so quiet that no one would hear it unless they had super hearing.
"Yes. Cyrus is my husband and a prophet, it's an honor to bear his children." Jacinto feels like she's going to throw up. No wonder she had such a bad feeling.
"Jessica, you're fifteen years old. The state of Colorado requires parental consent." Jacinto says, almost choking on her words.
Prentiss is still in shock, trying to process the information that the girl just shared. Mira doesn't blame the ravenette.
"She gave consent." Emily says towards the mother.
That's when everything started to go downhill. Men with guns entered the room telling them to get up and move. Jacinto did so without hesitation. Hearing that a raid team was coming made both Prentiss and Mira confused—they had no idea.
"They don't know." Cyrus stated.
•••
The shootout was a blur—everything was happening so fast and Jacinto was more concerned about controlling her powers.
"Miles is dead. He was locking the doors when they shot him." One of the lackey's says.
"Lauren and Robert were asleep in their bed. The bullets came through the wall." Emily and I are staring shell-shocked at the words.
"What about the baby?" Benjamin asks.
"I have her, she was at the school." Jessica replies, rushing down the stairs. Jacinto's eyes widened a bit.
"Hello, darling. It's all gonna be alright, Mommy and Daddy have gone to God. Ok?" Mira shoves a scoff back down her throat, trying to wipe the disgust off of her face.
"It's all going to be alright. Take her to the temple and pray." Jessica nods at Cyrus' words and rushes back up the stairs and presumably the temple. It all makes Jacinto's head spin.
"Distribute weapons and ammo." Emily seems shocked still, apprehensive but shocked.
"I prayed this day would never come. But it has." Cyrus stated, his voice steel and cold. "God will see us through."
Cyrus' stare at them makes her skin crawl. Her arms develop goosebumps, and she clenches her jaw.
•••
Jacinto sighs as she sits down next to Emily. There's no doubt in her mind that she's getting an earful from her twin brother.
"Might as well get comfortable." Jacinto says which makes Emily chuckle a bit. A small smile lifts up onto Mira's lips and she nudges her partner's shoulder.
Unbeknownst to them Hotch and the team are working like hell to make sure they make it out of there alive.
Jacinto never put much thought into beliefs, she found she didn't necessarily care as long as it didn't hurt others. Now she realizes that people will hurt people no matter what.
It's jarring for her to realize this. Nonetheless she keeps going. If only for her brother.
•••
Jacinto sighs leaning her head against the seat. Her brown eyes close and she clenches her jaw. She doesn't want to be here, but she has a job to do—and she'll be damned if she didn't do her job.
When Rossi walked in she felt some relief, someone at least is trying to get them, all of them out safely.
"The children." He pauses as he gestures to the children. "And our guests." he then gestured to Emily and Jacinto. Rossi glances at both of them, and an understanding passes between them all.
"I'd hoped you'd let me take the children." He spoke, his voice calm.
"Nah, they're our protection." Cyrus replied, Jacinto shuddered at the words. The pure evil intent wafting off him is almost too much for her to handle.
"I remember Waco. We all do."
Rossi stops and looks at the other man. Jacinto tries to ignore the bubbling of her sixth sense. Tries to tell herself that she's safe. When she isn't.
"This isn't Waco." He replies evenly. Rossi's stare unwavering.
"They stay for now..." Cyrus trails off.
"While I pray for God's guidance, please don't try to force us out." Jacinto isn't trying to eavesdrop but super hearing doesn't discriminate.
"No one is going to force you out of here, trust me." Rossi lies.
"Trust is earned."
Jacinto knows Rossi cannot argue with that. No one can. The rest of their convo is a blur as Jacinto dissociates a bit.
She stops dissociating only when Rossi has left. She mutters something under her breath that sounded a lot like a foreign language.
"Prepare the wine." Cyrus orders, his lackeys do just that and before she knows it wine is being served.
"We are celebrating. Everyone drinks, everyone rejoices because today we are one closer to being with Him."
Emily nudges Jacinto's shoulder. "Look at Jessica's body language." She mutters, and Mira does look at her body language, studies it even.
"She literally worships him, there's no way she made that 911 call." Jacinto realizes. This just got a lot trickier.
"Trust in God with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, trust in wine." Cyrus recites.
Jacinto watches as Jessica's mother gets in between Cyrus and her daughter, almost protectively. "Look how she comes in between Cyrus and her daughter, she's inserted herself in between them." Jacinto mutters to Prentiss. She sees the older woman nod in agreement, obviously thinking something similar.
"Acknowledge him in all things and He will guide your way. Drink to acknowledge him and I will guide our way." Cyrus finishes his speech and drinks the wine, the rest following suit. Jacinto watches with interest, how they all follow a man like Cyrus without doubt.
"We will be with Him soon, we drank the poison together." Mira's eyes go wide. Her chest caves in with pure panic for a second before she forcefully reels herself back in, she cannot afford to lose control.
"Mothers, Fathers, Children. Though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we fear no evil, for thou are with us." Cyrus rants on and on, and Jacinto knows then he's bluffing.
He's scoping out the reactions, to see who will follow him to the end.
Sick bastard.
•••
Emily and Mira were sitting down, idly talking about nothing in particular.
"Which one of you is it?" He pauses and pulls out a gun. "Which one of you is the FBI agent?"
"Why do you think one of us is an FBI agent?" Prentiss asks, confusedly staring at Cyrus. Jacinto's heart beats wildly in her chest. This isn't going to end well.
"God will forgive me for what I must do." He clocks the gun and aims it at Emily. "I don't know what you're talking about." She responds, stuttering a bit.
"One of you does."
"Who is it?" Jacinto knows that if she lets Prentiss take the fall she'll be shot to death—and Mira will not be the cause of her friend's death. Not again.
"Me. It's me." Mira says, her shoulders sag in relief when he stops pointing the gun at Emily.
Her relief is short-lived as Elmira is being manhandled away. "Mira no!" She hears Prentiss call out to her, she shakes her head at the elder agent.
"I told you not to put me into this position!" He yelled, she winced in pain but didn't give him the opportunity to hear her scream.
Cyrus kicks her in the stomach, over and over again. Beating her.
"I can take it." She whispers.
"Oh you can take it?" He sneers at her. Grabbing her by the shirt collar, ignoring as it rips the material. Jacinto feels nausea pull in her stomach. She desperately wishes the team will not hear the next part.
She dissociates a little after that. Only coming to when she was lying on the floor in her own blood. She wants her brother to hold her and tell her it'll be ok, that she'll be fine as long as he's there.
"Tie her up and put her upstairs." She hears Cyrus tell his lackey.
•••
"You should've told Cyrus who you were." Jessica's Mother says. Jacinto stares up at the ceiling, desperately trying to compartmentalize everything.
The woman wipes the blood off her face, being as gentle as she can be.
"He's a prophet, he predicted Satan's armies would come and lay siege to us." Jacinto grunts in response.
"There's a name for that kind of prophecy—self fulfilling." She mutters bitterly. Her whole body throbs in pain.
"You don't know how dangerous it is to lie to him."
"I know it would take a brave woman to defy him knowing the consequences, and that that woman would have to have a damn good reason to do it." Jacinto winces as she talks, watching as the elder woman panics a bit.
Mira moves her leg just a bit—but groans after the immense pain that she's in. Whether its physical or mental she doesn't know.
Soon enough Jessica's mother leaves the room.
And Jacinto is all alone with her thoughts once again.
•••
Jacinto is dragged down to the chapel, and determinedly pushes through the pain.
She stands off to the side, trying desperately not to dissociate again. she hears footsteps to her right, she glances at Prentiss and forces a smile. "I'm so sorry..." Emily says, voice full of regret.
"It's not as bad as it looks." Emily either doesn't know she's lying or doesn't mention it.
"Look at who he's releasing," Jacinto murmurs, her brown eyes following each person that steps up.
"He's releasing all the ones that failed the loyalty test."
Mira winces a bit as she shifts her stance, normally she'd heal herself but she can't right now.
"We'll wait for word from the team to indicate when the raid will come." Prentiss assures her. Jacinto merely nods, the expression on her face carefully blank.
Emily walks away, and says something to Cyrus. "Take her back."
The lackey grabs her arm and pulls her out of the chapel and takes her to the room she was in before, once again tying her up while giving her a disgusting smirk.
•••
Jacinto carefully lifts the blinds with her foot, ignoring the immense pain she's currently in.
"If you can hear me, I know you're coming, I can try to get the women and children out down to the tunnel before it happens." Jacinto says to the empty space.
She repeats it a few times and it pays off, she gets a time, 3am.
Jessica's Mom comes through the door, and she has a cup of water and pain medicine.
"Cyrus is planning a mass suicide, you kade that 911 call." Jacinto states. Her eyes flickering towards the door just in case.
The woman glances at the window and door a few times, and Mira wishes she knew what the woman was thinking. "This is all my fault." She hears the mother say, and her heart breaks a little.
"None of this would have happened if I hadn't made that call."
"You were trying to protect your daughter, that's understandable." Jacinto replies, compassion filling her voice.
"There were other girls before Jessie, he would marry them in secret and after a while he'd take another and we wouldn't be able to speak a word of it. So when she asked for my consent I wanted to take her and run but I was afraid she wouldn't leave him." Jacinto feels hatred swirl in her veins for Cyrus. That man is pure evil and she wants him dead.
"You wanted us to take her." She states numbly.
"I wanted to save her from Cyrus." The woman stuttered. Jacinto smiles in sympathy.
"I can give you another chance, the FBI is coming here at 3am. I need you to gather all the women and children in the tunnel just before 3am."
She watches as the woman stands and then begins pacing. she knows this isn't easy, god does she know it. But it's the only way.
•••
She got everyone out, Jacinto did her job—but she's not sure how she will make it. She is trying to talk Jessica down, tell her she was lied to and then it happened.
Explosives rigged to explode, Mira tried running, tried her damn hardest to get out of there.
She was almost there too, almost to the exit when the building exploded and collapsed.
Then everything went black.
•••
Mira feels like she's floating in a pit of nothingness. She wonders if this is it, this is her dying. Then she's dragged out of the pit, her eyes fly open and her heart monitor begins to beep more consistently.
"Mira!" She hears her brother's voice, but she's still trying to orient herself.
"Emil." She finally responds, her hands gripping the sheets tightly. Her brown eyes lock onto his worried ones. Mira tries to smile to reassure him but it comes out more like a wince.
She begins to explain all that happened, almost like she's reciting it like a mission report.
Hopefully she can get cleared soon.
•••
Elmira is cleared for work 1 month later.