Hunchback of Notre Dame

Chapter 8: God Help the Outcasts

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Frollo exited the church, and closed the door behind him. Esmeraldo's eyes widened at his words and rushed to the door and opened it to see soldiers outside.

"Frollo's orders; post a guard at every door." A soldier said.

Esmeraldo closed the door in frustration and slid down to the floor with his knees up to his chest. His goat came up and sat next to him.

"Don't worry Djali. If Frollo thinks he can keep us here, he's wrong." Esmeraldo stated.

"Don't act rashly my child." The Archdeacon advised. "You created quite a stir at the festival. It would be unwise to arouse Frollo's anger further."

"You saw what he did out there, letting the crowd torture that poor boy, and ignoring that poor girl's cry for help." He stood up and paced in frustration.

"I thought if just one person could stand up to him, then-!" He let out a sigh. "What do they have against people who are different, anyway?"

"You can't right all the wrongs in this world by yourself."

"Well no one out there is going to help, that's for sure."

Well, perhaps there's someone in here who can." The Archdeacon told him before walking away.

Esmeraldo's thoughts immediately went to the girl and he looked around for her, but didn't see her anywhere. She must have slipped away when he was talking to the Archdeacon.

"Hello? Where have you gone?" He called. "Why do you keep running away from me, little dove?"

He smiled mischievously. "Well, if you don't want to come out, that's fine. I'm stuck in here for a while. I'll find you eventually, and when I do, will you finally give me your name?"

He got no reply.

"I'm not hearing a 'no'." He smirked.

Esmeraldo looked around and noticed all the people praying, and his smile faded. His eyes lifted up to a statue and he sighed.

🎵Esmeraldo: "I don't know if you can hear me, or if your even there. I don't know if you would listen to a gypsy's prayer."🎵

He slowly approached the statue.

🎵Esmeraldo: "Yes, I know I'm just an outcast, I shouldn't speak to you. Still I see your face and wonder, we're you once an outcast too?"🎵

Esmeraldo turned away from the statue and walked along the halls of the church.

🎵Esmeraldo: "God, help the Outcasts, hungry from birth. Show them the mercy they don't find on Earth."🎵

(Y/n) stood on an upper level of the church looking down at Esmeraldo with a sympathetic frown.

"Hey, (Y/n)." A voice called.

Quasimodo had heard the singing and had come down to investigate.

"What are you looking at?"