God Help The Outcasts: COMPLETE

Chapter Twenty-Two: Captive

After quarreling uselessly about the map Esmeralda had given Quasi, he and Phoebus found themselves traveling down a flooded, dank corridor. Quasi shivered a bit as he noticed the skeletons lining the walls.

“Is this the Court of Miracles?” he wondered aloud.

Phoebus made a face as he looked around in the torchlight..

“Offhand, I’d say it’s the Court of Ankle-Deep-Sewage. Must be the old catacombs.” He paused and sniffed in disgust. “Cheerful place. Kinda makes you wish you got out more often, eh, Quasi?”

“Not me,” said Quasi, frowning. “I just want to warn Esmeralda and get back to the bell tower. I don’t want to get in any more trouble.”

“Speaking of trouble,” Phoebus replied as they passed under an archway, “We should have run in to some by now.”

“What do you mean?” Quasi didn’t like the sound of that.

“You know, a guard, a booby trap…” The torch suddenly blew out, and Quasi’s stomach lurched with panic. “Or an ambush.”

The chamber was suddenly lit, and Quasi looked up to see skeletons all around them, lining the ceiling. They leapt from their perch and surrounded them, growling menacingly. Quasi felt his arms restrained from behind, and he and Phoebus were both forced to their knees.

A familiar figure strode in front of them and stopped.

“Well, well, well. What have we here?” Clopin smirked maliciously at them.

“Trespassers!” cried one of their captors.

“Spies!” cried another.

“We are not spies!” Phoebus was gagged.

“Can’t you listen—” Quasi felt cloth around his own mouth and struggled against it.

“Don’t interrupt me!” Clopin said, pointing his finger in Quasi’s face. He stepped back, the sticks in his hands bursting into flame as he twirled them. “You’re very clever to have found our hideaway,” he said, grinning wickedly. “Unfortunately, you won’t live to tell the tale.”

—————————————————

Drizella finished the bow in her hair, studying her reflection with a mixture of distaste and the beginnings of admiration. Esmeralda smiled behind her.

“You did it! I’m proud of you.” Drizella smiled at her dubiously in the mirror.

“Are you sure it’s supposed to be so…puffy?”

“Oh, it’s not puffy,” Esmeralda laughed. “It’s just—”

Djali suddenly burst into the tent, bleating wildly.

“What is it?” Esmeralda knelt down beside the goat, but he evaded her and leapt outside of the tent. The women followed Djali up to the platform in the center of the court. Drizella gasped as she recognized the two men on the stage with ropes around their necks.

“Quasi! Phoebus!” Clopin had his hands on the lever which would remove the floor from underneath them.

“So you’re going to hang!” he and the gypsies gathered cried gleefully. Esmeralda pushed through the crowd.

“Stop!” Clopin hesitated as Esmeralda burst from the crowd and climbed onto the platform. “These men aren’t spies! They’re our friends!”

Drizella followed suit and helped Esmeralda get the gags and nooses off the men.

“Why didn’t they say so?” Clopin cried.

“We did say so!” Phoebus and Quasi protested in unison. Drizella pulled a knife Esmeralda had given her from her pockets and cut the ropes binding Quasi’s arms behind him.

“This is the soldier that saved the miller’s family,” Esmeralda explained, pointing at Phoebus. “And Quasimodo helped me escape the cathedral.”

Phoebus strode to the edge of the platform once freed.

“We came here to warn you! Frollo’s coming!” The gathered gypsies gasped in alarm. “He says he knows where you’re hiding, and he’s attacking at dawn with a thousand men.” Drizella’s eyes widened. Oh, no!

“Then let’s waste no time!” Esmeralda declared. “We must leave immediately!” The gypsies scattered. Drizella made to follow Esmeralda down the ladder but felt an arm link around her own, pulling her another way. She turned and followed Clopin down the platform on the other side.

“Where are we going?” she asked. Once they were on the floor Clopin broke into a jog.

“To help the others gather their belongings,” he said, pausing to pick up a doll and hand it back to the frantic child it belonged to. “Mine are of no matter, and, well…” he trailed off.

“I know,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “I don’t have much to speak for.”

“That’s… not what I meant,” he said, and his typically roguish demeanor fell away to reveal a pain, an anxiety she had never seen before. He looked down at the ground, refusing to meet her gaze. “Drizella, if something were to happen…I…” he hesitated, but his white-knuckled grip on her arm spoke for him. He wants to keep me near him. He doesn’t want to lose me.

“I understand,” she said. “I feel the same way—”

Screams interrupted her; she saw guards in grey and black armor surrounding the gypsies all around. Two guards leapt in front of them and advanced on them. Panic seized her, and she clung to Clopin’s arm as they backed against the tent behind them.

“Don’t panic, my dear, don’t panic,” he said calmly, pulling her protectively behind him. “I won’t let them take you.” This is it, she thought. One of the guards lunged at her and grabbed her arm.

“No!” she shrieked, clutching Clopin’s hand for dear life. Clopin yanked her away from the guard and wrapped his arms around her protectively.

“Alright, well, if that’s how ya want it,” the guard said, shrugging his shoulders as he and the other guard threw ropes around them both and tied them tight. “You’re going to the burning either way.”

Drizella began to weep as the guards took their place on either side of them.

“At least we are together,” Clopin whispered fiercely in her ear. “Be brave, my love, my rose.”

Together to die, she thought hopelessly, sniffing and resting her head on Clopin’s chest. And when I had found true love at last…

——————————————————-

“After twenty years of searching, the Court of Miracles is mine at last.” Frollo pompously strode down to the center of the court, taking it in with a look of wonder in his eyes. Guards formed a ring around him. Quasi stood stunned; Esmeralda and Phoebus struggled against their captors as Frollo approached them. “Dear Quasimodo, I always knew you would someday be of use to me.” Quasi felt sick to his stomach as Frollo stroked his head lovingly. Behind Frollo came a guard leading Nakoma, bound and gagged, behind him.

“No!” he whispered in despair. It’s all my fault.

“What are you talking about?” Esmeralda growled.

“Why, he led me right to you, my dear,” Frollo replied, daring to caress her cheek. “And he was so kind as to give me the use of this little bargaining chip—” he gestured to Nakoma, “—without so much as a protest.”

“You’re a liar!” she spat. Quasi hung his head, tears streaming down his face. No, it’s true. I am a coward. Frollo paid no mind, but moved down the line, studying Phoebus.

“And look what else I’ve caught in my net! Captain Phoebus, back from the dead.” Phoebus pulled against his captor to sneer in Frollo’s face. “Another miracle, no doubt.” His smirk turned into a snarl. “I shall remedy that.” He paced away from them and addressed the gypsies.

“There will be a little bonfire in the square tomorrow, and you’re all invited to attend.” Gasps went up throughout the court; Quasi felt his courage drain away. “Lock them up,” he ordered the guards. As Frollo began to walk away, Quasi ran after him, now desperate. He had to do something. He clung to the fabric of Frollo’s robe, falling to his knees.

“No, please, master!” Frollo looked over his shoulder with a glance of withering contempt. It admitted no pity, no mercy, no goodness. Quasi knew the battle was over. He fell on his face. “No, no…” Nakoma will die. Esmeralda will die. All because of me. He glanced up to see Nakoma being led away. She met his gaze, eyes full of a questioning hope, but after a moment looked away in defeat. She had seen the cowardice in his eyes. She was ashamed of him. I didn’t even tell her…I think I love her.

“Take him back to the bell tower,” Frollo commanded his guards, “and make sure he stays there.”

Quasi went limp in despair and sobbed freely as the guards picked him up and dragged him away.

But it’s too late. We’re all captives.



AlyCatAuthor