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The dark room was spinning and unfamiliar except for one thing. Esmeralda caught a glimpse of an all too familiar black and purple robe and hat that sat upon the edge of the bed . Her breathing grew heavier as she panicked, wriggled , and pushed on both elbows in attempts to prop up her aching body. It was of no use as she was far too weak from the pyre. Yet, the girl had to try. She wasn't going down without a fight. The Archdeacon simply pushed down on her chest and her body plopped right back down on the bed.
"Having any second thoughts my dear" the cruel figure leaned in closer with a sinister smirk.
“Never" croaked the weak, but still defiant female voice.
The frightened women scanned the room but did not find Quasimodo, only his beloved bells that stood tall and quiet. Her loyal friend promised no one would find them here. She wondered where he could be and wished desperately for a miracle to stop whatever Frollo was planning to do to her.
"Now, Now. You just go back to sleep. I will take excellent care of you" Frollo cooed, as he stroked her cheeks. Despite her protest and fighting desperation, sleep soon took over the Gypsy. ****************************************** Suddenly the ending was written on the wall. The infamous trio completely alone in the Bell Tower . There were no witnesses or any unexpected saviour to change this twist of fate. The Gypsy and the Hunchback had retreated back into a corner , while every muscle in their bodies trembled. They huddled together in an fearful, yet warm embrace.
The Archdeacon was slowly approaching them with sword in hand. Anyone, even Paris's newest scum, could see how this morning would end. After all their efforts, fighting, and risks Esmeralda and Quasimodo would not be victorious after all. It was Frollo who would bask in the glory. Who could have predicted that?
But suddenly the game changed, whether it be God, fate, or just plain luck at the right time. Frollo dropped his sword and it was his turn to retreat. Esmeralda couldn't help herself , and looked up at the evil being with wide and confused eyes. While Quasimodo on the other hand, stayed in his coiled state unaware of the unexpected turn in events . Unexpected indeed.
“What have i done?" Frollo agonized, as The Hunchback now too looked up in awe of the new scene before them.
“Quasimodo ...words can't express how so--
“SORRY ? ALL OF A SUDDEN YOUR NOW GOING TO CHOOSE TO BE MERCIFUL AND SORRY?" the Gypsy blurted, interrupting.
"Careful Esmeralda" the kinder man whispered as he guided the girl behind him, shielding her.
“It's a trap of some kind. It has to be" she agreed, staring coldly at the true monster in the room.
“This is not a trap" the Archdeacon rolled his eyes. Unconvinced of the change, Esmeralda held Quasimodo's hands as they managed to keep their distance.
"Dear boy, Is there anything I can do to earn your forgiveness for all that I have done?"
“I'm afraid that's not up to me . I leave that up to Esmeralda" the bell ringer proclaimed.
The Gypsy stepped forward with a sweet, but sly smile on her face. "Quasimodo , will you give me a moment alone with our unexpected guest?" Esmeralda said in a mockery tone. She remembered Frollo making the same exact request only a week ago when she snuck up to the bell tower to meet her now best friend. She learned about Quasimodo , the bells, and the art of wood carving. All the fun was soon shattered by a certain religious bully. The poor girl trembled just thinking about the moment the bell ringer left, as she was trapped alone with the devil himself in the house of God. The start of a war. But this time was different. She was not the unexpected guest, she was in control.
“Alright. But I will be right outside the door in case something happens" Quasimodo warned , staring at his old master as if to challenge him. After one more reassuring glance from his companion, the Hunchback left.
Frollo sat down in defeat, his fate now in the hands of a Gypsy. Esmeralda, reveling in the shift in power, began circling Frollo like prey over and over, with her hands behind her back. No words did she speak, but her smirk piercing into Frollo's eyes said it all. All these things she was doing now, the circling, the tauntingly long pauses, the uncomfortable smirk, were all things this cruel man had done. He gleefully tormented her in the Palace Of Justice just the night before.
Though she would never admit it , all these things had frightened her greatly. Oh the irony that she now gets to make The Archdeacon fear for his fate. She had learned from the greatest of tortures and she was using it to her advantage. "I'm guessing now comes the part where you tie me to the pyre intended for you?" Frollo broke the silence.
"I'm not going to do that."
"I don't understand, why not?" Questioned the suspicious man of God.
“Because Frollo. I am not like you. I never have and never will kill another, she said proudly, braver with each word.
"Then what will you do? Talk me to death?"
"Im going to give you the only thing I wanted when i came here, a chance. I'm sure its a mistake, but i actually believe your little performance with Quasimodo was genuine" the Gypsy girl laughed.
“What exactly are you saying? Is there still a chance you could lo--
“HELL TO THE NO. AFTER ALL YOU HAVE DONE TO ME . YOU HAVE THE NERVE--
"Would you at least try if a certain Captain wasn't waiting outside?" The jealous being raised an eyebrow.
"Leave Paris Frollo. Start over far away from here, From us. Treat the next city better. And if you treat them one ounce the way you treated me and my people , I will find you and make you regret it."
"Exile" the Archdeacon gasped.
"If you don't agree to my terms , I may not want to kill you, but I'm confident Phoebus would love nothing more than to do the job himself. Not your biggest fan after I told him what you tried to do to me last night. In fact , he promised me he would kill you if he ever got the chance…… But leave now and no one else will ever have to know about this. I won't say a word."
"Is this an act of Mercy or forgiveness?"
"Funny, you asked your charge as you call him, to forgive you, but you dare not ask for my forgiveness right away. Meanwhile I'm the one that begged, fought , and screamed last night and you enjoyed every second of it. Do you even register in your ever so holy mind everything you did to me and my friends? How we'll never see the world or anything the same ever again? You make me absolutely sick" Esmeralda spat.
"I will say goodbye to the boy and be on my way. Enjoy your life with your Sun God" The wicked soul looked out the window one last time before leaving.
"Goodbye your grace" the girl hissed.
Several moments passed when Esmeralda heard commotion in the next room . What she witnessed was horrific, a struggle between Frollo and Quasimodo . The Archdeacon wasn't surrendering after all. With a knife in hand , Frollo was getting ready to throw the very man he raised off the building. And yet once again, Quasimodo got the best of him, knocking him down on the floor and taking his knife.
"Now Quasimodo. You don't want to hurt me."
"Maybe not but I for one have had a change of heart " Esmeralda cut in, as she charged at Frollo and pushed him out the window. Then they heard it, the agonized cry and the cracklings of the fire below. Frollo was dead.
"Quasi…..I didn't mean to. I'm so sorry " the shocked woman brought her hands back in from the window."
"You did what you had to do. Thank you for saving my life " the bell ringer explained whole heartedly.
"My gosh. i killed him" Esmeralda gasped, reality setting."
"Is everyone okay up here?" Asked a blonde haired Captain. He was greeted by his two greatest friends in distress. Quasimodo sadly looked out the window while Esmeralda buried her face in her hands.
"Sweetheart?" Phoebus approached them and sat down next to his lover.
"I killed him . I killed him. I kicked him out of The city and then I killed him" Esmeralda stuttered over and over again, beginning to panic.
"Esme my darling look at me. There is not a judge in the world who would not rule self defense. You had no choice. If you hadn't done it, I would have . You both were in danger. You did the right thing. You did great Esme Bumble Bee" his gentle gloved hand tilted her chin, stroking it tenderly.
The Soldier looked into the Gypsy's eyes that were filled with tears of fear, shock, and relief. He pulled her onto his lap and whispered soothingly happy thoughts to her.
"Quasimodo I didn't plan for any of this I promise." Esmeralda pleaded frantically.
"I know that Esme. He came in here and asked if I really believed he would leave town because a street rat told him too. He told me what you offered. He just wasn't smart enough to take it. I appreciate you trying to end this peacefully despite everything."
"Whatever creature he was, he was beyond terrible but I still realize he was like a father to you . I'm sorry you lost him, I really am."
"I'm not anymore. Not at all. Don't think for a second that anyone is to blame but my master. Just because you threw hands, doesn't make it your fault. If you hadn't we would be dead or worse. Everything I knew of him was a lie anyway." Tears formed in the deformed man's eyes, as he tried to process that the only person he knew for his first 20 years of life was gone. Then both the Hunchback and the Gypsy let their tears fall and ran to each other for a short embrace.
"No one would deny this had to happen, it was unavoidable. Heck, half this town will rejoice and probably throw a festival over it. But the fact is a public official is dead. We need to get a story for the people and get it straight. You both can start by telling me what actually happened in the bell tower after the supposed execution," Phoebus explained with concern, every word hesitant.
As Quasiodo explained their final battle that took place, Esmeralda climbed back into Phoebus's lap where he held her firmly and protectively with one hand, and gently rubbed her arm with the other. The Gypsy girl's eyes remained shut tightly the whole time. The wicked will not go unpunished, but why did she have to be the one to carry it out? Then again why not her ?