God Help The Outcasts: COMPLETE

Chapter Twenty-One: City In Your Hands

“Quasi!” At Esmeralda's call, Nakoma and Quasi exchanged worried glances and hurried back to where Phoebus lay sleeping, his face finally relaxed. Esmeralda sighed with relief as they approached. “He's unconscious for now...he will heal fine. He just needs to rest.”

Djali suddenly bleated, his hooves up on the window sill. Quasi hurried to the window.

“Frollo's coming!” he called back. Nakoma's heart began to race. “You must leave.” He took Esmeralda by the hand. “Quick, follow me.” He pointed toward a different staircase. “Go down the south tower steps.”

Esmeralda grasped his hands.

“Be careful, my friend. Promise you won't let anything happen to him.”

Quasi set his face before it could register his displeasure. “I promise.”

“Thank you.” Esmeralda smiled at him before dashing off.

“Quick, we gotta stash the stiff!” cried Laverne.

Nakoma, the gargoyles, and Quasi all wrangled Phoebus' unconscious body underneath the carving table, Nakoma trying (and Quasi not really trying) to be careful of his wounds. “Hide!” he hissed at Nakoma, but she had already leapt away and was settling in behind one of the loose drapes surrounding the little space with the table, prepared to listen in. She could see what was happening through one of the many little holes in the fabric. Quasi hurriedly righted his fallen figurines as Frollo entered the little room. He stopped what he was doing and stood straight.

“Oh, master, I didn't think you'd be coming--”

“I'm never too busy to share a meal with you, dear boy.” Frollo placed a basket on the table and sat down calmly, removing his hat. “I brought a little treat.” Quasi smiled nervously. Frollo cleared his throat.

“Oh!” As though on cue, Quasi sprang into action, running to retrieve some dishes for their impromptu lunch. Nakoma cringed as Quasi dropped several of them, filling the bell-tower with the crash of shattered pottery. He returned and quickly set the table with the ware he'd managed to keep hold of. Frollo gently placed a bunch of grapes on Quasi's plate.

“Is there something troubling you, Quasimodo?”

“No. No!” Quasi sat down, bracing himself on the table.

“Oh, but there is.” Frollo plucked a grape from his own bunch and ate it quickly. “I know there is.” A single grape fell and rolled underneath the table. Quasi warily ducked under the table and picked it up, gulping as he caught a glance of Phoebus' sleeping face. As he sat up straight, Frollo watched him curiously.

“I think...you're hiding something.”

“Oh, no, master, there's nothing--”

“You're not eating, boy.”

Quasi grabbed a bunch of grapes, stuffing them all in his mouth and chewing quickly.

“It's very good,” he said through a full mouth. “Thank you.”

Nakoma had to stifle a gasp as she heard a groan from underneath the table. Quasi's eyes widened.

“Mmm!” he said, smiling and chewing on his grapes. Phoebus groaned again; Quasi suddenly jerked and slammed his hand on the table, coughing and beating his chest. “Ahaha...seeds.”

Nakoma could tell that Frollo was not convinced. He looked around curiously.

“What's...different in here?” he said, standing and surveying the room.

“Nothing...sir.” Quasi gazed up at him expectantly. Frollo suddenly looked down at the models on the table and picked up the figure of Esmeralda.

“Isn't this one new?” He examined it with feigned admiration. “It's awfully good. Looks very much like the...gypsy girl.” Quasi's eyes widened and his mouth fell open. “I know...” Nakoma could feel the fear rising in her heart as she watched Quasi's terrified expression. Frollo leaned over the table. “You helped her escape!” He slammed the figure down on the table, breaking the dishes and knocking Quasi onto the floor.

“But I--”

“And now, all Paris is burning because of you!” He threw the figure onto the table and pointed accusingly at Quasi.

“She was kind to me, master,” Quasi said quietly.

“You idiot!” Frollo cleared the table with one swipe of his arm. “That wasn't kindness, it was cunning!” He circled the table and grabbed Quasi by the shirt, shaking him. “She's a gypsy! Gypsies are not capable of real love! Think, boy! Think of your mother!”

Nakoma choked back her angry retort with some effort. She couldn't expose herself, not now. This was Quasi's fight. The judge was quiet for a moment, and then cleared his throat. He let go of Quasi's collar, leaving the poor boy heaving for breath on the floor.

“But what chance could a poor, misshapen child like you have against her heathen treachery?” He studied the figure of Esmeralda on the table for a moment and then pulled a dagger from his robes, spearing it and holding it over the flame of the overturned candle. “Well, never you mind, Quasimodo. She will be out of our lives soon enough. I will free you from her evil spell.” He tossed the figure onto the floor where it lay in flames, illuminating the terror and confusion splayed wildly on Quasi's face.

As Nakoma watched the figure burning, and saw Frollo's triumphant smile, the flames seemed to enkindle something fierce in her heart. Quasi's horrified face sent it boiling, churning through her veins. Leaping out from her hiding place, she stood between the enraged judge and his terrified charge, throwing her arms out like a shield.

“Stop it!” she cried. “You're a monster!”

Frollo's face twisted with confusion, but as he recognized her, his eyes widened and his lips turned up in a wicked grin.

“Ah, I'd been wondering where you had crept off to,” he snarled. Before she could make a move, he snatched her wrist and pulled her away from Quasi. Her fierce anger turned to ice in her veins as she realized her mistake.

“Master, no!” Quasi reached toward her, but Frollo stopped him with a look that could have chilled the sun.

“You dare disobey me again?” he thundered. Seeing Quasi retreat, he softened. “This is your just punishment. You see what they have done? You see the trouble these gypsies--” he shook Nakoma's wrist violently-- “have caused? And I wonder who gave them reason to defy me?” Quasi began to back away, shame slowly dawning on his face in red blooms.

“But I didn't--”

“ 'Tis no matter now, Quasimodo. What's done is done. But now, we can exterminate the gypsies once and for all. You see, Quasimodo, I know where their hideout is. And tomorrow, at dawn, I attack with a thousand men.” He gave Nakoma a glance of withering contempt. “This one will be the bait to make the others come along quietly.”

“No!” Nakoma shrieked, using all of her strength to try to get away. But it was no use—the judge's grasp was iron. He pulled her toward the staircase; she glanced back desperately at Quasi, who was staring after her, frozen with indecision. “Help me!” she pleaded feebly, tears forming as she realized he wasn't going to move. Frollo had him trapped in a cage of fear and guilt so strong it had immobilized him. A guy like you, Quasi...you can break out of this!

But as his form receded, as she was pulled farther into the cold darkness of the stone stairwell, her only glimmer of hope vanished. I thought I could count on a guy like you...don't prove me wrong!

* * *

Quasi couldn't believe it. Frollo had snatched her, dragged her away, and all he could do was watch. She was going to die. Esmeralda was too, along with all the other gypsies. And there was nothing he could do. With Nakoma gone, he felt all the warmth leave him; it was as if someone had extinguished his only candle, his only point of light in his dark, cold bell-tower. And Esmeralda...he couldn't bear to think of her engulfed in those destroying flames the way his master had so casually burned his beloved figurine.

“Quasimodo.” He whirled to see Phoebus struggling to get to his feet, hand covering his wound. “We have to find the Court of Miracles. If Frollo gets there first...” His perfect features, though twisted in pain, brought the image back to Quasi's mind of Esmeralda kissing him, so tenderly and sincerely. He scowled and looked away. “Are you coming with me?”

“I can't.” Quasi crossed his arms and refused to meet the soldier's eyes.

“I thought you were Esmeralda's friend,” said Phoebus. “And what about that other poor gypsy girl? You know, you are letting a very nice couple of girls fall into the hands of a murderer.”

“What are you talking about?”

Phoebus let his hand slide down his face in exasperation.

“Look. Esmeralda loves you. She was a real friend to you. And the other girl...” He swirled his hand in the air as if he could conjure up her name.

“Nakoma?” Quasi offered.

“Yes, Nakoma. The brazen girl who just now jumped out and tried to protect you from that raging monster. She is obviously your friend. She obviously loves you.”

“Loves me?” The word seemed to have a different meaning, a different connotation when applied to Nakoma. With Esmeralda, he now knew what her love meant. It was a familial love, a love between brethren or members of a family, a fierce, protecting love. Nakoma had that love, too, but...somehow it was different. His torn ace of hearts came to mind, and her fingers gingerly putting it back together...

“Yes, she loves you! She got herself kidnapped because she couldn't bear to see Frollo treat you so badly. And what do you do? You just stare at her as he strolls off to kill her.”

“Stop it!” Waves of guilt washed over him, staining his face red, making his brow bead with sweat. He knew he had let her go, like a coward. He didn't need to hear it from this pretty-boy soldier.

“She's defended you twice. She's stayed here, keeping you company, even though she's probably dying to get out. And she just risked and lost her freedom to spare you a little pain. And you somehow doubt that she loves you?”

Quasi barely heard him. In his mind, he was far away, under the lip of a bell, sitting with Nakoma, holding her hand as she told him she was in love with someone, someone blinded by loving another woman. Could it be that he was that someone, that his desire for Esmeralda's love had hidden Nakoma's affection from him? He remembered her blush, her downcast eyes and shy smile, the way her eyes lit up when he'd taken her hand and comforted her, and as though yearning to heal his broken heart, pushing the two halves of his ace back together. He hadn't even realized he'd remembered all of these details. He needs to pay more attention...then he will find the love he is looking for.

“Stupid! I've been so stupid!” He covered his face with his hands. “She was right here the whole time...the whole time. And now she's gone. I let her go!” He slammed his fists down on the carving table and felt the splintering of the wood. He had held the city in his hands that day, the day she had fallen asleep so trustingly on his shoulder, but couldn't see it past the smoke of the city burning below, of his misplaced affections for Esmeralda. Even the gargoyles had tried to tell him, but he was so blinded by Esmeralda that he couldn't see Nakoma, probably weeping, as she listened to the gargoyle's song.

“Quasi, I know you're upset, but we don't have time to beat up the furniture,” said Phoebus. “Now, are you gonna keep her and Esmeralda waiting?”

Quasi stared at him, breathing heavily. He couldn't...he was so useless. Phoebus was the fighter, not him. How could he face his master, Esmeralda, Nakoma...he had disappointed them all. Nakoma, of all, deserved better than he could ever offer. He was so scared, and she was so brave... But he couldn't just let them die; he couldn't just do nothing!

“I...I don't know,” he said, pacing. “I can't...Frollo's my master. I can't disobey him again.”

“They stood up for you. You've got a funny way of showing gratitude.”

Quasi frowned, convicted by Phoebus' words and his piercing gaze. He turned away, crossing his arms.

“Well, I'm not going to sit by and watch Frollo massacre innocent people,” said Phoebus after a moment. “You do what you think is right.” With that he left abruptly, clutching his wounded shoulder and leaving Quasi to stew in his guilt. The gargoyles came to life as soon as he left, all staring at Quasi with that same piercing look. It made his blood race with indecision and fury.

“Look. What am I supposed to do? Go out there and rescue the girls from the jaws of death, and the whole town will cheer like I'm some sort of hero? Esmeralda already has her knight in shining armor, and it's not me. And Nakoma...” He dropped his hands to his side in resignation. “I can't be hers. It's too late for that now. Frollo was right. Frollo was right about everything. I'm tired of trying to be something I'm not.”

They didn't respond; Laverne held out a cloak. Quasi looked at it, knowing he couldn't stay here. Even if he got killed, even if he failed...he had to try. Esmeralda had tried for him. And so had Nakoma. He would tell her he loved her, even if they died in the process.

“I must be out of my mind,” he said, and threw the cloak over his shoulders as he dashed away.



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