[Private] The Hunchback of Notre Dame (AdAstra)

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Aimee wanted to leap up and hug Estelle. She could feel the sadness in her words. She didn't like to see her upset. "I think he's ok...", she said, not too re-reassuringly. She didn't know actually, but she couldn't see any damage as he went into Notre Dame. Sighing, she finished her tea. She thanked Estelle again, for she felt a little better.

She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up shakily. She looked down at the blood that had stained her night dress, she sighed. All she could think about was the work Estelle would have to do to scrub that out. "I'm sorry about the stain...I'll clean it out. Surely I'm allowed in the laundry room, what could I do in there, clean my way out of this place?". She smiled a little.

[AdAstrα]

"Oh...well I really hope he's allright. The poor boy.." Estelle said, gazing out the window, "He doesn't deserve to be treated like that..."

She jumped; for there was a loud knock on the door as Frollo appeared in the corridor again, seemingly out of nowhere.

"Estelle!" he shouted, his deep voice carrying unmistakable traces of annoyance, "Come out! Now."

She exchanged a horrified look with Aimee before she rushed to the door and stepped outside. A million things went through her mind as she found herself face to face with her master, who was looking a lot more alive but still rather unwell. Had he heard anything they had said? He looked angry. She took a few steps towards him, her heart pounding; half expecting to be hit again. But nothing happened.

Without a word, he grabbed her arm; his grip surprisingly gentle, and pointed towards a dozen pieces of ceramic scattered all over the floor; what remained of an old vase he had obviously just knocked over. "Clean it up." he simply commanded, letting go of her and walking away quite briskly. Seconds later the front door closed and Estelle sighed with relief; he had gone.

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Aimee was yet again shaking from head to toe. The knocking, the voice, it all was so sudden that she had to remember to breath. She felt uneasy when Estelle left, and she couldn't hear the front door close. Her mind told her to get up and check if Estelle was ok, but her body told her otherwise. After moments had passed, she slowly but shakily walked to the door.

She let out a heavy sigh, Estelle was ok. Leaning back against the wall, she was left to think about other things now. She wondered if Roseriya was getting along, and if Phoebus was alright. Aimee would of asked if she could go and visit Quasimodo, but after everything that had happened, she wouldn't bother trying.

So, the day passed slowly for Aimee. She stayed in her room, only making the occasional trip out. Like she said, she did go to the laundry room and tried washing her night dress, but after alot of effort and no outcome, Estelle shooed her out so she could do it. Aimee wasn't wearing anything extravagant, just a rather simple casual dress. She was glad when lunch came along, boredom often made her hungry. She had been used to the feeling on the streets, but now getting food seemed almost normal. She had to constantly remind herself that she is considered lucky.

It was nearing the time Frollo returned from whatever business he had to take care off. There was always something about it that made Aimee want to know what had happened, even though all he said would be biased. Part of her hoped he wouldn't ever come back, but in ways he had the information she needed about the outside.

[AdAstrα]

It was getting dark again when Frollo returned. He was tired, Estelle could tell that much; for the deep sighs and heavy footsteps gave away his presence in the building long before he walked in through the door. This evening he at least bothered to nod in her direction as he walked past, which didn't say much, but meant a great deal to her nevertheless. It was about the only recognition she ever got for her hard work, except from Aimee, and thus she appreciated it.

"What a day..." he muttered to himself as he sank into an armchair, yawning, "Awful. Such a waste of time, all of it... He looked up. "Should you not be in the kitchen, Estelle? It's dinner time."

She couldn't help but shudder as he spoke her name. "I-yes, sir. I just..."

"Oh, it's no rush. I'm not in the mood, anyway." he added quickly, clearly trying to win some sympathy. Estelle gazed at him curiously; and not because she felt for him in any way, but because for once, she was actually interested in hearing what he had been up to.

"I...I assume you have a lot on your mind right now, sir? she asked carefully, mentally preparing herself for any potential verbal abuse; but there was none. He merely nodded, not looking at her, however; for he was gazing at the fireplace, the orange flames reflecting in his dark eyes.

"Indeed, I do. Such as that pathetic Captain Phoebus betraying me! Just like that!" he began, still speaking more to himself than to her, "How dared he! What a coward."

Estelle did not know what to respond to this, for she knew after all these years that Frollo's idea of what a coward was differed quite a bit from her own. Instead, she went for a more sympatic approach; deciding that would probably be the least likely to result in being shouted at.

"But...you did punish this...Phoebus?"

This time, he looked directly at her, his lips curling into a little smirk. "Of course, Estelle. he said, "He will not cause me any more trouble, that's for sure."

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Aimee heard Frollo return, it was a little later than usual and her curiosity is what forced her to sit beside her door, with her ear against it. Though she could hear conversation without doing this, it was barely mumbles.

"Oh, it's no rush. I'm not in the mood, anyway." Frollo's tone of voice was different, first time she had heard it for sure. Aimee was interested, really interested. Aimee wasn't one for gossip, but she didn't count this is as gossip at all. ""I...I assume you have a lot on your mind right now, sir?". Aimee smiled, Estelle probably wanted to find out what had happened too. She was thinking about all the possibilities, some of them amusing, but was snapped out of her thoughts quick enough,

"Indeed, I do. Such as that pathetic Captain Phoebus betraying me! Just like that!". Aimee's eyes widened a little, Phoebus? "How dared he! What a coward." What did Phoebus do? Aimee hadn't any idea of what had happened that day, the fire starting, the saving of innocent people, so as Estelle asked her next question, Aimee was on edge.

""Of course, Estelle", Aimee started to breath rapidly, surely Frollo didn't-, "He will not cause me any more trouble, that's for sure."

Aimee could only make one assumption from that. Frollo had either killed Phoebus or had him killed. Her in ital reaction was too cry. That's what she did when her father died, and her mother. She buried her head in her hands and tried to take control of her emotions. After a moment or too of holding back the tears, she glared up at the door.

"Phoebus isn't dead", she told herself, "He can't be". She knew deep down she doubted herself, but now, she had had enough of all of this. If Phoebus really was dead, then Frollo was one up in destroying everything happy in her life left. He wouldn't get the chance to do it anymore. Aimee jumped up and ran to put a cloak on, she was going to leave. She wasn't sure where Frollo was, but she pressed her ear to the door again, searching for signs she would be able to get out unnoticed. It wouldn't matter if she was noticed, all she needed to do was run.

[AdAstrα]

Estelle felt a shiver down her spine as she saw the smirk and noticed at the same time now his hollow eyes suddenly became strangely vivid, as if the mere thought of Phoebus' demise brought him great pleasure. She did not know what to say, for she was certain that any word she spoke in that moment would give away that he terrified her beyond belief. "I...well that's good, then." she finally said, her voice hardly more than a whisper. He glanced at her once, his expression rather neutral, before he continued to stare into the flames.

"Dear Estelle...it's good to hear that you have some understanding of what I have to deal with every day. A relief, I must say! You're not just a dumb maid after all, are you?"

She heard his words but was only half listening, for someone had appeared in the doorway across the hall. To her horror, she realized that it was Aimee; fully dressed and clearly on her way outside.

Quickly glancing at Frollo again, her heart began to pound. He had not yet seen the girl, but if he did look away from the fireplace only for a second, he would...and only God knew what would happen then.

"I, erm....I do understand, sir." she began, realizing that if Aimee would have any chance of walking past this room without getting caught by her uncle, she would need to keep talking to him. At the same time, however, she couldn't understand what was going on inside the teenager's head at that moment. One had to admire her courage...or was this an act of impulse? Foolishness? Estelle did not know, but she certainly wanted an explanation.

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Aimee was wishing with every ounce of faith she had left that she didn't get caught. She was aiming to slip by unnoticed by anyone, but Estelle had glanced her way. She cursed under her breath silently, she had to be careful. However, she was thankful Estelle kept Frollo talking. She crept along, trying to stop herself shaking. Every now and again she'd freeze up in just the pure fear of what would happen if she would get caught.

Her body was screaming at her to go back, to forget about it, and her brain was too. But...there was something that overcame that, something drove her on. She was so close to the door, and then she could leg it to the front door and out of The Palace of Justice. Her hand reached for the door handle and she looked at Estelle again, waiting to catch her glance.

She hoped Estelle didn't think she was abandoning her. Aimee was going to try to see Estelle again. When she looked she mouthed the words,
"Thank you for everything". She slipped through the first door silently, not closing it fully behind her to prevent noise. Once she had walked a few steps, she began to run. She almost flew down the stairs and out of that front door, not pausing when the soldiers at the door shouted at her.

Aimee knew they'd be after her soon enough, and now all she could so was run. In all the rush, she had forgotten one thing. One thing hanging off the edge of her dressing table. Her mother's necklace.

[AdAstrα]

Estelle quickly glanced at Frollo to make sure he still hadn't noticed anything, before she met Aimee's gaze. She had no clue where she was going or when she was coming back, if she ever was coming back....but she couldn't bring herself to stop the girl. Instead, she watched her go, hoping and praying that she would be allright, that no one would harm her. Then, she silently walked away; her heart sinking as it occured to her that she was, once again, all alone...

Meanwhile in the Bell Tower, Quasimodo was watching the city from above, pillars of smoke rising in the sky from the many fires still threatening to destroy whatever hope the gypsies had of escaping from this mess unharmed. He sighed, thinking about Esmeralda and where she could be at this very moment. Was she lonely? Was she afraid? She had told him she would come and see him again, but it was probably too risky, right now, for her to do so. "I hope she isn't hurt..." he said silently to himself, shuddering at the thought, "I hope she's just hiding..."

A sudden noise made him turn around abruptly. Taking a few steps forward, he instantly saw the shadow of a girl. "Who..who's there? he asked, nervous for some reason, "Is...is it you, Aimee?"

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Aimee had made the somewhat quick journey, especially as she was running non-stop, to Notre Dame. She felt safe there. She had finally made it to the bell tower, out of breath and on the verge of passing out. It was her almost stumbling over that caused a loud bump. Aimee shuffled out of the shadows, hair wind-swept and chest heaving trying to catch her breath.

"S-Sorry Quasi", she breathed, "Didn't m-meant to startle y-you". The teenager lent against the beam behind her. Eyes closed now. She could relax for a moment. She knew questions were coming so once she had fully recovered she spoke quietly. "I had to leave", she started, "It wasn't the fact Frollo scared me or hurt me...it was because", Aimee stopped. She remembered Phoebus wasn't there anymore.

The realization had sunk in, he was dead. He couldn't be alive could he? She doubted it. She didn't want to cry, she thought she hadn't any tears left by now. But, Phoebus was special to her. She knew she felt a bond between them. She didn't even get the chance to say she loved him. She glanced back up at Quasi, exhausted and emotional,

"Because Frollo is going to end up hurting and ruining lives of everyone I hold dear. And being inside the Palace of Justice isn't going to help me stop him". She assumed Quasi didn't know of Phoebus, she didn't even know what had happened to Esmerelda and Roseriya. Aimee wanted to find them both soon.

[AdAstrα]

"I...I see." Quasimodo said, approaching Aimee slowly, "I'm glad you're here, I could use some company right now..."

He gazed at the dark sky once more before he looked down, sighing. Taking a deep breath, he could almost smell the smoke, embracing the city and suffocating it slowly. A horrible thought entered his mind; what if Esmeralda was already dead? What if Frollo had found her? He hadn't talked to him since the incident at the Festival, and if he showed up tonight it wouldn't exactly be wise to discuss it...especially since it was he who had helped the gypsy escape from the cathedral in the first place....

His heart began to pound. No. He couldn't think like that. Of course Esmeralda was alive. She could not be dead...she just could not. Frollo did not know the way to the Court of Miracles, he'd never find her there....

He gazed at Aimee and noticed that she looked very pale. Worried, he took her hand and pulled out a chair for her to sit on if she wanted. "How...how are you? You don't look so well. Here, sit down and rest for a minute." he said kindly, too anxious and frightened himself, to sit down by the table with her.