Who is the Monster and who is the Man?
Raindrops pattered against the rooftop of the Cathedral, the sounds echoing throughout the bell-tower, irritating but at the same time, mildly comforting. Claude Frollo entered through the door, dressed in his usually Midnight-Black robes, carrying a basket of food. His hair was graying, his eyes weary and tired.
"Quasimodo" he called out, "Quasimodo come down here"
Loud clumsy footsteps came thumping down wooden steps above him. Frollo sat down at a small table and as he began setting out the bread and cheese, he noticed a wooden carving in the corner. He wasn't sure, but he thought the shape resembled Notre Dame Cathedral.
Out of nowhere, Quasimodo suddenly raced out and leapt onto the stool on the other side of the table. His body was bizarrely proportioned, scraggly bony legs and arms on a thick body with his noticeable hunch. Something about his face was oddly endearing, but Frollo still couldn't stand the sight of the monster.
"Eat up Quasimodo" said Frollo sharply, "Then we'll start on your lessons for the day".
Quasimodo ate his food eagerly, his eyes reminded Frollo of a hungry dog ripping into a bone. When he was finished, he wiped his mouth and looked up at Frollo. Fear and Respect were clearly showing in his eyes.
"Let's review the alphabet" Frollo said, opening his booklet, "A?"
"Abom...Abomination" murmured Quasimodo, straining his face to remember it.
"You've not been studying have you Quasimodo?" said Frollo sternly.
"I have master..I have!" protested Quasimodo, "Honestly I have!"
"Then how come you've had enough time to carve things out of wood?" asked Frollo, gesturing towards the wooden Notre Dame.
"That's...that's just something I started two days ago.." explained Quasimodo shyly.
Frollo walked over to it and examined it closely.
"Interesting...interesting..." Frollo muttered with annoyance, "What are these?"
He lifted up a cloth and saw some wooden figurines underneath. He instantly recognized them as the Baker, the Butcher and the Archdeacon.
"QUASIMODO!" He barked, rounding on the terrified boy, "What are these?!"
"They're just some things I made..." gasped Quasimodo, who looked on the verge of tears.
"How did you see these people?" demanded Frollo, lurging forward and grabbing him by the shoulders, "DID YOU LEAVE THE TOWER?!"
"No!" cried Quasimodo, tears streaming down his face, "I just see them!"
He then threw himself to the floor and crawled into a ball. His distressed sobs sounded inhumane, Frollo found himself wanting to finish the child off to put it out of it's misery.
"Quasimodo" said Frollo, not even bothering to look down at him, "You must promise me never to leave the tower. Ever".
"I...I promise master" blubbered Quasimodo.
"They'll hate you out there, you're a monster" said Frollo, stepping away from him swiftly.
"I know master..." sniffed Quasimodo, wiping his red eyes with the back of his hand, "Thank you master".