A/N: The second chapter's finished! It's still not exactly the real story yet, but it's coming close to it. I do not own the Moulin Rouge.
Excuse-moi? Êtes-vous reveille? Excuse me? Are you awake?
Chapter 2
Sebastian stared at the clouds that formed from his breath. He felt a shiver go through his body and began to cough violently. When the coughing subsided, he shuddered again and hunched in around himself more. The cold brick wall that was behind him did little to keep him warm. He was clothed in thin pants, shirt, and jacket with some plain shoes that had holes in them. He also had a cap on his head, the last gift from his father before he died. He had lived on the streets with just his dad for all of his seven years of life.
He knew that he had to do something before he froze to death. He had slept under a pile of newspapers the previous night, and had woken up sore and stiff and almost frozen solid.
But he also knew there was little hope for him now. There were plenty of orphans wandering around Paris, and the ones who did not find jobs or a family soon starved to death or froze during the winter. The chance of him finding someone to take care of him was next to none, so he would have to find a job somewhere, and fast. He could already feel his body starting to give up on him, and this scared him.
The small bit of warmth that he had was hard to give up, though, and after another coughing fit he found himself curling up more, his body wanting to go to sleep.
"Excuse-moi? Êtes-vous reveille?"
Sebastian slowly blinked open his eyes. He gasped as he looked into the beautiful ice-blue eyes of a girl who was leaning down in front of him. Her fiery red hair curled down partially in front of her face and over her cream-colored fur coat. She had a
scarf wrapped around her neck and white muffed hands, one of which was extended out to touch Sebastian's shoulder.
"Ah, you are!" She said in delight, showing him a smile that made her face seem to glow in happiness. He felt his arm almost reach out to touch her cheek but stopped himself.
"Do you talk?" She asked him, still smiling.
"Ah, er, yes," he said, blushing and turning his face down.
"Why are you out here in the cold? Don't you have a home where you live?"
He looked at her again, a sad tint to his eyes.
"I used to. Now my home will be the next place I find work."
"Oh, do you need somewhere to work? Because I know they have a spot open for a garbage boy in one of my father's restaurants. It isn't much, but…"
Sebastian's eyes lit up.
"Really? You could get a job for me?"
"Sure! I would just have to talk to the head chef. I'm sure that-"
At that moment, a voice called out from down the alley. "Celene! Celene, where are you?"
Celene looked up quickly and said, "That's my father looking for me. Quick! Go down that lane." She pointed. "Turn left and go until you see La Lune Rouge." The Red Moon. "Tell the head chef that the owner's daughter Celene sent you and thought you would work hard. Don't worry… What is your name?"
"Sebastian."
Well don't worry, Sebastian. And we will meet again someday! Will you remember me?"
"Of course!" Sebastian called out to her as she ran down the alley towards her father's voice. How could he ever forget the angel with fiery red hair that saved his life?
"Goodbye… Celene," he whispered to the empty alleyway. He knew he would be able to see her again.
End of Chapter 2