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Jackob looked around carefully but surprisingly didn't see any guards standing around. He was sure that the cathedral would be surrounded or something after Esmerelda's display during the Feast of Fools. But nope, not a guard in sight, maybe they were all at the front of the cathedral. The tunnel exit from the Court of Miracles deposited him on the other side of the cathedral, near the priest's living quarters.

He scurried across the square listening for boots on the cobblestone or the clinking of metal armor. At hearing none, he took his chance and ran for the doors.

Jackob knocked on the large wooden door and patiently waited as the Archdeacon pushed it open. Though the Archdeacon looked happy to see him, at the same time the concern on his face was unmistakable.

"Oh Jackob, my son" he murmured "I don't believe tonight is the best choice in nights to come to the cathedral. As much as I admire your dedication…"

"I brought money this time," Jackob explained, producing a coin, his father had given him as part of his earnings with the puppet show. Jackob could have used it to buy sweet bread at the bakery, baguettes, or even save the coin for market day. But he decided to use the coin to buy a candle in Notre Dame. "It's really important. Please, Father."

The Archdeacon sighed, but couldn't help smiling at Jackob.

"All right, this way."

The Archdeacon showed Jackob where to deposit the coin and helped him select a candle.

"Thank you," Jackob replied lighting the candle and placing it in the holder.

"I will leave you to it my boy, if you need me, I will be just over there" the Archdeacon pointed to several of the taller candles near the alter "tending to the candles."

Jackob nodded

"Thank you," he repeated and the Archdeacon placed a hand on his head, before leaving him.

Jackob positioned himself on his knees and looked up at the Virgin Mary Statue, held his hands together tight, and closed his eyes. He had never really prayed before; he had watched others and had been inside Notre Dame enough times to have a general idea. Jackob also knew the Archdeacon was correct, this might not have been the best night to come. Not after the events at the Feast of Fools. The rumors had spread through the court confirmed by Clopin that Esmerelda in an attempt to evade Frollo, had claimed Sanctuary in Notre Dame, safety yes, but basically a prison nonetheless.

That alone worried Jackob, but he also worried for the other Gypsies and the future of his people. The Feast of Fools he had always thought was one of the safest days for Gypsies and even though the Festival had been under the watchful, hateful eyes of Claude Frollo, Jackob had never heard of something happening as it had. Was it just a coincidence or was it a sign that things were about to get even more dangerous for the Romani of Paris like Tania was reading the signs and predicting disastrous times ahead for their people?

Jackob worried about his father who was doing everything in his power to protect and lead their people, while at the same time protecting him and Jackob knew he was not making it easy on his father.

Jackob winced, case in point his being at Notre Dame at that very moment when he was supposed to be in bed asleep and the very real chance his father was going to wake up and realize he was gone. He knew this would throw his father into a panic and would go looking for him, he knew that Frédéric, Cédric, and the others would go too. Risking their own lives to protect both of theirs. Perhaps that was what the Archdeacon meant by not the best choice to visit that night. This was one of the most selfish and childish things Jackob could have done and he picked a really bad night to act on it.

At the same time though, Jackob knew he needed to do this, he had felt a strong pull the moment he climbed into bed that he needed to go to the cathedral.

Jackob took a deep breath and also spoke to his mother, this was the only place he felt comfortable talking to her and always wondered if she could actually hear him. Did she know how much he wished he knew her, how sorry he was…how guilty he felt? Could she really protect him and his father, would all the Gypsies be safe because his mother was looking out for them?

What about God, was he really looking out for them, did he even care when no one else seemed to about what happened to Jackob and his people. He was not naïve, blind or deaf, he heard the snide remarks, he saw the nasty looks, he knew people looked down on his people, thought they were less than human.

Even when walking through the streets of Paris with his father, Jackob knew Parisians looked down on them and even feared them. He had heard the phrase 'they're gypsies, they'll steal us blind' many times.

If there really was a God, how could he allow people to hate so much, to mistrust people just because they were different? And what of his mother, he had also heard the venomous words directed gypsies. People claiming that they were pagan, devil worshipers, practiced black magic and had no place in Heaven. Jackob knew he didn't practice black magic, he didn't even know what black magic really was, everyone in his life worked with slide of hand, illusions, tricks if that was black magic then sure they were all guilty to some degree. But none of what they did seemed evil and none of it was meant to hurt anyone. If these people really thought that all Gypsies were evil and couldn't enter Heaven then there was a chance that his mother couldn't hear him, that she wasn't watching over him from Heaven.

Jackob quickly shook that thought out of his head, his father had never lied to him and he had long promised Jackob that his mother was always with him, always watching over him, same with his grandparents, and great grandparents, all their ancestors were protecting him, guiding him. So maybe the people who said those things, that thought those things, people like Judge Frollo were just so consumed by their own hatred, that they were just blind or naïve, but still no less dangerous.

Jackob didn't know how long he knelt there but was brought back to reality when he heard a scuffling on the stone floor. His heart began to race, worried that Frollo and his guards had stormed the cathedral to drag Esmerelda out and had spotted him as well.

When he looked towards the source of the noise, he saw a shadow disappear around a pillar. Jackob knew he shouldn't go after the shadow, but he was also thought it might be Esmerelda, not realizing he was there.

If it was her, he could help her escape; it would be easy since the soldiers had decided not to station themselves at the side entrance of the cathedral. The tunnel system beneath the city that led back to the Court of Miracles was difficult to get through for a grown-up, but Jackob knew he could figure out a way for her. He took off running, chasing after the shadow and heard footsteps mounting the steps.

"Wait!" he called

"Shh!" a voice hissed angrily from one of the pews as Jackob ran past and he winced but didn't stop. He saw the owner of the footsteps disappear around the corner and realized quickly that it wasn't Esmerelda.

"Wait please!" he called softer and the figure stopped, turning around to look at him. It was the Bell Ringer. He looked terrified at being caught, but at the same time seemed to recognize Jackob, though Jackob wasn't sure why. "Hi," Jackob said softly and the Bell Ringer looked at him, confused as if he couldn't understand what Jackob was saying, he also seemed surprised that Jackob wasn't terrified of him. "my name is Jackob, I was there today…at the Festival with my father. We were on stage. With you and Esmerelda." The Bell Ringer seemed to understand that because he didn't look as confused, he nodded, his eyes also brightened a little at Esmerelda's name. "I just want to say…I'm sorry for what happened," Jackob said, hanging his head a little, ashamed. "I wanted to help, to stop what was happening, so did my papa…we were too stunned, Esmerelda did what we wanted to do because she reacted before we could…But I'm so sorry."

"It's okay," the Bell Ringer said, giving Jackob a reassuring smile "it's over now." Jackob was a little surprised to hear him speak, he had heard the Bell Ringer crying out to Frollo, but other than that he hadn't spoken.

"Are you okay?" Jackob asked and the Bell Ringer nodded, as he nodded Jackob caught sight of a woven band hanging from his neck. He saw Jackob staring at it and started to put it away, but Jackob shook his head "wait, Esmerelda gave you that didn't she?"

"Yes?" Quasimodo said carefully

"Is she still here?"

he shook his head

"I…I helped her escape."

Jackob felt a sigh of relief leave his body and he grinned

"That's good, thank you for that." he paused "what did she tell you about that band?"

Quasimodo thought this over for a moment

"She said that when you hold this woven band, you hold the city in your hand." Jackob nodded "do you know what it means?"

"Course, it means Sanctuary, Safety, Home." Jackob replied and gave the Bell Ringer a sympathetic shrug "but I can't tell you any more than that. It's something you have to figure it out yourself. Just listen to her words and-" voices echoed down the hall towards the main doors of the cathedral and the Bell Ringer reached forward covering Jackob's mouth.

"Shh" he whispered "stay here for a moment," and the Bell Ringer darted towards the noise, keeping to the shadows of the pillars.

Jackob felt his heart starting to race, something was wrong, he could feel it and suddenly he regretted coming to the cathedral this night. Jackob could hear low voices echoing through the cathedral, but he couldn't make out what was being said.

Jackob felt a shiver run down his back and he began looking for a way to escape. He felt like did the first time he entered the catacombs, exploring the tunnels. He had used his fear to his advantage to get through quickly, but he felt like the walls were caving in around him, he was going to be stuck, the air was growing stale and to make matters worse, it seemed to be in limited supply.

Jackob knew his cough was preparing to flare up, the tickle in his throat, the difficulty getting a breath in were all key signs.

Before his panic could explode, the Bell Ringer returned, but he did not look relieved, if anything, he looked concerned. He gestured for Jackob to be as quiet as possible, then gestured for the boy to follow. Jackob hesitated, it wasn't that he didn't trust the Bell Ringer, after all, if he had helped Esmerelda escape and she had given him the band, he was on their side, but at the same time, the Bell Ringer was gesturing for him to follow a different way than Jackob knew.

"I know how to leave," Jackob assured the Bell Ringer and started to run towards the familiar exit. The Bell Ringer reached forward and grabbed Jackob gently, but firmly by the shoulder.

"Frollo's guards are that way, if they see you, they will arrest you."

"But I can just claim Sanctuary." Jackob argued, "I'm already here."

"They are here to arrest Esmerelda, Frollo must be overruling Sanctuary. Claiming Sanctuary won't make a difference. You need to get out of here, but not that way. It isn't safe, I know another way."

Jackob started to protest more, but like with his father earlier, gave in. The Bell Ringer hurried him down one hallway, one corridor, through a door, and down another hallway. It wasn't long before they came to a long hallway with doors on either end.

"Now what?" Jackob whispered, the Bell Ringer smiled, and with one push, some of the stones of the hallway opened in the form of a small door.

"Escape tunnel, it will lead to the chicken coop near the back of the cathedral. I found it many years ago when I was about your age."

Jackob closed his eyes for a second, he could picture the coop and grinned realizing that it was not far from the priests' section of the church, right near the courtyard he needed to go to.

"Thank you so much," Jackob whispered,

"You're welcome,"

Jackob looked at the band and pointed at it

"Remember her words, it can lead to your own Sanctuary."

"I'll remember that I promise." Quasimodo gave Jackob a little push towards the tunnel "it will be dark, but there are no turns, no doors until you reach the end. Good luck."

Jackob nodded and gave the Bell Ringer a wave, before vanishing into the tunnels, running as fast as he could through the dark.

Like when he had entered the Cathedral, the streets were quiet when Jackob carefully slipped through the small hatch at the end of the tunnel. Jackob knew the guards must be around, no way they would leave the cathedral unguarded, but for the moment this side of Notre Dame was empty of life. Jackob took a deep breath, allowing the cold January air to fill his lungs, it felt good, but the moment he took that breath he felt a tickle in his throat and knew there was a chance his cough would flare up.

Jackob was so focused on suppressing his cough he didn't hear the sound of boots on the cobblestone or see the glow of a torch coming his way.

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