Whew! Sorry it took so long for me to update-my teachers are firm believers in the "you never have too much homework" rule. Anyway, it's spring break, so I'll probably get a few chapters finished. This chapter is, once again, rather short, but I figured you'd rather want a short one now than have to wait a few more days for a longer one… Alrighty then…chapter 4, everybody!

Chapter 4: A First Encounter

Quasimodo was falling, faster and faster as he approached the roof of the cathedral. He searched for anything to grab hold of. Spotting a protruding gargoyle, he managed to grab it moments before landing on the roof of the cathedral below. Quasimodo swung himself upward and onto the balcony surrounding the northeast belltower. He crouched, breathing heavily, trying to make himself invisible. There was no way possible the girl couldn't have heard him.

After a few moments of silence, she spoke again. "Look, I know you're out there. Come in here, I won't hurt you." Her chains jangled loudly. "I couldn't really hurt you if I wanted to, anyway."

Quasimodo inched himself closer to the opening to the balcony. He was deathly afraid, but there was no going back now. She'd heard him already. Holding his breath, he squeezed himself around the corner and peeked into the belltower.

She was sitting on the ground now, her staff to one side. The rough material of her shirt was ragged, and it hung far too big for her. And she was wearing…pants. A woman in pants. As far as he knew, women wore only dresses…men's clothing was unacceptable. But maybe she doesn't have a choice, he thought. She looks poor-I wonder why she's here.

She looked up, her long brown hair streaked silver from the moonlight. "Look, please come out. I know you're trying to hide from me. I'm not going to report you to anyone, if that's what you're afraid of." She jangled her chains again. "I'm not really in the favor of the minister of justice anyways."

Quasimodo turned away, trembling. She was very pretty. She'd never-but she was in trouble-but if the Master-how could he help her? Mustering up his courage, he decided to enter. If he stuck to the shadows she'd never see him, and he'd still be able to help her get free. Slowly, every so slowly, he inched his way into the tower.

She smiled ever so slightly. "See? That's not too hard, is it?" She paused for a moment. "Can you help me?"

Quasimodo looked towards her nervously. "Wh-what do you n-need?"

"I'm not sure if its completely obvious," she said with a sigh, "but I'm locked in chains in a belltower in a cathedral. I'd get the keys myself, but they're by the door, I think, and I can't reach them."

Remaining in the shadows, he inched closely to the door, searching through the almost nonexistent light for a pair of keys. His thoughts raced as he searched. What was he doing? Did he think she'd really be kind to him for saving her? If she saw him, it would be over. And why was she chained up?

Seeing nothing, Quasimodo turned around. He advanced slowly towards the girl, his breath coming in short gasps of fear. He leaned into the dark, avoiding her face. "Why are-are you here?"

"Because Frollo hates street rats. It's a lot easier to let me die where he controls the odds, instead of on the streets of Paris. Why are you here?," she asked, mildly interested. "It's not too usual for people to go falling off of belltowers in the middle of the night."

"I-I heard-banging."

"From all the way down in the square?" She remarked, incredulously.

"I-I live…here."

She started. "In a belltower? Why would you live up here?"

Quasimodo didn't answer. He had already spoken more to her than he'd ever said to someone normal in his entire life. He wasn't about to go revealing big secrets. She couldn't see him in the dark, and that was how he wanted to keep it.

He saw her turn away quietly after a few moments of his silence. "Fine," she said softly, "I can get myself free. Keep your secrets and go. I should've known no one would ever want to help a street rat."

Quasimodo was torn. He wanted to help her, to free her-but she'd want to know all sorts of things that he couldn't tell. He was already breaking enough of the master's rules as it was. Summoning up all of his courage, he spoke. "I-I can't help you right now. But I…I'll…come back."

He saw the look of surprise on her face as the girl turned around. "You want to help me?"

"Y-yes-I've got to go."

She stood then, staff in hand. "Go then." She waited as he took to the shadows, skirting around until he reached the balcony. Then she stepped forward. "Wait…what's your name?"

"Qu-Quasimodo."

She gave a little half smile. "All right then, Quasimodo. Goodbye."

She retreated back to corner of the tower.

Suddenly overcome with a strange impulse, Quasimodo asked this angel a burning question. "What…what is yours?"

She came forward again, ignoring the sounds he made as he lowered himself off the balcony. "I'll tell you that when you come back." Then she disappeared from his sight.