Chapter 9: The Outcasts
As Moana was leaving school following the news of her grandmother's death, Esmeralda was approaching the Clock Tower which was located in the middle of Disney Academy's courtyard. However, she heard footsteps behind her and Djali. She turned around fast and reached for the person's side causing them to fall to the ground in surprise. What she grabbed was an expandable baton, which policemen usually carried, and looked down at the person who tripped. It was a young man with short blond hair and a matching goatee wearing the male Disney Academy uniform and a navy blue jacket.
"Who are you?" Esmeralda demanded, flicking her wrist which expanded the baton to its full length and pointed it at the young man.
"Easy, easy, I-I just shaved," the young man stammered as he backed away.
"Oh, really? Your skin is that sensitive?" Esmeralda taunted, poking the tip of the baton at the young man's chin.
"You know threatening a Hall Monitor could land you in Detention, right?" The young man pointed out.
Indeed, the young man wore a yellow band diagonally across his chest with the word 'Hall Monitor' stitched in red lettering.
"That doesn't explain why you have this baton, though," Esmeralda responded.
"It's for my protection." When Esmeralda gave him a doubtful look, the young man sighed. "Okay, School Secretary Frollo convinced Principal Disney that Hall Monitors should carry batons from now on to prevent another Festival of Fools-type incident from happening again."
"Seems like an extreme measure, given that this is a school and not a military state."
"Well, you did cause quite a ruckus."
"So what was I supposed to do? Let the crowd torture that poor boy?"
"No, that's not what I'm saying." Grabbing the end of the baton, the young man got up. "Look, maybe we got off on the wrong foot. My name is Phoebus, and I'm the lead Hall Monitor at Disney Academy. I was also the one who saved you from those guys who were harassing you on the streets. Now what's your name?"
Realizing the young man was trying to change the subject, Esmeralda decided to humor him. "It's Esmeralda."
Phoebus grinned. "A beautiful name."
Giving him a coy look, Esmeralda asked, "So why were you following me just now?"
"Excuse me," said a deep elderly voice. "Is there a problem with that Gypsy girl, Phoebus?"
Looking over Phoebus' shoulder, Esmeralda saw Frollo standing a few feet away wearing the same black suit he wore at the Festival of Fools.
When Phoebus followed Esmeralda's stare, he looked back at Esmeralda with a concerned look and whispered, "Claim you attacked me in self-defense."
Esmeralda frowned.
"Please," Phoebus pleaded.
"You tricked me into attacking you," Esmeralda realized.
"I'm waiting for your response, Phoebus," Frollo stated, walking over.
"She attacked me in self-defense," Phoebus claimed, taking the baton from Esmeralda's hand. "I thought she looked suspicious, so I followed her. But she's actually a student here, so my suspicions were wrong."
"Then take her to her next class, then," Frollo ordered. "Lunch period is over, and give her a detention slip for attacking a Hall Monitor."
"But, sir, it was my fault that she attacked me," Phoebus said defensively. "I snuck up on her without her knowing, and she naturally reacted by defending herself."
"I don't want any of your excuses, Phoebus," Frollo growled. "I'll escort the Gypsy girl to her next class myself."
Before she could protest, Esmeralda's arm was grabbed by Frollo as he dragged her away from the Clock Tower towards the main school building. He then took her into a niche and pressed her against a wall. Meanwhile, Djali attempted head-butting Frollo's leg, but he didn't budge.
"You must have used your charms to persuade Phoebus to claim self-defense, when it was I who told him to follow you," Frollo said into Esmeralda's ear softly.
"Why are you telling me this?" Esmeralda asked, wrenching out of Frollo's grasp and turning to face him.
"Because I have greater authority than you, Witch," Frollo stated. "That little stunt you pulled at the Festival of Fools may have gotten the city press on your side, but next time I'll make sure they won't see you or any other Gypsies in a sympathetic light again."
Smiling maliciously, Frollo left the niche causing Esmeralda to collapse from shock. Just as she was on the verge of tears, she looked to her right and noticed a statue in the deepest part of the niche. It was a woman wearing a long dress with gossamer wings behind her back while she held a wand that had a shining star on it in one hand and in the other was a small puppet resembling a human boy.
"The Blue Fairy, and Pinocchio," Esmeralda realized.
Crawling over to the statue, she knelt in front of it and laced her hands together.
"I don't know if you can hear me, or if you're even there," Esmeralda said quietly. "I'm not sure if you would listen to a Gypsy's prayer, since I am an outcast. But please, help my people and those less fortunate than I."
Esmeralda then closed her eyes, while Djali nuzzled his face against her face in comfort. After a few moments, Esmeralda hugged Djali who suddenly bleated. Looking back, she noticed the hunchbacked boy from the Festival of Fools lurking at the entry to the niche who looked surprised and ran away.
"Wait!" Esmeralda called, getting up.
With Djali running alongside her, she followed the hunchbacked boy towards the Clock Tower which he got into using a hidden entrance. Before he could close it, though, Esmeralda got in along with Djali. The hunchbacked boy then ran up a winding staircase, so Esmeralda followed.
"I've been looking all over campus for you," Esmeralda said.
"W-Why?" The hunchbacked boy stammered, retreating to the top of the tower. "You're not supposed to be in here."
"I wanted to apologize for dragging you onstage at the Festival of Fools," Esmeralda replied.
Upon reaching the top, though, she was amazed by the sight of a room filled with trinkets including a scale replica of the school with little figurines placed all over it.
"What is this?" Esmeralda wondered.
"This is where I live," the hunchbacked boy replied. "I'm Quasimodo, the 'Hunchbacked Bell-Ringer of the Disney Clock Tower.'"
End of Chapter 9
