A/N *gasps* Guys, I'm so sorry that I forgot to give you the hint of our mystery character. So, here are two hints about her: she has written 29 fanfics (told ya it was not me) and she's from America (again, told ya it was not me). That's all readers. And now, we start with Chapter 10.
Esmeralda sits in the floor and says to Djali,
"Don't worry, Djali. If Frollo thinks he can keep us here, he's wrong." Catalina and Simoun step forward to her and Catalina responded,
"True. Later on, you'll escape."
"How? Every door of this cathedral is blocked."
"I know, dear Esmeralda. But, you'll know later."
In relief, Esmeralda smiled. She asked,
"Who are you by the way?"
"I'm Catalina Garcia."
"And I'm Simoun Villaverde, her friend. And a wanted fugitive."
"Bro, don't forget that Esmeralda and I are also wanted." She said as she laid an arm on Simoun's shoulder. In return, he pats her hand.
"Well, isn't it cool being wanted?"
"For now, it isn't cool. But it is fun that we defied Frollo."
"How did you defy him, my children?" Asked the Archdeacon. "And how did you escape the guards? You know it's very impossible to escape from his minions."
"I know, Father." Said Simoun. "But, we hid under a stage and entered here."
"And now you are under the protective sanctuary of Notre Dame. Now, you must not act rashly, my children. You three created... quite a stir at the Festival. It would be unwise to arouse Frollo's anger further."
"Man. I'm lucky I'm going to be a priest someday." Said Simoun with hints of child pride. "And when I'm a priest, I'm going to make homilies against Duterte."
"Oh, Simoun. Duterte is as sick as a dog. Can't you see that maybe in a few years he'll meet God and God will judge him."
"I know, Catalina. But, Frollo and Duterte share the same temper too."
"Magkapinsan-buo kaya sila? (Are they cousins?)"
"Hindi. Pero, si Duterte ay ang reincarnated version ni Frollo. (No. But, Duterte is the reincarnated version of Frollo.)" Both Catalina and Simoun softly snigger at that.
Esmeralda, in anger towards Frollo, stands up and scoots near the archdeacon to say,
"You see what he did out there. Letting the crowd torture that poor boy."
Catalina meekly comes behind Esmeralda's back and says,
"Esmeralda, that poor boy's name is Quasimodo."
"That's worse. Worse than what happened. If only one more person stood up for him and... *sighs* What do they have against people who are different anyway?" The Archdeacon puts his gentle hand on Esmeralda's bare shoulder and signals her to come with him. Simoun does the same with Catalina. Both of them started to walk behind the Archdeacon, Esmeralda and Djali.
Catalina also held the same thought as Esmeralda: why the different are being treated as animals?. Catalina is a very smart girl. She has thoughts of her own. She would write soem in her diary, share some with her family and friends and put it in videos she create for YouTube. (A/N In fiction, she has a YouTube channel. But, in real life, she has none. For she is just fictional. Yes I know this is kinda dumb. But you might think it's true. Like The Tudors. It's based on true events. But with historical inaccuracies.) Most of the time, she would share her opinions and thoughts with Simoun. On Catalina's point of view, he's better than her when it comes to opinions.
"Simoun, are you alright with my friendship with Miss Jane?"
"Of course. Although she is a Protestant. Remember this, Catalina, your life is not my life. Nor anybody else's. It's yours. Nobody can control you nor violate your freedom. You're not a slave, a serf or a maid. You're free. As free as a bird."
"But why are there more unfortunate people than fortuante people?"
"Well, on my poinion, I guess God made the unfortunate to become gifts of the fortunate. And the fortunate as the gift of the unfortunate. Wherein the fortunate help them and the unfortunate serve as their friends or physical life lessons. Some of the fortunate help the unfortunate. And some fortuante peopel don't help the unfortunate. Like the super rich people. They see the unfrotunate, poor and downtrod as enemies. But, they must give money and needs to the unfrotunate when they are sick of their rich lives. Not waste it more. I will advise them like that when I'm a priest."
"Wow! That was... great. At least, you and your parents help the St. Rose de Lima Church in helping the poor."
"Let's not boast about that. Let's boast about out coolness whe we defied Frollo."
"*giggles* Yeah. You called Frollo ugly and a deformed pig. Tbh, Frollo looks like he was born two hundred years ago!"
Simoun laughs. The five of them made it in front of the altar of Mama Mary.
"Hey, Catalina, I'm gonna go after the Archdeacon."
"Why?"
"So you can sing and I investigate where he went."
"Wait. Is it time for God Help The Outcasts?"
"Yes."
Catalina squeals in excitement and hugs Simoun to calm down. Simoun blushed. But, he put his hood up and says to Catalina,
"Catalina, I must go."
"Ok. Be careful."
"I will." He leaves while Catalina scoots near Esmeralda. Esmeralda and Catalina start.
"I don't know if You can hear me
Or if You're even there
I don't know if you would listen
To a gypsy's prayer
Yes I know I'm just an outcast
I shouldn't speak to you
Still I see your face and wonder...
Were you once an outcast too?
God help the outcasts
Hungry from birth
Shwo them the mercy
They don't find on earth
God help my people
We look to you still
God help the outcasts
Or nobody will"
As a group of churchgoers sing, Simoun follows the Archdeacon. The Archdeacon goes to the convent to ask Celetina and her family questions regarding their names, origin and current condition. After they have told the story of their escape, the Archdeacon tells some nuns to prepare rooms for the family. They were lead to their rooms.
The Archdeacon comes out as Simoun runs to get near Catalina. He hears them sing and Catalina is just following her, not mimicking Esmeralda's moves.
"I ask for nothing
I can get by
But I know so many
Less lucky than I
Please help my people,
The poor and downtrod.
I thought we all were Children of God
God help the outcasts
Children of God"
After the song, Esmeralda hugs Catalina and Djali. Simoun smiles at them like Quasimodo.
A/N Having trouble in figuring out who's the mysterious American female author? That's ok. *SPOILERS* She'll be revealed in the end. She'll also get a chance to talk with our two OCs. BTW (By The Way), I didn't know what's the meaning of OC. But, some days ago, I know what's the meaning. In other fanfics, I'll tag them as OCs. Especially there families, friends and enemies. That's all and have a good day or night.