Chapter 1: The Circus
Have you ever had a dream so amazing that you spent all your time chasing it down only to realize you already have everything you need right in front of you? A friend of mine had the same problem he spent so much time wanting more and more that he forgot what he already had. His name...Was Phineas Taylor Barnum and he gave me the home I never thought I would have.
But this story isn't just about him, he's only one half of the story, one piece of the puzzle. Do you remember the circus? Do you remember eagerly waiting in the dark as a child, waiting for the show to begin? I remember my first time. It is something I'll never forget because it changed my life forever.
But I'm getting ahead of myself here. We should start at the beginning. That's where all good stories start right? At the beginning. I suppose most people would start with once upon a time, but this isn't a fairy tale so lets be realistic. My is Quasimodo and this is the story, of how one man made a difference in my life.
The people of Paris rushed about below to him they looked like ants. Quasimodo leaned against the railing with a sigh as he closed his eyes letting the wind blow his fiery hair back. He'd always been a dreamer, when he wasn't ringing the bells he was daydreaming of what life would be like out there.
Even after his stepfathers death he was still cautious when it came to going outside. Yes there where a lot of people who knew him and where friendly but there where some who weren't so friendly He sighed as he stared at the world below.
How he wished for a change from his monotonous life, how he wished things would change. He spent every day hidden away in this tower and even with Frollo gone he still felt afraid. He longed for a change he longed for something exciting to happen.
Suddenly it was as if his prayers where answered "Quasi, Quasi!" Quasimodo smiled as Esmeralda's eight-year-old son rushed up the stair excitedly. "You'll never guess what we saw today! Esmeralda ruffled her sons hair and smiled. "There's a circus in town we saw them setting up their tents a few hours ago."
"They had lions, and Elephants and Zebras! It was so cool, and mom even bought tickets for the show tomorrow! "The blonde-haired boy pulled out a small red and gold ticket from his pocket and held it out to him.
"And she even bought you one!" Quasimodo looked hesitantly at the small ticket. He didnt know what to think of it to be honest. He remembered when he was little a circus had come to town he'd pleaded with his stepfather to let him go but he refused saying that circuses where ridiculous and that most where places where people like him where dumped when no one wanted them, and they were usually either laughed at and ridiculed or mistreated and abused.
Ever since then he'd been afraid of the circus he did not want to end up some side show freak laughed at and ridiculed by everyone. He just wouldn't go that was it. But the little boys hopeful eyes mad him second guess his decision.
"Z-Zephyr I...The blonde-haired boys emerald eyes narrowed, and his lip quivered. "Y-Your not coming?" I-I don't know maybe I...Esmeralda noticed her friends unease instantly. "Zephyr sweetheart can you wait downstairs for me?" But-She raised an eyebrow at him and he reluctantly obeyed. "Yes Mama."
When Zephyr was out of ear shot she turned back to look at her friend. He was now sitting on a stool in front of his model of Paris looking at the small red ticket in his hand. Esmeralda sat across from him and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Quasi, please tell me what's wrong." I-Its nothing. "You're a terrible liar." I-I know he chuckled. Esmeralda lifted his face, so they were at eye level. Tell me the truth. He sighed and confused everything. "Of course Frollo would make the circus seem scary Just like he did with everything else. she growled angrily. That-She stopped herself from cursing remembering that she was in a church.
She gave a frustrated sigh as she lowered her hand from his face resting it on his shoulder. "Quasi there's nothing to be afraid of." It just some harmless fun, that's all. Besides this circus is different from all those others.
"H-How do you know?" I don't, but I do know that its better than staying up here. "Come with us to the circus tomorrow I just know you'll have fun! Besides its not every day you get to see a circus from America." He stared at her shocked America? She nodded.
Quasi had always wanted to visit America but he was to afraid to leave his tower. This could be a once in a lifetime opportunity! "I-I'll go." I thought you might change your mind Esmeralda said smiling.
The next day as the sun was sinking into the horizon Quasi dressed warmly. He made sure the hood of his cloak covered his face as he stepped out of the cathedral he saw Esmeralda standing a few feet away with her husband Phoebus.
Esmeralda saw him and waved him over as he joined his friends. You came!" Zephyr said excitedly. "Of course I came, did you think I-I'd let you have all the fun." He said ruffling the boy blonde hair. "Glad you could make it." Esmeralda said smiling at her friend. "Wouldn't miss it for the world.
They walked with a crowd of people most where heading to the circus same as them they left the city coming upon a large not-so-empty field in the center of the field was a large red and white tent, a wooden archway spelled out the word welcome in gold letters Underneath it said The Barnum circus in also in gold.
He stared around at the circus in awe. Stilt walkers walked around jugglers juggled everything from pins to lit torches. Acrobats and contortionist stretched preparing for the show, he could have sworn one had looked his way as he tugged at his hood.
A lion roared at him swiping at him from its cage as he passed by he handed his ticket to the man outside as he made his way inside the vast tent. The dimly lit tent was more massive then he'd realized he could just barley make out the stary sky through the small hole at the top of the tent. As he sat down next to Esmeralda and Phoebus he noticed that it had gotten even darker in the tent he could hear the people in the rows behind whispering in excited anticipation. He thought he saw movement at the center of the room but shrugged it off thinking it was just his imagination.
He sat in the dark waiting with bated breath for the show to begin. Suddenly he thought he heard a voice behind the bleachers right where he was sitting. He heard the sound of a wooden can against the dirt floor as a man began to sing from behind the row of seats.
"Ladies and gents, this is the moment you've waited for"
Quasimodo thought he saw someone, or something move from across the room. Was he imagining things. His attention was soon drawn back to the man behind the bleachers as he continued his song.
"You've been searching in the dark, your sweat soaking through the floor
"And buried in your bones there's an ache that you can't ignore"
"Taking your breath"
"stealing your mind"
"And all that was real is left behind"
"Don't fight it, it's coming for you, running at ya"
"It's only this moment, don't care what comes after"
Quasimodo shielded his eyes as the lights snapped on hoping no one could see his face just to be safe he tugged his hood making sure his face was well hidden.
"Your fever dream, can't you see it getting closer"
"Just surrender 'cause you feel the feeling taking over"
Suddenly a man darted out from behind the bleachers he couldn't make out the figure clearly, but his attention was soon drawn to the horses that followed swiftly behind him women wearing feathered headdresses followed riding the white horses out to the center of the tent.
As the man made his way toward the center he he noticed movement at the center of the ring and he could just make out a group of people standing, waiting for the rest of the lights to turn on.
"It's fire, it's freedom, it's flooding open"
"It's a preacher in the pulpit and your blind devotion"
"There's somethin' breakin' at the brick of every wall"
It's holdin' all that you know"
"so tell me do you wanna go?"
Suddenly the rest of the lights flashed on as two man holding torches blew into them the flames expanding. He could now see the man at the center of the room as well as the performers behind him. Some of which were just as odd as him.
There was a man covered in tattoos, A man who looked like a giant who towered over the other performers, two conjoined twins, and woman with a beard. It was definitely an odd mix, however the ringleader himself was also quite an interesting character.
He wore a black and gold vest and a red and gold jacket and wore a small black top hat and matching black boots. In his hand he twired a black cane toped with a gold knob. The man had dark brown hair and dark eyes and he looked to be in his early or late forties. He looked at the man mystified.
"Where it's covered in all the colored lights"
"Where the runaways are running the night"
"Impossible comes true, it's taking over you"
His attention soon became drawn to the ceiling above him as an Acrobat flew through the air over his head. She was dressed in a sparkling pale purple unitard covered in glittering gems she wore a pink wig and gold fabric was wrapped around her feet.
She fell down from above as she landed on the other end of a board held down by a sandbag as she was propelled back into the air catching hold of a silver metal ring. Quasimodo stared at her in amazement she was by far the most beautiful being he'd ever laid eyes on. She was like an angle gliding gracefully through the air however his attention soon was drawn back to the center as the ringleaders song continued.
"We light it up, we won't come down"
"And the sun can't stop us now"
"Watching it come true, it's taking over you"
"Oh, this is the greatest show"
"It's everything you ever want"
"It's everything you ever need"
"And it's here right in front of you"
"This is where you wanna be (this is where you wanna be)"
"It's everything you ever want"
"It's everything you ever need"
"And it's here right in front of you"
"This is where you wanna be"
Barnum guided the show with a wave of his cane he loved his life he loved his job, he loved making people smile he probably wouldn't be here if it weren't for Philip. Phillip Carlyle was his friend and business partner, and he gave up everything to be here, his inheritance his life as a theatre critique everything! But he didn't complain he liked his job just as much as Barnum did.
That day had been relatively slow today honestly he was just looking forward to going back to new York to see his wife and daughters. This whole European tour thing had been Phillips idea however they'd barley gotten through half the country and where planning on cutting the tour short.
However time seemed to slow as something caught Barnum's eye. Out of all the people in the crowd there was only one man who had his face covered. Barnum found this odd seeing as he could see the face of everyone else in the crowd, all except this one man at least he thought the stranger was a man.
After the show Barnum spied on the figure as he left with a man and woman. He wasn't sure who they where friends probably. He remembered rumors he'd heard in Paris about the supposed bellringer of Notre dame. He wondered...Had the Bell ringer come to see his show?
Quasimodo yawned rubbing his tired eyes. "I-I'm going back to the belltower." Already? Esmeralda said frowning. "I-Its late and I'm tired." Ok Esmeralda said sad to see her friend leave so soon. "We're going to stay and explore the circus." Ok he said giving a tired yawn as he made his way to the gate.
However before he could attempt to leave he accidentally tripped bumping into a man. "Hey watch were your going!" The man shouted. "I-I-I'm sorry. I-I-It was an accident. He stuttered backing away. Suddenly he felt his cloak tugged off of him as people gasped in shock.
"Hey, look he's a freak!" The man holding his cloak shouted. You think he's one of the freaks from the circus?" Said another man. "Nah I didn't see him out there with the others. Hey, I know who he is!" Said a fifth man. "It's the hunchback of Notre dame!" Some people looked at him with disgust while others who gave him sad pitiful looks. "Come to join the circus freak?" One of the men laughed. He definitely belongs there with all those other freaks. Another man said.
He knew for a fact no one was going to help him. Before he could react a rock struck the side of his face then another struck his shoulder the men surrounding him began beating him while a few of the other men continued throwing rocks.
He didn't fight back instead he curled into a ball as he was beat up. He was to scared to fight back and no one had taught him how, so he lay there and took it tears streamed down his face as he silently prayed for a miracle. "Look the freaks crying." One of the men laughed.
"What's going on here?" Suddenly the crowd dispersed, and the men fled one of them dropping his cloak which landed in front of him. Quickly Quasimodo threw on his cloak using it to hide his face.
He felt a hand on his shoulder and jumped startled slowly he turned around and looked at the stranger who'd scared the men away. Standing in front of him was the ringleader from the circus.
"You ok kid?" Y-Yes sir I'm f-f-fine I should be going now g-goodbye. The man grabbed his arm. Woah slow down kid I saw you at the show weren't you with some friends? "Y-Yes they decided to stay for a little bit after the show. "I-I-I was just heading home."
The man raised a puzzled eyebrow. "How old are you kid?" S-Sixteen, s-sir. W-Why do you ask? It can be pretty dangerous after dark. "A kid like you shouldn't be wandering around by yourself at this hour." I can take care of myself sir. He growled trying to tug his arm free of the mans grip.
"Well at least tell me what you thought of my show." I really did enjoy your show s-sir. I-I-It was like nothing I'd ever seen before. Well I'm glad you liked it were doing one more show tomorrow before we head b to the states if your interested. "I-I'd like to Maybe. Can you let go of my arm sir. he said finally managing to tug it free. However he stumbled loosing his balance as he crashed to the ground. The man held out his hand to help him up, but his eyes widened in surprise and Quasimodo knew why...His hood had fallen off.
Quasimodo scrambled backwards as he pulled the hood back over his deformed face. "I-I-I have to go he stuttered as he got to his feet and ran to the gate. "Hey kid wait!" But it was to late the boy was gone.
Barnum felt like an idiot, he hadn't meant to spook the poor kid he definitely owed that boy an apology. Everything made sense now, the boys odd behavior at his show, the way he'd tried to stay hidden it all made sense. He'd just come face to face with the bellringer that he'd heard so much and about. But what surprised him the most was that he was just a kid.
He still knew very little he wanted to know more. He saw a familiar woman and her husband heading his way. It was the boys friends. The raven-haired woman carried a little blonde-haired boy who was falling asleep in her arms, her son no doubt.
He stepped in front of the raven-haired beauty tipping his hat. "Excuse me miss, I was wondering if you could give me some information." About? The woman said glaring at the man suspiciously. "About the bellringer of Notre dame, your friends, yes?"
"What do you want with my friend?" Esmeralda said glaring suspiciously at the man. "Nothing, you see I'm afraid I spooked the boy earlier and he ran off." He told her how he'd scared off some men who were attacking him and how the boy had ran off after he'd seen his face.
Esmeralda relaxed somewhat when she realized that the man did not mean her friend any harm. "Quasimodo is naturally shy; he spent his life in the church." Quasimodo, so that was the boys name he thought intrigued.
"Do you know where the church is?" I haven't gone into the city sine I arrived here so I'm not sure where everything is." Its at the center of the city you cant miss it. "Thank you miss you have yourself a nice night I hope you enjoyed the show."
He yawned he'd have to go to the church in the morning it was late, and he was tired. The boy was definitely intrusting he hadn't expected to actually meet the bellringer. He wondered if the boy would even want to talk to him. He'd have to wait until the morning.
Meanwhile Quasimodo tossed and turned unable to sleep. The mans shocked expression was burned into his mind. He still thought that circus might be like the ones Frollo had told him about. Those strange people had seemed happy, and maybe they were maybe he was just paranoid or was he? All he knew was he was never going back to that circus! Little did he realize was soon going to change his mind.