Chapter 17: Woven Band

In the weeks that followed, Esmeralda made secret visits to Quasimodo in the Clock Tower. Though he was initially against this, he quickly warmed up to her. From him, she learned that Frollo was Quasimodo's legal guardian which was only known to a handful of the Disney Academy school staff. Frollo also didn't allow Quasimodo to leave the Clock Tower, claiming the world wouldn't accept him as he was which was proven at the Festival of Fools. So Quasimodo was essentially home-schooled by Frollo, and was close to graduation. When he wasn't doing schoolwork, though, Quasimodo would either create figurines depicting students and staff for his miniature version of Disney Academy or talk to three gargoyle statues that he claimed were alive. Yet in the time Esmeralda spent with Quasimodo, the gargoyles never moved or spoke.

One night while looking over the lights of the city, Quasimodo said to Esmeralda, "Do you think Gypsies are…evil?"

This took Esmeralda by surprise. "Who told you that?"

"Frollo," Quasimodo replied in an embarrassed tone. "Though my online friend, Rapunzel, thinks Frollo's a bigot."

"Do you think I'm evil?" Esmeralda asked, looking at Quasimodo.

"No, you're kind and good and—

"Then maybe you should come with me, and see the rest of my Romani group," Esmeralda suggested. "They won't hurt you, I promise."

"But, this is where I belong," Quasimodo insisted, placing a large hand on the Clock Tower roof beneath him and Esmeralda. "And besides, I'm a monster, you know."

"Are you?" Esmeralda took Quasimodo's hand in hers. "Let me see your palm."

Quasimodo flinched, but gave in and allowed Esmeralda to examine the lines on his hand.

"Hmm, a long lifeline," Esmeralda observed and pointed to a different line. "Now this one means you're shy…huh, I don't see any…"

"What?"

"Monster lines. Not a single one…"

Just as Quasimodo was about to say something, a commotion was heard down below. Esmeralda looked down and noticed two Hall Monitors carrying batons who were waving flashlights up at them. Immediately, she and Quasimodo shifted down the other side.

"Great," Esmeralda grumbled. "If they spotted us, I can't leave through the hidden door of the Clock Tower."

"We don't need to use a door," Quasimodo smirked, pointing to a nearby roof. "We could jump over to that."

"Seriously?" When Quasimodo nodded, Esmeralda sighed and picked up her goat. "All right, Djali, we're leaving."

Using her pink headscarf, Esmeralda covered Djali's eyes so he would stay calm. Then Quasimodo picked her up and they leaped to a nearby roof. From there, they climbed down a gutter that was close to the school gates. While Esmeralda let Djali squeeze through the bars, she looked back at Quasimodo and smiled before climbing over the bars.

###

From there, a series of strange incidents happened. Not only did the weather suddenly grow colder but Frollo ordered Esmeralda to be found and brought before the authorities claiming she was a Witch. Because this wasn't true, Emseralda was tempted to claim otherwise thought Clopin advised her to hide for the time-being. Yet the searches turned into raids as Romani were interrogated and arrested for refusing to tell Follo were Esmeralda was. So Esmeralda daringly followed one of Frollo's raid groups to a house at the edge of the city. To her surprise, Phoebus was there alongside Follow as the family inside were questioned by the two men who harassed Esmeralda before.

"They claim to not know where Esmeralda is," said the skinny man of the two after they came out of the house.

"I think they're lying, like they always do," responded the fat man next to his skinnier partner.

"A likely possibility," Frollo determined. "Phoebus, would you inform Principal Disney that the Gypsy students who live here will no longer be attending?"

"Why's that?" Phoebus asked, noticing the men had brought gasoline and matches. "You're not going to—

"Do not question my authority," Frollo interrupted. "You were trained to follow orders as a Hall Monitor, and you shall do so regardless of what I tell you to do."

Frowning, Phoebus attempted to call the police but was stopped by one of the men. So he turned and ran toward the road nearby.

"Stop him!" Frollo ordered, and the skinny man pulled a handgun out.

He fired several bullets at Phoebus, who fell into the river near the road as it crossed over a bridge. Luckily, Esmeralda was hiding there so she grabbed Phoebus and dragged him away before the men came looking for him.

###

That night, Esmeralda came to the Clock Tower and entered it with Phoebus slung over her shoulder. Quasimodo was surprised to see her, but even more so at seeing Phoebus.

"He tried to call the police about Frollo burning a house that had a Romani family in it, but they tried to stop him," Esmeralda explained and showed the bleeding cut on Phoebus' shoulder that was caused when a bullet grazed it. "I know he'll be safe here while I treat his wound, but can you hide him for now?"

Quasimodo hesitated and then he said, "This way."

Near the back of the upstairs room in the Clock Tower, there was a hidden alcove that had a cot and sink. Esmeralda then placed Phoebus on the cot and pulled the curtains to hide them both. Using light from a nearby candle, she carefully removed Phoebus' shirt and cleaned his cut.

As she did this, Phoebus stirred. "Esmeralda…"

"It's okay," Esmeralda assured. "But you might want to save your strength."

"For what?" Phoebus asked.

Esmeralda held up a bottle of pure alcohol. "I'm going to pour this on your wound, and then you're going to need stitches."

"Oh, right, you work for the School Nurse Mary," Phoebus realized.

In response, Esmeralda nodded and poured the alcohol on Phoebus' shoulder causing him to cry out in pain.

"This is like being in the Fourteenth Century," Phoebus groaned. "Guess this is what I get for being a coward."

"Don't say that," Esmeralda insisted as she used a thin thread and needle to stitch the cut. "You're the bravest soldier I've ever met."

Phoebus seemed confused. "Is that a compliment?"

Smiling, Esmeralda kissed Phoebus which seemed to relax him enough for her to finish the stitching without any fuss. As he was resting Esmeralda went over to Quasimodo, who seemed upset but hid it with a smile.

"I'm going to be leaving now, but if you need to find me use this." From her neck, Esmeralda took off a necklace that had a woven band depicting various things. "Just remember: when you wear this woven band, you hold the city in your hand."

End of Chapter 17