This might be a shorter chapter but it casts some humanity onto our main character. After all, she wonders how God could allow such things or any creator for that matter. Lyrics incorporated in to spoken word, I do not own this song.

God Help the Outcasts by Disney (Hunchback of Norte Dame)

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"You seem thoughtful today, Kale." Dr. Whistler made a note on her clipboard as she looked at me with skeptical eyes. She was always seeing what I was trying to hide and this was only our third session.

I hadn't spoken much the first session and the second I asked mostly questions about the asylum and how long I would be staying. Her answers, enigmatic, did not give me any clarity on my situation.

"Why do the other inmates treat me like a outcast?" I looked at her with curious eyes, I couldn't pose this question to Waylon. He would only say something snide about humans being weak and fearful rats. "I didn't do anything wrong…"

"I know you didn't dear but people are often afraid of what they do not understand." She sighed as she rubbed her temple with the tip of her pen and I let out a huff of annoyance, I really was becoming Waylon.

"There are bigger monsters than me and Waylon in here anyways," I muttered as I slumped in my chair pulling at a thread on my shorts I grimaced. "I hate the way I look."

"That isn't Mr. Jones speaking, is it, dear?"

"No. No…I've never liked my body even as a child, I was a main attraction and people threw things at me they said…"

"What did they say, Kale?" She gently prodded.

"They said I was damned by God."

Her mouth pulled into a harsh line and she wrote furiously on her pad of paper, the scratching sound somehow comforting to me by now. When she rested her hand she looked at me sympathetically.

"You know that isn't true."

"Don't I? Some people in here claim to talk to God, if I could for just five minutes I'd—I don't know…"

"If you had something to say to God, what would you say, dear?"

I was quiet for a moment peeking up at her through my bangs. "You won't laugh?"

"This is a safe place. All you say is in my confidence, Kale." I knew the recorder was playing, she had explained that it was for her safety as well as mine should anyone try to abuse their power.

But who would listen to the words of a freak like me?

My voice was small barely a whisper. "I don't know if you hear me or if you're even there. I don't know if you will listen to a freak like me's prayer…" I rubbed my hands over my arms as I leaned back in the stiff metal chair. "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?" I bit my lip and I felt an ache in my chest. "God help the outcasts hungry from birth, show them the mercy they don't find on earth…God help my people they look to you still…God help the outcasts or nobody will…"

I ask for wealth….

I ask for fame…

I ask for glory to shine on my name…

I ask for love I can possess…

"I ask for nothing. I can get by but I see so many less lucky than I…please help my people the poor and down trod. I thought we all were the children of God." I pondered my last words and repeated them softly as a tear slid down my cheek to plop onto my thigh. "…I thought we all were the children of God…."

There was silence for a long moment and Dr. Whistler leaned back in her chair a strand of grey hair falling out of her tight bun.

"That was very beautiful, Kale, I wish that more people could think like you do about the less fortunate in this city."

I rubbed at my eyes to clear away the tears I felt. "Don't tell Waylon I cried please?"

"Are you afraid of what he would think? Crying is a very healthy emotion."

"It'll make me weak, he hates people that are weak…he hates a lot of things but…" I trailed off as I thought of the kiss I shared with him, he hadn't been very handsy since then just lying on the mattress with me. Not touching me outright maybe I had done something wrong. I flushed at the thought of what he could want after that kiss. "Dr. Whistler?"

"Yes dear?"

"Do you have any, um, what I mean is do you have an con…con..contra—" I blushed bright red at the thought of what I was saying and she seemed to get what I wanted.

"Of course dear. It comes in a shot but it lasts six months, is that alright?"

I wasn't fond on getting shots as flashes of being held down ran through my head but I trusted Dr. Whistler as much as I could so I nodded.

"I suspected you might ask so I came prepared." She turned and brought out a small box with a small syringe in it, setting it between us. "It will sting and cause some nausea but it will be effective."

I nodded as I looked away. "Do it quick please?"

Going around the side of the table she rubbed my arm with rubbing alcohol and I didn't even feel it. I felt a tingling in my arm but other than that nothing as she returned to her seat and wrote something down on her pad.

"I must ask and you don't have to answer if you don't wish to…but are you intimate with Mr. Jones?"

I blushed and twiddled my thumbs. "Y-Yes…I've…kissed him and he's touched me but he hasn't pushed for anything else."

Nodding she seemed satisfied with that. "That is good. Do you enjoy his company?"

"I do…he's the only one who understands….this." I motioned to my scaly exterior and I looked over her head as I continued. "He's taught me how to swim and hold my breath but he won't let me explore the tunnels alone."

"He feels protective of you, would you say?"

I shrugged as I continued. "He wouldn't agree with that but I think I'm the first thing he found worth protecting because I…I don't think he's a monster."

She was quiet for a moment and made another note. "Who is a monster then?"

"Zsasz…Joker…me," I added softly as I licked my lips.

"What makes you a monster that doesn't make him one as well?"

"Because he does something about it…I'm terrified of being seen like this."

"Don't judge yourself too harshly, Kale, because perhaps he feels the same way as you do too." She smiled at me and wagged her eyebrows at me. "You're a lovely young woman in an unfortunate situation."

The timer dinged and she made a sound of annoyance. "Always shorter than anticipated. I will see you next week, Kale. As always, be careful."

I nodded as she motioned for the security officers to come in, escorting me out of her office and I looked over my shoulder at her bent form, a worried expression on her face.