A loud boom of thunder the following morning interrupted the girl's sleep, waking her up and caused her to shiver. Yes. Not the fear of dead bodies or walking corpses, but just that. What could be heard but not seen. The girl quietly sat up and clutched the ends of the blanket that shielded her back and down. She calmly sighed and looked at the door. 'Okay. Held up.'
After a few minutes, Sadie picked up a screw and mindlessly spun it on the ground. Distracted by a creaking from one of the beds, she clenched her teeth. Not to mention short tempered. Although the room fell silent minutes later, or what was said to, a rough coughing followed. Sadie covered her full body aside from her head as another clap of thunder rumbled louder. 'I don't know what to do now. But I suppose we could stay put until a real plan is developed.'
"Sadie?" She shivered then sighed. The last voice she wanted to hear this early. "Yes." She replied quietly and moved her knees closer to her chest. The judge sat up and picked up his hat off of the floor, dusting it off. "It's only four my dear. Were you awoken by the thunder?"
She tightened her eyes then covered her mouth to cough. "One of my fears. Yes. I guess I lost track of time." He tilted his head then stood up. "Ahah." Sadie closed her eyes and held her breath as his hand was set on her back. "Please don't touch me." Frollo lifted his hand and opened the door.
The girl gasped and hurried after him. "Yes?" "Where are you going?" "Why back to the Palace of Justice for a brief reading. Not as it's any of your concern." He continued to walk.
Her gun was grabbed and she nudged him in the shoulder. "Attention seeker. You must be a gypsy as well." She blinked. "And what if I was? The only difference within humans is gender. Not race nor language nor religion. Here." Frollo folded his arms. "Of course one so ill minded as yourself would think so. I am God's highest power and you, my dear,.."
He pulled her towards him. Face to face, waist to chest. "..are to not question me or inflict your meaningless opinions upon me." Sadie softly panted at the heat of his robe. "Yes sir." He pushed her away. "My conscience is clear."
'Well he doesn't look as threatening without his hat.' She quietly hurried up the stairs and picked it up off the floor. Placed inside was her gun. Sadie quickly handed it to him with a straight face.
"Ponder the errors of your insolence." Frollo took it and put it on then glared at her as the weapon lay on his head. "What kind of fool do you mistake me for?" He held it in his hand. Sadie blinked then quickly shook her head. "I'm a leader, not a follower sir. Will to assist." He tightly gripped her gun in his left hand and lightly smirked. "Overruled." He dismissed himself out into the streets.
Sadie doubtfully shook her head and took the sword from under the bed where Esmeralda was sleeping. Secretly walking behind the judge made her smile. 'Who's overruled now?' She swiftly turned her back and rose an eyebrow as two spawns of Satan lazily crawled across the bloody pavement, moaning with each breath they took. Frollo stopped at the Palace doorstep and folded his arms as the little heathen stabbed each creature in the head with the blade.
She rose a hooded arm to avoid the blood splattering onto her face and chest. The judge rolled his eyes and glanced down at her. "Why would you look at this." "I don't want to hear it!" She loudly spoke with a pointed finger. He blinked unimpressed but inside he somewhat was. 'One so small and yet so strong.'"Calm yourself down. Let me have your jacket. I'll wash it."
Her heart appeared to skip a beat as she walked up the steps. "It's fine. Not necessary. Besides, I thought you didn't trust those who don't follow in your footsteps?" She slyly smiled and folded her arms. He pulled her against one of the pillars. "Ugh." Her eyes shut. "You may have outwitted me earlier. Now. It would be wise if you'd accept my generosity." She gulped then nodded. "Am I allowed inside?" "Yes. Under my behalf. Come."
Sadie entered the Palace of Justice with little to no words. Yes the decor was luxurious and welcoming but she didn't feel so. 'Once an outcast, always an outcast.' He led her into a small washroom.
"Your jacket?" He held out a hand. The girl blushed. "What's the problem now?" He scowled. "I...don't like to undress in front of other people." "And why not?" Frollo lifted her chin with his finger. Sadie shivered and backed up. "Very well. I'll wait."
She stepped behind an old; thick white shelf and unzipped it, handing it to him.
"The sins you have protected me from." He muttered and tossed it in the wash. "Not comfortable standing before me are you?" "I'm not." Sadie gulped. 'Very well.' He carefully reached for a bible on another shelf beside him. The context was silently read. The book of Psalm chapter sixty-five verse nine. You visit the earth and cause it to overflow; You greatly enrich it; The stream of God is full of water; You prepare their grain, for thus You prepare the earth.
"What's clouding your thoughts then heathen?" "I'm a what?" She laughed with a smile. He scratched his head in frustration. "Well if you kept up with scriptural study, or whatever knowledge you believe will ensure you good health, heathen is a synonym for a non-believer."
She shrugged. "Well you certainly take your position of a judge seriously." "Oh yes." He placed the damp garment in the dryer. "Ever so passionately as the great Lord before myself." "Huh. Well if you're pleased with that occupation. Personally I don't like doing so unless necessary." He cleared his throat. "Define necessary." Frollo set down the book after continuing until chapter seventy.
The girl hummed then shook her head. "Probably not the best time to discuss. Let's just concentrate on getting back to our temporary base." Thankfully the dryer buzzed before he could proceed with another monologue.
Frollo turned away and picked up the article of clothing, handing it to her. She took it and quickly put it on. The judge then smirked as Sadie walked back over and lightly yawned. "Well lead the way heathen."
The girl clenched her teeth and led him back out to the door. She slowly opened it then slammed it, panting. Frollo folded his arms with an obvious 'I'm correct' expression. Sadie narrowed her eyes. "I wouldn't press your luck grandpa." Her right hand reached for her gun in his. "Say that again. I dare you." She cackled. "Like I have the time for your childish bickering."
After climbing a short flight of stairs, Sadie carefully used the other end of her sword to break circular sections of the two glass windows. "You'd better repair those!" He shouted from below. "They don't need repairs where they're going!" Sadie shouted back then smiled.
The judge groaned. "I meant the windows you idiot!" "That's quite a descriptive vocabulary you have there my friend." She took a deep breath then carefully aimed her assault rifle at the brawling mob below. "There's ten of you and one of me. What's a poor girl to do?" Sadie snickered after quietly reciting Esmeralda's defense at the Feast of Fools from what seemed to be three months ago, but was really three years.
Six were then shot in the head and she shouted a quiet "Yes!"
The gun was placed in her back pocket. Frollo hummed and watched her hurry down the stairs. "Here." She handed it over once again. "And why?" "Last thing we need to worry about is you breaking your back being a ninja." She smiled.
He tried to remain serious then looked into her eyes. Black circles were set under them. "Very well." "Good. Now save the ammo in that. I'll cover this." She slowly opened the door again and noticed them all in the streets rather then crowded at the door steps. Sadie quietly shut the door behind them. "Perhaps we should go around." "Yes. You look tired." The girl shot him a confused look. "I'd prefer to concentrate on the real problem thank you."
The girl sighed then tiptoed across the ground, leaving the four zombies alone to socialize among each other. She quickly looked back and noticed him following just a few feet away. He rose an eyebrow. "What?" "Nothing." She ran back into the building and quietly opened the door. It was already seven and the gypsies were still fast asleep.
Sadie smiled and cleaned the blade with a crumple of newspaper. Her body then lay back down on the floor.
"I am not going back out there." She exaggerated with a yawn. "There's no hurry Sandra. Close your eyes." She covered herself with the blanket and slipped off her dirt stained white sneakers. "Allow me to thank you once again my dear." "No need to thank me. Think of it as a recognition. Learning and accepting the error of my ways remember?" She smirked and turned to face him.
He bashfully looked into her eyes with a light smile.
"I was kidding Frollo. Now's not the time for regrets." She closed her eyes then set her hoodie beside her. Frollo then stopped smiling and confronted his own thoughts. 'Tripping hazard.' Her words echoed. 'Sacrifice. Survival.' The judge was disgusted. Not only of the situation, but the possible chance of taking advice from her. 'Kid, adult, or whatever she is, she will not change my life principles.' He quietly knelt before the bed and lowered his head for a silent prayer.
Moments after his atonement, he removed his robes and neatly folded them in front of him. A white dress shirt and black dress pants were worn under them. Frollo set his hat on top and deeply sighed. Sadie then smiled.
Esmeralda then rose her head and rubbed her eyes. She covered her mouth at his off-duty attire. "Frollo?" "Yes gypsy?" He stared at her. A shiver slipped down her spine. "Same rules apply for you. Do not question me."
Although Esmeralda hadn't exactly feared him, she wasn't in the mood to argue. "Fine." The woman lay back down, watching her partner as he slept.
Sadie covered her mouth with the blanket and coughed. 'Is she awake?' One of her eyes was closed while the other was half closed. Esmeralda's thoughts were then clouded with images and memories about Quasimodo. 'Is he still in the bell tower? Does the Cathedral door only open from the inside? I can't remember.'
Clopin tiredly opened his eyes and looked around the crowded room. "What time is it?" "Seven forty-five gypsy." Frollo replied coldly. The gypsy king tilted his head then sat up. "And a pleasant morning to you minister."
Esmeralda gently elbowed him to stop, in which he did. He then looked down rather surprised. "Is she still sleeping?"
Sadie opened her eyes with a scowl. "Not anymore." She rose her head and sat up under the blanket. "Oh. I'm sorry Sadie." Esmeralda frowned. "Fine. I've been up since four anyway." The girl then flinched, as if Frollo was staring at her. "Really? What were you doing up?" "Typical fear of thunder."
Clopin blinked. "Yes it is pretty ridiculous of all things." She added with a giggle. "Well that's what makes you..well you." Esmeralda grinned as she was given a slice of bread. Sadie smiled as she was given one as well. "Oh. Thank you Clopin." "You're quite welcome."
"Well I'll leave you three to participate in your little ritual." Frollo stood up and opened the door. The gypsies scowled and Sadie sprang to her feet, dropping her bread on the blanket. "And how are you supposed to survive by yourself huh? With your ignorance?" He stopped and turned to her with a death stare. She didn't dare let her fear show on the outside. The judge had had enough and pushed her onto the floor, causing her to scrape her leg and chest on the edges of a table. 'An ant facing a human.' The girl softly groaned then wiped her eyes. Her hair covered her left eye. He deeply chuckled and knelt down to the ground.
Clopin and Esmeralda folded their arms at the top of the stairwell.
"Continue your words heathen. I'm waiting." He snarked. The girl refused to look up.
"Her name is Sandr.." Esmeralda quickly covered Clopin's mouth.
"Is it now?" Sadie pressed her lips and forced herself to speak up. "Yes. Meaning defender." She pushed herself up. "Indeed. Please do forgive me for my arrogant ways. I have greatly misjudged you." She growled and grabbed her gun off the floor, threatening to shoot him.
Frollo covered his mouth, hiding a grin. "You are threatening me because you are afraid."
She blinked with her right pointer finger on the trigger.
"You are afraid because you are scared." Sadie hadn't budged. "You are scared because of the past. And you are scared of the past because of its negativity." The girl blinked and slowly set down the gun.
The gypsies turned away and engaged in a whispered conversation. "Oh no. He's using his manipulation again." "She's a smart girl. I know she's not going to fall for it." "Are you sure?" "Yes Esmeralda." He smiled.
Sadie opened her mouth then closed her eyes. "And why are you telling me this basic logic?"
He sighed. "Well you certainly can't live in the state of mind that you possess can you? Especially in a situation like this. Positivity Sadie."
She wanted to scream. 'You bloody hypocrite!' "You have that. Strength. Endurance." 'Blah. blah. blah. Keep wasting your breath. Wait. Don't.' "Br.." "Okay. I understand. I'm sorry." He sighed in satisfaction. "You are forgiven." 'Hallelujah.'