The rain had caused the number of people attending the festival to diminish to only a few here or there. The sudden manhunt for Marinette also put the whole town into a foul mood as well. Nino, under the orders of Papillion, was organizing the search. He had just ordered a small group to look down by the river when a figure caught his eye. It was a short figure with a long, dark cloak about them. They walked mysteriously like someone who was hiding something. Ninio decided to follow on his own.
Marinette pushed the door of the church open and inched her way in, Tikki leapt from her arms and began to sniff the room. Marinette was in complete awe of the large church. The sound of the prayers of many seemed to linger in the air itself, making it heavy with wants and needs that could never be fulfilled on earth.
Lines of candles lit for those who had passed on created beautiful dancing shadows on the walls. Each one was as graceful and elegant as any gypsy in the streets. Marinette smiled as she took the chance to light one on her own.
"Have you come to pray for those who have moved on?" the voice startled her.
"Oh," Marinette fumbled, "no, I was just…" she looked from the man and back to the candles, "I was just hoping to find someone here."
"If you mean the bell ringer," the man said sternly, "you will not find him here."
Marinette frowned, "It's all my fault, you know."
The man walked up beside her and listened.
"I was the one who thought to bring him on stage," she ran her finger quickly over the flames before her, "I was the one who pulled off his cloak."
"You know," the man said with a soft smile, "most people wait to confess until after they are in the confessional."
Marinette smiled at the comment, but frowned once again, "None of that cruelty would have ever happened to him if I had just let him be. I had no idea that he was… well…"
"Yes," the man agreed solemnly, "unfortunately, mankind is one of the cruelest things on this planet."
"Ha!" Marinette scoffed, "My people have been suffering by the hands of mankind for as long as I can remember. Why do people have to treat one another in such a cruel way just because they are a little different?"
The man nodded and walked past her, he led the way into the main sanctuary where dozens of people knelt in prayer, "I ask myself the same thing. Mankind is social, they want to be with one another. And when the loudest voice says that a certain thing is right or wrong, in order to feel welcomed, others will join in."
Marinette furrowed her eyebrows, thinking of how quickly the crowd turned into a mob from such a little incident.
"And so," the man continued, "the truth becomes distorted by the raging masses. And mankind cannot help but follow where the truth seems to lead. Unfortunately, that truth leads to a dangerous slope of needless laws and cruel words. Soon," he knelt before the altar and crossed himself, "humans no longer recognize other humans, no matter the size, age, color, or faith."
Marinette stood behind the man, staring up at the large cross, "How can we stop the world from slipping down the slope?"
"What is important is to remember that no matter how far down the slope someone has gone," the man said turning his head to look at her, "they are never too far down the slope that they cannot be saved."
Marinette looked down in thought as the man began to pray. She took that as her chance to step away and figure things out on her own for a moment. She stopped to look out a window to see if the men were still looking for her. The rain was pouring. A guard walked past the window and Marinette took a few steps back. As she did so, the image on the stained glass became more clear. So many images of people praying stood before her.
Marinette took the moment to touch the delicate pane, it was cold to the touch, but she kept her hand there.
"I don't know if you can hear me, God, or if you are even really there to hear me, a lowly gypsy. I-I am nothing compared to the priests and deacons of this beautiful church, but… You were a carpenter… My people are hurting. They are starving, they are cold, and they are in desperate need of your help. They are powerless against Judge Papillion and I can't stand to see them in such hurt. And the man… he was hurting just as much as the rest of us. Please, God if you can hear me, all I want is for you to help my people. Help them where they can't help themselves. Please, that is all I ask of You.
Help them."
Chat had been sitting in his tower silent since he spoke to Fu. He had cleaned up and was staring at his model of the town. It was the same town with the same faces that had laughed at him.
"Chat," Duusu said as she paid a hand on his shoulder, "Oh honey please listen to me."
Chat only turned his eyes away from her. He had been humiliated and Duusu was to blame. She had told him to go, she had given him hope. And now he only wanted to live the rest of his days in solitude with nothing but his bells, and his thoughts. Duusu sighed and looked toward the other two statues. They nodded and stepped in, allowing Duusu to move away for a moment.
"Chat, kid," Plagg sat on Chat's other side, "no one could have seen this coming."
"I did," Chat grumbled.
"But," Trixx laid her chin across from Chat, "It wasn't all bad."
"I was tied down on the stockade," Chat frowned at her.
Trixx leaned back awkwardly, "Well… I mean, yeah, but…"
"What about the girl with the hair?" Plagg grinned.
"What about her?" Chat scoffed as he hid his face in his arms.
"She seemed to like you," Trixx offered.
"And did you see that escape? Flawless!" Plagg elbowed Chat lightly with a wink.
"Yeah," Chat's frown deepened, "she's probably miles away from here."
"Or she's looking for you downstairs," Duusu interrupted as she returned to the group.
"What?" Chat questioned as he sat up.
"That dancing girl with the hair," Duusu clarified, "she's downstairs looking for you."
Chat stood up quicker than he had meant to and ran down the stairs. He opened the door slightly to peer out into the foyer.
Sure enough, there she stood with her little red dog. She sat in the light of the candles, lost in her thoughts. Chat was about to open the door when a voice caught both of their attention.
"Didn't think you were the type to frequent churches," Nino smirked as he came toward her.
Marinette stood to face the man, a look of disdain on her face, "You have a lot of nerve making an assumption about me."
Nino lowered his head and raised his arms in defeat, "Valid. Might as well start off on the right foot and not assume your name is actually Ladybug: the Finest Dancer in all of France."
Marinette smirked at the title, "Yeah, it's not really that."
"May I ask what it is?" Nino extended a hand. He lunged back when Tikki growled and took a nip at his wrist.
"Ah," he said as he put some distance between the two of them, "Animal sidekick… must be royalty."
"Tikki doesn't like soldiers who invade my personal space," Marinette grinned.
"Wide personal bubble," Nino commented, "either way, can I please know your name?"
Marinette, impressed and slightly annoyed by his persistence, gave up, "Marinette."
"Beautiful name," Nino complimented as he bowed, "My name is Captain Nino Lahiffe. I am pleased to- yowch!"
Tikki took her chance to nip at Nino's nose when he bowed and managed to brush it with her teeth, causing him to jump back again in surprise.
"Cheeky little thing, isn't she?" Nino grumbled as Marinette laughed.
"Why won't you arrest me?" Marinette asked suddenly.
Nino blinked at her before motioning around him, "You're in the house of God. Anyone who seeks refuge in this holy place deserves a chance to make things right."
"You are definitely not like the other guards," Marinette smiled as she summoned Tikki to her side.
"I'll take that as the highest of compliments," Nino laughed. "Why are you here?"
Marinette hesitated, "I'm looking for-"
"Good work, Captain," the sound of Papillion's voice made everyone in the area jump in surprise. "You've cornered her."
Nino looked from the woman to Papillion and back again, "Claim sanctuary," he whispered.
"You," Marinette whispered back through gritted teeth, "you set me up."
"I can't help you unless you claim sanctuary," Nino resoned.
"Arrest her, Captain!"
"I'm sorry, your honor," Nino said, turning back to the judge, "she has claimed Sanctuary."
"Then drag her by the hair outside and arrest her!" Papillion commanded. Marinette took a few steps back, out of Nino's reach, her face paled.
"You will do no such thing," Archdeacon Fu interjected, walking between the two groups and holding up his hand toward the judge. "Don't worry, child. Judge Papillion learned a long time ago not to consider the holiness of God a matter to be trifled with."
Marinette stood silently as Papillion begrudgingly ordered his men to retreat. Nino followed the men out. She did not notice Judge Papillion sneak into the shadows as they turned to go their separate ways.
Suddenly, Marinette felt her right hand being twisted painfully behind her back. The heat from the body behind her became an uncomfortable breeze by her neck.
"Listen well, Gypsy," Papillion hissed, "One step out of this building, and you will be mine!"
"You sick monster," Marinette retaliated as she pulled away from him. But his grip was too tight. She felt a chill down her spine as his body suddenly got closer. She could hear him inhaling the scent of her hair. "What are you doing?" she growled confidently, turning her head to look toward him.
He hesitated for a moment, "I was just imagining what a rope would look like on that pretty neck of yours."
She didn't buy that for a second, she elbowed him as hard as she could and pulled free, "I know what you were thinking," she curled her lip in disgust.
"Typical," Papillion said as he stood tall above her, "A Gypsy trying to put such… unholy thoughts in a righteous mind."
"You disgust me," Marinette hissed as she walked backward toward the sanctuary.
"I shall see you again soon," Papillion raised a dismissive hand as he walked away, "gypsies never do well in stone walls." He turned to close the doors behind him, giving Marinette one final look which made her want to throw up. The sound of a door to her side moving caught her attention almost immediately.
"Who's there?" she asked as she neared the door. The sound of footsteps retreating made her curiosity overtake her. She flung open the door to find a long flight of stairs before her. "The belltower," she grinned to herself as she chased the distant sound.