Chapter 40: The Complications
A scream disturbed the silent atmosphere at dawn. Claude's eyes jerked open when he heard it. Amazingly, he wasn't the one suffering a nightmare this time. At his side, Esmeralda was convulsing and panting. Worried, Claude quickly woke her.
She stared for a moment when she saw him, questioning if she was free from the fright she'd just experienced.
"It's alright," Claude assured, stroking her cheek.
His touch calmed her. Esmeralda sighed in relief, pulling Claude's body against hers and hugging him. She had never been so glad to see him. It was an incredible relief to be woken from the darkness of her dreams and welcomed into her friend's arms.
"I told you I have nightmares..." Esmeralda sighed.
Claude remembered being told about the violent attack she had experienced, which had given her nightmares.
"It was about... That?" Claude asked.
"Yes." Esmeralda answered.
Claude was pained by the thought of it. Not just by the knowledge that someone he cared for had been so badly hurt, but also by the fact that his self at that point in time would not have stopped it. He would have watched it, laughing. And even worse, he'd nearly done something even more horrible to her mere weeks ago. Claude was disgusted with himself when he thought about how many evil things he'd been willing to do when he'd believed that everyone was a sinner except him. Esmeralda's attackers reminded him of his colder self, and therefore he was disgusted by them too. The harm they'd done to his dearest friend made that disgust all the worse.
Claude slightly drew back from Esmeralda so he was looking at her face.
"I've been meaning to ask you something." Claude said solemnly. "Something rather serious."
"What is it?" Esmeralda inquired.
Claude took a breath before saying it. He was afraid to ask this, but it was important.
"If you saw the men who beat you, would you recognize them?"
Esmeralda was taken off guard. She wasn't prepared to think about this. Hesitating, she closed her eyes.
"I don't know." She finally answered. "I practically blacked out when it happened."
Claude was disappointed by that, but he wouldn't give up.
"Then I'll have to find some other way to track them down." He decided.
"You don't have to do that." Esmeralda assured.
"I must." Claude said with determination. "It is my job to protect this city. It's time I start doing it. And that is only my obligation. If you consider the fact that they've hurt someone who means a great deal to me..."
He trailed off, disturbed by the image of it.
"...That makes it much more important." Claude finished.
Esmeralda thought about it. The idea of her attackers being caught was something she'd never thought possible, since an unjust judge had been in authority. But now that judge had changed his ways and was willing to whatever was necessary to bring those men to justice.
"Do you really think you could find them?" Esmeralda asked.
"I have my ways." Claude promised. "And there is something about me, which you may have noticed. When something is very important to me, I simply will not give up."
Esmeralda had noticed that. Claude was the most determined person she had ever met. Before it had been his worst quality, resulting in fires across the city. But now it was his best quality, the reason that he worked so hard to repair that damage.
"I really don't see how you could do it." Esmeralda said doubtfully. "But if anyone can, I know it's you."
Claude appreciated that, but a thought suddenly occurred to him. He wasn't sure if Esmeralda really wanted this. It had seemed obvious that this was something she would want, but what if it only forced her to needlessly think of traumatic events?
"I'm being too forceful." Claude said disappointedly. "Esmeralda, do you want me to find them? I feel that I must, but I don't want to cause you more stress."
Esmeralda was relieved by the question. Claude respected her, and she was glad of it. But this was difficult to answer.
"I admit, it would be stressful." She shared. "I've moved past the incident for the most part. I rarely have a nightmare and it doesn't scare me to go out anymore. I'm afraid to start thinking about it again."
"I understand." Claude said softly.
"But I agree with you." Esmeralda admitted. "Men like them shouldn't be soldiers. They're dangerous, and I hate to think of what other violent things they might be doing. I couldn't forgive myself if I kept you from doing something about that. It would be far more stressful than knowing you're looking for them."
Esmeralda exhaled deeply, then looked into Claude's eyes.
"Find them." She ordered.
"You're sure that is what you want?" Claude asked.
"Absolutely." Esmeralda replied.
So this would be the judge's new mission. He was ready for it.
"I won't involve you any more than you want me to." He promised.
"Thank you." Esmeralda said gratefully.
Quasimodo watched with fascination as Elaine painted. Her picture of the city was coming along nicely.
"You're so good at it!" The bell ringer praised.
"Thank you!" Elaine replied. "I think I've done enough for today."
"Already?"
"I ought to finish when the construction is done, so I'll have a painting of a more complete Paris."
Quasimodo was reminded of Elaine's description of Esmeralda and Frollo at the construction site.
"I've been thinking..." He said sullenly. "Did you really see what you thought you saw yesterday?"
"Esmeralda with Judge Frollo? Yes, I definitely saw them having lunch and chatting."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Why do you doubt that?"
"It just... Doesn't sound quite right."
"Why not? They're friends."
"Friends?!"
"I mean, Judge Frollo did introduce Esmeralda as his friend."
Quasimodo struggled to believe it. He knew that Esmeralda cared about Frollo, because she was a caring person. And he knew that Frollo cared about her, since he had changed dramatically. But it was hard to imagine the two of them being friends. Moreover, it was a slightly disturbing thought.
It shouldn't be disturbing. Frollo wasn't the evil man he had once been. He was better now. Quasimodo couldn't fault Esmeralda for being friends with him. But he still felt uneasy. He still hadn't forgiven Frollo. He still saw that man as his mother's killer. He didn't like the idea of Esmeralda being friends with him, even if there was nothing morally wrong with it.
"Um... Quasimodo?" Elaine said cautiously. "I know things are complicated between you and them, but I don't see why. Would you like to tell me?"
It was tempting. Quasimodo was getting tired of keeping the drama to himself.
"Maybe just a little." He decided. "You see, Esmeralda is my best friend. And Frollo... Well, he raised me."
"Really?" Elaine asked. "So he's... Your father?"
"Something like that." Quasimodo shrugged. "He took me in when I was a baby."
"I see." Elaine understood. "That was kind of him."
Quasimodo frowned.
"I'm not sure why he did it." He confessed. "He was never exactly good to me. Or anyone."
"Oh..." Elaine said in realization.
"But... He's better now. He apologized for everything, and he's trying to make it up to everyone he hurt. He's fixing those houses because he's the one who had them damaged."
"Wow." Elaine remarked. "That's amazing."
"It is." Quasimodo agreed. "But... He's done things that I don't know how to forgive him for. So him and Esmeralda being friends..."
Elaine looked at the bell ringer with sympathy.
"I see what you mean." She said understandingly.
"I want to feel better about it." Quasimodo said honestly. "But I'm feeling a lot of weird things right now. I don't know how to deal with it all."
"Maybe you just need time." Elaine suggested.
"That's what I've been thinking." Quasimodo agreed. "But what can I do until then?"
"Pass the time with me." Elaine answered.
Quasimodo smiled. He was glad that someone was willing to keep him company through this.
"Would you like to play another game?" He asked.
"I don't know, Quasi. Do you want to lose again?"
Elaine looked at Quasimodo with a playful smirk. He returned the look.
"Don't be too confident!" He warned. "I'm getting better!"
Before getting to work on the construction, Claude took the captain aside.
"I have a new task for you." He informed. "And this one is top secret."
"What do you need, Sir?" The captain asked.
"A year ago," Claude started. "Four soldiers savagely beat a woman on the street. I want them arrested."
"How awful." The captain commented. "Who are they?"
"I don't know." Claude said unfortunately.
"Then how am I to find them?"
"Ask around discreetly. Act like you are impressed with what they've done. I doubt they will be ashamed to admit it."
"Very well, Sir."
Claude took a deep breath. He looked around at the soldiers at the construction site. It was disturbing to think that among his men were four savage beasts who had harmed Esmeralda. He would do his best to find them, and to comfort her in the process.
