For A Moment - A Wonka AU

Chapter 19: Distraction

Dressed in a set of poor, urchin-like clothing that would send her father into a sick fit, Charlotte lingered near the entrance of the Cathedral, waiting for the priest to arrive.

When he did, she ran over to him and tapped him on the shoulder. He looked back at her and she gave him her best pleading look.

"Could you spare a piece of chocolate for a poor, starving orphan girl...?" she asked.

The priest glanced down at her. "I'm sorry, my child, I don't have any on me," he said, and as he turned away from her he plopped a piece of chocolate into his mouth.

Charlotte smirked and slipped something into his pocket as the priest stepped into the Cathedral. Then have some acacia mints, she thought to herself.

She then slipped her hood down and ran in the direction of the zoo.

~

"Basil Bond, employee of the month, eh?" the zoo security guard said as he unwrapped the little box on his desk.

Inside was one of Willy's infamous Big Night Out chocolates.

"Well, that's lovely..." he murmured as he plopped the chocolate into his mouth.

Charlotte met up with Willy and Abacus just in time for the guard to pass out.

"Ah, Charlie! You're just in time!" Willy ran over to the security lodge and pulled the lever to open the entrance gate. Charlotte grabbed the keys to the transport van and tossed them to Abacus.

"I still can't believe we're doing this..." the older man grumbled, and Charlotte could see that he was in awe at the effects of Willy's chocolate.

~

Abacus drove the transport van quickly through the city. In the back of the vehicle was Abigail the giraffe, along with Willy and Charlotte at her side.

"Everything alright back there, you two?" Abacus asked.

Charlotte nodded and Willy patted Abigail's side. "Everything's just fine, isn't it, Abigail?" he said.

Abigail snorted happily in response and Charlotte tossed an acacia mint into her mouth.

"Well, you might want to tell her to duck!" Abacus shouted as they approached a low bridge.

"Tell her to what?" Willy raised an eyebrow.

"Duck!" Charlotte shouted and Abigail ducked just in time, her head lowering down to their level.

The two chuckled and Willy reached out to scratch her ears. "Heya, big girl."

~

The priest stood in the Cathedral, ordering his hundreds of monks around as he prepared for an upcoming funeral.

"Good morning, Brethren," he addressed one of the monks.

"Good morning, Father Julius," he replied.

Father Julius cleared his throat and stood in front of the two large doors to the Cathedral, turning around to face the monks. "Now, as you all know, it's Baron Von Schmeichelhammer's funeral today, and his widow is a bit of a pious type. Therefore, I don't want anyone eating chocolate during the service."

"Yes, Father," the assembled monks said in unison.

"We all know that one day we shall be judged for our sins," Father Julius continued, "but it's not going to be today."

"Amen."

He turned back to the doors and two of the monks pushed them open. He hummed a little tune and stepped outside, then froze in place, because standing in front of him were not people, but...