Layla the gypsy girl

6- Escape

"Aren't you even going to try and get some sleep?" Quizzed Clopin.
Despite the late hour, Layla was sat on her bed, wide awake, waiting for Esmeralda to return. Clopin had been checking on everyone, when he found Layla still awake.
"I'm waiting for Esmeralda" replied Layla defiently.
"She might not make it back today"
"You swore that she would be O.K"
"And she will be. Notre Dame is crawling with soliders at the moment. It would be unwise for her to travel through the city tonight".

Layla sniffed loudly, and gripped her blanket tighter.
"You really care for her, don't you" said Clopin.
"Yes, of course. She's my sister" snapped Layla.
"Not by blood"
"No. But that doesn't matter. I can barely remember a time when she wasn't by my side. We've been together for years, and we love each other, like sisters. I don't care what anyone else says, she is my sister"
"Far enough... Stay up all night and wait for her, if you wish. That is your choice"
"Fine. I will"
"Suit yourself"
"Goodbye Clopin".
He bowed his head and made his way back to the main hall, through the catacombs. Living underground wasn't for everyone, but Layla liked it. Ever since Clopin had showed them the way in, it had been their home.

Esmeralda and Layla had been struggling on their own, moving from one place to another, along the outskirts of Paris. They had been together for several years, but they weren't thriving.
That's when they met Clopin Trouillefou, and he showed them how to find The Court of Miracles. Most gypsies used it as a safe haven at some point, but very few lived there on a perminent basis. As the point of being a gypsy is to travel, and if you are staying in one place for years, then you aren't achieving that goal.
But Esmeralda and Layla loved the safety, and the family, that living there provided. So they decided to stay.
It was Clopin's job to keep the place secret, so Esmeralda and Layla had to both promise, not to tell anyone else how to enter.

Esmeralda didn't return to home until the sun had begun to rise, signaling a new day. She was out of breath, but appeared to be unharmed.
"I thought they'd trapped you inside the cathedral. How did you escape?" Layla questioned.
Esmeralda collapsed onto her own bed, and Djali jumped up beside her.
"It's a long story" she replied.
Layla folded her arms and crossed her legs, waiting for a better answer.
Esmeralda sighed, and pushed herself up into a sitting position.
"Fine. The Captain of the Guard, Phoebus, told Frollo that he couldn't arrest me inside Notre Dame, because of the rules of claiming sanctuary.
So he stationed guards at all of the exits. I thought I was trapped, but Quasimodo helped me escape" she explained.

"If Frollo was guarding all the escape routes, then how did Quasimodo get you out?" Asked Layla.
"Well, it turns out he is a surprisingly good climber" Esmeralda answered.
"He climbed down the side of the cathedral, with you on his back?"
"Yes. Pretty much"
"Wow. It sounds terrifying"
"It was rather frightening. I had to cover Djali's eyes with a cloth, so that he didn't panic. But it fell off half-way down, and he tried to jump out of my arms. Luckily we all made it down safely".

"I'd hate to see Frollo's face when he finds out that you've escaped. He is not going to take it well" cautioned Layla.
"I know. But I couldn't just let him be cruel to someone who needed his help. I thought that if one person stood up to him, then everyone would join in and overpower him" replied Esmeralda.
"That is never going to happen. The people are too afraid of the consequences, to stand up to Frollo. Not everyone is as brave as you"
"I think you are. You joined me on the stage to help Quasimodo"
"Yeah, but I didn't stand up to him, the same way you did. I didn't exactly say anything to him"
"No. But you did stand by me, which is a brave thing to do, so I'm glad... Now I think it's time we both got some sleep".

Layla yawned and nodded. "O.K".
"Would you really have waited on your bed all night, for me to return?" Questioned Esmeralda.
"Yes, of course. I couldn't have gone to sleep, knowing that you were out there alone"
"Well, thank you. It means a lot".
Layla smiled and yawned again, as she re-arranged her pillow.
"Good-night Layla" whispered Esmeralda.
"Night, Esme" Layla whispered back.
Esmeralda looked down at Djali, who was already asleep, and she stroked his head gently. Before leaning back, and falling asleep herself.