The Hunchback of Notre Dame 2: A Different Story

Chapter 1

     Madellaine gently patted some rouge onto her cheeks. Gustav always said that clients like girls with a little "life," but Madellaine thought she looked just fine without it. Then again, it was Gustav's lot in life to get young innocent girls to do things they didn't want to do.
     "This is the only way you can make a living," he had told her. "Anyone else would have thrown you out on the street, but did I? Be thankful you have a roof over your head."
     And Madellaine was thankful. Women never had things like careers or ways to make money. The only thing women were really expected to do was keep quiet and obey men. That rule was, after all, half the requirements for her job. It gave her three meals a day and two days off per month, and that was all Madellaine really needed.
     Here and there, she still wondered how long it would take for her to get too old and worn out to keep working. Her mother worked at the same place, and eventually became so tired she became bedridden. At the time, Madellaine believed that her mother was exhausted from her difficult job, but she soon found out the truth when the very same employer came to recruit her.
     At the tender age of 14, Madellaine had been introduced to a world where women were little more than objects. At first, she was made to only run errands, cook, and clean, but it was only a matter of time before men's eyes followed her across the room with less than wholesome intent.
     "You'll get twice as much pay," Gustav had promised. "All you have to do is sit there and look pretty." That did sound nice to Madellaine, who was still ignorant in the ways of man and woman, and who was still a child, always wishing for more. Little did she know that her "promotion" involved much more than just sitting there and looking pretty.
     And with nowhere else to go, Madellaine continued working for the house of ill-repute ten years later. She looked up at the mirror, deciding the rouge made her feel like a clown, and wiped it off.
     To hell with what Gustav said, Madellaine could at least do one thing she wanted. Just as she stood up to observe the rest of her appearance, another girl opened the door without knocking.
     Has privacy ever existed in this place? Madellaine pushed another thought to the back of her head. Remember, be grateful. You aren't starving on the streets.
     "A customer just asked for you," the girl said. Madellaine sighed.
     "It's all in a day's work," Madellaine replied as she dragged her feet out the door.
     When she reached the bottom of the stairs, Madellaine spotted an unfamiliar man drinking a beer with Gustav. It was usually the same crowd that came in, day and night, with a little variation. This man looked wealthy. Too well-to-do to be hanging around with prostitutes, anyway. That was why Madellaine hated going outside. People would always say things like "harlot" to
her mother, and little Madellaine never could figure out why. Apparently good, God-fearing people were never kind to women like Madellaine, and they saw fit to make her life as difficult as possible.
     "Ah, here's the beauty. Come closer, Madellaine, the client wants to get a look at you!"
     Madellaine observed the room as she shuffled forward. There were plenty of other girls down here, why did the customer want her? She certainly didn't recognize him. And he looked at her differently than others did, with a scrutinizing gaze rather than lustful.
     "Yes, she'll do quite nicely. I have a contract for you, miss," the man said. He wasn't smiling. And a contract? What could a contract possibly do in Madellaine's line of work? Could this man have a long term job for her? She shuddered at the thought.
     "What sort of contract?" Madellaine inquired. Gustav narrowed his eyes at her. This was an ask-no-questions type of business, which he had constantly reminded Madellaine throughout the years. Asking questions was simply in her nature, and she had to know what was being dictated for her.
     Now the man was smiling, but a different kind than Madellaine was used to. "I like this one. Don't worry, darling, I'll tell you everything you need to know. May I speak to the little lady alone, my dear friend?" The man inclined his head towards Gustav.
     Gustav tried to hide his annoyance at the man. "Don't see why not." He stalked away, grumbling under his breath.
     The man looked Madellaine straight in the eyes. It was very unsettling.
     "He's rather grumpy, isn't he?" The man chuckled softly. Madellaine knew he was just trying to gain her trust. Besides, if she replied to that statement, the stranger could tell Gustav and get her into trouble. The man saw the look on her face and fell silent. "I see you'd rather get down to business. I am Jacque Sarousch, leader of the Paris Committee of Scientific Discovery."
     That was not what Madellaine expected. The man continued on.
     "Lately many of our members have been . . .assaulted by the Church. My own brother was nearly hanged. Hadn't it been for the captain of the guard, he would surely be dead. What we believe about the way our world works is rather . . .contradictory to what the Church thinks to be true."
     This sounded like trouble to Madellaine. People who disagreed with the Church were never tolerated. If she made a deal with this person, she would probably be walking on thin ice.
     "So, naturally, we simply must retaliate in some way. And that is where you come in."
     Madellaine's curiosity peaked. How could someone like her have a place in all this? This sounded dangerous, not to mention treasonous. She was a prostitute, not a spy!
     "You must not tell Gustav about any of this. The plan is to be kept comepletely confidential. Do you understand?"
     Madellaine nodded. This should be interesting.
     "Your employer wants seventy-five percent of what we plan on paying you, but if you successfully complete the task, we'll give you ninety percent. Gustav said you were specially qualified, so that shouldn't be a problem for you. I won't get into too much detail now, but we need you to seduce the bellinger from Notre Dame."
     "What?!" Heads turned from around the room. Madellaine quickly cleared her throat and spoke again, softer this time. "And why would you need me to do that, sir?"
     "I can see how that may confuse you, but do not worry, darling, it is all part of the plan. We will give you more information as you complete the task. And there is certainly much in it for you," the stranger said, eyes widening. "The Committee would be willing to pay 100 gold coins."
     Madellaine's eyes bulged. 100 gold coins?! They must be out of their minds! With that kind of money, she could buy her way out of the brothel and become her own woman. She could find a decent place to live and a respectable job, maybe even have a real family. Maybe money can buy happiness, after all.
     "I'll take the job."
     The stranger smiled. "Excellent. I'll send you the details in a few days."

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     Today was a good day for the Committee.
     Jacque was quite pleased with his progress, and eager to share it with the others. He pulled his cloak over his face and disappeared behind the building.
     "Done already, my friend?" Jacque could easily pick up on the sardonic tone of Claude. Always the doubtful one, Jacque thought to himself.
     "Yes, I've found a girl. I look forward to the commencement of the plan."
     "Be patient, my good sir, the plan has only just begun," Claude sneered. "You shall have your revenge, God willing, and it isn't as if your brother has died."
     Jacque felt a twinge of anger. He was in charge, not Claude, and it was Claude's arrogance that put Jean behind bars. Jacque had to admit, that captain of the guard certainly had done more than the cowardly Claude. The fact that he was richer than the rest of them didn't give him the right to look down on the rest of the Committee.
     "I am a man of science, not a man who simply relies on a 'sign from the Lord' to advise me. Unless you have other ideas, my dear friend?" Jacque smirked. It was always rather satisfying to see Claude squirm. He still attended mass to keep up appearances, but Jacque suspected a part of him still feared the anger of the Lord.
     "I dare say I do not. The plan shall progress as planned." Claude turned up his nose and sauntered away into the night.
     Jacque stopped and looked where he was. He grinned crookedly up at the cathedral.
     "Imagine," Jacque whispered to himself. "Notre Dame, up in flames." He stole one last glance, and, with a chuckle, scurried off into the dark streets of Paris.