His Voice as Soft as Thunder

Act 1 - Scene 8: God Help the Outcasts/Notes?

The warm glow of candlelight wrapped around _________'s cold skin as she sat in silence. The area was abandoned, nothing but cobwebs and dust occupied the space. Erik laid asleep beside her, the strange cat curled up on his .

The young woman sighed as she looked at his face. It was twisted, his brow furrowed deeply, his cheek reflecting the flames held captive in the wax. She placed a soft hand on his head, but his breathing became erratic and it was clear he was in an inescapable nightmare. _________'s stomach knotted as she heard his soft murmurings, picking up only a few words.

"Stop... please... I'm sorry..."

_________ wiped a tear from her eye as she listened to his pathetic whimpering. She closed her eyes, the feeling of a small metal cross gently caressed her chest. She gently took the small chain off her neck, careful not to take the ruby off instead. _________ held the small cross in her hand, gently rubbing her thumb against it as she recalled the days her and Meg would learn the bible.

"I don't know if you can hear me, or if you're even there. I don't know if you would listen to an orphan's prayer. Yes, I know I'm just an outcast, I shouldn't speak to you. But, still I see your face and wonder... were you once an outcast too?"

The small cat sprang into her lap with a soft pur. _________ softly held the cat as it began to make itself comfortable, going back to sleep.

"God help the outcasts, hungry from birth. Show them the mercy they don't find on Earth. God help my people; we look to you still. God help the outcasts, when nobody will. Some ask for wealth, some ask for fame, some ask for glory to shine on their name. Some ask for love, they can't possess... Some ask for God and his angels to bless them!"

Erik opened his eyes slowly, staying where he was as he listened to _________.

"I ask for nothing! I can get by. But I know so many, less lucky then I! Please help my people, the poor and downtrodden. I thought we all were the children of God... I don't know if there's a reason; Why some are blessed, some not. Why the few you seem to favour -- They fear us, flee us, try not to see us. God help the outcasts, the tattered, the torn. Seeking an answer to why they were born. Winds of misfortune have blown them about. You made the outcasts, don't cast them out."

Erik quietly stood up, brushing the dust from himself as he donned his coat. His movements drew the cat's attention, and subsequently, _________'s. She looked up at him, a faint smile on her lips signalled she was ready to leave. As she placed a small note by the entryway, the three began to walk into the shadows. _________ looked behind her as the candle began to grow distant.

"The poor and unlucky, the weak and the odd. I thought we all were the children of God."

The light disappeared, and the three walked together in darkness; Erik holding on tightly to _________'s hand, the cat holding on tightly to Erik's shoulders, it's tail pushing Erik's cape side to side.

"So, what's her name?" _________ chuckled softly as she played with the cat's fluffy tail.

"Ayesha." Erik whispered, looking back at her with a slight smile. The paths they took were long and narrow, the floor creaking under their feet, nothing but a slim candle in Erik's hand lighting their way.

"Ayesha..." she smiled. Ayesha purred as she stirred on Erik's shoulder, her bright blue eyes glistening in the light as she turned to face her master's new friend. ___________ gave a soft sigh as she looked around, the muffled voices of her friend's gossiping filled the small room. She stopped, the sudden movement pulling Erik back. Ayesha fell from his shoulders with a small scream followed by a thud.