Chapter 2: 2. Breaking The Rules
Paris, France
March 8th, 1946
12:18 A.M.
"We're going above ground." Moisey announced. His daring grin illuminated by Adelie's flickering lantern
"What? Manon specifically told us not to go up there. Remember?" Miguel gawked. Adelie stood there dumbfounded.
"Since when did you obey the rules so closely? Where are my little rulebreakers at? I know they're in there somewhere..." Moisey squinted as he playfully ruffled their hair. With one swift movement, he turned on his heels to continue marching down the dark tunnel.
"Onward, my cubs! We have a big day ahead of us." The fighter boldly called out over his shoulder. Though his cubs didn't follow. Instead they stayed right where they were. Miguel and Adelaide weren't very willing to get in trouble with Manon again.
"What's the hold up? Come on, let's get going." Moisey stopped in his tracks as the Leons refused to budge. He impatiently gestured for them to follow. After a few moments of reluctant looks, the children finally began to trudge after Moisey. They chattered amongst themselves as they walked.
"Miguel, what's going on?" Adelie whispered. The lantern light highlighted her puzzled expression.
"You think I know? Moisey must just be trying to get us killed at this point." Miguel answered.
"Yeah. Maybe all those cigarettes have fried his brain." Adelie joked. Her brother snorted as he struggled to keep from laughing.
"You know I can hear you two back there, right?" Moisey glanced back at them. Miguel and Adelaide were immediatly silenced.
"I have not gone mad, I'll have you two know. This is all part of your training, actually. How can you defeat the Germans if all you do is hide underground?" He pointed out.
"But won't they take us away if they see us?" Adelie asked, quickening her pace to keep up with their guardian. Miguel followed pursuit.
"Ah, little Adelie, that is just the point. They won't see us." Moisey proudly smiled, "Today we will be practicing hiding. Maybe a bit of borrowing without asking too, if we're lucky."
"Isn't that just called stealing?" Miguel raised a brow.
"Stealing." Monsiuer Moisey wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Stealing is a word for dirty thieves. And do I look like a dirty thief to you?" He turned, walking backwards so the Leons could judge the man for themselves.
Moisey wore a faded peacoat. It's sleeves were patched and stained with candle wax. Across his shoulders hung an old messenger bag stuffed full of supplies. It was well loved, with leather worn and cracked with age. On his hands were tattered, mixmatched gloves. He had worn down military boots on his feet, and on his head sat a rugged flat cap. It near perfectly framed his ruddy, stubbled face.
"I don't know about thief, but maybe a street urchin." Miguel judged with a snicker.
"Or a coal miner!" Adelie chimed in. Both kids laughed as Moisey's shoulders sunk in defeat.
"Ouch." The rat held his chest, pretending to be hurt. "Well, I do have to get dressed in the dark, you know. So cut me some slack, will you?" He scoffed, turning his back to them as he continued down the hall. Moisey self consciencely adjusted his tattered clothes. "My fashion sense aside, I just think borrowing sounds much better than stealing. Don't you agree?" The Leons thought about it for a moment before nodding in agreement. Moisey was right. Borrowing didn't sound nearly as bad.
While they continued on their way, Adelie watched as her lantern cast distorted shadows along the hall. The dim light bounced off the skulls tucked into the walls. Each one returned her stare with a hollow scowl. The Resistance members were mere guests in the dead's domain, and the dead weren't very welcoming hosts.
To distract herself from the corpses, she began to wonder what the world looked like above ground. Adelaide hadn't even seen the sky in about six months. Well, at least she thought it had been six months. It's hard to keep track of the days when you're five storeys underground, you know.
The more she thought, the more she struggled to remember what life really was like before the war. Was the grass still green? Did the birds still sing? Where the clouds still fluffy? Were the sunsets still brilliant pink? Or had the Germans sent all of those wonderful things to their camps too? The Nazis always seemed to have a real knack for sending away the things Adelie loved most. She missed Mama humming as she gently braided her hair. She missed Papa playfully lifting her onto his shoulders as they walked. She missed her neighbors and her friends.
Missed. Adelie missed a lot of things.
Her mind began to wander even more. When would her parents come home from the camp? Had they forgotten about her and Miguel already? She found it a little mean that they'd go on such a long vacation without taking her.
Adelie.
Were her parents in the same camp as the grass, the birds, the fluffy clouds, and the pink sunsets? Did they all share one cozy little cabin together? Did they get to sit around a fire and sing folk songs with the birds? Did they go hiking and fishing together with the other campers? Now that sounded like great fun. She wanted to go camping too.
Adelie.
Adelie began to feel a a tinge of jealousy. Her forehead wrinkled and her fist clenched. Why did the Germans give all the good people a mandatory vacation? Why were Moisey and Manon so adamant about about not going camping? Why didn't they want the Germans to take her on vacation? Why did Mama push her away? Why wasn't she allowed on the train with them? Why were Mama and Papa so sad? Why. Why. Why-
"Adelie. Adelie, look at me." Moisey's voice interupted her swirling thoughts. He had crouched down to her level, and with a furrowed brow he nudged the girl's shoulder. Adelaide gave a jolt as she was snapped back to reality. When she looked up, she saw an extra pair of big brown eyes peeking over the Frenchman's shoulder. Miguel.
They were both staring at her with deep concern.
"What were you thinking about?" The man asked. Looking down as he tapped Adelie's balled up fist. "What's making you so angry, Adelie?"
Adelaide looked down at her own fist. She unclenched it and shook her head. "Nothing." She lied.
"Adelaide, are you alright?" The rat questioned once more. Adelie slowly shook her head. She gave a little sniffle as a tear ran down her face. Her own thoughts had gotten the best of her.
"I miss Mama and Papa." She finally admitted. Moisey frowned as he gave a defeated sigh. He held out his arms to offer Adelie a hug. She accepted.
"I miss your parents too, Adelie. We all do. But they're in a better place, okay? Way better than where we're at."
Adelaide listened to Moisey, but she didn't understand. They were in a better place? Why did everyone call the camps a 'better place'? She only felt more jealously bubbling inside of her. She wanted so badly to go to one of the German camps.
"Why can't I go see them? I want to go camping with them too. Can we do that today instead of borrowing?" Adelie pleaded as she pushed away from Moisey's embrace. Miguel listened to his sister with confusion. Did she not know? Had she not figured out what really happened yet?
"I'm sorry, but we can't do that, little cub. Your parents' camp is a very special camp, Ad. They don't let anyone in or out." Moisey inwardly winced. It broke his heart to lie to a child. But he just didn't have the nerve to break the news to Adelie. Maybe thinking her parents were at some sort of happy campground was a good thing. Among a world of war and hate, Adelie deserved to keep her tiny mind cheerful and untainted for as long as she could.
"Will I ever see them again?" The girl questioned.
"Someday, Adelie. Someday."
"But when, Moisey?"
"You must be patient, Adelaide. But I promise that you will see them again. And when you do, you'll never have to leave them ever again." Moisey assured the young girl. Though the subtle wrinkles at the corners of his eyes no longer seemed to smile. His eyes were glossy. His promising smile seemed strained. Moisey was tense. Moisey was unsure. And the mighty Eugene P. Moisey was never tense and unsure.
"You promise?"
"I promise you, Adelaide. On my very soul, I promise that you will see them again."
Moisey firmly nodded as he looked Adelie in the eye. To seal the deal, he removed his battered cap and shoved it onto the girl's head. He took Adelie's lantern as he stood.
"Let's keep going. I also promised that we would see above ground today, didn't I?" The man cleared his throat, obviously changing the subject. Miguel studied the fighter's face with curiosity. The man who was always so witty and charismatic seemed troubled. Moisey was silently mourning inside. Miguel noticed, but said nothing. Both lion cubs followed the rat in silent thought.
"Ah! Here it is. I hope you kids are good climbers. Because we've got a ladder to tackle." Moisey broke the silence. He pointed ahead to where the tunnel came to a dead end. The dim lantern illuminated a series of metal pegs leading upwards. Moisey put his hands on his hips as he looked upward.
"Alright. Here's the plan. Miguel, I want you to lead us up first. Adelie, you follow after him. Then I'll go last to catch either of you if you stumble."
"No way! I'm not going up there first, are you crazy?" Miguel shot his guardian a frightened expression. The ladder before them seemed to go up. And up. And up. And then up some more. It was terribly dizzying to look up at such a neverending climb. Miguel felt his breath catch with anxiety. The brave little lion hated heights with a burning passion.
"Hey now, we went over this. I am not crazy! Just think about it Miguel. You'll be the safest one. Me and your sister here will be there to break your fall if you slip." Moisey gestured to himself and little Adelie, who peeked at Miguel from underneath Moisey's hat.
"It'll be just like climbing Tante Gladys's oak tree, Miguel!" She tried to encourage the cowardly lion.
"This is nothing like that old tree, Ad. This is like... I don't know what! It's high for all I know." Miguel argued, helplessly throwing his hands up at the dark void above him. He looked rather pale.
"It's like climbing five storeys, is what it's like." Moisey commented as he began to push the boy toward the ladder. "I want you to remember what I taught you. Be like brave lion. They never back down from a fight, remember?" He gave Miguel a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"Non, non! Moisey, I don't want to! I can't!" The Leon shook his head in desperation. He stubbornly dug his heels into the ground as Moisey shoved him forward.
"Then I guess we won't ever be going above ground. No training. No borrowing. No fresh air. No food. No-"
"Fine! Fine! I'll do it. Just... Give me a minute." Miguel yowled in annoyance, shaking Moisey's hands off his shoulders. He took a couple deep breaths as he worked himself up to it. The fighter and the girl silently watched as very cautiously, Miguel put a wavering hand on a metal rung. Then came the other. And that was soon followed by two boots. Until finally, Miguel was off the ground and climbing.
"Very good, Miguel!" Moisey praised with a proud grin. The boy only gave an acknowledging grunt. He was too concentrated to speak.
"Alright Adelie, now it's your turn. Do just like Miguel did, one rung at a time. I'll be right behind you." He took Adelaide's lantern, setting it down as he ushered the girl towards the ladder. After a few moments of studying her brother's pattern, Adelie began to climb.
"Excellent, Leons, excellent!" Moisey encouraged the duo as he stepped onto the ladder. He kept a steady eye on both children for any fatal mistakes. "Keep your momentum going, don't over think it. Just focus."
"W-What do I do once I reach the top?" Miguel's voice sounded incredibly shakey as he continued upwards. His hands began to feel numb from the cold and wet metal. The abandoned lantern below barely highlighted where his hands should go. He began to count the passing rungs.
24...25...26...27...28...
"There's a metal cover at the top. Just use your back to push up against it and it will lift up." Moisey called upwards. His voice echoed against the walls of the shaft. Occasionally he had to stop his climbing to give Adelie a tiny boost. Though the littlest cub seemed to have no problem with the height. In fact, she seemed to be enjoying it. Adelaide was always the adventurous type.
"O-Okay. And then what?" Miguel was eager to get off the torturous ladder. He felt himself beginning to panic. His throat tightened and his breathing became raspy. He was too high up. His body was revolting.
33...34...35...36...37...
"Then you'll need poke your head out to see if the coast is clear. If it is, push the cover off completely and climb out." Moisey's dark eyes fiercely watched Miguel like a hawk. The poor boy's knees were beginning to shake. He was cracking under the pressure.
42...43...44...45...46... Thunk.
Thunk. The top of Miguel's head hit something hard, causing him to jump. With a silent panic he scrambled to cling to the ladder for dear life. He gave a frightened whimper as he glanced down. Down past Adelie. Down past Moisey. And down into to the bottomless pit of certain death below. Poor Miguel's world began to spin. He suddenly felt impossibly cold and tingly all over. The back of his throat bitterly stung. He could taste his own electrified fear.
"Miguel, you're already there. Take a few deep breaths, alright? Breathe." Moisey coaxed, his voice now hushed in fear of someone above hearing him. Miguel clenched his eyes shut as he held onto the ladder with a death grip. He was holding his breath. The boy was as still as stone.
"Just breathe, Miguel, breathe." The fighter began to inwardly panic himself. If Miguel passed out, there'd be no recovery. He'd be dead weight; too weak and confused to catch himself. Despite his past comment, Moisey didn't want himself and Adelie to have to become the boy's cushion.
Adelaide stared up at her frozen brother in confusion. Why wasn't he moving? He was being stupid. She reached up and pinched at the back of Miguel's leg. The eldest Leon instantly recoiled with a gasp of pain. Miguel finally breathed.
"Oww! Why would you do that!?" His newfound agitation towards his little sister seemed to snap him out of his fear-riddled state. As Miguel peeked down at her, Adelie stuck her tongue out.
"Ignore her, Miguel! I need you to lift that cover and check if there's anyone nearby. Rapidement!" Moisey urged him. He didn't want Miguel to suddenly realize how high up he was and freeze again.
Miguel heeded Moisey's words. With a surge of courage he pushed his shoulders up against the metal cover above him. It was incredibly heavy to the young boy, but it budged just enough for him to peek out. His eyes were level with the ground outside. From what Miguel could see, only streetlights illuminated the dark street. A heavy blanket of fog covered the ground. No one was to be seen.
"I don't see anyone." Miguel whispered and he strained to scan what little surroundings he saw.
"Good. Now if you can, climb out and run towards the alleyway across the street. Hide there until we're all out." The man below answered.
Miguel squinted as he spotted the refuge Moisey described. Now that he knew were to go, Miguel used all his weight to move the manhole cover. It scraped and loudly thunked against the asphalt as the boy shoved it off the hole. Miguel struggled to pull himself out of the tunnel, his arms and legs weak from so much climbing.
"Allez, allez, allez!" Moisey's urgent voice faintly echoed out of the tunnel. Miguel scrambled to his feet and began to clumsily run across the street. Cold winter wind whipped across his face as he ran. Fresh air. Miguel gave a sigh of relief as he finally met the welcoming embrace of the alley's shadows. He flattened against the wall and steadily watched the hole. Miguel's heart still raced as he waited for the others to emerge.
Soon after, two little hands came out of the hole. They were then followed by a borrowed flat cap and a head of wild brown hair. A pair big doe eyes flicked around in wonder. Adelie. She looked too small and innocent to be coming from the sewers. She didn't belong there. Miguel watched his sister with intense anticipation.
Moisey helped to give the girl a boost onto the street. Once out of the catacombs at last, Adelie immediatly clambered to her feet and bolted towards him. She ended up blindly running into Miguel, hugging him as she caught her breath. Adelaide was above ground. She was no longer in the dreaded home of the dead. Freedom.
Next in line was Monsieur Moisey. The seasoned resistance fighter heaved himself out of the catacombs with ease. He had done it so many time before that it had become routine to him. As Moisey stood up, he kicked the manhole cover back into place with a thump. The man jogged over to the alleyway where the Leon's took refuge.
"Well done, Leons. Well done! I'm proud of you both. Especially you, Miguel. That was very brave." He gave the boy a firm nod and a smile. Miguel returned it.
"Now, we must do phase two of our training. Borrowing." Moisey whispered. "I usually do this on my own, but should you two ever need to gather supplies, I want you to know how to do this properly." He explained as he peeked around the corner of the building. He glanced about for any sign of life. "Follow after me. Keep your heads down. And if I tell you to run, you run."
Moisey gestured for the cubs to follow after him as he stepped out from the alleyway. Without the buildings shielding them, the trio was met with bome chilling wind. As it blew, it ruffled through Moisey's wavy black hair, revealing his premature greys. Adelie lingered behind for a moment. She was just so taken back by the fact that this was the world above. The street was dark and foggy, the wind fierce and piercing, all of Paris seemed eerily empty. It felt strangely unfamiliar to Adelaide. It was frightening.
Her bewilderment was interrupted as Miguel took her hand. He began guiding her along as they walked after their guardian. The man's pace was brisk, causing the children to have to quickly trot behind him. The rats passed numerous blacked out buildings. Not a soul appeared to stir in any home. Paris seemed to be a more ghostly sight than the catacombs below.
Miguel and Adelie nearly crashed into Moisey as he came to a sudden halt. They stood infront of a ransacked grocery. Its windows were smashed, the shelves inside were knocked over, and the smell of burning wafted from inside. Though Moisey's attention seemed to be more focused on the sidewalk before the store.
In blood red paint, the words "Tod den Juden" were splattered on the ground. The Frenchman's fists clenched at his side. He simply stared at the words of hate.
It was more than obvious. Jews weren't welcome in Paris anymore.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
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