The SEQUEL to Avenir! The second book in Let Others Rise: The Series
Enjolras, Courfeyrac, and Les Amis journey to the future and attempt to reunite with Avenir and save the peaceful city of Paris from the ever-present threat of the society of Mars...
Out in the alleyway, I found myself hiding in the shadows, breathing heavily from fear and pressing a hand to my forehead, trying in vain to calm down. A dark cloud descended into my thoughts, and I felt myself losing control of my emotions.
On top of that, I had to hold my breath once I noticed a National Guardsman patrolling the neighborhood.
I knew I should have stayed inside, I thought, cursing myself. Now everything could be ruined.
The Guardsmen drew closer several times to my hiding spot, and on his fourth time around he stopped.
I couldn't breathe out of fear.
"Good evening," he said, tipping his hat, and I paled.
Caught.
"I can see you there; you needn't be so frightened. In fact, I was looking for you, Baudouin Courfeyrac."
"Don't touch my friends," I said, waving my hands in surrender. "Just...don't touch my friends. Leave us alone." I pressed my fists to my mouth in fear.
"But of course! I'm only here to help you. You see, your friends are inside, as we speak, realizing that they can fix all of this with a simple conversation with the author of our story, Monsieur Hugo. One conversation, and zip, your friends' lives are all saved."
"Why are you telling me this? Why am I even listening to you, and why aren't you arresting me? You slimy piece of filth, you rotten git-"
"Why, Monsieur Courfeyrac, the very last thing we want is for harm to come to you and your friends!" It was pitch black, but this National Guardsman looked hurt that I would imply that in four days time, they'd be shooting at us. "We don't want a fight! We've been willing to negotiate with your leader for months, and have been eagerly awaiting a response. He didn't tell you of this? You, the centre?" The man seemed flabbergasted.
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I paused. This conversation had taken a different turn. Hadn't Avenir always pushed for peace talks? Shouldn't Enjolras have listened to my pleas for a compromise? "Non. Enjolras mentioned none of this."
"And of course he shouldn't; he's the first in command, ready to shine in the spotlight in his time as leader...but what about yourself? Was the group not founded on your birthday? Is your input not valuable?"
"It is, and Enjolras always takes it into consideration," I spoke, trying to convince myself it was true but starting to believe that perhaps my thoughts and opinions were just being tossed aside.
"Perhaps considered, but never implemented. Monsieur Enjolras just wants to be the glorious martyr who saves the day, when innocent lives are going to be taken that we don't want to have to take! All we want is a conversation, and he just wants to wave his banner and waste time and lives."
