The Eve of Revolution

A heart full of love?

                                                          CHAPTER 2

Eponine was in distress, she had just led the man she loved to another women, the man she loved had fallen in love with that women. She had lost him. ‘Marius’ she sobbed

She heard a cold laugh, then suddenly a man with bony hands and fowl breath grabbed her and shoved her up against the wall. She let out one terrified scream then he clasped his grubby hand over her mouth and whispered roughly in her ear ‘Thénardier owes me a debt’ he laughed drunkenly in her ear as his eyes examined her body with his perverted eyes ‘you can help him settle it’ he said as his this ferrel fingers worked their way up her leg, she desperately tried to kick him off screaming into his hand but he held her tight as his hand moved up and up under her skirt. Then suddenly he stumbled back as someone grabbed him from behind, pulling him off her and tackled him to the ground, in the mad struggle her attacker pulled out a knife.

She screamed, trying to babble out a word of warning but the words couldn’t come out.

Enjolras herd the girl scream, she was trying to say something then he saw the dirty tip of a knife grasped in the man’s hand, it came towards him. He dodged but it plunged into his arm. He grimaced but with his good hand managed to get a good blow to the man’s head as he crumpled to the ground. He got up and went over to the girl, she was scared and trying to get away from him but he held out his hand

‘Mademoiselle, are you ok?’ he asked in a soft tone

Eponine put down her arms and looked up at her saviour; he was tall, very handsome with blond curls. He was wearing a badge just like the one Marius was wearing, this man was part of the ABC like Marius, this was Marius’ friend she could trust him. Marius…

‘yes’ she replied in a shaky voice ‘thank you Missouri’   she looked up into his dark eyes, he looked back, he held out his hand as he helped her up, but when she took it he grimaced. A blood stain was growing just above his elbow.

‘MISSOURI! YOU ARE HURT!’ she gasped as he looked down at the wound, she bent down and tore the hem off her dress, he protested but she continued, she told him to extend his arm, he winced as she wrapped the hem of her dress around his arm with great care.

‘you have technique’ he observed

She smiled but it quickly faded ‘yes a…friend of mine needs bandaging up a lot for he is fighting for a revolution, as and normally needs my help along the way’

‘Part of the ABC? Mademoiselle I am there leader he is probably a friend’ he exclaimed

‘His name is Marius…Marius Pontmercy’ she said, her mind drifted to him and then to Cosette. She did not hate Cosette, she had treated her so badly when they were children so she had no right to be angry. Marius was in love with Cosette and Cosette was in love with Marius, she was happy for them, really she was she just wished someone, preferably Marius, would love her the way he loved Cosette she just wished someone would give a damn if she lived or died. The only reason she got up each day was to help Marius and help look after her bother Gavroche but he did as a pleased, you could never tame him and that is what she loved about her little brother even though he had a terrible up bringing he had given hope to many people with his fight for what was right, he often hung around the ABC. But now that she thought Marius was gone, if Gavroche died then what would be the point of living.

‘-ar friend of mine’ The man’s voice interrupted her train of thought she looked up into his eyes to her embarrassment she realised that she was crying softly.

Enjolras looked down at this girl, when he saw her crying he instantly pulled her into a hug ‘There there mademoiselle, everything will be alright in the end. You are still is shock’

‘It is not that mousier, well partly that but my life is just…Mousier you do not want to hear about all the faults in my life’ she said with a sad chuckle as she pulled out of the hug

‘Enjolras’ he said staring into her sad yet hopeful eyes ‘Mousier makes me sound very proper and posh, that is not how I want you to see me mademoiselle, My name is Enjolras’

He was happy to see a small smile spread on her lips ‘Eponine, my name is Eponine’

‘Well Mademoiselle Eponine’ he said holding out his good elbow for her to take, ‘may I escort you home?’ hopefulness in his voice

‘you may…Enjolras’ she smiled, but this time it was not the hint of one it was a real plain smile spread across her face, she took his elbow and they walked in the dark Paris streets.

The rain had stopped.