When Tomorrow Comes

Prologue

PROLOGUE

"We're the last barricade left," Enjolras announced as he was climbing back over the barricade.

Everyone stopped doing what they were doing and stared straight at him.

"We're the only ones left," he repeated.

Everyone stayed still. They looked at each other, unsure.

"What do we do now?" Feuilly whispered to Combeferre.

Combeferre just hunched his shoulders. He couldn't keep his eyes off their leader.

"Let us not waste lives," Enjolras continued. "But all who wish to go from here..."

Nobody stirred.

"I'm staying," Marius announced.

"So am I," Courfeyrac said.

"And me," Prouvaire added.

And soon everyone agreed that no one would be leaving the others. They were like a family.

"I guess it's settled then," Enjolras said. "Live together. Die together."

"Together until our last breath," Grantaire added while raising his bottle. "Will you drink with me?"

Enjolras smiled.

"To days gone by," he agreed.

Grantaire tossed him a bottle. Soon all the boys had one in their hands and they drank together.

"To us," Grantaire exclaimed. "To our family. To our passion... Here's to you. Here's to me. And here's to our victory."

"We haven't won yet," Enjolras corrected.

"Positivism," Joly said. "We need positivism, Enjolras."

"Joly's right," Prouvaire added. "Stop being so pessimistic."

"I'm not being a pessimist, I'm being realistic," Enjolras explained.

"Do you hear the people sing?" Gavroche suddenly asked.

"I did..."

"They still are, Enjolras."

"Gavroche's right," Marius interrupted. "The people will come by our side."

"Yes, to burry us," Enjolras mumbled.

Murmurs filled the group.

"I'm sorry," Enjolras added, "but it's easy to sit here and swat them like flies."

"Enjolras is right," Combeferre said. "The battle isn't won yet."

"And it will never be if we tell ourselves we've lost it even before it has started," Prouvaire pointed out.

"Look, guys," Marius interrupted. "Let us not fight amongst ourselves. We should..."

"Wait!" Courfeyrac shouted from the top of the barricade. "What's this I see?"

The boys ran up to him and gasped as they saw what laid before their eyes.

"Impossible..." Joly whispered.

"What?" Enjolras and Marius asked simultaneously, still standing at the bottom of the barricade.

"Oh, umm, nothing," Feuilly answered.

"You better stay there," Prouvaire added. "Especially you, Enjolras."

"Come on, guys, move out of the way..." Marius said.

They went to climb up, but Courfeyrac came down to block their way.

"Trust me, it's better if you stay down there."

"I'm fine," Enjolras told him. "Let us up."

"Enjolras..."

But he pushed him aside and climbed up before any of the others had time to catch him. When he arrived at the top, he almost stumbled back down.

"No..." Enjolras murmured.

He held his breath and looked away.

"No, this can't be..."

He looked at the wall of soldiers standing before them as Marius came up behind him and gasped.

"The choice is yours!" the commanding officer shouted.

Enjolras tried to lunge towards them, but his friends restrained him. Marius started to feel tears coming up. He couldn't breathe.

"Let me go," Enjolras cried.

"It's a trap," Grantaire sadly said.

"What choice do I have?"

"If you go, we all die," Courfeyrac announced.

Enjolras looked at them with pleading eyes.

"Fine," Combeferre let out.

He motioned to the others to let Enjolras go.

"Do what you think is best."

Enjolras looked at his friends, then at the figure standing in the middle of the soldiers. And when his eyes met Marius', he knew exactly what to do.

"I'm sorry," Enjolras said as he started to walk back down the barricade.

He walked away, not even able to look back one last time...