When Tomorrow Comes

Chapter 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The boys all found a place to rest; their adrenaline rush was slowly dying and they were exhausted.

"Courfeyrac, you take the watch," Enjolras said. "They may attack before it's light... Everybody keep the faith. For certain as our banner flies, we are not alone..."

"The people too must rise..." Bahorel finished.

"And they will," Gavroche felt the need to add.

"Now, you," Courfeyrac started. "What you did was so irresponsible, so stupid... And yet, thank you."

"Aye, sir," he replied with a smirk.

Courfeyrac couldn't help but smile. Grantaire started to distribute bottles throughout his companions.

"Grantaire, this is not the time," Enjolras let out.

"On the contrary; what better time is there?"

"And what if they attack tonight? We'll be in no state to respond."

"They won't," a voice announced.

All the boys spun around and came face to face with an unknown man. He was wearing an army uniform, but his hat was worn so low that his face couldn't be identified.

"Who are you?" Feuilly asked.

"Surrender now," he said, ignoring Feuilly completely. "You have no chance."

"No way," Joly answered.

"Let us die facing our foes," Prouvaire added.

"Make them bleed while we can," Courfeyrac told him.

"Let others rise to take our place!" Enjolras announced. "Until the Earth is free!"

And a gunshot was heard. The boys froze and looked around as the man's body fell to the ground.

"Gavroche?!" the boys realized as they saw the little boy holding the smoking gun.

"He's a spy," Gavroche simply answered. "We're better off without him, trust me. Little people know."

Enjolras marched towards him and ripped the gun out of his hand.

"Inappropriate," he muttered.

Courfeyrac slowly backed away in the shadows. Marius ran up to the man.

"Monsieur, are you alright?"

The man coughed up blood.

"That guy over there," he painfully said. "Is he your leader?"

"Yeah, I guess," Marius answered.

"Well tell him to back off."

Marius tossed the man's hat and gasped. It was Monsieur Thénardier.

"What are you doing here?" Prouvaire barked.

"If..." Thénardier tried. "If you... If you back off I'll..."

"You'll what?" Feuilly exclaimed.

"I'll tell them that..."

And then Monsieur Thénardier closed his eyes.

"He's gone," Marius announced, in shock.

"Who's 'them'?" Joly wondered.

"Well, whoever 'they' are, I'm sure they won't be happy with us killing him," Bahorel pointed out.

"What's this all about?" Enjolras asked, coming up behind Grantaire.

"It was Thénardier," Combeferre let out.

"Eponine's father..." Marius added, more to himself than to the others.

"He's better off dead," Enjolras coldly said.

All eyes turned on him.

"What?! Did you guys see what that asshole did to Eponine?!"

But the boys refused to take their stare off Enjolras.

"Oh whatever," he muttered, as he left to sit far away from the group.

"Should we tell him Thénardier's message?" Joly asked.

"Nah," Marius answered. "I think he has enough on his mind..."

"Are you okay?" Joly asked.

"I'm, umm, fine... It's just that..." Marius looked down at Thénardier's body. "Eponine truly has no one now..."

"Don't worry," Prouvaire said.

He looked at Enjolras, alone in a corner, mumbling to himself, kicking a random pebble from time to time.

"I think she has someone looking out for her," he finished.

Marius nodded.

"Let's sleep, gentlemen," he told them. "Tomorrow will be a big day."

He got up and put his hand on Courfeyrac's shoulder.

"It's okay," Marius said. "I'll take the watch."

"Are you sure, Marius?"

"I won't be able to sleep anyways..."

Courfeyrac nodded and climbed back down, finding a spot between Feuilly and Bahorel. Marius held his gun firmly in his hands as he looked at the street.

"Tomorrow," he whispered. "Tomorrow is the last day of the world as we know it."