Dawn Over the Seine

Chapter 10

"IT'S MY GOD DAMN LIFE MOM! I'LL DO WHATEVER I WANT AND YOU CAN'T STOP ME! YOU DON'T EVEN CARE." Eponine stormed up the stairs and went into her small bedroom, slamming the door behind her. Letting out a scream, Eponine kicked the walls. All she could see was red as she threw the things off of her bed. Anger was exploding out of her. She went to her dresser and pulled out her stash of razor blades. Eponine pulled out one and put it to her wrist. Gritting her teeth, she sliced a clean line into her flesh. Then another and another until she could feel the damage of what she was doing.

Dropping the bloody blade, Eponine put her non-injured hand to her wrist. "F-f-fuck," she whispered. Eponine reached into the drawer in which she hid her razor blades and pulled out bandages. Removing her hand from her bloody wrist, she placed a large bandage on the cuts.

This wasn't the first time Eponine had cut herself. She had done it multiple times, but usually only on her really bad days. Those were the days when Eponine sunk to her lowest. She would lie in bed, feeling completely numb. She would think about all the ways to die and how no one would miss her. That everyone would be better off without her. Then she would pull out the blades and cut, watching the blood bubble up. It made her feel less numb.

But this time Eponine had to destroy something living, even if it was just skin cells. Her skin cells. She would have much preferred destroying her mother and father but she would most likely be arrested.

Javert suddenly popped up from the back of Eponine's mind at the idea of being arrested. His cold eyes burned as she pictured his face. The other details of his face seemed meaningless when compared to his eyes. They were the most interesting thing about him. Yes, they showed nothing in them but that was what interested Eponine. His gaze fascinated her. He always looked like he was studying whatever his eyes focused on.

He was obviously smart from how he studied everything with his eyes. Street and book smart. But he used his knowledge to catch criminals. Eponine used her knowledge to steal and run away. She learned how to live mostly on her own. Did Javert do the same? He must have had to. He seemed like one of the loneliest people Eponine had ever met. Maybe that was another reason for Eponine's fascination with him.

Their shared solitude.

Eponine sighed and looked out her window. Behind the dead oak next to the glass, the Paris sky was no longer a bright shade of blue but had turned a dark gray. Storm clouds appeared over the city, full of water waiting to escape towards the ground. Escape!

Eponine bent down and forced her window open. She reached for the closest branch and wrapped her hand around it tightly. Making sure it was safe, Eponine crawled out of the window and set her foot on another branch closer to the ground. The girl quickly navigated her way down the tree. She had done this many times before when she needed to get out of the house without being noticed.

When she jumped down onto the ground, Eponine stuffed her hands in her pockets and walked away from the house. Whistling to herself, she made her way out of the slums and towards the Café. The streets were mostly empty with the exception of a few beggars and young children running home. But the Café would be crowded with Enjolras' followers. And Marius would be there as well.

With a smile on her face, Eponine finally arrived at the Café. She entered the building and was met with loud voices debating over the best ways to spread the word about gatherings and protests. Eponine walked towards the commotion searching for Marius among the many faces. He wasn't in the chaos. Eponine decided to try another method.

"HEY ENJOLRAS!" she shouted over the many comments being spewed at the same time. The handsome blonde looked over the heads surrounding him and made eye contact with Eponine. He began to shove his way through the group so he could get to her. Eponine waited patiently until he reached her.

As soon as he was in front of her, Enjolras began to speak. "Eponine where have you been? Are you alright? We've been worried. Marius said you haven't responded to any of his texts."

"Look it's a long story but I'm okay. Where is Marius?"

"He came to the meeting but he left after a few minutes. Apparently he made a date with some girl."

The words stung Eponine as soon as they were out of Enjolras' mouth. Of course he was with that Cosette girl. He was probably with her 24/7.

"Do you know where he went?" Eponine asked.

"No, I'm sorry." Someone shouted for Enjolras to back them up and he called back to them that he would be right there. "Hey it's great to have you back, Eponine. I'll see you around." With a nod farewell, the blonde went back to the debate. Eponine watched him merge into the group before she stepped back outside.

With her first step, Eponine was immediately soaked by the downpour of rain. "You have got to be fucking kidding me." She quickly flipped her coat's collar up and buttoned it up. Eponine quickly decided to just walk and see where her feet led her. Heading straight, she slowly faded as she walked farther and farther away until as the rain and darkness swallowed her up.