To Love Someone Is To See The Face Of God

Chapter 12

Ella POV

I was awoken by Marianne trying to wake me up.

"Ella, wake up! please wake up!" The pain in my head and all over my body kept me lying on the dirty ground. I slit open my eyes to see beautiful Marianne's face with worry all over it. Relief sweeps her face as I begin to stir.

"Thank the stars Ella! When I saw the blow to your head, and how beat up you are, I didn't know if you were alive! We must get you to your boys! I think you said that Joly was a doctor! He can help you! Come on!" She stood up, and very gently got me to stand. Every bone, every muscle ached. Taking a step was the most uncomfortable action. I leaned on her slender frame as we made our way out and away from the docks. Every step was agonizing pain, even thinking made my head hurt. Luckily the docks and the slums of Saint Michelle aren't too far from the docks, but it takes everything in me to make that mile long journey to the Cafe Musian. I then became incredibly nervous. What if they ask questions I can't answer? What if they find out?

"Marianne! I can't go to them! They'll find out everything, and I'll be ruined!" When I began to shout, I can't handle it and I fall to the cobblestones. I land with a thud and more pain erupts all over my body. Soft tears leak from my eyes as I think of the shame I feel. My loving Les Amis, my boys that have saved me add a girl, they won't love me anymore. The disgust that would overcome them would drive them from me like the plague. Marianne leans down to try and sit me up again, but my body and mind won't allow movement.

"Ella, you are seriously hurt. You don't have a choice. Now come on!" She shouts over the noise of the market. Then I hear carriage wheels stop close and stop beside me.

"Ms.Ella! Is that you?" I look up at the voice on the carriage.

"Monsieur Madenla? Is that you?"

My old carriage driver dismounted his commercial carriage and knelt down beside me.

"Oh miss! You have grown up! Why are you on the ground? And who is your beautiful friend?" His smooth and comforting voice made a rare smile come over my face.

"Monsieur, I beg you too take me somewhere. I have no money, but I need help." He always cared for me as a child, so I hope that he could find it in him to please help me so I don't have to continue the agonizing walk.

"Of course Miss! Anything for your, the only charge is that you'll stop by the cart stands and visit me when you aren't in pain." He smiled and lifted me into his strong arms with care. As gently as if he were handling a kitten, he places me in the carriage. Marianne climbs in and wraps her arms around me. Monsieur climbs up and taps the reins.

"Onward Jacque!" the horse moved forward.

"I FORGOT TO ASK. WHERE TO?" Before I could answer,Marianne did.

"Cafe Musian!" He nodded and steered to the slums. I ran me hand over the soft velvet seats, and looked at the luxurious coach. The last time I was in a coach was the ball with Enjolras. I was so happy, and I hadn't totally given up on life, now look at me. It was only minutes until we pulled up at the Cafe. I could tell it was around noon because of the crowd. Monsieur and Marianne both got me out of the carriage. I turned to him to see his old, kind face.

"Thank you! I will visit you soon." He removed his hat and nodded.

"It was my pleasure to drive you. please do feel better. Until next time Madam." He climbed on his carriage, and with a smile drive off into Paris. We turned to face the doors. Marianne took my arm and wrapped it around her, and placed my weight on her. Upon entering, no one noticed us because of the large lunch crowd. When we got to the stairs to go up, my heart sunk. How am I supposed to get up those? Marianne gently coaxed me up the stairs. When we reached the landing, I couldn't go on. I collapsed in painful pile, and I could feel myself slip away.  Marianne cried out for help. Immediately, a rush of foot steps rush from upstairs.

"ELLA! What happened?!" I look into Combeferre's kind face flooded with worry. I didn't know what to say, but Marianne did.

"She was attacked. I'm her friend from work, and I found her a few hours ago in an alley near the docks. She talks of this place and the Les Amis, so I brought her here. Please help her, she's in a horrible state." I don't know what they said because I was beginning to lose consciousness. A few pairs of strong arms lifted me up and carried me up the stairs. Many people were talking, but my eyes never left Marianne. She stood by my head when they placed me on a table, and rushed for blankets and Joly. Marianne looked at me with worry until Joly arrived.

"Dear Ella! What happened to you?!" Marianne looked up at Joly, and Joly looked at her. I curled my lips upwards in a smile when I saw what was happening. Eyes meet, hands touch, and hearts leap. I never believed in love at first sight until I met Enjolras, but he didn't love me back so it doesn't count. This was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Despite all the pain I'm in, I see what's happening, and I feel for Marianne and my dear Joly. The didn't look away until a flash of pain erupted in my head and I groaned. Joly began to work on me, and Marianne clenched my hand. Then Grantaire ran up the stairs and rushed to my side.

"Cinderella! Who did this to you?" My eyes began to close, and that's when Joly panicked.

" Ella! Stay awake! Someone get.Enjolras! Grant, keep her awake or bad things could happen. Where is Marius?" I kept my eyes stay in slits. Everything in me wants to sleep, and forget the pain. Joly runs around me and tries to fix me.

"I can't fully treat her without knowing what all he did to her." When Joly said that, all the boys got very upset.

"Some man hurt Cinderella, and we don't know who? Who found her?" Grantaire shouted in a drunken rage. Marianne stepped forward.

''I found her. I work with her, and I found her in an alley this morning and brought get here." Marianne stayed confident and wasn't scared by the enraged young men. They began to interrogate her mercilessly. She began to waver, until Joly spoke up.

"Leave her be! She saved Ella by bringing her here. Find Enjolras, and ease up on Marianne or I will kick all of you out!" They were all taken aback by Joly's fierceness.  I smiled, but this action took a lot of work, and I began to let the sleep take over.

"No Ella! Stay awake! Where is Enjolras?!" my head felt like it was as heavy as a horse. All the pain will go away if I close my eyes. Just before I'm able to close them, a gentle hand sends electricity through me. I open my eyes to see beautiful cobalt ones staring into mine.

"Apollo." He smiles and then looks me over.

"What's wrong Joly?"

"Cracked rib, bruising, black eye, possible concussion, blow to the head, and possibly something else, but with so many people here, I'm not going to check. She's beat up pretty badly. You need to keep her awake, or else something bad could happen.

"What will happen?" Enjolras grabs my hand and begins to gently stroke it.

"Ella, you need to stay awake. Please stay awake." The darkness began to consume me. My eyes slip slowly shut as I hear Joly, Marianne, and my dear Enjolras scream for me to stay awake. Maybe if I wake up, Enjolras will love me. Or maybe the hell I'm living will finally end.