What is Love?

Chapter 42

Enjolras and Éponine immediately dropped to the ground. He shielded Éponine's body with his own so she couldn't see a thing. She heard the screams of doctors yelling to lock down the hospital to prevent the gunman from getting to any patients. The room was filled with cries and the sound of more shots firing into the air.

Finally the room was so quiet that they could hear a pin drop. "Enjolras, what's going on" Éponine whispered trying to push her way around Enjolras so she could see. However Enjolras would not move and his jaw was rigid. His eyes were locked on something Éponine couldn't see. Finally Éponine managed to get out of his grasp and she saw who the gunman was. It was Marius and he was glaring around the room until he finally made eye contact with Éponine.

Somewhat of a relieved smile spread across his face and he quickly walked toward her. She felt Enjolras get up quickly to meet Marius before he got to Éponine.

"Take one more step I dare you" Enjolras said through gritted teeth.

Marius laughed, "Call off your guard dog Éponine and he won't get hurt" he said lifting the gun to point at Enjolras's chest.

Éponine quickly bounced up and put herself between Enjolras and the gun. "What do you want Marius" she asked cautiously

"Isn't it obvious Éponine? I want you. I love you and I need you" he said desperately to her.

Éponine shook her head, "Marius we can't be together. It's not good for us" she said.

Surprisingly Marius didn't get upset, "That is what I thought you would say and that's why I have this" he said gesturing to his gun, "if I can't be with you I don't want anyone else to. The only outcome of this is that I'm with you, forever" he said holding the gun up shakily to her head.

Éponine felt her heart stop. He was going to kill her if she didn't choose him. She felt Enjolras step forward behind her but she grabbed his wrist and pulled him back. "Your plan isn't going to work Marius. You can't do something like this" she said her voice quivering.

Marius shook his head tears coming to his eyes, "It has to happen. It will happen. I'm going to kill you, then I'm going to kill myself. We can be together that way and no one can get in our way" he said angrily.

"Éponine" she heard Enjolras whisper behind her. She released his wrist and held up her hands taking slow steps towards Marius.

"Marius, you can't. I don't want to be with you anymore. I can't be with you anymore. It's not safe for me. You're not supposed to be here. If the police find out you're near me they'll arrest you" she said as she stepped to Marius, only a few inches between them. She placed her hands gently on top of Marius's and the gun. "Marius drop the gun. This won't solve anything. Drop it" she said soothingly.

Suddenly the look in Marius's eyes went from desperation to fury and he pushed Éponine roughly to the ground pointing the gun at her. A gasp echoed around the waiting room and Éponine's vision clouded slightly before readjusting. "You can't say things like that!" He screamed at her, "This is the way it has to be. This is the only way for us! I need you and you need me! We love each other" he yelled at her.

Éponine could see Marius's finger begin to push down on the trigger. She was going to die, right now. She looked over at Enjolras and saw him advancing towards Marius. "No" she cried but it was too late , Enjolras had already punched Marius causing him to stumble into the closest wall.

The gun remained in his hand and as soon as he collected himself he turned to Enjolras. He placed his forearm on Enjolras's neck and pushed him into the wall. "Maybe I should just shoot you" Marius said slamming the gun into Enjolras's head, "after all it's your fault she doesn't want to be with me anymore. You're the one who changed her mind. You're the one who ruined everything!" He yelled in Enjolras's face.

Éponine pushed herself up and Marius quickly transferred the gun to her. She stopped and looked to Enjolras, his eyes wide with fear. This was one of the first times Éponine saw genuine fear in Enjolras's eyes and she wanted to do something, anything to make it go away. She looked around frantically trying to find anything that can make this end. Éponine saw a person on their phone, hopefully with the police and she realized he just had to stall. "Marius please, you can still fix this. Just put the gun down and walk away. It's the best option" she said.

Marius shook his head and turned back to Enjolras. "No this is the way it has to be" he said placing the gun into Enjolras's head once again. "Say goodbye" he sneered.

"Goodbye" Éponine said as she picked up her purse and slammed it into his head.