Toujours Javert (A Les Misérables Fanfiction)

Chapter 1

I walk along the evening streets, treading home after a brutal day at the factory. The cool air is bothersome after hardly withstanding a cold work environment.

I turn a corner and walk parallel to the river, as I always do, and allow the sound of the river to soothe me. 

As always, my memories sweep me away and I am transported back in time. I am reminded of my days in the French countryside. I remember the shady, green paradise my father and I would explore as we hunted. Hunting. This is how we survived, but we were content. There were no expensive items in shop windows or a factory in sight. How I long for the days that I never saw such a miserable place.

I also remember the creek located not far from our home. It was here that my father and I spent most of our time together. We would spend the summer days swimming, fishing, splashing and laughing. When winter arrived, we would see how far we could walk across before the ice finally gave out. These were the last memories I had with my father.

Suddenly, a huge splash in the river returns me to the present moment. I rush to the edge for a glimpse. Maybe it was a fish, but something tells me to investigate anyway.

I feel my body go into complete shock when I see the head of a man being pulled down by the roaring current. Not giving it another thought, I allow my adrenaline to take over and jump in. It isn't until then that I realize my mistake. What if I die, too? No one has ever made it out of the Seine alive...

I can not see in the dark water, so I reach out in hopes of feeling a hand, an arm, a leg...something. The water feels like a thousand knives stabbing me at once. I know I do not have much time. Finally, despite the blindness caused by the dark, chilly water, I grab an arm.

This man is going to die if I do not act.

I pull on the arm but it pulls away with much force. After a few moments of struggling, the arm goes completely still. While fighting the merciless current, I pull him to the surface and haul him onto my back. Hitting the current from an angle, I manage to somehow swim to a nearby dock that leads back to the street. I pull myself from the water and lay the man down, the lamppost illuminating his features. He appears to be aged, yet beautiful. Although he is completely vulnerable, somehow his face shows strength. His figure is also commanding, tall with dark and grey hair. I thrust his chest with my hands and breathe air into his lungs, switching between the two.

Just when I was about to lose hope, his deep, brown mesmerizing eyes open wide as he coughs up dirty river water. He looks at me with anger and disgust.

"You filthy, pathetic beggar!" He screams. "How DARE you pull me out!" 

What???

Taken aback, I try to form a coherent response. Maybe I am poorly dressed, but I am most certainly not a beggar.

"Is that any way to thank the person who saved your life?" I snap, fury coursing through my veins.
"It was wrong of you to assume that I wanted to be." As he says this, his voice cracks, making himself appear more vulnerable than before. I grab his arm and get him to stand. Without saying a word, I lead him up the dock and to the street. Shockingly, he does not fight me.

"I need to take you to the hospital. You need medical attention."
At this, he yanks his arm away from me, giving me another nasty look.

"That will NOT be necessary!" He exclaims. "I am perfectly fine, thank you, good woman. I shall now be on my way." He then proceeds to walk into the night. After he disappears, I sigh, feeling defeated. Sure, I saved his life, but the way he treated me, the way he looked at me... You would've thought I'd murdered his family.
I shrug and decide to put it behind me. The air is cold and I need warmth.

When I arrive home, I go through my small, old as dirt dresser. My home isn't much. It consists of one room with everything I could ever need: My bed, the fireplace, a dresser, a washtub by the fire for bathing and washing clothes and an old, wobbly kitchen table on the other side of the room. It is not fancy in the slightest, but I am thankful to have a place to call home.

I find my cotton nightgown and change out of my drenched clothes. I set them by the fire to dry.

Who was that man?

I shake him from my thoughts and lie down. NO more thinking about him. I allow the lullaby of the soft crackles from the fire sing me to sleep.

I suddenly wake to the sound of someone trying to open the door.

Who could that possibly be at this hour?

I watch as the door swings open. I see a man with long hair and a beard standing in the doorframe, wearing nothing but an old, worn shirt and pants with more holes than a slice of cheese. He seems hesitant to enter at first, but once he sees that I am alone, a grin begins to form on his face.
At that moment, my heart feels as if it's about to burst out of my chest. I muster all of the energy that I can and scream at the top of my lungs.

Suddenly, without missing a beat, he saunters to me and puts his hand over my mouth.

"Quiet, you!" He growls. I feel a considerable amount of pain as he grabs my arm tightly. Without loosening his grip, he begins to scan the room, probably in search of valuables.
That is when we hear the click of a gun. The man turns to face the door, dragging me with him. I am surprised beyond belief!

It's the man I saved from the river!

"Let her go this instant!" He exclaims, his voice strong and firm. The man's grip only tightens as I see him reach for his side with his other arm.

 I don't see what happens next, I only hear the loud BANG! I find myself lying on the floor, next to the man who intruded. My hero, yes...my hero, then helps me stand. At this moment, two officers arrive.

"Please take care of this. I have to tend to this woman."

One of them replies with "Yes, Inspector."

Inspector??!!

He leads me away from the house and we walk down the dimly lit street. I am shaken...

"Are you alright?" He asks me softly. I  simply nod.

"Thank you." I say, my voice weak. He asks me what happened and I describe the events in detail.

"I understand if you do not want to stay here this evening. Perhaps something can be arranged, if you would like." I tell him that I have no family, nor do I have any friends. I would have to stay home.

"In that case, I will have an officer patrol for the next few days or so. You try to have a pleasant evening." He walks me back to my door and instructs one of the officers to stay and keep watch. "Wait! Wait! Monsieur!" I call. "I failed to get your name."

He turns and tips his hat before replying "Inspector Javert." At that, he turns and continues into the night.