A Franc or Two - Les Misérables [IN EDITING]

Not a Word - Chapter 53

Little to your knowledge, Gavroche was still afraid of the dark— but he was trying his hardest to hide the fact as he led you.

"Don't worry, M'selle [Y/N]," he gulped, hugging onto your side as you made a turn. "It's... It isn't as scary as it looks... If anything happens, I'll... I'll protect you."

He gave an audible gulp. Before you had a chance to respond (though, frankly, you didn't know what you would say), he jumped as a rat scurried past him.

"Oh— that startled me," he said quickly, though telling from how tightly he held onto you, he was definitely more than startled. You could almost feel his heart hammering in his chest. "Let's go on, then."

The two of you walked in silence for a few moments, and you were quick to notice Gavroche's head prick up.

"What was that?" he gasped. "Is someone screaming?"

At first, you didn't hear much of anything (and you were about to tell him that), but you stopped the moment you realized that he was right.

There was someone screaming.

"Holy..." you began, though remembering you were in the presence of a child. You were quick to hold him close to you. "What direction?"

Gavroche gulped. He was terrified, of course, but he was quick to grab your hand. He was a valiant young man.

"This way..."

After leading you through a maze of alleyways, you arrived at a street— and sure enough, the screaming had gotten louder... Even though said person's strength had completely faded.

"To my... Left, I think," Gavroche whispered (though leading you to his right."

After making another turn, you were greeted by a grusome sight.

A/N: this gets really dark... As in, it made me extremely uncomfortable writing. It's important, but if you don't want to read, I'll summarize it at the end.

Eponine was pressed against the wall, tears streaming down her face as she kicked and screamed.

"Get off of me!" she cried, though she didn't have the strength to continue moving. "Please... Get off!"

"'Ponine!"

Gavroche, losing every sense of fear he once had, rushed over to help his sister.

A familiar face had flashed in a beam of moonlight...

And to your surprise, it wasn't Timeo.

It was her own father.

"What do you want, you little shit?" Monsieur Thénardier asked, a vein pulsing from his head. Though he didn't yet let go of Eponine, it was clear that he was debating on whether or not he really wanted to just so he could grab the kid.

"Let go of 'Ponine, or I'll— I'll shoot you!" Gavroche shouted, his voice quivering.

Monsieur Thénardier looked to Gavroche with a clenched jaw.

Up until this point, you had been too shocked to do anything— but the moment you regained your ability to move, everything was a blur as you rushed over and slammed a fist into the man's face. He was quick to let go of Eponine for a split second— and you heard Gavroche gasp.

"Run, 'Ponine!" Gavroche shouted. As if that wasn't enough, he wiggled his way over to his sister, helping her squeeze out of the way between him and the wall. He held onto his father's leg. "M'selle and I will finish him off!"

The moment Monsieur Thénardier shook you loose, however, he was quick to just get the hell out of there— and thankfully, Gavroche had let go in time so that he didn't fall.