After the End

Chapter 4

She followed the couple to their carriage and climbed in on the opposite side of the pair. She watched as Marius helped Cosette into the fancy carriage before climbing in himself. As soon as the door closed the carriage was off, coasting easily through the town. After the failed rebellion people had become scarce in the streets. The streets that used to be filled with dirty gamins were now empty save for a few stragglers keeping their heads down and trying to get by.

Éponine remembered how easy it was weaving through the crowds to gather food or money, with so many people the citizens barely noticed if they were getting pick pocketed and merely associated it with being bumped by a passerby. As terrible as it was Éponine enjoyed the feeling of satisfaction she had after she robbed someone successfully. She would return home and give her father what she had collected, well most of it. She would keep some for herself, and even so she didn't keep it.

Instead it went to her brother Gavroche. He hated how Éponine still lived with their treacherous parents and begged her on many occasions to leave and live with him. However she always used the excuse that she couldn't leave or else their father would come looking for them and bring them back to the horrible life the lived in his custody. As much as Gavroche hated it he would never mess with their father.

However, when he was away from her he got involved in the rebellion. The rebellion that took his life. She still couldn't comprehend why the leader Enjolras had let a child fight. Gavroche idolized the man and she couldn't help but feel that she should blame him for her loss. Now without Gavroche she was completely alone in the world and any sliver of hope she had was destroyed today after seeing Marius with Cosette. She had no one.

Finally they arrived on the outskirts of town. The carriage pulled up to a huge wrought iron gate that had a few men posted at it. As the gates opened and the carriage moved through Éponine saw the magnificent mansion. She sighed, Marius finally embraced his bourgeoise side. The carriage pulled up to the front door and a servant immediately came to open the door. Marius stepped out if the carriage first and then helped Cosette down.

Suddenly Éponine noticed that Marius was using a cane. He had a horrible limp and was leaning on Cosette more than she was leaning on him. He was wounded during the battle, how was he alive. She noticed the pair whispering insistently at each other. As she got closer she heard what they were saying.

"Are you sure we can trust her? I mean you know her family" Cosette said.

Marius shook his head, "I trust Éponine. She saved my life after all, and she nothing like her family. Trust me on this, please" he pleaded taking her hands in his.

Éponine saw the corner of Cosette's mouth perk up slightly until finally she let out a defeated breath, "fine".

Marius kissed her cheek, "You are the best, love" and Cosette giggled softly.

That was when Éponine stopped listening, what would they have to hide? What were they so worried about?

As they entered the house Éponine saw a huge entry way with 2 staircases leading to a platform in the cent we of the room. There were hallways leading off both sides of the platform and Marius went as quickly as he could down the hallway to the right. A few moments later he came back down with a slightly frustrated look on his face. "He won't come" he said angrily to no one in particular.

Éponine heard Cosette sigh but she quickly pipped her voice up, "Who won't come?" She asked.

Marius and Cosette flashed their eyes towards the hallway where their mystery resident was staying before Marius finally approached Éponine. "Listen, he's a friend of mine who was injured really badly during the battle and he's been recovering here. Please go easy on him he's not in the best spirits" he said.

Éponine was confused beyond belief, a surviver? That is amazing! Why was it so secretive then. Suddenly she saw a figure arrive at the bottom of the staircase. His blond curls were unmistakable. It was him, Enjolras. The one who lead that horrid massacre. She completely forgot what Marius told her and approached him swiftly. "You" she growled at him before her fist collided with his cheek.