After the End

Chapter 5

Enjolras immediately fell to the floor, partly due to his sheer surprise of the force in the punch but also because his weakness. His muscles were weak due to the fact they had not moved for almost a month. The doctor had finally allowed him to move by himself but, like Marius, he had to use a cane. He and his cane immediately clattered to the floor and Enjolras felt his chest flare up in pain. He didn't even know why the girl punched him, who was she?

He heard Cosette gasp and Marius curse under his breath, however the girl's hoarse voice was the only thing he was paying attention to. "You did this, he's dead because of you! He was a child and now he's gone and it's all your fault-" she spit at him before her words got cut off by a harsh shout from Marius. Her words hit him like a tsunami and soon he was drowning in memories.

Gavroche, the little street boy who fought with them at the barricade. She must be a family member. He looked up hesitantly and saw tears streaming down her familiar face as she looked hesitantly over at Marius. He knew her, but how. He did see some of Gavroche's features on her face, she must be his sister.

He was pulled from his thought by two rough hands under his arms yanking him to his feet. Marius helped him up and he stood unsteadily until his cane was placed back in his hand.

Then, Marius rushed over to the girl and pulled her aside and Cosette approached Enjolras. Cosette fussed over him but he was focused in the girl. She was staring down at her feet like a child as Marius scolded her. He could still see the remains of anger in her downcast eyes but he saw something else, shame. Every time Marius rose his voice she would flinch back from him her features contorting slightly.

"Enjolras" he heard and he snapped his attention to Cosette. "Are you alright?" She asked flustered.

He nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine" he said hastily.

"Enjolras, are you sure?"

"Yes I'm sure! I'm fine!" He screamed at her.

Cosette let out a yelp and almost fell backwards. Now all eyes were on him. He was as surprised at his outbreak as everyone else. He looked around the room and met eyes with the girl. Her brown eyes bore into him and he felt as if she could see all his sins, his secrets.

He looked away quickly and saw Marius making his way toward him. Enjolras shook his head and turned around to go back upstairs but Marius's hand was on his shoulder. "What the hell Enjolras you need to calm down. You've never done this before" Marius said angrily.

"I made a mistake coming down. I'm sorry but I have to go" he said pulling out of Marius's grasp. He climbed the stairs slowly, feeling every pair of eyes in the room staring at his back. He rounded the corner and nearly sprinted down the hallway to his quarters.

He slammed the door shut and pressed his back against the wall. He ran his fingers through his hair as he felt a shiver run down his spine. The girl had just reminded him of all he had been trying to forget. The revolution, the barricade, the massacre of his own doing, and most of all, his guilt. He felt it form in the pit of his stomach as the memories he tried so hard to suppress flashed across his mind.

He was on the barricade a feeling of confidence washed over him. They had begun the revolution. Hundreds of people were running around building up the massive furniture wall. There was no way the National Guard could beat them.

Suddenly the scene changed and Enjolras's could barely breath. Smoke hung in the air and clogged up everyone's throats. People were stumbling around coughing and blindly shooting into the cloud. The barricade was haggard by a day of fighting and Enjolras saw the National Guard firing canons. Suddenly a canon struck right where Enjolras was standing and he flew off the barricade and landed harshly on the ground. He groaned in pain but pushed himself up and kept moving.

Suddenly he found a gun in his hand and he was shooting at the Guard. He heard a blood curling scream and ran to find the maker. He stumbled around and finally found a body sprawled out in front of him a bayonet gauged in his abdomen. Enjolras felt himself being pulled to the gorry mess and suddenly there were hundreds of bodies around him. They had the faces of his friends staring blankly into the sky. He ran to each of them and screamed in their ears. He tried to get them to wake up but they wouldn't. Tears blinded him as he backed away from the bodies and once again the scene changed. He was standing with his back against the wall of the café staring at a firing squad in front of him.

Before the shots were fired he was pulled from the vision and found himself staring at Marius. "Hey Enjolras" he said waving his hand in front of Enjolras's face.

Enjolras stumbled into Marius's arms his eyes wide with fear. "Make them stop" he sobbed, "please make them stop" he cried helplessly.

He felt Marius's arms wrap around him. "It's over Enjolras, it's over. You're okay" Marius said trying to calm his friend.

Enjolras felt like a child but he didn't know what else to do. He felt helpless, he felt guilty. Marius helped him into bed and Enjolras felt a huge wave of exhaustion wash over him. He blinked once or twice before finally letting the darkness consume him, and for once, the darkness didn't change.