Forever and Always

Chapter 11: A Sister's Love

        Eponine did not look back. Keep walking, keep walking, she told herself. She could hear Azelma's voice crying out to her. Keep walking. She realized that she had neither a home nor a family anymore. Walk. She stepped onto the bridge that stretched across a white, roaring river. She heard the sound of footsteps behind her, rushing towards her. Walk faster. Maybe it was Azelma, trying to catch up to her. The footsteps sounded louder and closer. Faster. Walk faster! Suddenly, she felt a rough hand grab her shoulder and spin her around. She let out a little scream. Montparnasse stood before her, grinning evilly.

        "Why?" Eponine spat at him. "Why were you spying on me? Why did you tell my father where I was? What did I ever do to you?"

        Montparnasse laughed. "It's not really what you did, it's what you didn't do."

        "What are you talking about?"

       Montparnasse reached out a tucked a tendril of Eponine's wavy brown locks behind her ear. Eponine slapped his hand away. His eyes flashed angrily. "You see?" he growled. "I've always found you beautiful, Eponine, but you think you're above me. I've never said anything before because of your father, but you're not under his protection anymore. He doesn't care about you."

        "Just leave me alone!" Eponine yelled forcefully.

        "Look at you," Montparnasse spat. He was no longer grinning. "You think you're so good. You think you're so much better than me. But them students, they're good enough for precious little Eponine, aren't they?"

        "Go away!" Eponine screamed, but Montparnasse held fast to her arm.

        "You know what, girl? You're not better than me. You are worthless, you hear? And I'll show you just how worthless you really are." He threw her to the ground. Eponine cried out again, terrified. Her head hit one of the boards on the bridge, and pain exploded in the back of her head.

        "Eponine!" a voice cried. Eponine looked up, her vision blurry, to see her sister running up the bridge towards her.

        "Azelma, no, go back!" she screamed. Azelma ignored her and rushed forward. "No!" cried Eponine.

        Montparnasse laughed again. "Well, Eponine," he said slowly. "If you're too good for me, then I s'pose your sister will have to do."

        "No!" Eponine cried. "Please, no, I'll do anything, just leave my sister alone!"

        "Shut it, girl!" Montparnasse growled. He grabbed Azelma by the waist.

        "Don't touch me!" Azelma whimpered. Montparnasse simply laughed.

        I have to do something, Eponine thought. Her mind was sluggish from the bump on her head. Shakily, she stood up and launched herself at Montparnasse. "Leave my sister alone!"

        It seemed to happen in slow motion. Eponine hit Montparnasse with all her strength. His grip on Azelma loosened. Azelma stumbled backward, unable to regain her balance. The river roared beneath her. Eponine reached out and grabbed at her sister's arm. For a brief moment, her fingers closed around Azelma's thin wrist. A brief moment. Long enough for Eponine to look into her sister's eyes and see the tears and the terror. Long enough for Eponine to realize just how much a sister's love could extend. And then the moment was gone. Azelma's wrist, tiny as it was, slipped out of Eponine's sweaty hand. Just like that, Azelma fell backward into the deep, churning river. Just like that, Eponine's sister was gone.