AVENIR

Chapter 1: Do You Hear the People Sing?

I thought last night would never end.

But with a new day comes the new dawn, and I awoke the next morning with Gavroche yelling from down below, "UP AND AT 'EM!!!"

"Enjolras," I said, sitting up on the floor and throwing myself into his arms.  

He hugged me tightly.  "Today's the day."

I pulled on my blue vest, my red cap, the red fabric from Enjolras, and last of all, my brother's tan overcoat for good luck.

Enjolras pulled out his dark red tailcoat.  "Red," he breathed.

"The color of revolution," I said.  "It suits you."  

He put it on, then turned around.  "It's time."

"I am not losing you, Enjolras.  We're going to get through this, together, if it's the last thing we ever do."

"Together," he repeated.

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And together it was.

"BROTHER!" I said, racing forward to embrace my brother who stood among the masses. 

"Hello, sister."

"You're here!"

"Yeah..." he said in a funny voice.  "So is he."  He gestured over at Javert, who was disguised as a commoner.

"OH!  Spy mission?"

"Indeed.  Sister, Enjolras, a warning: Metias Soult...he knows what will happen.  Not about the raid, no, and not even about the barricade.  But he knows something will happen today, he's already having double the legions of soldiers today."

Enjolras looked grim.  "Let them come.  We can't change any of that.  Let's line up."

Jehan nodded, and walked to the edge of the crowd.  We followed.  Jehan stood next to Enjolras, who stood next to me, who stood next to...

"Henry!  You made it!"

" 'Course, this isn't a one-time thing!  I wouldn't miss the General's funeral for the world."  He waved at Joly, who stood across the way, next to Marius.

Then, the drums began to beat, and my heart jumped up in my throat.