AVENIR

~E P I L O G U E~

Enjolras remained curled into a fetal position, holding onto Avenir for dear life. 

He felt her hair slapping onto his face due to the force of the wind that was transporting them back, back, back...and even though his eyes were closed, there was a brightness he saw in the dark, a brightness which even his eyelids wouldn't conceal. 

Was it working, or was this oblivion?

And suddenly he was hearing voices.

"Enjolras!"

"Chief!"

"My GOD!"

"Enjolras! Speak to us, my God, he's returned..."

"Stop it, for God's sake, Ferre, can't you see he's shaking?"

"Joly! 'Ferre, get Joly, and hurry!"

"I'm going as fast as I can, JOLY!"

"Upstairs, take him upstairs."

"Well then don't just STAND there, L'aigle, HELP me!"

"Courf, get his head!"

"I've got him!"

And Enjolras felt arms picking him up.

"My God, the hell is he clutching onto?"

"Thin air, it looks like. ENJ, IF YOU CAN HEAR US, RELAX! Let us take your hands!"

But Enjolras remained curled in on himself, shuddering and shaking, grasping onto Avenir, not willing to let her go, half drained from the journey but slowly gaining strength.

"Bring him here, bring him here. Quickly now, right on the table."

"L'aigle, by God, you're fast – Feuilly, push together these two tables, swiftly, now."

"Joly will be here any second, hang in there, Chief, stay with us!"

"He's not going anywhere, steadily now."

And just like that, still shaking, Enjolras was placed onto the table.

"What now?"

"The hell if I know, I'm not a doctor!"

"Well if you see, I see no signs of a wound, anywhere!"

"You think he's done in?"

"You think he's cured?"

"Just – how about we give him some peace and quiet? Let's just let him be."

"Avenir should be coming any minute now, for sure. Thank God, thank God, she's brought our chief home..."

"Avenir..."

Enjolras's eyes snapped open.

Staring down at him were his friends, sweat on each brow, some tears, and worry. A sigh of relief was let out by each of them.

Enjolras stopped shaking immediately. With a strength he didn't know he still had, he sat up quite sharply. He gazed around the room, taking in his surroundings in one steady, laser-sharp glance.

"Enjolras?" squeaked Combeferre, who had just burst in with Joly moments prior. Joly was in tears at the sight.

Enjolras did one further scan of the room and confirmed what he saw.

His eyes fell, resting on Courfeyrac.

"Where is Avenir?" he asked, a tremor of worry settling upon him.