Chapter 1

Eponine Thenardier lay in her sad excuse for a mattress and stared at the decaying ceiling above her. She fidgeted a little, attempting to get comfortable. She could not fall asleep for the life of her. The noise around her kept her from drifting into the realm of sleep.

She turned over once more and caught a short glance at the tattoo on her forearm. She groaned internally. That little piece of writing imbedded in her skin was really starting to get on her nerves. It had been a little more than a year since it had magically appeared on her.

Well, it wasn't just her. Everyone got a magical tattoo on their arm at the age of sixteen. It was always writing. Always the same font. Always the same color of black. On every single person in the entire world. It was supposedly the first thing your 'soulmate' would say to you. Eponine was honestly starting to doubt all that. Why? Because she was in love with Marius Pontmercy.

That was no surprise to anyone that knew her. It was pretty obvious. Well, it was pretty obvious to almost everyone. Everyone except Marius, himself. That was because Marius Pontmercy was the physical embodiment of the word 'oblivious.'

It wouldn't be that large of an issue if not for the fact that the two had met when they were seven. Nine years before they would get their tattoos. If she could just remember the first thing Marius had said to her, she would be far more reassured with her life. But, no.

That is quite misfortunate, Mademoiselle. The words stared at her in the semidarkness. He might have said that to her. But, she was almost positive that she had, at least, met him while playing some sort of game. Who would say that to someone while playing a game? Much less the first thing they say.

And so, these thoughts twisted and turned in Eponine's mind for the billionth time since those cursed words had appeared on her.