"Papa, there's a man following us." Cosette's voice was tiny and concerned as she tugged on her papa's sleeve. At first, her papa ignored the persistent tugging at his sleeve. He had more pressing matters to think of. But as they neared their home he glanced back over his shoulder. "Papa! He's been following us for quite some time now. He looks angry!"

It can't be, he thought as he picked out an all-too-familiar face in the crowd behind them. Just as quickly as he noticed the man, however, he disappeared into the crowd once more.

"This way. Quickly," he said, taking Cosette by the arm and leading her down an alley. They were nearly to the other side when he heard the echoing sound of a single set of footsteps entering the alley behind them.

"Papa—"

Jean sped up, but he knew it was an exercise in futility. Cosette wouldn't be able to run fast enough to escape with him. He couldn't bring her into this. He couldn't ruin her life this way. With great sadness and fear in his heart, he turned to Cosette. Would this be the last time he would see her?

"Cosette, I want you to listen to me carefully and do exactly as I say," he said in a hushed whisper. Cosette turned and looked up at him, her eyes wide and full of fear. She nodded slightly to signify that she understood what he had said so far. "I want you to hurry along home. Stay inside and keep the door locked. I will come as soon as I can."

"But Papa, I'm frightened," Cosette protested. "Don't leave me!"

"Shhh. I will come as soon as I can. If—" Valjean hesitated, cupping the girl's cheek and kissing her forehead. "If I'm not back by sundown tomorrow, I want you to go to our neighbors. Remind them of the agreement they made with me when we arrived."

"But Papa—"

"Do as I tell you, Cosette. I beg of you. We haven't the time to squabble."

Cosette nodded, but Valjean could feel that she was trembling like a leaf. He took her hands in his own and gave them a light squeeze before insisting that she hurry off. Once she was out of the alley and around the corner, he started walking more quickly than he had when Cosette had been with him.

The person tailing him was nearly on top of him now, and he had to fight the urge to take off running. But he couldn't risk Cosette. If he managed to get lost in the crowd before she was safely home, there was no telling whether the man tailing him would try to go after her instead.

"You cannot possibly still think you have any chance of getting away, Valjean." A low, angry growl from behind him. The words echoed down the alley. Jean Valjean could picture in his mind the slight smirk that no doubt played on Javert's lips at the menacing way it made his voice sound. He quickened his pace further, but he could hear the man behind him speeding up to match— nay, to overtake— him.

Once out of the alley, he turned the opposite direction from where Cosette had gone and hurried through the near-empty streets, trying to lead Javert as far away as possible from the home he and Cosette had only just begun to truly make their own.

"Stop!" Javert called as he gave chase. "Halt! In the name of the law!"

Since when does a criminal stop for the law? The thought made Valjean chuckle as he continued to lead Javert away.

"I said halt! Stop him! That man is a criminal!" Javert shouted as Valjean passed a pair of vagrants on a street corner. Much to his surprise, they seemed eager to help the inspector. Both of them leapt to their feet and tried to grab Valjean.

He faltered and nearly fell, but managed to slip past them. Having to slow down to avoid them, however, gave Javert just the moment he needed to lunge forward and seize him by the arm. Valjean fought against him, but it seemed the harder he struggled against Javert's grip, the tighter his grip became. "No!"

"You cannot escape me this time, 24601," Javert hissed, dragging Valjean closer to him. Valjean had not expected the inspector to be quite so strong. He was treating the former prisoner like a rag doll. His hands were quickly shackled together and he was dragged back along the way from which they'd come. "Justice will be served at long last."

"Please, Javert, you know not what you do. I've a daughter at home, if you bring me back to prison she will surely perish without me!" Valjean begged as he struggled to get away. Try as he might, he couldn't get away. "I've changed! I am no longer the man you released from prison so many years ago! Please, let me prove it to you!"

"Once a thief, always a thief," snarled Javert upon hearing the other man's words. "No woman would have you, Valjean. Whose child have you stolen? You will lead me to your home that I may liberate this child!"

"What?! No- Javert, please—" Crack! Something hard and heavy hit the back of Valjean's skull and he sank to his knees. "Unh—"

"You will be silent," Javert replied. "And you will do as you are told." Crack!

Valjean's vision was streaked with red and tiny stars danced on the periphery as he was forced back to his feet. "Now, do as I said."

Valjean shook his head. "I cannot allow her to see me this way."

Crack! He let out a pained cry and his knees threatened to buckle beneath his weight.

"I will give you one last chance, Valjean. You are trying my patie—"

"Papa?!" A shrill, horrified cry cut Javert off as a young girl ran toward them. "What are you doing to him? My father's done nothing wrong! Let him go!"

"Cosette, no!" Valjean cried. "Go home! You were to do as I—" Crack!

The horrified expression on his daughter's face was burned into his mind as the world faded to black before Valjean's eyes. "Papa!"