Chapter 1 - The Man
The man looked at them with black burning eyes. He walked slowly but threateningly closer to them, forcing them into a dark abandoned alley. Courfeyrac backed off, without dropping the man with his eyes. He went diagonally in front of and protected the little boy, the boy who the man wanted . He knew he would do anything to protect him, and this man would not be allowed to touch him, that would Courfeyrac make sure. The man continued to approach, and soon he had forced them into a corner. The man looked at the boy with a look that made him shudder. Courfeyrac stepped in front of him, so that he stood between him and the man.
"I do not wanna fight" the man said seriously, "Just give me the boy."
"Never" hissed Courfeyrac.
"I do not wanna fight, but I will if I have to," said the man threateningly and it was then Courfeyrac saw it. The gun that hung on the man's hip. He must get Gavroche away. He sat down on his heels so he completely hide Gavroche.
"You do not touch him" growled Courfeyrac. The man grinned evilly against them and Courfeyrac started to panic, how would he get Gavroche away safe? But it was then he felt the hole at his hand. He felt a wave of relief wash over him.
"Gavroche?" He whispered silently, the man was near but not enough to hear what he said.
"Yes," whispered the little boy back.
"Do you see the hole next to you?" Asked Courfeyrac, still with his eyes on the man.
"Yeah"
"Can you get through it?" The boy looked at the hole and bit his lower lip.
"Yes, I think so," he said.
"Good," sighed Courfeyrac relifed. "You have to run away, okay"
"But ..." began Gavroche.
"Run to the cafe, do not stop whatever you're doing. Do not look back, whatever happens, whatever you hear. "Gavroche began to be afraid and worried.
"Promise me to run to the café."
"Okay," said Gavroche. The man had an irritated frown. Courfeyrac had to get away Gavroche before the man did anything.
"Now"
"But ..." began Gavroche again.
"It's okay little buddy, I'll be fine" Courfeyrac wanted to hug him, but could not do without releasing the man with his eyes.
"Okay" mumbled Gavroche, he had a lump in his throat. He did not want to leave his friend, his brother. But he had to. Courfeyrac knew what he was doing, right?
"Now, Gav" Gavroche crept silently through the hole and began to run. The man took a threatening step closer and Courfeyrac got up again, now when Gavroche was safe. He met the man's gaze, and something got the man to flinch. Maybe it was the panic that had disappeared that caused him to become doubtful. The man's gaze drifted down a bit and he saw that Gavroche was gone. Courfeyrac saw how the anger flashed in the man's face, how the man lost his temper and reached for the gun. Courfeyrac threw himself forward against the man.
The shot echoed loudly between the buildings and Gavroche stopped abruptly and spun around in horror and stared into the direction Courfeyrac and the man was.
"Courf" breathed he man took a threatening step closer and Courfeyrac got up again, now when Gavroche was safe. He met the man's gaze, and something got the man to flinch. Maybe it was the panic that had disappeared that caused him to become doubtful. The man's gaze drifted down a bit and he saw that Gavroche was gone. Courfeyrac saw how the anger flashed in the man's face, how the man lost his temper and reached for the gun. Courfeyrac threw himself forward against the man.
The shot echoed loudly between the buildings and Gavroche stopped abruptly and spun around in horror and stared into the direction Courfeyrac and the man was.
"Courf" breathed he terrified.