Pain.
That was the first thing she registered.
Then it was the cold.
It was raining.
Slowly she came to, her vision returning.
"Ah. You're waking up. Good."
Her head turned to see a young man sitting on a box, inspecting a piece of meat.
"Where am I?" she said groggily.
The man looked at her.
"France."
She rolled her eyes.
"I know that. I mean where in France."
The man thought for a moment.
"Not really sure. We're in a portion of the city that suffered pretty badly. This used to be part of the barricade I think."
The barricade. That sounded awfully familiar.
"The barricade? What happened?" she asked sitting up and wincing at the sharp pain that shot up her chest.
"Careful there," the man said, "You haven't healed proper like yet. The blood loss really must have done a number on ya'. There was a revolution remember?"
The girl's eyes widened as she slowly began to remember.
"Did we win?"
The man turned away.
"No."
The girl looked down sadly, before a memory slammed into her like a train.
She grabbed the man by the shoulders.
"Were there any rebel survivors? Please I have to know!"
The man shook his head.
"Only a sparse few. I'm one of the lucky ones. I got knocked unconscious and then mistaken for dead. You also should consider yourself lucky. Nasty shot there. I'm surprised you lasted." He said.
"Do you know who was among the survivors?" she pleaded.
"No."
The girl sat back, stifling her tears.
"You look awful familiar. Did you have a man among us?"
The girl turned her head.
"No. But I loved one."
The man cocked his eyebrow, looking at her more intently.
"You really do look very familiar now that I think on it. I'm sure I've seen you before."
His eyes widened.
"It couldn't be… Eponine? That's your name right?"
She nodded.
The man slapped his thigh.
"Well that's it then isn't it. You were always tagging along with Marius. The dirt really did a number on you."
Eponine nodded.
"I don't recall seeing you before. Pardon. What is your name?"
The man smiled
"I wouldn't be surprised that you didn't notice me. You weren't around very often. The name's Enjorlas." He said smiling.
"Ah! I recall that name! Marius spoke often of you."
Enjorlas nodded, seemingly unsurprised.
"You were his close friend. Do you know of his fate?" Eponine asked quickly.
He shook his head, and her heart sank.
She buried her head in her hands, tears forming.
A hand came to rest on her shoulder.
"He was a strong and witty man. If anyone made it out alive, it would have been him."
Eponine dried her eyes, and put her emotions to the side momentarily.
"How am I alive? I was shot while delivering a letter to Marius' beloved. I recall that he held me while I bled."
Enjorlas shrugged.
"Luck. God must have smiled on you. The bulled missed your heart and lungs, and the bleeding stopped before you could die. The bullet was rather difficult to extract, but you should be fine after a while."
"Tell me then. Do you know the fate of Cosette? She was the beloved of Marius and the one to whom I almost died delivering his letter."
Enjorlas again shook his head.
"I only saw her once before the barricades arose. She was a pretty girl. Seemed kind. That's all I know."
Eponine shakily stood, gripping a nearby lamppost for support.
Enjorlas looked at her worriedly, moving to help.
"Careful! You shouldn't be up and moving yet."
Eponine turned to him.
"I care not!" she spat out, "God should have let me die, should have let me be free of my pain, but he left me here alive, unknowing of Marius' wellbeing. I must make use of this pitiful existence and find him, if he is to be found. If he is dead then perhaps this wound will allow me to join him in death. If he is alive then perhaps I shall live out my days wishing only for his happiness with Cosette and my own demise to rid myself of the pain it will bring me."
Enjorlas gingerly helped her stand.
"I wish to find him as well, but remember if he is alive he, along with all others, thinks us dead. For you perhaps there is a future in society, for you are not wanted by the law. I however must remain dead in their eyes if I am to live."
Eponine scoffed.
"The father of Cosette was wanted by the law for years, yet he managed to find a way to go on. What more do you have to lose if you are caught? A life in the sewers is no better then death!"
"Perhaps." Enjorlas said, "but even if I were to return what should I do? My friends are dead along with the revolution I fought for, and I have no love to speak of. Is there any reason for me to risk capturing?"
Eponine glared at him.
"You have no drive to live and for that I pity you. However giving yourself to hopelessness is weak. I have but one goal in life now, and that is to determine the wellbeing of Marius. I know he will never love me, but my love drives me to help him however I can. Once he is found, dead or alive, my life will no doubt revolve around pain, but I do it anyways. I have a reason to live. Find one for yourself."
Enjorlas eyed her wearily.
"You have a sharp tongue for a woman." He said.
She looked him in the eye.
"Yes, and you have a weak mind for a man!"
He sighed, and sat back down once Eponine was stable.
Eponine looked down at him. She did feel pity for him. She understood his pain. But she knew men. She knew soft womanly words of kindness would only support his apathy. In her youth she had sparked action into Marius by similar means. Teasing and taunting him to make him act against what she said. Perhaps it was why he only ever saw her as a friend, and not as a woman she mused. Girls were kind and shy. They never spoke against boys and men, and they never displayed the rough mannerisms Eponine herself had adopted. Eponine thought this to be a sore mistake that they made. Why, women were just as strong as men and she cared to have her opinion known.
The effect was almost immediate, and Eponine silently reveled in her small victory.
Enjorlas glared up at her.
"You go too far girl. But there is truth in what you say. I do wish to seek out Marius, to see if he lives. Perhaps we can aid one another, seeing as our goals are similar. Once we know his fate can part ways."
Eponine considered his offer.
She was still wounded she knew, and his help would no doubt be invaluable. And she wished to help him somehow. He had found her and taken the time to aid her.
Eponine nodded.
"Yes that sounds agreeable. But our search must start later, once we have eated and properly rested. Since you are on the run we may need our strength to make a quick escape."
Enjorlas nodded.
"Right then. You'd best get cooking."
