Grantaire stumbled carelessly down the road, falling heavily onto splintered doors but carried on persisting on home. Once again he slipped on the wet cobbled pavement, hitting his head as he fell, Grantaire cursed loudly. He took a moment to regain his strength, as he sat there reminiscing about this street.
It had once been a pretty street, a long time ago. It used to be clean and tidy with only rich children walking down it, now it belonged to the children of the slums. The sweet shop he used to go to as a young boy that once resided on the corner, had now turned into a few scrappy bricks scattered on the ground. The wall he leant against was once a beautiful florist, with blooming flowers surrounding the whole entrance, in spring it had the prettiest tulips around, that could win the heart of any sweetheart and in the summer sunflowers were everywhere but not one of them could compare to the ones in huge tubs of water outside of the homely shop. Hanging baskets that used to hang either side of the pine door, the pale door had led to a room filled with even more delicate flowers. Now it was an abandoned home with shattered windows, and the glass down the edges of the walls. How times could change in just ten years. As he sighed bitterly at the change, then he heard his name.
"Grantaire" it was followed by some heavy footsteps "what in God's name are you doing? You said you were going home to rest!"
Grantaire saw that it was indeed his friend Enjolras, of course! The only person who had such an issue with his drinking, he managed to mumble out some words, but they were cut short.
"Shhh Grantaire! Did you hear that?"Said Enjolras sharply and cautiously.
"No... Nothin' now take me ho-" his loud slurred voice had been drowned out, this time they had both heard it.
A bloodcurdling scream echoed through the shabby streets of Paris.
Grantaire stumbled to his feet clumsily with help from Enjolras as he pulled on his shoulder; they ran towards the source of this violent scream. Enjolras was much faster than Grantaire but kept him moving. Neither could place where it had come from, startled Enjolras looked round cautiously. There were alleyways between almost every house, alleyways that the whores lived down. Grantaire was panting heavily as an attempt to catch him breath.
"Grantaire, shhh" Enjolras whispered. All he could hear was a few murmurs followed by a loud crashing noise. Instinctively, forgetting what these alleys could contain, he turned to his right.

"I'll just stay 'ere then shall I" mumbled Grantaire as he slumped to the cold ground. As Enjolras walked down he could see the shadow of a man fleeing the scene, quickening his steps until the shadow was out of sight. When it was gone Enjolras bent his knees down to see any other figures in the darkness of the alleyway. Near the end he could see something trembling, looking round to check they were indeed alone, he then approached the figure and he saw it was a young woman.
"Mademoiselle..." He said soothingly as he knelt on the ground beside her.
"I-I do not need any help thank you Monsieur" the softness of her voice surprised Enjolras.
"I disagree mademoiselle, tell me who was that man" he said trying to comfort the young frightened girl. As he looked down he couldn't make out much, only that her face was very gaunt, she must've lived here for a while he thought.
"A...old friend..." She whispered. Doesn't seem like much of a friend to me he retorted in his mind, looking closer he saw a single tear fall down her face.
"Mademoiselle, we must get you out of here, you could catch your death! Do not try to move, I shall carry you"
"Where are you taking me" she said beginning to shake even more.
"Back to my apartment, one of my friends is being schooled to become a doctor; he will take care of you mademoiselle"
"Oh thank you Monsieur!" she exclaimed. Gently he picked up the skinny girl; Enjolras could feel her ribs digging sharply into his chest.

"It hurts" she gasped clasping her abdomen.

"It won't for much longer, I promise" he said to the girl as an attempt to help her. She collapsed her head onto his shoulder finally feeling safe but still weeping in pain, as Enjolras emerged from the dark alleyway, the lights from the dim streetlights lit up the girl's skinny face. He choked on his own breath.

"Éponine"