Somewhere within darkness, a battle raged. Where this darkness was, no one shall ever know. Just as the fish will never find the sky, and the tiger will never know the ocean floor, man will never know this dark place. Like a storm travelling over the country, everyone fearing they will be where the storm strikes, for it cannot stay in the sky forever, it must release its rage somewhere, and where will that somewhere be? It will be on Earth. The battle commenced, but it was not between two great physical armies. There was not even a certain outcome. For the battle was between Fate and Destiny. Both wished to send lightning bolts creeping towards the Earth. But there was a problem: one group of people had been targeted for two different outcomes. Fate had decided a clear, straight, and terrible path for them. Destiny had too, none the less terrible. Only one outcome could occur, but which one? What is the difference between Fate and Destiny? Both are just as daunting, and neither stronger than the other. This battle would go on long.

The battle has ended. Both sent their lightning bolts, two creeping fingers reaching terribly towards the people. The battle had an outcome. It is impossible to know why this outcome came to be. The finger of Fate won. The people were struck, and so doomed. It is not often that a person is given a Destiny, or a Fate. The two concepts, writhing and twisting the existence of their victims, are unknown as what lies beyond the stars. This Fate, which the unfortunate ones were given, was a straight trail through a dark night. Destiny lost, and so the lives these people had almost been made to live were forgotten. Almost. The outcome of their Fate has been charted down before, by another. But what would have happened if the guideline of Destiny had caught the people first? In another reality, the world is twisted. In this reality, Destiny won, and the people's lives are taking a different turn.

Agirl stood. She did not have the comfort of company; she was alone. Alone, just like always. The alleyway was covered in filth, and there were likely rats lurking in the crevices, and in the houses of the unwary people. The people would probably not do anything even if they knew. What could they do when they still had trouble getting food and warmth? With children expecting care at home the rats would be the least of worries. Their parents would put fake smiles on their faces and pretend to be happy, just for the children. In their opinion, the children had their whole lives ahead of them, and had to be shielded from the terrors of life in the lower parts of the city. The children would play, and not understand the troubles which their parents were going through.

The girl knew differently. No child could be that oblivious. It was this that happened in every family, every city, every culture: the children were underestimated. They may not react to poverty in the same way as adults, but they still knew. The difference was that they knew how to make the most of their lives. Many a child could be seen playing by the gutter, with what sticks and stones they could find. Deep down, they all know their unfortunate situation. They simply do not wish to acknowledge it. They hide their surroundings from themselves, saying that everything will be alright in the end. In their sleep, they think of the parents, and wonder what argument or trouble will come next.

The parents are wrong in another way, too. The truth was that the children had no future ahead of them, not the way matters were going. They would grow up poor, and eventually choose to either be poor but honest workmen, or they would choose to earn a living on the other side of the law. The reason that the girl knew this was simple. She had been one of those children. She had possibly had two or three years left of her childhood when she had come to this city, the years which are treasured the most. Then it had been stripped away from her. All parts of childhood which adults hold so dear to them. The carefree play and talk, without needing to worry about how she would survive to live another day, the jokes and laughter… even her innocence had been torn away from her, due to her father. She understood now. From the day she had been born, she had been doomed. She had started childhood committing the crimes of cruelty to others around her. Now she had started her older years committing real crimes, and affecting many honest people. In fact, it only worked on honest people. What life would she lead? What life was there left inside her? She occasionally had a few moments of humour which came out when she least expected it. This she prided herself in. Her life had been a downhill slope from the start. First her mother had encouraged the crimes of cruelty in her childhood, but now her father had found uses in her which she tried not to think about. She cared little for the work which she did for her father, and did it half heartedly. She was aware of what she did, and understood that it was wrong, but hardly cared anymore. But what did it matter now if it meant getting food on her family's plate?

Another girl was running towards her. This girl was only a year or so younger, but, like the first one, was tiny, and gave the appearance that she was years younger than her actual age. She was dressed in the same manner of rags, and also walked barefoot. The new girl reached the other's side, and stood motionless beside her. It was clear that the two were sisters, and the first girl was the elder. The eldest had darker hair, but it was just as knotted and tangled as the other's. Both wore skirts covered in filth and peppered with holes, and chemises too thin and worn to do much good. The eldest had the luxury of a hat. She tended not to wear it in front of her parents, as they would likely take it from her and her father would keep it for himself.

It was dark, although the sun had not yet set. Their father said that it would snow soon, but he did not care. Their family had long ago lost any sense of honour. The eldest noticed that her sister was shivering violently, and then noticed that she was shivering too. Without saying a word, she crouched down on the ground. Her skirt could not possibly gain more dirt than it already had, so why worry?

"'Ponine, why are you out here?" the younger girl asked in a weak, whispery voice. She knelt down too, although she did not understand why she did. She just copied her elder sister in the way many do, "Eponine? Eponine! Why don't you answer? Why are we kneeling down?" The 'you' had turned into 'we', as sisters often found it necessary to speak of both of them at a time.

"Crouching is warmer than standing. Why'd you follow me, Azelma? I needed to be outside."

"How could anyone want to be outside! It will snow tomorrow, and it's warmer inside," Azelma exclaimed, in a persuasive tone.

"P'pa sent you, didn't he? But I can't stand one more instant in that…that hole! Something is going to happen. I can tell, I can. I just feel… there is a danger coming. Everything is going to change, that's what it is. It may be in a year or a day, can't tell. I've gotta get out of here. I can make others think I don't mind the way we live, but I can't convince myself. We ate today, anyway. I'll be OK if I go."

The air seemed to have suddenly turned even colder. Azelma took a sharp breath.

"You mean… you're going to leave? You can't! How will you live? What will Papa do to me?"

Eponine stood up and walked a few steps away. Her sister followed, and stood in front of her. She changed direction, but Azelma still followed. She finally gave in and turned to her. The tone of voice was roughened further by anger.

"We've been failing our duties. Remember the letters we lost? What if he finds out? Just tell him you never found me," with that, she turned, and began a brisk walk. Azelma still followed, and Eponine spoke harshly to her without stopping. "Will you ever leave me alone? It's not just Father and Mother, it's you too! All of you!"

She broke into a run. Azelma shouted after her, "then I'm coming too!"

This was unexpected. She had not expected her sister to act this way. She halted, and turned. "What?" her tone was softer, and curious. "Why? How?"

Azelma was standing still. She was nervous, it was obvious, but there was something else. It was an expression Eponine had never seen, and never expected to see. It was determination. Eponine continued, "You can't! I never said it was easy. We won't be able to eat every day, and we'll be cold, and it'll be terrible! You need to stay here. Safe."

Azelma was still nervous, but that determination seemed to have increased. "I'm not that much younger than you! Besides, I want to come. D'you really want to be alone?"

I'm alone all the time, Eponine thought to herself. It was now her turn to be cautious as she spoke, "I was thinking of asking Gavroche." She smiled wryly as she spoke, "it would hardly make a difference to him, being on the streets all the time. I don't know how long I'll stay away. I'll just stay long enough…"

"He's years younger! And you trust him more than me? I'm coming too. How were you going to find him?"

Eponine smiled. "Who knows? Maybe I will need your help," seeing Azelma's triumphant face, she added, "just for that."

The two sisters turned to face the street in front of them. Eponine began to hum, and forced herself to smile as she looked at the grotty, terrible streets of the city. The city of Paris.