I woke up with a start. All of the money I had been saving up for a book was finally enough to buy one. I had thought it would be selfish of me to buy a book, when so many people didn't have food, but Enjolras had told me it would be fine. "The book will educate you so you can help them even more." He had said. I sat up and surveyed the small flat. It was one room, with two mattresses, a small kitchen and a small table. I glanced over to the other mattress. Adalene was still asleep. The twenty year old looked like a princess. Her deep red hair and blue eyes stood out against her milky white skin.
I stood up. I pulled out my red dress and my apron. As I got dressed I peered into the small mirror. I stared deeply into my sixteen year old greenish, bluish eyes. I could never figure out what color they were. I glanced in the mirror again as I pulled my honey blonde hair away from my pale, freckled face. I walked over to the kitchen and pulled out some bread. I looked at the bucket, hoping it would be full of water. I sighed as I leaned over and saw that it was as dry as the bread. I walked over to Adalene. "Adalene, Adalene wake up." I said softly as she shook her. Blue eyes peeked out at me. "I'm going to get some water, the bucket was empty." Adalene nodded. I walked out the door and into the hallway.
As I walked out of the rent house and out into the street, I was surprised to see that nobody was out and about. "How early did I wake up?" I thought to myself. I walked down the street, to the fountain which was about a block away. As I walked I noticed the revolutionaries setting up for their rally today. A dashingly handsome twenty year old boy with curly strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes walked over to me. "Hello madame Linette Moreau" He greeted. "Hello Monsieur Enjolras" I returned, dropping into a mock curtsy. He laughed. "What are you doing with a water pail so early? Trying to get the best water?" He asked with a teasing smirk. "I woke up early, I finally have enough for a book." He looked at me with a twinkle in his eye. "So that's the excitement I feel in the air." This time I laughed. "I guess" I answered. "Well you better hurry, there's no time to waste." He said. "Will you be back in time for the rally?" "Yes, although I don't have a rosette anymore, a soldier took it yesterday." His eyes darkened for a moment before he said "You best be on your way, I shall see you later Madame." He said, the twinkle returning.
I went to the fountain, got the water and returned as quickly as I could. By the time I got back Adalene was awake and dressed. "Finally! I want to buy your book before the rally" She said. We sat down and eat breakfast as fast as we could. It wasn't hard, as it was only bread and water. As soon as we finished we went out the door. We walked past the revolutionaries again and this time it was Adalene who stopped to talk.
"Hello Enjolras" She called. He walked over as I walked away. I did not want to be here when they talked, as they were courting. It would be very awkward for me. I walked over to the only other revolutionary my age. "Hello Gavroche" "Hello Linette, are Enjolras and Adalene at it again?" He said making a heart symbol with his hands as I laughed. "Yes, I walked away as fast as I could. I hope they don't take too long, I want to hurry and buy my book before the rally." As I said this I twisted my hands around my bag of money. "Oh, so you're buying today? Finally saved up enough?" He asked. "Yes I did" I answered as Adalene walked up. "Ready to go?" She asked. I looked at her with obvious surprise, written across my face. They had finished talking a lot faster than usual. "Yes" I said.
When we finally get there I dash inside. It was wonderful. It was had large shelves filled to the brim with books, red velvety soft chairs, and it smelled of books. Old and New, with just a hint of cinnamon. Adalene laughs at my wide eyes as she sits down to wait for me. I go to gaze in wonder at a shelf when a voice startles me. "Get out of here you rats! No stealing books! You can't even read them! Out! I don't need you soiling my reputation!" A man says as he shoves us at the door, his face as red as my dress. It gets a little hard to see, as tears well up in my eyes. Adalene spits at the doorway. When she saw my face, the hardened look in her eyes melted. "I know of another place, It's not nearly as nice, but it has books." She suggested. Her eyes full of sympathy. I look at her, brush the tears out of my eyes, straighten myself, and nod. "We can go there, I just want a book."
After walking down a long road, we arrive. It's a small, squished looking building. We walk inside. Everything looked so old. It had three shelves and they were stocked sparingly, and it smelled musty. Adalene sat on a old wooden stool that creaked as she did so. I walk around not expecting to find anything when I see a gleam from the last bookshelf. I round the corner and find a marvelous book. It had red binding, with a gold border. I pull it out to see that it has no title. I open it to find a beautiful, yet tragic story of a Highwayman and his beau. I pick it up and carry to the counter to check the price."Strange book, that one is." I jump. "How much is this sir?" I ask who seems to be the owner. "For you one sol, will do." I would still have five left over. I hand him the money and go to find Adalene.
At The Rally…
Today there was an amazing turnout, people were everywhere as Enjolras spoke, passion filling his speech. His eyes shone with fire as he preached of the injustices the poor, and how the rich stood by and watched as we died. All of the sudden there was a stirring in the crowd. "Police!" Someone yelled. Everyone ran. We all knew what to do, as we had done it a hundred times before. You had to run fast, if they caught you, you were thrown into prison. But we knew these streets better. All of the sudden someone steps on my dress, and I go down. Through the rampaging steps around me I can't see. All of the sudden I see expensive looking boots walking towards me. A soldier. I try to scramble up, off the ground, but the swarming bodies around me push me down. Just as the boots reach me, someone hoists me up over the shoulder and runs.
Who picked me up? I squirm around trying to see something of my savior, when we round a corner. Whoever it is, I must've met before, multiple times. They also are going through the revolutionary escape routes. I believe it's Enjolras. I think to myself. All of the sudden they put me down. I finally am able to see the face of my savior. I was right, It was Enjolras. He bends over, gasping. He must've ran at full speed, and we me over his shoulder, it would have been no small feat. When he finally catches his breathe, I say: "Thank you, for saving me! Somebody stepped on my skirt and I couldn't get back up." "Happy to..help." He said, still slightly out of breath.
Later That Night...
I sit down to read the book. Now that the rally is over, I finally have time to read. It's a wonderful tale of forbidden love, and death for love. "Linette, put the book down. It's getting late." I put it down on the floor next to my mattress and drift off to sleep.
"Squeezing...suffocating...One...Last...Breath" A voice says in my mind before I jerk awake. Who was talking? I felt a squeezing sensation around my torso and looked down. I screamed. Vines were wrapped all around me, squeezing like an anaconda. As I tried to squirm around to find where they were coming from it squeezed me tighter. "What is that!" Adalene screamed in shock. My scream must've woken her. "I don't know! Can you see where they are coming from?" I ask, almost out of breath. "I'll try!" She walks around careful to avoid the living vegetation. I wait for what must've been only a moment but seemed like an hour as the vines continued getting tighter, as if they were juicing a fruit.
Finally I hear a gasp. "Did you find out?" I ask my voice barely a whisper. "It's the book!" She exclaims. Everything was silent before I hear a scream. Something was thrown towards me. A vine reached out from my side and caught it. It was Adalene. She screamed again. My vision started getting spotted. I looked in the mirror. It was a cruel reflection of what seemed to be our deaths playing before me. It was the last thing I saw before everything went black.
Days Later…
The revolutionaries watch as what they could find of Adalene and Linette was lowered to the earth. They had heard screams and came running only to find a book and the clothes they had worn the day before. It had been all piled together with a single rosette on the top. They felt the book was bad luck, they had just had an eerie feeling about it so they tossed into the fire. When they had tried to tell the police inspector to search for them, he refused, and after searching for days they had given up. They took everything they had left and put it into a wooden box. Included was the engagement ring Enjolras had planned to give to Adalene.
As it went into the brown earth, covered in both the French flag, and the red flag of revolution, a silent tear rolled down Enjolras' face. He looked forward into nothing, as it started raining. Gavroche walked forward and placed an embroidered sign on the casket. "Vive La France" It read. The crudely stitched, blood red thread popping against the cream fabric. "Vive La France!" He shouted. "They died believing in this cause, they die to give us fresh courage and a new cause to fight for! The police would not help us! Called us street rats, he did! I will not let another death go by before they care about us! Vive La France" He said to the men. They looked at him, pumped their fists in the air and shouted: "Vive La France!"