Enjolras stood to his left and Eponine to his right. Marius tried to ignore them, but they never stopped speaking to him. Eponine never stopped touching his arm.
"On my own, I walk with him till morning." Eponine said, wrapping her arm around his waist. "I finally got my wish. I can walk beside you every day for the rest of your life."
"Leave me alone."
"Do you hear the people sing?" Enjolras questioned, his eyes never leaving Marius. "Singing the song of angry men."
"Be quiet!" Marius shouted, pushing the figure of Eponine away from him. "Please, just let me be."
"No."
Eponine laughed softly, "I was always doing you favours but what did you do for me? Why would I do anything now? I'm not obligated. I don't need your money."
"Eponine, leave me be!" Marius cried out, bating the phantom away. "What will it take to put you in the past?"
"You can't put what is in your mind in your past." Enjolras replied, patting Marius on the back like he had so many times in life. "My friend, we will always be part of you. Isn't that what friends are for?"
"Enjolras, Eponine, please. I'm begging you to leave me. Let me live. Let me be happy. Just please stop this torment."
"Did you hear the Enjolras, he wants us to stop our torment. Does he not know how he tormented me daily with his sweet words but contradicting actions?" Eponine rested her hand on Enjolras' arm, letting them stroll beside Marius as he made his way down the cobbled road.
"I understand why you are here Eponine. But why Enjolras? What wrong did I do to him?"
"You were too busy thinking instead of fighting. If you had been in the battle you could have saved me."
"You died proudly Enjolras."
"I died slumped over the mangled barricade and thrown in the back of a Javert's cart. My body was unceremoniously wheeled around the city as a display of what revolution can cause. I was no more than ripped flag on a broken pole."
"You were a symbol of the power of the people."
"I was so powerful that I died. I was brave and I was bold and I died. You were too worried about Cosette and Eponine. Some phantom rescued your undeserving soul."
"Please stop this."
"Did you ever notice how Enjolras responded when I died?" Eponine questioned quietly, Marius had to rethink what she said to be able to comprehend what she said.
"He handed me your hat." Marius remembered the moment like it had happened yesterday. "Your hat had fallen off when they carried you away. He grabbed it and gave it to me."
"Did you see anything?"
"What do you mean?" Marius questioned, feeling more and more unhinged with every word they had to say.
Enjolras laughed, "Everyone thought good old Enjolras only cared about his books, his country, and a hopeless war. I cared for Eponine but she was too blinded by some undeserving rich boy's meaningless kind words. Only in death can I finally have a chance."
"You. 'Ponine?" Marius gulped. "I was only her friend."
"Gentle touch, a pat to the cheek, kiss to the forehead, a hand to hold and shoulder to pat. It gave me hope."
"It's funny what death can reveal." Enjolras added, patting Marius on the back like old times. "You didn't even have to die to know what you did wrong in life."
"You'll hear all about it until you die."
"Do you hear the people sing?"
Marius covered his ears, "I can't hear you. You're dead."
"Dead and here to be with you until your dying day."
"Then kill me."
"Where would the fun be in that?" Éponine laughed, resting her cheek against Enjolras' shoulder. "Finally I have someone to hold me."
"Éponine, if it's sorry you want-"
"I don't want your apologies. I wanted your love. But I see now that it was all in vain."
"Éponine, please don't do this. If you and Enjolras want your phantom life together leave me out of it."
"Never."
~o~
"Are they gone Marius?" Cosette questioned as he entered their home. She had waited up for him, hoping and praying that he would be alright.
Marius stared at the couple standing before him, "Yes. They're gone."
"Then who are you staring at?" Cosette questioned, touching his arm gently. "Just ignore them."
"I am trying to." Marius gritted as he glared at Enjolras and Eponine. "They won't let me rest."
"It's going to be alright."
"I'm so sorry Cosette. I wanted to give you everything, but I've given you a life bound to a haunted man. I will never be the man I want to be for you."
"You will always be the man I wanted. As long as you are Marius you are the man I love."
"How sweet." Éponine quipped, giving the woman a hostile look she would never know was even there.
"My heart is full of love for you." Cosette continued, not knowing she had been interrupted. She pressed a kiss to her husband's lips, wishing to take the turmoil away.
"Not for me." Éponine added, knowing that pain she had felt when she helped them meet. "Not for me."
"Please," Marius growled, pulling away from the kiss and staring at his astral friend. "Let me be."
Éponine ignored his plea, turning to look up at Enjolras. "But look at me now. Someone who cares. All for me." Enjolras leaned down and kissed her lips, softly at first and then letting it grow into a passionate kiss.
Marius stared at them, unsure of what to say or what to do. "Cosette."
"What is it."
"Éponine and Enjolras."
"What do you mean?"
"What have I done?"
"Marius," Cosette whispered, seeing her husband turning redder and redder as he stared at the wall, where she presumed he saw his dead friends. "You need to calm down."
"Stop this! Stop it! I didn't mean to do this to you. I don't want to be held accountable for all of this!"
"You're still recovering Marius, you mustn't get overworked."
"I didn't mean to separate you!" Marius shouted and knelt to the floor sobbing. "I do not deserve this torment."
