Chapter 2

"Jacques" had just left a group of gamins and was continuing to walk down the street. She had just given out all the food she had, there were a lot of people out on the street today.

Carmen had hear a few weeks ago that a rally was happening, the rallying group called themselves "Les amis de l'abc". All Carmen knew about the group was that they were students and were fighting for a fairer France. Judging by the amount of people in the street, the rally was today, which meant Inspector Javert was near.

Carmen was rummaging through her bag when a blond gamin boy knocked her over, swiftly followed by a curly haired student.

"Gavroche! Look what you've done!" The student cried as he picked the boy up. "I do apologies." the student said as he help Carmen off the ground. "Its just that we're in a rush to get to the rally." Carmen just stood there. She was still trying to get her head round what happened, her hands went straight to her head, her cap was still there. Phew!

"Whats your name?" The student asked, breaking her out of a trance. "err... Jacques." "I'm Courfeyrac, this rascal here is Gavroche." He then shook the young boy's hair. "Ya plannin` on goin` ta the rally?" asked Gavroche "Well... I don't really know what it's about." Carmen said sheepishly. "Come with us an` ya find out." Gavroche then tugged on Jacques sleeve while being followed behind by Courfeyrac.

Gavroche soon brought Carmen to a whole crowd of people, standing on a podium was a young man with curly blond hair, wearing a jacket redder than blood. His voice had a deep tone yet had a strange musicality to it and was also full of passion.

"How much longer must we live under the harsh brutality of the police! Who beat up and arrest innocent souls, and for what? Convenience? WELL I SAY NO MORE! Let the DOG which is Inspector Javert, taste some of his own brutality!" The crowd roared at this mans speech. Carmen was aghast at this man insulting her father. Yes, he was brutal, she had witnessed it, but she wasn't going to stand there while a man calls her father a Dog!

"Its the police!" screamed a voice. Carmen turned to see a whole cavalry of policemen, one she could see very clearly. Her Father.

Panic swelled within her, her heart pounding against her chest like a drum. "Vive la france! Vive la france!" the crowed chanted. Horses charged towards it. People were screaming, running and getting hit to the ground. Carmen was trapped, but she had to get out of here. She started running but was pulled back by her wrist. "Jacques what are you doing?" she turned round to see a worried Courfeyrac. "I have to go!" she struggled and tugged to get out of his crushing grip, but he was far stronger. "It's too dangerous, you'll get hurt if you go through there!" "Please let me go!" She could see her Father charging closer and closer, she was was almost crying with panic. Finally, she yanked her arm free from Courfeyrac and ran towards the sea of panic. She didn't know where she was running to, she just had to get as far away from Javert as possible.

People crashed into her, forcing her to the ground twice that day. She was just gathering her thoughts until the distinct sound of hooves came hurtling towards her. As fast as lightning, strong arms dragged her up and into a near by alleyway, just as the crashing hooves sped past her. Carmen looked up to see that her savior was none other than the man who called her father a dog.

"Are you alright boy?" he asked in his strong voice while holding her shoulders firmly. "I-I-I think so." she was still in shock. "Just be more careful next time, rallies can get quite dangerous, but we thank you for your support." He dropped Carmen's shoulders and simply started staring at her, as if he was interrogating her. His piercing blues eyes looking up and down this "boys" body, picking out every little detail. Carmen was so extremely uncomfortable under his cold gaze she had to look away before she froze. The man finally looked into her eyes. "There is a meeting in an hour at the Cafe` Musain." He pulled a leaflet out of his jacket and fisted it into her hand. " Its and open meeting, anyone is welcome." and with that he turned and left Carmen in the alleyway.

Carmen's mind raced, what happened today? It was all a blur.

Today started out like a normal Sunday. But then a gamin boy knocked her over, dragged her to a rally, a man she hadn't learnt the name of called her father a dog, almost got caught by her father, almost got trampled on by a horse, dragged into an alleyway and stared at by the man who insulted her father.

Now she is invited to a revolutionist meeting. Things can't get anymore wild and dangerous.

Can they?