Hello Lovelies! Thank you to all who've read/followed/favorited/reviewed, it makes me so happy :) Here's the next chapter... Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Nope... i wish ;)
Combeferre sunk into the closest bar stool, fiercely massaging the bridge of his nose, trying to think of any other situation she could be in.
"Before we jump to any conclusions, has anyone seen him since their last meeting? Driven down to Gorbeau, seen any cronies, seen Montparnasse lately." Feuilly's voice trailed off, Montparnasse wasn't a name often mentioned at the Musain, it only added to the long list of cruelty in Éponine's life, but he disappeared along with her father.
"Look, we are jumping to conclusions here!"-Enjolras snapped. –" Ferre, have you tried calling Ponine?" The look that crossed Combeferre's face at the comment made even the mighty Enjolras cower where he stood.
"I've called, texted, messaged, checked with her boss, her professors, everyone! No one's seen or heard from her since yesterday or even two days ago! I've checked everywhere! Schools, Azelma's, Gav's, and ours, work, the shelter, Azelma's apartment, the elephant, the mall, everywhere! No one's heard from her, no one's seen her. What if they found Gav or Azelma or something and what if she got in his way to protect them and that's what he really wanted anyway and what if." Combeferre had to stop, his head fell into his hands, his breathing was uneven and shaky. The boys didn't know what to do, never had they seen Combeferre of all people break down like this. Musichetta glided from her place between Bousset and Joly to pull Combeferre into an embrace. Running her hand through his hair, she whispered,
"It's alright Ferre, Ponine's a big girl and she's probably fine. But let's split up and search shall we? We can even send a crew over to Gorbeau if you're worried." Combeferre looked up and nodded. Pulling his keys out of his pocket, he cleared his throat.
"That's exactly where I'm going."
"We'll come too." Enjolras chimed, pulling Grantaire up with him. The rest of them chose other places around the section of the city, Musichetta and Cosette decided to check the hospitals and clinics in the area. Then Gavroche stood up,
"Where do you want me to go?"
Grantaire spun around so quickly, he nearly knocked a stool over.
"Absolutely not! There is NO way you're coming with us kid."
"But!" Gavroche began to pout.
"No way in hell. We're not having both of you in danger tonight, just please, for Ponine's sake; stay here till we get back. One of us will call you if we find anything, but just stay put."
Reluctantly Gavroche retreated to the couches to pick through the food that had long since been abandoned. Before leaving, Grantaire nodded towards the owner who nodded back, knowing how to keep the young boy occupied as the men searched for his sister.
Combeferre's knuckles were whitening as his grip on the wheel increased. They had long since left the safety of the city and entered gang territory. Enjolras debated on insisting to drive, but opted out of it, knowing the sense of control over something was the only thing that was going to keep Combeferre at ease. Grantaire absentmindedly ran his fingers through Enjolras's hair as they observed the landscape before them.
Large concrete buildings and walls lined the street making all three men feel trapped. At every turn, bright red graffiti reading P-M was splashed against the surface like spattered blood. Sometimes, the paint wasn't the only thing splattered against the concrete. Combeferre took in a deep breath and barred himself from looking at the fresher stains, jumping to conclusions. Reaching the end of the street, Enjolras spotted their destination; a crumbling motel was at the end of the road. Shutter's swung on hinges, the walls were a rotting yellow color and the air around them began to reek of smoke, beer, vomit and other bodily liquids. A fading fluorescent sign flickered pathetically above them.
THE MINETTE MOTEL
VACANCY
"What's the point of having a 'No' option up there?" Grantaire snorted, eyes watering from the fowl stench that had now invaded the car. Parking near the lobby door, Combeferre moved to get out and speak to the rat bastard himself, but Enjolras beat him too it. Knowing the leader, in this scenario, would handle things better than if Combeferre attempted, he allowed him to take charge. The sudden arrival of wallets brought out an artificially beaming Madame Thénardier, remaining teeth spread wide, remaining hair drawn up into a fanciful bun. Her skin had a slight jaundice appearance too it and her dress was stained with various condiments and drinks.
"Welcome good sirs, why don't you take a seat and meet the best motel owners in town!" Taking in the identities of the three 'guests' she stiffened, her smile vanished.
"Wot the 'ell do you lot want, eh? Coming tear our family apart further?" She cried, blinking her eyes furiously as if trying to produce tears.
"Aw quit the act Madame." Grantaire hissed. "Where is Éponine?"
She straightened at this questioned, stumbled a bit, but soon caught her breath and replied,
"Why I haven't seen my precious baby girl since she was yanked from my arms! Screaming as she went!" Again, she tried to produce tears, now looking away to poke herself in the eye.
"She was screaming alright." Enjolras smiled to himself, recalling the high-pitched profanities that followed their last encounter. "But that's besides the point, where is she now?" Enjolras looked directly at Madame Thénardier while saying this, wanting to see the lie form before it was spoken. Before she could respond, there were heavy footsteps and slurred voices coming toward the lobby. Madame Thénardier turned to see her husband enter the room. Master Thénardier looked more frightening than before, his matted gray hair looked like it was on fire with the last remnants of his youthful ginger hair burning the tips. His teeth were black and yellow, with one gold cap on the front most tooth. His clothes, a ghost of former decency, were stained and drenched beyond repair. Swigging the last of the beer he had in hand, he tossed it to the floor in front of the three students before barking,
"Wot the bloody hell do you bourgeoisie want, coming into my motel, unannounced, scaring my poor wife!"
"Where is she?" Combeferre said through his clenched jaw, hands rolled tightly into fists.
"I seem to recall you lot being Ponine and Gavroche's protection crew?"
Grantaire stiffened, as did Enjolras, but Combeferre stood his ground, mustering all his strength not to beat Thénardier to a pulp at any moment.
"We are." Enjolras growled.
"Doing a pretty lousy job aren't we? What's it now, 2-0 P-M?"
"Two?" Grantaire questioned.
"You really think leaving a ten year old alone at a college bar is a good idea?" Thénardier chuckled deeply as all three men paled.
"YOU SICK BASTARD!" Grantaire was launching himself at Thénardier, who marveled at this reaction. But before Grantaire could lay a finger on the gloating crook, Enjolras had restrained him, whispering for him to calm down. Combeferre turned back to Thénardier.
"Where is she? What have you done to her and what have you done to Gavroche?" He yelled, now shaking the man with his lapels.
"She didn't get HALF of what she truly deserves, but she will in time, don't you worry." He smirked.
Combeferre, breaking under everything, punched Thénardier. He let out a howl of pain, followed by his wife's screams. Combeferre yanked the man back up to a sitting position.
"I'm going to ask you one more time? Where is ÉPONINE?" He shouted the last bit, right in the man's face, hoping he'd shower him in decent food for once. Thénardier reacted quickly, backhanding Combeferre and leaping to his feet.
"I warned that sorry whore of a daughter! I did, you 'eard me, and she's gettin what's coming to her, and once Montparnasse comes back with the boy, I'll see to it that she'll feel every pain imaginable. Too bad you've kept her healthy enough to endure this for, oh I don't know, months, years." He sounded out the last of it, cracking a slim and malicious grin. It was Grantaire who launched him self at the insufferable cheat.
"YOU LEAVE GAVROCHE OUT OF THIS! AND YOU TELL US WHERE PONINE IS OR I SWEAR TO GOD THÉNARDIER, I WILL MURDER YOU RIGHT HERE!"
"Oh go back to you bottle drunkard, you were far more enjoyable to observe then." He sneered. Grantaire stopped in his tracks and it was Enjolras's turn to lose it. Leaving Combeferre's side, he walked swiftly across the room, grabbed Thénardier by the necktie, and dragged him outside, followed closely by Combeferre and Grantaire (Madame Thénardier had long since given up on the argument, returning to her own bottle.). Reaching the car, he slammed his captive on to the hood, hands behind twisted behind his back and one hand pushing down on the slob's face. Enjolras didn't yell or even raise his voice, he spoke calmly, quickly, and in such a manner it made even the great thief cower.
"For one, cheat, mention R's drinking problem again and you'll have trouble swallowing your next six pack. Two, don't you dare come near the Musain again or else you will suffer terrible consequences, and some, if not most, will occur before we even think of calling the police. Three, you call off Montparnasse and leave Gavroche out of your sick games. In a legal sense he is no longer yours so if your goons continue with this mission, you will be charged for kidnapping and not only will you go to jail for possibly 30 years, the judge will then unlock the rest of your file, which has been kept, and your sentence will be moved to life."-Enjolras emphasized this point. -"And finally, you tell us what you did to your daughter, not only is she in probable need of medical attention, but her family desperately wants and needs her back. So I will ask one final time and if you refuse, well, I'll have no choice but to drive you to the police station, as is." He had opened the car door during this time and shut Thénardier's tie and jacket into the passenger side door.
No one moved. Combeferre's eyes darted between Enjolras and the man he himself desperately wanted to strangle. The victim in question had suddenly become very pale, his own eyes whizzing through his skull like a loose ball. Grantaire stood by his boyfriend, one hand interlocked with Enjolras's as he hovered over Thénardier, ready to snap his neck if necessary.
"Fine!" Thénardier wheezed. "Fine, I'll tell you where we cornered her yesterday." Combeferre stiffened once again, gripping the car for support.
"It was by Plumet and Toulouse, down the alley with no exit. Gave it to her good too. She was out when we finished, but when we's came back with," He paused. "Equipment, she was gone. We was gonna use the boy as bait tonight."
"What you mean 'gonna'?" They turned to see Montparnasse, greasy as ever, holding up a bound, gag and squirming Gavroche. Grantaire moved to tackle the kidnapper, but he brandished a knife, pressing it into the child's neck.
"Tsk tsk tsk." He clicked. "One move closer, and I kill 'im now, whether or not my dear Ponine arrives."
Grantaire froze, furious anguish vandalized his usual cheerful face. He caught Gavroche's eyes and felt his heart twist; the boy's bright blue eyes, so full of life, were now drowned in pure fear, tears streaming down his paling cheeks. Grantaire tried to tell the boy so many things in simple eye contact, but until Gavroche was safe in one of the boys' arms again, nothing would suffice.
Behind him, Enjolras backed away from the gang leader, fearing his dominance over him might trigger Montparnasse's knife, he thought of calling the others, especially Courfeyrac, who not only would know how to save Gavroche, but was also in a search car with Bousset, Bahorel, Jehan and Joly, and once they were informed, help would be on the way.
Combeferre, however, had regained his footing and glared at Montparnasse with an anger that the young con man never thought would cross the philosopher's face.
"Éponine is not yours." He growled.
"Excuse me?" Montparnasse returned, the grip on the knife tightening, but it began to move from the position above Gavroche's neck.
"Éponine is not yours." Combeferre stated again.
"Well," The arm holding the knife slacked to one side, still poised in his hand. "Whose is she then?"
"No one's! She isn't property! She's a human being and deserves to be treated as such." Combeferre retorted, voice rising slightly.
"What gives you the right to be so bloody protective over my property eh? I paid fair and square!" Montparnasse snarled. At his comment of payment, Combeferre snapped. Forgetting where he was, who he was, and the high price his actions might cause, he charged Montparnasse.
Caught off guard, Montparnasse panicked and threw Gavroche aside. Combeferre hit him full on and began to beating him in a blind frenzy. As he did this, Grantaire made a dive for Gavroche, Enjolras quickly speed dialed one of the boys, but he dropped his phone before anyone could pick up, something slamming into the back of his head, for no one noticed Thénardier's birdcalls, no one saw the other men come out from the shadows and before they knew what was going on, everything went dark.
Hope you enjoyed! Next chapter will be up real soon =D
