A.N. As you can probably tell I have been majorly lacking inspiration for this story. This 'chapter' is just under 500 words but I couldn't think what to write. It wasn't working. I'm thinking of putting this story under hiatus for a while. I might now if I get sudden inspiration but It looks likely.
Eponine had been looking for Montparnasse for over an hour with no luck. The rat knew the streets as well as she did and Eponine had no doubt that he was well aware she was looking for him. The earlier rage she had felt was slowly ebbing away and reality was setting in. Eponine was small and quick but years on the streets had left her physically weaker than Montparnasse. It would be a challenge. One that Eponine was willing to take on.
Every day she regretted not protecting Gavroche better when he was a young child. She had let her fear of her parents make her selfish and for a while she had only taken care of herself. A while was all it took for her parents to kick their son onto the streets. Eponine's mind was constantly plagued with 'what-if's' and 'what could have happened'. If what she was about to do would ease the guilt even a little bit she would be happy.
Eponine stopped her furious walking through the streets and crouched behind a doorway. She would let Montparnasse come to her. Make it seem like she had given up. The assassin would never miss a chance to gloat.
There used to be a time when Montparnasse would find her to comfort her. He would have been able to make her laugh. Eponine felt her eyes sink shut as she remembered happier times. It was hopeless. She would never truly be able to hurt Montparnasse. She was tough, there was no doubt, but like everyone she clung to the hope that her childhood best friend was in there somewhere and she would never kill him until she was certain he was gone.
"Well, what 'ave we 'ere."
Eponine's eyes shot open as Montparnasse voice echoed in front of her. She grinned without humour as she realised how well she still knew him.
"You hurt Gavroche." While Montparnasse voice dripped in argot, Eponine had managed to retain a silkier voice. "Even after you promised you wouldn't. You still did."
"You broke your promise to 'Ponine." Montparnasse sneered the last word, making Eponine flinch.
He was right in a way. She had also abandoned him. Given up on him, thought him incapable of redemption. She hated herself for it but she knew deep down she was right. Montparnasse had gone past the boundary and there was no way to save him.