Eponine's P.O.V
I awoke to see moonlight mixed with the pale glow of street lamps trickling through the translucent curtains on one side of the room while A sleeping figure was on the other. Enjolras. I felt less sick, so I had the strength to get up and drag him into the bed with me. His blonde curls that rested upon his head glistened with a light amount of water, still damp from an earlier shower. His serene crystal blue eyes were hidden beneath thin skin. His muscular arms were limply hanging at his sides in a peaceful manner. Light snores came from him and his breath bushed against my neck. I shuddered a little and laid him down beside me before pulling the covers over the both of us. It was after midnight when a thought entered my mind. How would dad react when we came home? What would he do to me? Oh god, what if he hurt Gavroche. That was something I could never bear to have happen, not when I was still breathing. But what if he got his gang to burn me again, what if he killed me? Before I knew it I was hyperventilating and rocking back and forth, I felt sweat falling down my face like a waterfall. Suddenly I had stopped rocking and felt something warm wrap itself around me.
"It's okay, it's okay. It's not your fault." I suddenly found myself sobbing into Enjolras and he was lightly stroking my hair, careful to not pull on it. I felt my usual emotionless walls melt away to nothingness as he held me in his arms. He kept saying something over and over again, not your fault. It was as if...
"JOLY I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!" I sobbed/yelled into Enjolras's chest. I felt his chest shake with slight laughter.
"He didn't tell me anything. I figured it out." He told me. I stiffened and looked up at him to see him frowning."Why do you stay there?" I scoffed.
"It's not that simple Enj, They'd split Gav and me up in the foster system, and I can't afford my own place." I listed out other horrid excuses and reasons. But the real reason was much harder to face. If we left, no matter where we went, they'd find us, and kill us. Even if it meant bearing the excruciating pain each night, I would keep my brother safe. But I couldn't tell Enjolras. He'd never understand, or believe me.
"Stay with us then." He offered. I looked up at him. "I mean it, stay here, where he can't get to you, we already have two extra rooms." This was worse, if we accepted his offer, then not only would dad kill us, but he'd go after Enjolras and the others, and that plus Gavroche was worse than four different hells.
"I'm sorry Enjolras, I can't."
"Why?!" He exclaimed."The treat you like dirt there, you barely get to eat, yes I saw your ribs, I'll explain later, you've been," He swallowed hard and his adams apple bobbed up and down. "Whipped." He ranted on and on, no longer holding me, but looking straight at me. I had stopped crying."THEY AREN'T HUMAN!" I paled at his raised voice and covered my ears, thanking higher beings that the others were heavy sleepers. I had figured that out when we had slept over. His tone reminded me of Dad's when he often beat me. I squeezed my eyes shut and curled into a ball.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." I kept apologizing, my instincts telling me to brace myself for pain that would surely follow. I had been waiting for a while, and nothing came. I looked up at Enjolras, who had a mixture of pain and guilt on his face.
"Eponine, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"Mmhat's 'oing n?" He was interrupted by a high voice from the door. My head snapped to it and saw Gavorche rubbing the sleep from his eyes, standing in the door. I softened and slowly walked over to him, still feeling a little weak, dropped to my knees and hugged him.
"Nothing Gav, just a little nightmare. Go back to sleep, okay?"
"Mmkay." He nodded and hugged me back before sleepily walking back to his room. I sighed and sat down by the closed door. I put my knees up to my face and rested my head on them. I felt another body land beside me and put an arm over me, pulling my body closer to them.
"I'm sorry." We said at the same time. I looked up at the blonde boy beside me and rested my head on his shoulder, my eyes downcast.
"What are you sorry for?" He asked me.
"For reacting like that. I know you didn't think it would happen."
"It's fine, I was being stupid, I should've rememb-" He put his hand on his mouth. I blinked and looked at him.
"What?"
"Nothing." He said, it being obvious he wouldn't be revealing it any time soon. I sighed."But still, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have shouted. You're not one of the boys, who can just have some sense slapped into them." I looked at him.
"Sorry, wrong word choice. Look, your different, you have walls up, you think you can handle things on your own-"
"I can handle things on my own." I protested.
"Let me finish, you think you can handle everything on your own. But not everything can be done without help. There are some who choose solidarity, but none who can withstand it. You need to learn that we're here to help, all of us, you can't be by yourself forever." He rubbed my shoulder and I bit back tears at his words.
"That may take a while."
"We can wait."
After that he helped me back into bed and stayed until sleep welcomed me into its warm embrace. The next morning I woke to a delicious smell and sunlight pouring through the curtains.
"MORNING!" Gavroche yelled in my ear. I covered it.
"Gaaav, please never do that again." I begged. He smiled and I looked to the door, which was creaking open.
"Glad to see your awake, perfect timing actually." Joly walked in through the door. I sighed and semi glared at Gavroche.
"Thank my brother for that."
"Thank you Gavroche."
"No prob Joly." He waved as he bounced off the bed and out the open door to breakfast. Joly chuckled and set a tray down. I smiled at the scent of butter and eggs.
"Sleep well?" He asked.
"Yep." Rubbish.
"Good to hear. I thought I heard voices last night though. Must've been my imagination." He said and shrugged. He brought over a bottle."You're really going to hate me for this, but, I'd... like to take a look at your.. back." I instinctively went on the defensive mode, then remembered he already knew."Please, it'd be better then to leave your..you know, unattended, they could get infected." He reasoned with me. I saw his point. I sighed and started taking off my shirt.
"Could you turn around?" I asked. He blushed red and I giggled as he turned around. I unhooked my bra and faced away from him, having my shirt cover the small amounts of flesh that rested on my chest. "Okay, go ahead." I forced it out, still partially regretting this decision.
"This might hurt a little." He warned me. He moved his hand to one of my bruises and I tried not to wince. I felt a cool, smooth paste, bruise cream. He slathers it lightly on my blue and black splotches, covering them with the white cream. When he's finished, save the last of it, had sunken into the damaged skin. "Okay, that's that taken care of, just one more thing okay?" I nodded and felt a sharp pain on a recent lash wound that had yet to start scabbing. Luckily it didn't come through any clothes, the blood was staying firmly put. I hissed in pain as the source of it made it's way along each of the other lashing injuries. I realized with a start what it was."Cosette came by with it earlier. So you two lived together huh, that explains a lot." Joly answered my unspoken question. He once again finished quickly."That's it. Are you gonna be okay?" He asked as I slipped my shirt on.
"I've had worse." I replied. I heard him sigh.
"I know."
Joly was the only one who came in other than the other boys to say bye as they left for school. In this time, I formulated a plan. I waited until they came back and had gone to bed. I picked up my things that I had brought with me and walked quietly out of the room. I left the door open, no need to pretend I was there. I scribbled down four notes, one for Enjolras, one for Gavroche, one for Joly, and one for Grantaire Courfeyrac and Combeferre. I bit my lip as I took a look at the apartment, and left. I walked up and down the streets of the city, avoiding the occasional bike or midnight jogger. I felt my teeth chattering in the cold night air and my body shook with each step. I sneezed and coughed a few times, the virus in my body making me aware it was still there. I soon found my way back to the pub. It said closed, but the door opened easily.
"I was wondering when you'd come crawling back." My father's booming voice came before a slap across my cheek. I barely flinched, only let my head be pushed. "Where's that rat of a brother of yours?" He asked me. I bit back a snide remark and looked at the wooden floor.
"He ran away.." I looked up, scowling. I was probably never going to be forgiven for running away anyway, why continue on acting like a coward. Nobody would care any more. Enjolras would be turned into a liar. I could do this by myself.".because he didn't want to live with monsters like you!" I was pushed to the ground and landed on a bruise. I bit back a shriek as I fell. Soon four men were above me, including Montparnasse. Father's gang.
"You stupid girl. You think you can just walk away for a few days and not expect consequences when you slither back?" He asked me. I made no response. Then I heard a sound of metal. I braced myself as I heard his voice once more." You thought wrong." He brought down his belt.
Enjolras's P.O.V
I awoke in the middle of the night after dreaming of waterfalls. I did my business and walked back to my room, careful not to disturb the others. I made it back to my room when I realized that there was something stuck to my bedroom door. Upon closer inspection, I realized that it was a note. I opened it as it had my name on it.
Dear Enjolras,
I'm sorry for this, but I can't bear the fear of you and the others getting hurt. I have to leave you all. Don't expect to see me again, take care of Gavroche for me. I'm going home.
I couldn't read any more after that, my fist closed and balled the paper up. I ran to Joly's room. It didn't take long for him to read it and understand. We woke up the others and Gavroche. Grantaire rubbed his eyes as we stood outside his room.
"What?" We thrust the letter in his face and he read it. We saw no reason to keep this a secret for longer and told him Gavroche and Eponine's situation. His eyes widened and he pushed through us to the door. Courfeyrac held a sleeping Gavroche in his arms as the rest of us did the same. We all understood, get to Eponine...before it's too late.
We drove through the streets rapidly in Courfeyrac's van as Gavroche gave us directions. We soon found the inn. We slammed open the car doors and rushed into the inn. We were horrified to hear screams coming from inside. We looked at each other briefly before smashing the doors open. What lay before us was a horrible sight. Some men and a women stood off to the side as two men, one I recognized as Montparnasse, beat a bloodied figure. I realized with a start that the figure on the ground was Eponine. And her father kept bringing his belt down on her, over and over and over again while Montparnasse kicked her where she wasn't being whipped. I realized in terror that Eponine was coughing blood. Grantaire was the first to snap out of his stupor as he ran forward and tackled Montparnasse. The rest of us snapped out of it and went for the men. Gavroche ran towards his mother and fought the woman. As for me, I ran towards Thenadrier. I tackled him and ripped the belt from his hand.
"YOU FUCKING BASTARD, GET YOUR HANDS OFF THE WOMAN I LOVE!" I yelled as I punched him repeatedly. I soon had him in a headlock. I noticed Grantaire was finished with Montparanasse, who was on the ground. He already had his phone and was frantically dialing. I saw the others finish off the older men and knocking them out. Even their mother was in the pile by the stairs. My fight with Thenadrier continued on as we rolled around on the floor, throwing punches. Suddenly he had me on the floor and he was positioned above me with his hand raised, grasping something I couldn't make out beneath the bar's light fixtures. I saw a glint of silver and felt a deep pain in my shoulder. I heard blaring sirens and rumpling footsteps. Thenadrier was taken off me and I stood, clutching my shoulder. I slowly made my way over to Eponine's mangled figure."Eponine, look at me, you're gonna be okay, I promise." Her only response was her trying to speak, but ended up coughing out blood. She was still pale from her cold, as well as bloodloss. I saw people coming towards me and held onto her hand as the paramedics lifted Eponine onto a stretcher. I let go as they ran to the ambulance. Grantaire ran towards me. I looked at their own injuries. Gavroche had a black eye, but nothing more, thankfully. Combeferre's glasses were cracked. Joly had a shallow cut on his face and Grantaire had a nasty bruise forming on his cheek. Courfeyrac was the worst of us, two cuts, a few bruises and a nose that seemed to be broken.
"Enjolras, are- oh, no you aren't, WE NEED SOME HELP OVER HERE!" He yelled, adding head to the list of places I felt pain.
"Guys, it's nothing, I'm fine re-"
"You are not fine kid." Someone cut me off. Before I could argue any longer, I felt dizzy and spots danced in front of my eyes. The adrenaline had kept me going, but now it was wearing off. I fell to the ground and saw a blurry image of Eponine being put in the ambulance before descending into unconsciousness.
Grantaire's P.O.V
I watched helplessly as my best friends were loaded into the white vehicles that sped to the hospital. Gavroche had gone with Enjolras and Joly with Eponine. Combeferre and Courfeyrac walked to the van and we drove behind the ambulance that carried Enjolras. Combeferre informed Marius and Cosette and Feuilly of the situation once we got to the hospital. Soon enough the three of them, as well as Valjean, burst into the waiting room. I sat silently as Joly paced, Gavroche cried and Courfeyrac comforted him. Combeferre bounced his knee up and down. Cosette wept into Marius' shoulder. Feuilly was stuck in a similar state as me, shocked and afraid for our friends. Valjean sat beside me, leaving his daughter to her boyfriend.
"You doing alright?"
"No." I answered honestly. He patted my back supportively and rubbed it afterwards.
"They'll be okay. Those two are the strongest kids I know. We have nothing to worry about." I nodded, wishing, praying that I could believe him. We waited, and waited, and waited. Finally a nurse came out.
"I'm looking for a Grantaire Seine?" I bolted up.
"That would be me." I went up to her.
"The boy will be okay." We all breathed a small sigh of relief before remembering Eponine.
"And the girl?" I asked frantically. She backed up a little. I pleaded silently that she would be the same.
"Still unsure. She's stable, but very weak." The woman said.
"Stable's good, right lady?" Gavroche pulled on her pink scrubs. She knelt down to his level.
"Yeah buddy, stable's fine." Gavroche seemed to get even more worried.
"THAT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING!" He yelled at her. She looked startled and confused as he ran out. Courfeyrac followed him. The nurse stood up and looked at us, silently asking what his outburst was about.
"He's her sister. He's sort of learned that if she says she's fine, she's not. The word sort of triggers that." Joly explained. I was impressed. He usually would be bursting at the seams with anxiety. But he had fought a man twice his size tonight, that was not usual Joly.
"Oh, well when he comes back, tell him that stable is a good thing."
"I'll be sure to." A voice came from behind her. We looked past her as she turned around. Enjolras stood there, his arm in a sling, his shoulder bandaged. We all smiled and went to hug him or lightly pat him on the back. I looked to the nurse.
"Would it be okay if we went to check on her?" I asked. She nodded.
"Sure, but two at a time please." She said. Gavroche had come back in with Courfeyrac long enough to hear. Enjolras told him that Stable was good. He seemed to relax at that.
"How about you two go in first, to see her I mean." I told them. We all nodded and watched the two follow the nurse into the room.
Enjolras's P.O.V
I held Gavroche's shaking hand as we walked into the room. We were immediately met with a beeping noise coming from her hear monitor. It was a sorry sight to see, one that nearly put Gavroche to tears once more. Eponine laid on her side so that the wounds on her back were not under too much pressure. Red stained bandages wrapped around her torso. Her only covering was a hospital gown pulled up to cover her unmentionables. A ventilator mask was on top of her nose and mouth. I was snapped out of my train of thought when Gavroche squeezed my hand, probably attempting to make fists in both his hand.
"I'm gonna kill him." He muttered. I wanted to do the same, but Gavroche needed me. I bent down to him.
"Hey, she'll be okay, I promise you." I hugged him and he sobbed into my shoulder. I saw a man with black hair and navy scrubs walk into the room. I carefully picked Gavroche up with my un-bandaged arm.
"Hello boys, I'm , cheif resident." He shook Gavroche's hand as mine were either incapacitated or full.
"Enjolras Hugo, and this is Gavroche."
"Is my sister gonna be okay?" Gavroche looked at Dorian. He nodded, smiling.
"Yeah, she'll be f- " I shook my head, silently telling him not to use that word. "Okay, she'll be okay." Gavroche and I exhaled in relief. "Although Gavroche, if you don't mind, I'm just going to talk to Enjolras for a bit, okay?" He asked the boy. He thought about it for a second and nodded. I let him down.
"Hey, why don't you go tell the others the good news, okay?" He smiled and nodded, running out. I lost my smile as he turned to me."Okay Dorian, how is she really?" I demanded. He tensed up a little and looked down.
"Her right leg is fractured and bruised quite a bit. The older wounds on her back were close to bursting. And she has about 5 broken ribs, one of them punctured her lung. She should be fine, but she's not out of the woods yet...I'm sorry. We'll do as much as we can." He patted my shoulder before ushering me out so he could work on her. I walked out dejectedly and hoped that Eponine would come out of this alive.
