My neck was killing me…I must've slept wrong. I couldn't see straight without my glasses. Then I noticed my little sister sleeping on me. That's when I realized none of this was a dream.

We were still at the barricade.

I reached for my glasses, when I felt another body resting against my leg. It was Gavroche. He must've gotten up several minutes before, because he handed me my glasses. I took them, put them on, and tussled his hair once more. Clementine was next to wake up. I rubbed her back as comfort.

Enjolras walked into the center of the street, to address us all. His face…his grim expression, was worth a thousand words.

"The People have not stirred. We are abandoned by those who still live in fear…"

I immediately got up. Clementine held my hand. I hoped she understood now why I cannot leave.

"The People have not heard. Yet we will not abandon those who cannot hear!"

The rest of the students and noncombatants started to rise up to their feet.

"Let us not waste lives. Let all the women and fathers of children go from here!"

I held Clementine in my arms and I looked her straight in the eye. "Tell Father I did this for him!" And I hugged her one last time.

As I climbed the barricade, rifle in hand, I saw the noncombatants evacuate the barricade. Clementine. Musichetta. Feuilly's Father. Gavroche. I was so grateful that he was leaving with them.

I walked over to Enjolras, and I offered my hand in a comradery handshake. "Drink with me, to days gone by. Sing with me, the songs we knew. At the shrine of friendship, raise your glass high! Let the wine of friendship, never run dry. If I die, I die with you." I said to him. He embraced me in a powerful hug.

Our moment was interrupted by the sound of the bugle call. "Positions!" Enjolras declared.

We climbed back up the barricade to our posts. As I reached the ledge with Enjolras, I froze.

"Oh my God…there's more of them!" I whispered.

Last night there were only sixty men at most. This morning, we wake up to at the very least, two-hundred.

We took our aim, as did the Army.

"FIRE!" Enjolras shouted.

I loaded my rifle, took aim, and pulled the trigger. I hit one of them in the chest, and he fell backwards.

I reached into my pocket, and that's when my heart dropped to my knees. I only had about three or four rounds left.

I turned around to see Feuilly check our ammunition box by the Café's front door. Enjolras and I hustled over to him amidst the gunfire exchange.

"How do we stand, Feuilly? Make your report!" Enjolras demanded.

Feuilly's face looked grim. "We've guns enough, but ammunition short!"

Marius ran to us and exclaimed "I will go into the streets. There are bodies all around! Ammunition to be had! Lots of bullets to be found!"

Just as Marius was prepared to leave, Enjolras grabbed him by the arm.

"I can't let you go! It's too much of a chance!"

Marius freed himself of Enjolras's grasp. "And the same thing is true for any man here!"

Courfeyrac came and nudged me on the shoulder "I can go! I am the fastest out of all of us!"

I grabbed his arm and I said "You go out there, and you'll be slaughtered!"

Then the old man appeared, and spoke to Enjolras. "Let me go. He is only a boy!" He was looking in Marius's direction. "I am old! I have nothing to fear."

It was then I saw something small running towards the barricade. It was Gavroche.

"You need somebody quicker and I volunteer!" He exclaimed as he rushed up the barricade and over to the other side!

"NO!" I cried!

"Come back, Gavroche! Don't you dare!" Lesgles shouted.

"Someone pull him down at once!" Joly called for us.

"Look at me! I'm almost there!" Gavroche shouted from the other side.

BANG!

We were all horrified. They would shoot at a little boy?! What monsters are these?!

"And little people know…when little people fight!" I heard Gavroche say. "We may look easy pickings. But we got some bite!"

BANG!

I screamed, and tried to rush to the top. Courfeyrac pulled me back. The bullet had only scratched a chair that was on top of the barricade.

"So never kick a dog! Because he's just a pup!"

BANG! "Argh!"

"NO! YOU BASTARDS!" I exploded, before I freed myself from my friend's grasp. I struggled to climb as fast as I could.

"We'll fight like twenty armies…and we won't…give up!" I heard the boy whimper.

Then out of nowhere, as I reached the top, something hit me in the face. It was Gavroche's knapsack. I threw it back to Enjolras. There was plenty of ammunition.

I turned back to Gavroche who was struggling to reach the top. His arm was bleeding.

"So you better…run for cover…"

"Come on! Take my hand!" I cried…tears pouring down my cheeks. He was nearly in my reach.

"When…the pup…"

I finally got a hold of him, and tried to hoist him up.

"…grows…"

BANG!

I nearly lost my balance, if Grantaire didn't catch my fall. I stood up, and I looked to see Gavroche, his eyes staring into space, not blinking.

My hand that held his back was becoming wet.

"No…NO!" I cried.

He was dead…Gavroche was dead. He died in my arms. Why? Why, why, WHY?!

Wasn't it enough that Eponine had died, let alone in someone else's arms? But to lose someone that I loved like a brother, in my arms?!

This was indeed too much! I knew now, that there was no hope for me. I wanted to die.