Part Two: Chapter Five

The first few weeks of Libertè's time at the university went by quickly and smoothly. She and Gabriel had become close friends, and he had helped her quite a bit. She'd also made several other friends, most of them young men. She did befriend one young lady by the name of Madeleine Dubois who was a nursing student. Libertè's friends studied a variety of subjects. She'd met a man named Theo, who was a fellow politics student, Antoine Roux was a law student, a young man named Marc was studying to be a writer, and William Faure was a medical student. Such an interesting group of student led to interesting conversations when they got together after school. Libertè's parents were very happy she was making good friends.

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One morning, Libertè was heading to the university after telling her family goodbye. She was walking briskly down the street, keeping her eyes forward, when she felt a hand grab her arm. She spun to face the person who had grabbed her and saw a tall man leaning against the outside wall of a building. He had sandy blonde hair and cruel eyes. A sinister smile was stretched across his lips. Libertè jerked her arm away.

"Excuse me," she spat, turning to walk away.

The man grabbed her arm again, and Libertè sensed that she was in danger. She looked around the streets for help, but they were practically empty because it was so early.

"What do you want?" she spat again, trying to jerk free from his grasp but failed.

His tight grip on her arm was beginning to hurt. She was sure it would leave a bruise.

"You're the president's daughter," he snarled.

Libertè nearly gagged at the stench of alcohol on his breath.

"You don't know who I am," she responded.

The man scoffed, "Please. You're the spitting image of him. Your mother ever mention me? Ever heard the name Montparnasse?" he asked wickedly.

Libertè scanned her mind. The name wasn't familiar. Her mother had never mentioned it. She was pretty sure he wasn't one of her father's friends from the barricades.

"Never heard of you," she said through gritted teeth.

She was determined not to let this Montparnasse strike fear into her because that's just what he wanted.

Montparnasse chuckled darkly, "That's a shame."

"Let me go."

"Hmm, I don't think so."

Libertè started struggling with him, trying desperately to get away. She finally broke free from his grasp and tried to run, but he grabbed a fistful of her blonde curls, yanking her backwards. Her back slammed against his chest, and she felt his fist connect with her lower back. She tried to face him so she could fight him off, but when she turned, a sharp pain shot through her ankle, causing her to stumble. Suddenly, his hard fist pounded into her cheek, and she fell to the ground. Montparnasse dragged her into an alley, away from the view of the public and kicked her a few times in the stomach. Libertè watched through blurry eyes as he stumbled away, and then the darkness swallowed her up.

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When Libertè didn't show up to her first class, Gabriel got worried. He became even more concerned when she didn't show up for the second class. Gabriel knew she never missed her classes, even if she had a cold. She was probably just ill, but he was still concerned. He decided that he would go look for her at lunch. When lunch arrived, Gabriel made his way to the Presidential Manor. He'd never been there before, but he had to find out if Libertè was OK.

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As Gabriel walked toward the manor, he glanced down an alleyway. He saw a crumpled form lying on the ground, and his heart sank when he recognized the satchel lying not too far from the body.

"No. Libertè!" he called, running towards her and praying that she was alive.

He rolled her over so that her face was visible and saw that her lip was bloodied and a purplish bruise under her eye. She groaned, letting Gabriel that she was alive and conscious, but she was slipping into unconsciousness quickly.

"We've got to get you help," he said.

He slung her satchel over his shoulder and lifted her up. He wasn't strong enough to carry her, so she leaned against him, and he supported as much of her weight as he could. Basically dragging her along, they made their way to the manor which wasn't very far away.

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Enjolras was sitting in his study when he heard a knock at the front door of the manor. He didn't answer it because he knew the housekeeper would since Eponine was out running errands.

Suddenly, he heard a shriek and the voice of the housekeeper yelling, "President Rousseau, come quickly!"

He jumped up from his desk and ran to the door to see what was wrong. He saw the housekeeper standing there trembling, but what he saw on the other side of the open door shocked him most. It was a young man standing there out of breath with Libertè leaning against him. She was bloody, bruised, and barely able to stand.

Enjolras rushed over to them and lifted his daughter into his arms. She fell unconscious once she was lifted off her feet.

"Get the doctor quickly," he said to the housekeeper.

As he walked briskly through the manor with Libertè in his arms, he directed a question to Gabriel, who was now following him.

"What happened?"

"I'm not sure, Monsieur. She didn't show up to her classes so I went to look for her at lunch. I found her like this in an alley," Gabriel said.

They reached Libertè's bedroom the same time the doctor did. Enjolras sat her down on the bed and left the room so the doctor could tend to her wounds. Gabriel stood tense in the hall as he watched Enjolras pace back and forth, a worried look on his face and his fingers knotted in his hair. He finally stopped pacing, dropped his hands to his sides, and broke the silence.

"You must be Gabriel," he said.

"Yes, Monsieur," the young man nodded.

"Thank you for helping her."

"She's my friend. I was concerned about her because she never misses class."

The doctor emerged from Libertè's bedroom.

"She'll be alright. I cleaned her bloody lip. She has a black eye and a sprained ankle. There is also some bruising on her stomach and back, so I imagine she'll be sore for a while. She's awake right now," he said.

"Thank you, doctor."

The doctor left, and Enjolras turned to the housekeeper, who had reappeared, asking her to find Eponine and tell her to come home. Enjolras started to go into Libertè's room, but Gabriel stayed frozen in the hall, hesitating.

"You can come, if you like. She'll probably want to see you," he said to the young man.

Gabriel nodded and followed Enjolras into the room.

"Papa!" Libertè cried when she was them enter the room, tears stinging her eyes.

Enjolras sat down beside the bed and held her hand.

"It's alright, Libby. I'm here," he soothed.

She looked at her friend who was standing at the foot of her bed.

"Gabriel! Thank you so much."

"I'm just glad you're OK, Libertè," he smiled, "I should be getting back to the university. I could bring my notes to you, if you want me to," he offered.

Libertè nodded, "That'd be nice."

"You are welcome here any time, Gabriel. As are any of Libertè's friends," Enjolras said.

"Thank you, Monsieur. Feel better, Libertè," he said.

She managed to give him a half-smile before he left.

"What happened, Libby?" Enjolras asked, rubbing her hand.

"I was headed to school when a man stopped me. He recognized me as your daughter. He asked me if Mama ever mentioned him. He asked if I knew the name Montparnasse."

Enjolras's face turned white and fury built inside him at the sound of that man's name. He remembered the incident years ago when he attacked Eponine, and Enjolras had to threaten the drunk man to get him to leave.

"Papa, what's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing. Finish telling me what happened."

"Well, I tried to get away, but he caught me by my hair. I sprained my ankle trying to run away. He punched me in my back and face. I fell, and he dragged me to an alley. I thought he was going to kill me, but he just kicked me in the stomach and left. I watched him walk away, but that's the last thing I remember until Gabriel found me. Who is this Montparnasse? You looked upset when I said his name. Why did he ask if Mama ever mentioned him?"

"Your mother should explain. She knows him better than I do. She'll be here soon."

Sure enough, Eponine showed up not long after Gabriel left. She burst through the bedroom door and gasped at the sight of her daughter with Enjolras at her side.

"What happened, sweetheart?" she asked, rushing to her other side.

Before Libertè could say anything, Enjolras stood.

"We should speak outside, 'Ponine," he said.

She nodded and kissed Libertè's forehead before following Enjolras into the hall, shutting the bedroom door behind her.

"Montparnasse attacked her, 'Ponine," he said, staring into her golden eyes.

"What?! How could it be him after all these years? Why?" she asked, panicking.

"I don't know, but I'm going to take care of it, alright?"

She nodded.

"You have to explain to her who he is, 'Ponine. She wants to know because he asked her if you ever mentioned him. She's already asked me."

"Alright. I'll go explain," she said warily.

"I'll wait out here."

He kissed her before she went back into Libertè's room.

"Your father told me what happened," she said, sitting down on the bed, "He told me you want to know who Montparnasse is."

Libertè nodded, waiting for her mother to continue.

"Well, he is someone from a long time ago in my past. We knew each other when we were very young, long before I even knew your father. If fact, we were children together. I thought I loved him, but he hurt me and used me. He is a wicked drunk who steals and kills. He tried to kill me once, but your father stopped him. He's not going to hurt you anymore, alright Libby?"

"I was so scared."

"I know you were. I'm sorry."

"Thank you for explaining," Libertè smiled.

"I've got to go pick up your brother and sister from school now. I'll be back soon."

Eponine left the room and was replaced by Enjolras, who stayed with her for most of the afternoon.

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After Eponine and Enjolras explained to their younger children what had happened and dinner was served, Enjolras went back to sit with Libertè. It was getting late, so Eponine went to see if Enjolras would come to bed. She stepped into Libertè's room to find the oil lamp on, Libertè fast asleep, and Enjolras sitting by the bed tiredly. She stepped behind him, placing her hands on his shoulders.

"Come to bed, Enjolras. She'll be fine. She's sleeping."

He nodded reluctantly and followed Eponine to their bedroom. He pulled her close to him once they were in bed.

"We'll take care of Montparnasse tomorrow," he whispered before following asleep.

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A shrill scream pierced the darkness and silence of the manor. It woke Enjolras first because he was a lighter sleeper than Eponine, and she awakened to him already halfway out the door. It was Libertè's scream, and Eponine knew she had suffered from a nightmare about Montparnasse. Eponine had suffered from many of them herself, especially in her younger days. She got up out of bed to see if she could help.

When she walked into Libertè's bedroom, she saw her daughter cradled in Enjolras's arms, crying hysterically. She watched as Enjolras tried to console and calm her, but nothing he said or did made her hysterics stop. Eponine sat on the bed beside them and tried to help. Eventually, Libertè fell asleep in her father's arms. He laid her back down under her blankets before moving to the chair beside the bed that was still there from earlier that day, and Eponine went back to bed. Enjolras, however, refused to leave her side, afraid another night terror would occur.

Author's Note: Montparnasse returns! What do you guys think? Leave me a review and let me know. I love to hear from my readers! Thank you for all the support I've already gotten. Please review! Hopefully, I'll have the next chapter up soon.

~loislane16