Serge Durand towered at least two feet over me, his figure seeming to block out the sunlight outside. I'd been so happy with my brother that I never imagined he'd come looking for me. Stupid, stupid girl….

He stormed through the doorway and gave me a shove that sent me to the ground.

"You thought you could run away from me, eh? Thought you could defy me?" he bellowed, smacking me twice across the face.

I couldn't move. I lay petrified on the floor, until my father grabbed me by my neck and shoved me against the wall. "You've got some nerve, you little slut!"

I let out a cry of pain as he punched me in the jaw. "That's right, I'll make you scream! You'll scream alright!"

He grabbed my neck, his fingers compressing into my throat. My lungs burned as my oxygen was cut off. I tried to scream for my brother, but I couldn't breathe. Help me! I shrieked in my head. HELP!

Enjolras's POV

I must admit, part of the reason I was being so nice to my sister was because I felt guilty about leaving her all those years ago. I'd been a jerk before, when she'd first arrived here, but she deserved better than that. Jennette was actually pretty fun to be around. I found that I really enjoyed spending time with her, more than I had when she was little.

Figuring it was one of my friends at the door, I sat on the couch, waiting for my sister to bring them in. But three minutes passed, and there was no sign of Jennette or any visitor. Well, that was worrying.

"Who is it, Jenne?" I called out, figuring she was talking to them or whatever in the doorway.

There was no answer.

Then I heard some faint, unnatural noises. It sounded like….strangled cries. Worried, I stood up and ran into the front hallway, only to find my father with a clearly terrified Jennette pinned to the wall, throttling her.

It had been years since I'd laid eyes on him. The man hadn't changed a bit—unshaved face, breath reeking with stale alcohol and cigarette smoke, strong figure. And a temper worse than anyone else's.

My sister heard me come in and stared at me with wild, helpless eyes, and her lips began mouthing something.

Help me.

In that split second, something inside me snapped, and my older brother instincts took over completely.

"DON'T TOUCH HER!"

My father whirled around in confusion, still holding Jennette by the neck. "Son," he said, a hint of surprise in his voice. He squinted at me with his small unintelligent eyes and smirked. "You haven't changed a bit, have you?"

"I am no son of yours," I growled. "You lost that right years ago. Let her go!"

The man laughed madly, tightening his grip on my poor sister's throat. "Taken a shine to the brat, eh?"

I tried to push him away from Jennette, but he stood his ground, and punched my sister in the jaw, his fingers still tightly clasped around her neck. The poor thing was turning blue from loss of air.

I mustered all the strength I could, and punched my father right in the face. The man staggered, clutching his probably broken nose, blood dripping all over his face and hand. He let go of Jennette, who crumpled to the floor, gasping. I stood over her, putting myself between her and my father.

He looked up, a murderous expression on his bloodstained face. But there was nothing he could do anymore.
"Get out," I hissed.

"You can't keep me from my daughter," he rasped.

"I SAID GET OUT!" I yelled. "You touch Jenne again and you'll get worse than a broken nose."

The man gave us one final glare, and fled, slamming the door behind him.

I knelt by my sister hurriedly. The poor thing was curled up in a ball, shaking and crying.

"Jennette…. Sweetheart…." I whispered, scooping her into my lap. "I'm so sorry."

Jenne clung to me, sobbing her little heart out.

I held her close, trying to comfort her as best I could. "Shhh…. It's going to be okay, I promise you."

Jennette looked up at me with sad, wet, tear-filled eyes, red from crying. The poor thing was like some frightened little animal. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but another heavy sob came out instead.

"I won't let him hurt you." I said fiercely. "Jenne, I promise you, as long as I live…. I. Will. Protect you."

She only held me tighter, tears still pouring down her badly bruised face.

I wiped away a few tears and stroked her head soothingly. "I'm right here, little one. And I always will be."

(*AUTHOR'S INTERRUPTION* ENJ STOP BEING SO FUCKING FLUFFY, YOU'RE KILLING THE READERS)

My sister clung to me for another half hour. Little by little, the crying ceased, and the awful trembling became less violent.

I took hold of one of her petite hands and gave it a tight but gentle squeeze. Jennette squeezed back, still sniffling loudly.

"Everything's going to be fine, Jenne." I said to her gently.

"I'm scared," she whispered, clinging to me again.

"But sweetie, you're going to be alright," I answered. "If ANYONE tries to hurt you again…. They'll have to get through me first."

Jennette looked up. "…..Really?"

"I promise." I stated, wrapping my arms around her protectively.

My sister was silent. She reached up and gently pulled on a strand of my hair, smiling ever so faintly.

I smiled back. "Hey, why don't we go back and watch the movie?"

Jennette nodded. I moved her off of my lap and stood up, and she followed me back into the living room.

My sister snuggled up next to me for the entire movie, clinging to my arm as though her life depended on it. The poor thing was probably half traumatized. For god's sake, she'd been face to face with death twice in one month! It was questionable that she'd ever be the same again. I missed her fearlessness and spunk. But now I knew the life she'd been living for the past eight years. It must have been horrible, never knowing whether she'd live to see the next day. I was glad Jenne had found me, or I never would have known before it was too late….

When the ending credits of the movie began, I glanced at my sister. She was leaning against me, eyes closed, breathing softly.

Asleep.

Probably extremely overwhelmed from everything that had occurred that afternoon, because it was only half past six.

(*Dies while writing because of fluff*)

Aww…..she looked so cute, curled up like that…. I was almost tempted to leave her there.

Gaaaah! I was turning into Jean Prouvaire!

Carefully, I stood up, and lifted Jennette into my arms, trying my best not to wake her. She didn't even stir though, so I carried her upstairs to her bedroom and tucked her in. I hadn't done that in a long time.

I went back to the doorway and was about to leave when I paused, and turned around, watching my little sister. Even though a few weeks ago her presence was the last thing I wanted, now she was one of the most important things in the world to me. There was no way I was letting go of her ever again.

"Goodnight, Jenne," I whispered.