* Disclaimer * I do not own Les Miserables
Chapter 21
I awoke to an unfamiliar bed, one that was way to comfortable. My eyes search the darkness, and my hands search around the bed as I try to recall where I am and why I'm here. In all of my searching, I almost didn't realize Marius walk back into the room.
"Your awake." I remember running, the docks, and then Cosette. That's where we were, at Cosettes' flat. I can't help but feel a bit uncomfortable with the situation.
"What time is it?" It was still dark out, so I'm assuming it's late.
"Three."
"Is everyone asleep?"
"Yes." Marius paced back and forth across the room and bit his fingernails, a habit he had developed over time.
"Are you alright?" I lifted myself out of the bed and went to his side, in an attempt to comfort him.
"Yes, I was just thinking. You don't need to worry 'Ponine, go back to sleep."
In the dim candlelight, I could see harsh dark circles beneath his eyes, and his hair was sticking out everywhere. He looked as if he needed a lot more sleep more than me, but he wasn't going to get any tonight. Not with all of his worrying.
"Marius, come to bed. You're exhausted."
"I'm fine." He was clenching something in is fist, as if his very life depended on it. I took his hand and opened it up to see the key, the one that led to the deposit box. On the floor, sloppily thrown out, was the money.
"You left?"
"I had to, I didn't want to risk you getting hurt 'Ponine."
"You could have gotten yourself killed! It would have been much safer to take me with you, and go in the daylight!"
"Eponine, its fine! You don't need to worry about me, I'm safe, but more importantly you are." He was in front of me now holding my shoulders with desperation in his eyes.
Even given the circumstances, I could help but want him to kiss me, to feel our lips once again pressed together. But instead, I just reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck as his closed in on my waist. We stayed like that for a while, then I went back to sleep and Marius joined.
~..0..~
It didn't seem like long before we were both startled awake by a frenzied Cosette, who barged in and flung the covers back to wake us.
"You need to get out of here now! There are people, a group of men asking for you. Gather your belongings, run!" And with that she scurried out of the room, shutting the door behind her.
Marius jumped out of bed and scrounged up whatever we had, along with the money and the key. I made sure to make the bed so that if anyone came in, it would be as if we were never there. A strange sense of déjà vu overcame me as we crawled out of the window and ran off into the darkness. Marius stayed slightly behind me as we made our way through the alleys and back towards the Musain. Where else could we go? We needed somewhere to be while we contemplated our next move. I ran as fast as my feet would carry me, and it wasn't exactly what I would call easy. My breaths harshened as I trampled my way through the streets, with Marius trailing. He seemed to be having just as much, if not a harder time catching a breath. My lungs burned from over exertion and I felt my head begin to ache with each gasp, but we had to go further.
I guess I hadn't realized how exhausted I really was until Marius called out for me to stop. My legs nearly collapsed underneath me, and I leaned on him for support. Surprisingly, he stood upright, but not without the help of one of the walls in the alley. The cold air bit at my fingers and I rubbed them together as if to prevent any further ailments. My thoughts drifted off into a completely different circumstance, and intimidating questions filled my mind to the brim, along with a sense of guilt. The Les Amis had already sacrificed so much for my well-being, and Marius's as well. But if it weren't for me, they wouldn't have had to sacrifice anything, I just had to go off and create trouble with Montparnasse and my father. I thought he had had enough after that beating in the alley.
At least, that was what I hoped for. But their inabilities to let my innate impertinence for them go, ended up coming back to bite me in the butt.
We continued on our way, with nothing but the sounds of our hasty breaths to break the awkward silence that had developed between us. Eventually, the large building stood before Marius and I, the words "Les Café Musain" Printed in bold letters. Everything about its appearance was the same. The thin sheen of dirt that caked the outer walls, the damaged corners that were evidence that the café was aged but; the candlelight was a bit dimmer, and the silence that overcame suggested that something abysmal had happened.
~..0..~
The café was filled with its regulars, but they did not shed a word to each other. They all sat mourning.
Grantaire had a bottle in his hand, and surprisingly so did Enjolras. I have never seen him drink before; he's always treated alcohol like it's the plague. I looked over to Marius who led the way inside, making sure to carefully open the door as if not to startle them.
Regardless, all eyes immediately turned, merely staring at us. Whether it was anger or liability plastered on their faces, I don't know. But there was an eerie sense of hostility in the once jubilant building. Enjolras's eyes lacked their usual flame, and were left cold and icy. He shook his head and looked at the ground as he walked towards us.
"He's dead. Joly is dead. They killed him with their bare hands while I was off helping you two."
"What?" I looked at him with resistance, my face being contorted into a mixture of disbelief and momentary resentment.
"He's dead Eponine."
The reality of what Enjolras was saying hit harder than I ever imagined it could. Shame and grief asphyxiated me through my stifled tears rendering me incapable to suppress them any longer.
This was my fault I had done this.
Marius held me as I wept into his chest and Enjolras looked painfully towards us, only to walk away without a second glance. All of the Les Amis sat in taciturnity, but they didn't heed any attention towards Marius and I.
We had lost Joly too soon, and he died for me. For my protection. Why would he do that? I am far from worth his life! And his sacrifice has left me here feeling the complete burden of his death, forcing me to take on responsibility and utter blame, due to my seemingly disregard for life and blatant abandonment of those I cared about; who cared about me. I felt a strong hand grasp my shoulder, and turned to meet a pair of blue eyes. He was about to say something when the door swung open and Gavroche appeared, cheeks flushed and his greasy hair blown back from the wind.
"General Lamarque is dead!"
With this the men's heads lifted up and they looked in awe towards Gavroche, who was still panting from his run to the café.
Enjolras rose, knowing that if he did not deliver any words of encouragement to his listeners, the exponential importance of this moment would go overlooked.
"Lamarque's death is the sign we await!" His voice did not waver. "Let us use it to our advantage, at his funeral procession shall our barricades rise and with it, the citizens of France!"
Enjolras stood before the men, still in mourning, but accepting the fact that his friend's death did not mean the end of the revolution.
It was what Joly would want.
I had stopped weeping, but a few stray tears fell as I held on to Marius for support. He hadn't spoken a word since we arrived, not a shard of affection had escaped his lips. The most I got was his comforting grasp, but that was all I needed. The fact that Marius's face still registered shock and sorrow, led me to believe that awkward silence that had been present before seemed to turn almost ubiquitous. Nevertheless, the Les Amis had a renewed sense of hope at Enjolras's words. The loss of their companion had caused them to momentarily lose sight of what they were fighting for. But they would have time to mourn over their friend later, for know their thoughts were occupied with the shocking announcement the young gamin had delivered.
This was what they had been waiting for. It was here. The revolution had finally come.
This is one of those filler chapters that I despise writing… I was sort of running out of ideas, so I decided to take it to the barricades. Don't worry, there will still be encounters with the Patron Minette but it wont be so omnipresent. Hope you enjoyed it! Make sure to drop me a review! I haven't been getting much lately, but maybe this will encourage you guys! Ehh probably not. Oh and if you have suggestions, don't hesitate to make them known! And I need extra characters to add into the barricade scene because come on, there had to be some volunteers… So if you have any ideas let me know!