A/N: So this is it. I never thought I would see the day, but here it is. Wow. I feel accomplished and sad all at once. My first fan fiction for Les Mis is finally complete. This is truly bittersweet. And I cannot thank you all enough for sticking with me this entire time. Seriously…over 400 reviews. I am in awe. I never thought people would like my story that much.
So, I truly thank you all for being here with me, and thank you for those who have been with me since my first chapter.
Now, I'll say everything up here and let this just end. It will be better if I do that. Trust me.
So, I do have a sequel planned because there are many open holes still in this story, there is a deeper plot here as well. But unfortunately, I don't know when I will get a chance to start it. My main priority is writing up Of Hockey, Harmonies, and Husbands. So…It will come eventually. And that is only if you all would love a sequel too.
Here is what I got planned for one:
Another Destiny
Sequel to Worlds Away. So what happened to modern Éponine after she ran away when she was 12? And what happened to modern Enjolras after he lost the love of his life? Perhaps these souls were always destined for each other from the start. [Modern AU]
And there is the synopsis for it. Simple and intriguing enough, I hope? If I decide to post it under the books category again, look for it as Another Destiny: Bless this Broken Road.
I thank you all again. This journey had been incredible. Now, I just hope I don't hurt you all again too bad.
Please enjoy.
Worlds Away
Chapter 43 - It's a Mystery
The timing of death, like the ending of a story, gives a changed meaning to what came before it.
The world had fallen still. There was nothing but quietude, solace, and the far-reaching blackness that engulfed her. There as no sound around her, nothing to give her a clue as to where she was or what was going on.
She felt nothing. But yet, she was conscious, stuck in this limbo between darkness and living. It felt like a rain drop, constantly hitting her cheek. In a few more moments, her senses were starting to return and soon strength was finding her. When her eyes finally struggled enough and opened just minimally, she beheld the dreariness of stones above her.
The drop hit her cheek again; this time causing her to jump. Eponine sat up, startled, but yet in wonder, realizing she had in fact been laying down. The startle of her body caused her shoulder to ache profusely but she ignored it, more intent to figure out what was happening to her. Eponine began a check of her body, seeing her legs still in tact along with her abdomen. But her right hand was mangled and her fingers would hardly work. She forced her fingers to move, even in the slightest and all she managed was a slight twitch in her pointer finger. Her whole hand throbbed as much as her shoulder did.
As she gently turned her head to the side, Eponine saw a face, eyes glued open, lying perfectly still beside her.
Her heart lurched when she saw the paleness of Gavroche. She reached a weak hand out to him, feeling the sadness cascade onto her at once. When she touched the boy's cheek, it was frigid cold. There was no movement in his muscles, no twitch of his mouth, nothing to indicate a sign of life.
She knew he was dead. In fact, she always knew he would die. But now here she was to witness it...and this was a scene that was too much for her to handle. When she turned her head to the right, it was then she saw a long line of bodies lying side by side, still as the dirt on the ground. They laid amongst the filth of the open hallway, soaking in their own blood.
Her heartbeat began to quicken, her breath was becoming shallow. This time, the drop landed on the top of her head, causing another startle to rip through her. Slowly, Eponine touched the top of her head with her good hand where the drop had landed and then touched her cheek where it had landed before. When she pulled her hand down and looked at it, it was covered in red.
Alerted by this, Eponine whipped her head up to see the wooden floorboard dripping blood from above her. It scared her, causing her to jump to her feet and stumble out of the hallway of dead. She clutched her crimson stained shoulder, hoping to ease the throbbing as she clambered along, away from the bodies. When the light of day reached Eponine, she was looking entirely into a world she had thought she left behind forever.
Everything was just how she remembered. Except this time, destruction had whipped through and torn up her memory of it.
She didn't know whether to be joyous or cry out in anguish. Wasn't this what she always wanted? Hadn't she been trying to get home for a while? No, she didn't want this anymore, she wanted to live with Enjolras forever. How cruel! Destiny must've hated her and sent her back home when she didn't want to be here anymore. This wasn't fair. She didn't want this.
The tears rained from her eyes and she fell to the ground, fingers clutching a pool of blood at her feet. She heaved, gulping in breaths of air, feeling the world implode around her. She was so confused, so upset by these events. This was all too much for her to bear. She didn't want this. How dare destiny do this to her! It forced her into a cycle she would be designed to repeat over and over never ending, never ceasing.
Yet, she told Enjolras it was time to let her go. She knew her end was near, but she wasn't ready to leave him. It wasn't time...it would never be time. She wanted to live with him for eternity, she wanted to stay with him forever.
These thoughts made her cry harder to the point she was dry heaving spit from her empty stomach. It was all so confusing. Perhaps, she only told him those things to ease his mind, knowing that her time was drawing to an end? Perhaps, that is something one just says in the doorway to death? Perhaps. But it didn't make the hurt sting any less for Eponine. Her final words to Enjolras were lies, telling him it was okay, telling him it was time. But the truth was: it was not okay, it wasn't time.
She sat back on her calves, catching her breath now that the heaving had ceased. At least she told him she loved him, at least she had given him that.
But soon, she heard a noise from beyond the broken wall of furniture. It must be soldiers...she couldn't be caught by them. She just couldn't. Eponine made a move to stand, only to feel a pain radiate through her back.
It was her damn shoulder.
But what did it matter if they found her now? Nothing mattered. She was better off dead. So Eponine stayed in her spot, just waiting for the footsteps to approach and the men to seize her.
Yet she waited, and the footsteps died away. No one came.
Eponine was alone. What was she supposed to do now? Suddenly, she didn't care if anyone was listening or if anyone heard her, she cried out loudly into the sky, tears plummeting from her eyes, "I hate you!" She stared into the taunting blue sky above her, yelling as if destiny could hear her. "You took me away from here, you gave me love and you took that away from me too! Are you happy? I have nothing left now! You've taken everything from me!"
She sobbed harder, ignoring the pain swelling through her body and ignoring her own broken heart. She just stared into the pure azure color above her, sobbing to it. Finally, she dropped her head, letting her eyes scan over the Cafe in front of her.
And then she saw it.
The bright red flag hanging from the window and the body clutching it. Those blonde curls a frenzied mess, up side down, caught by his boot on the broken window pane.
Eponine let out a strangled cry and immediately she darted inside the cafe. Through her blurry vision, she located the stairs. They were broken and ripped apart, but Eponine knew how to climb.
With the adrenaline finding it's way into her body, she hardly felt the pull of her shoulder or the stiffness in her hand as she maneuvered her way and struggled up the remaining parts of a staircase. She cried the entire way until finally she pulled herself onto the floorboard of the second floor.
She sat up so she was resting on her hands and knees. She took a moment to gather her breath before she realized her mission. In an instant, Eponine stumbled to her feet and rushed to the window. But she paused, seeing a slumped Grantaire in the corner right under the window. His head had fallen against the wall with closed eyes and bloody bullet holes decorating his chest.
The sight was enough to bring another heave to her mouth but she covered it with her good hand. "Grantaire..." she whispered. There was no mistaking it. He was gone.
Delicately, Eponine stepped to the window and peered over it at the sight of Enjolras lying there. Her hand brushed over his boot-clad shin and she heard a small moan. The noise startled her, making her retract her hand quickly. But it was then, she saw the light flutter of his head far below her. It was just a minute movement. So small, so faint. But it was there.
"Enjolras?" Eponine hesitantly asked in a soft whisper. Her crying had ceased but she still felt the silent tears spill from her eyelids.
He didn't respond to her, but Eponine leaned over his body, grabbing hold of the red ribbon tied around his waist. She latched on with both hands and tugged him upwards. The pain ripped through her and she let go, hearing his head collide back into the wood of the Musain sign.
She cursed under her breath, refusing to give up. She was stubborn. There was no one to help her, and thus she needed to do this by herself. Eponine grabbed onto the ribbon belt again, this time with all her strength.
It must've been the left over adrenaline that helped her lift him up. She managed to pull him up enough to grab his arms, crying out at the pain of her body as she did so. Once she held onto his coat sleeves, she pulled him higher so that his legs were over the windowsill and his thighs resting on the pane, his head bobbing front and backwards.
Eponine shifted her body so she stood beside him and wrapped one of his arms over her shoulder. When she took in a breath, she pulled him back into the room, collapsing on the ground with him, both landing in a sitting position.
Her entire body throbbed as the pain swelled in every nook of her fragile body. His arm still lay draped around her and she subconsciously snuggled into his chest as her breathing regulated. Her wounds poured out fresh blood from the strain she forced upon her body and her head felt faint. Her eyes closed and she stayed there, wrapped in Enjolras' arms, feeling her body fall limp.
But she forced her eyes opened with unknown strength. "Enjolras?" she said, this time not in a whisper, but in a loud voice she didn't know she could muster.
She nudged him in the side to hear a groan come from him. Her head lifted enough to stare at his stone features and somehow, she found the strength to lift a hand to his face. When she touched him, his eyes snapped opened.
His whole body went rigid and his arm squeezed around her shoulder, eliciting a small cry from her.
A smile broke across her face for he was alive. It was a miracle. But no, she realized it wasn't a miracle - it was destiny's way of giving her what she wanted. Perhaps it was an apology to her. She did what destiny needed and was forced to return home. But now, destiny had given her back her love - her new love, her leader, her Enjolras.
His eyes minimally shifted downwards and until they met hers. "Eponine...?" he drearily asked.
"Yes, Enjolras, I'm here." The tears flowed from her eyes just as the blood flowed from her wounds. She smiled widely at him, staring at him longfully and mournfully.
"Why are you crying, ma chérie?"
Those words made her heart ache, yearn for him even more and cause a loud sob to rip through her. "You remember me?"
"Of course," he sighed, letting his head fall back against the wood wall and letting his muscles relax.
"You really...remember me? Remember everything?"
His arm instinctively tightened around her and pulled her into him. He prompted her to lay her head back down on his chest and she willingly did. She snuggled into him tighter. "I remember everything," he said solemnly. "Pray tell then, why are you crying?"
"Because you are alive."
"But it is because I am alive that you should not be crying."
Eponine let out little laugh. "I believe you are mistaken, monsieur. It is because you are alive that I am happy and thus I am crying."
His head dropped down and he rested his cheek upon the top of her head. "It will take more than a few bullets to wound me, dear Eponine." He lifted his head from her again.
"For that I am grateful," she sighed.
The silence dropped between them and only their own labored breathing disturbed the tranquility.
Eponine felt fresh blood stain her cheeks and she knew it was coming from Enjolras' chest. The wounds would not stop. His red vest was coated in thick liquid, making the color of it appear almost black. Similarly, Eponine's white blouse had been stained so badly, it was barely white anymore.
She shifted her jean-clad legs and made a move to get up. "Enjolras," Eponine spoke, breaking the silence, "you're hurt...badly. I must - " She struggled to push herself up. "I must get you help. I must get Joly, or anyone! I need to save you - "
But Enjolras' strong arm held her in place and pushed her back down and into his chest. "Hush now, you do not need to go anywhere. It will all be fine. We don't need to bother Joly with a few minor injuries, now do we? It is nothing a little rest won't solve. Please, come lay back down..." His words were so inviting, so warm, so gentle.
Eponine wanted to stay wrapped in those words and so she softly laid back down against him. She felt him wince as she laid her head on his holed chest, but soon his muscles relaxed again and his other arm wrapped around her as well. "Alright," she breathed, ready for an argument, but realizing one was not worth it.
"Just a little rest now," he continued, his voice seeming more like a melody, a ramble of something to anyone, more so than just her. "We shall go to sleep and when we wake, we will be in a new France - a new, free France."
"A new France?"
"Yes," Enjolras nodded minimally, closing his eyes slightly but then opening them again. "One where they cannot hurt us anymore, one where no one will hurt their fellow brother. A peaceful France."
"What will be in this new France?" Eponine questioned innocently, feeling her own eyelids begin to droop.
"Well...whatever you want. We will be free. There will be no more oppression, no more bloodshed. You can have anything you want and no one will scold you for it."
"Can we be together?" she asked meekly.
"Of course," he said, accompanied with a small chuckle.
"Good. That is what I want."
"Is that all now?" he said, a smile evident in his tone. "We can have anything. We can even get a big house with its own gate and garden."
Her ears perked up at this. She contemplated it for a moment longer. "Can we live in a house by the sea?"
He breathed out a smile. "That means we can't stay in Paris."
"That's alright," she conceded. "I shan't mind." Eponine felt her eyelids grow heavy and she pressed more of her weight upon Enjolras' aching chest. Suddenly, she gasped lowly, her eyes widening. "Can we have a white house?"
She felt him nod. The force of his head movements caused his whole upper body to shift as well. "Only if we can have a red door."
"A white house with a red door? How scandalous!" she teased.
"Really, you think so? I think it would look rather nice."
"Then, so do I." She let the silence fall between them and as she opened her mouth to say something, a tremor wracked through her body. Her hands twitched and her body shook. Instinctively, Enjolras' arms tightened around her as best as they could. With small and difficult movements, Enjolras dropped his head to hers and placed a lingering kiss in her hair. Her eyes lifted to his with great toil. "Perhaps at this new house, we can have a horse. A black one, just like Noble?"
He debated the notion in his head for a second longer, finding the strength to speak again. "Just a horse? I think that could be manageable. Perhaps then, you could finally learn to ride."
"Oh yes, I would like that." Eponine grimaced slightly, thinking harder on the fact. This was becoming fun actually. "Wait, Enjolras, can we get one of those white little puppies too? Like the ones we saw by the Cinemathèque Française?"
"A puppy, you say?" he laughed. "A horse and a puppy? Good heavens, ma chérie, the neighbors will think we own a menagerie." He sighed, catching sight of her pouting lip and wide orbs. "Very well then. I believe I can also put up with a puppy."
"Oh! And what about bananas? I should like lots of bananas in this new France."
"Then, you can have all the bananas you want."
"And will all our friends be there?"
"All of them," he confirmed.
"Even Grantaire?" Her voice was soft, as if trying not to anger him, even in the slightest.
"Even Grantaire."
"And Gavroche? And even Azelma?"
"Yes, Eponine. We will all be together." He waited a long time, struggling for a voice now. "We'll live...in peace. You will never spend another day being cold or hungry. We'll live together everyday and we will never tire of each other. I will give you everything, my darling. And...every night, I'll make love to you, just like we did our final night together in the other world. You will never have to worry any more...we will be free..."
"...will you always hold me, and never let me go?"
Suddenly, he found the strength to wrap his arms tighter around her, if only for a moment longer. "I will never let you go. I promised you and I will keep that promise."
Eponine nuzzled her head into Enjolras' chest and her arms loosened around him. Her muscles were becoming weaker and holding him tight was becoming a laborious task. "Thank you. Then, I should like this new France a lot." Her eyes fell closed just as his did. "When will it be here?" she mumbled.
"As soon...as we wake up." Minimally, his hand began to stroke her back, making soft and supple movements to reassure her. He opened his eyes to look down at her, memorizing everything about her, relishing in watching his love one last time, and taking in everything about her in one final look. "Now, go to sleep, my love. Let's rest."
His eyes closed again and his hand motions stopped.
"Goodnight, Enjolras," Eponine spoke up softly. "I love you," she whispered. She fought against the growing difficulty to hold him tight. She forced her arms to hold strong. But it was growing much harder to do so. Her breath became shallow and her heart slowed.
"Goodnight, Eponine," he murmured. "I will always love you."
He let the words out in one final breath, feeling the last of the air escape him. Both their bodies stilled, silently and soundly. They stayed wrapped in each other's warm embrace, holding each other and never letting go. For now, their words were true, they would never let go.
We don't know why time works the way it does. Sometimes we don't have a reason for the way things happen, but we must accept it and continue forward. There is no telling what brought Eponine to the future and there is no saying what brought her back. Perhaps you can say time produced a "twist of fate" or maybe you can call it a "destiny that defied time." But whatever you may call it, there is no logical way to explain it.
And perhaps maybe, you'll come to realize that there are just some things better left a mystery.
After all, time works in mysterious ways that are otherwise incomprehensible to humans. As much as we try to make sense of time, it is almost always to no avail. Time has the power to bring worlds together but also tear them apart.
But if it weren't for our ignorance and lack of understanding of time, these two worlds could never have been brought together and these two souls would have forever been worlds away.
Cause you can be hurt by love
Or healed by the same
Timing is everything
It can happen so fast
Or a little bit late
Timing is everything
