Chapter 15
Valjean walked down the street and stopped abruptly when he saw the spectacle before him. The whole army was situated there, right outside of Rue Plumet, men loading their arms and others straightening their uniforms. He knew he would never get to the barricade. He quickly formulated a plan and yelled out to the nearest solider.
"Pardon me, Monsieur!"
The solider came running forth. "What can I help you with, Monsieur? You really shouldn't be out here."
"I realize that," said Valjean hurriedly. "But, my daughter, I lost her on our way home and I need to find her! I can't bear to think what would happen if the fighting started and she was not safe at home!"
"Oh! Surely I will help you!"
The soldier ran far ahead while Valjean trailed behind. They walked for a few moments and then stopped. The soldier turned around and Valjean pointed to a dark, narrow alleyway.
"Would you check in there? I fear she may have crawled in without thinking."
"She wouldn't be in there, would she?"
"She very well may be."
The solider looked skeptical, but shrugged his shoulders and squeezed through, Valjean right behind him. The solider turned around and was about to say he saw nothing, when a single blow brought him to the ground. Valjean shook his fist as the man fell to the ground with a thud. Valjean quickly grabbed the man and dragged him further within the alleyway. He took the man's uniform and weapon, and rapidly put them on himself. As he emerged, his shoulder was seized, and he felt a jolt run through his body.
"You! Patrol the block! Be back here in half an hour! We'll advance on the barricade then!"
"Yes, sir!"
The officer pushed him down the street and went back to the rest of the troops. As soon as Valjean was out of sight, he dropped the gun and ran as fast as he could. He saw the barricade as he rounded a corner and darted up it.
"Halt! Intruder!" Valjean heard several guns lock, and threw his hands up. "Enjolras! Come over here!" The man turned to Valjean. "What business have you here? Come to retrieve your precious spy?" shouted the lookout.
"I beg you, don't shoot! I am not on their side!"
"Your attire, Monsieur, would quite suggest otherwise. I must say, what army are we up against? They send a man in bright colors, and unarmed no less, to save their scout?" The man who had approached the lookout tower gave Valjean the impression of a leader, for he must be in charge. "Tell me the truth! Are you on their side? And explain this, if you can."
"I am dressed as one of them because they would not let me through to you otherwise. I swear, I come to defend," he paused. "To defend the honor of the people. I wish for nothing more than to see every last officer dead!"
The leader made a gesture, to which every gun was lowered. "Approach," he called. Valjean came to him as the man spoke. "Have you heard something? Anything?"
"They will attack in less than half an hour. You must prepare yourselves."
"There is one man already who had betrayed the trust of this barricade. He will die if he is not careful, and the same threat is posed to you." The man picked up the nearest gun and threw it at Valjean. "You will fight. But if you dare betray my trust, or give any indication of such a betrayal, you shall be our newest prisoner of war."
The man marched down and began shouting for the men to get ready. Valjean pulled aside one man. "Who is this spy your leader speaks of?"
The man, drunk as can be, answered, "A police inspector. Name is Javert."
"They're getting ready to attack!" screamed Joly.
"Everyone at your place! Now! Now! Now!"
There was a scramble of confusion and within a minute, men were lined from every angle and corner of the barricade.
"You there," called the leader to Valjean. "You will fight next to me."
Valjean followed the man, whose name he learned was Enjolras. He propped his gun so that the barrel was just over the top of the wall, yet unnoticeable.
"How many men do they have? What are their alignments?"
"Sappers. And behind those more than fifty men."
"Give it up!" screeched a voice from below. "We know this is a lost cause! Give up now, and we may show some mercy! And give us our Inspector back now!"
"Damn you all! We shall fight! Fire!"
The revolutionaries had the advantage, catching the army off guard. Gunfire, smoke, and screams filled the night air. Suddenly, a man began to climb the barricade. The lookout saw this and cried, "Enjolras! Sniper! Aimed right at you!"
Enjolras turned his head to see the sniper with his gun pointed right at his heart. Then, in an instant, the sniper grabbed his chest, released his gun, and fell to the ground below. Enjolras stared at his side, for it was Valjean who had shot the sniper. They exchanged a glance at one another, and resumed their battle.
After a few more moments of heated rivalry, someone below the barricade bellowed, "Retreat! Back now! Retreat men! Retreat!"
As the army scampered around the block, the rebels jumped for joy and cried with laugher.
"Can you believe it! They run from us!"
"We've won it all!"
"We'll get what we deserve!" screamed voices from the crowd.
"Don't be so sure, my friends! They may be regrouping! Back to your positions, just in case! They may be back already! Go my friends! Go!" Enjolras pulled Valjean aside. "I owe you an apology, my friend. You of course understand that in situations such as these, not even our own acquaintances can be trusted. I must get back, but I thank you! You will be justly repaid.
Valjean grabbed his arm. "Monsieur, I want no medals, no honor or recognition. Just one simple thing that I'm sure you can grant."
"You saved my life, sir. I'm sure I can do anything for you."
"Give me your cherished spy. I've dealt with his kind before. There's also a personal issue I have with him."
Enjolras grinned. "Have your fun." He ran back to the lookout post as Valjean entered the tavern. There women were tending men who only had minor wounds.
"Sir, are you hurt?"
"No, Mademoiselle. But I wish you would take these men into the other room."
"And why is that, sir?"
"Because, Madame, I have special orders, straight from Enjolras, to execute that man over there." He pointed to Javert as he said his last words.
"Quite right! We shan't be needing to see any of that tonight, especially when what's to come! Gentlemen, if you can stand, follow us."
They all turned and hurried into the back room. A young girl turned before she closed the door. "Sir? Do take him out once your finished with him."
"I give you my word. You shall never see this man again."
As the young lady bowed her head and turned to close the door, Valjean moved towards his enemy. He unbound the gag and Javert sucked the air.
"Of course they would ask a man like you to commit this crime! God only knows how many more you have on record! What shall my life be taken by?" Valjean glared at him, and put his foot upon a table. He drew a dagger from its confides and removed the sheath. "Always were a bit behind on the times," chuckled Javert. "This little piece of steel shall bring about the demise of me?"
"Be quiet! Or, God willing, I will kill you!" Valjean cut the cloth that held the Inspector's hands and feet together. He then walked around behind the chair and undid the belt buckles that held back Javert's waist. He sat speechless even though he was free.
"What are you doing?"
"Freeing you. Leave, now!"
"Are you insane? If you don't kill me now, I'll just hunt you down again and again until the day you die!"
"And ruin both our lives? Javert, don't you understand that by looking for me all these years, by wasting you hate, you've missed out on an entire lifetime?"
"You haven't. You and your daughter! Did you create an alias for yourself and finally settle down without a hint of truth to your story? You did that in Montreuil-sur-Mer! Monsieur le Mayor! The nerve of you!"
"Perhaps I broke parole! And perhaps I started my life over! What difference does it make now? I was never married, but I love that girl as if she were my own."
"That girl, yes. I've seen her by your side. Always protective, weren't you? Never wanted her far enough away where she could make a slip and send you away. Her mother was the whore, wasn't she? The one who died the night I first recognized you. You claimed you would return after you got the girl, but I knew that was a lie! Why would you come back when you were already far enough away? So you knocked me senseless, a heroic, noble act, so you could make your escape. And this daughter, she is the one you claim as your own."
"She is my own!" shouted Valjean grabbing his gun. "You can do whatever you want with me when this night is over, but I swear, if you do anything to her, you will regret it. Get out."
Valjean fired a shot as Javert walked to the door, jumping as the gun went off. Valjean locked the door behind Javert, and called the women back. He then went outside. He had a certain young man to look for.
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Marius took a seat on the cold, hard ground to rest for the night. Every man did the same as Enjolras paced back and forth. When he was sure that each man had dozed off, he took a spot next to Marius.
"What's in your head, Marius?"
"Cosette. She's leaving this morning."
"But, Eponine..."
"Is dead. I cannot dwell on what may have been. I must look ahead, but what I see beyond me is very bleak."
"She may not leave, Marius. People will be afraid to venture outside, especially since their army is right in the middle of Paris. Don't think too much about it. Sleep a bit."
Marius lied down as one tear fell to the ground. He had already lost one of the women he loved, and he was about to lose another. Next to him, he heard a man whispering a prayer.
'Pray for me,' thought Marius shrugging it off and falling into the best sleep he could.
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Marius was suddenly awoken by voices right above him.
"They're coming! How are the supplies?"
"Not good. We have about one round for every man."
"Well, that sure as hell isn't enough!"
Marius jumped to his feet with an idea. "There are plenty of dead bodies just over the barricade with unused bullets!"
"You will not go!" Enjolras howled.
"Who will? All of us risk our lives in going!"
Valjean approached them. "I will go."
"No one is going anywhere!"
"Enjolras!" yelled Joly. "Gavroche is scavenging off bodies and the troops are getting near!"
All of the men stared at one another before running to their guns. Enjolras saw a pouch soar over the barricade as two shots were fired. He heard Gavroche's scream, and a final shot sounded.
"He's dead..."
"Fire!"
The call was unexpected, but gunfire rang as it had before. Periodically, men all around the barricade began to fall. Joly and Grantaire fell simultaneously, Joly attempting to climb nearer Enjolras, and Grantaire trying to run away. Feuilly shoved a handful of bullets into Marius' hand before falling to his death below. Many others fell in this same manner. Marius glimpsed around, and there were only a few men left including Enjolras, a few other students, and the man who wore an army uniform.
"Traitor! Traitor!" roared below.
"I was never on your side!" The man shot a soldier on every word.
Enjolras grabbed the banner at his side, and stood on the top of the barricade, waving the bright red flag with all this might.
"Get back!" pleaded Marius. "You're the easiest target!"
"I fight for my beliefs, and I will do so!" Enjolras threw over his shoulder to Marius.
Instantly, the banner was let go, and Enjolras clutched his heart, and looked at Marius before his eyes closed and he fell backwards.
"No!" screamed Marius reaching over the barricade, as if to grab him and pull him back over. He stood in Enjolras' place looking down at the bodies.
"Keep fighting, boy!"
"For what?" Marius was cut off when he felt pain shoot through his thigh. He screamed as he felt himself pass out.
Valjean looked down as Marius collapsed, and turned towards the rest of the barricade. Everyone was lying sprawled out across the ground. He knew the army would be coming over any minute now. He had to get Marius out, for he knew the boy was injured, but far from dead. He spotted a sewer drain and pulled off its cover. He dragged Marius to it and slipped him through. He heard footsteps approaching as he took the cover and placed it back in its place.
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Javert stepped over bodies and piles of blood on his way up the barricade. His smile grew as he pictured Jean Valjean lying dead among the ignorant students of Paris. He reached the top and looked around. The mission was complete, for not a single body moved. All of them were dead.
Javert began to turn over bodies to find the right one. He realized after a few moments that Valjean's body was not among them.
'Damn him! He escaped! But how?'
His question was soon answered as he saw the sewer drain, its cover out of place.
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Hello! I just wanted to tell everyone that I've been trying extremely hard to steer away from the musical lyrics. (Maybe you can tell?) But this is more of a musical based story, as the other stories my head is formulating will be more A/U. I hope my writing is drawing you in! R&R
Valjean walked down the street and stopped abruptly when he saw the spectacle before him. The whole army was situated there, right outside of Rue Plumet, men loading their arms and others straightening their uniforms. He knew he would never get to the barricade. He quickly formulated a plan and yelled out to the nearest solider.
"Pardon me, Monsieur!"
The solider came running forth. "What can I help you with, Monsieur? You really shouldn't be out here."
"I realize that," said Valjean hurriedly. "But, my daughter, I lost her on our way home and I need to find her! I can't bear to think what would happen if the fighting started and she was not safe at home!"
"Oh! Surely I will help you!"
The soldier ran far ahead while Valjean trailed behind. They walked for a few moments and then stopped. The soldier turned around and Valjean pointed to a dark, narrow alleyway.
"Would you check in there? I fear she may have crawled in without thinking."
"She wouldn't be in there, would she?"
"She very well may be."
The solider looked skeptical, but shrugged his shoulders and squeezed through, Valjean right behind him. The solider turned around and was about to say he saw nothing, when a single blow brought him to the ground. Valjean shook his fist as the man fell to the ground with a thud. Valjean quickly grabbed the man and dragged him further within the alleyway. He took the man's uniform and weapon, and rapidly put them on himself. As he emerged, his shoulder was seized, and he felt a jolt run through his body.
"You! Patrol the block! Be back here in half an hour! We'll advance on the barricade then!"
"Yes, sir!"
The officer pushed him down the street and went back to the rest of the troops. As soon as Valjean was out of sight, he dropped the gun and ran as fast as he could. He saw the barricade as he rounded a corner and darted up it.
"Halt! Intruder!" Valjean heard several guns lock, and threw his hands up. "Enjolras! Come over here!" The man turned to Valjean. "What business have you here? Come to retrieve your precious spy?" shouted the lookout.
"I beg you, don't shoot! I am not on their side!"
"Your attire, Monsieur, would quite suggest otherwise. I must say, what army are we up against? They send a man in bright colors, and unarmed no less, to save their scout?" The man who had approached the lookout tower gave Valjean the impression of a leader, for he must be in charge. "Tell me the truth! Are you on their side? And explain this, if you can."
"I am dressed as one of them because they would not let me through to you otherwise. I swear, I come to defend," he paused. "To defend the honor of the people. I wish for nothing more than to see every last officer dead!"
The leader made a gesture, to which every gun was lowered. "Approach," he called. Valjean came to him as the man spoke. "Have you heard something? Anything?"
"They will attack in less than half an hour. You must prepare yourselves."
"There is one man already who had betrayed the trust of this barricade. He will die if he is not careful, and the same threat is posed to you." The man picked up the nearest gun and threw it at Valjean. "You will fight. But if you dare betray my trust, or give any indication of such a betrayal, you shall be our newest prisoner of war."
The man marched down and began shouting for the men to get ready. Valjean pulled aside one man. "Who is this spy your leader speaks of?"
The man, drunk as can be, answered, "A police inspector. Name is Javert."
"They're getting ready to attack!" screamed Joly.
"Everyone at your place! Now! Now! Now!"
There was a scramble of confusion and within a minute, men were lined from every angle and corner of the barricade.
"You there," called the leader to Valjean. "You will fight next to me."
Valjean followed the man, whose name he learned was Enjolras. He propped his gun so that the barrel was just over the top of the wall, yet unnoticeable.
"How many men do they have? What are their alignments?"
"Sappers. And behind those more than fifty men."
"Give it up!" screeched a voice from below. "We know this is a lost cause! Give up now, and we may show some mercy! And give us our Inspector back now!"
"Damn you all! We shall fight! Fire!"
The revolutionaries had the advantage, catching the army off guard. Gunfire, smoke, and screams filled the night air. Suddenly, a man began to climb the barricade. The lookout saw this and cried, "Enjolras! Sniper! Aimed right at you!"
Enjolras turned his head to see the sniper with his gun pointed right at his heart. Then, in an instant, the sniper grabbed his chest, released his gun, and fell to the ground below. Enjolras stared at his side, for it was Valjean who had shot the sniper. They exchanged a glance at one another, and resumed their battle.
After a few more moments of heated rivalry, someone below the barricade bellowed, "Retreat! Back now! Retreat men! Retreat!"
As the army scampered around the block, the rebels jumped for joy and cried with laugher.
"Can you believe it! They run from us!"
"We've won it all!"
"We'll get what we deserve!" screamed voices from the crowd.
"Don't be so sure, my friends! They may be regrouping! Back to your positions, just in case! They may be back already! Go my friends! Go!" Enjolras pulled Valjean aside. "I owe you an apology, my friend. You of course understand that in situations such as these, not even our own acquaintances can be trusted. I must get back, but I thank you! You will be justly repaid.
Valjean grabbed his arm. "Monsieur, I want no medals, no honor or recognition. Just one simple thing that I'm sure you can grant."
"You saved my life, sir. I'm sure I can do anything for you."
"Give me your cherished spy. I've dealt with his kind before. There's also a personal issue I have with him."
Enjolras grinned. "Have your fun." He ran back to the lookout post as Valjean entered the tavern. There women were tending men who only had minor wounds.
"Sir, are you hurt?"
"No, Mademoiselle. But I wish you would take these men into the other room."
"And why is that, sir?"
"Because, Madame, I have special orders, straight from Enjolras, to execute that man over there." He pointed to Javert as he said his last words.
"Quite right! We shan't be needing to see any of that tonight, especially when what's to come! Gentlemen, if you can stand, follow us."
They all turned and hurried into the back room. A young girl turned before she closed the door. "Sir? Do take him out once your finished with him."
"I give you my word. You shall never see this man again."
As the young lady bowed her head and turned to close the door, Valjean moved towards his enemy. He unbound the gag and Javert sucked the air.
"Of course they would ask a man like you to commit this crime! God only knows how many more you have on record! What shall my life be taken by?" Valjean glared at him, and put his foot upon a table. He drew a dagger from its confides and removed the sheath. "Always were a bit behind on the times," chuckled Javert. "This little piece of steel shall bring about the demise of me?"
"Be quiet! Or, God willing, I will kill you!" Valjean cut the cloth that held the Inspector's hands and feet together. He then walked around behind the chair and undid the belt buckles that held back Javert's waist. He sat speechless even though he was free.
"What are you doing?"
"Freeing you. Leave, now!"
"Are you insane? If you don't kill me now, I'll just hunt you down again and again until the day you die!"
"And ruin both our lives? Javert, don't you understand that by looking for me all these years, by wasting you hate, you've missed out on an entire lifetime?"
"You haven't. You and your daughter! Did you create an alias for yourself and finally settle down without a hint of truth to your story? You did that in Montreuil-sur-Mer! Monsieur le Mayor! The nerve of you!"
"Perhaps I broke parole! And perhaps I started my life over! What difference does it make now? I was never married, but I love that girl as if she were my own."
"That girl, yes. I've seen her by your side. Always protective, weren't you? Never wanted her far enough away where she could make a slip and send you away. Her mother was the whore, wasn't she? The one who died the night I first recognized you. You claimed you would return after you got the girl, but I knew that was a lie! Why would you come back when you were already far enough away? So you knocked me senseless, a heroic, noble act, so you could make your escape. And this daughter, she is the one you claim as your own."
"She is my own!" shouted Valjean grabbing his gun. "You can do whatever you want with me when this night is over, but I swear, if you do anything to her, you will regret it. Get out."
Valjean fired a shot as Javert walked to the door, jumping as the gun went off. Valjean locked the door behind Javert, and called the women back. He then went outside. He had a certain young man to look for.
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Marius took a seat on the cold, hard ground to rest for the night. Every man did the same as Enjolras paced back and forth. When he was sure that each man had dozed off, he took a spot next to Marius.
"What's in your head, Marius?"
"Cosette. She's leaving this morning."
"But, Eponine..."
"Is dead. I cannot dwell on what may have been. I must look ahead, but what I see beyond me is very bleak."
"She may not leave, Marius. People will be afraid to venture outside, especially since their army is right in the middle of Paris. Don't think too much about it. Sleep a bit."
Marius lied down as one tear fell to the ground. He had already lost one of the women he loved, and he was about to lose another. Next to him, he heard a man whispering a prayer.
'Pray for me,' thought Marius shrugging it off and falling into the best sleep he could.
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Marius was suddenly awoken by voices right above him.
"They're coming! How are the supplies?"
"Not good. We have about one round for every man."
"Well, that sure as hell isn't enough!"
Marius jumped to his feet with an idea. "There are plenty of dead bodies just over the barricade with unused bullets!"
"You will not go!" Enjolras howled.
"Who will? All of us risk our lives in going!"
Valjean approached them. "I will go."
"No one is going anywhere!"
"Enjolras!" yelled Joly. "Gavroche is scavenging off bodies and the troops are getting near!"
All of the men stared at one another before running to their guns. Enjolras saw a pouch soar over the barricade as two shots were fired. He heard Gavroche's scream, and a final shot sounded.
"He's dead..."
"Fire!"
The call was unexpected, but gunfire rang as it had before. Periodically, men all around the barricade began to fall. Joly and Grantaire fell simultaneously, Joly attempting to climb nearer Enjolras, and Grantaire trying to run away. Feuilly shoved a handful of bullets into Marius' hand before falling to his death below. Many others fell in this same manner. Marius glimpsed around, and there were only a few men left including Enjolras, a few other students, and the man who wore an army uniform.
"Traitor! Traitor!" roared below.
"I was never on your side!" The man shot a soldier on every word.
Enjolras grabbed the banner at his side, and stood on the top of the barricade, waving the bright red flag with all this might.
"Get back!" pleaded Marius. "You're the easiest target!"
"I fight for my beliefs, and I will do so!" Enjolras threw over his shoulder to Marius.
Instantly, the banner was let go, and Enjolras clutched his heart, and looked at Marius before his eyes closed and he fell backwards.
"No!" screamed Marius reaching over the barricade, as if to grab him and pull him back over. He stood in Enjolras' place looking down at the bodies.
"Keep fighting, boy!"
"For what?" Marius was cut off when he felt pain shoot through his thigh. He screamed as he felt himself pass out.
Valjean looked down as Marius collapsed, and turned towards the rest of the barricade. Everyone was lying sprawled out across the ground. He knew the army would be coming over any minute now. He had to get Marius out, for he knew the boy was injured, but far from dead. He spotted a sewer drain and pulled off its cover. He dragged Marius to it and slipped him through. He heard footsteps approaching as he took the cover and placed it back in its place.
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Javert stepped over bodies and piles of blood on his way up the barricade. His smile grew as he pictured Jean Valjean lying dead among the ignorant students of Paris. He reached the top and looked around. The mission was complete, for not a single body moved. All of them were dead.
Javert began to turn over bodies to find the right one. He realized after a few moments that Valjean's body was not among them.
'Damn him! He escaped! But how?'
His question was soon answered as he saw the sewer drain, its cover out of place.
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Hello! I just wanted to tell everyone that I've been trying extremely hard to steer away from the musical lyrics. (Maybe you can tell?) But this is more of a musical based story, as the other stories my head is formulating will be more A/U. I hope my writing is drawing you in! R&R