Author's note: Another big thank you to everyone who has been reading. Please, do leave a review down below so as to help be improve as a writer! I feel the need to give a really big warning to any religious people who read this, and the main character commits some major Blasphemy here. Please, I personally do not have any hatred for Catholicism or any form of spirituality, but I do see how faith can be easily manipulated. This is this characters personal believes on the subject and not my own. This is fiction, not fact. Other than that, please enjoy and I highly request some reviews! 3
Chapter 3: Javert and Madeleine
The sound of wooden wheels on wet pavement caused Kaylee to shiver as she looked out the small window of the tall Policeman sitting next to her was looking at her with stern blue eyes, his arms folded in front of him. Kaylee paid no attention to him. Her head was hurting from the two, hard hits it had taken in succession, and her ribs were burning enough to encourage the thought that they may be broken. But what had her more distracted were her thoughts.
The guy mentioned Montreuil-sur-mer before...She thought to herself as the watched little specks of water begin to appear on the window. I didn't believe him, but...if this guy really is Javert, and I really am in that place… She sighed to herself and pinched the bridge of her nose with her forefinger and thumb. Those people were dressed too weird, and the way people look at my clothes. Am I really in France right now? Did I….did I actually get sucked into a book? It sounded insane, but at that moment in time she really couldn't think of a better explanation. Either that or this is one of the largest and most unnecessarily complicated jokes someone could ever play on her.
And I don't think I'm dreaming…. She clenched at her side as the cart hit a bump in the road. Her teeth clenched and she leaned her head back against the seat, closing her eyes as she took a few deep breaths, trying to collect her thoughts again.
OKay, If I am in Les Miserables, and Javert is in Montreuil-sur-mer, then the Mayor should be Madelein, or Valjean. Javert said that he was going to notify the Mayor, so at the very least I should be able to get some medical treatment for my injuries...but then what? I don't have any money to get new clothes, and I don't know all the ins and outs of this place. Am I just gonna get stuck here, getting a job in the glass factory or something?
A hand touched Kaylee's arm and she jumped, turning to see the Inspector looking at her. Once he had her attention he removed his hand and faced forward again.
"You shouldn't fall asleep." He said sternly. She sighed and nodded. If I have a concussion, sleeping would be bad right now….
But she was so tired, and she had no idea how far it was to the hospital at this rate. So she sat up a little more and focussed her eyes on Javert, taking in his figure.
Well, at least he helped me, he really isn't the terrible person the movies always made him out ot be. She thought, looking at the stern face, looking even more harsh in the dim light of the carriage. He looks younger than I imagined, but otherwise about the same. He had removed his hat after giving Kaylee his coat, to maintain her decency. Without the hat or the bulk of the coat, she could see his entire form much more clearly.
He was very tall, no matter the century he was in, standing at clearly over six feet, maybe close to six-three? And he was broad. His barrel chest moved only slightly as he breathed, causing the buttons of his uniform to glint with small amounts of light picked up from the lanterns on the street. His arms were thick as was his neck, he was very muscular underneath all of those layers. His skin was somewhat darker than the other people Kaylee had seen that night, and his nose had a slight hook to it. His hair was deep brown and slicked back to it's tie, not a hair was out of place. Even his mutton chops seemed to have been meticulously groomed.
Certainly not an attractive man….She thought as she agreed with Hugos comparison to a bull dog. But he's clean. He doesn't smell like booze or dirt like those other guys did. Right now I'll take that over anything.
Kaylee blinked as Javert turned his eyes to her again, one bushy eyebrow raising in a questioning manor. Kaylee raised hers in response.
"One of my men told me one of your attackers had a broken nose." He said cooly. "Did you do that?"
"Is it a crime to try and protect yourself from rapists?" She asked drly. His eyebrows shot up in the first real show of surprise.
"No…"He said slowly. "But I would be surprised if a woman were able to do so much damage to a man. Even one shorter than her."
Kaylee laughed, regretting it instantly as her stomach ached again. Oh, 1800s sexism at its finest. This is going to be hard to deal with. Javert just looked at her, waiting for her to stop laughing and respond.
"I've been living alone for a while." She said, resting her back against the seat and catching her breath. "I learned how to fight to make sure I at least had a chance to protect myself."
"It's smart." He said dryly before looking away. Kaylee furrowed her brows at him. "Not enough women are able to protect themselves, and it is far too convenient for the criminals that would take advantage."
Huh, progressive….She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees, her hair falling over her shoulder.
"You think more women should learn to defend themselves?" She asked. He was silent for a moment before give a single, curt nod.
"A man cannot always be there to protect them." He said. "They should at least have the ability to get free and run, if nothing else."
"Why do I get the feeling that's not a very popular opinion around here?" She asked. She could have sworn she saw the corner of his mouth twitch for a second. Probably her imagination.
"It isn't." He said, turning to glance out of the carriage window. Kaylee took the hint and turned to look out her own now. It had started raining again, causing a dull hum on the top of the carriage as they carefully turned a corner. The streets were very dark, even with the lanterns hanging off of their poles. The buildings were all grey and shiny with the rain. The clouds had blown in so fast, she wasn't even able to see the stars or moon anymore. She glanced back at Javert.
"What time is it anyway?" She asked, tiredly. "And what's the date?"
The Inspector took out his pocket watch and clicked it open silently.
"It is two fifteen in the morning. April twenty seventh."
"And the year?"
He turned to her, raising an eyebrow.
"You don't know the year?" He asked. Kaylee shrugged.
"Well it was August when I remember being at home, so I have no idea how much time I missed." She said dryly. Javert sat up at this.
"You don't remember nearly an entire year?"
"I don't think so." She said tiredly. "It may be more than that, that's why I want to know the year."
"Eighteen-nineteen."
"Huh, okay…" Two Hundred years in the past….That's insane. "Yeah...about a year then…"
Javert's eyes narrowed at Kaylee, like he was studying her intently.
"Is there something you aren't telling me, Ms. Denmoor?" His voice was cold and hard, the intimidating voice used to draw information out of criminals.
"Not at the moment…" She said slowly. "There is something, but if it is alright with you I would prefer to tell the Mayor first."
A hand grasped her arm, hard. Kaylee flinched at the grip, strong enough to bruise.
"If you are withholding information that could affect the case…." He warned. Kaylee sat up straight and put her other hand on his wrist, pulling it off of her with a cool calmness that was chilling in its own right.
"Nothing that would affect your work, My dear Inspector, I assure you." She said coldly. "It has more to do with my being here, and while you are the police, I feel it is more for the head of this town to determine whether or not I speak the truth. So if you would kindly not grip my arm like a vice, the sooner I speak to the Mayor, the sooner I can divulge this information unto you."
The two of them glared at each other for several moments, and Kaylee was sure Javert was going to say something more when the cart came to a stop.
"The Hospital, Monsieur le Inspector." The driver said. Javert pulled his hand away and stepped out of the cart, helping Kaylee out as well.
"I will take you in and let the Doctor help you." He said, his face as impassive as ever. "Then I will inform the Mayor immediately."
"Thank you, Inspector Javert." Kaylee said, trying to walk on her own without groaning. "And despite our spat, thank you for helping me tonight. You are a good man."
Javert averted his gaze, looking instead, towards the building.
"It's simply my duty, Madame Denmoor."
She let out a very un-ladylike snort and pulled the coat tighter around herself as they stepped up to the door, were Javert knocked loudly.
"Unfortunately not enough Policemen take their Duty as seriously as you do, Inspector." She said, he glanced at her. "I've known plenty who would not have lifted a finger. Hell, I've known some who would have joined in. Duty has nothing to do with that. You are a good man, or at least a good Policeman."
"America must not have a very good grip on their law enforcement if such things are happening there." He almost grumbled. He seemed outright offended at the notion. Kaylee smiled.
"Corruption tends to bleed down." She sighed. "Corrupt government leads to corrupt leaders and corrupt subordinates."
"You seem to be well versed in government. I did not realise America allowed women to learn of such things."
"Lets just say I'm a special case." She smirked as the door opened, and an older woman, looking very tired, in a nun's habit. She looked at Kaylee and then up to the inspector. The poor woman only came up to Kaylee's shoulder.
"Sister, this young lady was assaulted tonight and needs medical attention." Javert explained, putting a hand on Kaylee's back and pushing her forward slightly. "Please do what you can for her. I will be returning later, likely with the Mayor, to get some information."
The nun nodded and held the door open for Kaylee, who stepped in slowly.
"Of course. I am Sister Cecilia. What is your name, Mamselle?"
"Kaylee Denmoor…." She spoke softly as the door closed behind her, catching only a glimpse of Javert as he returned to the carriage. "I...appreciate any help you can give, Sister. I...apologize for my attire. The good Inspector had to lend me his coat to keep me decent…"
"You need not apologize to me." Cecilia smiled and lead Kaylee down a short hall and in to a small room with a dresser in it. She looked in it for a moment before pulling out a white dressing gown, and handing it over to her. "I suspect it will be too short for you, but it will keep you modest enough. Do you need help changing?"
"Ah, no…" She took the gown, feeling the rougher material in her hands. "I think I can manage on my own. Thank you, though…"
"Of course. I will be on the other side of the door if you need any assistance. Please, place the Inspectors coat and your clothing on that table when you are done, my fellow sisters will ensure they are cleaned."
"Um..okay." She smiled as Sister Cecilia gave a small bow and exited the room. Kaylee sighed and unbuttoned the coat, folding it and setting it down on the table before pulling off her tank top, slowly, feeling her ribs protest to the movement. Looking down at herself, Kaylee quickly took note of how beaten and bruised she was. There was a massive dark spot appearing on her side, were that guy had punched her, and she had blood dripping down from scrapes on her knees. Even her feet had started to bleed.
I'm gonna hurt like Hell in the morning… She thought as she took off her shorts and placed them with her top before removing her Bra and panties, just knowing the nuns would be confused when they see those undergarments. He pulled on the dressing gown, happy that it fit decently enough. It was certainly too short, falling down to about her mid-calf, and it was certainly more fitted on her curves than it would have been to other women, but it didn't strain anywhere when she moved her arms, so it would do.
Taking a breath, she opened the door to see Cecilia standing there talking to another nun. The two older women looked at her and gave small gasps, though they clearly tried to hide them with small, gentle smiles.
"Well, I am sorry we do not have any gowns that are better fitting, but this will do. Please, we have a bed ready for you."
Kaylee nodded and followed the two women to another room with three beds in it. Luckily, all of the bed were currently vacant, and were seperated with sheer curtains. Cecilia took her to one of the beds that had been made up with clean sheets and helped her lay down, pulling the covers up to her hips and supporting her head with some pillows.
"We are just going to give you a look over, and make note of your injuries, so that the Doctor may treat them."Cecilia explained as the other woman sat at a nearby desk, pulling out a paper, a bottle of ink, and a quill. Kaylee nodded. "Now, where is the most pain?"
"Here…" She motioned to her ribs. "I...think I broke a few ribs…"
The Sister nodded and, very carefully, worked with Kaylee to lift her night gown enough to look at the bruise. Her fingers, while attempting to be gentle, sent sharp pain through Kaylee's body, but she gritted her teeth.
"Three ribs…" She sighed. "You must be in a great deal of pain…"
"I'll live…" Kaylee shrugged. The sister gave a small smile.
"Were else?"
"Um...my head, then the cuts on my legs, I think that's it…"
Over the next several minutes Kaylee helped the Sister to find all of her injuries and write them down, in order of most serious to least serious. Afterwards the women left Kaylee on her own to go and talk to the actual was left alone for a while, looking up at the ceiling, gazing absently at the religious iconography that was strewn about the room as she tried to put together a plan.
If Valjean is the Mayor at this point I could use that to my advantage. I know his secret. Hell, I know more about him than anyone should be able to, even about his sister. I don't want to blackmail him though...he is a good guy. But I can't exactly explain that I'm from the future! Or that we are, actually, in a book! And how am I gonna explain being from a State that isn't even a state yet? Right now I think it's still technically a part of New Mexico…
She sighed and her eyes wandered to a picture of angels across the room from her, sighing heavily at it. Kaylee wasn't particularly religious. Sure she believed in some sort of higher power, but nothing like the Catholic church preached.
But everyone here is super religious. I'm being cared for by nuns, for Christs sake….She thought. Maybe...I could play off of that? I could use it as a way to explain my being here? It would be a massive lie, but I don't know what else to do…
It was at that time that the doctor finally came in, alongside Sister Cecilia, who was carrying a tray of food and a glass of water. The doctor, and older gentleman with curly white hair smiled at her.
"Hello, Madame Denmoor. I and Letrois. The Sisters have prepared you some food. But if it is alright with you I would like to get those ribs bound before you eat, as well as clean and bandage your cuts. Afterwards you may eat and try to sleep. Is that okay?"
Kaylee just nodded and took a deep breath as she sat up, lifting her gown with the help of Cecilia so that the Doctor could start to wrap her ribs, while trying to be ask respectful of her modesty as possible. As he was wrapping her torso, she asked through gritted teeth.
"Has there been any work of Mayor Madeleine yet?" The Doctor looked up at her and smiled.
"Not yet, but Inspector Javert is known to be very assertive with his work. If she thought it was prudent the Mayor speak to you tonight, he will be here within the next couple of hours." His eyebrows twitched slightly. "I would prefer you rest, honestly, you were badly injured…"
"I'll be okay." Kaylee smiled back. "And I need to speak with him as soon as I can...and...possibly a priest as well, if there is one available?"
"Madame, is there something we can help with?" The Sister asked, stepping forward. "You may take confession on Sunday, if that is what you need, the Doctor does not think your life is at risk…"
"I need to ask him something very important, regarding how I was brought here…" She said slowly. "Because...I do not think it was anything natural that did it…"
The Sisters gasped and stepped away, the Doctor looked at her, shocked, stopping his work.
"You fear the Devil's work?" He asked, as the Sisters crossed themselves.
"I...don't know." She spoke slowly, choosing her words carefully. "I have been devout my entire life, I haven't missed a day of church or a daily prayer. But...something odd happened and I do not know what its cause was. I wish to speak to a Priest, so that he may, perhaps, be able to answer my questions...and if this was the doing of something evil...perhaps help to expel it."
"I shall call for the Priest at once." The second sister said as she rushed off. Cecilia was holding a string a prayer beads to her mouth, muttering some words silently as the Doctor cleared his throat, and continued his work.
The doctor worked quickly and quietly, only speaking to Kaylee if he was checking on how her pain was, or to ask her to move so he could better reach an injury. Nearly an hour past thus, before there was a knock at the front door. Sister Cecilia went off to answer it as the Doctor had Kaylee lay back and pulled the covers up to her chin, wiping his hands on a rag before sitting up straight as two men entered the room.
One was Inspector Javert, and the other, was an older man, perhaps twenty or so years older than Javert, with light hair that was beginning to grey, and a well trimmed beard. Green eyes smiled at her kindly.
"Mamselle, Denmoor?" He asked. Kaylee nodded. "I am Madeleine, the Mayor of this small town. The Inspector told me what had happened and the situation. I am sorry for you arrival in to our town to have been so violent."
"It's hardly your fault, Monsieur." She replied with a tired smile, before looking back at the others in the room. "Um...Monsieur le maire, may I speak to you privately for a moment?"
His brows instantly creased. He looked to both the Inspector and to the doctor, who were both looking reproachful.
"May I ask why, Madame?" He asked in return.
"I wish to speak to you of a private matter. For your ears only, as of the moment." She kept her eyes locked on his. "Afterwards, if you deem it necessary, you may tell them."
The man thought for a moment before nodding.
"A moment alone, if I may?" He asked. The Doctor seemed uncomfortable with the thought, but nodded and left. Javert hovered for a moment, his eyes glancing between the two of them before giving a curt bow and leaving the room. Waiting until they heard the door latch, Madeleine pulled a chair up to her bedside and sat down, removing his hat and setting it on her side table.
"Very well, Mamselle, what is it you wished to tell me?" He asked, a kind, yet hesitant smile on his face. Kaylee struggled in to a sitting position, looking at him seriously.
"This is going to sound crazy….but I know you." She said flatly, in a hushed tone. "I know your real name, and why you are here."
The color drained from his face as he stuttered to say something. She continued instead of letting him talk.
"I have no intention of outing you, Monsieur Valjean." She said. He seemed to flinch at the sound of his name. "In fact, I want to help you. I know you are a good man who only did what he did in an attempt to survive, for your nephew, and sister. I...I think I was sent here to help you…"
"Sent?" He asked, his voice just as hushed as hers now, leaning in to whisper even more quietly. "What do you mean? How do you know me?"
"Like I said, this is going to sound crazy…" She took a breath. "But...I was sent...from the future?"
He blinked at her, clearly not sure how to respond. So she continued.
"My full name is Kaylee Denmoor. I am twenty three years old and I live in a place called Flagstaff Arizona, in America. Arizona did not become an official state until the year nineteen-twelve. When I was in my room, at home, it was the year twenty-nineteen. I know about you because I have read about your story in a book."
"Y...you are not making any sort of sense, Mamselle." He said, leaning away. "You speak of being sent through time, of my life being in a book….this sounds like madness."
"I can prove it." She said flatly. He seemed to swallow before nodding. "Your full name is Jean Valjean, named after your father. You had an older sister named Jeanne, named after your mother, Jeanne Mathieu, who died of a milk sickness when you were young. And your father died from falling from a tree. He was a pruner for Faverolles. When your sister was widowed with seven children you took up your father's old job to try and provide for them. When you were laid off for the winter, you were forced to steal a loaf of bread so they could eat, and that landed you in Toulon in seventeen-ninety six. You tried to escape several times, which increased your sentence, but eventually you were out on parole. You found hospice at Bishop Bienvenu's home, were you stole his silver. After you were caught, the Bishop told the police that he had given you the silver, allowing you to go free. He gave you silver candlesticks, and had you promise to become a better man. You still have those candlesticks. Afterwards you accidentally stole a forty-sous piece from a young boy named Petit Gervais, and that was the last crime you commited."
She took a breath and just watched him. He sat there, utterly perplexed. Surely, the stuff about him being in prison could have been learned, but no one really knew about Petit Gervais, or the candlesticks. He pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his brow, thinking hard for a moment.
"And...you learned all of this from a book?" He asked, his voice dry. She nodded. "And...you say you want to help…"
"I want to help people…" She explained. Which was true. "I know what's going to happen in the future, I know what will happen from here till your passing, and I want to save as many people along the way as I can, as long as I'm here. Has the incident with Fauchelevent happened yet?"
"What incident?" He asked, looking startled. She smiled. "Soon, very soon, old man Fauchelevent will have an accident. His horse will fall and break two legs, and he will get caught underneath the cart."
"Heaven…" Valjean muttered, standing up and starting to pace. He turned back to her. "And you are certain of this?"
She nodded and looked at her hands.
"I think I was sent by god to help people. There was blinding white light and I woke up in an alley. I jumped backwards two hundred years in the blink of an eye. What else could do that, other than God? My clothes are waiting to be cleaned, you will see they are nothing like you would find today. Look at them. I swear upon my very soul that I am telling you the truth!"
'Madeleine' picked up his hat and nodded, his face was a pale as ever. He glance back at her, clearly not sure what to believe.
"I will look at your belongings...in the meantime I will pay for your medical care...do you have a place to live after you are released?"
"No. And I have no money on me. I don't even know what the customs of this time are…"
"You will need a guardian then…." He mused, running a hand over his beard as he thought. "I will look in to this…"
"If you decide I am telling the truth, I have a recommendation…" She said slowly. He glanced at her and gave a cautious nod. "Like I said, I want to help as many people as I can. And...I think I can do that if I am able to stay near the Inspector…" Valjean gave a blink of shock and opened his mouth to question. "I can't tell you much, I don't know how much influence that could have on your life, and I know you help enough people that I don't want to veer your path too much...but I will say that you and Javert are going to be meating, allot, in the future. You are destined to clash. He's not a bad man, but he….I think he is someone who needs help. And he is around enough pain and suffering that it would give me the access to help others." And I can keep a close eye on this story, if I need to play through it...and this way, hopefully, I won't screw things up for Cosette.
The Mayor thought and nodded slowly, moving back towards the door.
"I will ask the Sisters if I may see your belongings...if what you say is true, I will see if I can convince Javert to take you in to his care."
"Thank you." She smiled at him. "And a Priest is on his way to help clear up if this as an act of God or the Devil...so if there is anything you can add to that, I would appreciate it."
He nodded again, replaced his hat, and walked out of the door. Kaylee laid back, closing her eyes tiredly as she took a deep breath. She just had to talk to a Priest, and then wait to hear what would happen. While all of her religious jargon was bull shit, the rest of what she had said was true. She knew what would happen in the story, she knew how many people would suffer along the way. If she could help even a few people, if she could perhaps change the fate of certain individuals, then she would be happy.
That is, if I can't get back home…She thought, through closed eyes. She was thinking back to her little apartment. To her comfortable little home, just big enough for herself. She remembered her workplace, and the satisfaction she got knowing she did it well. She remembered her mother. She hadn't been perfect, no one was, but she did what she could for her kid. She accepted Kaylee for her strange self, she encouraged her fight for what she believed in. Her mother's death had hit her hard. Like so many young ladies, she had always imagined her mother being there when she got married. Or being able to say hello to her grandchildren. But she would never know what that was like. She had no family, no distant relatives that remained in contact.
You would be pretty shocked at this, huh mom? She thought silently, feeling tears well up in her eyes. I wish I could go back, even if it was just to look at your old photos again…
She heard a door open and she sat up again, opening her eyes and quickly reaching to take a drink of water. As she did, a strange silver glow caught her attention. Laying in her lap, was a book. Or, the image of a book. She stared at it as the words wrote themselves out infront of her. A heavy wind picked up around her that blew her hair back, causing the gossamer curtains to billow about. She saw the word again. Recensere and then the glow faded. The wind died down and now there was only the rough covers of the hospital bed covering her legs. She stared at the spot for a moment, confused and shaking.
"Mother Mary…" The voice caught her attention as her eyes shot up to the group of people watching her. A Priest had arrived, wearing his white robes and a skull cap. He was kneeling in front of her, his hands clasped over his prayer beads as he prayed. The two nuns at his side did the same. Both the Inspector and Valjean had removed their hats and were staring at her in awe.
Well...I guess they're convinced….She swallowed hard, averting her eyes from the scene, wishing she had eaten before all of this.