Eponine and Erik's discussion was rudely interrupted when the door to the private office was kicked in. Eponine shrieked and jumped up, clutching Erik's arm. He stood but kept his face straight, emotions veiled despite his naked face.
"Unhand her you monster," Enjolras shouted.
"God, he is a demon," Marius said. "Look at that face!"
"I told you," Raoul said. "Foul as sin and just as hideous and horrible as ever."
"Stop it," Eponine yelled. "You have no right to come barging in here and accusing him of anything."
"Eponine…" Marius all but whimpered. "Come on, you're safe now. We won't let him harm you."
"He hasn't," she confirmed. "And it was my choice to come here with him; I need some time away from you to think."
"I told you," Javert said. He went to stand with Erik. "You boys are always stirring up trouble when you should just sit down, shut up, and mind your own damned business."
"Three against two," Enjolras commented. "We can take them."
"We have to be careful," Raoul said. "He's crafty. See how quickly he's plied Eponine's mind to his will?"
"I am quite in my right mind," Eponine said. "Actually, I've never thought more clearly. Did you ever think that I was upset and wanted to be alone?"
"I was trying to help you," Enjolras said.
"Help me?" Eponine laughed. "What makes you think I want you? Just because I loved Marius doesn't mean that I'd instantly fall in love with you Enjolras! One revolutionary is just as good as another?" Her eyes were smoldering. "I went to that barricade to die, Marius; to die with you. And what happened? Oh Eponine, can you take my love letters to Cosette?"
Marius stuttered. "I… I was trying to keep you safe."
"Well you were too late," she yelled. "I was already hurt and bleeding and mortally wounded before I took that bullet for you! And you, you should have left me to die, Enjolras! But you saved me and because of that all I've heard is Cosette this and Cosette that. I hate her, Marius! I hate that woman!"
"She's never done anything to you," Marius said. "There's no reason for you to slander her. Besides, she told me that you and Azelma were cruel to her. Your mother made her a maid forced her to clean the inn."
"We didn't want another sister," Eponine said. "We were happy when Valjean took her away and then father had to go and try to steal her back. I tried to stop it, you know I did. And what happened? You took one look at her and never thought of my feelings again; like right now! You don't care what I want."
"But this man is a murderer," Raoul said pointedly.
"Stop this pointless fighting," Javert said. "These no need to bring up old wounds."
"Like this one?" Erik ripped open his shirt to show a healed stab wound in his abdomen. "This was care of Raoul. Six years ago I was tending to Christine after she was knocked out from a crashing chandelier that…"
"That you made fall," Raoul interrupted.
"That your police inspectors accidentally shot down," Erik corrected. "You and your brother came charging in without thought and you jumped out of the boat and threw me aide to get to Christine. You brother slipped and got his foot tangled in the tie line. I saw this and went to HELP him. I could have saved him if you would've left well enough alone. He drown because you pulled me away from him."
"No," Raoul said. "No, you held him under."
"I was untangling the rope from his leg!"
"Liar!"
"Stop," Javert yelled, coming between the two. "This has gone on long enough."
"You need to arrest that man," Raoul growled. "He needs to stay away from my wife."
"For six years I've stayed away from your wife," Erik countered. "I left Paris and came straight here. Today was the first time I've had any contact with her."
"You lured her here to steal her!" Raoul was becoming unhinged.
"I wanted to make sure she was happy."
"A likely story," Raoul yelled. "I'm putting an end to this here and now."
He pulled a pistol from his belt. Javert ran for the Comte, but the gun went off, thankfully under the inspector's arm. But there was no mistaking the woman's cry of pain.
"Eponine," Enjolras gasped. "Eponine no!"
"I… I didn't mean to hit her," Raoul said, dropping the gun. "It was an accident."
Erik was kneeling, cradling the dying girl in his arms. "It's alright, Eponine. Everything will be alright, we'll get you some help. Someone go get help!"
Javert was restraining Raoul, reading him his rights, so Marius tore out of the room. Enjolras knelt down next to Erik, tears in his eyes.
"She should be in the arms of someone who loves her," Erik whispered.
Enjolras pulled Eponine against him. "Eponine… Eponine I'm so sorry…"
A sad smile crossed her face. "Don't you fret Monsieur Enjolras… I don't feel any pain…"
