A/N if you read please can you review, reviews are appreciated!
I seem to have had to re-upload this as something went wrong with it.
Chapter Two: Paris
Javert arrived at the inn. He knocked, but as there was no reply, he walked in. He explored, searching frantically.
It was empty.
As he explored, he tripped on a loose floorboard. It came lose. Putting his hand through the gap, he pulled out something; a ruby necklace a mere innkeeper and his wife could never afford on their own.
After rummaging, he discovered a bunch of treasures. So the Thenardiers were thieves. He should have known. He wondered about his duties. Pursue them? They would collapse anyway after a while. Besides-he had Valjean to pursue. They were the least of his worries.
The family arrived at the gates of Paris quite late in the night. They were exhausted after walking over ten miles. The police guarding the gates let them through, although they'd committed many crimes, they'd never been caught, so they had no reason to be questioned.
They found an inn to stay in, which was the opposite to their own. Cheap prices, and a kind old pair running it. Nobody was overly drunk. Nobody was singing or making any noise.
After drinking wine, they rented a room for the night. There was one large bed in the room for Thenardier and his wife, so a maid fetched matresses and blankets for Azelma and Éponine.
Both girls curled up to their dolls, blind to the misfortune they were going to live in since tomorrow came.
The next afternoon, the family went to seek their fortune and start a new life in the streets of Paris. Thenardier decided to pickpocket whilst no one was looking. At least, he thought no one was. Until another thief came and tapped his shoulder.
"Some skills you've got there. I could do with another thief...if you're all willing to help me, you could live in my house." The thief said.
"We all have use." Replied Thenardier. "We will be willing to help. As long as the house is decent."
"Good." The thief tried to touch
Éponine's hair whilst leering. His teeth were yellow. She edged away, instantly hating this man.
Living with the thief, whose name was Montparnasse, changed their lives. Him and Thenardier drank their money away; Madame Thenardier did as well. The girls were made do most of the dirty work, pickpocketing for money, and, as their state got poorer, begging.
Both girls fine dresses were sold, replaced with cheap, thin-fabric brown ones. Their dolls and books and shoes were also sold, leaving them barefoot. They both had to grow up and learn fast.
Madame Thenardier became impatient and bad tempered, and she didn't even have enough patience for her children anymore. Their state became poorer and poorer, as the money was drank and smoked away. The thieves didn't care; the only cared for themselves, their greed.
A year later, two girls were walking around the streets of Paris.
One was ten, the other eight. They both looked like they'd lived their lives as beggars; but they hadn't. These girls were in fact Éponine and Azelma, although they'd changed dramatically in just one year. When they would've once sat on a bench, they sat beside it.
The skin on their feet had toughened, but sharp glass or stones still came a nasty surprise. They wore ragged brown dresses. Dirt on their skin blended in with countless bruises.
Éponine had a recent cut on her cheek.
Their skin was pale under the dirt, without the rosy glow that it used to have. Their once smooth lips were chapped, and even their eyes had changed colour. Éponine's, once a colourful greenish blue, were fading to a pale bluish grey. Azelma's, once bright brown, looked almost black.
Their fathers group had grown, and their mother, once loving, had joined in with them. Leaving them no choice but to get about doing their 'work.' They often missed eating nowadays: and they were often hit or beaten.
A young boy of about 13 was watching as the girls sat. His grandfather was visiting his friend up the street, so he was wandering about. He went into the bakery and brought out 3 croissants, and approached the girls.
"Excuse me, mademoiselles, would you like a croissant?" They both stared at him with big eyes. He handed them a croissant each, and sat beside the taller one. Neither said a word, but they ate hungrily, finishing within seconds. He'd planned to have a croissant himself, but he split the third one and gave them half each.
After eating, Éponine studied the boy a moment. He was a little older than she, with eyes that were light brown with a bit of green in them, and millions of freckles. He was handsome, with high cheekbones and brown hair.
"Thank you, monsieur. Why have you been so kind to us? You seem to look rich, yet you helped us...the scum of the street." There was a sadness in her eyes as she said it.
"You're not scum as much as I'm not." He said gently. "I was on the streets last year...mother died when I was young. My father died in the battle of waterloo. I live with my grandfather now. I know what it's like to be on the streets." He paused, before asking, "Do you have family?"
The taller girl looked pained after he said family. "Yes." She said dryly.
"Oh." He said, sensing discomfort and feeling instantly guilty at her pained expression. He was going to drop the subject, but she continued talking.
"They're unkind. So are fathers friends." Was all she managed. She wanted to tell him everything, but she couldn't. Azelma nudged her.
"We're not supposed to say anything." The younger girl hissed.
"Oh, ok, I won't enquire anymore." He paused, before politely asking;
"What are your names?" He asked.
"I'm Éponine." The taller one said. "This is Azelma." She pointed at her sister, who grabbed her arm.
"We've got to go!" Exclaimed Azelma, dragging Éponine up and pulling her away. Éponine looked back at him.
The boy smiled at her.
"Well, Éponine, it was nice to meet you. My name is Marius. Goodbye, Madmoiselle!"
"Farewell, Marius." Éponine felt helpless as her smaller sister dragged her away.