Smiles1998, your comment made me smile! I'm sorry this took so long. I had a relapse,but I managed to get this chapter out. Sorry it's so short! Just to let you know, I'm Beta reading now and I'm much better at reading than I am at writing, so if you're interested PLEASE PM me! :)
Eponine ran through the streets of San Michele, her breaths coming in frantic, jagged gulps. She heard her father screaming as he chased her. She looked back and stumbled on the rough cobbles, falling to her knees. She struggled to get back up and run, but some mysterious force held her down. The more she struggled, the stronger the force became. Her father's screams grew louder as he neared. "Enjolras!" she called. "Enjolras!" It was no use. Her father drew closer and closer, but there was nothing she could do. She saw her father round the corner, coming at her with a knife. "No!" she screamed.
"Eponine!" Enjolras shook the flailing girl. "Eponine, my darling! Wake up!"
She awoke with a start, shrieking, "No!" Her eyes were wide with fear, and sweat plastered her raven hair to her neck.
Enjolras held her saying, "Shh, shh. It's alright. You're here with me."
The girl's breath began to slow.
"It was just a dream, chéri," soothed Enjolras, pulling Eponine onto his lap. She wrapped her shaking arms around his neck and rested her head on his chest. Enjolras kissed her face as she curled up like a small child. He held her until she ceased to tremble and looked up at him.
"I-" she began. The slam of Enjolras' front door cut her off. Combeferre came into the room, rapping lightly on the door frame.
"Enjolras, may we speak privately?" he asked, looking quickly at Eponine.
Enjolras nodded, placing the girl on his bed and whispered, "I'll be back in just a moment." He kissed her forehead and followed Combeferre into the living room.
"What's happened?" he asked urgently.
"I've been sent with a battle report," he replied. "I didn't know how she would take it." Combeferre nodded towards Enjolras' bedroom where Eponine stood behind the door, eavesdropping.
"Go on," said Enjolras. "But keep your voice down." He knew Eponine would be listening in on the conversation, and he wanted to break any bad news gently. Combeferre recounted the battle, excluding nothing.
"And the casualties?" asked Enjolras, furrowing his brow. Combeferre hesitated.
"The father, the mother, and the boy you shot," he said. "Jehan turned the rest over to the police."
"Anything else?" asked Enjolras, sensing that his friend was holding something back.
"There was a young girl," he said. "She's wounded. Joly is tending her at his flat." Enjolras nodded, clapping Combeferre on the shoulder.
"Thank you my friend," he said. The boys chatted for a bit before Combeffere took his leave, and Enjolras returned to Eponine. He found her standing by the window, staring across San Michele. Enjolras walked over to her, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her head.
"I have a bit of news," he said quietly.
"I know," she whispered, her voice breaking.
"You heard?" asked Enjolras. Eponine nodded, smiling sadly.
"It's funny," she said. "Most girls would be devastated if both of their parents died on the same day."
Enjolras was silent. After a moment he finally asked, "How do you feel?"
"Horrible," Eponine replied. "Because I'm relieved." A tear rolled down her cheek, and Enjolras pulled her close. Eponine wrapped her arms around his torso, weeping silently for her parents.
When the tears finally stopped flowing from her eyes, she asked, "Have you heard anything of a young girl? My sister was in the flat when..." She trailed off.
"She's at Joly's," said Enjolras, relieved that Eponine had at least one family member left.
"Can you take me there?" she asked. Enjolras nodded, kissing her softlly.
Don't forget to PM me if you're looking for a Beta reader! And PLEASE comment!