Sorry for being such a buzzkill everybody...
Another chapter for you, since a big thunderstorm woke me up at an ungodly hour this morning... dammit Thor.
Disclaimer: Nope.

She must have fallen asleep, even if only for an hour, because she was woken up by her sister softly shaking her shoulder at half past seven.

'Éponine? Eponine, you need to get up, Ma's getting out of prison today and Pa wants the whole inn tidied before she gets here.' Not getting any response from her big sister, Azelma poked her in the side, meaning to shock her awake.

Pain shot through Éponine's whole body, causing her to groan and turn over onto her back, a strained expression on her bruised face. The sight of her battered sister caused Azelma to suck in a sharp breath.
'That bad, huh?' Éponine's voice was barely a raspy whisper, but it was still full of wry humour. Unfortunately, her audience wasn't really in the mood for jokes.
'Did that man do this to you?'
'One of the men did, yeah. Good old Father Dearest really stitched me up this time.'
'Oh, Éponine, it's not his fault.' Wait, what? Slowly easing herself into a sitting position, careful not to make any sudden movements, she looked Azelma directly in the eyes.
'Please tell me you're not serious.'
The younger sister broke the eye contact and looked at the floor. 'He doesn't mean for them to hurt you, how could he know that guy was violent? What do you want him to do, interview them before he lets them in? Ask for a resumé?' I cannot believe what I am hearing right now.
'Well the first solution that springs to mind is just not whore out his own daughter'
'You know we need the money Éponine. And he's still your Papa.'

She couldn't take any more of this. She stood up, ignoring her screaming joints, and walked out the room, strangely thankful that she hadn't changed out of her clothes before passing out.

'Éponine, where are you going, you have to help me tidy up!?' You don't seriously expect help?
'I don't give a shit about tidying up. I'm not doing anything for any of you anymore.'
'But Ma's coming back from prison! Things can be good again!' At this, Éponine actually laughed out loud, a harsh bark, completely without any humour. It was a cynical sound that should never come from a nineteen-year-old girl, but Éponine had seen more to be cynical about in her short life than most people would in a hundred years.
'Can you hear yourself Azelma? When has Ma coming back ever made a difference? She's been in and out of prison more times than I've had hot dinners. More than all the hot dinners we've both had, combined. She'll be back in next week, and even if she's not it won't make a difference. We'll still be poor. They'll still treat us like shit. You'll still be a slave and I'll still be the local slut!'

None of these thoughts were new to Éponine, but saying them out loud made her feel stronger somehow.

'Do you know what, Azelma? I've finally had enough.' She turned on her heel and stormed back into their room, gathering up the few possessions she had: a small pile of clothes, her phone and charger, a hairbrush, three beaten-up paperback books, a CD and some dog-eared photos.

'Had enough of what? Ép, you're being ridiculous, calm down! You're scaring me.'

Pushing past her sister, she grabbed her toothbrush from the bathroom and stopped at the top of the stairs to look Azelma directly in the face. The young girl stood in the doorway to their room, her eyes wide and scared. She looked so lost and confused that Éponine's resolve almost broke. Almost.

'I'm leaving, 'Zelma.' The silence that followed this simple statement was deafening. Éponine was first to break it. 'Please come with me. I can keep us both safe. And Gav.'
Silent tears ran down Azelma's cheeks and her voice was thick with emotion as she answered. 'How can you keep us safe? Any of us? We've – YOU'VE got nowhere to go Ép. That handsome bourgeois of yours won't take you in, what would people think? And it's not like you have any friends. How can you possibly even suggest that I would be safe with you?!'The streets would be safer than here!
'I'll figure something out, I know my way around, you know that. Please Azelma, I can't leave you here, they'll just give you all of my work to do as well. All of it 'Zelma. Even the type I did last night.'
'They won't! You'll see, it'll be better! They love us Éponine, they're our parents!' Azelma's tears were falling thick and fast now.
'But they DON'T! They haven't for years, especially not me! They barely even acknowledged Gavroche's existence, right from the day he was born! How can you not see this!?' What can I say that will convince you, how can you ignore something so blindingly obvious?!
'I'm not leaving, Éponine.'

The two sisters stared at each other for a minute, the air full of emotion: anger, sadness, even some love. Because despite all her faults, Éponine did love Azelma. Leaving her behind would be the hardest thing she had ever done.

But she couldn't stay here. Not for another minute.

She walked down the stairs slowly, her movements hindered by the haphazard jumble of belongings in her arms, and the stiffness and pain in every muscle in her body. When she reached the door to the inn itself, she turned back to get a final look at her sister.

'I love you Azelma. Come and find me the second you have any problems, ok? Promise me.'

'I love you too Éponine. Please don't leave!'

Determined not to cry, all Éponine could manage was a whisper. 'I have to.'
And with that, she turned and walked away, through the inn, and out into the street.

She'd finally done it.

She was free.

Aaaaand she's OUT OF THE INN!

I think I need more sleep.

Anyway, now that you're done reading this, go read weeeell's fics - she's really good and has been absurdly nice to me about this story, so go check her out please! :D

In case I'm not giving you enough to do, could you maybe find it in your hearts to review, please? I promise I'll hug you if we ever meet in person :)