Lead Me to Salvation

What to do with her?

Enjolras's POV

Now I was stuck in a dark alley with a beaten up, passed out gamin. I knew I had to help her. Not only was she a supporter of our cause and Marius's friend, she was our cause.

With determination, I scooped up the girl into my arms. She was alarmingly light. I had to get her to Joly, my good friend who was in medical school. I hoped he was still in the cafe as I carried the bleeding girl.

"Joly! Marius!" I called as I entered the cafe. All of my friends were still engrossed in either lively conversations or wine.

"JOLY! MARIUS! I HAVE A POOR, BLEEDING GIRL IN MY ARMS!"

All of my friends froze, staring at me.

"Clear off a table. We must help her," I commanded, more quietly this time.

"Enjolras, are you mad? We can't take pity on every street urchin in need of help!" Courfeyrac chuckled, a little intoxicated.

I rolled my eyes, adjusting the girl in my arms so they could see her face. I heard a few gasps.

"Well then, should I throw Mademoiselle Éponine back into the alley where I found her?" I bit, as Marius and Joly rushed forward.

The other boys began clearing off a table.

"Ponine! What's happened to her, Enjolras?!" Marius screeched, approaching his battered friend.

"I don't know," I began as Joly took her from my arms, placing her on the table. "I heard her coughing and crying for help from the alley beside the cafe. I followed the sound. She-she asked for you, Marius."

Marius looked up at me, wide-eyed. Before he could open his mouth to say anything, Joly spoke.

"Dear God! She's taken a more severe

beating than I've ever seen!"

My friends and I stood in silence, looking around at each other.

"Well, why do you think she's been beaten?" Bahorel spoke up from the back.

"I've got an idea," Marius mumbled. Everyone in the room, besides Joly who was working with dedication on Éponine's wounds, turned to look at Marius. We waited for an explanation.

"Her name is Éponine Thénardier. Daughter of the Thénardier, the worst man in all of Paris."

Mine wasn't the only audible gasp.

"Her father is the leader of the Patron-Minette. She often gets mixed up in their business," Marius continued.

"She's going to be alright eventually," Joly announced, happily before any of us could react. Joly seemed to have tuned out everything Marius said. There was a sigh of relief from everyone in the room.

"But she needs to stay in bed for at least a few weeks. A few cracked ribs, heavy bruising, and a nasty gash on her right thigh," Joly informed us, though he never stopped working on Éponine.

"She can't possibly stay in bed for two weeks at her home!" Marius cried. "Her parents work her to death as it is."

"She works?" Jehan asked quietly.

"Works down at the harbor with the ever lovely ladies!" A drunk Grantaire howled.

"Shut up, you drunk bastard!" Marius bellowed, slamming a fist down on the table in front of Grantaire. We all stared in shock.

"Marius, please calm down. Grantaire is just drunk again," I tried to soothe him, taking a step towards him.

"You lot don't get it! Don't get her! Her parents make her sell herself to men. She has to help her father steal. The Patron-Minette may have their way with her as often as they please. Éponine may not be a saint, but life has been hard on her," Marius explained coldly.

"Marius, we didn't know," Grataire said, looking on the verge of tears. The alcohol didn't help his emotions.

"Nevermind that!" Joly sighed, exasperated. He looked up from bandaging Éponine's leg. "We must find a place for the girl to stay."

"She'll stay with me"

I even shocked myself when I said that.