There Was A Time...Then It All Went Wrong

2) Javert's Intervention

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Cosette's P.O.V

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He had to be here. He had to. I couldn't live if he wasn't here. The mysterious, handsome stranger that had quickly completed my world had left my sight for one moment and he had vanished into thin air. I knew that if I searched too far away from Father I would either get lost or he would get worried. The crowd was getting quite large and thick with people. I wasn't incredibly tall like everyone else seemed to be but from the distance I had from Papa, I could still see the little shack he was up against with the group I had pointed out to him. It would be terrible, to be living on he street with nothing to keep you warm and nothing to eat. That's why we help them, Papa and I. Well, that's why I help them. Papa seems to have a deeper understanding of it.

If only I knew the man's name. I would call it out and he would rush to my side and scoop me up and kiss me...I can only imagine the feel of his lips pressed against mine, warm and sweet. My head swept left and right, seeking the face, desperate for him when-

"IT'S THE POLICE! DISAPPEAR! RUN FOR IT! IT'S JAVERT!"

A woman's voice screeched in the area. But it wasn't something that everyone ignored. People started to panic. Scream. Run away. Men were rushing their ladies out. Beggars were fleeing. All that seemed to be left was a small border of watchers, a policeman in a bright blue uniform and a circle of men struggling to run or attack someone. My father.

"Cosette!" Father cried.

"Papa?" My voice cracked in fear. As I ran over to him frantically, a deep voice began to speak. Everyone surrounding us, including my Father, trembled.

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Eponine's P.O.V

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"Another brawl on the square!

Another stink in the air!

Was there a witness to this?

Well, let him speak to Javert!"

The policeman, tall, grim and merciless, strolled with his head high and his hands behind his back towards my father's gang. Javert was feared by all men and women in Paris. Even his backup police had a bad feeling about him. One thing out of line and you could be locked up in a jail for eight years! Father, Mother, Brujon, Babet, Claquesous and Montparnasse were standing against the wall with their heads down. No one looked up at Javert.

The policeman approached the man. He now had Marius's new obsession clinging on to him for dear life. She whispered something into his ear. He didn't answer, I swear, I have never seen a grown man be so scared of another grown man in all my life. The fathers eyes were wide with sheer terror, back turned away from Javert's face.

"Monsieur, these streets are not safe," Javert continued. The policeman pressed a hand on the mans shoulder. The father closed his eyes, shaking. "But let this vermin beware! We'll see that justice is done." Javert said. His eyes were now focused on Father's gang. He walked past them one by one, looking them over in disgust and clicking his eyes.

"Look upon this fine collection, crawled from underneath the stone." Javert mutter to my parents. It sounded like he was talking to himself. "This swarm of worms and maggots could have picked you to the bone!"

That was his chance. While Javert's back was turned, the man and his daughter fled the street, running into an alley. They brushed right past me. A flicker of recognition lighted inside of me. Who was this man? Where had I seen him before? And most importantly, who was the GIRL and where had I seen her before?