[Alright. So this is my first fanfic. I also know the title is completely ridiculous. I know this. I am by no means a writer. I don't really know where I will be going with this. So. Enjoy I suppose? I don't own Les Miserables , just in case you were wondering. Give feedback if you want. Um. Yes.]

Thénardier backhanded her across her face, Éponine fell to the ground. She received a hard kick to her stomach, she gasped for air and tried to keep her eyes from watering. Another foot slammed down on her rib cage, and she stifled a scream as a voice called out in the distance. Thénardier grabbed her hair " You're going to regret this." He sneered. Éponine heard footsteps in the distance. " Let's go before we get caught!" Thénardier hissed to his men. All but Montparnasse ran.

He leaned close to her ear and whispered "Maybe tonight I'll get lucky with you eh, mademoiselle?". Eponine raised her hand to slap him, but he caught it and kissed her cheek, moving down to her neck. She cried out in protest, but he didn't stop.

"Who's there?" A voice cried out in the distance. Montparnasse spat in Éponine's face.

"Until next time Miss Thénardier." He kicked her once more and ran off into the streets. The footsteps slowed to a stop. Éponine kept her face down.

"Éponine? You the one that screamed? Why? Are you alright?" Recognizing the voice, Éponine looked up. It was Marius. He could see the dark red mark on her cheekbone, he gingerly stroked his thumb over it.

"I... They were here to rob this house." she said breathlessly.

"And you stopped them? Oh Éponine! You are a godsend." Marius exclaimed. "Come! You must meet Cosette and we will get you cleaned up." He offered her his hand. She pushed his hand away and staggered to her feet.

"No, Monsieur. I should be getting home."

"But, you are hurt. I saw what those men-" he protested.

She cut him off "It's fine Marius. Nothing you need to worry about."

"Alright. Be safe 'Ponine. And thank you again for taking me to Cosette!" He pecked her on the cheek and ran off. "Don't forget the meeting tonight!" He called out over his shoulder.

"I'll be there!"

Éponine touched her cheek and smiled sadly as her vision blurred and tears rolled down her face. She was hurt. Not just physically, but emotionally. Marius was infatuated with someone else. She refused to call it love, as they had only seen each other briefly before tonight. Still, she wished it was her he loved, but now, her hopes seemed farther away. She wiped her tears away, inhaling sharply when she brushed her hand where her father had hit her. Her breathing made her ribs ache and she felt as though no matter how hard she tried, she could not get enough air. She stood there, just trying to catch her breath for a few moments.

If she kept her father waiting any longer, the worse things would get. She made her way down the alleyways and streets and eventually came to her house. A small three-story complex. They had two neighbours. A partly deaf, grumpy old man who cared little for anyone besides himself. The other was a single father with two small children. Their neighbours tried their hardest to avoid the Thénardiers. They surely heard the bickering between her parents, and especially when the beatings got out of control. But they never acknowledged these. Most likely because of her father's reputation. She sighed and opened the door.

Azelma, her sister, was sweeping the living room, although it would never truly be clean. But it was nice that she tried. "Papa is up stairs." Azelma said softly. Éponine was silent. "'Ponine. He's so angry. And-and he's not alone." Éponine closed her eyes and exhaled, then she headed for the stairs. As she passed Azelma, she took her younger sisters hand and squeezed it.

" It'll be okay 'Zelma. It will. I promise." She said, giving her a half-smile. She had been taking the brunt of the beatings so 'Zelma wouldn't have too. She did the same for Gavroche when he decided to be with them. She couldn't let him hurt them.

She heard soft snoring coming from her parents bedroom, and figured their mother had already drunk herself to sleep. Éponine walked into the bedroom, and saw her mother half laying on the bed. Éponine took the bottle from her hand, set it on the floor, and scooted her mother fully on the bed. Then she grabbed a blanket and covered her. She kissed her mother's forehead and walked out. She headed down the hallway to her fathers workroom. As soon as she opened the door she was grabbed roughly by the arm.

"What do you think you were doing back there, hmmm, Éponine?" Thénardier asked hitting her with each word.

"Papa, please, don't." She was able to get out before he slammed her against the wall and pinned her there, placing his arm against her neck.

"You realize we could have been caught by your stupid gimmick? Did you think about that? Did you? No. You did not. You were just thinking about yourself. You stupid little brat." He threw her to the centre of the room, she gasped for the air she desperately needed. Montparnasse grabbed her by her waist.

"You owe us big Eppie." He sneered " We coulda made out big with that house. And you ruined it." With that he pressed his lips to hers and held her tight.

"No!" She choked out trying to get her lips away from his. She brought her knee up to his crotch. He bellowed in pain and threw her to the side. Another man tried to grab at her, but she punched him causing him to stagger backwards. One man grabbed her from behind holding her arms behind her back. Another brought the handle of a knife down on her head. She cried out as blood started pouring down the left side of her head. The grip on her arms tightened and she heard a pop and immense pain emanated from her shoulder. She fell to the ground.

Azelma tried her best to ignore the cries coming from above. There was no way to drown it out. She sat on the ground for a better part of an hour. Éponine's screams intensified for a few minutes, then died down. "It's finally over." She said to herself. She heard a door open and close. Their father slowly walked down the stairs, a blood stained knife in hand. "Papa, what did you d-" Azelma was cut off by another desperate scream. "'Poninie!" Azelma started to run for the stairs, as she passed her father roughly grabbed her arm.

"Leave it alone." He whispered.

"But, Papa..." she begged, her eyes brimming with tears.

"I said, leave it alone girl!" Thénardier bellowed, throwing her to the floor, then walking out the door.

The screams continued for a while. Finally Azelma heard the men making their way downstairs. She walked past them, she noticed them buckling their belts. She avoided their gazes, slowly climbing up the stairs. She pushed the door open. The candles had been put out and she could hardly see, walking into the room she could make out a shape laying in the corner. "É-Éponine? Are you okay?" Azelma walked over and knelt next to her. "Éponine, can you hear me?" She moved her hair from her from her face and pulled back quickly when she felt something sticky. Her fingers were wet. Her eyes had adjusted some what and she finally looked at the surroundings. Blood was covering patches on the floor. A sickening pang hit Azelma as she felt, what had to be blood, soaking through her dress and stockings. She shakily put her hand above Éponine's mouth. Relieved, she felt small, albeit, inconsistent breaths. " Éponine, I'm going to get help. Okay? I'll be back soon."

With that Azelma took off running from the room and out of the house. Where would she go? Who would she go to? Gavroche. He had friends who might be able to help. Now she just had to remember where that Cafe was. Her legs carried her as fast as they could, darting in and out through streets. Finally she came to it. She burst through the door, clambering up the stairs as fast as she could.

An update should be coming along shortly. Just in case it doesn't, I'm sorry in advance. I have lovely school and work to attend to also. Like everyone else. Also, don't hate me if it sucks, well you can. But if you think it is awful, just let me know what type of changes you want. Also, I know it's short. I'm sorry.