The clouded evening veiled the carriage that pulled up a little way from the barracks, as well as covering the stars and moon.

  Four figures jumped down from the carriage while the fifth, shorter figure stayed on the carriage to keep an eye on the horses.

   "Are you sure you're going to be alright, Alger?" Kaylin asked the boy who sat holding onto the horses' reins.

   "Right as rain, ma'am. Don't yous worry!" The boy grinned, tipping his hat in her direction.

  "Well, if you're sure..." Kaylin smiled back.

   "We'll be as quick as we can, try not to make any noise, or as much noise as possible that will draw attention." Combeferre reminded him.

    Alger nodded.

   Combeferre, Kaylin, Marius and Bahorel stealthily made there way through the shadows to the barracks.

   "So how are we getting in there again?" Marius asked, as they stood underneath the towering, wooden wall.

  "According to Clara, there is a small, side gate that is apparently unguarded -" Combeferre started to say before he was cut off.

  "Now that's a bit ridiculous! Who has an unguarded gate in a barrack?" Kaylin rolled her eyes.

  "Well, you can ask Captain Allard yourself if you really want to know! But right now, we have to locate that side gate." Combeferre said.

   "Did Clara say where it was?" Bahorel asked.

  "She said it was on the west side of the wall, near where the building is." Combeferre responded.

  "Well that's convenient..." Kaylin shrugged.

  "I'm guessing that they use that side gate to bring in cannons to avoid having to drag the cannons all the way from the front gate to the building for storing." Combeferre guessed.  

  "So, are we near the west wall or what?" Marius asked.

 "We're near the west wall. Enjolras and Clara made sure that we arrive near it." Combeferre said. 

   "Wow, they certainly know how to plan those two..." Kaylin was impressed.

  "Right, and if we mess up their plans, Enjolras is going to have all our heads on a silver serving tray..." Combeferre rolled his eyes.

  "Of course he will..." Kaylin rolled her eyes before she gave Combeferre a peck on the cheek. 

 The four quietly felt their way along the west wall till they found the gate.

    "Is it just randomly left opened, or are we picking locks for the next half hour?" Kaylin asked.

   "If it was locked, Clara would have said." Bahorel said.

   "How does Clara manage to know all of this?!" Marius demanded in awe.

   "Apparently, she and Sébastien used to sneak into the barracks through this gate when they were little." Combeferre shrugged.

   "Why do I feel like those two are like Enjolras and Kaylin?" Bahorel asked. 

  "Hey!" Kaylin protested, grinning.

    "Cut down the noise, the three of you, please!" Combeferre hissed, "If we get caught, we're dead meat... literally." 

   Slipping through the gate, Kaylin immediately saw the building.

  "Easy -" She started to say but was cut off when Combeferre slapped a hand over her mouth. 

  "Shhh! There are guards patrolling..." He whispered into her ear.

     "Sorry..." Kaylin whispered back, apologising.

   "Owww!" Marius hissed as he stubbed his foot against a rock.

  "This is going to be a long night..." Combeferre sighed, massaging his forehead. 

~⚜~

     Enjolras' head snapped up from the book he was reading. 

   "The first load is here," Enjolras said, peering through one of the living room windows at Clara's private mansion. 

   "They took their time..." Clara commented, not looking up from a map as she lounged on the sofa.

  "I should have just told Kaylin to stay behind," Enjolras sighed, "Right, next group, get ready to head off."

   Courfeyrac, AJ, Feuilly and Ava got up from their spots on the floor, stretching and yawning. 

 "So we take our loot to Sébastien's mansion, right?" Courfeyrac confirmed. 

    Enjolras groaned, "For the last time, yes!" 

  At that moment, Kaylin came bouncing into the room. 

    "We're back!" She sang, announcing her arrival.

   "Thank you Lady Obvious..." Enjolras rolled his eyes, "Have you already unloaded the crates and stored them down in the cellar?"

   "Nope! Combeferre and Bahorel are doing that, Marius is in the kitchen getting some ice for his foot and his head. Don't ask, it has been a long night for us..." Kaylin flopped onto a nearby lounger. 

   "Yup, never sending anyone on group missions ever again." Enjolras groaned.

  ~⚜~

     Clara kept fiddling with the seem of her sleeve.

   "Nervous?" Sébastien asked her.

  "Yup, I've never done this kind of thing before, and if I mess it up, Enjolras is going to shake the living daylights out of me." Clara took a deep breath.

  "Don't think to much of it, and trust me, Enjolras won't harm you. His bark is worse than his bite." Grantaire assured her. 

   "Thank you," Clara smiled before she felt the carriage come to a sudden holt. "Are we here?" 

  "Yes, we leave the carriage here with Gavroche while you, Sébastien, Grantaire and I get there on foot."  Enjolras said.

  "Okay... and I'm praying with all my heart we don't mess up and get ourselves on the guillotine." Clara tried to lighten up the mood with dark humour.

   Grantaire laughed.

 "Seriously mess up and trust me, we will be..." Enjolras said darkly.

     Grantaire gulped.

    The rest of the looting went by with only a few minor hiccups, namely, Enjolras telling Grantaire and Clara off right, left and centre.

    "Right, I think that's the most we can get in the carriage.  So, Sébastien, Grantaire and Clara you're to take the last load back to the carriage while I set the building on fire... Speaking of Clara, where on earth is she?" Enjolras scowled, looking around the room.

   "She was right behind me I promise!" Grantaire raised his palms up in defence.

  Enjolras groans, "You have got to be kidding me?! Change of plans, Sébastien, Grantaire, take this stuff back and wait at the carriage, if there are any emergencies, leave without us. I'll go find Clara and then blow the place up." And with that, he turned around on his heels and marched off.

     Clara was lost.

   Yeah she had been here to the barracks so many times, she should know her way around. But no, she was lost. 

   Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her and she started panicking. She ducked behind a nearby canon and waited.

   Silence.

  As she slowly got to her feet, a hand clamped over her mouth and another hand grabbed her arms and pulled her along.

   Clara struggled against her captors grasp but he was to strong.

  The person dragged her outside and pushed her down behind a mound of sandbags by the west wall.

   "Are you crazy?! Do you have any idea what you could have cost us?" A voice hissed angrily at her.

   Clara blinked and tried to focus her eyes in the dark. 

 Enjolras. And boy did he look mad.

    "I'm sorry, I got a bit lost..." Clara whispered.

  Enjolras sighed, "Well this time, listen to orders and stay right here and do not move. I'll be right back."

   "Where are you going?" Clara asked, but she got no reply.

  A few minutes later an there was an explosion. The building was ablaze in minutes and guards were running around yelling and shouting.

   Clara's heart started pounding. 

  'What if he didn't make it out in time? What if they find him?' Clara panicked. 

   Staying in her hiding spot, she watched the scene unfold before her. Guards were making water lines, passing buckets back and forth. 

  She wondered how the building was ablaze in such a short amount of time. Then it hit her. 

     Enjolras had been disappearing a few times during the raid. He had been probably laying a trail of gunpowder all over the building and even outside by the looks of it. The fire was spreading quickly.

   "Come on, he need to go! I can't stand being here any longer." 

  Clara turned to see Enjolras crouched beside her, breathing heavily and looking as if he was on the verge of a mental breakdown. 

   "Are you okay?" She asked, concern filling her mind.

  "I'm fine!" He snapped, but unconvincingly, "Let's just go."

      He grabbed her arm and dragged her towards the side gate, lying low as to not be seen.

   "Enjolras, are you sure you're fine? You don't look good..." Clara asked again.

     "I-I'm fine... It's probably the smoke." Enjolras refused to look at her.

   "Okay then..." Clara bit her lip, nodding.

~⚜~

     "There you are! We were wondering when you'd get back." Kaylin exclaimed as she looked up from her spot on the couch as Enjolras and Clara entered, leaving Grantaire and Sébastien to unload the cargo. 

   "Let's just say, someone got lost." Enjolras says dryly, shooting Clara a glance before falling into a coughing fit.

   "Enjolras!" Kaylin jumped up in alarm and rushed to his side.

  "And you're sure you're 'fine'?" Clara crossed her arms and looked at him.

    "I'm fine, Clara! Alright! I just breathed in too much smoke when I set the place on fire, that's all." Enjolras scowled.

   Courfeyrac and Combeferre exchange glances.

      "Maybe we should get Joly to check you over?" Kaylin fussed, leading Enjolras over to the couch and pushing him down to sit, him protesting all the more.

   "No I do not need Joly to check me over, Kay, I'm fine!" Enjolras argued.

  "Man, you always say that!" Courfeyrac said.

      Enjolras shoots a warning glare at him.

   "Enjolras, the last time you breathed in smoke was a disaster -" Combeferre started but was cut off.

   "The last time?!" Kaylin shrieked.

  "Desmond Combeferre!" Enjolras yelled, eyes wide and mad.

     "Enjolras, what does he mean, 'the last time'?!" Kaylin rounds on her brother and glares at him.

  Enjolras crossed his arms and kept silent, glaring now and then at Combeferre who shrunk under his gaze.

   "Enjolras?" Kaylin repeated, softer.

 "Not now, Kaylin! Not now, not ever! Just drop the blasted subject!" Enjolras fumed, rising to his feet and storming out of the room.

    Silence filled the room.

  "Courfeyrac, may I have a word with you?" Clara requested, gesturing with her head towards the door.

   "Uh, yes, of course." Courfeyrac followed her out.

  "What's going on with him? He's crabbier than usual." Clara whispered.

   "Nothing! Everything is fine, Enjolras is always crabby, Kaylin is always protective of him, Grantaire loves his wine and Gavroche will do anything for a pastry! We should go back in!" Courfeyrac rambled before ducking back into the drawing room. 

    Clara stared at the polished wood of the door. 

  'Where's Enjolras gone?' She suddenly thought.

~⚜~

    Enjolras ran blindly through the garden, not knowing where he was going.

  Screams. Shouts. An explosion. Crying. Everyone running.

    Enjolras harshly wiped the tears off his face. 

  'Marcelin! Combeferre! Courfeyrac! All of you get back!'

  Smoke. Flames towering over everyone.

    "STOP!" Enjolras yelled before he snapped out of his daze. 

  He looked around and found himself leaning over a fountain.

    Looking down at his reflection, Enjolras saw a boy he had forever been trying to erase from memory and existence.  A five year old boy full of bitterness. Bitterness towards himself.

   'Mother? Sing for me please?'

   'What would you like me to sing, darling?'

   'The song you wrote for me!'

  Enjolras spun round, snapped a twig of the nearest tree and threw it into the fountain, causing ripples and making his reflection disappear.

   He started pacing frantically in front of the fountain, shaking his head to try and get rid of the memories that haunted him.

  "Please go, just leave me be..." He muttered, "Just leave me alone!" He growled.

   "Enjolras?"

  Enjolras snapped his head towards the source of the voice.

    Clara stood a few feet away looking at him with concern all over her face.

   "What are you doing out here?" Enjolras asked, straightening himself out so that he didn't look like a dishevelled madman. 

   "This is my garden," Clara said slowly, "Enjolras, are you alright? And answer me truthfully." 

  Enjolras hesitated.  

     "I wish I could say 'I'm fine', but I can't. And, I can't talk about it either because you'll hate me, and so will everyone else. Please, you can't mention anything you have just witnessed to Kaylin or anyone else. Keep it to yourself." Enjolras warned her softly before he brushed past her and made his way back to the mansion.

   Clara shook her head and sighed. This day was full of to many confusing events.

~|~*~|~⚜~|~*~|~

    Here's the 12th chapter!!! Hope you all enjoyed it and I'll see you all in the next one!! The next... hmmm.... two, three chapters maybe have a lot of... drama!!!

  Claire ⚜