Chapter 2

The first thing Grantaire noticed was the pain in his head. He slowly moved to make himself more comfortable. The sound of ringing chains filled the room.

“So, you’re awake.”

His eyes shot open, but too quickly, as black spots filled his vision. Everything was spinning and he couldn’t focus. There wasn’t an inch of his body left that didn’t hurt, and it felt like his head was filled with clouds. The same blond man as earlier was sitting on the edge of a desk. Judging by the furniture and many maps spread around, this must be the captain’ quarters.

Why the hell would he be here?

“Where are the others?” he asked – no, demanded. Where was Éponine? Was she still alive?

The man shrugged. “Dead. Gone. Who knows?”

How could he talk so lightly about all those lives? How could he throw them away like they were nothing? “Monster!” Grantaire shouted. The sound made his head throb and he flinched. It didn’t stop the rising anger inside. “How could you!” Éponine! She couldn’t… she wasn’t… No, it just wasn’t possible. Ép couldn’t be dead!

He tried to get up, wanted to strangle him, feel the life leave that body. The only thing that prevented him from that, was the chain around his neck. He was chained like someone would attach a dog to prevent them from running away. Yes, his feet and hands were bound too, but loosely. Just enough to slow down his walking, to make using his arms a bit more difficult. It was the chain around his neck that held him into place.

“But let me start again. Welcome on the Musain. I am-”

“I know who you are,” Grantaire interrupted him coldly. Why should he be polite to the man who held him prisoner, who killed without second thought?

Of course he had heard of him. Captain Enjolras, the fear of the Seven Seas. The fearless leader of Les Amis, the most powerful pirates in existence. They were invincible.

Enjolras smiled. “Good. That saves time.”

“Why am I here?” Why was he here, instead of in the cells? Why was he brought to the captain? Why would the captain introduce himself to someone as Grantaire? There were more powerful, more important men than him on the ship. Or they were no mor- They were all… (No. Grantaire couldn’t be the only survivor. He couldn’t. Nonono, that wasn’t possible. They had to live!)

Why was he here, instead of being dead?

“Because I’ve started to like you. You were courageous earlier. Stupid, suicidal, but courageous. You have something valuable and it would fit Les Amis.”

Again Grantaire tried to get up, tried to get to that madman that was talking like he wasn’t human, but a god who could decide about lives. Of course captain Enjolras would be a madman. No sane human could do what he had done. (No human would look so much like a god).

“You’re mad! You can’t just decide to keep me around, to do as you please!” The chain around his neck seemed to tell him differently. Enjolras could do exactly as he wanted, and Grantaire would have no way to prevent it. “I’m not your pet!”

Then why was he chained down like one?