The girl heard the clink! of the coins as her latest client got off of her and fixed himself. She could smell the alcohol as he leaned down and whispered in her ear.

"Expect me again next week, ma cherie."

Melaina flinched away from him and heard his husky laugh. She didn't move from her spot of the beach themed room that her Madam had made for her and her co-workers in their brothel. Melaina waited for the man to leave. Wiping her mouth, she sat up and brushed her brown hair away from her face as her fingers groped around for the bag that held about three francs.

Gripping the bag tight, Melaina fixed her skirts and got up from the bed. She heard the gasps, giggles, and moans from her other co-workers as they worked. Her shift was finished and all Melaina wanted to do was to go home. It was only her second month of being a prostitute and she wondered if it would get any better. She didn't want to ask any of the other high-end prostitutes since they knew she was new. They always seemed to look down at her and whisper to each other about her figure. Melaina was skinny enough for a girl of the nineteen years that she was, but she felt like a small girl besides the women.

Slipping the bag in a pocket, Melaina ran her fingers through her chin length brunette hair. Her green eyes looked around her room before slipping out of the door and closing it behind her. She saw Faline with a well off man right behind her heels.

"Oh, don't wait up for me, Mel dear." Melaina heard Faline call out. The brunette didn't reply as she sped down the stairs and passed the clients with the others.

"Pretty mademoiselle, where are you going?" The girl heard a man's voice and didn't reply as she kept walking towards her madam who was conversing with two of her other co-workers. Melaina didn't turn around until she felt a grip on her wrist.

"I said, where are you going?" She smelled mint on his breath and closed her eyes tightly.

"Please, monsieur. I need to go." Melaina begged as she tried to get out of his grip.

"Oh, no. You're coming with me." The man said as he pulled her towards the stairs. Melaina's eyes widened and she thrashed at him.

"Let me go! Madam!" She said as she turned around and tried to catch the attention of her Madam. She saw her raise her eyes, the rest of her face covered by a veil to conceal her identity.

"It's for the money, Mel. Go do your duty." The girl heard her whisper.

No, my shift is over. You said so! Melaina's thoughts screamed, but her tongue turned to ash as she relented and led the man to her room. She kept her eyes down the whole way and flinched as his hands grazed her hips over the dress.

"I shall please you, monsieur." She mumbled as she closed the door lightly behind her.

"I'll be back for you, dear. You're a feisty little one, aren't you?" Melaina heard the man say as he fixed the lapels on his jacket.

Melaina's voice was dull and dry. "Thank you, monsieur." I was trying to fight you off, you fool. She thought as she turned her light green eyes up towards him.

"Pretty little thing you are. Too bad though, I would bring you with me back home. Here," He said as he threw a bag full of francs. Melaina caught it and didn't dare to open it. "I'll be back for you next week." She heard him say as his fingers traced her chin.

Twisting away, Melaina stared at his feet until he realized she wasn't going to say anything. He closed the door after he left and Melaina took a deep breath. Mustering up the courage, Melaina's fingers twisted at the bag and she dropped the coins in her lap. Counting slowly, Melaina found that he had paid her twelve francs.

"This is... so much." She whispered and smiled gently. It was a bad way to get money, in her opinion, but soon their debt would be gone. Melaina and her mother were left with the debt that her father had accumulated over the years after he passed. Her mother, Georgina, worked as a seamstress in two different shops. Businesses turned Melaina away since they said she was 'too dull' and 'naive' to work at their shops. Georgina said the only place for her daughter to work was as a whore. There had been many arguments, but her mother won. She always did.

Le Mystérieux was the only brothel that wanted to take Melaina in. Madam was kind to her, since she was knew, but didn't tell her how it would hurt the first time. Mother told her that it would pass, but for Melaina it was pain the whole time. It was pain again with this man, no matter how well he paid she didn't want to be with him a second time.

Peeking out of the window, Melaina saw the stars glittering in the sky. I better go home, Mother will be waiting. She thought as she slipped the heavy bag in her pocket and fled downstairs. Walking with her head down, Melaina grabbed her coat and left before Madam could see her. Slipping her coat on, Melaina hid under her hood and walked home, keeping her eyes downcast.

Even though she and her mother are still well off, Melaina wore all of her clothes till they were rags. Her mother always criticized her and said that she should go out and buy new clothes, but Melaina didn't see a problem with what she wore. During her time at the brothel, the women had to wear something sheer and Madam always gave it to them when they walked in.

Crisscrossing her way in and out of alleys, Melaina saw rats running around and a boy about twelve chasing after it. "Little boy! Why must you chase the rat?" She called after him. The boy turned around and looked at her. "The name's Gavroche, lady. And we boys must eat something. You should know that!" He said with a cheeky grin before sprinting off.

Gagging slightly, Melaina shook her head and finally saw the gate that enclosed her home. Glancing back, she saw a small shadow by the alley and thought she glimpsed the boy's blond hair. Sighing, Melaina closed the gate behind her and lifted her skirts so the thorns wouldn't rip at them.

"Melaina? Is that you? What took you so long?" Her mother's sharp voice made its way to her and Melaina made her frown turn into a small, forced smile.

"I'm here, Mother. There was a... unexpected client." Mel said as she made her way towards the kitchen, taking out the bag full of twelve francs and kept the smaller bag hidden. She might just go pay the little boy a visit the next day.

I just wanted to let everyone know I'm doing a slight AU, I guess. There's going to be elements from the book and the movie. I'm also not going to get everyone's personalities 100% so bear with me. :3