"Why did I agree to come to London in the winter?" I muttered, crossing my arms over my chest as I fought the knee-high snowdrifts.
Everything was blurry in the heavy snowfall. I was freezing in my simple hoodie. No one had bothered to tell me it was going to snow this week. I was completely lost so I just kept trudging on. Just as I felt I was going to drop, I passed a shop that read Open. I quickly walked in, stamping my feet on the mat to get the snow off. My jeans were soaked through. A pale red head came out of the back in one of those old fashioned.19th century dresses.
"You poor dear," she cried when she saw me. "You look 'alf frozen."
"I-I -I think I am," I replied, my teeth chattering.
"Come into the parlor, love. Sit by the fire me boy, Toby, 'as goin'."
What she had going was her serious London accent. I sat on the rug in front of the fireplace gratefully. I looked around and couldn't see a TV, a digital clock, or anything. Everything seemed to be from the same time period as her dress. I warmed up and my teeth finally stopped chattering.
"Why are you in pants? And of such an odd material. You really are dressed strangely, dearie."
"What do you mean? This is how most people dress."
"No, dearie. You must've been 'it on the 'ead. Where're you from?"
"I'm from New Orleans. I'm on vacation for a few weeks.'
"New Orleans?"
"New Orleans, Louisiana? The Big Easy? The United States of America?"
"Oh, you're one of those Americans."
I was seriously not getting through to this woman at all.
"Do you know what year it is?" I asked, fearing that maybe she was crazy.
"1847."
"What?" I shrieked, jumping up. "Lady, its 2011!"
"No, love, check the calendar. It's 1847. Now, I need to get me tenant from upstairs so 'e freezes to death. My name's Nellie Lovett, by the way."
"Lovett?" I asked my head spinning. The calendar on the wall was exactly today's date, except the year was 1847.
"Yes, love. I'll be back in moment and you can meet Mr. Todd."
"Oh God," I said hoarsely." I gotta go. I have to get out of this place. How the freak I got in the 19th century, I'll never know but I have got to leave."
I ran out, throwing the door open before she could stop me. I fought through the snow; desperate to get away. I had my head down and ran into something very solid. I looked up to see Sweeney Todd. I screamed, falling back into the snow. Scrambling to my feet, I turned the other way but he caught my arm before I could run.
"Let me go!" I cried trying to pull away.
"Where would you be going in weather like this?" he asked.
"Don't say I didn't warn you," I muttered under my breath.
I used his grip on my left arm as leverage to kick him in the jaw with my right foot. He let me go and I took off, running in the middle of the road where the horses and carriages had cleared the snow. I kept running until I was at least a mile away. It was when I collapsed on some nearby steps that the full situation hit me. I was in the 19th century, in 21st century clothes and an iPod in my pocket. Sweeney Todd was real so that meant Turpin was real too. That nearly made me run back. I really screwed up by kicking the one guy who could possibly keep me safe from Turpin.
"What have I done?" I groaned.
I curled up on the steps, shivering. It was so freakin' cold! A little boy came up to me and I knew it was Toby.
"Go away," I snapped.
"Mrs. Lovett sent me to come get you. She doesn't want you to freeze. I've been on the streets before and it gets worse than this."
"I am NOT going back to that shop."
"I don't trust Mr. Todd either."
"Not just him, I don't trust anyone. You, her, him, no one. You probably think I'm completely crazy, and I honestly don't care. I'll be fine on my own." I got up and walked away but the kid followed me. "Look, kid, Go away! I don't want your help. I may be a girl but I've been through a lot worse and I can take care of myself."
"Yeah, Mr. Todd has a bruise on his jaw where you kicked him. I have to thank you for that one."
"I don't like being grabbed. It was self- defense. Now leave me alone."
I pulled out my iPod, making sure Toby couldn't see it and put in the ear buds. I kept it under my hoodie, tucked in a hidden pocket. I turned it up so I couldn't hear him and I started to sing.
Oh what the hell she says
I just can't win for losing
And she lays back down
Man there's so many times
I don't know what I'm doin'
Like I don't know now
By the light of the moon
She rubs her eyes
Says it's funny how the night
Can make you blind
I can just imagine
And I don't know what I'm supposed to do
But if she feels bad then I do too
So I let her be
And she says oooh
I can't take no more
Her tears like diamonds on the floor
And her diamonds bring me down
Cuz I can't help her now
She's down in it
She tried her best and now she can't win it's
Hard to see them on the ground
Her diamonds falling down
She sits down and stares into the distance
And it takes all night
And I know I could break her concentration
But it don't feel right
By the light of the moon
She rubs her eyes
Sits down on the bed and starts to cry
And there's something less about her
And I don't know what I'm supposed to do
So I sit down and I cry too
And don't let her see
And she says oooh
I can't take no more
Her tears like diamonds on the floor
And her diamonds bring me down
Cuz I can't help her now
She's down in it
She tried her best and now she can't win it's
Hard to see them on the ground
Her diamonds falling down
She shuts out the night
Tries to close her eyes
If she can find daylight
She'll be all right
She'll be all right
Just not tonight
And she says oooh
I can't take no more
Her tears like diamonds on the floor
And her diamonds bring me down
Cuz I can't help her now
She's down in it
She tried her best and now she can't win it's
Hard to see them on the ground
Her diamonds falling down
I felt Toby tug on my arm and I looked up to see a carriage coming. I just so happened to be in the middle of the road. He pulled me to safety and we toppled into the snow.
"Thanks. I wasn't paying attention." I helped him up." Come on, kid, let's get you home. You saved my life, so I'll be nice. I don't need you freezing out here. You've had a hard enough life as it is."
He nodded and I walked him back to the shop. They were in the front so they noticed me with him. I was too cold and tired to care, so I just walked away once Toby was inside. Todd came out to stop me.
Thinking it was Toby, I said, "Look, kid, leave me alone. I told you I was only walking you home because you kept that stupid carriage from hitting me." I tried to yank my arm away, but I couldn't. Turning, I saw him towering over me. I sighed heavily. "Great, it's you. I have no idea why you people won't leave me alone, especially you. You kill people for a living so why do you even care what happens to me?" His jaw dropped as he let me go. I wasn't about to stop there. I was on a roll.
"Yeah, that's right. I know, Barker. I know your whole freakin' story. As a female, I want Turpin to die a slow, very painful death, but I don't like the way you go about it. Now leave me alone, you git. Or do you want to help me because I remind you of your precious Lucy and Johanna?'
You see, when I get mad, I tend to run my mouth, using the most hateful things I can think of. It usually, well, always lands me in a situation much like this one. He scowled and slapped me across my face.
"That's it!" I snarled, pouncing.
I didn't care that I was only 14 and he was a grown man or that he was a murderer. I was pissed and he had hit me so I was out for revenge. He was about to die. I jumped on his back, using my momentum to knock him to the ground. I started stomping on his ribs. He grabbed my ankle, pulling me down. Todd pinned my wrists so I curled my legs against my chest and pushed him off of me. I took his razor from its holster, pressing it to his throat while I sat on his chest.
"Never slap me," I growled. "Do it again and I might just have to do something that I doubt I'll regret later."
"And what might that be?"
I moved the razor and rubbed it against his cheek, using the flat side of the blade. I smirked evilly.
"Kill you."
I got up and tucked the razor in my black leather boots. I grinned at him before walking away. Suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped around my waist and picked me up. Todd carried me into the shop as I fought to be let go. He dropped me in one of the booths and stood in front of the door.
"What is with you people?" I screamed. "Why won't you leave me alone?"
"You're a half- mad girl, not even a woman, who's out in the streets in the middle of December and you know too much about me. It seems pretty obvious to me," he replied coolly.
"You- ugh. Is Toby in here?" I asked.
"No, 'e's upstairs getting ready for bed. It's late," Mrs. Lovett said.
"Good, so he can't hear me say this. You," I pointed to Todd," are a psycho barber who kills his customers and you bake them into pies. Why should you care if I freeze to death? If I die, your secret goes with me. Let me freeze to death, dang it, instead of kidnapping me! I am not half mad! I'm not the freakin' Mad Hatter. And I'm 14, thank you very much. I'm perfectly old enough to take care of myself."
I noticed Todd rubbing his side and smirked. I got up, going to the baker.
"Got anything to drink?" I asked.
She gave me a shot of gin which I threw back. I was fine at first, but then I started coughing. I noticed Todd's smug look and I punched him in the gut. We both doubled over, him holding his stomach and me cradling my fist.
"Ow you have some hard abs," I groaned.
"How does a girl hit so hard?"
"You two are childish," Mrs. Lovett sighed.
"Trust me; I'll get a lot worse if you insist on keeping me here."
"Shut up!" Todd roared. "You're staying here and that's final!"
"Who do you think you are, my father? Yeah right," I scoffed." You can't tell me what to do."
"There, there dear. Calm down. It's best not to argue with Mr. T."
"I ain't scared of his punk butt. At least, not now anyways. I'll be scared to sleep tonight though. But then again, I do have this."I pulled the razor out of my boot.
"Give Mr. Todd back 'is razor, love."
"Why? So he can slit my throat in my sleep or so you can come after me with your cleaver 'cuz I've got dirt on you too, and you'll get paranoid that I'll tell a certain someone."
"Been keeping secrets, Mrs. Lovett?"
"You'd be surprised," I smirked.
"Tell," he demanded.
"I'm not at liberty to say, especially since you slapped me and kidnapped me! But, then again, I could tell you just to see your reaction."
"Tell anyone and I swear I'll kill you myself," she growled.
I scooped up one of the knives off the counter and threw it into the wood of the cabinet right beside her head.
"Threaten me again and, next time, I won't miss," I replied easily.
I sat down in a booth, propping my feet on the back off the chair, my back against the table. I took off my Hogwarts hoodie to reveal my black pirate t-shirt underneath. It was only a pair of crossed swords behind a skull, but hey, it was still pirates. I took out my iPod, putting the ear buds in. I began to sing.
The king and his men
Stole the queen from her bed
And bound her in her bones
The seas be ours
And by the powers
Where we will, we'll roam
Yo ho, all hands
Hoist the colors high
Heave ho, thieves and beggars
Never shall we die
Yo ho, all together
Hoist the colors high
Heave ho, thieves and beggars
Never shall we die
Some have died
And some are alive
Other men sail the seas
With the keys to the cage
And the devil to pay
We lay to Fiddler's Green
The bell has been raised
From its watery grave
Hear its sepulchral tone
A call to all
Pay heed the squall
And turn your sails to home
Yo ho, all hands
Hoist the colors high
Heave ho, thieves and beggars
Never shall we die
Yo ho, all together
Hoist the colors high
Heave ho, thieves and beggars
Never shall we die