Broken Thorns

So I wondered one day "what would have really happened if the ending to Sweeney Todd had been different?" Although not much is happening in this chapter (avoids flying objects for the poor quality), I assure you all there will be much drama for the chapters to come. Reviews will be much appreciated. I am a n00b and would love to hear your words of wisdom on how to make this fanfic better. Thankyou, and I hope you liked the first chapter. ;)

The trapdoor opened within the ceiling of the bake house and the body of a..no, it couldn't be, could it? But it was. It was a body of a woman! Mrs Lovett stepped forwards once the body had hit the floor with a sickening crunch, though not as bad as it would have been, since the Beadle's lifeless form broke most of the fall.

She knew she should be looking for Toby who was hiding away in the darkness. She bit her bottom lip and looked up as the trapdoor closed, just in time to hear the echoing voice of the Judge "Where is she?" reverberate around the stone walls until it was extinguished by the thickness of the trapdoor.

Mr Todd would not be happy if he knew Toby had escaped because Nellie was too preoccupied with the dead woman. But her curiosity got the better of her. Why on earth was he killing women? As she stepped hesitantly towards the body, her eyes widened, very glad that she had indeed served her curiosity. "You..." she breathed out in a whisper. The woman was none other than Lucy Barker, her yellow hair spilled across the floor, darkened in patches from the rusty blood.

Quickly she took up Lucy's hands and began dragging her towards the furnace. If Sweeney found out, he would be extremely mad! He may even kill her!

Fear struck down in the pit of Nellie's stomach, she didn't even get a few steps across the floor, when the trapdoor opened again! Down came Judge Turpins body, landing upon the Beadle's in turn.

She jumped slightly as he landed right beside her and let go of Lucy's hands. Her own reached to her chest as she breathed out "Dear lawd!"

Quickly gathering up Lucy's hands again, she didn't have time to check the Judge or celebrate over it, like she normally would have done. She always thought that once the Judge was dead, Sweeney might stop wallowing around in self-pity and maybe, just maybe, pay more attention to her.

Instantly her thoughts snapped back to reality, when the Judge's body moved. He wasn't dead? Nellie froze when the Judge's hand quickly reached out and grabbed the hem of her skirt. Still keeping a firm hold of Lucy she tried to kick him off. "Die! Gawd in heaven, die!" As the Judge took his last shuddering breath, his eyes wide with mercy as he looked up at Nellie, they eventually glazed over and he rolled over, and was gone.

Without further delays, Nellie continued dragging Lucy across the floor. A stomping noise was heard from above. Sweeney was coming down! Panic stricken, Nellie let go of Lucy's arms to open the furnace. She then reached down a lifted Lucy up with great effort and determination. Sweeney's thunderous steps could be heard coming down the bake house stairs!!

She hauled Lucy's lifeless form in, which quickly caught a light, slamming the oven door shut, just as Sweeney burst through the door to the bake house. Frowning in confusion, covered in the Judge's blood which trickled down his face. "Why did yer scream?" He asked, annoyed that he had to let that boy upstairs free, when there did not seem to be a problem at all down here.

"Oh...!" was all Nellie could breath, as she tried to casually brush back her ruffled hair with the tips of her fingers, and catching her breath back. "'E was catchin' 'old of my dress. But 'e's finished now" She said as casually as she could, nodding in the direction of the Judge's body.

Sweeney rolled his eyes in annoyance that he really had allowed that boy to escape, all for nothing. "Open the door" He muttered in his annoyance as he strode across the concrete flooring, towards the Judge's body. Brandishing the razor still clasped in his hand at the furnace.

Nellie froze and watched him storm over to Turpin, panic rising once more in the pit of her stomach. "Open the door, I said!" Sweeney said more firmly and demandingly when Nellie did nothing.

Nellie jumped at his stern voice and quickly turned around, taking a firm hold of the furnaces handle and forcing it up. She could only hope that Lucy's body was now so badly burnt that he wouldn't recognise her.

Todd, now stood beside the Judge, looking down at him with a wrinkled nose of disgust as he rolled up his sleeves. Even in death Sweeney still hated the very sight of him, and knew he would be completely satisfied once he saw that grotesque body burning to ash.

He heaved the Judge up and cringed within the pit of his stomach as he felt his skin press against the lifeless form. Quickly dragging it across the floor, he threw the body into the furnace, never once glancing at the woman's charred body, never once noticing a strand of blonde hair that danced across her face before being claimed by the flames. Nellie breathed a quiet sigh of relief, and closed the door.

The three sat quietly at the table together. All with a glass of gin clasped in their hands. Sweeney was scowling away, his lips parting by a fraction before closing again, almost as though he was muttering quietly to himself.

Toby was looking pale, although who could blame the poor boy? It took a while until he had finally crawled out of his hiding place and promised he would not tell a soul. Toby still hated Mr Todd with a vengeance and blamed him for Nellie's actions, deciding that he must have forced her to chop up these bodies. At that thought, Toby realised he couldn't leave Mrs Lovett by herself with this deranged man. It was still a bit unnerving (even if they did spare him) to be sat with two of the most dangerous people in London, quietly downing Gin.

Nellie was watching Sweeney closely and with good reason. After all the ranting he had done about the Judge in the past, she always suspected she would have seen a better side to him once he had finally cast his revenge. Yet he sat there looking even more troubled then before.

"Yer alrigh', love?" She asked him after a few more seconds of silence, slowly edging her hand across the table surface, he eyes flickering to his own hand flat upon the surface, and wondered if she had the courage to place her hand upon his.

"O' course..." He instantly muttered back, his eyes remaining glazed over, still lost in thought.

Nellie opened her mouth to answer back, but Toby cut her short as he got to his feet. "I'm 'eading to bed, maam"

"Alrigh' Toby dear" Nellie offered him a warm smile and watched him leave the room, before she turned her attention back to Todd.

"Yer don't look alrigh'..." She paused as she gave him a quick once over, her hand edged a bit more towards his hand. "...yer look worse for wares"

It happened so suddenly, that Nellie didn't even realised it had happened at first, and assumed she imagined it. But as she looked down at her hand she realised how real it all was. His hand remained upon hers and didn't flinch away. It was cold compared to her warm hand, but much softer, maybe due to all the foam and moisturiser he applied to the men's unshaven faces. Her heart pounded in her chest, she could feel the heat rising to her cheeks as her chest rose and fell under her shuddering nervous breaths. She remained silently stunned as she slowly forced her gaze away from their hands, to Mr Todd's face.

But his expression was far more shocking then his actions. He was no longer dazing into thin air, but looking directly into her eyes. But he did not ware a scowl, nor was he frowning. He had a pained sad look upon his face. It was almost as if he was trying to tell her something, or was perhaps wondering if he should.

"Mr T! What's wrong with ya...?"

He instantly let go of her hand and also got to his feet.

"Mr T?" Nellie jumped to her feet in turn as confusion and worry set in.

But Sweeney ignored her, turning his back upon her he walked out the shop, slamming the door behind him.

Nellie bit her bottom lip as she heard him stomp up the stairs. Perhaps she was foolish, or perhaps she really felt like now was the time to talk to him before he went back into his usual moody ways. Either way, after a moment or two of standing in silence and wondering if she should or shouldn't, she eventually decided to follow him.