A Change of Fate

Story Info.

This story starts right before Ms. Lovett lies to Mr. Todd about Lucy in the movie (not play). I do not own any of the characters from Sweeney Todd, although it would be pretty friggin' sweet if I did. Also, I might get some lines wrong because I don't feel like going through the movie to figure out what they said. I will try to keep the dialogue that I come up with as close to the characters as possible.

Chapter One

"Where's Lucy? Where's my wife?"

Mrs. Lovett stumbled over her words. This was the man she loved standing in front of her, right in the middle of her parlor. Gone for fifteen years and now he was finally back. She couldn't let him get away from her this time. She had to make something up.

"Poisoned 'erself. Arsenic. Tried to stop 'er, but she wouldn't listen to me. Oh, and he's got your daughter."

She hadn't needed to say his name; he knew instantly who she was talking about.

"Judge Turpin." He spat out.

Tears flooded Benjamin Barker's eyes and he realized how bad the situation truly was. He had stupidly thought that Lucy would still be here, raising Johanna, just waiting for him to come back. But, fifteen years was a long time. She had needed to find someone to take care of her, and Turpin was there, but he wanted different things than she had. Now she lay in ashes and it was all his fault.

He could have done something to stop this, couldn't he? He was too foolish to have seen what was happening before his very eyes, that day when they had been separated. He should have noticed the way Turpin gazed at her. Full of lust. But of course a sin committed by a judge wouldn't matter to anyone, he was above everything: the law, society, and definately above Benjamin Barker. It must have been easy to just throw him out of the picture, rape Lucy, and dispose of her when she was out of use to him. He was sick, twisted, and deserved to die more than anyone else in the world. Except himself; he deserved to die just as much as the Judge did, for his foolishness.

Mrs. Lovett could take no more of the guilt radiating from him. She continued.

"He drove 'er crazy, the judge did. The poison didn't kill 'er, but it left her feeling rather weak and all she did was just lie in bed day by day. She should've been in an 'ospital but Turpin had her wheeled off to Bedlam."

This seemed to cheer Barker up a bit; at least she hadn't died.

"Is she still residing there?"

A glimmer of hope shone in his eyes; he knew he could rescue her and then they'd be back together. He knew their love could break the bond holding her in eternal madness. Mrs. Lovett shook her head warily, not so sure if telling him all this had been a good idea; her chances might be ruined with him.

"She begs on the streets nowadays. Nobody pays 'er no mind though. She's become a loony over the years; I wouldn't recommend going off to find 'er, love."

But he wasn't listening to her. He had already grabbed his coat and was already halfway out the door.

"Wait!"

He turned around.

"What is it?" he asked impatiently.

"Be careful."

It was a whisper but he heard it and nodded, rushing into the streets.

Benjamin Barker had examined every beggar woman he had passed by going through the streets. Not one of them had been Lucy. They were all brunettes and redheads; Lucy had yellow hair. That was one thing about her that he'd never forget: the long, flowing, yellow hair that sparkled like gold when the sun hit it. He could recognize her from a mile away with all the beauty she possessed, and all the memories of her that he could recall. Admittedly, there weren't many, but enough to keep him going strong and confident.

Finally he came upon a bench and decided to rest for a moment. Directly in front of the bench was a large mansion. Lucky bugger. He thought to himself. A couple walked past him and stopped in front of the house.

"Oi, look it's old Turpin's 'ouse."

The woman smiled and nodded.

"Let's not doddle about for too long, dear, he doesn't like trespassers. You remember what he did to Jasper."

The man's face took on pain tht Sweeney recognized and nodded solemnly.

"All he did was look into the daughter's window for 'alf a second. He wasn't gandering or nothin'."

The woman squeezed his hand and they quickly walked away from the house without a second glance.

Turpin, he thought. Lucky bugger indeed.

--AUTHORS NOTE--

Reviews would be apprieciated! Sorry if the first chapter is a bit short, I'm working towards longer chapters. Keep reading to find out what happens next in this terrifying tale...A CHANGE OF FATE!(lol, always wanted to do that)