A few quick author's notes: I do not own the character of Benjamin Barker, this story is based off of the Tim Burton film, and the characters may seem a bit OOC throughout the story, but please bear with me!! Please read and review. It would be greatly appreciated!

Chapter One — 1862

The front door creaked open just as ten-year-old Benjamin Barker woke up from a fitful night's sleep. He lay in bed for a few minutes, just listening to the wind gently blowing in. Even though it was approaching springtime, the weather seemed not to care, as the gentle breeze quickly became as cold as the middle of winter. He rose, tiptoeing carefully so as to not wake his parents and baby sister, but stopped just outside their door.

Inside, he heard the voice of a strange man with a strange accent.

"Well, well! Wha've we 'ere? Such a pretty li'l thing, ain't she? Too bad she'll be the first to go…"

"No!" Benjamin's father earnestly whispered. "Take me. Take anything else in the house. The china, the silverware, my knives—anything but my family!"

Benjamin's father, William Barker, was a well-known barber who had just received a new set of shaving knives as a gift from a local judge for three years' worth of great shaves, and all of London knew about it. Therefore, knowing this was an offer he shouldn't refuse, the man nodded, grinning. "Alrigh', Barker. Go fetch yer knives and bring 'em to me out in the alley. If ya ain't out there in two minutes, the baby goes first."

"Alright, Paolo. I'll be out there in one."

Benjamin heard footsteps coming his way, so he quickly hid underneath a table. In the darkness, the man did not see him. He passed right by the table and, after quickly glancing back to make sure William was following him, went out the door and to the mouth of the alley.

Staying true to his word, William said nothing to his wife or children before picking up his knives and meeting Paolo. Benjamin, curious as to what was going on, followed his father. Creeping along the house's perimeter in darkness, he hid behind a small bush.

"Here," William said, handing the box of knives to Paolo, "take them. Now, please—leave me and my family alone. We have done nothing. Enjoy the blades."

"Oh, I will," Paolo said, opening one just as William turned back toward the street. "I'll enjoy them almost as much as I enjoy this!"

Benjamin's eyes widened as he realized what the man was about to do, and screamed. "FATHER!"

But William was already on the ground, twitching, as blood ran down the sides of his neck and pooled underneath his head. Without thinking, Benjamin ran toward his father.

"Well, well! It seems there is another Barker. 'tis too bad you 'ad ter see tha', 'cause now I'm gonna hafta ge' you, too." Paolo reached for the blade again, but Benjamin was faster and kicked it out of his hand.

"You bastard!" screamed Benjamin, "you killed my father! I will have my revenge, mark my words. Do not forget my face."

Paolo only laughed. "You? Yer bu' a boy! Run along home now, 'fore I do ter you wha' I did ter tha' man. And don' you ever, EVER tell no one my name, you 'ear? You do, and it'll be the las' thing you e'er say." With that, he turned around and left. When he got to the end of the street, he turned back. "I mean it, boy! Never!"

Benjamin, overcome by his anger toward this man, merely responded, "Oh, don't worry. I don't even know your name. But know this: you can never really get away. As sure as the sun burns in the sky, I will find you and I will kill you. I don't care how long it takes to find you. I will; and when I do, I recommend you be ready."

Benjamin watched Paolo leave. When he could not longer see the lanky man's dark hair, he turned and ran back to his father. "Father, please…please be alright!" he said, listening for breathing. When he heard none, he ran back to the house and brought his mother.

Gwendolyn Barker was a strong woman, and all of London knew it. She had suffered two miscarriages, had three children die before they reached the age of two, and had recently lost her brother in a mad horse-trampling. Yet, through it all, she stood tall and retained her composure. At the sight of her beloved husband lying dead in a pool of his own blood on the cobblestone alleyway, she dropped to her knees. Benjamin told her everything that had passed and made her promise that she wouldn't say anything about the man's name when the police came. "Benjamin, I swear on my brother's grave that I shall not even whisper the name. Now, go back to the house and wake the man on the floor above us, the one renting the attic, and ask him to go fetch the police. Then go tend to your sister's needs. I have no idea how long this will take. Take your sister into bed with you and try to sleep. I have a feeling that tomorrow will be a long day."

"Yes, Mother," Benjamin replied, hugging her. "I will."

And that he did. After tucking his sister into his bed, he went to his window and looked at the sky. As he did so, he looked at the moon and swore to his earlier promise. "I will find you, Paolo. I will find you, and I will kill you, if it is the last thing I ever do."