Mr. Todd sat alone carefully contemplating what he would do now that Mrs. Lovett was gone and he'd accomplished the only thing he'd lived for. He was now alone…Tired… and resting in the chair where so many men had met their fates, including the dishonorable Judge Turpin. He looked out the window with his bloody razor still in hand as it dripped rubies to the floor. He would wipe the blood off his face when the thrill of the kill was gone. Just then, a knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. He quickly and stiffly rose from his chair and walked to the door, prepared to kill again. He opened the door, revealing his bloody face to a girl who was around sixteen years old with pitch black hair that flowed to her waist. She wore a tight, black dress and Sweeney could tell she was wearing a corset from the way her breasts were pushed up rather seductively. "Can I help you?" Sweeney choked out, pushing the girl in the room and slamming the door.
"Oh my, sir… I'm very sorry; I didn't mean to disturb you." The small girl mumbled, she only came up to around the middle of Sweeney's chest and he was finding it hard to hear her.
"Speak up, child!" He yelled, grabbing her chin.
"I won't tell anyone what I've seen! I promise. Just please let me go." The girl muttered, raising her head as she started to cry.
"I don't trust people anymore, what makes you any different?"
"I swear, sir… my…master sent me up here to retrieve a coat he left here a few days ago when he came for a shave with his wife and daughter." Ah, Sweeney remembered him well. He couldn't kill the man in front of his family so he was often referred to as 'the one that got away'. Sweeney thought for a moment then released the girl's chin and handed her the man's jacket.
"Don't speak a word of this to anyone… not even your master, you hear?"
"Yes, sir." The girl muttered, still crying a bit.
"Go on, return to the man." He led her to the door and allowed her to leave. She rushed off, wiping her tears away so that it wouldn't be obvious that she had been frightened.
"Ah, Estella!" The man said as the young girl returned to his home. "It's about time you got here. What took you so long?"
"I had a nice little chat with the barber," Estella mumbled, dashing for the stairs so that she may return to her room and forget this night through a long rest.
"Ah, Ah, Ah…" The man said, grabbing hold of Estella's wrist and pushing her against the wall, leaning in close. "You know, my wife and daughter are off visiting with my mother in law." He whispered, his breath tarnished in alcohol.
"Please sir, not again!" Estella said, pulling away from the man. He slammed her against the wall once more, stifling her screams with his lips.
Sweeney lay motionless in his bed that he'd made in his shop. He thought of nothing but the young, beautiful girl that had walked into his shop earlier and he had freed. Across town, he could hear a terrible shrill sound of a terrified woman. She must be getting raped… Sweeney thought sadly. I wonder if that's what my dear Lucy sounded like when she- A tear escaped his eye and he got up from bed and looked outside at the grave he had dug for his wife earlier that night. He snarled at the thought of what Judge Turpin had done, but his anger was silenced when he thought of the sweet vengeance he had received. Lucy was at rest. Johanna was with Anthony and safe. It was time for him to move on from the life he'd been obsessed with for all those years. He got dressed and decided to take a walk down the streets.
Estella laid still as her master slept in the other room, leaving her dirty and covered in his sweat and saliva from where he'd wallowed on top of her like a pig in mud. She couldn't move; paralyzed by the thoughts of what he'd done to her yet again. Sometimes, she wished he would die. After overcoming her feelings, she stood and put on her corset and ripped dress and stumbled out the door, her mascara stained across her face and her lipstick smudged into a permanent pretend smile. Once she was far enough away from her master's home she stuttered and cried out loudly, "HELP!" She started to sob in the cold streets and dropped to her knees. No respectable person would deal with her affairs so most of the night dwellers just passed her by, silently accusing her of insanity. "Oh God! Please HELP ME!" She covered her face hoping someone…anyone would rescue her before Mr. Bennett caught her in the dirt covered roads.
Just then, like an angel from heaven, Mr. Todd appeared, kneeling to her side and touching her shoulder stiffly. Oh, how long it'd been since he'd felt the smooth caress of a woman's skin. "What's wrong? What is it girl? Speak!" Sweeney said, holding her shoulder and shaking her a bit.
"He- Him! He ra-rape- raped me." Estella said, trembling from the cold and fear.
Sweeney touched her cheek and turned her face gently so that it was facing his own. He looked at her with gentle eyes and said, rather worriedly, "Who?"
"M-My master! M-Mr. Bennett." She was still sobbing loudly. It was then that Mr. Todd noticed that he was holding the black haired girl that had appeared in his shop earlier.
"What's your name?"
"E-Estella."
"Shh… be quiet, dear. We wouldn't want him to hear you, would we?" That bastard, he thought, I knew I should have killed him when I had the chance. He, instead of seeking revenge this time, picked the girl up and carried her to his shop. He laid her on his makeshift bed and told her to get some rest.
She, who was still sobbing quietly, grabbed his arm and mumbled to him, "P-Please, don't leave me alone… I don't want to be alone." Sweeney's heart melted a bit and he lay next to her on the bed.
"I won't leave you alone, darling." Until she fell asleep, he kept his distance from her, only stroking her back as she started to drift off. Poor thing, he thought, as he looked at the damaged little girl, she feels safer with a killer than with her own master… pity. She shifted in her sleep mumbled something desperate under her breath. "Shhh…" Sweeney whispered gently, "I'm right here."
Estella woke up in the morning her head pounding and she was in a bit of confusion as to where she was. "Hello?" She mumbled quietly, hoping someone might answer her quiet call. Fortunately, Sweeney walked in the door with a cup of tea in his hand.
"Good morning." He said his voice a bit cold. He handed her the hot tea and she gently sipped it.
"Thank you." Estella replied. She looked at her torn dress and sighed. "I'm terribly sorry I've been so much trouble. I'll leave soon, I promise."
"Don't worry about it."
"But, sir I have no money to-"
"DON'T worry about it…" Todd said, a bit uneasy.
"Yes sir." She muttered. She took orders well. Sweeney liked that. He sat on the side of the bed with her, hands in his lap, trying to be proper. "Did I scream?"
"What?"
"Last night… did I scream?"
"Not really… just a bit of muttering here and there." Sweeney replied.
"I'm sorry if I disturbed you, sir."
"The names Todd. Sweeney Todd."
"Well, Master Todd." Estella said, looking up at him with her tired, cobalt eyes, "I thank you kindly for rescuing me last night…I'm forever in your debt."
"Well," Sweeney replied, "You can start by assisting me in packing my things. We're headed to Peru to escape the law…Miss…?"
"Feira… Estella Feira." She said, quickly standing and doing as she was told. Sweeney really liked the way she responded. Much unlike Mrs. Lovett who, although she had splendid ideas, disagreed with most the things he said. She had all his things packed in an hour. The entire time she begged him not to help or lift a finger and told him that she'd do it all herself. They boarded a ship to Peru that afternoon and arrived there a month later. Sweeney's relationship with Estella had matured on the ship. He'd told her he had a daughter once and the entire gory tale about Judge Turpin and his vengeance on the man. Estella didn't flinch once while this tale was being told but instead, recognized Sweeney as a hero of sorts.
They got off the ship and found a small stretch of lofts that reminded Sweeney much of his old home in London. They rented one out and Estella was busy unpacking Sweeney's things when she noticed a small kitten meander into their home. "Hello, kitty." Estella said, kneeling down and petting the calico cat on its head. It rubbed against her and purred softly. "Mr. Todd…" Estella said, picking up the kitten and wandering into his room with it. He was there, unpacking a dress that he'd found of Lucy's in their old home. He was thinking of giving it to Estella to wear.
"Yes, Estella?"
"Look what wandered in." She held the kitten up by the scruff of its neck and smiled coyly. She was afraid that Mr. Todd would refuse her if she asked him to keep it.
"I see… and what are you doing with that vermin in my house?" Sweeney said, mumbling a bit to keep from smiling. Estella's childlike nature bewildered him in a way.
"Can't we keep him?" Estella asked quietly with very little hope.
"As long as you're the one to feed him, I don't mind." Sweeney said. Estella's eyes brightened a bit and she held the cat close. "What's his name?"
"I think I'll name him…" She thought for a moment. "Zachariah."
"Any particular reason, dear?"
"I've just always fancied the name."
"Go wash up now, it's time for dinner." Sweeney said, folding the dress up and setting it aside, his thoughts still impending on the subject. Estella set the cat down and fed it a bit of meat that she'd had left over from cooking dinner and set the table, serving Sweeney a delicious platter of glazed ham, mashed potatoes, and greens with buttered rolls on the side. She set a glass of gin in front of him after that. "The occasion?" Sweeney said, with a slight grin playing off his face.
"To our home." Estella said, raising her glass that was full of only water. She thought it'd be disrespectful to drink Mr. T's gin. Sweeney nodded and raised his own glass, shortly before sipping it and starting to eat his own food. The table was quiet for a while, then Estella looked up at Mr. Todd with a shy expression and mumbled, "Mr. Todd… I have a riddle for you."
"Let's hear it, then."
She cleared her voice then said quietly, "It is greater than God and more evil than the devil. The poor have it, the rich need it and if you eat it you'll die. What is it?"
Todd thought for a long while then gave up. "I don't know… what is it?"
"Nothing."
"What?"
"Nothing is greater than God. Nothing is more evil that the devil. The poor have nothing and the rich need nothing and if you eat nothing, you'll die."
Todd was silent for a moment. Then he chuckled. It had been the first time he'd laughed in quite some time. Estella, after having finished her food, gathered the plates and set them on the counter so that she may wash them in the morning. Mr. Todd told her goodnight and went to bed, and she walked to bed by herself, her cat following her closely.
As Zachariah slept soundly at the foot of her bed, Estella found herself incredibly frightened in the dark alone. She stood, indecent and quiet, and tiptoed to Mr. Todd's room and knocked quietly. Mr. Todd woke up out of instinct and mumbled quietly, "Come in."
Estella walked into the room. "M-Mr. Todd… I'm sorry for my indecency. But…I'm scared."
"Scared?"
"I don't like being alone in the dark."
"Ah, well… you can…" Todd thought for a moment then scooted over in his bed, "Sleep in here with me… if you'd like."
"Yes sir." Estella said, lying in bed next to Mr. Todd. She turned with her back against him and laid still. Mr. Todd, facing her back, reached up and caressed her back like he'd done the night he'd saved her. She flinched and Todd frowned.
"I frightened you…"
"No… No Mr. Todd, you ju-"
"I DID!" He shouted, angry at her for lying to him. The angst he had felt before returned for a moment. He grabbed her shoulder and turned her over so that she'd look in his eyes.
"Don't hurt me…" She mumbled, pressing her body closer to the mattress.
"I…won't…" Sweeney said, calming down a bit. "I'm sorry…"
"It's alright." Estella said, turning over and touching his cheek. Lucy used to show affection like this. He kissed her forehead then gently moved down to her lips. Before the reality even set in of what exactly they were doing, they were both laying naked on the bed, Mr. Todd holding Estella close to his chest. He had been gentle with her. She'd never made love willingly before and she found herself growing more and more fond of Mr. Todd by each heartbeat that passed. They fell asleep that way, entangled in the sheets.
A few weeks later, Estella went confronted Todd as he was sitting the foyer reading a book. She was wearing Lucy's dress that he'd given to her. It was blue with lacey white trim. "Sweeney…" Estella said, just as shy as she'd been before.
"Yes, dear?"
"I have to tell you something…"
"What is it, love?"
"I'm…" She cleared her voice a bit. "Pregnant."
Sweeney dropped his book and rushed to her, holding her tightly. They'd made love every night since the first time and now the consequences… rather, rewards… were taking effect. As he held her tightly, he whispered in her ear, "What are we to name it?"
"I don't even know if it's a girl or boy" Estella giggled.
"If it's a girl… I'd like to name her…Lucille…"
"And if it's a boy?"
"Zachariah."
They both grinned and sat down, chatting excitedly about their new life.