"Jo?"

"Mhhm?" Johanna swallowed a mouthful of what was an attempt at Rice Krispies. These Brits do not put enough sugar in their cereals.

Her mother looked out the kitchen window, "Please explain the attractive boy who in waiting outside the door."

"Must be one of my gentleman callers."

"Johanna, I'm serious. There is a guy out here."

Johanna stood up, picking up her empty bowl and placing it in the sink. Outside the window it was dusk, but not as dark as she had expected.

James was outside the door, looking at his cellphone and shifting side to side. His textbooks were tucked under his arm.

The butterflies in her stomach went completely haywire. Perhaps it was the combination of an unfulfilling breakfast and the fact that it was seven in the morning but Johanna felt very woozy.

James liked her. There was no doubting it.

I've never had a boy like like me before, she thought like a ten year old.

Johanna beamed, "That's James." She turned back to the kitchen table and grabbed her books. She slid on her purse and made for the door, checking her hair on the way out. Her French braid was clean but she wished she was wearing earrings or more makeup to make her look more special.

You are overthinking this.

Johanna ran to her mom, "See you later! I love you!" She kissed her cheek.

Her mom called, "Whoa, hey, Speed Racer." Johanna turned back to her. Her mom raised her arms, "Do I get any explanation on the boy? Or why he's outside our house?"

"It's obviously because I'm irresistible."

Her mom rolled her eyes, "Fine, tell me later. You better go. You'll be late."

Johanna waved and started for the door again.

Her mom called, "And hey, I expect to meet this boy sometime, if he really is your gentleman caller." Her mom gave her a smile.

Johanna laughed, walking out to greet James, who immediately locked his phone and grinned at her in his slightly unsure way.

"Good morning, Anthony James," she said.

"Good morning, Johanna," he answered. He pushed his phone into his pocket. "I just a live a street over and though I'd walk you to school. I realize now that this is a little creepy. Sorry. I'm not trying to be creepy, I just-"

She laughed, "No, I think you're sweet." He blushed and it made her stomach go haywire. They started on their way, James taking her books as he did before. They talked a bit, each tired and not really having much to say. It wasn't until they passed a news stand bearing the title SECOND MURDER VICTIM FOUND that Johanna really spoke up.

"What do they mean by 'Fleet Street Murders'?" Johanna asked, looking at the image of the crime scene as they walked past the papers. Words stuck out to her light 'razor' and 'Todd'.

James ran a hand through his hair, "Er, I suppose they mean the whole Sweeney Todd incident."

"I don't know what that means," Johanna pressed. Why was he being so weird about this? What happened on her street?

James shifted his jaw, "Well, back in like the 1860s a man lived on Fleet Street named Sweeney Todd. I think the story was that he wanted vengeance for his wife's death and he blamed the local judge. Sweeney was a barber so he planned to, er, dispose of the judge with his razor. But he practiced on other people before getting to the judge, so a lot of people died."

"Oh," Johanna said, suddenly feeling cooler in the already chill air.

"Yeah," James said quietly. "I know there's more to the story than that, but I can't remember. You could ask Mr. T. I know he did a whole lesson on it before when he used to teach history."

"Okay," Johanna said, knowing she probably wouldn't ask. Just the thought of willingly going up to a teacher and engaging in conversation made her panicky. "So these new murders are resembling those?"

"Yeah, I think so," James said. "But there's been copy cats before. He'll be caught soon. They always are."

Johanna nodded, her mind filling with thoughts.

It can't be my house, surely, Johanna decided. They wouldn't just sell the house from the Sweeney Todd murders. It was be expensive and probably historic. It can't be my house.

It can't be.
OOO
"By the way, Samantha Westberry hates you."

Johanna sputtered on her milk, "What? Why? Who even is that?"

Helen smirked, the grin squishing up the freckles on her pale face.

"The one with the tragic pixie cut over there," Helen nodded to the back left. Discreetly as she could, Johanna looked over and saw a girl with pretty unfitting short black hair whispering about something with the girls sitting near her.

Johanna looked back to her friend, "Why does she hate me?" Johanna recognized her. She had a few classes with the girl, but Johanna was certain they'd never exchanged more than a friendly 'hello'.

A girl sitting with them, Emily, chimed in.

"She's fancied James for years and you walk in and sweep him off his feet in one day."

Johanna blushed, "I did not sweep him off his feet..."

"Yeah, but he's mad for you," added another girl, Alice, with a giggle. "And Samantha is the jealous type. She'll get over though."

"Or under somebody else," Helen added under her breath.

Johanna picked at her chicken breast. Of course she was a bit worried about this Samantha girl, but her mind kept rushing with the other half of the conversation. He fancies me... Fancy was such a better word than crush. It just sounded nicer.

James came over to the table, his friend Kyle with him.

James set his tray next to Johanna's, "What are we talking about?"

"Sexual habits of teenagers," Helen said dryly.

Kyle clapped his hands together, "Yes, my favorite topic." They all laughed and continued their lunch until they were dismissed to their third class of the day. The rotating schedule meant they were now off to math, or maths as it was called here. I'll never get used to these little language differences, Johanna brooded.

The last class was Literature, where they were have supposed to have read the first act of Hamlet. Johanna had seen the play before, but read the act so it would be fresh in her mind.

The class went by quickly and it was time to go back home, but Johanna got stopped by Mr. T again.

She felt nerves filling her body. Calm down, he probably just wants to see how you're doing. Normal teacher things. It'll just take a moment.

Johanna stayed in the classroom.

He swiveled his desk chair, "So, Helen tells me you're interested in the Fleet Street murders."

Johanna was confused. She hadn't told anyone but James.

Well, James and Helen are friends. It probably just came up in conversation. And Helen's such a forward person, she probably just asked Mr. T for me, which is nice but a little weird and...

"Yeah," Johanna said, shifting to her left leg. "My, uh, house is on Fleet Street and I was just curious..."

"Oh, naturally," he said with a smile that put her at ease. He turned to the bookshelf beside his desk. "Here," he pulled out a medium sized book with a shiny cover. "It's a little book on it. You can borrow it, just try to get it back by the end of the week."

He extended it to her. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street it red in scratchy red letters.

"Thank you, sir," Johanna said, taking the book.

He nodded, "Off you go then. Your friend is waiting."

Johanna looked and saw James outside the door, leaning against the lockers on the opposite side. Johanna gave Mr. T a small smile and went on her way.

James looked up at gave her a smile, pushing his phone into his back pocket.

"Did he give you a book?"

"Yeah," Johanna replied, holding it up. "Why is he so into Fleet Street anyway?"

James took her books, "I think he used to live there."

"Hmm," Johanna said, still clutching the book. The embossed red letter stuck out against her hand as she touched the cover softly.

The author was a V. T. Homes, someone she'd never heard of.

She was quite anxious to read. It seemed everyone knew of these Fleet Street stories but her.

As they walked towards the end of the hallway, they were stopped by Helen, who jauntily jolted up to them, smiling very cheekily.

"You're in a good mood," Johanna noted.

Helen beamed, "I able to drop that stupid Anatomy course! I'm going to be a teacher's aide for Mr. T now." She threw her head back, "I just get to look at him all day!"

James rolled his eyes, "You are ridiculous." Helen pursed her lips, turning to address Johanna.

"You think he's fit, don't you?" Fit: good looking, Johanna reminded herself. Helen rasied a brow, "I've seen you gawking at him."

Johanna widened her eyes in innocence, "I've never gawked at him! He's a teacher!"

Helen laughed loudly, "I'm just teasing you, love." Johanna stole a quick glance at James and could see from his locked jaw that he was uncomfortable.

"I've got to get home," Johanna said. It was but a little lie. "Lots of work to do."

She could see the little lie had helped to ease the tension, and Johanna and James began their route to her home.

She couldn't help but peel open the book, skimming through various sections as she fanned back the pages. The article about the locations of the crimes caught her eye.

No one is certain where exactly the tonsorial parlor was located. It is certain it was on Fleet Street, but many of the buildings were updated over present years so they are unrecognizable.

"Watch out," Johanna looked up, coming face to face with a tree. Anthony shook his head, "You'll run right into the street, walking as you read like that."

Johanna shut the book, "That's not true by the way. What Helen said back there."

James glanced down, "Oh. Yeah. I know."

She nodded, "I just…felt I should clarify."

He nodded, "She likes to tease me."

Johanna had noted that. Though they were the same age, Helen treated James much like a little brother. His gangliness, scruffy hair, and general meekness didn't help much.

But it seemed a kind relationship. Though Johanna felt she couldn't judge too much. She had only know them for two days.

"How did you two become friends?"

"Oh," he touched his hair again. "Well, you see, I used to get bullied a lot in primary school. Helen stood up for me one day and we've basically been friends ever since."

"Oh," Johanna said. She wasn't sure if she should press anymore. Bullying was a highly personal topic already and James was quite reserved as it was.

You're not crazy, she wanted to say. If anyone is crazy I am. You don't even know…

Johanna, don't panic.

"Oh," he perked up suddenly. "By the way, Alice told me to recruit you for Grand Gala committee."

"The what now?"

He smiled, "It's this really old traditional dance held every year for the seniors. Sort of like a prom, but less rap music and grinding and more string quartets and waltzes."

Johanna gaped at him, "That sounds awesome. Yeah, I'll help out."

"Really?" He asked in surprise.

"Yeah," she couldn't help but giggle in excitement. "I've always wanted to go to a real ball. It'll be like a period film."

"Great," though he sounded a little deflated. "I'll tell Alice."

They said their goodbyes out front her home, and Johanna still couldn't understand why he sounded so deflated. He wasn't trying to ask me to the dance, was he? No, if that were the case, he would've just said something.

Johanna saw the newspaper poking out of their mailbox and grabbed it on the way in.

She took her textbooks, her book, and the Fleet Street article all up to her room.
OOO
Johanna could not put the book down.

She'd always had a secret little love of the grislier parts of history. Stories like Jack the Ripper and the Salem Witch Trials peaked her interest.

But she hadn't expected to be living in one of them.

Scratch that, it wasn't as though the murders were happening now in her house, but there were some coincidences that made her spine chill.

Like her name for example. Her name was the name of Sweeney's daughter, the one he had fought desperately to get back.

She even looks like me, Johanna thought as she stared at the picture.

No, that's crazy. She doesn't look like you. You just saying that...

No. No this Johanna did look like her. A lot like her.

And the tail was tragic at best. Sweeney sent to prison on a false crime because the Judge coveted his wife. The judge defiling the wife then taking the daughter as his ward and becoming just as obsessed with her. Sweeney exacting revenge with the help of Mrs. Lovett.

It was sweet and horrifying all at once.

But what had happened to Johanna Barker? The book said she was married, but it gave no more details than that. Who had she married? Were they happy now?

Whatever the case, she could understand now what Mr. T chose not to go by the name Turpin.

Johanna heard a knock on her door and screamed.

Her mother walked in, "You okay?" She eyed her in that way she did when she worried Johanna was getting panicky again.

"Yeah, you just startled me," Johanna pushed her book away, turning it over so her mother could not see the cover.

"Mom, can I ask you a question?" Johanna said.

Her mom came forward, "Sure. What's up?"

"Who am I named for?"

Her mom blinked, "Your father's great grandmother. Why?"

Johanna's stomach flipped in a way completely different to how it did when she was with James.

"Was she from here?"

"Why the sudden interest in your ancestry?" Her mom laughed, oblivious to the ice filling Johanna's body.

Johanna shrugged, "Just wondering if I have any ties here."

Her mother cocked her jaw, "I'm not sure about that, Jo. I know your father did a big genealogy thing a few years ago. I'll see if I can find the papers."

"That'll be cool, thanks," Johanna said with a smile.

Her mother studied her, "No problem. Dinner in ten, okay? And I want to hear all about this James character."

Johanna just nodded and smiled, hoping her mom would leave soon. Her wished were realized and Johanna fell back on her bed.

She decided to call James.

"Johanna?"

"Anthony James!" She exclaimed into the phone. "I have discovered the weirdest thing!"

"Okay…" He said, sounding a bit unsure.

Johanna told him all about the story and about this Johanna character who looked to be her doppelgänger.

"Then my mom tells me my great grandmother's name is Johanna. Which could be a total coincidence but-"

"Johanna, this is completely mental," he said in agreement. "She really looks like you?"

"I think so. Of course it's not the best picture…"

"JOHANNA! DINNER!" Her mom yelled from the downstairs.

"I've got to go. I'll see you tomorrow then."

"All right. Goodnight, Johanna."

"Good night, Anthony James."

OOO

TAKEN FROM THE LONDON TIMES ONLINE SEP 13 2014

ARTICLE TITLE: COPY CAT KILLER ON THE LOOSE

"…but what really is remarkable is the meticulous attention to detail the killer has taken. No fingers prints or DNA of any kind has been traced on the two known murder victims. It is truly strange however how the bodies are made to be looked as though they were killed by a straight razor, when in actuality small but lethal doses of blood thinners have been found in the blood streams of both victims. The cause of death is the poison, not the wound, yet the wounds are still inflicted. Whoever it is and whatever their motives, we can be certain they're a fan of Todd's."

COMMENTS:

GGirl23XOXO: This is crzy. How hve they not found this guy?

Unironically10: Why the poison? If you're going to copy Sweeney, do it like Sweeney…

KK138: unironically10 Blood thinners make you bleed less duh

VTxU: KK138 No, blood thinners make you bleed more.

Johanna stopped reading the comments there.

So, someone with a weird knack for blood and Sweeney Todd is on the loose in London.

And I look like Johanna Barker.

Great.

For once, it felt like an appropriate time to panic.

Comments read, noted, and appreciated.

Bribery: If you comment, I'll use your username in an upcoming chapter... :)