Chapter Four- A Continuation and a Near Ending
Nellie arrived at the cellar preciously thirty minutes after Mr. Todd's strange outburst. She gave the door a meek knock before letting herself into the rotten area she had spent so much of her time in. "Mis-Sweeney?" she closed the door behind her, "you chicken out yet?" she strained her eyes to look for the barber. "Nellie." A quiet voice came from a corner of the otherwise noiseless room. "Oh Sweeney my love, where are you?"
Nellie looked in the direction of the sound only to see a hunched over Sweeney, blood in his hair. Sweeney looked up and deviously smiled at his companion, "Nellie, he's ready." Nellie returned the unethical smile, walked to Sweeney and helped him up off the floor. "What in God's name were you doing down there?" Sweeney looked at the floor and back up at Nellie. "Just having a bit of a rest." He was slowly returning to his normal, corrupt self.
Sweeney paced to the neatly separated piles of what used to be Elliot Orwell. He stared blandly at the second of four different piles. Nellie smiled at his wonted expression. "Shall we being, then?" she asked while moving parts of the gulled man to the grinder. "Sure." He replied. The baker couldn't help but be excited about getting to spend time with the man she's always dreamt about, he never had used to take the time to entertain her company. It was always the same: yes; go on, I'm listening with Sweeney.
"Dear, it's so nice spending time with you." Nellie wiped her hands on her apron once again while Sweeney ground up more of their deceased police friend. "Isn't it now?" He replied tepidly. Nellie went back to loading the grinder as she spoke, "It's a beautiful day outside, it is." She took another pile to the grinder, "Maybe we could go for a walk after this?" Sweeney offered a low grunt as a decline.
Nellie shrugged the cold response off, a bit of Sweeney's temper would never vex her. "Silence isn't always a bad thing, Mrs. Lovett." Sweeney snapped at the talkative woman. Nellie's heart sank a minuscule amount when she heard her last name instead of her first. "Sometimes it is though." Nellie grumbled to herself.
Sweeney gave a bantam roll of his eyes, "You're talking can be dangerous, Lovett." Nellie's cheery disposition turned upset. "Not even Mrs." She mumbled again. "This man," Sweeney spoke of the meat being ground before them, "was a police officer. A bloody police officer! It was because of you that an innocent man was killed." Nellie was perplexed at Sweeney's way of thinking, but she knew that once Sweeney started he must finish.
"You can't trust anyone!" Nellie turned her back as the sound coming from behind her engrossed the room surrounding her. "I thought I could trust you at the least." Sweeney's voice quieted. "But you can trust me, Love." Nellie spoke to the man behind her. Sweeney took a few steps closer to the woman until Nellie could feel his blood-warm breath on her neck.
"You can't know who you can truly trust until they make it apparent that you can't trust them," Sweeney spoke so softly that Nellie had to hold her breath to hear him. "you almost ruined it, Lovett." He spoke just as quietly as before.
"But I didn't." Nellie's voice shook with fear and regret. "You came so close." Sweeney talked as he moved his hand to Nellie's shoulders and tightened his grip slightly. "Do you like being so close, Lovett?" his run-of-the-mill wicked smile wasn't seen by anyone.
Nellie turned around and Sweeney lost his grip, "Benjamin! Stop!" she quietly sobbed. Sweeney's hand ventured to his pocket as he retrieved his razor, "Its Todd!" he raised his blade and his voice as Nellie dropped to her knees in a desperate attempt to spare her life.
Sweeney's blade landed on the floor at the same time as Nellie, he too landed on his knees and seized her in his arms. "You're insane." she dug her head into his shoulder and blinked a tear from her eye. Sweeney cradled the woman carefully and felt her every revulsionary movement.
Nellie was almost shaking in the man's arms. "Sweeney," she whispered, "I'm so sorry." Sweeney rocked her gently. "I didn't mean and har-" Nellie stopped as she felt Sweeny's arm move to the blade. "You… you filthy scum!" she positioned herself on her feet and backed away from the man who was ready to murder her or the second time that day.
Sweeney stood as well and tried to explain, "I wanted it to be peaceful." He stared at Nellie's blood-coloured hair. "Peaceful? You're a bloody mad man!" the glow from the oven behind Sweeney shone bright on Nellie's face. It was Nellie's turn to have Sweeney by the shoulders now, as she pushed him near the source of the heat.
Nellie stopped. "Bloody hell, what am I doing?" she let go of Sweeney and ran to the cellar door with tears forming in her eyes. She stopped in front of the door. "I-I'm sorry." She opened the door and with a loud bang it was closed and she was gone.
This took me way too long to write; but I am, again, mildly pleased with the outcome. It's a bit short, but it'll work. Don't be afraid to review please. You'd be surprised to learn that I can take criticism a whole lot better than complements. As always, thanks for reading and try to look forward to the eventual Sweenett.
