2 days had passed and Hazel had not seen Mr. Todd again, thankfully. Mr. Lovett set her to work cleaning the kitchen the next day so that she had no time to bring his trays or call his errands. For this she was glad, because the events the last night had left her in a state of dread. Whilst on hands and knees, scrubbing the oven, she thought of her options.

She had no choice but to stay here, because where else was she to go? And besides, she liked Mrs. Lovett, a lot, more than she had planned, and to leave her would break her heart. She could hide in fear of the barber and take his abuse, which she knew would lead to her soon death.

Or…

She could avenge herself. She knew how to punch and kick, her mother had taught her how after that terrible night with Uncle Aderline. Only, her absence from the rest of the world, her isolation from everyone, enabled her to use it. What was the use? NOW was the use, she thought to herself.

And, after hours of contemplation, she decided not to tell Mrs. Lovett about the incident, for she obviously had a strong attraction to the man, and having her own strange attraction to her, she did not want to upset her.

But she would train herself to become alive again, to take back what was deprived of her by damn uncle. She would learn to talk more (she had already had a few conversations with Mrs. Lovett), become less nervous, stop her stuttering and heavy breathing (asthma, was what it was) and regain back her sharp tongue she had as a Haven lass. Show men and this demon Todd what she really possessed inside of her small frame.

And maybe, just maybe she could start eating again. Although the mere thought of digestion made her cringe. This, she decided, she would perfect in time. After all, she was alone in the world now, a girl without a family, as Mrs. Lovett had said, and she was going to have to shape up one way or the other.

The thought of this new life style made her cheery and vigorous, suddenly, and she began scrubbing faster and harder. She was so enveloped in her work and wanting to please Mrs. Lovett, she did not hear the creaking of the door opening and did not feel the presence behind her….

Sweeney walked in, after just slicing another victim, ready to give Mrs. Lovett the news. What he found though, was the mouse, again, hands and knees on the floor like an animal scrubbing the dirty stove. For a while, he stood there, watching her from behind, thinking of what to do next. His lust was always quite well hidden, but a beast raged inside him as the many thoughts of torture on the rebellious bitch plagued his mind. He stabbed the razor in his hand on the counter loudly, digging into the wood.

The mouse stopped abruptly, making one of her little mouse sounds, and fumbled to her feet. She turned around and he could sense the horror in her eyes, as she looked at him, but she tried her best to conceal it, and her lips pursed, her jaw tightened. She stood there for a moment, hands by her side, still in the same dress she wore yesterday.

Hazel wanted to show him she was not afraid of him, and that she could play his little game. She tensed though, uneasy. No time like the present, she thought.

"May I assist you sir?" she said rather impolitely, not taking her eyes off of his demon glare.

He eyed her up and down, probably expecting a tremble or a pleading whimper from me, she thought smugly, and he said slyly:

"Where is Mrs. Lovett?" not so much a question, but a demand.

Before Hazel could answer, Mrs. Lovett popped up from the steps leading to the bake house, humming a happy tune and wiping her hands on her apron.

"Ah, g'day Mista T!" she grinned. His eyes lingered for a still moment.

"The uh… supplies for the next batch of pies are ready, pet." He said to her, eyes uneasy around the girl. "Hiding something?" she thought.

"Oh!" Mrs. Lovett said rather loudly, giggling towards Hazel and picking her tray back up, ready for some reason unknown to Hazel, to go back down to the baking room.

"Oh, dear ; pour Mista Todd his gin for me, eh'?" she smiled, and walked back down the steps.

Sweeney had already seated himself, expecting the baker to assist his any need, although he really was not parched. He averted his stare to the mouse as Mrs. Lovett left and her eyes lowered.

Persistently though, she reached for the bottle of gin, walked over to where he sat, and poured a glass on the table in front of him, not looking him in the eye. She was not quick enough to pull away though, for her grabbed her arm, and eyed the purple bruises.

"Now, where did you get these poppet'?" he asked mockingly, smirking up at her. "Betta' be more careful while on your knees." He sustained a chuckle.

But then she did something he did not expect from a mouse.

She yanked herself from his grip.

"I got them from a dickhead bastard." She spat back at him, disgusted at his arrogance and his handsome yet even more wicked smile.

This though, angered him to his peak, and as she walked away, he rose from his seat and without warning, slapped her across the face, sending her flying to the counter with a yelp, and the gin bottle crashing to the floor.

He grit his teeth and turned her on her back, blood appearing on her lip. He took the razor from its hold on the table and forced it to her throat, no longer thinking of the game he was playing for his own sick amusement, but very intent of killing her.

He glared down at her struggling form.

"That my dear will cost you greatly. You do not know who you are dealing with, and THAT will be your downfall." He hissed.

He pushed the razor closer to her throat, a thin line of blood appearing causing her to gasp.

He laughed a little too loudly at her fear, not careful as to the baker hearing him. And, as a last minute touch, eyed the pathetic thing's full lips, now even tastier looking drenched in blood….

He pushed his mouth onto hers, biting down and sucking it from her tongue.

She gasped at this, she had never been kissed before! But as he crushed his lips to hers the razor dug deeper into her skin, scaring the wits out of her. She remembered what her mother had taught her and as his grip loosened just a tad, she kneed him in his man hood, un-expectant to him, and he grunted harshly, pulling back and dropping the razor.

With an intake of breath, she jumped up and grabbed the blade from the floor, pushing him around so that now he was the one against the counter. She held it close to his throat and looked him sharply in the eyes. He could see anger deep inside of them, and they glowed yellow, fierce like a lion. If it were a stronger person maybe, he would be a bit tense at this movement, but with the thin frame of the girl, she was nothing but a mouse with a lions eye. The aching in his groin was too powerful though and he found himself unstable to move.

"It seems we are at an impasse, sir." She said to him, razor still in the air.

"You obviously do not like me, I do not like you. I have seen the likes of what I am dealing with and must say, that I will not surrender to you, so do not take this sick pity on me!" she snarled

. And before taking a step back she whispered, closely to him as he had her, relishing on her position: "Oh…and I lied to you, Mr. Todd. I do not fear YOU."

And with that, she dropped the razor back on the ground and ran up the steps out side to her room, leaving the barber dazed in his state of pain and eyes glowing red from the beast once again inside of him raging to kill.


A/N: Ohh another fight! Sweeney is enraged, as you can see. Not sure how I can even put his lust/anger in words, but all in the next chapter. Also, I changed the summary so it would sound better with the story. I'm not so sure of what I'll be putting in the next few chapters…I'm open to suggestions? I'm having studies at school to do, you see, but I'll see what my perverted/witty' mind can construct XD leave reviews if you want more ! I appreciate them! xx