Ok, first of all: SORRY! No, our computer isn't fixed yet and, unfortunately, I haven't had a very good few weeks due to family problems.

This is a sort of long chapter, mainly due to the song, but I want to say something about Hannah and Matt's reaction to something Amy tells them later on in the chapter:

I have based this on one of my own experiences, in which I was in Amy's position. No, my news was not the same (though along the lines of) and the reactions are based upon how my family reacted. I hope I haven't offened anyone that has been in this situation before, because I am merely basing it on an experience of mine.

But I would like to thank PurpleandBlackPandas, Sammy Gal and xJill Lovett for the reviews XD

On that note, I hope you enjoy the chapter.


Chapter Nine

"Amy...Amy..."

"Hey, her eyes are opening!"

"Amy..."

"Maybe we should slap her."

"Don't you dare." I murmured, my eyes opening slowly. I could hear Hannah's triumphant laugh as I clutched my head.

"Yes!" She cried. "She is awake!"

"What happened?" I asked, trying to sit up. A firm hand gently pushed my back down.

"You'd best lay down, love," Mrs Lovett instructed. "You had a nasty fall."

"Why did you faint though?" Hannah asked.

My mind shot back to Pirelli, leaning over the trunk...Sweeney lifting the razor...the gurgles that escaped Pirelli's throat as it was slit...the blood.

"Ugh," I muttered, immediately feeling woozy again.

"Are you alright, Amy?" Matt asked softly, taking my hand and helping me up, placing his other hand just underneath my neck. I could feel it tingling.

"Yeah, kinda." I lied. Matt looked at me through narrowed eyes, but didn't question me. He let go of my hand, but didn't remove his other from my back.

"Anyways, as I was saying, that boy is drinking me out of house and home," Mrs Lovett complained. "How long till Pirelli gets back?"

It was only then I looked around to find Sweeney. He was stood at the other side of the room, cleaning his razor in an almost methodical way.

"He won't be back." He said in a low voice, finally turning around.

There was blood on his sleeve.

Hannah let out a small gasp as Matt's eyes widened. Mrs Lovett stared at him incredulously.

Only I wasn't surprised.

"Mr T, you didn't!" She said. Sweeney's eyes flickered towards the trunk, and Mrs Lovett crossed the room to open it. I closed my eyes quickly, squeezing them shut.

A sudden slam confirmed that Mrs Lovett was equally as disgusted as she dropped the lid to the trunk.

"You're barking mad! Killing a man what did you no harm!" She said.

"He recognized me from the old days. He tried to blackmail me. Half my earnings." Sweeney explained in a low voice.

"Oh, well, that's a different matter," Mrs Lovett said, suddenly relieved. She looked down again. "Poor bugger."

Shrugging, Mrs Lovett reached down and picked up Pirelli's purse from him body. She opened it.

"Three quid. Well, waste not, want not, I always say..."

Mrs Lovett smiled, tucking the purse into her bodice.

"What? That's it?" Hannah demanded. "He kills a man and all you care about is his god damn money?"

"Hannah, shut up." Matt said with such force, she actually did. Matt was never forceful.

"Now...what are we going to do with the boy?" Mrs Lovett continued, as if Hannah hadn't spoken.

"Send him up."

"Oh, we don't need to worry about him. He's a simple thing."

"Send him up." Sweeney growled.

"Now, Mr T, surely one's enough for today. 'Sides, I was thinking about hiring a lad to help around the shop, me poor knees not being what they used to be."

"What about us?" Hannah asked, waving her hand towards herself, Matt and I.

"Well...I suppose you three could help as well. 'Course, we'd have to stock up on the gin..."

Sweeney suddenly froze by the window, catching everyone's attention.

"The Judge."

I stared at him before scrambling up and practically throwing myself across the room to stand next to him at the window.

"No..."

"Go." Sweeney ordered.

"C'mon you three, let's leave Mr T to his work." Mrs Lovett said quickly, grabbing my hand and pulling me away from the window.

I allowed Mrs Lovett, Hannah and Matt to leave before me, pausing long enough to turn to Sweeney.

"Do it," Was all I said before I practically ran out of the room.

The other three were already halfway down the steps, the Judge near the shop. I froze for a brief moment.

A moment too long.

His eyes met mine.

Letting out a squeak of fear, I ran down the steps, lurched into the shop and threw myself on the ground, crawling along so I could hide under a table.

"Amy?"

"Amy, what the hell are you doing?"

I ignored everyone as I stared at the door as if my life depended on it. Only when I saw the Judge pass did I crawl out from under the table and run across the shop, straight into the back room. Toby was already there, curled up in front of the fire with an empty bottle of gin. Ignoring him, I crossed the room until I was in the corner. Letting out a sob, I slid down the wall and onto the floor.

My whole body was shaking as I curled up into a little ball, hugging my knees and burying my face into my arms.

"Amy? Amy, honey, what's up?" Hannah asked gently, making me sob harder.

"Amy, what's happened?" Matt inquired. I shook my head.

"I think you need to tell them, love," Mrs Lovett said. "I'll leave you to it."

She kissed the top of my head before leaving. I reluctantly looked up at my best friends, tears still running down my cheeks.

"Y-y-you know when w-w-we saw the film on m-my b-b-b-b-birthday?" I stuttered. They nodded. "And y-you know what T-T-T-Turpin d-did to L-Lucy?" They nodded again. Hannah's face went extremely pale as Matt began shaking.

"He didn't," He said in a low voice. "He hasn't."

I could only nod, another set of tears running down my cheeks as I continued shaking.

"NO!" Hannah screamed, jumping up and pacing frantically. "No, he didn't!"

"But...how?" Matt asked, shaking his head.

"I've been here before..." I whispered. "That time I was away for so long..."

"I'm going to kill him," Hannah said. "I'M GOING TO KILL HIM! MRS LOVETT!"

Mrs Lovett came running back into the room, her cheeks slightly flushed. "Yes, lo - "

"Did you know about this?" Hannah demanded. "Did you know what that bastard upstairs did to my best friend?"

Mrs Lovett looked very guilty, but nodded.

"Yes," She admitted. "I knew."

Hannah let out an angry noise as she tried to run past Mrs Lovett, but the older woman was too strong.

"Oh no you don't."

As Hannah and Mrs Lovett struggled against each other, Matt stared at me, tears running down his cheeks.

I had never seen Matt cry before.

"He's evil," Matt whispered. "He is sick and twisted and evil."

"You believe me?"

Matt looked horrified. "Of course I do!" He said. "Amy, how could I not believe you?"

I threw my arms around Matt's neck, burying my face into his shoulder. "Thank you," I sobbed. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

"I feel sick." Hannah announced, pushing past Mrs Lovett. We could hear her stomping up the stairs, a door slamming behind her.

"I'll go talk to her," Matt said. He looked me straight in the eye. "You were very brave, Amy."

Leaning down to kiss my forehead, Matt gently untangled himself from my arms and got up, following Hannah out of the room.

"Are you alright, love?" Mrs Lovett asked. I couldn't respond. I felt...empty. Cold.

I barely noticed Mrs Lovett's arms around me, gently pulling me up and leading me towards the sofa. She sat me down and then sat next to me, wrapping her arms around my still trembling body and stroking my hair.

"Can't believe that boy slept through it all." She chuckled softly.

"GET OUT!"

We froze as we heard Sweeney's outraged cry. Hannah and Matt came hurtling down the stairs just as Mrs Lovett and I jumped up.

"What's going on?"

Mrs Lovett didn't answer as she strode forwards, apparently going to check up on Sweeney. Hannah quickly followed her, and Matt paused to take my hand and walk with me.

"All this shouting and running about, what's happened?" Mrs Lovett demanded as we reached the shop.

"I had him." Sweeney whispered.

"Then I saw them both running down the street - "

I had him!

His throat was bare

Beneath my hand! Sweeney sung wildly.

"There there, dear, calm down."

No, I had him!

His throat was there,

And he'll never come again! Sweeney continued angrily.

Easy now

Hush, love, hush

I keep telling you - Mrs Lovett tried to calm him, but Sweeney interupted her again.

When? He demanded.

What's your rush? Mrs Lovett finished weakly.

Why did I wait?

You told me to wait!

Now he'll never come again

Sweeney paced in front of the window manically.

There's a hole in the world

Like a great black pit

And it's filled with people

Who are filled with shit

And the vermin of the world

Inhabit it He paused in his pacing.

But not for long!

Sweeney spun around to face us, a murderous look in his eyes.

They all deserve to die!

Tell you why, Mrs. Lovett,

Tell you why

Because in all of the whole human race, Mrs. Lovett

There are two kinds of men and only two

There's the one staying put

In his proper place

And the one with his foot

In the other one's face

Look at me, Mrs. Lovett,

Look at you

Sweeney grabbed Mrs Lovett by the neck and shoved her against the wall.

No, we all deserve to die!

Even you, Mrs. Lovett,

Even I

Because the lives of the wicked should be brief

He pulled her along and then yanked her into the chair, his razor curving around her neck. We could only stand and watch in horror as Mrs Lovett's life was put at risk.

For the rest of us, death

Will be a relief

We all deserve to die!

He suddenly calmed down, straightening up and removing the razor from her neck as he wandered towards the window.

And I'll never see Johanna,

No, I'll never hug my girl to me

Finished!

Sweeney then began lurching himself around the shop, shouting at thin air while brandishing his razor. Matt pulled Hannah and I back, just out of harms way.

Alright! You, sir

How about a shave?

Come and visit

Your good friend, Sweeney!

You, sir, too, sir

Welcome to the grave!

I will have vengeance

I will have salvation!

Who, sir? You, sir?

No one's in the chair

Come on, come on

Sweeney's waiting!

I want you bleeders!

You, sir, anybody!

Gentlemen, now don't be shy!

Not one man, no

Nor ten men

Nor a hundred

Can assuage me

I will have you!

And I will get him back

Even as he gloats

In the meantime I'll practice

On less honorable throats

Sweeney suddenly fell to his knees, his hands on the ground, as if admitting defeat.

And my Lucy lies in ashes

And I'll never see my girl again,

But the work waits, I'm alive at last

And I'm full of JOY!

No body moved for a moment, all of us staring at Sweeney.

What just happened?