"Don't let go of your sleeves

"Don't let go of your sleeves!" Erik barked, grabbing Enjolras' arm roughly to keep himself from falling. There were groans and swears as the group stood up.

"Does everyone still have their sleeves?" Erik called. There were affirming calls and a few words that would be unacceptable to repeat. "Let's keep moving then," Erik said, tugging Enjolras along with him.

After walking for what could have been hours or mere seconds, a faint light appeared. Erik pointed. "You see the light?"

"No, your eyes are over worked," Enjolras said wearily.

"Hey, wait, I see it too." Christine said from the back. She let go of Gavroche's hand to move up the line next to Erik and noted that the sludge got shallower and shallower.

Tobi let go of Gavroche's sleeve and Gavroche jogged up to Christine and Erik as they made their way to the light.

Abruptly, a pair of hands grabbed Tobi roughly by the arms and yanked him back into the darkness. He screamed in surprise--although he had let go of Gavroche, he had held onto Sweeney's shirt--and as he was drawn back, he clung to the barber's arm, making Sweeney stumble backwards and Mrs. Lovett let go.

"The hell!?" Sweeney said as he reached back with his other hand and grabbed Tobi's wrist before it was pulled out of his reach. Tobi continued his screaming until a dirty hand clamped over his mouth.

"Gimme the money or I'll kill him!" an unfamiliar voice said. Mrs. Lovett fumed and looked ready to pounce. "You touch one hair on his head and I'll be all over your ass like flies on BULLSHIT!" she screamed, hoping the rest would hear.

"Enjolras? I lost Mrs. Lovett, and I can't find her!" Jehan's worried voice carried through the tunnels. Tobi's shrill screams along with Mrs. Lovett's threats resounded in the tunnel.

Erik let go of Enjolras' arm. "I'll be right back, please, you all just stay put,"

Enjolras said, slowly backing up before turning and darting down the tunnel; Gavroche was right behind him. "The fool, he can't see two inches in front of his face," Erik muttered, jabbing Enjolras' knife into the lock.

"Where's the money?!" the robber asked gruffly. Sweeney squinted and faintly saw the outline of the blade at Tobi's throat; he was slowly reaching for his own as Enjolras caught up to them.

"What the hell's going on here?" Enjolras bellowed.

Gavroche bumped into the back of his legs. "Tobi! Where are you buddy?"

"The money!" the strange burglar ordered, roughly shaking Tobi; the boy cried out.

"What money!?" Mrs. Lovett growled audibly. Enjolras made a face. "What's going

on?"

"He's holding Tobi hostage!" she cried angrily. Sweeney looked closer still; he could see the reflection of a knife and the silhouette of a scrawny, bearded man. he slipped unnoticed into the shadows and disappeared from sight.

Gavroche poked his head out from behind Enjolras' legs. "He's got Tobi? You son of a bitch!"

"Watch how you talk to me!" The man snapped, followed by Tobi's whimper.

"I know your voice," Gavroche said steadily.

"No you don't!"

"Yes I do, you're my old man! My crappy, shitty, worthless, smelly ol' father!!" he exclaimed.

"No I'm not!"

"And you've got my –beepin- friend captive!"

Thenardier took a step backwards. "That's not fair--you know who I am, but I don't know who you are," he said cruelly.

"You don't need to know who I am, ya great brute!" Mrs. Lovett screeched; suddenly she noticed that Sweeney was missing. Enjolras, seeing the glisten of a razor behind Thenardier, decided to keep him busy.

"Well, my name's not important either"--he paused and stuck his hands in his pockets-- "'cept that I'm the only son of a tremendously wealthy family that loves me very much and would pay greatly for my safety," he said dumbly, rocking back and fourth on his heels. The last part was a complete lie; his parents sent him letters every week detailing how much they didn't like him.

"Really? What's your name then?"

"Unimportant. Really." He said this in a higher voice as he leaned forward and turned his head to the left, exposing his right cheek with a stupid grin on his face.

There was a ruckus behind the bandit as Sweeney shoved Tobi, who went face first into Mrs. Lovett's skirts and sent the knife sinking into the sludge. "Alright!" Sweeney had one hand on Thenardier's forehead and the other held his razor to the throat. "How bout a shave?"

he rasped into the thief's ear.

"W-who are you?!"

"A barber, I cut throats for a living!" He heightened the extent of his threat with an evil laugh that would curl your hair and tie your shoes. Mrs. Lovett gaped and Tobi trembled while Gavroche stared on in awe. "Oh jeez," he shivered and grabbed onto Enjolras' leg for support; Enjolras straightened his posture and stared, wide eyed.

"Say, b-barber, c-c-can we split a d-deal or somethin'?"

Sweeney clicked his tongue. "I don't really think so. You see, bandit, the boy's mother

doesn't very well like have her son threatened, so maybe I just leave your twitching carcass to rot here in the sewers," he said in a low and graveled voice. He leaned forward and looked Thenardier in the face. "How does that sound to you?"

"These are desperate times, Monsieur! Desperate m-"

"Measures are called for." Sweeney finished for him in an ominous tone. Now Gavroche and Tobi were on the verge of wetting themselves.

"M-M-Monsieur T-T-T-T-Todd? I really think w-we should catch up with the others." Gavroche managed to stammer out.

Sweeney shoved Thenardier forward, sending him face down in the sewage. He said over his shoulder as he followed the group out, "Try anything else and I won't be so merciful."

Mrs. Lovett patted Enjolras on the shoulder. "Nice dumb blonde act, kiddo." Enjolras' cheeks turned pink and he looked up at Mr. Todd. "I'll never be able to look at you the same way, Todd. That was truly sinister."

Sweeney shrugged. "I do my best." He laughed again as Tobi and Gavroche clung to each other and screamed in horror