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Chapter Twenty One

"Can I ask you something?"

After our picnic and Mrs Lovett's daydream of a family living by the beach, we returned to the shop. Matt, Hannah and Toby had unearthed an old board game, but I chose to visit Sweeney in his shop.

Sweeney stopped in his pacing and glared at me.

"What?"

I fidgeted with my dress, not wanting to look at him.

"When Mrs Lovett was going on about being a family...did that include us?"

Sweeney didn't respond. I looked up at him from under my eyelashes shyly, but he wasn't looking at me. He was staring out the window.

"I mean Matt, Hannah and I."

"I don't know." He admitted quietly. I sighed.

"I'm just worried that...if we don't get home again...that Mrs Lovett might not...want us to be there."

I wrapped my arms around myself almost automatically, slightly fearful of the idea of being alone in this strange era.

"She wouldn't let you be alone."

"Do you think so?"

Sweeney nodded once and then continued to pace. I smiled up at him.

"I'd like it if we were a family," I admitted. "But I want to go home even more."

He didn't respond. Frowning, I continued.

"You know...I think that Mum would like to see you again sometime soon," I told him. "It's just me and her now."

Sweeney's brow furrowed slightly as he looked at me.

"What happened to the the other two?" He asked gruffly.

"Ben and Nellie? Well, Ben has moved in with his girlfriend and Nellie has gone to University," I grinned at Sweeney's slightly confused expression. "University is like an even better school, somewhere you go if you want a good job."

"Oh."

"Ben didn't go to University, but Nellie really wants to be a teacher."

Sweeney grunted as the door opened and Mrs Lovett came bustling in.

"I've got you some food, love, and - oh, hello Amy! I didn't see you there!"

I smiled at Mrs Lovett as she acknowledged my existence, slightly miffed that she hadn't seen me before.

"Listen, love, could you give me and Mr T a moment?"

"Erm, yeah, I guess so."

Frowning, I got up from the trunk and left the shop, shutting the door behind me. Not wanting to have to waste time by going down to Mrs Lovett's shop, only to come back up again, I sat down at the top of the wooden staircase, watching the world go by.

I cleared my throat, flinching at the nasty noise I made.

Something was wrong with me, and I didn't know what.

Whenever I coughed, it felt like my whole body was breaking into millions of tiny pieces and like my throat was on fire.

And coughing up blood wasn't normal.

I didn't - I couldn't - tell anyone about the blood.

Not now.

It would only worry them, and I didn't want to be the cause of that anxiety. Things seemed to be alright now, and I wasn't going to be the one to ruin it all.

"Amy!"

I looked up at the sound of my name, a grin spreading across my face as I saw Anthony walk into the courtyard. I jumped up and ran down the stairs towards him.

"Hello Anthony!" I greeted him happily. "How are you?"

"I'm fine, thank you. How are you?"

"I'm alright, thanks."

Anthony smiled, but he seemed slightly distant. I frowned.

"Are you sure you're alright?"

"I was just wondering if Mr Todd was in, actually."

"Oh yes, he's in his shop."

Anthony thanked me and brushed past me, heading towards the steps. After a moment, I quickly followed him.

Not bothering to knock, Anthony threw the door open and ran into the shop, interupting whatever conversation Sweeney and Mrs Lovett were having. I trailed in after him with a sheepish smile.

My smile faded slightly as Mrs Lovett shot me a glare.

"Mr Todd, Mrs Lovett, m'am," Anthony greeted them politely. "Seems I've not slept in a week, but it's done..."

"What is it, Anthony?" Sweeney demanded.

"He has her locked in a madhouse," Anthony told him. "Fogg's Asylum. I've circled the place a dozen times, but there's no way in. It's a fortress!"

Sweeney stood in silence for a moment, seemingly thinking.

"We've got him!" He suddenly whispered, forgetting that he wasn't alone.

"Mr Todd?"

"Her. We've got her." Sweeney hastily corrected himself.

"I don't - "

"Where do you suppose all the wigmakers of London go to obtain their human hair? Bedlam. They get their hair from the lunatics at Bedlam. We shall set you up as a wigmaker in search of hair - that will gain you access - then you will take her."

I sat on the chest and watched as Sweeney and Anthony went over the details of the plan, unable to stop the small smile that appeared on my face.

I could help.

I didn't tell anyone about my plan. It couldn't be ruined.

I was going to do it.

I was going to change the ending of Sweeney Todd.