21) -
Lily was the first to wake up.
Guilt was bubbling inside her, causing a mild case of insomnia throughout the night.
She kissed Anthony.
She kissed her best friend's crush.
Why?
Lily scowled, thumping her pillow; there was little point on dwelling on the past, her Mum always said.
Right?
She knew that she could trust Anthony not to tell anyone. He looked as shocked and horrified and embarrased by the turn of the events as she felt. She felt absolutely mortified after Anthony broke the kiss, pulling away from her immediately.
Well, almost immediately.
Lily couldn't help but feel as if Anthony had kissed her back, if only for a moment.
Anyway, he wasn't entirely innocent either. He had been flirting with her all night, touching her and complimenting her.
He was practically begging for her attention.
Deciding that the kiss, no matter how brief it was, was perfectly justified, Lily sat up and swung her legs over the side of her bed.
Abby wasn't in bed.
Lily frowned before rationalising the thought. Abby always woke up early.
She had been in bed when Lily stumbled in late at night, so she was found after her disappearance yesterday, that was for sure.
Running a hand through her tangled hair, Lily tied it all back into a messy ponytail with a nearby ribbon before standing up, her nightgown falling down to her ankles.
"Johanna," She whispered. "Johanna."
Johanna barely stirred. Lily rolled her eyes, jumping up from her bed and crossing the room.
"Johanna, get up!"
Again, Johanna remained fast asleep. Lily scowled, placing both hands on her friend's shoulder and shaking them.
"Johanna!"
"I don't want to get up..." Johanna mumbled, swatting Lily's hand away before rolling away. Lily let out a heavy sigh, spinning around and grabbing her pillow from her own bed.
"You 'ave given me no choice."
Raising the pillow above her head, Lily began pounding Johanna over the head with her pillow.
"Lily!" Johanna cried out, waking up immediately. "Lily, get off!"
Lily hit Johanna one last time for luck before taking a step back, prepared for the eldest Barker girl's retaliation.
"Morning!"
Johanna sat up, brushing her hair out of her face and glaring up at Lily.
"Lily, that was totally uncalled for."
"It got you up, didn't it?" Lily grinned, flopping onto Johanna's bed. "Abby's up."
Johanna's eyes darted towards Abby's bed immediately, her forehead creasing slightly.
"It was quite odd...I came in last night, and she was asleep. As if...nothing had happened."
"What would 'appen?"
"I don't know, if I'm perfectly honest."
Sighing, Johanna got up from her bed and reached for her hairbrush.
"I'm going to get dressed," She announced. "And I suggest that you do the same."
Anthony approached the shop hesitantly, a bunch of flowers in his hand. He intended to give them to Johanna, to apologise for their time spent together the previous night being so short.
He just hoped that he wouldn't see Lily.
He felt incredibly guilty for kissing Lily, and was sure that she did too. It was a moment of madness, really. It didn't mean anything.
Did it?
Anthony shook his head immediately.
He had feelings for Johanna and Johanna only. She was the girl he intended to court and she was the girl he intended to marry.
Assured that Lily would've put the kiss behind her, Anthony reached the shop door and knocked.
He waited for a few moments before knocking again. Yes, the sign said closed, but usually someone was awake by now.
Frowning, he leaned forwards and peered inside.
Was that a foot behind the counter?
Horror washed over Anthony. Swallowing, he hurried down the pavement and into the courtyard, running up to Sweeney's shop.
What if someone was injured?
Without thinking, Anthony yanked the door open and rushed in.
"Mr Todd!"
Sweeney and Mrs Lovett broke apart immediately, both spinning around to glare at the sailor boy. He, however, seemed oblivious.
"Mr Todd, there's someone lying behind the counter in the shop downstairs!"
Mrs Lovett's eyes widened as she hurried across the room, Anthony quickly following her. Sweeney didn't hesitate to run after them.
The trio rushed downstairs and into the shop, Mrs Lovett gasping.
"Abby!"
The baker didn't hesitate to run forwards, falling down to her knees next to the young girl's body.
"Abby, love, wake up."
Sweeney joined the baker, reaching out to move her. Mrs Lovett batted his hand away quickly.
"No, don't move 'er, she might 'ave broken something."
Sweeney frowned furiously, reaching out and gently stroking his daughter's hair.
"Mum?"
"Father?"
Johanna and Lily had joined them in the shop, Toby shuffling in sleepily.
"Abby!"
Johanna ran forwards, but Anthony quickly snatched her in his arms, holding her back. She struggled, but his grip was tight.
"What's going on?" Toby whispered, shuffling to Lily's side. She wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
"I ain't sure."
"Abby, c'mon love, wake up." Mrs Lovett repeated, her hand gripping Abby's.
Abby's brow furrowed slightly before her eyes slowly flickered open, raising her head.
"Where am I?" She whispered.
Johanna burst into tears of relief, relaxing in Anthony's arms. He hugged her close.
Abby sat up, despite Sweeney and Mrs Lovett's protests against her doing so. Still frowning, she looked around.
"I..."
"What 'appened, love?" Mrs Lovett asked gently.
Abby thought back to the previous night, her head beginning to pound, her stomach twisting, her heart racing.
Immediately, she started crying.
Sweeney hugged her immediately, wrapping his arms around her and holding her against his chest as she sobbed.
"Papa..." She sobbed. "Please don't let him get me."
"What?" Sweeney demanded. "Abby, has someone hurt you?"
"It hurt," Abby choked. "It hurt, it hurt, it hurt."
"Alright everyone, upstairs."
Mrs Lovett quickly stood up, ushering everyone upstairs while ordering them into the room shared by her daughter and the Barker girls. Abby continued to cry, whispering in-coherent nonsense as she clung to Sweeney.
"Abby, what happened?" Sweeney asked softly, trying to control his anger.
If someone had hurt his daughter...
Mrs Lovett joined them once more, kneeling down in front of Abby.
"C'mon, Abby, you can speak to us."
"The Beadle..."
Sweeney's grip on his daughter tightened. Seeing this, Mrs Lovett gently batted him; he loosened his grip.
"What did the Beadle do, love?"
"He...he..." Abby sobbed again. "He hurt me."
"How?"
"He...raped me."
Abby felt as if a weight had been lifted as she said this, but still she continued to sob.
Mrs Lovett's eyes flickered up to Sweeney, her mouth open to speak but no words forming.
Sweeney looked murderous.
Thank you Bellaxtrix Nellie Le-Lovett, babyvfan, The FanFic Critic, CadyD and MrsNellieLovettTodd for reviewing!