Life and Times of Sweeney Todd
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Chapter 25
Do they think that walls can hide you? Even now I'm at your window…
It has now been a week since Johanna was staying with Sweeney Todd and Nellie. Well, it should be was staying with them. It all started one rainy afternoon…
Nellie walked up to Johanna's room to see if everything was all right. She hadn't seen her all day. Not for breakfast, not for lunch, and now it was almost dinner time. She knocked on the door, "Johanna," No reply, "Johanna!!" Nellie called as she opened the door.
What she saw confused her, all it was, was an empty room with a few books lying on the floor. Her bed was there, the bookshelf was there, the wallpaper looked a little torn and ragged, but no Johanna. Not anywhere. Nellie backed up slowly, running into Sweeney she gasped for breath, "Ah!" Relieved, she saw it was Sweeney, "Didn't see you. Gave me a frigh', you did."
Sweeney gave her a crooked smile, "Where's Johanna?"
She sighed, "Tha's actually wha' I was going to ask you. Where'd you set the baby?"
"She's in 'er crib. Taking a nap. Johanna? Hm, no, I 'aven't seen 'er at all today…and I don't remember overhearing her saying she was leavin' or going someplace." He replied to Nellie.
Nellie put her arms on Sweeney Todd's shoulders, turning him around a bit, "All righ' then, let's go and find 'er."
"Whhhhyyy?" He groaned. After all, it was his daughter.
"Why no'?" Nellie questioned.
"It's raining, I 'ave a headache, and"
"Okay," She sighed again, "jus' stop complainin'. She may come back. If no' then…"
"Then?"
"Then she doesn't come back."
"Yeah. Then wha'?"
Nellie shrugged, "We eventually gotta find out wha' 'appened. You don't jus' turn up missin'."
"It's possible."
They glanced at eachother for a moment as if they were about to say something, then they heard a loud, creaky noise downstairs. It sounded as if a door were being open. The next thing they knew, there was Johanna standing at the bottom of the stairs.
She was wearing leather clothes, a brown hat, and she was soaked in the rain. Sweeney rushed down to her, "Wha' are you doin' and where 'ave you been?!" He said, getting no reply back from her.
Johanna stood motionless as Mrs. Lovett watched from above, "Johanna." Nellie said hesitantly.
Johanna rested her hand on the wooden stair post. She took a deep breath and said calmly, "I read the paper today."
"When? We didn't see you in the livin' room." Sweeney said.
"I came down and got it early this morning. I felt like reading, so I read the paper. And I, um," She stuttered, "I read…I read…I saw both of your pictures."
"Me and Nellie?" Sweeney asked her in monotone.
Johanna nodded, "And…and it…said…you've been missing for a year and they're offering a reward…and, I think you know who published it. I think you know her."
Both Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett's eyes narrowed as Johanna said, "Do you know who Mrs. Delmer is?"
Nellie scratched the back of her head nervously and flipped her hair, "Tha's the Real Estate Agent…from when we bought the 'ouse?" She mumbled, "I wonder 'ow she got into writing for the paper…"
"'Ow does a Real Estate Agent write for the paper? Tha' makes no sense…" Sweeney said as he looked up to see Nellie.
Nellie bit her nail, "I don't know. Bu' she knows us. And I 'ave a reason to think tha' I've known 'er before from somewhere…Mrs. Delmer…Hm…tha' name, it sounds so familiar…but, Johanna, where 'ave you been all day?"
Johanna's eyes weld with tears, "I'm an honest girl," She stated, "And, painful as it was…I turned you in." Then Sweeney and Nellie's heart sank. I swear I know her from somewhere… Nellie thought, But WHERE was it?!
A/N and I leave you with a cliffy! Yay! Well, please review and I'll have an update for you here soon. I appreciate you all who read and review!