Thank you to:
xBadxRomancesx - Heehee everything shall be revealed soon!
freakyfriday13 - Again, everything shall be revealed soon!
obsessivelyfanaticgw09 - Would I do that? Well...maybe...no! I promise Sweeney won't kill Amy, but he won't be happy!
and Undergargle - You have no idea how much that means to me. Jacqueline Wilson is my favourite author of all time, so thank you very much!
Chapter Twenty Eight
We stared at each other silently. The rain continued to soak us as we stood, but we didn't notice. At least, I didn't.
"How?" I finally asked.
Johanna frowned. "I'm sorry, but I can assure you that my birth name is and has always been Johanna Barker."
"Why would he lie to me?" I asked, and then my eyes widened in realization.
Turpin lied to me.
He lied to me about everything.
"He lied..."
"Johanna," Anna said, placing a hand on my arm. I shook it off immediately.
"HE LIED TO ME!"
"Johanna..."
Anna wrapped an arm around my shoulder, hugging me close. "Johanna, he's lied to many people. He's hurt many people. He is an evil man. Do not let him get to you."
Suddenly, Johanna Barker knelt down in front of me and took my hands in her own.
"Why don't you come with Anthony and me? We are going home. You may come and dry off, and perhaps we can make sense of this mess." She suggested. I smiled.
"Yes, please."
Anthony and Johanna's house was just the right size for them. Not too big and not too small. It was perfect.
"Here, this should help."
I smiled gratefully as Johanna handed me a warm drink. Shaking from the cold, I held it in my hands before taking a sip.
"I am so confused." I whispered shamefully. Anna took my hand and squeezed it.
"We all are, Johanna."
"What did Turpin tell you?" Anthony asked, and though his words were harsh, his tone was kind and gentle. I smiled, instantly liking him.
"He told me...he told me that he had taken care of me as a child...that my father was a bad man...sent away to Australia..." I murmured, my brow furrowing as I tried to remember.
"What else?" Johanna urged. "What else did he tell you?"
"My mother took arsenic...I ran away when I was fifteen and married a sailor..." A tear trickled down my cheek. "He told me my children were dead."
Johanna frowned, but not at me. She looked up at Anthony and frowned in an unhappy way.
"He is so cruel." She said, shaking her head.
"What?" I asked.
"Johanna, I am afraid he must've lied to you." Anna said gently.
"But...why?"
Johanna frowned. "I do not know, but what most of what you described is my past," Johanna suddenly smiled at Anthony. "Except I am not yet married."
I noticed a small ring on her finger, a wide smile spreading across my face.
"You're getting married?" I asked. Johanna nodded shyly. "How wonderful! Congratulations!"
"Thank you."
I smiled again, this time it being a little forced. Seeing this, Anna took my hand and squeezed it. She truly was a best friend.
"So what are we going to do?" She asked, looking from Anthony to Johanna.
Sighing, Johanna turned to face me.
"I fear you are not who you believe to be."
"I know. We have established that Turpin lied to me."
"No, that is not what I mean. I fear that perhaps you are not from here...that you have been tricked in more ways than one."
I sighed. "I apologise for being so rude, but I do not believe I can comprehend what is being said here."
"Johanna is extremely tired," Anna supplied. I gave her a quick, grateful smile. "She has suffered many perils, most of them brought on her by the Judge. Please may we remain here for just one night, and then we shall be on our way?"
"Please do," Anthony said. "You are both very welcome."
"I'm afraid you shall have to share a room, and there is only one bed," Johanna told us apologetically. "We do have spare bedding though."
Before Ana could speak, I immediately said, "Anna may have the bed."
"But - "
"I want you to have the bed, Anna." I insisted firmly.
Anna frowned, but thankfully didn't protest. I was just too tired.
"Very well. I'll show you where it is."
Anna and I followed Johanna, I carrying the bag. We were taken to a nice room, light and warm.
"I hope this is sutiable for you." Johanna said kindly.
"It's perfect." I told her, smiling. Anything that wasn't Turpin's house was brilliant, even if it was a dirty alleyway in the middle of nowhere.
Johanna smiled. "Anthony will bring your bedding in a moment, and in the morning maybe we can make sense of this mess."
I smiled weakly. "I hope so."
After Anthony brought in my bedding, Anna and I changed. I couldn't help but notice the delighted expression on Anna's face as she curled up on the bed, bringing the quilt right up to her shoulders. She looked like a little girl.
"It's so lovely and warm!" She murmured.
I smiled as I hesitantly sat down on my makeshift bed. Lying down, I rested my head on the pillow.
"Johanna,"
"Yes?"
"Are you...are you well?"
"What do you mean, Anna?"
"How do you feel? If I were you, I would feel terribly confused and - "
"I'm fine."
"Johanna,"
"Please, Anna, I just wish to sleep."
My words came out harsher than I wanted them to. Instantly feeling guilty, I softend my tone.
"I'm sorry, Anna, but I simply am too tired."
Anna smiled. "That's fine, I understand."
Smiling back, I closed my eyes and fell asleep.
"No! You can't go!"
I paused, turning to face her. She was staring at me with a desperate expression, her large blue eyes filling up with tears.
"Why ever not?" I questioned. I hated to admit it, for I believed myself to be a pleasant person, but she was annoying me ever so much.
"Please, you just can't!"
Amy stepped forwards, as if to embrace me, but I took a quick step back.
"Come on, love, you're a bit tired." Mrs Lovett said quickly, shooting an apologetic smile at me as she wrapped an arm around Amy's shoulders. The young girl shook it off quickly.
"No! She can't go!" She insisted, a few tears spilling over and trickling down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry, but I –"
"Amy, come on, love."
"NO!" Amy screamed, thrashing against Mrs Lovett's restraining arms. Her scream caused the other girl, the dark haired one, to rush into the shop.
"What the hell, Amy?" She asked, staring at the young girl.
"You can't go! You can't!"
"Why not?" I demanded. "Why can I not leave this shop? Why have you been staring at me ever since I have entered? Why are you so annoying?"
"BECAUSE YOU'RE MY MUM!"
My eyes snapped open, my head pounding, my heart racing and my stomach twisting.
"Anna! Anna, get up!"
Anna's eyes slowly opened. Sitting up, she stared at me sleepily.
"What's wrong?"
"We need to go to Fleet Street, now!"
