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Chapter Twenty Nine
Sweeney and I stared at each other silently. I panted slightly, as if I had been running for a long time. My hands, balled up into tight fists, slowly spread out, the pain in my knuckles becoming more evident as I did so.
"Is that what you think?" Sweeney asked in a low voice. "Is that you what you believe?"
I nodded once, unable to trust myself should I begin to speak again. Accusations and insults rose to my throat, but I swallowed them down again.
"You're wrong."
"I don't believe you."
Sweeney regarded me with another look, glaring down at me as if I were a piece of dirt on his shoe. I mirrored his expression.
"How could I?" He demanded. "How could I travel to the future and kill them?"
"How could my brother, sister and I travel to the past and find you?" I countered. "Things happen."
Sweeney snorted. "If that's what you want to believe – "
"Don't treat me like a child!" I cried.
"How can I treat you otherwise when you insist on acting in such a way?"
"Who did it then?" I asked wearily. I was tired. There was no other word to describe how I felt. Just...tired. "Who killed my dad and my granddad? Who hates us enough to do it?"
"I don't know, but it wasn't me."
Sweeney turned away from me with one last glare, and I knew I was dismissed from his shop. I glared at his back before also turning and leaving.
"Hey Amz, what took you so long?" Nellie asked with a grin as I walked back into the shop. I ignored her.
"Amy?"
"What?" I demanded, spinning around to face her. She stared at me, frowning.
"Jeez Amz, what's up with you?"
"Nothing."
Nellie walked forwards. "Has he said something?"
"Has who said something?" I asked in exasperation.
"Santa Claus. Who do you think?" Nellie rolled her eyes. "Amy, you're the brains of the family."
"What does that make you and Ben then?"
"I'm quite clearly the beauty and Ben..." Nellie's voice trailed off. "Ben is one of a kind."
I couldn't help but laugh at that remark. Nellie grinned, but then her face turned serious again.
"So what happened?"
"Nothing."
"Amy Grace Hope, I have grown up with you. You are my little sister. I know when you are lying to me and you are definitely lying to me. What is the matter?"
"Nothing," I insisted, rolling my eyes and pulling myself out of Nellie's grip. "C'mon, we need to get on with helping Mrs Lovett." I paused, realizing she wasn't in the shop. "Where is Mrs Lovett?"
"Down there," Nellie said, pointing towards the doors to the bake house. "I was behind her when she opened them. It really stinks down there."
"What does it smell like?" I asked, not knowing if I wanted to know the answer.
"Ok, this'll sound weird, but kinda like...like there's dead bodies down there."
I felt sick.
"Are you ok, Amz? You look like you're about to faint."
I nodded. "I just need to sit down."
Nellie took my hand and led me to the booth, sitting me down and then getting me a glass of water. Handing it to me, she sat opposite me and stared at me with a scrutinizing gaze.
"What?"
"What's up? Ever since...well, you fainted, you've acted really weird, like you know something you shouldn't. You're always so pale and jumpy."
Was I? I hadn't realized I was.
"Er..."
Luckily, the shop door opening cut me off.
"Afternoon girls!" Ben said cheerfully, strolling in.
"Why are you so happy?" Nellie demanded gruffly.
"I, my darling sister, just got paid."
Nellie rolled her eyes. "Yeah, everyone gets paid once in a while."
Ben grinned as he pulled the bag of money out of his pocket. It was small, but bulging. Nellie's mouth fell open, as did mine.
"Wow..."
"What did you do, Ben?" I asked.
"Well, I was talking to Mr Neal about how I have to look after you to and he felt sorry for me, having to provide for my family as well as pay my way towards our lodgings. Amazing, huh?"
I grinned back at Ben. "Yeah, amazing."
"Oh, hello Ben! I didn't hear you come in." Mrs Lovett said as she walked into the shop, making me jump.
Maybe Nellie was right...
"Afternoon, Mrs Lovett." Ben greeted her with a wide grin, tucking the bag of money into his pocket.
The afternoon passed fairly quickly. While Nellie and I helped Mrs Lovett, Ben kept us all in fits of laughter with his tales about life on the market stall.
The side flinging open made us stop.
"Hello, Mr T," Mrs Lovett beamed at Sweeney. I instantly stiffened, glaring at him. "We haven't disturbed you, have we?"
Sweeney shook his head once, and then turned his dark eyes on me. "Can I have a word with you, Amy?"
I could feel everyone's eyes on me, but kept mine on Sweeney.
"Ok." I said simply, putting down the rolling pin and following him outside and into the yard.
I opened my mouth to speak, but Sweeney interrupted me before I could start.
"I don't know why you have come to your conclusion, but I warn you girl, you breathe one word of you saw to anyone and I will not be so kind." He hissed. I blinked.
"Are you threatening me?" I asked.
"Amy,"
I spun around as the side door opened again, revealing Mrs Lovett. She smiled at me.
"Amy, love, I'm so sorry, but you couldn't pop to the shop, could you? I fancy some toffees."
I frowned, but nodded. Anything to get away from Sweeney.
"Sure thing, Mrs Lovett."
Mrs Lovett smiled as I reached forwards and plucked the coin out of her outstretched hand.
"Thank you, deary," She then looked up at Sweeney. "Fancy coming in for a bit, Mr T?"
Sweeney glared at her as he shook his head once and then left, storming up the stairs.
"Come on, love, don't forget your coat."
I smiled in thanks as Mrs Lovett handed said coat to me. Saying a quick goodbye and promising not to be long, I left the shop and began walking.
As I got halfway to the shop, it began raining. It was a storm, the rain falling down heavily. Groaning, I ducked and ran through the streets, my boots splashing in every puddle.
From a distance, I could hear voices, calling out to each other.
"Wait!"
"Come on, Anna! Hurry!"
I ignored the voices, continuing to run myself. As I turned another corner, I had the horrible feeling that I was lost.
"Aw, crap," I muttered. "Hello?"
"Hello, Amy." A smooth voice drawled. Before I could spin around, something hit me over the back of the head.
Groaning, I collapsed to the ground, another stab of pain searing through my head as it hit the cobblestones.
"Help..." I whispered before everything went black.
