-XXXVIII-

The fog was thickly billowing along the cobbled lanes of London as Sweeney Todd carried his wife through the deserted street. He walked as though in a trance, and his expression was so vacantly haunting that wretches sleeping in the gutter retreated to the alleyways to avoid his notice. Little did they know nothing could deter Todd from his intention. His face remained streaked in blood, and he had no intention of clearing it away. The emptiness of his existence consumed him as he continued to walk without rest or falter. He continued onward until the city faded into the scenery and he approached the cemetery. As Todd and his wife passed through the iron gates, a soft falling of snow began to fill the air with tiny crystals. The snowflakes caressed Lucy's serene countenance as Todd carried her on. He walked stiffly about the cold tombstones, not sparing a glance at the names engraved in each marble dedication. It was when he stood before a great stone angel that he finally stopped.

His cold expression began to contort in strengthening anger as his eyes locked upon the thoughtless smile the stone angel wore. Todd lowered his wife to the ground, pausing a moment before slowly rising to his feet once again. He reached for the razor at his belt and removed it from its place. He swiftly flipped the blade open and gazed at the sharpened edge with utter lack of emotion. He closed his eyes, forcing back his sorrow, and felt his empty and silent tears break through his restraint as he wrathfully slashed the blade across the stone angel's throat, again and again.

Johanna was feeling remarkably better than she had only a few moments ago, although she was still quite disconcerted. She supposed she'd never be herself again, not after all she'd experienced. On the way back to the barber shop Johanna had nearly collapsed from trembling, and to her gratitude Toby offered his hand to her. Although she didn't know of the trials of the boy, she was certain they were equally as traumatizing as her own, and yet he was showing far more courage than she. The remainder of the distance Johanna vowed to be as brave as she could. The two of them finally rounded the final turn and to Johanna's utter delight both Anthony and Miss Clara stood there. By the looks on their faces they were incredibly distressed, and likely they had a right to be so. Anthony turned and met her gaze with a relived expression.

"Johanna."

Johanna smiled timidly, and could not keep the smile off her face as the young man rushed toward her with open arms and embraced her. Despite how cold she felt, there was so much warmth in Anthony that she felt as though her eternal night was finally ending. He was the one who saved her from the darkness, and she would be forever in his debt because of it. Anthony straightened and gazed at her with worry. He brushed a thumb down her jaw softly.

"Are you alright?" He asked her quietly.

Johanna nodded. "More than ever, thanks to you Anthony."

Anthony smiled happily. "Thank heaven for that."

As Johanna reconciled with Anthony, another exchange was taking place between Toby and Miss Clara. Johanna could not hear what was being spoken, but it appeared the news was not of a casual nature. Unable to stop herself, Johanna rushed toward her former governess and long time friend with relief. Clara embraced the girl tightly.

"Oh Johanna, I'm so glad that you're safe. So many things have happened that I feared…" Clara abruptly halted her thought, and Johanna offered a suspicious glance. Clara sighed. "I've discovered more truths than I should ever know."

Suddenly Anthony spoke up. "Miss Cartwright? I have to ask, is Mr. Todd alright?" All three companions stiffened at the mention of this. At their baffled silence Anthony elaborated. "All that blood in his parlor makes me fear something awful has happened."

Clara broke from her spell first. "Indeed it has Anthony, but you needn't concern yourself about it. Now, I would hope you two could return to the manor and gather the remainder of Johanna's things. You will need them if you are to leave promptly, I expect."

Anthony was unconvinced that returning to the Judge's home was the best course of action, for he was completely ignorant of all the dreadful proceedings that occurred that night. Johanna read the hinting in Clara's voice and explained they would be quite safe to collect her things if they did so quickly. As the two of them disappeared down the street, Clara did her best to console Toby. It came to very little. The boy was so full of questions Clara could hardly keep up, and many of them she dared not think about much less explain. It was too appalling. She placed a hand on Toby's shoulder.

"You are welcome to leave now, if you wish, Toby. Unfortunately I am committed to stay until I can repay my debt to a certain gentleman. I understand if you would rather depart from this place without delay, but if you choose to remain with me I would cherish your company."

Toby considered. "I cannot believe how anything could keep you in this dreadful place mum, but if you're determined than so am I. You saved my life, after all."

Clara smiled and touched his cheek. "I'm sure you'd have been fine on your own, lad, but I'd be grateful for your help."

For the final hours until the dawn Clara and Toby cleaned the evidence of the butchery that had taken place in Mr. Barker's barber shop. Although Clara offered Toby the choice, the boy had resiliently agreed to wash the blood from the parlor itself, as well as the splotches on the window. Clara's job was far less desirable. Life had struck most of the womanly fragility out of Clara, but no sane human being could easily come into contact with the bones of her own kind. She cleaned away what she could, and burned what she could, but every breath she took wore away her determination.

More than once she collapsed in a fit of gagging and yet she didn't vomit again. There was only so much she could endure, and she knew she would not be able to drag the bodies of the Judge or his deputy into the flames, despite how much she despised them both. She hid the corpses, and hoped that when Mr. Barker returned he would have regained some of his senses and could ably destroy the remaining evidence of his rampage.