Haunted Dreams

Chapter 17

"Eleanor?" Her sister said weakly. She looked so pale, so cold. She laid in her sick bed, the smell of death was already hanging in the air. Nellie held her sister's hand, as tears started to fill her eyes.

"I'm here Elaine." She assured her.

Nellie didn't feel as much love in her heart towards her little sister as she had for her older one, Rose. Elaine knew this. She was still sweet and loving as a sister should be but she was an attention seeker. She loved having all eyes on her, even in this, her last hour, she looked proud. It was a trait that Nellie couldn't stand in people, it didn't mean they were a bad person, but it still made them feel... annoying.

Nellie would also hate to admit that she always felt jealousy toward her dear Elaine. That was the one trait Nellie couldn't stand that she had, jealousy, no matter how hard she tried to fight it. She was jealous of Elaine getting all the attention. Then once Eleanor knew she was free from the house she ended up being jealous of Lucy Barker. Nellie just realized how much alike Elaine and Lucy were, they would of gotten along great. Their both beautiful, both had long, curly, blonde hair, and always got what they wanted, until death took both of them away at a young age.

"What are you thinking about, Ellie?"

"The fact that I have always been jealous of you Elaine."

"Why?" She asked looking confused.

"Because you have always gotten what you wanted. Mother loved you and John the most, not me. You're so perfect Elaine. So lucky."

"Lucky? Does this look like luck to you? Your the one who got everything Nellie, not from the family it's true, you got it all on your own."

"I do not have everything." Nellie argued.

"Oh? What about that husband of yours standing out in the hallway, holding a baby? I didn't get anything has beautiful as that in my lifetime." She stated, she held a cloth to her mouth as she started coughing, when she pulled the cloth away Nellie saw that there was blood on it. Her heart twisted in pain. "That's all mother wanted for us you know? She wanted to have grandchildren. The only one that made that possible was you."

"Yes, her least favorite, how ironic."

"I've never had a husband. I never even got to fall in love." Elaine said sadly, she looked Nellie in the eyes with all seriousness. "What's it like? To be in love?"

"A pain." Nellie laughed, "But also wonderful. It feels like a dream, it's very easy to lose yourself and you end up not knowing what your doing and why."

"How is that?"

"You just get driven by it and do something mad, very mad."

"Like what?"

Baking people into meat pies. "Just crazy stuff."

"Is it a good feeling, Nellie?"

"It's scary, but once you get a hold of it, it's nice, a very good feeling."

She heard a sniffle outside the doorway, and realized that Sweeney was out there listening. Blush rose to her cheeks as she thought about Sweeney Todd listening to her explain what love feels like.

"I can tell your in love Eleanor, I could always tell when you were in love. That lad next door, when we were kids you always fancied him. What was his name? Ah Benjamin Barker."

Nellie gasped and glanced at the door, blushing harder than before. Elaine started her fit of coughing again and didn't stop. She looked paler than before and had blood running from her mouth, her breathing turned faint and she closed her eyes.

"Elaine!" Nellie screamed, tightening her grip on her sister's hand. "No Elaine you can't go yet."

"I've said goodbye to everyone already. I was waiting for you, I'm ready now."

Nellie felt tears fall down her cheeks.

"Can I see your baby?" She asked weakly.

"Of course, Elaine." She turned to call for Sweeney but he was already in the room, slowly making his way toward the bed, Jeramey sleeping in his arms.

"Aw he's so beautiful. It's nice to meet you by the way, sorry we won't be more acquainted." She said to Sweeney. She stared at him for awhile as if she recognized him.

Sweeney looked back at her not knowing what to say. His eyes showed fear and concern, but he bit his lower lip as if trying to understand what was happening to her. It crossed Nellie's mind that he's never seen death before, that wasn't by his own hand.

"Nellie, I want to say something to you, just the two of us."

Nellie swallowed and nodded, "Sweeney, could you go wait in the living room please, I'll be there in a minute."

"Of course dear." He said awkwardly.

She's never seen him so unraveled and out of place. He looked so uncomfortable. We'll be back home soon, and everything will be alright. She told herself. She took a deep breath and turned back to Elaine.

"Eleanor, you must be brave for what is to come."

Nellie shook her head as if taken aback. "What do you mean?"

"You must be kind. You must be patient, you've always been brave. You must not lose your fight."

"Elaine what are you talking about?"

She ignored her and grabbed both of Nellie's wrists holding her in place. "I know your mind is unraveled, you're mad Nellie, but that's alright, you'll get better."

"Elaine?"

"Shh... I love you."

She let go of Nellie's wrists, laid back on the bed.

"Iloveyoutoo." Nellie said quickly, knowing it'd be her last chance.

Her little sister smiled, then went still.


Nellie didn't cry, she was too confused to cry. Her temples pulsed in her head, she couldn't think straight. What was her sister talking about?

She stumbled out of her sister's bedroom. Her mind was so fogging, she couldn't think... she couldn't breath. She needed fresh air. Death was in this air, she couldn't take it. She needed fresh air, outside air. She ran down the hallway.

The halls were quiet, too quiet. Death was behind her, it was laughing she could hear it. She panicked and kept running. She bolted passed the living room. She heard Daniel's concerned voice, but she didn't stop. I need to get out of here. Get outside. I can't breath. She heard Sweeney's footsteps behind hers. He was chasing her. But she still didn't stop.

She reached the front doors and flew them open, out into the fresh, cold air. She leaned over the balcony rail of the porch and inhaled, exhaled, taking deep huge breaths, trying to gather her thoughts. Sweeney reached her and put a hand on her back, asking her what's wrong, what's happened. But she didn't hear him, she looked up and noticed something across the valley. Miles away there were men on horse back. It looked like they were riding towards them, and it looked like it was the law.

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