I'm Back! Good lord it's been awhile. Sorry haha. Thank you for those of you still reading this, I will definitely continue. I have plenty of ideas, they just don't happen in the story yet, and it's those stepping stones to get to that part where I'm stumped. So that's why it took me so long. That plus college and work. So those of you enjoying this, I'm so happy that you are and I hope you will continue to enjoy this, and know that the end will not come for a long, long time.
Haunted Dreams
Chapter 19
"France?" Sweeney asked Nellie the second they entered Nettie's home. Daniel met them there after a few minutes. "We're going to some lake house in France and your mother just felt bad about letting the law come for us, then let us go just to what? Give us a running start?"
"More like sending the police in the other direction." Daniel said.
"What?"
"The lake house is in Ireland not France Sweeney" Nellie sighed. She felt so tired, so tired of running, and tired of everything in her life. It's been a good, happy year, and now they have to risk their lives again, go on the run again, putting their little baby at risk.
"Ireland?" So that's where we're going?" Sweeney asked her. She just nodded in reply.
"And you don't have time to lose." Nettie said coming into the room with a bag in her hands. "I packed you some food, now you'll have to quickly run home and grab clothing, personal items, whatever you'll think you will need."
"Thank you Nettie." Nellie said giving her aunt a hug. She kissed Daniel on the cheek and her, Sweeney, and little Jeramey borrowed Daniel's horse and quickly went back to their house to pack personal items, and whatever else they might need.
Nellie put some dresses in the bag as long with some of Sweeney's shirts. The journey wouldn't be that long, Nettie told them that there was a ship leaving to go to Ireland tonight. Her and Daniel knew the sailor and said that he always lets people travel with him by paying money of course. "When is this ship departing?" Sweeney asked he was standing in the living room, supporting Jeramey over his shoulder, the little lad fell asleep again.
Nellie looked at the clock. "In about ten minutes, Nettie said he leaves around eight o'clock, so be better head down to the dock."
"We don't need a ticket?" Sweeney shouted against the wind as they were running towards the dock.
"No. Just give him a few coins and he'll let us on."
They made it to the ship just in time. They boarded and Sweeney realized what a dump this ship was. It wasn't a ship made for travel indeed, it looked as if this sailor only transported goods maybe fish or lumber. Either way it stunk. Most of the stench came from the men. Sweeney didn't know if they were workers or passengers like them, but they were big, smelly, and they looked vicious. Nellie was the only woman aboard and that terrified Sweeney, he would have to never let her out of his sight. The second they boarded the men haven't taken there eyes off her.
"There's a beautiful one." Sweeney heard one of them say. He glared at them and put his arm around Nellie's shoulder.
The ships suddenly made a lurch and moved forward.
Sweeney Todd lifted his head up and breathed in the fresh, sea air. He hasn't been on a ship since Anthony pulled him out of the water and onto that vessel, the one that sailed him home to his loving wife. Or so he hoped, he expected to see Lucy, maybe sitting on the couch with Johanna, instead he found a lonely baker woman kneading dough. Life is crazy that way. He turned his head to look at the woman standing next to him, staring out at the waves, holding their son in her arms, he never expected that he would fall in love with that lonely baker.
A few hours have gone by, it was getting late into the night. Jeramey was asleep on Sweeney's shoulder, Sweeney smiled out at the sea and felt relaxed. He grabbed Nellie's hand which felt clammy, he turned his head to look at her. She looked really pale, sweaty, and green. "You alright, pet?"
She shook her head. "This swaying back and forth, I don't see how these men can stand it."
"You get used to it eventually I suppose. Nellie?" She leaned over and vomited over the rail. "Alright, here why don't you lay down." Sweeney tried to get her to lay down but she just kept on getting sick. All the men were looking over and glaring at them.
Nellie finally drifted off to sleep, which Sweeney was thankful for. He leaned against a wall with Jeramey in his lap, and drifted off to sleep as well.
Nellie was sea sick the whole next day, good news was that the ship would port by the next morning, or at least that's what the sailor said. "It'll be over soon, pet." Sweeney said as he stroked his wife's back as she vomited into the sea.
"I want that woman off." A man growled to his friend.
"The sea is no place for a woman." The other said.
"Then let's get rid of them."
Sweeney, Nellie, and Jeramey were sleeping, when two men grabbed Nellie, carrying her into the air. The put his hand over her mouth but it was too late, she already let out a scream, waking Sweeney up.
"Hey!" He shouted. He scooped Jeramey up, who started crying for the sudden movement. He raced towards the men who were making there way to the edge of the ship.
Sweeney was too late and Nellie was thrown into the sea.
Sweeney punched the man in the face, but three other men flipped him over the rail, Sweeney fell into the water. Then they threw his bag, which Sweeney barely caught before it sank.
"NELLIE!" He screamed over the roar of the waves, and the water smacking him in the face. He could hear the men on the boat laughing and giving each other high fives. He held Jeramey up as high as he could, so that the water wouldn't get into the baby's lungs. "NELLIE!" He couldn't see her. Why wasn't he seeing her? Where was she? Why did she always have to do this? She always had to scare him like this. His stupid bloody wonder. "Nelllllieeee!" He screamed.
"SWEENEY!" Oh thank God! Sweeney thought. He saw her swimming towards him.
"You okay?" He asked her. Sweeney was losing his grip on the bag, trying to hold Jeramey at the same time.
"It's freezing." Nellie said, grabbing Jeramey, keeping him above water a lot better than Sweeney was doing. Nellie's teeth were chattering. It was then Sweeney realized how cold the water was. It was February, of course the water would be cold, how did he not even notice?
"Come on lets get to the shore." His teeth were chattering now as well. Fortunately the ship was near the shore when Sweeney and Nellie got tossed off. The dock was a few more miles to the left, to the nearest town. The town Sweeney and Nellie needed to go to. On the shore, that was only a few strokes ahead of them, was nothing but a forest. Or from what Sweeney could see it looked like a forest.
Sweeney expected Nellie to be freaking out in the water and he would have to drag her to the shore, but she was swimming pretty well, fast even, and she was only using one hand. He was impressed.
They reached the shore, both out of breath, and Jeramey still crying. Nellie collapsed in the sand. Sweeney leaned over Jeramey, trying to calm him. "Shhh shh it's alright, it's alright now." He said cradling the child.
"Sweeney." Nellie said looking up at the sky, panting.
"Yes, pet."
"I hate the sea."
Sweeney busted out laughing. He hasn't found something so amusing in years. He leaned over and kissed Nellie on the lips. "Then you will never have to be on it again my pet." She smiled and kissed him back.
The sun started to rise, they rested for a little awhile, ate some food, fed Jeramey and started moving towards that town. Sweeney was correct it was a forest. "Okay, so all we have to do is go through the forest to the left, and we should reach the town." Nellie said confidently.
"Which town is it?" Sweeney asked. He was told this lake house was in Ireland, but he never heard what town it was in.
"Wexford."
"Then let's go." Sweeney, picking up Jeramey who was playing with a sea shell.
Nellie looked up at the rising sun as if she just remembered something. "Hey Sweeney?" She went over to him and kissed his cheek, grabbing his hand, as they started walking.
"What is it?"
"It's Valentines Day." She whispered in his ear, smiling.
Sweeney smiled and shook his head at her. They just got thrown off a ship into a freezing ocean and swam all the way to the shore. Now they have to walk through a frozen forest, who knows how long. And she's thinking about Valentines Day. Ridiculous.
I had to look up Wexford lol! I didn't want to make up a town and I thought 'hmm, what's a southern city in Ireland near the coast? To the Google'
Happy Valentines Day guys! Raise a glass if your single saps like me and your going to watch chick flicks all night!
