Chapter10
English is not my first language, so be kind about my grammar and choice of word.
Rated M because depictions of murder and sexual activities.
Constructive criticism is welcome.
Enjoy :)
So, this will be the last chapter in this series. I have thoughts about making a sequel to this, about their life by the sea, please write in the comments if this is something you would like :) I hope you have enjoyed following this story as much as I have enjoyed writing it.
They had started packing up the necessities, they had to travel by foot to the railway station, so a lot of things had to be left behind. But then there was a knock on the front door of the shop. Not a light knock of a costumer confused by the closed shop, but a heavy one. One you couldn´t miss, even if you where sleeping upstairs.
"Take Johanna to her room." Sweeney said to Mrs Lovett and then went to open the door. It was one of London´s policemen. "Hello good sir. What can I do for you?" Sweeney asked, trying to stay calm. "Are you Mr Sweeney Todd? The barber?" The officer asked. "Yes I am." Sweeney replied.
"Rumours are going around that you would maybe know the source of the recent disappearances in the town. Beadle Bamford, Judge Turpin and Adolfo Pirelli for example." The officer said. It disgusted Sweeney. He had killed many men, but the only one noticed and recognized where the people who had money.
"No, I didn´t even know they where missing…" Sweeney said, trying to act surprised. "But weren´t some of these men customers of yours?" The officer asked. "Indeed." Sweeney said. The officer looked him up and down nodded lightly to himself.
"You seem like a trustworthy man Mr Todd. Do you keep journal of your customers?" Sweeney nodded. "Can you come by my office later and we will compare them to the missing peoples cases?" Sweeney smiled. "Well of course." He said and watched as the officer left.
He then locked the door and returned to Johanna and Mrs Lovett. "Change of plans. We have to run unnoticed. Now." He said with his teeth clenched. "Why?" Johanna asked distressed. "You will have to trust me. I will tell you everything as soon as possible." Sweeney said and begged Johanna with his eyes.
He gave both women cloaks and let them out the backdoor. "Meet me at the railway station. If I´m not there for departure, leave without me." He said, then kissed Johanna on her forehead, and Mrs Lovett on her lips. They ran, and Sweeney watched them until they where out of sight. Then the plan was afoot.
He took the three corpses from the day before and laid two in the pie shop and one in his room. As he did it he looked around him, as if he was saying goodbye to all his stuff. The crib, his shop, the pie shop. Everything. All of these things would soon be memories. He went into the kitchen and gathered all the alcohol he could find.
He soaked all clothes, blankets and so on, that he could find, in the alcohol and laid it carefully out through the house. He then found the matches and stood now alone at the backdoor with his cloak and the only thing he could bring on his journey, his blades. He lighted the match and threw it on an alcohol soaked blanket.
He stayed to make sure that it cached on, and then he ran. When he reached the railway station, it was only minutes from departure. He got his ticket and jumped on, searching the whole train for Johanna and Mrs Lovett. The train had already taken of, so it was hard for him to keep his balance.
At the end of the train he found them in a small coupe. They where happy to see him, but silent. Understanding that he needed a little space. He sat down and stared out the window on the landscapes that flew by. After a while Johanna cleared her throat and started to speak.
"Benjamin, a lot have happened today. And I yearn to know the truth. I deserve to know the entire truth, about the judge and all the secretive things you have been keeping from me…" He nodded and accepted that it was time. Either she would understand it and accept it, or she would despise him and never forgive him. But the truth had to be told.
"I killed the judge. And Beadle. And some other people. All to protect our family and you. I… I wished that there had been another way, but I couldn´t live in peace with these people still breathing." He said and looked down, afraid of Johanna´s reaction. He could sense her standing up, and then heard the door open and close. She had left.
He looked terrified up at Mrs Lovett, who reached for his hand and gave it a light squeeze. "I´ll go talk to her." She said calmly and followed Johanna. He was left with all his regrets, his trauma and his pain, tears starting to form in his eyes, as he looked at his hands. The hands that had held his daughter, and the same hands that had taken lives.
After what felt like an eternity, both Mrs Lovett and Johanna returned. "It is hard knowing the truth. But I think I understand you. It will take me time to accept all this. That my life and freedom is build on pain and suffering. But I want to try." Johanna said and reached for his hands. "Thank you." He whispered, fighting the tears trying to run out his eyes.
After a long ride they finally heard the magic words. "Next stop Weymouth." They gathered their few belongings and got of. They looked around at the small streets and houses, calmed by the sound of the waves lapping at the shore. It felt like home.
After a week they had already signed the papers for their new home, a beautiful little house a little away from the others, but close to the shore. They had moved in, and it all seemed to be over. But one thing was still bugging Sweeneys mind. Did the fire do its job?
"Mr T?" Mrs Lovett was sitting with the paper from the day before. "Yes?" He asked. "It says here that the house on Fleetstreet burned down. With three bodies inside. They assume it´s us…" she said very hesitant. "I know it is macabre, but I had to assure that they wouldn't look for us. That we would be left in peace without a trace."
"It is brilliant." She said and kissed his cheek. It was like their life had started from scratch. Like they where unstoppable. Mrs Lovett could continue cooking, Sweeney could continue barbering, without the bad ending, and Johanna could finally be free as a bird. This new life certainly had something in store. Maybe even more that they had ever expected, something they hadn´t dared to dream.