Asylum

Anthony knew that the plan would work, he trusted Mr. Todd more than anyone. He walked down the road and tried not to draw attention to himself.

Smile and nod, he thought to himself as a couple pasted him.

He walked down the street until he came to the asylum. He looked up at the tall castle like structure and immediately knew what Toby felt like. Th tall towers stretched their shadows across the street and the iron doors were closed tight. He walked up to the large doors and knocked on the door handle. A pair of eyes stared at him as the metal slide was opened.

"What?" a gruff voice called.

"Wigmaker," Anthony replied.

The metal slide shut and Anthony moved as the doors opened. A smell of mould rushed at his and dust flew up his nose. He coughed loudly.

"Do come in please," a sly voice said.

Anthony didn't know what to do, the man looked like he was a patient himself. He was bald on top but long stringy hair grew near the back of his head. He wore a long white coat that indicated he was Mr. Fogg and his smile was twisted. Anthony swallowed, he was doing this for Johanna he would do anything for Johanna. He took a step into the dark asylum and let the large iron doors close and lock behind him.

At the pie shop Sweeney sat in his barber's chair. He thought about Anthony, he was proud that the boy was so determined to save Johanna and bring her back. But what he thought about most was how to get rid of the boy. He knew Anthony was a good friend, doing such a daring task. But he wanted Johanna to stay with him forever, to know what she is, to know that she is a Barker. Johanna Barker.

"Mr. T?" Mrs. Lovett called from the oak door.

"What is it?" Sweeney said sharply.

"Just think, we're going to have her in only a matter of minutes,"

Sweeney didn't say anything, just nodded. Mrs. Lovett sighed.

"What are you thinking about?"

"There must be a way to get rid of that sailor,"

Mrs. Lovett walked up behind him and placed her arms around his shoulders.

"From the judge know to that boy. Mr. T why don't you just let that boy leave?"

Sweeney turned around to meet her deep brown eyes, "I can't. He'll never understand,"

Mrs. Lovett sighed, "Just tell him that your her father and that you want her home for a year or so. Then he can take her to wherever,"

Sweeney grumbled loudly.

Back downstairs Toby sat calmly at the bar. He always wondered what Mrs. Lovett and Mr. Todd have been saying. He wished he could hear their conversations and get in on the conversation. He didn't like secrecy, it always made him feel unwanted and not loved. Forever his life has been about nothing but secrecy, he didn't find out about his parents death until about age 10, he didn't know the elixir was piss until Danny Higgins made him go pee in a bottle marker elixir and he didn't know about Anthony until about a couple days ago. He didn't like secrecy, he actually despised it. He finally thought that he had to do something about it.

In the asylum Anthony glanced nervously around his surroundings. Large lights hung lazily about his head, he was actually afraid that they would fall off and hit him. The walls looked wet and slimy. There were rooms that were marked PRIVATE and sometimes screams could be heard from the PRIVATE room.

"Don't worry about that," Mr. Fogg said as he caught a glance of Anthony's expression.

"What is that?" Anthony asked.

"Nothing of your concern,"

Anthony decided to keep quiet, he didn't want to know what was going on in the rooms and he didn't want Mr. Fogg to kick him out. Mr. Fogg led him down another dark long kallway.

"What's your name?" Mr. Fogg asked.

Anthony was about to say his really name but knew that it would be risky so he used another.

"Toby," The first name that came into his mind.

"Well Toby we are close to the cell block so no need to worry," Mr. Fogg said.

"That's good,"

"What kind of colour hair do you want from my children anyway?"

"Well I was thin...children?"

Mr. Fogg was now smiling, "But of course sir,"

They came to a door that was marked CORRIDOR A. Mr. Fogg took out a ring of keys, unlocked the door then motioned Anthony in. Anthony was terrified at what he say. Large cells were placed side by side and almost a handful of inmates were stuff in a cell. Some were talking to themselves, trying to catch something that wasn't there, picking at their skin or pulling at their hair or each others. Their screams echoed loudly in Anthony's ears and he felt that he would go insane any second as well.

"These are my children," Mr. Fogg said smiling as he spread his arms widely.

As soon as inmates saw their jailor they, in unison they would shrink back into their cells. Anthony thought that it was pure disgusting at what he was experiencing. But he didn't care about the other inmates all he cared about was finding Johanna.

"So sir," Mr. Fogg said grinning, "As you can see we have various colours of hair. The inmates are sorted by hair colour of course so its easy to pick them out. There you have a nice golden saffron,"

He said this and pointed at a group of inmates huddling together.

"Black hair, brown, here's a nice light brown sir,"

Anthony pretended to ponder and look at the inmates in curiosity. He made sure that the pistol Sweeney gave him before he left was in his back pocket. Then when Mr. Fogg showed Anthony the blondes, Anthony smiled.

"This is the colour I seek," Anthony said pointing to the cell with a small group of blondes all huddling together.

"A good choice sir, good choice. Now which shade sir? Light, dark, dirty?"

Anthony pointed at Johanna, "Her shade is the shade I want,"

Mr. Fogg opened the cell door and the group of blondes scurried over to the farthest corner of the cell, leaving Johanna out in the open. Mr. Fogg stalked over to her and grabbed her by the arm.

"This is the shade sir?" Mr. Fogg said producing large sheers.

"Yes," Anthony said.

Mr. Fogg snipped the sheers in the air a couple of times, "Now sir, where shall I cut?"

Anthony pulled out the pistol and Mr. Fogg was caught by surprise.

"What is-," Mr. Fogg managed to say.

"Unhand her Mr. Fogg," Anthony said fiercely.

Mr. Fogg sneered and Anthony heard distant footsteps.

"Too late boy," Mr. Fogg said in triumph, "Guards will be here in seconds and take you away,"

Johanna suddenly noticed that the wigmaker was Anthony.

"Anthony!" Johanna cried.

"Johanna," Anthony said.

Johanna elbowed Mr. Fogg hard in the rib cage and ran over to Anthony's side. Anthony could see the inmates looking at what is happening before them.

"Let them go," Anthony said pointing his pistol at the inmates.

Anthony needed a distraction for the Judge, but Mr. Fogg didn't do anything.

"You'll have to shot me boy," Mr. Fogg sneered, "And I think we both very well know that you can't"

Mr. Fogg had gotten Anthony there, he couldn't shot a man, no matter how cruel and vile. Then he felt the gun slip out of his hand BANG! Mr. Fogg's mouth just hung open in surprise. The inmates inched closer to see what would happen next. Then after swaying on the spot for a few seconds, Mr. Fogg fell to the ground dead. The inmates went nuts and shrieked at their dead jailor. Anthony didn't know if they were shrieking out of triumph or fear, but he knew what he had to do. He picked up Fogg's keys and started to unlock all the cell doors. Johanna followed him in pursuit as he raced down the hallways to the front door. The guards tried to stop them but the insane got there first and tramped the guards underfoot. Anthony took a gulp of fresh air and so did Johanna. They ran and ran, not looking at the inmates or the asylum. They raced toward the one place they would surely be safe. Mrs. Lovett's Pie Shop.