Sweeney watched Mrs. Lovett with wide eyes, frozen. Her cheeks went scarlet as the man let go of her, and she couldn't look at either of them.
"I see…" he muttered.
Andrew was dumbfounded. He was a scum, a liar, a thief, but one thing he wasn't was a murderer, and he didn't plan on becoming one.
Sure, he'd torture and maim, but he wouldn't kill. His plan was to make them so miserable that they'd do the stupid deed themselves – starvation, infection and suffocation were the most favored.
That was what Andrew liked – the will to live being drained until it was non-existent.
But if he tortured the woman, he'd surely kill her baby.
He let out a frustrated groan and turned away from them, returning to Peter.
"Well, what are we going to do now?" Peter asked,
"I've got no clue. For now, chuck them in the dungeon with the girl. Don't you dare hurt any of them anymore. We've got to figure something out before we attempt anything,"
"Whatever."
Andrew came back towards them. They were still rooted to the spot; Mr. Todd's eyes were narrowed in disbelief, while Mrs. Lovett was almost shaking.
Obviously she hadn't told him yet.
"We're taking you downstairs…try anything and that baby will be good as dead," he hissed, although he didn't really mean it.
The threat seemed to work, and they lead the way without too much protesting. Andrew glanced around at the dungeon.
"Where's James, and the girl?" he asked Peter, who shrugged.
"He might've taken her for a walk…she's definitely not up to it…"
"Excellent," Andrew grinned. He'd often instructed James to take his victims behind the house, making them do activities that would weaken them.
"Monster," Mrs. Lovett hissed and he moved to strike her, but stopped himself.
"Hush yourself," he commanded, and chained her to the wall by her wrists, making the chain long enough so she could sit.
Peter was chaining Sweeney the same way, making sure they weren't close enough to touch.
"Sit tight…" Andrew called as they returned to the upper level.
As soon as the door shut, Sweeney exploded.
"Are you insane?" he hissed, and Mrs. Lovett's eyes squeezed shut. "Who's the father? Because we obviously didn't sleep together?"
Mrs. Lovett opened her eyes in surprise.
"I…I wasn't being serious." She whispered. "I thought that if he thought we were together, with a child…he wouldn't treat us as badly,"
This made Sweeney go quiet as his heart drummed in his throat.
"You're not pregnant…?" he asked hesitantly and she nodded.
He let out a breath of relief. That could've been the biggest pain in the ass since Jess.
"You're a bloody wonder…"
"You've said that before," she teased,
"Come on!" James hissed, taking Jess' hand.
"I can't," she complained, stopping him.
"We've got to get away from here! Before someone finds out you're gone,"
"It hurts!" she cried, and moved away from him.
He sighed and moved towards her, and with impressive strength, lifted her into his arms.
"No!" she struggled to get down.
"We're going to the stables. I'm taking you whether you want it or not. You don't want to walk, so I'm going to carry you. If you stay in the dungeon, you will die." He started walking, and his voice calmed her.
"You don't need to," she said softly.
"What?"
"Look after me. Maybe it'd be better if I was dead,"
"You say this, but you don't mean it," he whispered.
"I do." She pointed to a large scratch on her arm. "My cuts are infected. They didn't get cleaned out. They're going to kill me more than that man ever would,"
"We'll fix them up and you'll be fine,"
"You say this, but you don't mean it," she repeated his phrase and he held back a laugh. She was tired and irritable; laughing at her wouldn't do any good.
"Of Course. That's why I'm helping you."
They reached the stables and James lowered her onto the porch.
"Stay here…I'll get us a horse,"
A/N: I didn't want to make you wait too long :D YAY JAMES!