Her figure became limp in my arms. I knew this, but I didn't care. All that mattered was that I was finally holding her. I breathed in her scent, the past fifteen years rushing back to my mind. She was just as I had imagined her. Every last detail as I had wished. I sighed in comfort, feeling her safe in my arms again. There was such an elation in my blood I had not felt for so long that it burned my skin. For some strange and unnatural reason, it was a burning sensation that I seemed to have yearned for for so long. Just to know that, for a moment, I could feel again. The thing of it was, though, that it was my daughter that had made me feel that way again. Another first for so many years, I smiled.
Johanna stirred slightly in my arms, and I noticed that maybe twenty minutes had gone by in this way. A stench started to emit through the air, and I knew that finally the job was done. I would have to thank Mrs Lovett for burning the bodies so quickly. I allowed myself to let go of Johanna for a short few moments as I made my way to the small jug of water and bowl that stood mostly unused at the far end of the flat. I had only just noticed that I was still covered in blood. The blood of the Judge. I sneered with satisfaction, glancing at Johanna. She would understand when she woke up. This had all been for her.
The cool water was a strange sensation after Johanna's warmth. I looked over at her, and saw she was still soundly unconscious on the chair. I bathed my face hurriedly in the ice cold water, relishing the cool sensation. As I towelled my face, I heard a hurried thumping outside. I sighed, sensing the fact that Anthony was to visit again.
Then I turned and remembered why Johanna was here.
Before I could run to the door, Anthony had already opened it, running inside.
"Johanna?" he gasped, obviously out of breath. He saw me, and straightened himself out. "Mr Todd! I completely forgot. I'm sorry, very much so."
"It's alright Anthony." He smiled, and saw Johanna in the chair.
"What happened?"
"She's tired, Anthony." His smile grew softer, and his eyes gazed at her. I felt anger pulsing through my veins as I saw this young man staring so longingly at my daughter.
"Thank you, Mr Todd," he said softly. "I don't know how I can thank you any more, my friend."
I knew very well he could not think of a way. I looked at his completely innocent eyes, which had turned to me in his thanks. The fire in my veins started to subside, as I watched and saw nothing that hinted at lust in his eyes. I saw only pure and unconditional love. That was what was going to make this the hardest thing I had ever had to do in my life by my own hands.
"Anthony…"
"Yes, Mr Todd?"
"I think you should go now." Anthony jumped slightly, and smiled, as if he had just remembered something he should not have forgotten.
"That is right! I have left our coach downstairs waiting." He moved towards Johanna slightly, but I had already stepped in between them.
"Anthony, I still owe you my life for saving me from the storm when we first met, and so I'm going to let you leave now."
"Sir, I only have to get Johanna, then I'll-"
"No," I said firmly. "No, I'm sorry Anthony, but you won't." Anthony laughed nervously, shaking his head.
"Mr Todd, I can't say I understand."
"Then hear this, Anthony. I can't let you take Johanna." He stopped laughing, and looked at me.
"You're joking, aren't you, Mr Todd?" The look in my eye told him I wasn't. "But- but you helped me find her again! You helped me find out a way to retrieve her from Foggs Asylum. You encouraged me, you told me to bring her here."
"Anthony, if I could find the patience, I would tell you why I won't allow you to keep her."
"Tell me, Mr Todd," he said firmly. If I had not already seen more exceptional things during my life, I would have been taken aback by his much firmer tone.
"You wouldn't believe me if I did, Anthony."
"I can barely believe what you are doing now. I don't think it would be much harder to find an explanation in front of me." I looked at him, trying to stare him down, but it seemed he would not be swayed.
"You can't imagine how much I've waited for this day, Anthony."
"About as long as I have, I would have thought."
"Then you've thought wrong."
"What's going on, Mr Todd?" I looked at Johanna, and saw she was still soundly oblivious to everything that we were saying.
"She's my daughter," I said quietly. I don't think Anthony heard me when I first spoke. There was a moment silence, until Anthony started to smile again. Obliviously.
"Then you want me to ask for your blessing?"
"Not at all."
"We have already received it?" I shook my head, sighing.
"You're not listening to me, Anthony," I said through gritted teeth. "Just go now, before my temper becomes out of my control."
"But, Mr Todd-" My anger became outrageous at this point, and before he could utter another word I already swooped down to retrieve my razor and held it to Anthony's throat, pinning him against the wall.
"How many times must I tell you, Anthony?" I saw his horrified face, but I didn't mind any more. I had seen men preparing for engagements, marriages, and even the births of their children come to me for a shave, and I had had no trouble in slitting their throats. The only difference with this man was, deep down, I know he had long to go before he did anything to harm another man.
"Mr Todd, what are you-"
"If you would not listen to me then, you'll listen now. Johanna is mine. She always has been, and now that I have her back, no one is taking her away. Any man that tries is going to have to answer to my little friend here. Believe me, Anthony, I don't want that man to be you." Anthony was shaking against the blade, looking at Johanna.
"B-b-but, sir, I-I-I worked so hard to f-f-f-ind her. You can't take her away from me," he added more boldly. I pressed on his neck a little bit harder, watching him grunt in pain as a small trickle of blood escaped from the wound.
"Fifteen years, Anthony," I said. "Fifteen years! And those fifteen years aren't going to waste." In my fury, I didn't realise I had already raised my arm, prepared to start my razor slashing through his throat.
"No, Anthony!" We both turned, and saw Johanna's horrified face staring at us. At me. Before either of the two could move, I already had jumped to Johanna side, pinning her back onto the chair.
"Anthony, go!"
"But-"
"Now!" He looked at Johanna with wide, frightened eyes, and shook his head slowly.
"I'm sorry," he said in barely a whisper, and he ran from the room.
"Anthony!"
"Calm yourself, Johanna." All of a sudden, it was as if a candle was suddenly lit in her head, and she finally comprehended what was going on. She started to thrash, fighting against my arms. She started to claw at my shirt, trying to break free with the passion of a bird in a cage.
"Let go of me! Let go! I need to- I need to see him! Anthony!"
"He's gone, Johanna." She shook her head fiercely.
"No, no! He'll come back! He always comes back for me." Her tears started to form, falling gracefully on my shirt. Slowly, her struggling weakened, and all she could do was cry. She feebly batted me away as I wrapped my arms around her more lovingly, but I was far stronger than her in comparison. There was barely a struggle left in my daughter after that. The only movement Johanna made for the rest of that night was slight shaking from her sobs, and even that did not last very long.
After an hour or so of crying, Johanna blinked a few times, wiping away her tears. She still cried, but they were dry tears. Her shivering body was alarming, and so I quickly wrapped her in the blanket that Mrs Lovett would always leave out for me. They had never been used by me, and I was glad to see that Johanna stopped shaking as much as she had done before. I pulled her onto my lap and rocked her slowly, just as I had dreamt all that time ago. As I rocked her, Johanna's lips parted slightly with a shaky sigh.
"A gentle breeze from Hushabye Mountain, softly blows over Lullaby Bay." She sighed again, a much lower and more melancholy sound.
"It fills the sails of boats that are waiting, waiting to sail your worries away." I looked down at Johanna, whose eyes were fastened shut through sheer will. Her lips quivered as she sang.
"It isn't far to Hushabye Mountain, and your boat waits down by the key. The winds of night so softly are sighing, soon they will fly your troubles to sea." I leaned over and pressed my lips to her head, keeping them there in a frozen kiss. My hand moved up and down her arm, attempting to warm her and soothe her to the best of my ability.
"So close your eyes on Hushabye Mountain," she continued, her voice cracking. "Wave goodbye to the cares of day. And watch your boat from Hushabye Mountain, sail far away to Lullaby Bay…" With a soft breath, she finished, and to my knowledge fell asleep. To say the least, I was fascinated. I had not expected her to be able to sing, let alone actually sing out loud to herself. I replayed her voice in my head. It was exactly as Lucy's had been. I closed my eyes, picturing her face for a moment, then realising the pain it caused me. I could not concentrate on that any more. I had Johanna now. And we would never be apart again. Not if I had anything to do with it.