"Just…bang on the door again when you want something."

Those were the last words I heard from him as he started to walk away from the door. I sat in the corner of the bedroom I had been placed in, trembling. I had finished my tears for this day, and my throat was too sore to allow me to shout out again. My fear was all I had left.

What did this man want with me? Was he starting this father story up to fulfil some sick fantasy he had in store for me? Or did he really and honestly think he was my father? Either way, I couldn't stand the idea. I was through with the idea of someone I could call 'papa'. Judge Turpin had set me straight on that. I didn't need this man to tell me lies. I just needed him to tell me what was to become of me, with a straight face and a look in the eye.

I looked about the room, almost waiting for an escape route to appear in front of me. I had banged the door for so long that if it was going to give way, it would have. The window was an obvious choice after that, but it had already been padlocked. I groaned in disappointment at the fact, slumping against the wall. Air was becoming a more thick substance to inhale at this point, making the whole breathing fiasco rather pointless. Either way, I wasn't going to be able to stay awake much longer. Spots soon started appearing in front of my eyes, signalling the oncoming darkness.

I almost welcomed it.

But I couldn't.

I wasn't going to let this happen. I still had so much I needed to do. I was still curious about this Mr Todd, or this Benjamin Barker. I wanted to know what it was he had to say, whenever he could manage to spit it out. I still wanted to know what was to become of me. I still wanted to know whether I would see Anthony again.

My breath came out raspy and heavy, but it was still there. The dots started to disappear, and I could breathe. I released myself from the heavy jacket I had been given by Anthony, shaking it off my shoulders. It made the process of breathing much easier.

All of a sudden, my thirst became more apparent than I had first thought. It must have been at least an hour since the man had told me to simply knock my door and he would bring me what I desired. Of course, I assumed it was not anything I desired. I desired Anthony, my freedom, the cottage by the sea Anthony had promised me. No, anything meant food and drink.

I sucked in my cheeks, trying to soothe the burning sensation in my throat. I had not eaten nor drunk since I had been in Fogg's Asylum. It seemed so long ago. With much hesitation, I began to crawl towards the door, and knocked feebly on it. I waited, realising that I had been much quieter than I had intended. Before I had the chance to knock again, though, there came his voice.

"Yes?"

"I-I-I'm thirsty," I rasped, my voice not even a whisper. Yet somehow, he managed to hear me. There was a split second's silence before there was a clatter of footsteps and the movement of a distant glass. I backed away from the door as the footsteps approached again, the person who the footsteps belonged to soon opening the door. He closed it quickly behind him, afraid almost that I was fast enough to dart from the room in that second spare. The idea was laughable, if I were not too weak to do it.

"Drink this," he said huskily, putting down a tray in front of me holding a wrapped package and a glass of wine. I had hoped for water, but I was not one to complain. Without needing his demand, I reached out for the glass greedily and drunk deeply from the cup. I did not look at Mr Todd, but could see his features in my mind. I was surprised to sense a concern in the room. Before I had finished the glass, he placed his hand on mine, directing the cup away from my lips.

"Be careful. You'll make yourself dizzy at your age." I raised my chin indignantly.

"That's my own business and none of yours."

"It is while you're under this roof."

"Under your command," I muttered placing the glass back on the tray. He sighed, and pushed the wrapped package in front of me.

"Mrs Lovett dashed out and bought you this earlier. It's a veal pie." I started to unwrap it, and was quick to eat it.

"Anthony told me Mrs Lovett was renowned for her own pies, so why would she bother leaving here?" I asked before I took the first bite.

"She was out," he said hastily, and almost too smoothly. "The last batch went off, so she burnt them."

"That would explain the smell," I commented lightly, sniffing the air. "I would have guessed those pies were off." He made a slight sound out of his nose, as if he were laughing. I looked away from him, carrying on with the pie. It was surprising how hungry I had actually become over the last little while. At most I had spent 24 hours without food, and I had done so before.

"The Judge's items are going for sale tonight," he said abruptly when I had finished my pie and took the last drops of my wine. "What do you need?"

I put down my glass again, but did not look up. For a moment, I thought. I never once contemplated about my old things. Then I suddenly realised the one thing I would forever have regretted losing, had Anthony taken me away.

"My reticule," I said quickly. "In my room, there will be a pink reticule with a golden floral pattern."

Mr Todd stiffened, staring at me.

"Your…your mother's reticule?"

"Well, yes, actually. But, how did you-"

"I bought it for her," he said softly, no longer looking at me, but instead at something farther off. "Just before you were born."

He seemed sincere in what he said, but I was not to be fooled.

"That little story isn't going to make me change my mind. Anyone could have bought it for her."

Mr Todd looked as if he were going to say something, but then shook his head.

"I'll get you your dresses as well, then," he added, taking the tray that I had finished with. Without another word, he left the room. I waited to hear the click of the lock…but it did not come. I watched the door for a few minutes, waiting for the eventual click as Mr Todd realised he had not locked it.

That few minutes passed.

Tentatively, I started to crawl towards the door. My hand reached up to the handle, and turned. The handle at least moved, but it was a few more minutes after that before I could find the courage to actually pull the door.

No one was in sight.

I slowly started to drag myself to my feet and sidled out of the room, into the small parlour I assumed belonged to this Mrs Lovett I had heard about. It was almost as gaudy as my bedroom at Judge Turpin's house had been, but a more blue version. I looked around me, and noticed a slight burn mark on the wall paper next to the door I had just come out of.

My eyes started to blur slightly with the change of scenery. I delicately lay my fingers upon an armchair, stroking the slightly worn material. I could see the padding was coming out of it in some places. I was so entranced in this new scene that I did not notice the soft padding of feet from behind me.

"Yeh'll be Johanna, ain't yeh?"

I turned abruptly to see that strange, pale woman again. The one who had taken my legs and guided me down here. With a yelp, I jumped so unexpectedly that I even ended up tripping over the coffee table that stood just behind me.

The woman had her hand offered to me in absolutely no time. I stared at it much like I had Mr Todd's, but took it graciously this time.

"I'm sorry, you just took me by surprise."

"No need to fret, dear. Nothing broke, it's alright." Again, there was silence. I barely knew this woman, and yet there were no questions running through my mind what sort of person she was. She was a born mother. Of course, I was not interested in her for myself, but it was simply the air around her that screamed out for a child to hold.

"I'd like to thank you for the pie earlier."

"That's alright, love. Yeh'd gone a good day from what I've 'eard without food and Lord knows 'ow long since yeh last proper meal." A small smile came to my lips, and at about the same moment my wandering eyes turned to the open door to the little pie shop. Mrs Lovett noticed this, and looked in the same direction. She chuckled.

"I wouldn't bother, love. Mr T made very well sure we were both prisoners in 'ere for the next few 'ours."

I did not make a reply to this, and instead I sat down on a battered sofa. Mrs Lovett moved to sit opposite me, taking out a book that sat on the coffee table- and fortunately had not fallen- to start reading. I stared at her for a few minutes, taking in every feature, then sighed tiredly, leaning back into my chair. She looked up, smiling.

"Beg me manners, love. Do yeh want a drink of something?" At this, I sat up a little straighter.

"If you don't mind some water, ma'am. Mr Todd only gave me wine before." She tutted slightly.

"Silly thing, really. Then again, 'e ain't drunk from what I know for the past while. Might think it's quenching." I kept my head low until the glass was given to me, at which I snatched it and drank as quickly as I could, almost afraid that it would be taken from me again. Mrs Lovett simply chuckled.

"Yeh must 'ave been thirsty."

"The water from Fogg's Asylum wasn't very nice, or in large supply, and I don't suppose I've drunk well since then." I froze slightly, noticing her calm face. "Anthony did tell you about…that place?"

"Of course, love. Anthony always kept us up to date." I smiled half-heartedly, then lowered my head again. The idea of listening to the story was more painful than I had first thought. Mrs Lovett sucked in her breath.

"I'm sorry, love. I didn't-"

"When am I going to see him again, Mrs Lovett?" It was the first time I had used her name, but the fact went unnoticed. She did not answer my question, but instead moved to sit by my side.

"Well, Mrs Lovett?"

"Yeh've gotta understand yeh father wants what's best for yeh." I shifted slightly.

"He's not my father."

"Love, in all fairness, 'ow much do yeh really believe that?"

"He's not my father," I repeated firmly. "But you're straying from the question."

"I don't think I should be the one to tell yeh anything, love. I'm just 'ere for water and such."

"But…but you have to know whether I'll see him again."

"I don't-"

"Please," I said fervently, turning to her and placing my hands on her forearms as firmly as I could. "Please, I don't need the truth. Lie to me if you must. I just…I just need that hope, Mrs Lovett."

Mrs Lovett's eyes did not water, but they showed the emotion that would often lead to tears. I dared not cry, for if I had, I feared I should faint from exhaustion. I did not want to be locked away in that room for such a petty thing such as that.

"Well," she said hoarsely, yet a smile on her face. "We'll have to wait and see, won't we? Mr T'll become more lenient soon enough. Yeh'll see yehr Anthony soon enough, with a little patience." I nodded solemnly, and without even thinking lent my head on her shoulder.

"Thank you, Mrs Lovett," I said quietly, not even looking at her through my eyelashes. I was glad, though, that she felt it appropriate to hold me.

"Nothing to it, love." I smiled to myself, and closed my eyes. At least, if I was to be stuck in this house for so long, I would have someone I may speak to.