I rocked myself gently as I sat on top of the sheets. I could hear muttering from downstairs, but none of them made any sense. The idea came to my head to run at this point, but after several times of thinking this, I realised Mr Todd had locked the door. It wasn't that strong, though. Maybe, if I ran at it fast enough, I could have broken it down…

No.

I had not been brought up to work. If I had, my pitiful fights would have had more passion in them. I cursed myself, wishing that I had just asked to do more at Judge Turpin's house, just for this moment of needed energy.

My fatigue started to take hold of me, and soon enough my head dropped heavily onto the pillow that was set out before me. The night was dreamless, which vexed me dearly. If I dreamed, I was more prone to nightmares. If I had a nightmare, I wouldn't have been able to sleep, and I should think I would have felt much better knowing I could watch out for Mr Todd. Despite his reassurances, I did not feel at all better about him being in the same room- nay, the same building- as I slept.

When I awoke, the large window that took up the wall at the foot of my bed let in a thick stream of light. I blinked twice, trying to get used to the strange sun. If any time Judge Turpin had taken me down the way of Fleet Street, it had always been filled with a terrible smog. Now, it was almost as if summer had arrived again. Which was preposterous. It was autumn.

I listened quietly to the sound of the streets. There was something missing. There was only one bird I could hear. The one in the room I had slept in. I sighed, closing my eyes again. If I concentrated hard enough, maybe I could hear another bird.

There was nothing.

Except footsteps.

Soon enough, there was a clicking sound at the door, and it swung open. I quickly pressed my chin against my breast and embraced myself, soothing my eyes as if I were asleep.

"Johanna?" I did not answer, and heard nothing more from Mr Todd. I do not know whether he knew I was awake, but it did not bother me too much. A blanket was placed over me, and with that the footsteps led out of the flat again. When the sound of the lock echoed about the walls, I dared to open one eye, seeing everything as it had been before.

I decided it best I should finally attempt to leave the room. I carefully started to dress into one of my dresses- a light cream coloured frock, just to become used to wearing dresses again. Once I had dressed, I paced the floor, wondering how to gain attention.

All of a sudden, the footsteps came up the staircase outside, and in moments the door was open. Mr Todd calmly nodded at me.

"I hope you slept well." I opened my mouth, but then snapped my lips together. There was no real answer to that question.

"Mrs Lovett has some breakfast for you, if you like."

"I'm not hungry," I said quietly.

"She could get you-"

"I'm not thirsty, either." He blinked twice, then nodded.

"At least come downstairs."

I nodded nonchalantly, or as nonchalantly as I could, and walked out of the room as Mr Todd beckoned for me to go first. I don't suppose I could blame him for wanting me to go first. He would want to keep an eye out on me, to make sure his prize didn't run away. Not that it was very likely. I was wearing a dress now, which would slow me down even more than my already pathetic attempts at speed. I also wasn't wearing any shoes, making the idea harder. I don't know why I wasn't wearing shoes. I simply wasn't.

"So yeh're up, love?" Mrs Lovett said to me cheerfully when I entered the pie shop. All of her teeth were bared in the friendly smile. Somehow, though, I did not feel like smiling back.

"I have some business to attend to with the shop. Mrs Lovett will look after you, I'm sure." Mr Todd tilted his head towards her, and Mrs Lovett's smile grew wider- if such were possible.

"Course, love. Yeh know I will." My eyes widened as I noticed something in Mrs Lovett's voice. It wasn't a gentle, mothering tone as she had given me only the night before. No, it was something else. Something more…devoted. I shook my head slightly, and followed Mrs Lovett as she took me towards the parlour.

"We 'ave some books 'ere, if yeh want, love."

I shook my head.

"Well, yeh can look about for some things to entertain yehself."

Again, I shook my head, not wanting to do anything.

"Love, yeh've got to have something yeh wanna do around 'ere." I thought, and then swallowed thickly.

"I…want to go outside." Mrs Lovett's smile dropped, and she bit her lower lip.

"I don't know about that."

"Oh, please, Mrs Lovett. I haven't had any air apart from when I go up and down those stairs. It's not very refreshing sitting about all day. That's all I ever did at Judge Turpin's house, and all I think Mr Todd wants me to do."

"Yeh know that isn't true, love."

"I know it isn't," I said darkly, looking at the floor.

"That's not what I meant! 'e wouldn't-"

"Mrs Lovett, the future will come, and I shall deal with it then. But for now…I just need to go outside."

Mrs Lovett stared at me, and turned from the room. I sighed mournfully, sitting down in the nearest armchair. After a moment, though, she emerged from her room, carrying a shawl and hat, while wearing her own of the two. She pulled me to my feet, thrusting the hat on my head and then tying the laces of the shawl.

"I needed pastry supplies," she said firmly as she tied the laces. "I managed to get yeh reading a cookery book for entertainment, but when I remembered I need to go shopping, I realised I couldn't leave yeh in the shop. Yeh might 'ave ran away, mightn't yeh? I constantly held yeh hand like yeh was a child of ten, and yeh sulked the whole way." She finished with the laces, and placed her hands on my shoulders firmly. "Got that?"

I nodded, a smile on my face.

"Yes, all of it, Mrs Lovett."

"Good."

With that, she grabbed my hand and we were out of the door in seconds. Carefully, we sidled along the walls of the buildings down Fleet Street, until we were sure we could not be seen from the window of the barber shop. I could not believe that I had finally gotten out. I was still under supervision, and I was still going to go back to my prison. Yet, for now, I could breath the air I yearned for.

Mrs Lovett took me to St Dunstan's market. I had heard of it from the beadle, as he often worked around there. I worried slightly that we would be caught, but I knew Mrs Lovett would never dream of selling me off back to that place. Besides, the beadle was not the worry I had had in that house. Yet, after the Judge's death, was it not possible that he was my next concern? Of course not. I had Mr Todd to fret about now.

The marketplace was almost entertaining to me. I had of course been shopping before, and often with an escort. But never once had Judge Turpin allowed me to go somewhere like St Dunstan's. It was thrilling.

We spent a good half hour in the market before Mrs Lovett became worried.

"Yeh fatherly be getting worried by now."

"He isn't my-"

"Yes, yes, of course, love. Either way, 'e'll be getting worried. We should be turning back now." I nodded, but as Mrs Lovett turned, something caught my eye.

"What is it, love?"

"I just…"

I couldn't put it into words. There was someone over on the other side of a large mass of people staring at me. A boy. I squinted slightly, concentrating on him. I couldn't place my finger on it, but there was something about him.

"Johanna, love, get a move on. Mr T's gonna be awfully-" She cut off, seeing the boy too. I watched her face drop, becoming slightly paler.

"Johanna…"

"Wait a moment, Mrs Lovett. I'm…sure I know him. Somewhere…"

Then I knew. I gasped.

"Johanna!" the boy screamed at me. Suddenly, my vision become blurry, and I collapsed to the floor. Mrs Lovett caught my head and prevented it from hitting the floor, and within moments the clatter of Anthony's footsteps were by me.

"What happened?"

"I don't know, she just fell."

"Ma'am, please, she's never been that weak. What's happened to her?"

"I really…dear Lord, Mr T's gonna give me an ear full. Quick, Anthony, can yeh pick 'er up."

"No, I'm taking her with me this sec-"

"Anthony, I 'ave some things back at my 'ouse. She might not even get as far as the docks if yeh're taking 'er." There was a pause in the conversation, and slowly I was lifted up in Anthony's arms. My dizzy head rested against his chest, and my arms wrapped around his neck fiercely.

"A-Anthony?"

"Hush, Johanna. Don't worry, it'll all be alright."

"Oh, Anthony, I-"

"Shush, please. Just rest a little while." I felt as if I had rested far too long. It was all I had done in the past few days. It was a nuisance. I struggled feebly, trying to get to my feet, but Anthony seemed stronger somehow. Soon enough, we arrived at the shop again, and I winced. I knew before that I would return here, but somehow, with my frame in Anthony's arms, it did not seem right. I was softly lain on a sofa chair, and a wet flannel was placed on my forehead.

"Well, at least Mr T doesn't seem to 'ave noticed yeh were out, love."

"What does it concern him?" Anthony said forcefully. Mrs Lovett sighed.

"It ain't all as easy as that."

"But-"

"Stop it," I said feebly, placing my hand on Anthony's arm. His own hand quickly snapped up to hold it.

"I thought I said for you to be quiet," he said softly, a hint of humour in his tone. I smiled, pulling myself closer towards him. I looked up through my eyelashes to see Mrs Lovett's concerned face, yet a soft smile upon her lips.

"Dears, I really can't let yeh-"

"I know," I said quietly, feeling Anthony tense as I said it.

"What do you mean? Of course we can. We could escape now if need be. Mrs Lovett, you'd help us, wouldn't you?"

"Yeh don't know 'ow much I want to see Johanna 'appy, but I can't."

"You-"

"She's right, Anthony," I said, placing a hand on his cheek and turning his face towards me. "We can't. She can't help us. If ever I'm going to leave here, I'll have to do it when Mr Todd's had his-"

"Johanna!" Mrs Lovett intervened my sentence. "Whatever yeh think, Mr T isn't gonna do anything to yeh."

"I can't believe that now, no matter what you say. I just want you to know, Anthony, that I shall leave here soon. I shall just have to be a little bit patient." His teeth were gritted, but he nodded.

"How can I be patient, though?" he asked. "I've been waiting for only two days at most and I'm already going mad."

"It'll be worth it in a few weeks time," I said, kissing his cheek swiftly. "I'm sure of it." I reached to kiss his other cheek, but his lips found mine before I could even move. I ignored Mrs Lovett sitting right beside us. This was the first time in what seemed like years that I had been able to even look at Anthony, and my only wish was to savour each and every second of it.

All of that was soon to end.

Mrs Lovett was the first to jump when there were heavy footsteps coming towards the pie shop.

"Quick, through the back," she said, pulling at Anthony's coat. He winced, clutching my hand firmly.

"Go," I whispered into his ear. "Just…don't leave." He smiled sadly, and nodded, following Mrs Lovett. They disappeared behind one of the doors that led to the bake house. Mr Todd came into the parlour shortly afterwards. The moment he saw me, his countenance became grave- or, at least, graver than usual.

"What's the matter?"

I didn't answer him, but simply looked into his eyes. It was not by fault that I did this. The moment that my gaze flashed by them, I was captured. Almost as if I were swirling through them, into a pit I should never have thought I would return from. In that moment, I knew that I was on the verge of madness.

Mrs Lovett came rushing back from the bake house.

"Oh, there yeh are, Mr T."

"What's happened to her?"

"Nothing, nothing. The 'eat was just getting to 'er, that's all."

I nodded pitifully, and finally broke my gaze from Mr Todd's eyes, looking towards a wall in far off wonderment. I could barely see anything there my mind was in such a mess. I had never imagined losing Anthony for a second time could be such a blow.

I winced simply thinking about it. Mr Todd looked again at me as I did so, but did not say a word. He turned to Mrs Lovett.

"I should return to the shop. There might be a customer." She nodded, and turned the flannel on my forehead. I watched as Mr Todd span on his heel to leave, then could not stand it any more.

"Why are you leaving?"

"As I said, I may have a customer."

"That's not what I mean. Why aren't you staying here with me?" He looked confused for a moment.

"If that is what you want, I can close the shop."

"No, it isn't. But…" I trailed off, my calmness trailing away as well. All that was left now was the pure hatred I felt for him. My voice rose. "But you seemed to have become so obsessed over me I see not fit reason why you should not stay by my side."

"As I said, if you want, I can-"

"I don't! That is not the point I am making, Mr Todd. I want to know why you can become so devoted in many ways to me, and yet ignore me when I have to be soothed by your landlady."

Mr Todd seemed shocked, and then his brow furrowed, his teeth gritting.

"I will stay if you-"

"I don't want you to! Leave me if you must, but tell me first what it is that you plan to feel for me. I see neither devotion nor lust, nor even the slightest fatherly affection. Tell me what it is you feel and be done with me!"

He stared at me for a moment, then waved his hand at me, as if pushing me away. With that, he left, and I saw not a hair of him for the rest of that day.