I only realised I had been sleeping when I awoke. I looked about the room, slightly embarrassed that I had fallen asleep right in the middle of Mrs Lovett's parlour. I would have to apologise when I found her. For now, she was nowhere in sight. I sat up slightly, staring towards the door.

Still, no one came for me. It worried me slightly. My mind was so fragile at that moment that I didn't know how anyone could leave me alone. I found it almost frightening. Slowly, my hands wrapped around my frame, embracing myself. The blow had come harder to me throughout the night after Anthony had left me again. The pain became even worse by the hour. I stretched out an arm, watching my hand shake uncontrollably. I sighed shakily watching it.

"Johanna?"

I turned my head, and screamed. I clutched my throat, attempting to stop screaming. It only lasted a split second as I fell to the floor, the shock of what I had seen making me fall off the sofa. Mr Todd rushed towards me, his hands and shirt still covered in blood.

"Johanna? What is it?"

"Y-y-you're covered in-in-" I couldn't finish my sentence. Mr Todd looked at himself, and nodded.

"I was moving some meat for Mrs Lovett. You don't think she can do it, do you?"

I shook my head slowly, not knowing what else to say. His hand reached out to me, attempting to push a stray few hairs from my eyes. I shuddered.

"Wash," I said erratically. "Please, now."

"Yes. Yes, of course." He stood up, looking one last time at me before turning around to the door. I watched him as he left, and shuddered in relief as the door closed. The air suddenly felt dirty to me, and aura refusing to leave my presence.

At that moment, I almost wished I were insane. I could only say I was on the verge, meaning there was nothing to stop me from having a sane conversation and act as if nothing had happened to me. Yet, in a way, I attempted to act mad, hoping that soon enough it would come.

It didn't.

A guilt started to envelope. How dare I wish madness when I had said so firmly that I should meet Anthony again, in a few weeks if things went as I had planned? I had promised him, and sure enough I had meant it as the words came from my lips. It was what I wanted, and what I would strive to. I knew that eventually I would be able to leave this place, whether it be a day or a month.

But I knew it wasn't a day.

Mr Todd did not take long in coming back to me. He had obviously changed his shirt and washed, cleaning away the blood. Yet somehow, I could still smell it. There was almost a stain in the air.

When Mr Todd came into the room, he was almost shocked to see me still sitting on the floor where he had left me. I was shaking wildly, unable to stop it.

"Johanna? Please, you mustn't sit on the floor like that."

I nodded, almost as if agreeing.

"Can you hear me?" he asked warily, kneeling down until our eyes met. Or, at least, his eyes met mine. I still could not concentrate on anything. Again, I nodded. He waved a hand in front of my eyes, but I still could not fully look at it.

"Is it alright to pick you up?"

I shuddered, but nodded. I was lifted up swiftly and sat back down on the sofa. Mr Todd did not sit by me, but instead knelt in front of me, trying to stare into my eyes.

"Johanna?"

I made a non-committal noise.

"Are you sure you can hear me? Can you even see me?"

I nodded.

"Then can you look at me, Johanna?"

Slowly, I shook my head.

"Look at me," he said sternly, placing his hands on my upper arms.

I shook my head again, slightly more agitated in doing so.

"I'm not joking around any more, Johanna. Look at me." I whimpered at the sound of his tense voice, and then all of a sudden felt his arms wrap around me.

"Just tell me what to do. I'll do it."

For a split second, I saw clearly again. My mind composed, allowing me to think. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched this man become a statue as he held me. I could barely see him move as he breathed. It was frightening, and yet…there was something different from the first time he had held me. Than the time he had come towards me when he was covered in Judge Turpin's blood.

I swallowed thickly.

"Can you take me out?"

Mr Todd pulled back, looking at me, an aura around him telling me he was almost glad I looked back at him.

"I don't-"

"Not by myself," I said earnestly. "I will go with you if you want me to be in your sight." A slight smile formed on his lips.

"Yes, yes, of course you can. I had never really thought of it. Where would you like to go?"

"Hyde Park," I said quickly, not even thinking about it. He agreed, patted my shoulder tentatively and whisked away to his flat, telling me he was going to get his coat and my shawl. I did not dare mention that Mrs Lovett's still fit me well. The words almost came to my lips, until I realised I would not be able to leave if he knew I had already disappeared once before.

When he arrived back, Mr Todd placed my shawl on my shoulders silently, not even talking as he took my hand to leave the shop. The hand felt cold, but not as cold as I had first imagined it. It was almost as if I were getting used to it, rather than growing to like it. I was still repulsed, and I still wished to scream and run away. I still kept enough sanity to be able to handle the idea, though.

Hyde Park was exactly as I remembered it when we arrived. Judge Turpin used to take me almost daily when I was much younger. The moment I had turned fourteen, though, he seemed to find I was too old to play about in the park. That was the point at which I was locked away in my room.

A careful eye was always placed upon me, and whenever a boy with dirty blonde hair walked by, Mr Todd's hand would always tighten. I knew he would be frightened to lose me, but my hand started to hurt slightly.

"Mr Todd…if I stay in your sight, may I please walk without your hand on mine?" He bit his lower lip briefly, then nodded.

"Don't stray."

I didn't say another word, and instead clutched my own hand. It would be fair to say the grip was tighter than the one that Mr Todd had given me. My eyes did not dare look at him as we walked, and I pondered. Suddenly, I realised something. I did not want to be here. I wanted to be somewhere crowded, just for a little moment.

"Mr Todd?" I said quietly. "There is one more place I wanted to go, if you don't mind."

"Anywhere you want."

"Within reason?"

"Within reason."

"Mrs Lovett told me about St Dunstan's Market. Judge Turpin never let me go to the market with him or the beadle." Mr Todd nodded.

"If you wish."

I did.

The answers I had been looking for seemed all to clear now. What Mr Todd's intentions were. When I was going to leave here. Where I was finally going to go, and how I was going to get there.

We entered the market.

He wants to own you.

We walked through.

You're going to finally meet Anthony.

Mr Todd turned his head for a split second in the crowd.

And you're going to get there now by running.

Before I could even think it, I was running. I did not turn around, but it must have been a good second before Mr Todd noticed. That was all I needed. The crowds did not move, making all the easier to slip through them unnoticed. Finally my slender form became useful as I ran, and I knew very well that Mr Todd's form would not help him at all. I almost smiled as I ran.

I was almost free.

And the suddenly, I was.

I had ran for so long that I didn't even know I had long left St Dunstan's Market. Never once had I looked back, and never once had I listened to who might be shouting me. It would not be long before the police came looking for me, to take me back, but I couldn't let that happen.

Soon enough, the paranoia started to get to me. I felt as if everywhere I went, I was being followed. Constantly, there was a pair of eyes on me. At first, I knew I was simply being silly. I knew there was no one behind me. Then I heard the footsteps, as quick as mine, yet heavy enough to hear. Quickly, I made a sharp turn into the trees of the street I was running on.

A rustling came from behind me, and the person had followed me through the trees. A tear of fear pricked in the corner of my eye. I gritted my teeth, trying to push on. I couldn't. I had been running so far that my inexperienced feet were prepared to trip.

"Please, go away," I groaned, my voice hushed from my panting. The person behind me did not take heed, even if they heard me.

"Stop running," a voice called out to me. The voice following me. "Stay still."

"Get away from me!"

"Not until you-" Abruptly, the person crashed into me from behind, their arms wrapping around me, binding me. We collapsed to the floor, me struggling.

"Let me go! Let me go!"

"Not a chance," said the voice softly, pressing a finger to my lips. I looked up, a shocked smile upon my lips.

"Anthony…"