I sat on the edge of my bed, mumbling to myself. Papa had forbid me from sitting about on the floor for some reason or another. Mrs Lovett watched over me again, yet I dared not look at her. If it were possible, I hated her more than ever now.

Only hours ago she had frightened me to my core. She simply came up to me and started to fiddle with my clothes. I could see the imprints she had left, red as rubies or blood. I could only say I was glad when Papa had come back to me.

I wanted to cling onto the happy memory when Papa had come back. Not long after he had seen me he ran off again. I had tried to grab at him but instead I was forced to stay with Mrs Lovett. All she did was stand there, ignoring everything but me. Her eyes were filled slightly with tears, and her lower lip was tucked under her top row of teeth. I feared soon enough that she should bleed.

For once, there were no voices attempting to burst through my lips, and instead I could only leave them in my head. All of them spoke out for Papa. I desperately did not want to be left in this room, but I had no other choice. I knew it was what Papa had wished, but I did not want it to be so.

Soon enough, I heard the ruckus that took place outside. Both I and Mrs Lovett looked up, I smiling, she beholding a look of great agitation. I could not fathom it. I assumed she loved Papa as much as I did.

Suddenly, I became frightened. I clutched my gown around me, wishing to grip onto something- anything- to gain my setting.

Papa was shouting.

I closed my eyes fiercely, listening. I could have sworn there was a second pair of footsteps. I paid no attention to the second sound, and instead simply tried to distinguish which was Papa's.

All of a sudden, the door flew open, bouncing off the wall due to the force of it. I opened one of my eyes, peering over the top of my knees which were tucked, as usual, under my chin. There before me stood Papa. He was grasping a young man's upper arm, and with a single movement threw him to the floor before me.

I heard the wince that came from him. I looked up fearfully at Papa, not fully understanding the rage on his face.

"Papa?" I whispered in terror, shaking. The man looked up at me, his own eyes wide and terrified.

"Johanna?"

I ignored him, still looking at Papa.

"Papa, who is he?"

Although I was sure he had heard my words, Papa did not answer me. Instead, he only looked at the man, who in turn stared at me.

"Mr Todd, I demand to know why I have been brought here," he said shakily.

Growling, Papa moved towards me and pulled me to my feet. I yelped in surprise, having never been handled in such a way by him. At this, the man stood to his feet.

"What are you doing?"

"Showing you the exact reason why you are free," Papa said cruelly, pulling down at my nightgown in the same fashion that Mrs Lovett had. I struggled for a moment. I may not have been able to comprehend many things, but I knew to be embarrassed at this moment in time. I struggled, but Papa's hold on me was firm. The man could only stare at me, his eyes darting from my stomach, to my face, and finally to Papa's.

"How could you?"

"I have told you, Anthony, I would not. The thought is sickening." Papa wrapped his arms around me, embracing me softly as if to make up for his behaviour. "This is your doing and yours alone."

"But…" The man stood slightly straighter, looking into my eyes.

"Papa, what's going on?" I asked quietly, turning my head to look at him.

Before he could answer me, the man placed his hands on my cheeks, turning my head so as to look at him.

"Johanna, what are you talking about?"

"Papa," I said warily, my voice hushed to a whisper at this point. Papa pushed the man's hands away from my, and unleashed me to grab his upper arm again.

"You'll very soon learn not to vex her," he said as he dragged the man out. I moved out of the way as he attempted to reach for me, yet failed miserably in doing so. I watched them as they left, and shook as the door slammed closed.

"There, there, love," said Mrs Lovett quietly. I jumped up as I heard her speak. I had entirely forgotten she was there. Mrs Lovett picked my gown from the floor and in a swift movement had me dressed again. I watched her for a moment, only moving to turn my head as she walked.

"I'll just check on yeh father," she said in a hushed voice.

At this, I finally moved my feet.

"Please, may I see him again?" I asked earnestly.

"No, love, it's best yeh stay in 'ere for the time being."

I grabbed for Mrs Lovett's arm, attempting to follow her out, but did not expect her to be so fast as to escape me. Once the door was closed, I fell to the floor in defeat, folding my arms in front of me huffily. I saw no reason why she should have been in command of me.

Finally, the thought came to me that she had not in fact locked the door, and instead simply closed it. I smiled to myself, and sprang to my feet. It took no trouble at all leaving the room, but I had not a clue where to begin looking for Papa.

I began to feel agitated all of a sudden, looking about me several times. I hated this house ever since I had arrived, and nothing such as this situation would make me any more at home.

To my delight, there came a small sound from further down the corridor. I walked towards it, not entirely sure of what the sound was. As I came closer to it, I realised that it was the sound of voices. I smiled, hearing Papa's. Although, this smile decreased as I heard a more severe tone.

"I haven't an idea how you dare complain of the situation, Anthony."

"I only wish to know what it is you seem to be thinking," replied the voice of the man who I had met minutes ago. "There has always been a plan up your sleeve and God damn it I'm going to find out."

"There may be no trick at this point," Papa said. "You are the cause of all of this trouble, and you would have to be here for this not to destroy her."

I looked through the crack of the door to see the two men conversing. Papa's face was calmer than it had been before. Yet he was almost mocking the other man in the way he spoke.

"I daresay you've done enough damage," the man said bravely, although he seemed to back away as he said it. Papa only sneered.

"The damage you speak of is a mystery to me."

"You know very well what I am talking about. Her madness is evident even to me."

I winced.

"She simply requires a little more teaching. Johanna lost her way a little bit."

"Are you a fool," the man asked passionately. "You've done something to her and now she has no more teachings in her mind than a child!"

"A child who I planned to care for, until you utterly ruined everything."

"I ruined nothing! We would have been long gone by now if not for you, and she would not be mad as she is now."

At this, I could take no more. I pushed the door open, trembling with anger.

"How dare you!" I screamed at him, moving at my best speed towards him. Papa grabbed me by the shoulders, although I could not help but try to struggle against him.

"Johanna, calm yourself."

"But you just heard him! He-"

"Hush now," Papa whispered into my ear. I whimpered with annoyance, but finally stood still. I bowed my head, shaking. I dared not- and very well wished not to- look at the man. There was a silence about the room until Papa finally spoke again.

"I can not fathom how you find this my own deed," he said through what sounded like gritted teeth. "Can you not see what is right in front of your eyes, boy?"

I shut my eyes tightly, only listening. Hours seemed to pass, until suddenly there was movement. The man who I closed my eyes to avoid moved my hair out from my face and place a hand under my chin, lifting it so that I faced him.

"Am I not forgiven?" he asked with a smile.

I pressed my lips together tightly, and then fled from the room. I could no longer stand it, and thought that my solitude was the only way to find peace. My breath was heavy, and as I sat again on the edge of my bed I could only try to catch it again.

I haven't a clue how long I had been left sitting by myself, but it felt far too long by the time someone knocked upon my door again. I lifted my head, suddenly alert.

"Papa?"

The door opened, and the strange man appeared. I tucked my knees under my chin, wrapping my arms around my legs. I stared at him, frowning.

"Why are you here?"

"To be forgiven."

I lowered my head, not looking at him. He sighed and moved to sit by me. I did nothing to stop him, but wriggled away from his hand as it reached for mine.

"You do not remember me at all?" he asked. I shook my head.

"Not the slightest?"

"Should I?" I asked quietly.

"By all rights you should, but perhaps we are not…acquainted well enough." The man straightened himself, offering his hand to me.

"Anthony Hope," he said directly, smiling at me.

At this, I looked up at him. My eyes were wide and earnest.

"Your name is Anthony?"

"Is there hope?" he asked, mostly muttering to himself. "You recognise me?"

I did not reply at this point, but instead looked down at my hand. I smiled widely, and showed him my fingers. At first, he did not seem to understand. Impatiently, I pointed at the golden ring that lay on one of them.

"You gave me this, didn't you?"

Anthony opened his mouth, but not a word came out. I giggled lightly.

"If it wasn't you, it was someone awfully like you."

"Yes! Yes, it was me!"

He took my hand and placed it next to his. My smile grew as I saw he wore the same ring.

"It's the same!" I cried in delight. Anthony nodded slowly, chuckling to himself. For a moment, he looked at me sincerely. I barely noticed it, and instead stared at our rings. Soon, though, I started to frown.

"Why?" I asked, confused.

"Why what, Johanna?"

"The rings. Why are they the same?"

Anthony bit his lower lip, then shook his head.

"It is a story for another time."

"I wish to know it now."

Again, he shook his head.

"Another time," he repeated firmly.

I pouted, irritated. Anthony stared at me for a moment, and then smiled slightly, wrapping his arms around me. I did not struggle from him now. I instead allowed him to rock me gently, as if I were a child. He hummed a little tune into my ear, one that seemed so distant to me now. Yet somehow…I remembered it.

"Do they think that walls can hide you? Even now I'm at your window…"

I sighed happily, resting my head on his shoulder.

"I am in the dark beside you…sweetly buried in your yellow hair…Johanna…"

I listened intently to the little song, daring not to not listen to it. As he sang, I realised my natural compelling urge to love this man.