Emie's PoV
I woke up and it was quiet, too quiet. I realized that it was because my iPod was gone. I looked around in the sheets but it was nowhere to be found.
"Jamie," I muttered. It was just like my roommate to steal my iPod.
I looked up and realized I wasn't in my bedroom I was in some other room. Yesterday's events came flooding back. Mr. Todd must've brought me up here and he probably had my iPod. I went to the door and tried to open it, but it was locked. I spotted a key on the dresser and unlocked it, locking it back and putting the key in my pocket. Mr. Todd must've locked it and left me a key for a reason. Probably 'cause Mrs. Lovett wanted to kill me. Oh, the joy. I found Mrs. Lovett staring at Mr. Todd's sleeping form in amazement.
"He doesn't usually sleep, does he?"
"No, 'e doesn't. 'Ungery?"
"No, I don't usually eat breakfast." It was true, and I don't trust her cooking.
"Alright, then."
I went over to Mr. Todd and found my iPod in his ears. I gently took the ear buds out, grabbing the iPod and hurried back to the kitchen.
"Jerk took my iPod," I grumbled. "Hey, Mrs. Lovett, can I take a bath?"
"You'll have to pump the water," she replied.
"Huh? How do I do that?" I was utterly perplexed. Pump water?
"Figure it out," she said meanly.
"Won't even help the girl draw a bath, Mrs. Lovett? That's cold, even for me," Mr. Todd said, coming up behind me and making me jump.
"Yeah," I grumbled.
He squeezed my shoulder which meant Shut up if you know what's good for you. I sighed heavily but kept my mouth closed.
"I didn't bring 'er 'ere, so she's not my responsibility. You take care of 'er."
I rolled my eyes. "Here, let's make things even easier. You guys let me leave and then no one has to take care of me."
"Nice try, but no chance," he said.
I scowled."Why not? I'm nothing to you. Let me LEAVE!"
"No." His tone assured me that that was the last he would say on the subject.
Frustrated, I turned on my heel and left the room. I had to find a way to get home, even if my home was a crappy orphanage. I walked outside and sat on the steps leading up to his barber shop after clearing it of snow. I was cold but the cold kept me from losing my temper so I stayed. He stuck his head out of the shop door.
"Come inside," he ordered.
"No!" I replied defiantly."You are not my father. I do not take orders from you."
He scowled and stepped out of the shop. Smirking, I ran up the stairs into his shop and slammed the door shut on him, locking it.
"I won't touch anything, I swear," I yelled through the door to him.
Scowling, he left. I collapsed in his barber's chair and put my head in my hands. I needed to think but I had no clue what it was that I needed to think about. I pulled the razor out of my boot and walked trance-like back to the door and unlocked it. He wouldn't hurt me, now that I thought about it, not if I stopped irritating him. I sat on the chair and stared moodily at the razor. So many things were racing through my mind. My dad murdering my mom as she tried to protect me from his wrath, my friends, how the others were probably missing me, and so much more. My life was just a continuing downward spiral. The only way to stop it is for it to end. I stared at the beautiful silver razor, debating, but decided to spend a little more time on Earth. I began to sing quietly.
Dancing bears
Painted wings
Things I almost remember
And a song someone sings
Once upon a December
Someone holds me
Safe and warm
Horses prance through a silver storm
Figures dancing gracefully
Across my memories
Someone holds me
Safe and warm
Horses prance through a silver storm
Figures dancing gracefully
Across my memories!
Far away
Long ago
Growing dimness in embers
Things my heart
Used to know
Things it longs to remember
And a song someone sings
Once upon a December
I sighed heavily, brushing my black hair out of my deep blue eyes.
"Have you heard of an American author by the name of Poe?" Mr. Todd asked me.
I jumped, not having heard him come in. he moved way too quietly.
"Yeah, he's one of my favorites. Do you know him?"
He nodded." I read much of his work while I was away."
"Oh."
Deciding to quiz him, I recited Spirits of the Dead, seeing if he knew it.
Thy soul shall find itself alone
'Mid dark thoughts of the gray tombstone- -
Not one, of all the crowd, to pry
Into thine hour of secrecy;
Be silent in that solitude
Which is not loneliness- - for then
The spirits of the dead who stood
In life before thee are again
In death around thee- - and their will
Shall then over shadow thee: Be still
For the night- - tho' clear- - shall frown
And the stars shall not look down
From their high thrones on Heaven
With light like Hope to mortals given - -
But their red orbs, without beam,
To thy weariness shall seem
As a burning and a fever
Which could cling to thee forever
Now are thoughts thou shalt not banish- -
Now are visions ne'er to vanish- -
From thy spirit shall they pass
No more- - like dew-drops from the grass
The breeze- - the breath of God- - is still
And the mist upon the hill
Shadowy- - shadowy- - yet unbroken,
Is a symbol and a token- -
How it hangs upon the trees,
A mystery of mysteries!
"Spirits of the Dead," he said, nodding in approval. "It's good, but not my absolute favorite."
He startled me when he began to recite one. It was The Valley of Unrest.
Once it smiled a silent dell
Where the people did not dwell;
They had gone onto the wars
Trusting the mild-eyed stars,
Nightly, from their azure towers,
To keep watch above the flowers,
In the midst of which all day
The red sunlight lazily lay.
Now each visitor shall confess
The sad valley's restlessness
Nothing there is motionless
Nothing save the airs that brood
Over the magic solitude
Ah, by no wind are stirred those trees
That palipate like the chill seas
Around the misty Hebrides!
Ah, by no wind those clouds are driven
That rustle through the uniquest Heaven
Uneasily, from morn till even
Over the violets there that lie
In myriad types of the human eye- -
Over the lilies there that wave
And weep above a nameless grave!
They wave: - -from out their fragrant tops
Eternal dews come down in drops.
They weep: - - from off their delicate stems
Perennial tears descend in gems
"Ooh, I love that one," I grinned.
He leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. I leaned back in the chair, putting my arms behind my head, grinning leisurely. He rolled his eyes, correctly guessing that I was doing it to bug him.
"I really like your razor," I said, holding it up for him to see." Can I keep this one?"
"No!" he cried.
"Please?" I begged.
"No," he replied sternly. "You are not keeping one of my razors!"
He glared at me coldly, an expression I matched with an easy grin fit for a drunken Jack Sparrow. Once again, he rolled those nearly black eyes of his, making me grin even more.
"I think I will, though." I smirked.
He scowled as I waved the razor tauntingly in his face. I and stood up, walking over to the window. I leaned against the glass and let the sunlight sparkle off of it. It's just so beautiful.
These are my friends, I sang.
See how they glisten
See this one shine…
I flicked open the blade, catching the sun's rays.
How he smiles in the light
My friend
My faithful friend….
Speak to me friend
Whisper, I'll listen
I know, I know you've been locked out of sight
All these years
Like me my friend!
Memories of the days the orphanage nurses had kept me locked in my room away from the others sprang to mind and I sang the song with a new purpose, actually meaning the words instead of just copying Mr. Todd.
Well I've come home
To find you waiting
Home and we're together
And we'll do wonders
Won't we?
You, there my friend
Come let me hold you
I felt a hand on my shoulder and saw his reflection in the window. He had begun to sing with me, but his words were directed to me, not the razor blade.
Now, you grow warm in my hand
My friend!
My clever friend!
Rest now, my friend
Soon, I'll unfold you (that was just me)
Soon you'll know splendors you never have dreamed all your days
My lucky friends
'Til now your shine was merely silver
Friends
You shall drip rubies (he was singing to the razor not me now)
You'll soon dip precious…rubies
"I want to help you," I said quietly.
"No. It's not a life for a girl like you, or any for that matter."
"But it's my life," I protested. "I should be allowed to live it the way I wish."
"And you can," he said soothingly. It was strange how in a matter of minutes our relationship had gone from us at each other's throats, to him being a fatherly figure."But I will not have it on my conscious that I let a young girl with her whole life ahead of her become a murderer."
I stayed quiet, choosing not to reply because I knew I would snap if I did. Let him think I agreed. I would find a way to have my revenge, with his help or without it.