28. Beast
He truly is beautiful when he stalks the tonsorial parlour like this. A magnificent beast, a caged lion prowling the length of his territory. He growls under his breath as his movements become more agitated, hands running through his already wild hair. The chair rights itself, sitting there innocently once more, but Todd does not notice it, too consumed by his thoughts. His eyes grow wider as his stalking just as suddenly ceases, blood still running down his face.
Silence.
The door creaks open gradually, light from a little candle spilling into the room and chasing the shadows away as the door hits the wall. The bell jangles cheerily, a startling, mocking contrast to the state of the room.
Slowly she enters, cautious of startling the beast as his movements begin again, razor clattering to the gore-slicked floor. The snarls issuing from his throat are feral and primal. She half-expects him to start clawing at the walls, roaring for insanity to let him go.
Ignoring the blood, she crosses the room to step in front of him, arms held out as though waiting for an animal to grow accustomed to her presence. He stares intensely at her for a heartbeat before easing nearer, as though he needs her comforting, reassuring presence. Her hands cup his face gratefully as he stands close. The growling in his throat perishes, the madness within his eyes fading. Nothing but the two of them exists.
"You did it, love," Nellie says softly, planting a noisy kiss on his blood-soaked temple as she quietly pushes his gore-specked hair from his face. "'E's gone. No more ghosts."
Turpin, dead. Lucy avenged.
No more ghosts.
For the moment, just like that, the savage beast is quelled.