3
"I-I don' know. 'E jus' said go fer the stairs- I did as he asked mum, I don't know." Tears filled the boys eyes.
"Oh hush love," Mrs. Lovett took a swift step towards Toby and pulled him into a hug. "You did nothin' bad love. I'm glad your safe, doin' what Mr. T said." She kissed the top of his head, hoping to calm him down.
"They've got 'im!" The boy sobbed, clutching his mum's apron in a fit of despair. "I know they've got 'im!"
"We don't know that love, hush. He's probably fine." Worry laced her voice, and unbidden tears watered her eyes. She continued to hold him and stroke his hair, even as a low moaning reached their ears through the door, and distant screams echoed from down the street.
Toby sniffed, trying to force away his tears. "Mum?" He asked, voice quivering slightly.
"What is it dear?" Her voice was nearly a whisper as she leaned back, looking him in the eye.
"Why were there men in the bake house, wot wif their throats slit?"
She smiled at him sadly. "No ain't the time love."
"Bu-"
A muted bang sounded from outside, and the pair rushed towards the barber shop door. Peering through its dusty windows, they caught sight of a small fire in the crowd of people.
"Mr. T musta done tha' mum!" Toby gasped, for once in his life glad to know the man was in some way alive.
Mrs. Lovett smiled in return, though worry was still in her eyes. Her eyes darted around, but she was unable to spot her barber.
There!
Her heart skipped a beat when she finally spotted him, crawling onto a table. He was drenched with blood, and one arm held several gin bottles close to his chest. The other arm sported his friend from his hand, somehow still gleaming silver under its crimson layer. Even from the distance, Mrs. Lovett could see the defiant snarl on his face, which meant he was far from accepting defeat.
"Mr. T…" She murmured under her breath.
A/N I feel the need to bring up now there will be no consistency in chapter length, or amount of actual plot occurring. Even though the actual 'plot' hasn't really come into play yet..
