Thank you to:
xBadxRomancesx - thank you :)
filmgrl13 - thank you! I had to keep rewriting the scene between Amy and Sweeney because it kept going wrong and OOC
freakyfriday - thank you :)
I'm also in the process of writing a new story...I'm not sure whether or not to post it yet. If you're interested, please say and I'll put up the first chapter!
Chapter Eighteen
I had been kissed before.
Of course I had been kissed before! I was expecting a child not once but three times at one point. I had been kissed.
From what I knew, kissing was a loving and caring action. It was gentle and kind. It was love without words.
But this wasn't what I was experiencing.
No, this kiss was rough and demanding. His thin lips devoured mine as he kissed me, desperate for some kind of response.
I realised that standing there, lifeless, was not going to work, so did the only thing I could think of.
I hit him.
It was a sharp, sudden slap that finally made him release me. Startled, Judge Turpin stumbled backwards, a hand pressed against his cheek.
"Johanna…" He said, stepping forwards. I quickly stepped backwards.
"Don't touch me." I hissed.
"Johanna," He tried again.
"Touch me and I will scream." I threatened angrily. Judge Turpin glared at me with such viciousness I was almost frightened.
"You ungrateful whore." He cursed, and then left the room, slamming the door behind him.
I stared at the door for a moment, shocked.
Turpin…a man that claimed to love me…did that.
What had just happened?
Taking in a shaky breath, I walked forwards and collapsed onto the bed. Would Turpin have done worse things than kissing me if I had not prevented it?
The scariest thing of the situation was that I was sure he was perfectly capable of doing what I thought he was going to.
Did he really not think of me as any more than a common whore? Was I his caged bird, there for his amusement and pleasure?
After Anna helped me into my nightdress, I dismissed her, telling her I was too tired for one of our late night chats we usually had. She accepted this with a crestfallen expression, making me feel guilty.
Truth be told, I was tired. I was very tired.
Curling up, my eyes slowly shut and I drifted to sleep…
I was at in something…on a chair…we were moving…
Behind me, there were three children. My children.
A boy and two girls, all beautiful. They were talking, laughing, joking…
"MUM!"
I gasped, my eyes shooting open. Most would've gotten used to the constant nightmares that plagued my sleep, but they never failed to frighten me.
"Johanna?"
The door opened to reveal Mildred on her own. I frowned.
"Mildred…where's Anna?"
Mildred frowned. "That does not need to be discussed at the moment. Come on, let's get you dressed."
I frowned as I reluctantly left my bed and got dressed. I couldn't keep the absence of Anna out of my mind. Had Turpin done something to her?
Again, I stayed in my room. I did not want to see Turpin after what happened last night.
A soft knock at my bedroom door caught my attention.
"Come in."
I looked up, my mouth falling open as I saw Anna.
A large bruise was forming on her cheek.
"Anna!" I gasped, jumping up and running towards her. "Oh Anna, what has happened to you?"
"N-n-nothing…" Anna stuttered. I took her hands.
"Anna, please, what has happened?"
A few tears trickled down Anna's cheeks, but she finally stuttered out one word
"Turpin."
I frowned, pulling my friend closer and hugging her. Anna hugged me back, burying her face into my shoulder.
How much pain could this man cause to everyone? Why was he so cruel?
Questions such as these ran through my mind, over and over again. I frowned, wincing slightly at the stabbing pain in my head.
"We need to get away, Anna." I announced suddenly.
Anna broke away from my embrace in shock, staring up at me.
"What?"
"We need to leave. This is no place for us to be." I said calmly. It shocked me.
"But, Johanna – "
"Not yet. We shall need to find somewhere to live, first," I said quickly. "Is there any chance of us going outside today?"
"Where to, Johanna?"
"I don't know…the market?"
Anna frowned, thinking, before nodding.
"Wait here."
I watched as Anna rushed from my room, shutting the door behind her. It wasn't long before she returned, carrying a bundle of clothes in her arms.
"Here, put these on."
I stripped out of my grand dress and heels, exchanging them for a simple one and flat shoes. Anna hurriedly untied my hair from its intricate hairstyle and tied it back into a simple braid.
I looked in the mirror. I looked exactly like another maid. The dress was plain, old and worn. My hair was tied back, just enough hair hanging out to hide my face should I duck down.
"Come on, we can sneak out." Anna told me.
I grinned.
Sneaking out was easy. No one questioned us as Anna led me through the kitchen and out of the back door that she and the other maids used.
"We're free!" I cried triumphantly as we got into the street. Anna shushed me anxiously.
"Come on." She said, taking my hand and leading me along.
It wasn't long before we were in the market, and we searched around for free properties.
"There are all very expensive." Anna said miserably.
"Surely I have some money somewhere…" I said thoughtfully. Anna shook her head.
"No, Judge Turpin has made it so you have nothing."
I cursed under my breath.
We continued walking, soon out of the market and along a street. There were very few buildings, and out of them, only one stood out.
"Where are we?" I asked Anna.
"Fleet Street. There's a pie shop down here. I thought we might have something to eat."
I nodded in agreement, smiling. Come to think about it, I was extremely hungry.
Anna led me to the shop, which I paused outside with a frown. My brow furrowed as I stared at it.
"Johanna? Are you alright?"
I quickly shook my head, breaking myself out of my trance.
"Yes, I am fine." I lied.
As we entered the pie shop, I couldn't shake the peculiar feeling that I knew it from somewhere.