Sorry sorry sorry sorry SORRY.
My computer broke, so we've just updated it - Microsoft word is so FANCY! - and I had to recover EVERYTHING. And I mean everything. But now it's sorted!
Thank you to:
freakyfriday13 - I'm glad you didn't expect it! That's what I hoped! Thank you :)
obsessivelyfanaticgw09 - thank you :)
xBadxRomancesx - I couldn't resist bringing them in! I don't know why, but loads of people I know dislike Johanna, but I do...lol thank you!
I hope this chapter makes up for the long wait, and the song sung in this chapter is Fields of Gold by Eva Cassidy. I suggest you listen to it - it's a beautiful song :)
Chapter Twenty Seven
"Amy…"
"Amz…"
"Amy, love…"
The voices drifted around me, but I paid them no attention.
What had happened?
My eyes slowly flickered open, my brow furrowing as I felt a slight pain in my head.
"Amy!"
My eyes moved to meet Ben's. He was stood over me, but instantly fell to his knees as I looked up at him.
"How are you feeling?" He asked, gently stroking my hair out of my face.
"Sore…" I said shakily. "What happened?"
"You fainted."
"F-fainted?" I repeated, sitting up. "Where am I?"
"Downstairs, Amz," Ben explained. "Mr Todd carried you down."
Mr Todd.
The name brought on sudden panic. Shaking, I shook my head as I let out unintelligible squeaks, like I did when I was little.
"Amy?" Nellie asked.
"Amy, love, what's wrong?"
A pair of arms went around me, and I could feel myself being hugged by Mrs Lovett.
"Calm down, love," She said softly. "Nothing's gonna harm you, not while I'm around. Nothing's gonna harm you, darling, not while I'm around."
The singing didn't help. It only reminded me of Mum.
"Here."
Nellie's arms suddenly replaced Mrs Lovett's.
"Come on, Amz, calm down." She whispered in my ear. I shook my head, still unable to speak.
So Nellie did something I was not expecting.
She sung to me.
"You'll remember me when the west wind moves, among the fields of barley. You can tell the sun in his jealous sky when we walked in fields of gold."
I removed my head from Nellie's shoulder to gaze her up at her. She smiled down at me as she continued singing.
"So she took her love for to gaze awhile among the fields of barley. In his arms she fell as her hair came down among the fields of gold."
Smiling weakly, I wrapped my arms around Nellie.
"You're the best sister I've ever had."
"I'm the only sister you've ever had, you nut."
That night, I remembered.
He lifted up his razor into the air. Something bad was going to happen, I could feel it. But I kept watching.
A small smirk appeared on Sweeney's face before he brought his arm down in one swift action.
I swallowed.
Blood spurted out of the man's neck, spraying everywhere.
Still smirking, Sweeney stamped his foot on something. The chair tipped backwards as a trapdoor opened, and the man slid out of view.
I felt sick.
Thankfully, I wasn't, but the very thought of it…
Sweeney…murdered the man.
Why?
Was that Mrs Lovett told us all to stay away from the shop while he was working? Did she know?
Would Sweeney kill us?
I had to bite my hand to stop the terrified scream that rose to my throat.
"Are you going to be alright?"
"I'll be fine," I told Ben. "Just go to work."
Ben looked unsure, but nodded.
"Ok. Mrs Lovett and Nellie are probably going to stay in, so if you don't feel well –"
"I'll tell them," I finished for him. "Don't worry; it was just a one off yesterday."
"And you're sure you have no idea why you fainted?"
I swallowed. Tell the truth or lie?
"No," I lied. "I have no idea."
For most of the day, I had to stay sitting. Mrs Lovett and Nellie refused to let me help them, no matter how much I protested.
So I had to think.
I wanted nothing more than to get up and make myself busy, make myself forget the memory that plagued my mind. But because I was not allowed up, I couldn't.
My hands began shaking as I replayed the memory in my mind. Frowning, I clasped them together and rested them on my lap, staring out the window.
It was a nice day; Ben would be happy. He hated working on cold days.
"Amy, love, you couldn't take this up to Mr T, could ya?" Mrs Lovett asked suddenly, holding up a tray. I frowned at her.
"Why?"
"Oh, Mr T never eats down here, so I always take him up a tray, but I'm a bit busy at the moment."
Before I could stop myself, I nodded.
"Sure."
Willing my legs not to shake, I stood up and crossed the room to take the tray from Mrs Lovett.
"Thank you, deary."
I concentrated on walking as I left the shop, putting one foot in front of the other in a careful manner.
Before I knew it, I was outside the door.
I froze.
I couldn't go. Not now.
Just do it, Amy.
Taking in a deep breath, I reached out with one hand and knocked.
"Come in."
I opened the door and stepped in, holding the tray with such force my knuckles were practically screaming in protest.
"Mrs Lovett wanted me to bring you this." I announced stiffly. Sweeney, who had been stood by the window with his back to me, turned around.
I almost stepped back at the hatred in his glare.
But then I was suddenly annoyed. Why should I let him treat me like that? He was the murderer, not me.
I tried not to shiver at the fact.
"Why are you here?" He demanded.
"To give you this," I explained, glaring at him. "I already told you that."
"Get out."
"No."
Both Sweeney and I were surprised by my sudden comeback. I didn't mean to say it, but I wasn't going to let him boss me around when I was so annoyed!
"What?"
"I'm not going until you tell me why you killed that man."
"You wouldn't understand."
"Make me understand, then!"
"NO."
I glared at Sweeney, my arms folded across my chest.
"Let me guess, I'm too young, right? Well, guess what, I'm fourteen. Not a kid anymore."
"You wouldn't understand," Sweeney repeated quietly. "No one understands."
"I don't want to understand, I want to know why you KILLED AN INNOCENT MAN."
Sweeney glared at me. "Why? Why do you want to know?"
"Because I know now. No one thought of it. I have to admit, it hasn't struck me until yesterday," I said bitterly. "I know."
"You know what?"
"It all adds up, really. They're found in here, Mum disappears, and we all end up here. Quite simple really. And Ben's meant to the smart one." I muttered, putting the tray down.
How could I have not thought of it before?
It was all so simple…so clear…
"Don't you remember what Ben told you when we first arrived?" I asked. "Our Dad and Granddad were found in THIS shop with their THROATS SLIT."
"Stop shouting!" Sweeney ordered.
"NO, BECAUSE I KNOW WHO DID IT NOW!" I yelled. "IT WAS YOU. YOU KILLED THEM!"