Chapter 5

Similarities

That night, the streets and the barbershop above the pie shop were deathly quiet, aside

from the far-off, cheerful banter of Mrs. Lovett and Tobias in the back parlor. Edward still sat

there at the little corner table, all by himself, wondering what this ugly feeling he had in the pit

of his stomach was all about. What is wrong with me now? the words floated around in his

head. This feeling was something close to the feeling he had felt during his first community

barbeque. Terrible. Awful, really. Frightening, like a nightmare- except whatever this nightmare

was, it was real. He wondered if maybe it was just a false pretense- a hunch that would never

come true. Maybe I should go look in on that Mr. Todd fellow. Edward stood up, quietly

snipping his fingers, and headed for the door.

Snip snip snip snip snip snip

The metallic noise seemed to leak through the door in the darkened room. Sweeney

proceeded to ignore it as the blades began to scratch frantically at the doorknob. He turned his

sullen face down to gaze upon a small portrait he held lovingly in his hands. A beautiful blonde

young woman sat there, smiling up at him from beyond the glass, holding an adorable baby girl.

"Joanna…" he whispered despondently, running a single finger down the glass of the frame.

Snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip snip!

"Alright! Stop! … I'm coming." he growled, startling Edward at the door. Maybe the

feeling was right. Maybe I should get away from here. Edward's breath quickened, and he

began to shake. As the doorknob turned, his brain told him he should run, but he found he was

frozen to the spot. "Yes, Edward? What is it?" Sweeney glared at him from the darkness after

pulling the door open. Edward nearly whimpered. "Speak up." came the familiar grumble. "I-It's

n-nothing…" Edward half-sighed, letting his own gaze drop to his feet. Sweeney stepped out

into the moonlight, smiled one of those devilish smiles, and placed a hand on Edward's

shoulder. "My boy, you look extremely frightened. Pray, did you go to sleep an' 'ave a

nightmare?" he twisted his grin as he spoke.

Edward became rigid at the touch, and not because Sweeney's hands were cold. He had

just begun to relax, but this had frozen him once again. Maybe it was the sensation of having

hands touch him after so long without ever even seeing hands. Maybe it was a sense of

somehow no longer feeling all alone. It could be both, and it could be neither. he thought,

unable to react immediately to Sweeney's touch. "Edward?" Sweeney's rough tone shook

Edward from his shock. "Y-yes?" Edward peered timidly into the sunken and darkened eyes of

the barber. The barber's eyes peered back with an even deeper intensity. "Did you 'ave a

nightmare or not?" he repeated, gruffly, as if he were holding back a will to punch Edward.

Edward shuffled a bit, snipped his blades slowly.

"I… I think I did."

"You think you did?"

"Mhm…"

Snip snip snip snip snip…

"Edward, no one thinks they 'ave 'ad a nightmare, they know." Sweeney appeared rough and

reprimanding, almost like an abusive parent. It was making Edward withdraw even further into

himself. Edward partially whimpered, "I… I did.". Sweeney drew back, furrowed his brow a bit,

leaned against the doorway, folded his arms. "Well, it won't do to stay out 'ere in the night

talking abou' it," he commented, "Would you like to come in and talk?". Sweeney could mold

himself into just about any role. Right now, he would do his best to play the role of good friend

and neighbor. Edward willingly followed him into the shop and seated himself in the large

barber chair, colored all over with the pale moonlight that was filtering through the gigantic

window in the roof. As Sweeney took his place leaning against the vanity, Edward glanced

around.

He saw a mirror image of his own little world. Cold, dark, lit only by the moon, barren

floors, walls covered in unique photos and things, and one large moonlit window through which

anyone could peer out over the other world of the sprawling suburbia. He was pleasantly

surprised at just how much he and this man were alike. The realities though were that this man

had his photos all framed and either hung, or laid out on a table top, and his window did not

overlook a warm, colorful suburbia. Instead, it overlooked a cold and cheerless industrial world.

But for the most part, things were highly similar, and he could appreciate it. Maybe this was

why Sweeney could sound so scary and cruel. Maybe he was actually very nice inside. Maybe.

"Well?" Sweeney finally spoke up. He had noticed Edward's general reaction to the room and

decided to give him a moment to collect himself.

"There were… There were hands." Edward began nervously. Of course you dreamed of

hands thought Sweeney to himself, looking a bit longingly at the way Edward's blades were

glinting in the pale moonlight. Edward stopped to take a look at Sweeney's reaction. As was to

be expected, he only stood there, broodingly. "Go on." he broke the silence, still entranced by

Edward's fingers. "The hands… They were cold… and pale." Edward whispered, almost

biting his lower lip. "Well, that certainly does seem likely to point to some foul end…" Sweeney

smirked in the darkness, "But surely not yours, my boy.". His grin seemed to grow ever wider

the closer he came towards Edward. When he finally came into the moonlight, he very nearly

looked like the Cheshire Cat. Attempting to put away his menacing sneer before Edward could

catch a glimpse of it, Sweeney's features slowly moved into another stone cold position.

Meanwhile, Edward continued to stare hopelessly down at his own blades. Placing a hand on

the barber's chair, Sweeney said, "Well, Edward, it was only a nightmare, and nothing more.

You've got nothing to worry about, as I am sure you will be safe here with us." On that last

word, Edward felt a sensation shoot down his spine which caused the hairs on the back of his

neck to stand at attention.

The 's' sound had seemed extremely villainous somehow. Like a snake preparing to

strike. "I… I think that… That the nightmare is very real…" Edward's voice shook. "Is it? From

where did you get such a strange idea?" Sweeney faked some shock in his voice. Edward took

no notice of whether or not the shock was fake. "I have no idea. Not really." came the soft

reply. "Well, I know a man who is most certainly cold to the touch." Sweeney began to muse,

"Maybe you would like to meet him?" Of course, Sweeney was thinking again of Judge Turpin.

Edward shifted uneasily. He was sure that those hands had belonged to Sweeney. But he could

tell how badly Sweeney wanted him to meet this man, so Edward silently and slowly gave a nod

in agreement, just after Sweeney positioned himself before Edward.

"Good." Sweeney grinned, then turned his attention to the night sky beyond the

window. "It's getting late. I'm sure Mrs. Lovett will 'ave the bed made up for you once more by

now. I think you 'ad best be running along to bed now, Edward. We've got a busy day

tomorrow." Sweeney said coldly as he took Edward by the wrist and waist, helping him out of

the chair and showing him to the door as if Edward were instead a young woman.

Edward found himself whisked out into the cold night air, with the door shut behind

him. He had wanted to say a proper goodnight to Mr. Todd, but time had not quite allowed it.

He figured Mr. Todd would like nothing more now than to be left to his own devices, so

Edward made his way back down the stairs, and into the pie shop. "Lor'! Where've ye been?!

Ah've been lookin' all over for ye!" Mrs. Lovett gasped from behind the counter. "I… I had a

nightmare." Edward replied meekly. "Well, ah don' suppose ye thought catchin' a death o' col'

would be the answer!" she gasped again, displaying her concern as she rounded the counter

and took Edward by the arm to lead him into the back parlor. "Now, love, let's get ye all nice an'

cozy like by the fire here, next ta Toby." she cooed as she lovingly prepared a pillow and blanket

next to the small, sleeping form of Tobias, who was clutching a large bottle of gin in one hand.

Mrs. Lovett, you're such a kind lady. Edward began to grin at this thought. He had not seen

kindness like this since Peg had taken him in. It was not long until Mrs. Lovett had both Edward

and Tobias wrapped up in cozy blankets by the fire. But before she left, she turned to Edward

and said, "Now ye ge' a good night's rest, an' your auntie Nellie will hear all about your

nightmare in the mornin'." Then, all the lights were out except for the fire, and Edward was

soon in deep sleep.