Chapter 23: Arrivals and jobs

Note: The barber gang arrive in town after a little time skip in this chapter and move into a small hotel until they can get enough money to buy a new home. Sweeney and Johanna will find places to work. Anthony will be alone with Lucy for a bit. But someone else will arrive soon in Germany.

(Sweeney's POV.) We decided to pick the town that was farthest away from where we arrived just in case we were being followed. I had no idea who could be following us but I had to be sure. I would not let them separate us again, and if someone was following us and tried they would be dead by my hands. In fact I hoped I'd have a chance to have my friends taste blood again. I missed the sense of control as I killed a man, watching the light leave their eyes.

After about four weeks of travel we finally arrived. The hotels we stayed at temporarily had us short on money, so we needed to make more. We bid our goodbyes to the driver as he gave us directions to a hotel we could stay at. "We need to hurry," Anthony said. "Yes, my father and I need to find jobs." "Where are we going again?" Lucy asked.

"To the hotel in the center of town," I answered. She reached out her hand to me and I grabbed it. Before I realized it I had stroked the back of her hand with my thumb gently as I used to when I would grab her hand. I noticed she hung her head, and I could see her face turning red. She began to regain feeling toward me even though she could not remember who I was. Or at least I hoped she was.

We headed to the center of town to the hotel and entered. "We want a room for four please?" I asked. This time there was such a room available to us. "Nice to have our own beds," Johanna said. "It's good to have a bed to sleep on instead of the ground," Lucy said happily. "Never again will you have to sleep on the ground," I growled.

"Father, we need to go look for work, so we can get the money to stay in the hotel until we can afford our own home." "Anthony, you stay with Lucy for now and you can look for work another time" I said. "Sounds like a plan Mr Todd." Lucy smiled at Anthony, and he smiled back. "I'll find if I can find some hard labor of some sort, and you find a place to use your sewing skills, my flower." "We'll make a good life here you'll see" Anthony said.

You will learn someday, Hope. Me and Johanna decided we would start to look around and left the hotel. "We will go our separate ways for now, father." "Yes, take care Johanna." I was nervous to let her go alone but I knew I needed to. (Johanna's POV.)

Being on my own for once felt interesting. This town seemed to be a nice place with some nice people. First I needed to find a seamstress to show my sewing skills to. There was a woman nearby who I figured I could ask directions. "Excuse me ma'am, does this town have a seamstress of some kind." The woman turned and smiled at me gently.

"You seem new in town, are you looking for work dear?" "Yes ma'am, I am looking for work and new here." "Down the road a passed the bar is a nice place owned by madam Lange, if you can show here you can sew she would be happy to hire you." I curtsied to the woman politely and went on my way. I grew nervous as I approached the bar.

Anthony was not the first boy to find me attractive, though the judge swiftly dealt with them. I knew lecherous men tended to hang at bars. Thankfully as I approached no one seemed to be outside the bar. The judge would have never let me look for work, especially on my own. I knew he wanted me to be a nice housewife. Stay home, raise children, and pleasure him when he wants me to.

I arrived at the seamstress and entered. "Welcome to madam Langes," said the older woman as I entered. She reminded me of a grandmother of some kind. I introduced myself to her and explained to her what I wanted. "I would be happy to give a young lady a job," the woman told me. "Yes, that way I can help my family own a home."

"Why don't you come over at ten o'clock tomorrow." "That would be lovely," I said happily. Things seemed to be working out so far. I hoped my father would have the same luck. (Sweeney Todd's POV.) As much as I wished to try to open a Tonsorial Parlor there was no way we were not being hunted after I finally killed that filth.

I learned from the carriage drives that in the center of town there was a quarry where I could work. I had grown used to smashing and carrying large rocks thanks to Botany Bay. He told me it was Klein's quarry. While I'm not a big man I am decently strong from the hard labor. I hope they will take me on. I had to remember to use the name Mason Marcus for the sake of my cover. Finally I saw it. In front of me was a huge hole with men on the bottom smashing rocks with sledgehammers.

Above was a large banner that said Klein's quarry on it. Off to the right was the office of who I thought was the quarry master. I marched over to the front of the building and knocked on the door. I knew I would need to channel Benjamin Barker's friendliness again. "Come in" came out a gruff voice. I opened the door to meet this man.

"How can I help you sir?" the man behind the desk said. "Hello my name is Mason Marcus, and I was wondering if you could use another man." He looked up at me. "I can always use another man. I guess you have worked in a quarry before?" "Yes I have sir."

"Before I agree to take you on I need to see if you can keep up with the work. I know you worked at a quarry already, but it is a protocol we have to take. If you pass the trial period we will hire you first hand." "Very well sir, if that is the protocol. "Good Mr Marcus, my name is Conrad Klein, hopefully I will be welcoming you for the long term." We both shook hands.

Lets see if this works out, I need to get used to interacting with these men. As much as I felt I could relieve them from this labor forever, I knew I could not. Now I need to find a way to resist my blood lust. I needed to prove myself, and I needed to help Lucy. (Daniels POV.) The boat arrived at Brake at long last.

I walked out alongside the officers who accompanied me. The barber would not evade me. I would find him and his accomplices, and bring all that filth to justice.

Note: Next chapter Daniel will ask around about the barber gang. Then I will cover the gang's new life as the work and get their house slowly together. Lucy, while not remembering Sweeney yet, is falling in love with him as time passes. Next chapter primarily summarizes about a month of time that is passing. Lucy will have an important dream in the next chapter as well.