The Burning of Pain

Sorry you all had to wait so long for this. I know, I have been able to post a lot more stories on Live Journal because there is so much more things to choose from on that site. But anyway, I hope that you can all stay a little while. This chapter isn't all that fun, but still, it's getting there. It's building up, you know? Anyway, give it time. Hope you all enjoy. Have fun.

Chapter 2: Withdrawl

Sweeney Todd gave a slight groan. There was a strange cold around him, and there was also some kind of a smell coming from whatever he was on or around.

The man began to get up.

Mr. Todd found that there was no way of getting up though, he was chained up.

He was chained to something and cast into darkness. He moved his head and found that his head had something wrapped around it, probably a blindfold.

Sweeney then began to move his head and shoulders, wanting to stand, or at least remove the cloth from around his head. He found that the chains were wrapped around his hand, locking them tight together, so as not to allow him escape. His legs were also bound. They were secured around his ankles in away that would make sure he wasn’t going anywhere as well.

Sweeney began to slowly lift his body. The man found that his shoulders were bound together and on each side he was connected to the ground. He could only go a few inches from the ground.

He also took notice to the strap around his neck. He gave a gasp. Where was he? Where was this place that he was at?

His body began to suddenly spasm, thrashing from side to side, trying to free himself.

It had no good on him though and it made him in fact, hurt wherever there were chains. He finally gave into the pain and fell still.

Sweeney was silent. He opened his mouth, gasping for breath. He could feel an odd dry, foam rise up into his mouth. It was as if sand had dominated there, and he had not drank anything for days.

Sweeney gave a small cry, “S-h-ee-lp…” Nothing was a word though and the man tried to swallow. The effect of this was a chocking fit. He gave a groan as if to give a show of his pain and his pathetic attempt to cry for help.

Where was he? Where had he come from and why was he in chains now? He gave another groan and then began to shake.

‘Where am I?’ He thought to himself. His mind began to slowly turn, it’s members and blood beginning to speed suddenly, as if remembering the world around him. The nasty, shitty, London world around him.

Turpin was the second image that popped into his head. The first that had been in his mind, caught him off guard. He had not known why he thought of the boy the way he did.

Anthony’s smiling face had been in his head, and was now there, seeming to be stuck. He watched it, his eyes seeming to gaze over the features, just looking, but taking in all that they could.

Sweeney gave a very mournful groan as the image slipped away and another was placed there.

Turpin’s features then loomed in on him. There was this odd calm over him. He relaxed slightly at the thought of the man, though then grew angry when he realized that he was the one who did this to him.

‘I’ll kill him…’ He thought. ‘How could he do this to me?’ He thought he felt the sting of his eyes. He waited for tears to come down his face, but none came.

While being bound to the ground, he began to growl to himself.

‘Why…?’ He began to think wildly. ‘Why would he do this to me?’ he clenched his hands together.

His teeth began to grit. He then began to breath hard, and then scream.

At first, the scream would not emit, do to the lack of saliva, then something in the back of his throat cracked and he let out something of a howl.

It went out for about fifteen seconds till he ran out of breath. Then he lay there, breathing hard, trying to gasp hard, for breath. The man could feel his eyes cold, so dark under the cloth, there was something wrong though.

He heard footsteps somewhere and then a door close to him opened up. He tried to move his head, but found it hurt a little more then he would have liked it.

The door opened and then the person stopped dead.

Sweeney listened as the person turned to another, and spoke, his voice was dark and menacing, and there was something else inside of it, “What the hell is this? Why is he bound like this?”

Sweeney could tell moments ago that it had been the Judge.

He listened as the other man was silent and then seemed to flinch away due to the sound of movement he made, “I’m sorry, I was only thinking of our safety!” Mr. Todd could tell that this was said by Mr. Beadle Bamford.

Seconds later someone was hit, then there was a quick movement of steps toward him. “My Sweeney…” He whispered. He bent down low, “How long have you known this torture?”

He meant to answer the other, but his mouth was too dry, and when he went to speak, his voice seemed to be gone.

“Give me the keys, and go get some water…” Turpin hissed out to the other man as Sweeney lay there.

Sweeney felt the cloth on his face begin to ease up and his head was lifted gently.

He opened his eyes. Mr. Todd looked around at the room he had been left in.

The room was a brick wall surrounding, and the floor was the same. There was a small desk in the corner of the room, and even a crude mattress.

The chained up man wondered for a few minutes as to why he couldn’t at least be chained to the bed.

He looked around at the top of the walls, seeing where the light was coming from. Mr. Todd took notice that the light was from a lantern that Turpin had brought and two windows. When he looked at the windows though, he noticed that they were fogged over and had bars over them.

He must be in a jail cell. He gave a glare at Turpin, he wanted to ask why so badly.

He looked down at his restraints. He was in fact, being held down in some places by rather large metal objects protruding from the ground and hooking into his chain locks. There were little locks all over his body where he would be unchained later by Turpin.

Turpin moved his head slightly and Sweeney found himself looking at him. He looked up at the other freed man, giving him a freezing gaze.

“Why do you look at me so hard?” Turpin’s voice asked, it sounded hurt in a small sense.

Sweeney kept looking at him though, he knew that the events from the day before must have been from the drug. His speaking problem also kept his voice from saying anything.

“You want to know why you’re here, like this, don’t you, Mr. Todd?” Though it was a question, and his voice was soft, there was something hidden when he said the other man’s name.

Sweeney couldn’t help the flash of question. His eyes betrayed him, and before he knew it, Turpin was smiling above him.

“Well, you see, after last day, I decided, ‘I want to keep you.’” He laughed only a little at something he knew. “It’s really funny how easily someone can fall in love with someone in your family.” He moved a hand over Sweeney’s cheek.

The pale flesh moved away from him and seemed to growl somewhere inside.

Sweeney kept his gaze on the man though, and watched as he turned slightly, a look of crushed feeling coming over him, “I see, you’re mad because of the chains. I would be too.” He listened as the sound of rushed footsteps came. A second later, there stood in the door way, Beadle. He held the water in his hands.

“Help me start unchaining him.” Turpin demanded. He sounded angered at the sight of the other man. “Now!” He yelled when the man didn’t move.

Sweeney then watched and felt his head tilt back as the glass of water was then tilted toward his lips. “Drink it.” Said the man above him.

Sweeney felt his lips part, and the sweet liquid began to go down his throat. Slowly, it drained down, then it seemed to scratch along the walls of his sandy throat and he began to chock and cough.

He felt Turpin begin to pat his back and then tilt him, “Unhook his neck!” He demanded.

Beadle unhooked the lock and then began to help him turn the man to his side.

Sweeney gave a sigh as his stomach churned uneasily and then listened to the sound as both of the men took up the job of unlocking his chains.

Turpin al the while gave small curses to the man beside him. “Why would you leave him in chains like this? Did you think he would escape or something?” He growled.

Sweeney turned his gaze to the window.

‘So Beadle had put me down here without Turpin knowing?’ Something inside of Sweeney twisted uneasily as he tried to accept that the other man had not known anything about this.

He soon felt all of his chains being released. He felt a warm hand slide down under him, then begin to pick him up. He turned over.

Turpin was looking at him, “Come on, lets get you on your feet. The man then proceeded to put the other to his feet, somewhat forcing him to stand.

Mr. Todd gave a groan of pain as he tilted forward, his stomach threatening to spew anything that he had taken in.

Turpin’s hand was on him, attempting to aid in the release of the current pain.

Sweeney held his eyes shut though and made sure not to throw up.

Turpin allowed for the man to lean forward a little. He breathed in deep, trying to settle the upset feeling in his stomach.

Sweeney felt a hand grope his back. He withered under the touch and then backed away. He spun on the two men, glaring at them both, but not being able to hold his focus.

Turpin’s gaze matched his and he began to walk toward Sweeney. “What is the matter?” He reached out a hand.

Sweeney then began to stumble, but when Turpin came to help him, he pushed the man away and growled, “Stay away.” He fell to the wall in back of himself, “I don’t know what--you gave me, but I don’t like it. --How could you, why?” His voice dropped slightly and he found that the room was spinning.

Turpin turned to Beadle, “Leave us.” His voice was demanding and he sounded rather eager to be left alone.

Mr. Todd listened to the sound of the door being closed. Turpin then began to close in on Mr. Todd.

“You’re going through an effect of the drug. A with drawl. I promise it will be over soon.” He then crotched in front of the man.

Sweeney gave a small growl, as if afraid of the man, and his power that he held. But why shouldn’t he fear him? Turpin had drugged him. There wasn’t anything worse this man could do.

“Do you know why I did it, Sweeney?” Turpin asked, his voice was smooth and he seemed to be trying to edge his way ever closer to Sweeney, without moving.

Mr. Todd watched him though, and kept his eyes on him. He made sure the man stayed where he should have.

Turpin gave him a small smile. It seemed to be coated in something. “I think I love you Mr. Todd. I told you this.” His face drew near the now slinked over body. The motion was calm though, so there seemed to be no threat. “You know, I’ve loved, or at least liked you for a while now.” Turpin said.

Sweeney gave a small shudder as he thought about the other day. The man in front of him had said the same thing as well. He could feel the shivers grow as if he knew what they were going to talk about next.

“Remember when, you know, before your daughter was born, and we had met?” Turpin’s head tilted slightly and there was s light wispy look in his eyes.

Sweeney thought back. That day, it had been long ago, and it had been the first half of the year he had met his future wife. They had chose to go to the Judge’s Banquet feast and Mr. Todd had wanted to go because he figured it would be a rather lovely time. His girlfriend had been the one invited.

When Mr. Todd had gotten to the feast, he and his future wife dressed in the best they had, they found glorious mountains of food from slaughtered animals, as well as golden angels there.

That was the feast room. Mr. Todd had seen the few people sitting at the table, eating food and feasting on as much food as possible. The couple had figured that the people needed to eat as much food as possible before going back into the real world and starve to death. They had kept walking though, passing through till they entered the second main hall.

It was rather glorious. It was a rounded room with red velvet curtains hanging down from a rather large circle in the top of the ceiling. The ceiling that was a hole dipped up and was glass, it looked out at the world, and saw only stars.

There were also golden angels in this room, though some of them seemed more childish and winged then other. They had glorious detail to them as well as haloes made of perfectly crafted holly leaves and figs were draped around loosely to their bodies.

The boarder of the wall paintings was black, with what looked to be purple crawling up the sides in the most magnificent designs of thin lines with leaves, they entwined with the red-violet drapes that covered up the massive windows with gold tints.

In the center of the room there stood a thrown. It was black and red, and portrayed the emotions much like the person who sat on it.

Mr. Todd moved ever slowly toward the chair. His body slowly moving around the few people who chose to dance rather than feed their faces.

He felt eyes on him in a heart beat and he moved away to his left. They were gone, but then on him again as people danced around him in different directions.

Mr. Todd felt his face grow warm where there were those eyes, who was looking at him so intently?

Then, there was a hand on his shoulder, and he moved around. His girlfriend.

She stood there, watching him, as if half amazed by how he had gotten so disheveled looking. She smiled gently though, as if shaking the thought from her head, “Come, meet the man who has invited us to his wonderful party.” She had then tightened her grip on him, and led him over to where the throne was.

The eyes still burned Mr. Todd, but he could not tell where they had been coming from. “Good evening, thank you so much for having my lovely-”

“Please, it is a pleasure all mine…” Turpin said, bowing his head and shoulders slightly and then smiling. He never closed his eyes though. Perhaps he had the fear that the people before him would disappear.

Mr. Todd then bowed, being dragged down with his girlfriend and seeing that she was doing it for respect.

“Please, stay a while…” Judge Turpin had said, his voice dark.

Mr. Todd had never thought about it at the time. Turpin probably had developed a more then like like feeling for the man.

Now, at the moment Sweeney let his head tilt down, “I re-mem…be..er..”

Turpin gave a small growl, “You don’t sound that happy to have been there.”

“You…Fell in love with…Me, or…My wife?” Sweeney asked, his voice rasping through.

Turpin suddenly leaned back.
“Why…” Then he went silent. He laughed a little then smirked, “Liked both of you, but I do think that you were the one to catch the core of my eye…Mr. Todd.” Turpin tried to say as smoothly as possible.

It wasn’t working though because a second later, Sweeney was glaring at him, “It was cheap lust!” His voice broke, but kept it’s deep emotion of anger. “It still is.”

Turpin looked at him, his eyes glazing over, “I am not sure how you can so easily just turn me away like this…” He then looked out on of the barred windows, “What would your sweet, sweet little angel daughter say?” He then began to walk toward the door.

“She’s still here?” His throat began to throb though, pain welling up in it because of the talking.

“Yes, though I suppose I really have no use of keeping her any more…” Turpin shifted away again and then looked over at Sweeney. “I won’t hurt her…”

Sweeney kept an even gaze with him, “It’s the fact that you have her Judge. My th--” His voice gave way to a cough. He took a swallow of spite and then said, “My thought is that you will hold her against,” He took a staggered breath, “me or do bad to her against her will. A young girl like that-- it’s not right!”

Turpin moved a little, his shoulders showing Sweeney a little sign of power. “That is exactly what I want to use her for.” He smiled down.

Sweeney began to pick him self up off of the ground, “Let her go.”

“I don’t think you understand how much I love you, Mr. Todd. I’m willing to use ANYTHING to keep you here.” Turpin took a step closer and brushed a hand through Mr. Todd’s hair, “You’ll see…”

Mr. Todd didn’t attempt to move away. He didn’t want to show the other man any fear.
“I think that when you understand that day, you’ll come to realize that you’re more in love with me then you think.” He smiled to the other man.

Sweeney then watched as he turned and walked out the door. The door slamming and then locking behind Turpin.

End of chapter 2. Yeah, sorry this took so long. I have been a little busier then I would like to be lately. Well anyway, I hope to get more involved with this. Oh, and I would like to throw out warnings now, before a lot of you get too involved with this. Warning: I WILL be bringing Anthony, though Mr. Todd may be a little more involved. If you have problems with it now, I would tell me ahead of time, I want to know who to yell at now. Anyway, there will also be a little mixed emotions, oh yeah, and YOU, as the reader, will get confused, you HAVE to pay close attention, I know, by telling you this now, I’m giving it away. But yeah, I’m not going to have you all come up to me later going: Why is it so confusing? In the next chapter, heads up, Mr. Todd maybe getting more of the drug and his fix is coming up, oh, and I think he gets to see his daughter? I don’t know yet. I don’t even have it written. I wanted to post this today because, well, there was a death today, and this is in dedication of them.

6:01pm 3/ 4/ 08

-D.D.Darkwriter

-May you fly, even if the ground holds you down, I hold your Soul. Living is only a dream any waY.

-sleep tight death at: 4:23PM

-Going into the shadows, they all say their farewells. I wanted to so many times, but gone is what the lonely say, when we all die in vain.