The Burning of Pain

Disclaimer: I don’t own Sweeney Todd. Sorry. It just happens.

Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. I’m really sorry. I don’t mean to just give this up. That is NOT what I am doing, though it may seem that way. I just figured that I could put this off sense I have a lot of other work to do as well. Yeah, I have a life. Anyway, it doesn’t make it better that I have no beta…So, any mistakes that are made, are mine. And if you want, I made them on purpose. So any thing you see that it wrong, I already know…I did it on purpose. Haha. Enjoy!

Chapter four: When the body drains…

“What are you doing here…boy.” Mr. Todd said, even though he couldn’t help but smile just a little inside. There was still a very visible wave a shock though, and it seemed to seep out from every angle, which Anthony seemed to pick up on with a quick pace.

“Mr. Todd…Are you okay?” He asked. He moved forward, as if to touch Mr. Todd.

The man, out of a sort of habit, now moved back. He had not realized that he had made the action until poor Anthony was standing in front of him, with an outstretched hand, and pausing. His face grew grim.

“Mr. Todd…What has happened to you?” Then, as if he suddenly realized something, he began to reach forward again, grabbing a hold of Mr. Todd’s arm, and pulling him forward.

Mr. Todd felt the tug and followed the boy. Surly there could really be nothing worse then this? He moved out into the hallway, seeing the true hell that he had been in.

The hall was a long one, and it curved off to one end to the left of him. The dark hallway that it extended to was probably to a staircase that would then lead up into the Judge’s home. On his right though, there was a series of other chambers, much like his own. At the end of the right hallway, there was a lone door. It must have been a fire escape…

Anthony moved forward, and then gently pulled on Mr. Todd’s arm. The man obediently followed him, as if he were trained to obey now.

As they walked down that dank hall, the walls had been seeping some sort of dark liquid that smelled rather disgusting. It was sickening really, and Mr. Todd’s stomach turned at the thought of Turpin keeping him down here, with the mold that was growing off of the floor like wild flowers.

The hall was lit by lone torches, and they burned with a dimness that sort of made everything around them sad, as if they had been forgotten, left behind.

Mr. Todd tried to look into the other cells, hidden behind metal doors, with a small window to peek into. They were empty. Or at least the ones that he had time to gaze into really quickly.

Anthony pushed open the door, and then looked around. It seemed to be alright because Mr. Todd was soon pulled out into the open.

When a person has been stuck in a tunnel, or cave, even for a long time, they tend to erase some memories of what they use to know. In Mr. Todd’s case, he fell to the ground, and covered his eyes. He seemed to have forgotten what the real sun’s power could do to a man who has been stuck in a very, very dark place. The smell was so fresh though, and the breeze that was currently sailing seemed to sting at him. It was covering his body, as if searching his body for an entrance. It found it’s way into him from his mouth, as well as those eyes as he drew them up to look around.

It was so lovely. He began to tear up. It wasn’t because he was happy though, it was because his wide eyes were not use to it yet, and with the wind drilling into him, he was overcome by this old, new thing.

Mr. Todd wished desperately to lay there, all day. He wanted to just look out over the streets of London. He had never thought that he would be so happy to see this town he referred to as ‘shit’. It was lovely now.

Anthony pulled him up, “Come Mr. Todd! We have to go NOW!” He dragged the man to a crocked fence, where the boy had broken in at. They both squeezed through the rusted bars and began to head down an alley way.

They only stopped when they reached the alley that was right across from Mrs. Lovett’s restaurant.

“Here…” He said as he handed Mr. Todd his jacket.

Mr. Todd took it, “Thank you…” He looked away as he put it on, as if a little saddened by the state of his own condition.

Anthony’s eyes were on him…Looking for any trace of pain on the outside. It was easy enough to tell that the man had been through hell, but to be torn up on the outside and inside…

“Let’s go…” Mr. Todd’s voice was firm, and he began to head across the street.

Mrs. Lovett was inside of her store, Toby was sitting at a table, and he was rolling some dough out for the nice lady.

As the two men entered, the boy and Mrs. Lovett looked up. Both seemed to be stunned by this sight. No one said anything for a little while, then, Mrs. Lovett moved with the grace and speed of a jaguar as she moved to race to the broken man’s side.

“Oh! My God Mr. Todd! Heaven’s knows that I was thinking about you…Where on earth have you been? Why haven’t you shown around here?” She was then silenced by the man.

Mr. Todd looked at her, “Turpin…He has Johanna.” He looked at her.

She seemed a little taken back, then as if she remembered suddenly, “Oh! Your…” She silenced herself as she looked at the man.

The man was giving her an odd look, then his eyes shifted over to Anthony as if to tell her to shut up. He then whispered out, “Yes…” As if to tell her that her words were right, as well as her thoughts.

She was silent, and then looked at them all, “Why don’t you all have a little bite to eat?”

Mr. Todd wished to say no. For some reason, he couldn’t bear the thought of eating that shit she called food.

Something seemed a little wrong though anyway. Going past the thought of Mrs. Lovett, and her disgusting obsession with him, he didn’t really care about her, or what she did in her spare time. There was also the fact that she was sicker then he was. For the love of God, she ATE people…

“No Mrs. Lovett.” He said, and then began to walk away. He soon realized that Anthony was standing away, as if he didn’t know if he should follow the man or not.

Mr. Todd grew a little more gentle, “Come Anthony. I have to talk to you.” He then began to walk out the door again, and headed up to the small apartment that he also used as his work area.

The door was gently closed behind him, this was how he knew that Anthony was now in the room with him, but the boy stayed silent, as if he were afraid of the other.

Mr. Todd leaned against the wall, looking around. He looked at the barber’s stand, and looked at it. The last time he was here, Turpin was ravaging him. This made him feel sick. His head began to spin slightly as he also realized that his tools were missing. ‘Turpin took my knives…’ He thought.

It began to throb in his head suddenly. His friends were gone, forever to be with Turpin. His head was like a thunderstorm. He couldn’t take it, and suddenly became flustered. He dropped to the ground, and then began to scrunch up, as if it would save him from the cruel reality.

He felt a warm hand on his back, “Mr. Todd…” It was Anthony, his voice so gentle. Mr. Todd could even feel that gaze on his body, as if it were gently trying to massage that image into his head.

Hot tears began to squeeze their way out. It was as if everything that had happened over the last few days, was now hitting him.

It was a hard hit too. A type that someone could suffer death under. It was a truth about life, and how it sometimes was so horrible, yet through that terror, betrayal, and pain, came realization. The type of realization that one would be struck hard with, perhaps like a metal bat being slammed against the temple, and then only ended in a coma, from there, death. It was that sort of brutal realization of truth, that Mr. Todd was now going through.

His cry began to choke him, and he coughed in response. His eyes shut, as if to try to wake up to a different world, A new real life. Though all he got was a painful mind, the effect of being under such stress as well as closing his eyes that hard.

“Mr. Todd…” Came that calm and gentle tone.

Even though he was crying in front of him, the younger boy stayed calm, and soothing.

“Leave me boy. Can’t you see I’m weak, pathetic.” He gave a slam of his fist as he thought of Johanna. “I’m so, so weak.” His voice was low and he seemed to be about to cry again. His eyes were adverted, as if to tell the other that he was too pathetic to even gaze at him.

Anthony stood, and looked down, his voice seemed to be melodic, “Stand tall, Mr. Todd. I’ve never seen you shake, Mr. Todd. I’m sad, by this state- Mr. Todd.”

As the broken man heard this, he stood up. His gaze met with Anthony’s as he watched the boy, slightly entranced by his voice.

“Mr. Todd, you’ve been hurt. I can see it in you’re eyes. Mr. Todd-, there’s- no reason to-be curt, you don’t have to tell me lies.” His voice was beautiful. It was so sweet.

Mr. Todd began to lean back, as if not sure if he should stay, or leave.

Anthony helped him though. He grabbed hold of Mr. Todd. His hands on either one of his shoulders, gently rubbing him. He took a breath and Mr. Todd could smell mints. It made him look at the other, full attention.

“Listen, you’re not with him anymore. You’re with me…Anthony!” His grip grew tighter.

Mr. Todd gave a frown, “You’re--” He was silenced by the lips of the other.

He was so sweet. It was pleasant. He allowed the boy to push his lips apart. He then decided to take charge. His hands found a place on the other’s hips. He pressed his hands tightly, as if showing the other his grip. He even added his knee to the boy’s groin, and gently rubbed.

Mr. Todd needed to show the boy that he was getting himself into something more powerful then he expected. His violent streak even wanted to show up. He held it in though, there was something about Anthony that made him contain himself. He almost didn’t like that feeling.

Slowly, Mr. Todd entwined his tongue with the other’s, and then led it into his own mouth. He sucked on the organ.

Anthony’s groan caused him to smile as he looked at the other. The boy had his eyes closed.

Mr. Todd felt a hand, warm on his back, trying to feel it’s way up his shirt.

He reacted by moving back.

Anthony’s eyes widened, having shot open from the moment before. “Mr. Todd?” His voice was hitched slightly, as if he were stricken down.

Mr. Todd did not look at him, he simply looked away, removing saliva from his mouth. He knew this was wrong. He even felt bad. Even thought eh boy tasted good, and he longed to try more, this didn’t feel right. It was different then Turpin’s touch. It was, lacking.

“Leave.” Mr. Todd said.

“No! I-I like you Mr. Todd. Please…”

“Anthony! This will not go any further!” He yelled in response to the other. This went past being wrong. Mr. Todd even knew that Anthony would tire of him, also, there was Johanna to worry about.

“Why?” Anthony growled out. He seemed angry.

Mr. Todd turned to him, and waving his hand in the air, as if he still had the barber tools, brought it down in a rushed motion, “Johanna is my daughter!”

Anthony gazed at him, as if he were lying, the other man so close he could smell it, almost taste him.

“I- I’m sorry.” He said as he began to back away.

Mr. Todd smiled cynically at him, “Get out.” His voice was shallow, and it matched his dark eyes. “When Johanna comes back, love her…” He watched as the boy turned, and then stumbled out of the room.

Mr.Todd felt like crying once more. Even though Anthony was the better choice, Turpin knew what to give him. Mr. Todd couldn’t help but feel attracted to this. He knew, he could never escape him.

“Tomorrow…” He said, looking into his dust covered mirror, his eyes dark and cynical again, “I will save Johanna, and make sure Turpin cares the way he says he does!”


End of chapter 4. I already have the last chapter written out. Warning: Sometimes, life is not always the way that we want it to be. There are always choices that we might have to make to keep us going. Maybe we have to give up something very, very important to live a slightly better way? Anyway though, once in a while, we do get that nice feeling…maybe.

Finished: Saturday, Aug 2, 11:55 PM

-D.D.Darkwriter
We say sorry for the hell of love, but when it all comes down, is it love, or something worse in the end?