The Crow + Sweeney Todd

Paying a Visit

It was getting later in the night and Benjamin Barker and Mrs. Lovett were still walking about London.
As they walked in the dark city, the two conversed.
"You know you can head back to your home," Ben stated as he stuffed his hands in his pocket. "You'll catch a cold out here."
"I've been out in whether worse than this, I'll be fine," she argued.
"Well you're shivering, at least go home and warm up by the fire," he suggested; hoping she'd leave.
"I'm not shivering," she lied as her teeth chattered.
"I'd beg to differ," he chuckled. "I'm just saying I can do this alone. Besides, it's not like you wanna watch."
She was about to argue again until she realized he was right. She didn't want to witness murder. For all she knows, he could be so caught up in the moment and maybe kill her. She paused on the sidewalk and looked back behind her.
"You're probably right," she mumbled. "His house is just straight down," she added before turning around and walking back home.
"Wait," Ben called; seeing her sudden disappointment. "I'll be back. Just... go warm up."
She perked up a bit and continued back home.
Benjamin actual didn't know if he'd be back. He didn't know what to expect when he approached the house. How many people would be inside? Would the Judge even be home?
The crow, which was flying above Ben the entire walk, swooped down to his level and sat on a fence of a rather large house.
That was the Judge's house.
Benjamin smiled and picked up his pace. As he approached the house, a bad vibe came over him. That's when the realization hit. This is the very house where his beloved wife was raped. Her innocence snatched away unwillingly. With that in mind, the anger only built up in Ben and he was on the verge of exploding. His smile quickly vanished as he thought of sick ways to make this man suffer.
This monster destroyed his family; raped his wife; stole his daughter; and doesn't feel any mercy.
Benjamin was then facing the front door of the house. There were no lights on in the any of the windows; they must be asleep. Perfect.
Ben then found himself walking up the steps to the door. With each step he took, he caught a glimpse of Lucy doing the same years ago.
She was following Beadle Bamford, who was in on the Judge's perverted plan.
As expected, the door was locked. He then looked to his left and right.
Windows. Easily breakable.
He then eyed the fence he'd have to jump and measured it. No problem.
He approached the fence and placed his hands on the bars and began to pull himself up.
After getting over the fence he tried to look through the window. It was hard since there were curtains covering the inside.
Without a second thought, Ben violently punched the glass of the window which shattered. His knuckles were cut from the glass and blood began to trickle. That was until it immediately healed and his hand looked fine. With the shattered window, he was able to unlock the window to push it open. He pushed the curtains aside and found himself climbing into a library.
The room was dimly lit and vacant. Ben stood in the room and looked around his surroundings. The room was neatly cleaned except for an open book on a desk and cold cup of black coffee. Ben stepped over to the desk and peeked at the book. There his eyes were filled with a vulgar picture of bare woman with restraints around her wrists that were attached to a bed. Her face was pitiful as if it were asking to be out of it misery.
Benjamin began reading the text on the next page and it was more gruesome than the picture. Disgusting fornication that made Ben's face twist. He was repulsed. What sick bastard would read these and feel content with it?
He immediately slammed the book closed and some of the coffee spilt on the desk.
"He's a deviant bastard," Ben muttered under his breath and moved from the desk to the many shelves of books.
These books were just as filthy as the book on the desk. Ben didn't dare to touch one, but did scan over the titles on the spine of the books.
Geishas of Japan
Harlots of India
Concubines of Siam
The repulsing titles continued on and Ben couldn't look no more. This monster has a disgusting way of spending his free time.
Ben wanted to just throw all the books to the floor, but he didn't want to dare draw attention to him.
After getting the revolting vibe of the library, Benjamin decided to search the rest of the house.
He peeked his head out of the doorway to see a vacant corridor. He stepped inside and there across him was a staircase leading to the upper rooms. Ben looked up and down the corridor where one end led to the front door and the other end led to a back room and/or kitchen.
Ben softly walked to the back room where he was welcomed by a wooden door.
As he leaned his ear against the door to hear if anyone were inside, the crow had swooped inside the house and perched itself on the stair's railing. He let out a rather loud caw which caught Ben off guard and startled him.
Ben quickly turned around and snapped at the bird, "Shut up!" He exclaimed in a whisper. He then resumed to listening to what resides on the other side of the door.
"...You think she is old enough?" A voice started and another voice followed.
"Give her a few more years to mature," a second voice replied.
Both these voices were familiar in a horrid way.
Benjamin frowned and wanted to break the door down out of rage. He knew who they were speaking of. As furious as he was, he didn't want to give away his position. He wanted each man to be separated from the other.
"She's an innocent little thing, isn't she?" The first voice sneered. "I should tell her a bedtime story." After that, Ben heard footsteps and he immediately jumped from the door and flew up the staircase.
The back room's door open and out came two men. One tall and gray haired. The other short and plump with tangly blonde curls.
Both their eyes locked on the out-of-place crow sitting upon the railing.
"What the hell is that doing in here?" The tall one hissed.
"Must of flew when a door opened," the short one answered. "And correct me if I'm wrong, but you feel a bit of a draft?"
"I do," the other agreed. "You leave a window open?"
"I don't think so, I'll check the library."
The plump man then waddled into the library to discover broken glass below a window and a cup of coffee split onto the desk. He examined the window to find it shattered and opened. A forced entry.
"My lord, I believe someone's broken in!" He exclaimed and quickly pulled his cane out, other wise known as his weapon.
The gray haired man rushed inside the discover the mess.
"Johanna!" He exclaimed in fear this intruder is taking her.
Ben was standing in the single hallway of the second level where three rooms resided. One must be his daughter's if the information Mrs Lovett delivered is correct.
He heard the commotion downstairs and then coming to the conclusion that some broke in.
He quickly tested the door in front of him to find that it was locked. He tried the next door which finally opened and revealed a lavatory with a small window.
Upon hearing the rapid footsteps up the stairs, Ben decided to leap out of the window. He raised it up all the way it could go and before he could drop himself onto the pavement, Judge Turpin saw him.
He saw a dark silhouette of a man sitting in the windowsill about to jump. Ben raised a finger to his lips and frowned; seeing the very monster stood before him.
Before Judge Turpin could grab the dark figure, it leaped out of the window, hit the pavement, and darted down the street.
"Who the hell was that?"
~
Benjamin Barker sprinted down the many streets; not at all feeling the need to catch his breath.
He now knows the setup of the house; how many reside there; how to enter; how to exit. Ben even came to the conclusion that the locked room must be Johanna's.
Knowing that his own flesh and blood resided in that hell hole riled him. He now only wanted to make those two suffer. May they choke on their own blood.
Before returning to Fleet Street and explain to Mrs Lovett what he's bottled up, he fled to the cemetery.
Barely anyone was out in night. That or everyone just blended in with the shadows.
He entered the cemetery and remembered the path to Lucy's grave. He still found it hard to stomach that she was only six feet below him. Benjamin soon reached her tombstone and sat across from it. He hung his head and prepared his rant.
"She's in that house," he started in a mumble. "She, the one we made together. She's being tortured in there," he hissed. "I should've barged that door down and snatched her. What was I thinking?" He scorned himself and rested his head on the slab of cement.
"This would be easier if you were here... Still don't understand why you're not," he continued and kept rereading the tombstone.
"But I'll get Johanna," he spoke confidently. "I'll free her from that hell if it's the last thing I do. I'll kill both the judge and the Beadle, make those bastards pay. It's not fair those two still walk the earth without a punishment."
After he finished his sentence, he heard the familiar call of the bird. Ben turned around to see the crow sitting on the tombstone opposite from Lucy's. The bird then flew to entrance of the cemetery; sitting on the pointy gate.
"I guess I gotta go," Ben muttered softly. "I'll be back," he assured her and got to his feet.
~
Mrs. Lovett sat on the sofa in her parlor warming up by the fire and reading a novel. She didn't want to sleep until Benjamin returned like he said he would. She wanted to be sure he got home safely. With each hour that passed, she thought about leaving to track down the man, but figured he could be back at any moment.
Hiding her anxiety in her reading, she barely noticed the sound of heavy boots climbing the stairs outside. Hearing the loud thud, she tossed her book to the floor and rushed out the side door. Her gaze shot up to the stairs to find a man in all black advancing to the second level.
"Benjamin?" She called and approached the first step.
The man stopped walking and turned around.
Mrs. Lovett felt relieved when her eyes were met with Benjamin Barker.
"You sure took a while," she spoke. "I thought-"
"I was dead?" He slightly laughed. "You and I both know I can't. But I now have a plan to get them. Both of em." As he said that, a demented grin plastered on his face.
"You mean, you didn't do anything at the house?"
"Just got the lay out of the house. Johanna's room is on the second floor; the bastard keeps it locked. Do you know how fucking vile that man is? His library is abominable," he scoffed and leaned on the railing.
"I could've told ya that," she replied.
"So, what's the plan?" She asked; slightly interested.
Ben smirked and chuckled a bit to himself. "I'm just gonna say they'll see their last day tomorrow." He said that seriously and ominous.
Mrs Lovett went back a step at his tone. She could tell by his tone and expression, the judge and beadle's death weren't about to be pretty.
With that said, Benjamin continued his way upstairs and barricaded himself in his use-to-be home.
Mrs. Lovett retreated to her own part of the house and prepared for a good nights rest. She was still awestricken how Benjamin Barker rose from the dead and is living just above her.
~
Morning rose and Mrs. Lovett was preparing for work, not that'd she get much business. As she began washing dishes, she noticed outside was pouring rain. Thunder and followed the rain; giving a somber atmosphere. She enjoyed the rain; something about it was pleasing.
Benjamin never fell asleep that night and watched the rain being released from the clouds and hit the gloomy city. The rain reminded him of the night he rose from that sorry excuse for a grave. How the rain turned the dirt that covered him into slimy mud. Ben cringed at memory of that mud pile. He paced back and forth in front of the large slanted window; desiring nightfall.
His thoughts came to abrupt end with the door opened and small bell that stood on top rang.
Ben turned around to see Mrs. Lovett with a tray of food.
"Good morning," she smiled. "Still plotting and planning?" She smirked and sat the tray aside.
Ben nodded and ignored the food. He felt no desire to eat. All he desired was to bathe in the Judge's blood.
"Why didn't you stop the judge from taking her?" He suddenly asked and crossed his arms. His gaze was still out the window; seeing a faint reflection of himself and Mrs Lovett behind him.
"I told you... I can't fight against a man of his power. You saw what he did to you," she argued; a little irritated by his question. "He would've taken me to Bedlam against my will. Ship me to Australia like yourself. Maybe even hang me at the gallows."
"So he just came... and took her," he hissed and paced from the large window to the small side window.
"I tried to keep her; tried to explain I could care for her. But it's bloody fuck Turpin. You know how he is. He doesn't care about anyone but himself. Everyone else is lower than he is."
"She was only one year old," he replied in a very soft voice as if he were talking to himself. "She doesn't remember me. Doesn't remember the better life she had. She's brainwashed by that bastard!" His voice grew louder in rage. He then stomped from the side window the dusted mirror that was isolated in a corner. He didn't hesitate to throw a fist at the mirror and it shatter.
Mrs. Lovett jumped by the sudden sound and rushed to his aid.
"I'm sorry he took her," she sighed. "But you're going to put everything back in their proper place, right?"
He then clutched his throbbing hand which was now healing.
"Hope so," he muttered and stepped away from her. He turned to the large window and saw Mrs. Lovett's reflection. He then realized she's a key role in his effort to avenge his shattered life.
"Mrs. Lovett," he quickly stated and turned on his heel to face her. She stepped back from being startled and looked at his expression change. He wasn't the slightest mad, but now had a bright face.
"I'll need you to accompanied me tonight," he spoke with bright eyes.
She wore an expression of confusion and cocked her head like a dog.
"I need someone to take Johanna. The first thing I want is her out of that house," he stated and crossed his arms. "...You don't mind that... do you?"
"I'd be honored to be help you," Mrs. Lovett grinned and blushed a little. It always put a smile on her face when she was needed and included.
"Perfect," Ben whispered as his plan developed. "She'll be out that vulture's house and safe here. But what will she say to a stranger carrying her away from the one place she grew up?"
"I'm sure she'll be ecstatic to that leave that place and won't even question it," Mrs. Lovett assured him as she watched him sink into a dusty chair and hold his head in his hands.
"I can't wait any longer," he hissed and jumped from the chair. "I want Johanna out of there now. Throw a coat on and meet me at the end of the street," he ordered and without a second to spare he was out the door.
Mrs. Lovett stood there alone in the old shop trying to recollect what just happened. It was when it thundered that made her snap back to reality and race down the stairs to fetch a coat.
Ben soon reached the end of the street and stood below an awning in attempt to keep dry. He looked down the street in the direction the bakery was and soon saw a small figure dashing through the rain.
The closer the figure got, he could make out Eleanor Lovett; her auburn curls now drooping and soaked in the rain. She quickly got under the awning and shook her head similar to a dog.
"You couldn't of waited for the rain to stop?" She scowled and wiped away her smearing eye makeup.
"A little rain's not gonna kill you," he replied and looked down another street. "Besides, we're a little closer to the judge's house now."
"A little closer? We still have blocks!" She exclaimed and almost slapped him on the side of his side.
"Don't be a wuss," he remarked. "C'mon!"
And with that, the two raced down the flooded streets of London on a mission to free baby Johanna.
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Author's Note:
Well, another chapter. Nothing much. But the next will be action filled and confrontation with Judge Turpin!
And out of curiosity, would any of you like if I rewrote Sweeney Todd: Insanity Within. When I go back and reread it, I just cringe and laugh at the horrible writing and god awful story line. So I might rewrite it. I'll leave the original on here, but I just thought to write another story with the same concept of him going to Fogg's Asylum.
Anyways, thank you very much for reading and I'll see you in the next chapter!