Esteemed Malevolence

IX: The Replacement

The sky was a pale grey-ish blue, and devoid of any clouds. That however, didn't stop the fact that the air was bitterly cold and suddenly Eleanor was thankful she had worn her coat. She found that the smile didn't leave her lips even as she began to walk from her shop, even when she glanced back to the barber's window - although something tugged at her to go back, to not even meet the man at all.

She ignored it.

Lost in her unusual regret and excitement, she failed to notice that someone was tailing her. Their eyes were glued to her as she smiled to herself, wandering in the direction of St Dunstan's market, swinging her hips as she went.

Her skirts skimmed across the cobbles with each step she took, her hands rubbing together for warmth. Her eyes were bright and alert, and she made sure to wave or smile at any customers she recognised along the way - she had to keep up appearances, even when she wasn't working. She had her hopes up about the day ahead - she sensed that something unexpected was going to happen, then again maybe that was because felt overly confident about herself. She wasn't so sure.

It wasn't long until Mrs Lovett reached her destination. She decided that she'd lie low in a nearby alley until Adrian arrived, she was probably a bit early - not that she minded waiting.

Her mysterious follower paused a few metres away, mixing in with the sea of people going about their Sunday business. The stalker watched in silent intrigue as she unbuttoned her jacket then adjusted the neckline of her dress, only revealing more of her cleavage - she was going to impress somebody, whether that was what she intended to do or not. She turned away from the stranger, taking a few more cautious steps into the alley so that she was under a hood of shadows - weirdly, she seemed more at ease now she was in the darkness. She stood with her hands crossed over her stomach, looking down at the stream of water flowing down the side of the cobbles below her feet.

She bit her lip with anticipation, maybe even worry - she wasn't even sure if Adrian would ever turn up. Even though he'd seemed more than keen the night before.

As Mrs Lovett was apparently distracted by trying to look like she didn't mind waiting at all, the stranger took the opportunity to emerge from the mass of busy Londoners and ducked down towards the alleyway she waited in. Their harsh pants were silent but visible due to the crisp temperature, their hands balled by their sides as they gradually advanced towards the expectant baker. Their stealth was successful since Eleanor still had no clue they were there, she resumed staring down at the trickling water like it was extremely fascinating. She let out a heavy breath, the air she pushed out of her mouth visibly white even in the shadows.

The stranger paused, weighing up what they actually intended to do. They weren't sure why they had decided on following Mrs Lovett, yet there was no time for regrets now - they were there now, whether they liked it or not. There had been too much planning for them to turn back now.

They crept closer to the oblivious woman, polished leather shoes squeaking ever so slightly with each footstep they took.

She lifted her head up, causing them to freeze.

Luckily she had her back to them, so they just carried on.

They didn't stop nearing her until they stood a few inches behind her, looming over her like some sort of sinister cloaked wraith. They let out an exasperated sigh, the hot breath coating the back of her neck.

She frowned at the sensation and itched the spot where she'd felt the air hit her, but thought nothing more of it - she decided it was just her jittery imagination now that she'd been waiting for quite some time.

The stranger glared at her, one arm extending out in order for pale fingertips to grasp her.

She let out a harsh inhale at the contact of a frosty hand on her shoulder. Her eyes were as big as saucers as another arm reached around her other side, coiling around the top of her waist and the bottom of her rib-cage.