Sweeney Todd: Insanity Within

Insanity Within: Part 8

She stood frozen. Still as a statue. Her eyes didn't leave his, and his eyes didn't leave hers. Why would he want Mrs. Lovett to go with him? It was the question the baker kept asking herself.

"... You're not bein' serious are you?" Her voice was trembling as she tried to stand her ground.

"I am serious," he forced a smile.

"... I can't interfere with you and your Lucy. You two need to be with each other and-"

"Eleanor please," he quickly interrupted. "With the few days of being back home I've realized I need you. Lucy is my everything... but she doesn't understand what you do," he finally admitted it. He loved Lucy; seeing her face caressed by yellow hair made his day, but Mrs. Lovett knew how to catch him when he fell.

"But if I leave the law will for sure come after both of us. And what about Toby? I can't be unfair to the lad. After all you aren't his favorite person."

Todd scratched the back of his head as he thought. "Oh yea, the boy. Send 'em back to the workhouse," Todd mentioned.

"I could never, Mr. T. That be like killing your Johanna," she whispered.

Todd only frowned and looked to the floor. Mrs. Lovett did the same. Toby deserved the best and how could he with Todd around?

"Well," he broke the silence. "You just think about it. When the sun is completely gone... tell me your choice." He forced a smile and examined her face. Her pale face with big brown eyes surrounded by light makeup. Her lips traced in almost dark violet colored lipstick. To put in simple words: she was beautiful. And up until this point Todd had finally realized it.

"And don't stress yourself, my pet," he quickly added. "Just know the sun won't last in the sky forever." Todd himself didn't know what he was saying. He was sweet talking the witch. His mind was thinking different than what came out of his mouth. Just a few days ago he wanted to murder her and now he wants her by his side. Maybe he really was insane. Maybe he truly deserved to belong in the asylum. With the rambling, continuous thoughts racing through his mind, he quickly turned back and sat across from Lucy. He took her hands and thought deeply how he loved her. How he couldn't wait to arrive back home to see her and Johanna. The barber's wife. Beautiful. Virtuous.

Mrs. Lovett still couldn't believe what the barber had told her. Her thoughts were everywhere; heart was racing; breathing out of control. She knew she had to talk with Toby, but she was terrified by what he had to say. Toby was outside cleaning up tables from the early dinner rush. He never minded to clean; in fact he enjoyed it. The baker slipped out the door and her eyes drifted to the set of the stairs to her right, but then quickly eyed the young lad.

"Evening, mum," Toby smiled as he tossed the dirty wet rag around in his hands. "We didn't pull in as much money as usual, but it'll do."

"Well that's good," she forced a smile. She then took a seat at a table closest to the stairs. "Toby, take a seat for a second."

The boy ditched the rag on the table and took a seat across from Mrs. Lovett. He could tell in her tone of voice that it wasn't something good. Something that involved the demon barber.

"You alright, mum?" Toby questioned.

"I'm fine," she softly lied. "Now, Toby. What would ya say if I told ya Mr. T were to leave?"

"Leave as in leaving why the law, or running from the law?" Toby's hand gripped the edge of the table; terrified what her answer would be.

"... running from the law," she murmured.

"But he-"

"Toby, listen," she interrupted. "I understand he killed people. I'm fully aware of it, I always have been. And you gotta know Mr. T would never hurt you nor me." That was probably the third time she assured him of that, but she wasn't sure for herself. "Now, what would you say if Mr. T asked me to join him?"

Toby was speechless. Could his adoptive mother be that stupid? He only stared at her.

"Toby?"

The young lad slowly opened his mouth and words slowly poured. "... he asked you to go with him? It's a trick, mum! ...At least I think it is."

".... Ya know, maybe you and Mr. T need a chat. I won't let him harm you. He'll have ta get through me before he gets ta you." She wasn't sure if that was the best of plans. Todd merely hated the boy and boy truly hated Todd, but what other options did the baker have? She could either run away with the man of her dreams yet be a third wheel, or stay here in London with Toby. She knew she could no longer put off the sacrifice.

"Mum, I don't think that's a-"

"C'mon, love." She then yanked on his arm and raced inside the emporium and to the cellar. "Just stay close to me," she instructed.

Todd was resting against the cold, brick wall with his eyes shut, yet still awake. He heard footsteps coming down the stairs and his eyes slowly peeled open. Expecting to see only Mrs. Lovett, he saw her and Toby.

"The hell is he doing 'ere?" Todd asked in a dark, heavy voice. His hand gently brushed against the razor that sat to his side. Toby saw his actions and took a huge gulp.

"Mr. Todd, I figured you and Toby perhaps needed to talk. I mean, I can't make a fair decision without his input," she explained in an unsteady voice. It wasn't until know when she realized she was risking Toby's life.

"... Look, Eleanor. I asked you a simple question," Todd muttered as he staggered up to his feet; razor clutched tight in his hand.

"Ben," Lucy interrupted. "What question?"

Todd turned to Lucy and furrowed his brow. "I didn't tell you, did I?"

She shook her head.

'Dammit look what ya got yourself into. You're mixing up your thoughts. Asking Eleanor was a mistake-'

"Mr. Todd?" Mrs. Lovett's voice interrupted his thoughts. Todd turned his head and glared at the woman. That sharp bloodlust look in his eyes had returned. Everyone in the cellar could see it.

He said no words and marched to the stairs; rudely pushing Mrs. Lovett and Toby out of his way. He marched up the stairs and an open razor right in hand.

Mrs. Lovett turned a sickly pale; Lucy the same. None of them budged, not even a move of the eye.

The barber made his way up to his parlor with no concern of the law spying him. He forcefully pushed in the door; nearly coming off it's hinges. His mind was already broken, was it possible for it to break again? He closed the blade of the razor then quickly opened it back up; he did this repeatedly. His thoughts were all over the place; scrambling to every inch of his brain.

'I'm insane. That's it. Insane. No question about it. You might as well head back to the asylum.'

Todd glared at his reflection in the mirror. "Go back to the asylum. Ask them to lock you up." And with those few words he convinced himself. He took a seat at his desk and pulled in front of him a piece of paper and pen.

His hand was shaking which made his handwriting sloppy, but he could care less. The words danced across the white paper in black ink. Towards the bottom of the paper he signed his name. Once the letter was complete he left it lying on his barber chair, knowing Mrs. Lovett would be bound to come up to his parlor and find it. He kicked the stool from under his desk to the floor and marched out of his parlor.

The straight razor slipped from his hand and dropped to the floor as the barber marched down the stairs and vanished into the early night.

The letter read: To whoever the hell reads: I'm insane. There's not one bloody question about it. I've caused too much fucking damage in this world and it's about time I pay the price. To Lucy if you're reading. I'm sorry, I'm not going into details of what I'm sorry about, but I really am sorry for everything. Don't go looking for me, just don't. The world is better off without me. Keep care, my dear. Yours truly, Ben.