Without You, There is No Point in Surviving

Chapter 10 Fever Dream

"There's a lovely inn up ahead that you could stay at." The doctor tells Sweeney. "It'll be awhile before she's recovered. She's in no condition to travel right now."
Still stroking Nellie's hand, Sweeney nods solemnly. Leaving her behind didn't feel right, but it must be done. Poor thing needs rest, desperately. He stood up, with one last glance at his baker, and left the doctor's.
It was still dark out. Around midnight. A few people still lingered on the dirt streets. He saw his new friend, Charles up ahead by the stables. Sweeney thought about going to say hello. Perhaps he knows a good place to get food and supplies. Charles was looking around nervously. Sweeney froze and ducked into an alleyway has Charles waved over a couple police officers.
Sweeney strained his ears, listening to what they were saying.
"....I didn't notice him at first, but I'm sure its him." Charles was saying pointing to something posted on a brick wall. Sweeney peered around the corner to look at the wall. His eyes widened in horror at the wanted poster with Sweeney Todd on it. "He said he's name was Benjamin." Charles went on. "He seemed so nice."
"Benjamin Barker?" one of the officers said. "Wasn't that the name in the report?"
"Are you certain it was him, lad?" the other officer spoke.
Charles stared at the wanted poster's description. "Black hair with a white streak." He read. "That was him."
Sweeney had heard enough. He fled the scene, finding an old hat left out on a table of one of the shops, he placed it on his head and headed back towards the doctor's. They had to flee this town already.
He was always good at paying attention to his surroundings. Being in prison and being on the run had taught him that. He remembered that the room Nellie is in is on the back right side of the building. A window, wide enough for a body to fit through on the wall. It was a bit high up however. He got lucky and found a crate to step onto from behind the clinic. He looked inside the window and his heart melted. Nellie was lying on her back, her head turned to the right, hand resting over her chest. She looked so at peace and comfortable. He hated having to do this. She needed the rest. Again, what choice did he have here? Even if he could manage to hide in this town from the law. They'd drop by the clinic to question Nellie. No, as much as it pained him to move her, they needed to get out.
He found a heavy, blunt object on the ground and smashed the window.
Nellie eye shot open and she jolted into a sitting position from the sound of shattering glass.
"Shhhhh, its just me." Sweeney said walking over to her. He grabbed the chair in the corner, sticking it under the door handle.
"What's going on?" Nellie asked, clutching her side, wincing.
"I'm sorry pet, but we need to leave. Now." he urged. He helped her onto her feet. She was weak but managed to limp to the window. He pulled the other chair over and helped her climb up. Gritting her teeth through the pain and dizziness, she landed on the ground with a yelp and remained sitting in the dirt. Sweeney stepped onto the chair when something caught his eye. Bottles of medicine on the table by Nellie's bed. He grabbed them, pain medicine and something for sleep, perfect.
The door lurched and the doctor and nurses could be heard on the other side. "What's going on in there? Open this door!" By the time they forced it open, not a soul was in the room.
"Mrs. Lovett?" Sweeney shakes her gently to get her onto her feet. Her head was slouched over her shoulder. It was no use, she's too exhausted. He placed their bag across her chest and lifted her onto his back, running off through the dark streets.
He stopped at the stables and grabbed the wanted poster off the wall. The two officers and Charles were no longer there. Shouting behind him made Sweeney turn around. The doctor was yelling and pointing in their direction. He then spotted the officers and Charles up ahead looking their way. Sweeney panicked and grabbed Charles horse from the stables. He pushed Nellie onto it and climbed up himself.
"Oi! Stop!"
They were too late. Nellie and Sweeney were riding off into the night.
"My horse!" Charles moaned.
***
Sweeney continued riding for the next hours. He was exhausted, Nellie unconscious, and the horse was tired from running, but Sweeney kept pushing forward, wanting to put as much distance from them and the town as possible. Eventually it started raining and the horse was neighing and bucking, it had enough of its new owners and Sweeney slowed their gallop down to a trot as Nellie and him became soaked with the rain. They were back in an empty field, thick pine trees scattered here and there. A rundown looking cabin was up ahead, hidden by the trees. He wasn't fond of stopping at another abandoned cottage but it'll have to do. At least it was most certainly abandoned. There was a gaping hole in the ceiling and a huge chunk of the left wall was missing.
He hopped off the horse, helping Nellie down and setting her under their new found shelter. He tied the horse to a pillar outside, the horse's head protected from the rain. The horse neighed at them for finally stopping and began eating the grass around him. Sweeney opened their bag and dropped an apple in front of him, which he happily munched on. Sweeney turned his attention to his asleep, injured baker. There was no telling how long they would have to stay here in the tattered cabin, but it'd have to do for now. As long as they remained undetected.
Sweeney dug the two blankets out of the bag and spread one on a dry spot of their temporary shelter. He rested Nellie on top and covered her with the other blanket and used their bag as a pillow for her. Sweeney stared at the wanted poster, while Nellie rested.