Hello again everyone! Thank you for those who have read this story thus far; I appreciate it so much!


The rain came again in the morning. Jamie lay in bed, hoping that the pelting on the window would lull her back to sleep. She had no such luck, though, and would just have to deal with only getting three hours of rest. Kicking off her blankets, her day began.

After rummaging through unpacked boxes, she found an umbrella. Bella, suffering from jetlag, was still snoring loudly as Jamie left.

There was hardly anyone out and about, either at work or at school, which was a relief to Jamie. She preferred the quiet streets, especially in the morning. Armed with a ten pound note (which she would pay back later), Jamie found her way back to Fleet Street, getting lost only twice.

She stood outside the café, about to walk inside when her legs turned to stone and refused to move. A chill slid down her spine like ice cold slime, and she turned her head to look down the street.

The abandoned shop was staring at her. From where she stood, Jamie could see the sign that read "Mrs. Lovett's" which was now faded with age. Jamie brought her hand to the key that hung around her neck, squeezing the metal for comfort.

"The saying goes 'you'll catch your death out there,'" said the man as he held the door open to the café for Jamie. "Of course," he continued as Jamie walked inside, "I never believed that. Not nowadays. Ever heard recent stories of people dying from rain?"

"Can't say that I have."

"Precisely! Now, lass, what'll it be this morning? Tea, again?"

"Coffee this time, please. And here's for yesterday," Jamie said as she handed over the ten pound note.

After she was given change, Jamie wandered to the bookstore portion of the café, scanning titles like she did before. She took a Daphne Du Maurier book off a shelf as the man asked her, "So, what else did you learn about our local legend?"

"What do you mean?"

"You haven't slept a wink, it's as plain as day," the man said, setting a large mug of coffee on the counter. "Curious girl like you wouldn't just stare at the ceiling for hours. So, what else did you find out about the demon barber?"

"Not as much as I'd like," Jamie admitted as she took the coffee. "It's mostly just stories and theories and stuff. Like that nowadays he's just a boogeyman. There's like, almost no actual history." It was weird, and frustrating. "Is this the kind of thing where I'm gonna have to, like, go around and interview people to find anything out?"

The man chuckled, shaking his head. "It isn't quite that simple. I wish it were; it would certainly be nice to know what actually happened. But I'm afraid, no one knows for sure. The only thing everyone can confirm is that he was a murderer and the victims were baked into pies."

"And that he was found in the bake house with a bunch of dead bodies and Mrs. Lovett was missing," Jamie reminded him.

"Yes, and that."

Jamie tilted her head to the side. "I read a theory that she was the one who killed him and ran away. Changed her name and everything to avoid getting caught."

"Do you believe that?"

She wandered over to one of the windows, watching raindrops slide down the glass like tears. "No," she answered. In truth, she didn't know what to think. Everyone had too many opinions, and there wasn't enough evidence to support anything that wasn't already obvious.

Jamie took a large sip of her coffee, letting it burn her tongue. It was strong and gave her senses the wake-up call that they needed. As she continued to stare out of the window, she said, "It's a downright shame."

"Why do you say that?"

"People were murdered and now they're forgotten about... a chunk of history is missing." It was both sad and fascinating to Jamie. She wanted to know what happened. How many people were killed? Who killed Sweeney Todd? And what the hell happened to Mrs. Lovett? She found it hard to believe that no one tried solving this case before. It was fascinating; how did it remain a mystery for so long?

Jamie started getting so lost in her own thoughts that she nearly forgot the man was still there. She smiled apologetically, and took another sip of her coffee. It cooled down considerably and was deliciously bitter. "Does everyone really believe that it's haunted? No skeptics have tried breaking in or anything?"

"Oh I'm sure there have been attempts," said the man. "But no one ever lasts long in there if they dare go in. Something about that place… it unsettles even the most iron-willed."

"Sounds like a challenge."

"No," the man said quickly, his tone suddenly harsh. "Those who try and go in are idiots of the highest degree, and you'd be a damn fool for following in their footsteps."

Jamie nearly dropped the mug, taken aback by the change in the man's demeanor, her eyebrows raised high. She almost told him that she had already gone in, but felt that doing so would be stupid. He was upset by the thought of her going to the pie shop.

There was a long pause, and then Jamie asked: "Do you know something?" Her words were soft as uneasiness settled into her chest. She began to worry. She had already been inside; was something going to happen to her?

The man, still looking grim, shook his head. "I just know what kind of trouble stupidity can cause."

Jamie didn't completely believe him. However, she didn't press any further. It wasn't worth an argument. She finished off the coffee and placed the now empty mug on the counter. "Thanks for the coffee," she said, licking her lips.

"Any time, lass. And be sure to keep out of trouble."

"Will do, sir."

The man smiled, and Jamie noticed that it wasn't friendly. There was an element of forcefulness that left her feeling uncertain. "I haven't introduced myself yet, have I? Algernon Woods."

"That's quite the name," Jamie remarked, her uneasiness melting away as his smile became genuine once more.

"Aye, and one to be proud of. Have a nice day then, Jamie Todd."

"Will do, Algernon Woods."

She then left, feeling both relieved and very strange. The interaction didn't go as she expected, his sudden change in attitude having struck her as unnerving.

Jamie looked down the street, her eyes landing on "Mrs. Lovett's." Again, it was like a Jamie Magnet had been turned up to maximum strength. She wanted to resist. A big part of her wanted to heed Algernon Woods' warning and not going in. How could she obey, though, when the shop was begging her to come over? It was holding a mystery, and it was desperate for someone to pay attention.

"This is insane," Jamie muttered as her feet began carrying her towards the shop.

She stopped right in front of the door, her heart thudding in her chest from excitement and a sense of danger. She was being stupid. She needed to turn around and go back to the apartment. Bella was probably awake now and wondering where the hell she was. She needed to go back.

Yet, her feet refused to move. She needed to be somewhere, and it wasn't the apartment. It was here.

Swallowing her nervous energy, Jamie walked into the pie shop once again.