Dead Shattered Hearts {Sweeney Todd Fanfiction}

Vincent's Testimony

Sweeney Todd could feel the weight of death over life on his shoulders. He knew this would all be over soon, but in a bad way. He was fully convinced this was his last to be here in this world.
He was now seated once again in the witness box. His eyes looked out and around the room. His eyes caught Lovett who nodded at him with a small smile. He nodded back and began to fiddle around with the handcuffs to keep him occupied.
Then Vincent started his questions nice and easy unlike Manson.
"How would you explain your first few days here in the After World?" He asked.
Todd was comfortable answering Vincent; it was just like his sessions. He leaned back in his chair at ease and simply answered.
"It was chaotic," Todd said as his eyes still observed the courtroom. "I mean, what's it suppose to be like? You suddenly get the news that you're dead and all hell thats in your mind is unleashed."
Vincent smiled; seeing the relaxation and tranquility in Todd. "Excellent," he commented and walked to the other side of the floor. "So we have already set the facts of Edward Travis being in charge of you and prescribing the antidepressants in which you did overdose on one occasion. That's about the time when I stepped in, would you agree?"
"Yea," he answered and nodded simultaneously.
"Yes, so our sessions began and how would you describe them?" Vincent asked as he thought back on the very first session. How unsure he was.
"I dunno," Todd mumbled. "For the first part I'll be honest and say I thought they were useless. But looking back at em I see they were helpful." He was mostly referring to the fact that if Vincent didn't pull some strings, he and Lovett would still be in a feud.
"Helpful, you say? In what way?"
"You know," Todd started while looking over at Lovett and grinned. "If you didn't play Cupid the way you did, she would be on the opposing side in this case."
"Identify she," the judge interjected.
"Eleanor," he answered. "She was in the witness box few minutes ago."
The judge nodded and proceeded to listen.
"So with sessions almost every morning, you did what in your spare time?"
"Jail time," Todd laughed to himself. "But I was just being stupid doing that."
"Who were the people you were around in your spare time?"
"That little rugrat of a thing, Thomas," Todd grinned and thought back of the scamp whom he befriended. He was like some joyous sidekick. "And every now and then, Eleanor. But that was when we merely hated each others' guts," he joked bluntly.
"How would you explain the feud between you two? If there were problems then, but not now, where did they go?"
"...They just vanished," Todd answered hesitantly. "All of those complications just disintegrated right after I..." He then stopped mid-sentence and looked down.
"Right after what?" Vincent asked; though already knowing the answer.
Todd didn't know whether to say it or not. If he said it, the jury would label him mad and be sure he was put away.
"...Set myself on fire," Todd mumbled under his breath. He kept his eyes lowered; trying hard not to remember the pathetic stunt he pulled.
"And why did you?"
Todd shrugged his shoulders. He tried his best to keep that memory a blur, but it wasn't easy to do so.
"You do know, just tell me, pretend this is all another session. Just you and me."
That was almost impossible to do with all the beady eyes glaring at him. He took a deep breath and imagined lying on that soft sofa in Vincent's office. He imagined Vincent swaying that pocket watch of his back and forth.
"To get a feel of what I put her through..." He answered shyly. "Hell was I wrong to ever do that to her. And here she is, still forgiving me and not holding a grudge. I don't know how she does it, but she does it."
Lovett blushed and sunk in her seat. Surely, she thought, the jury would have a heart and let him free.
"So you set yourself on fire in an act of getting even, after being hospitalized, the rod between you two was spared, correct?"
"I guess so."
"Just after the incident, your plan of leaving this world was no longer wanted?"
"Yea. I mean, why would I wanna when things here are turning out alright."
"You see?" He then faced the jury. "Things in his perspective are turning out alright."
"Explain the schizoaffective? That's sure not turning out alright," Manson exclaimed with a smug look.
"I'm getting there, Mr. Manson, hold your horses," Vincent scowled and got back to where he left off.
"So days pass and it's just you and Lovett, everything's calm, then the boy goes missing. Thomas, correct?"
Todd nodded. He missed the little scamp; his little smile and devious actions.
"Now, before Thomas had fled to the fourth level and into the World of the Living, you had a small visit, correct?"
"Yea," he answered in a mumble. He loathed going back there. He couldn't help but imagine how far the world has carried on. What did London look like now? What year was it? His rambling thoughts were suddenly interrupted when Vincent threw him another question.
"Mr. Travis and Mrs Lovett helped you back, but you were again hospitalized."
"Not necessarily," Todd argued. "I wouldn't count Margery a help. The witch tortured me!"
"Ah, yes. Margery," Vincent sighed. "You do know where she is now, correct?"
Todd nodded. "Yep, in the place where I don't wanna go. That's how I found out about the place; through her."
"Yes. Now jury, listen," Vincent again faced the jury. "When a soul wanders off to the World of the Living and need to be stabilized, we use an electroshock machine. As we stated before, the machine can be dangerous if not used properly-"
With that said, Todd moved his gaze to the man who was testifying earlier. The man whom he strapped to a bed and used the machine to his advantage. The elder man still sported bruises and red, tender marks to his temples. Todd also wore the faint marks, but were less noticeable due to his chaotic hair.
"-Now, there was a young doctor here who held a grudge against Mr. Todd and used that machine to her advantage. That machine is lethal if we weren't already dead. So imagine the damage it can do."
The jury then turned their attention to Todd and could see how the electroshock machine could of negatively affected him. Although Turpin saw different. He knew the madness that was brewing in that head of Todd's. He caused that madness.
"So, given the man's poor history, it's almost if he's not in control of his actions. Therefore you can't punish him if they weren't his actions."
"Get to the schizoaffective," Manson scowled from his seat. He knew with that topic, it would at least convince the jury to put him away in the funny farm.
"I'm getting there, Mr. Manson," Vincent scoffed. "And stop demanding it, it's a delicate topic." He then turned back to face Todd and asked him quietly if he was alright. Todd nodded, but didn't make a sound. He was actually pretty nervous of that topic coming into play. What would the jury think of it? Vincent had to choose his words carefully. One wrong word and the jury could get the wrong impression.
"Now, back to the boy. Both you and Mrs Lovett went looking for him, only to find yourselves both in some time troubles. You two quickly returned here, but Mrs Lovett needed to be stabilized. Now, you didn't like that idea, did you?"
"Not at all," Todd commented. "I mean, I didn't have the prettiest of memories with that fatal contraption so I defiantly didn't want her to go through what I had to." Todd then sighed and hung his head. "I already made her go through so much, I didn't want to add onto it. But here we are in a court room and I'm surprised she 'asn't had a 'eart-attack." He smiled at his last words and saw Lovett do the same.
"Yes, so when the doctors were prepping the machine, you sort of-"
"Freaked out a bit," Todd chuckled and scratched his head out of nervousness.
"Yes, and the Authorities decided to admit you to the mental facility, just for a while. You were soon released and that's when you began to see and hear things, correct?"
Todd nodded.
"You were in stress of doing something wrong, screwing something up and ending up back in that place. So the schizoaffective kicked in, and placed in your mind things that weren't actually there. This only frightened you more, and stressed you out much more. Then the party came 'round, and you were a bit on edge. You saw something that threw you off, and the Authorities caught sight of it and had enough. So now you're here."
"If I may," Manson interrupted while standing up and approaching Todd. "I'd like to ask Mr. Todd a few questions."
Vincent rolled his eyes and sat down back in his seat. He cautiously watched Manson move in front of Todd. He noticed the once calm state Todd was in vanished. The anxious look in Todd reappeared.
"What were you seeing that caused you to be so frightened of screwing up?" Manson asked. Todd could tell Manson had been waiting for a long time to ask such a question.
Todd's eyes gazed over the medium-sized room and found Turpin seated in the jury. His vulture-like eyes rested upon Todd in a mocking way. What Todd would give to slash his throat again.
Manson followed Todd's eyes and saw that he was looking at Turpin.
"This man? You kept seeing this man?"
Manson asked with a smirk only Todd noticed.
"Sort of," Todd mumbled in an irritated tone. "But my file already explains the connection between me and that bastard, so I will not talk about him or the past with him."
"Language, Mr. Todd," the judge scowled and smacked his gavel hard two times.
Todd twitched at it's booming sound, but quickly put his attention back on the matter.
"By, sort of, what do you mean?" Manson asked.
"He wasn't the only thing I'd see. I mean, I'd see a s-solid figure of myself and often hearing my v-voice arguing at me." He softly explained with a few stutters. "But I'm not crazy," he quickly added.
And in a soft, disembodied voice, he could hear Turpin mumble, "I'd beg to differ." Todd didn't know if the actual Turpin said that or his mind was duping him again.
"So you would talk to yourself?" Manson asked.
"I suppose so... but everyone does here and there, right?" He stated; hoping for at least someone to agree.
Everyone disregarded the question.
With the awkward silence that followed his question, Todd sunk more in the chair and just felt the need to disappear.
"What did you see the night of the dance?" Manson asked.
"I-I don't remember much of that night," Todd mumbled and he wasn't exactly lying. Whenever he had an episode it was later a blur when he tried to remember it.
"You attacked a man," Manson spoke bluntly. "But I guess that's no different than the other times."
Then unexpectedly, Todd shot up from this seat; nearly flinging the chair behind him and into the wall. Manson was close enough to the witness box for Todd to snatch by the collar.
The judge began slamming his gavel on the sound block furiously as Vincent dashed from his seat to Todd and Manson. Lovett couldn't do anything but watch Todd and nearly cry.
The bailiff of the room marched to the outbreak and began to pry the men apart. For the few seconds Todd had a grip on Manson, he managed to throw in a punch or two. It was hard to throw in the punches due to the handcuffs that bounded his wrists.
The bailiff sent Todd flying back in his chair and Manson staggered backwards and almost into the prosecution table.
"Order!" The judge roared in a maddened frenzy. "I want order in this court! Mr. Vincent get control of your man!"
The bailiff then walked around the witness box and hoisted Todd by the torso and carried him out of the box. Abruptly, Todd began to thrash around, but couldn't get free no matter what.
The entire courtroom was now in chaos. Both Lovett and Vincent watched in horror as Todd was forced out of the courtroom and into the small room where they had their recess. Vincent rushed up the judge and asked what's exactly going on.
"I'm removing him from the room," the judge simply answered. "He's disrupting the order and I want this case done already."
Vincent then maneuvered his eyes to the side door where the bailiff slammed the door and returned to his stand.
"He would of been fine if Mr. Manson didn't make such accusations," Vincent argued and looked back at Manson who was dealing with a bloody nose.
"Go back to your seat and we'll get things back in order," the judge growled.
Vincent obeyed and trudged back to his chair. He saw Lovett in the public seating with worried, concerned eyes.
"Is he okay?" She quickly asked Vincent.
"I suppose so. But he's been removed from the room and probably won't come back until it's done." Vincent was about to say more, but stopped himself. He didn't want to worry Lovett by the fact that they're bound to lose the case. They had a somewhat slim chance of winning before the outbreak, but now that slim chance was gone.
Vincent just sat there and tried to think of something to cover Todd's abrupt actions. Manson was over at the other table being treated for his bloody nose. Even though Todd's actions got them in trouble, Vincent was pretty content that Manson's nose was gushing blood.
"Alright, let's get this show on the road," the judge grumbled. "Mr. Vincent, anyone else you want to call up to the stand?"
"I do, actually," Vincent replied as he stood up. "Eleanor, you mind?" He turned behind himself and watched her eyes widened. She didn't like the last time she was up there, but this time Vincent was asking the questions.
"I don't mind," she hesitantly answered and began to make her way to the witness stand. She felt everyone's eyes watching her; how unpleasant it was.
She took her seat and looked out onto the room. She was expecting to see Todd seated at the defendant's table, but she remembered he was forced out.
"Now you don't want to see Mr. Todd in the Lost Souls Room, now do you?" Vincent asked bluntly and looked to see if the jury was paying attention; they were.
"Not at all. You know how bland this life will be for me? You throw him in there you might as well throw me in there with him."
Vincent wasn't expecting quite an answer. His eyes widened a bit and saw the pure dedicated love within her. He hadn't seen such things in this world for quite some time. People in this world hardly ever loved. Most people here held stone cold hearts.
"There were would be no reason for me to exist here if he was gone. Even when he wandered off in the Living World and it was at that time I wasn't too fond of him, I still felt worried and terrified. I feared never seeing him again... and I don't want that to ever come true." Her voice was quiet and subtle. She kept her cool even though she wanted to rant for hours on; determined to win the jury over.
"I see," Vincent commented and gave the jury a smile. "Even though Mr. Todd has been ruled as mad, you still love, don't you?"
Love was such a simple word. Love was such a small word and only the beginning. Her mind began to think a word stronger than love. A word that meant much more the simple thing of love. However, her mind failed to think of such a word. Words couldn't describe the connection between them.
"Call him mad all you want, I still see the little bit of sanity residing in him," she then forced a smile and could imagine Todd seated at the table smiling back at her.
God, she was going mad as well.
She then remembered those three words that she told Todd that just threw him in a violent rage.
"Keep your sanity."
She remembered the way he had his hand on her throat after she uttered those words. She shook that horrid memory away. He wasn't like that anymore, at least towards her.
"So you have confident hope in this man. I do as well," Vincent said so ever so proudly. "The mental institution would only do the man worse and the Lost Souls Room would destroy this woman. I can see future improvements, but you all are deciding whether he'll have a future or not." He then turned to the jury with his arms crossed a stern, serious expression upon his face. "So think carefully with your verdict."
"Is that your closing statement, Mr. Vincent?" The judge asked with his hand on his palm.
"It is, your honor," Vincent replied confidently and sat back in his seat. Lovett immediately jumped from the witness box to her seat and watched Manson rise for closing statement. She could tell his closing statement was going to be ugly.
"Mr. Manson, your closing statement," the judge started with his head still lowered.
"This man has been given several chances to shape up, but has denied all chances. Countless chances to try and change and live a new, but he didn't, did he? So I say, do this world s favor and have the man out of reach. It will protect us and even himself, not that I can imagine he would care." The last sentence blew Lovett up. She wanted to leap across the short gate and tackle the bastard. How could someone be saw awfully stubborn. More stubborn than Sweeney Todd, and that says an awful lot. "I'm finished, your honor."
"Good," the judge nodded then turned his old, powdery head to the jury. His eyes shot to Turpin for he was the foreperson. The individual who would announce the verdict. Oh why out of all the people to be the foreperson, it just had to be that bastard.
"Jury, please exit into the side room and discuss your decision."
And with that, the few people in the jury stand piled out into a side door and into a small room.
The courtroom fell silent. Everyone sat still. No one even blinked. Now was coming the anxious waiting. How long would this take? Lovett couldn't help but imagine how Todd was doing in that small room by himself. He must be going beyond insane.
Her eyes didn't leave that door that the jury fled into. She knew at any moment the door would fly open. Surely it wouldn't take long considering the jury will immediately choose a rotten verdict. But for whatever reason, it was taking longer than she would of imagined.
Inside the small, storage room, Todd was staring at the blank walls. His wrists were still bounded and the bailiff had added shackles to his right ankle that attached to one of the table legs. The table was well cemented to the ground; no escaping.
The only sound to be heard was his own soft breathing and the movements of the metal chains.
He hadn't a clue of what was occurring inside the courtroom.
'They're probably all talking trash. Ridiculing how insane you are. Laughing at all the different ways they can torture you.'
"Would you shut-up," Todd scolded softly with his head lowered and eyes focused on the table. "I can't think properly with you rambling."
'Think properly? Don't make me laugh.'
Todd ignored it and continued to think of all the outcomes the verdict could be.
He wanted to keep what little sanity resided in him, and so continued to ignore that menacing voice. He knew at any moment that door would open and someone would relieve him of the room. But where would they take him from there?
Let him free? To the mental institution? Or the Lost Souls Room?
He wanted Lovett sitting in the chair across from him. He wanted to hear her positive, cheery voice for one last time. He wanted her hand in his.
"Everything'll be alright," her angelic voice rang through his ears.
His head didn't hesitate to shoot up and find her petite figure sitting before him. Her somber eyes staring at him intently.
"How are you so positive? You know just as well as I do that the jury will be sure to toss me in an abyss," Todd scowled under his breath. He then saw her hand reach across the table and take his. Her boney, thin hands were gelid.
"Don't think negative," she soothed and squeezed his hand.
"That's pretty improbable," Todd grumbled in response. "Not after that pathetic stunt I pulled. I'm an imbecile."
"Darling," her melodic voice assuaged. "Just keep your sanity."
That statement drained the color from Todd complexion. A lump formed in his throat. That's when her cold hand slipped from his and her frail figure just vanished into thin air.
Todd slumped in his chair and rubbed his hands.
How ironic, he thought. A hallucination telling her him to stay sane.
He quickly brushed that moment away and continued to fathom what was occurring in the courtroom.
The door suddenly exploded with Vincent entering and pulling Todd up on his feet. A bewildered Todd stumbled out of the room and into the courtroom.
All eyes focused on him.
Vincent led him to defendant table. Todd's eyes immediately located Lovett. This time, he knew for a solid fact, wasn't a hallucination. Todd didn't like the expression that was established on her face. It was the look of horrid consternation. No one would ever like that look or feeling.
Todd was seated and his view of Lovett was blocked. His vision then shifted to the jury who were all piled in their section and on the edge of their seats.
Turpin had an expression on his face that Todd wasn't sure to make of.
What words was that man about to deliver?
Todd held his hands together over his mouth and elbows resting on the table. His eyes didn't move, didn't blink. His ears were ready to listen to the verdict.
"Jury, I assume you've made your decision?" The judge asked. He began piling his papers and looked as if he was about to leave.
"We have, your honor," Turpin smirked.
The next few seconds felt like an eternity. Even though his heart didn't beat, there was a rapid beating resembling a heart beat. Oh how that added to his anxiety.
"The jury has decided that Mr. Sweeney Todd will be sent to the Lost Souls Room on the charges of the constant crimes he's committed." Turpin then finished his statement with a look of depravity. His gaze was directed right at Todd rather than the judge.
Todd instantly melted in his seat. His body was suddenly overwhelmed by a hot sensation. He could feel an anxiety attack approaching to play.
Lovett didn't feel any different. Her world then came crashing down and stabbed her in the remains of her heart.
She sunk in her seat and she was on the verge of bursting into tears. But she ever so strongly held her salty tears back. She didn't want Todd looking back to find her face all red and flooded with tears streaming down her face. She knew that would only make him feel worse.
However, Todd didn't look back at her. He was stationary in his seat; completely immobile. His mind was in the process of a breakdown. He didn't know what to comprehend; what to fathom.
Vincent then gave Todd a gentle pat on his back; trying to bring him back to reality. He knew Todd was in a complete state of shock.
Todd didn't react to the pat on his back. He continued to sit there as still as possible.
"That's not what we agreed on," a voice quickly exclaimed.
Then almost everyone in their seats jumped. The voice was so sudden and abrupt.
The judge also had a perplex expression.
"We agreed on eternity in the mental facility," the man expounded. "Give the man some freedom."
Everyone, especially Todd and Lovett, were addled. The judge then slammed his gavel down and everyone jumped.
"I thought you all agreed on one verdict," the judge hissed. "This isn't how my courtroom is suppose to act!" He scolded the jury, then cleared his throat. "Your verdict is overruled," he scowled. "Based on what I've heard today and I'm tired of hearing more, I'll devise the verdict since you all can't come to one."
Everyone's attention was now towards the judge. The jury was now irrelevant to the whole ordeal.
There was a sliver of hope. A small chance of optimism. Todd's hands were tightly held together; nearly tearing at his skin and leaving scars. The tension within him was beyond words to describe.
He kept telling himself to not jinx his chance.
The judge's gray, archaic eyes scanned over the room. Everyone's eyes were on the judge and their ears were perked up and ready to listen. The elder man then opened his mouth and everyone listened intently.
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cliffhanger!
Well this is a really short chapter; not reaching my minimum of 5000.
The fate of Sweeney Todd will be revealed in the next chapter and that might be the last/second to last chapter
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And before you become depressed, I'm writing another Sweeney Todd fanfiction ((yea I have problems)) it'll be my fourth story and it's a cross between ST and a movie titled The Crow, which is an insanely awesome movie!
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the chapter and I'll update soon. Thank you very much for reading and please leave reviews! I love your opinion!