The Legend of Fleet Street Project

Chapter One

I always hated waiting, even for a special assignment coming my way. I was called twice during my first few appointments this morning, my boss Edgar was wanting to see me about something. Obviously I had to cancel my appointments, something I really hate. But being the journalist working in a busy company of London's office... It's not easy.

So here I wait, in this glass walled office room, waiting for whatever was to come... And it was exactly as I had thought.

"Alright, Sakara. I have an assignment waiting for you. Something big and really important." Edgar said as he came into the room. I yawned and gave a nod to him, "So what is it?"

"Well," The big man sat himself down on the large computer chair across from me. I watched as he began digging into his desk drawers, the rattling of paper being pushed about could only be heard in this silent room. Finally, he pulled out a large brown envolope from the desk.

"A project." He said.

"A what?" I asked, my eyes wide with shock.

"You heard me, I'm assigning you a project." Edgar smiled.

I frowned, "But... I have alot of work that needs to be finished. I need to have articles accepted and signed along with paperwork... Ed, I have alot of stories already! I need-"

"What you need is a little credit, I've assigned Andy to finish up those paperworks and appointments for you. So no worries." Edgar turned to the envolope lying on his desk, I said nothing.

"This... is yours." Edgar pushed the large envolope to me and smiled, I took it and examined it in my hands. "But before you open it, listen to me."

I looked up, "I'm listening."

He paused, looking over me then to the door. "You've heard of... the urban legend about 186, right?"

"Meaning...?"

Edgar smiled, "Think about it for a minute, Sakara. Where do you live?"

I made a face, "Ed, you know I live here in London."

"Exactly, so you were born here in England, right?"

I rolled my eyes, obviously he doesn't know I don't understand what he was aiming at. "Right."

"There's an urban legend," Edgar opened one of his drawers and pulled out another envolope. "I'm sure you've heard of it when you were a child... right?"

I chuckled and shook my head, "I was living with some kind people, foster parents, Edgar. Remember?" I reminded him.

Edgar nodded, "Oh yeah... I appoligize, I'm starting to forget these background informations, Sakara."

I smiled, "Anyway?"

"Anyway, I guess you-"

"No. I have not heard of this urban legend. But knowing my parents were british, I know they'd tell me this legend... if they were alive..." I mumbled the last words out silently and turned away from Edgar, but of course he continued to keep his eyes on me.

"Listen, I'm guessing you're the only one who had not heard of the story... But may have heard the name." His voice lowered, "You are to do this project alone... Unless you'd rather seek little aid from your friends Andy and Constance, I'll allow it. Only aid, though. Understand?" Edgar asked.

The only thing on my mind was to get this over with, I seen nothing important about this legend. Urban Legend... I guess it'll be an interesting subject.

"I understand, Ed... Now what else?" I asked, sitting back in my chair. Edgar frowned, "Fleet Street... the story takes place there, you see. We know little of the background and hidden spots behind the legend, either they are hiding the truth from us or it's just a silly 'go-along' with the legend. Sakara, I know you can do this project. Find what you can, please."

"... Alright..." I said awkwardly.

"Now," Edgar gathered the scattered papers lying on his desk and stacked them together. "I'll tell you the name... The legend's name."

I sat up, took out my notebook and pen. "Listening." I said to him.

"The name... Sweeney Todd."

... The Next Day...

"You're serious?" Constance spoke out, taking another sip of her pepsi, as we sat there in the clear morning park the day after my meeting with Edgar.

I nodded, a little restless on the name Edgar had said to me. I swore of hearing it somewhere before but why couldn't I remember? The goth, Constance, before me smiled, "Well? What else did the big guy say?" She asked.

I ignored her question, "Have you heard of the story?"

Constance made a face, "Duh, I was born in America. I studied arts and theatre, so I had to learn of the story... in a way."

"Theatre? Was it a play?" I asked, a little lost now. Constance smirked, "You're not from around here, are ya kid?" She asked me teasingly.

"Please, just tell me." I demanded.

"Fine, fine." She set her pepsi can down on the picnic table and turned her eyes to an owner playing his dog, Andy and his dog Logan. "Yeah, it's a musical actually. Part comedy and part tragedy... Horror too-"

"Horror?!"

"Jeez, calm down. Nothing bad." Constance said, she looked back to Andy and called, "Hey, dog-lover! Where do you keep the drinks!"

Andy made a face, "In the chest freezer, you loud mouth!" He shouted back, turning back to his game with Logan. I fowned, "Do you have to be rude to Andy like that?" I asked, knowing this had been going on since she and Andy broke up. Nothing bad but they were still friends and sometimes Constance wanted to be rude around Andy to annoy him.

"Yeah, but whatever." Constance said as she tossed her can into a trash ben nearby. I snapped my fingers, "What did you mean by horror? I thought it'd be something stupid..."

"Oh, you thought it'd be a cute little story that ended with a tragic ending? No. It's been awhile since I watched the play... 'Very depressing' is all I could make out from my memory. I remember little, it used to show up on TV alot, that play. Man, I remember liking Mrs. Lovett."

I took out my notepad and pen, that's where Constance would quit talking. She made a disapproving look at the notepad in my hands, "Oh look, Mr. Pad and Mrs. Penny again..."

"Shut up," I growled. "I just want a little information on this... Mrs. Lovett person. It may be something important."

"Fine, but after this don't take that stupid thing out again. It's annoying the crap out of me." Constance warned.

"Well, sorry. But anyway, you were saying?"

"Mrs. Lovett was pretty much a friend of Sweeney Todd. She was the baker in the story... I thought she was awsome." Constance was obviously finished because she got quiet again. She moved onto another subject though, "Being an american sucks... I think I should stay here with you and dog-lover over there."

My eyes sparkled, "Uh huh... Well I gotta go. I have to start this project right about now while it's still early." I said, grabbing my things and stuffing them into my purple and black hand bag, a little gift from Constance of course.

"Wait a minute, when does the project have to be due?" Constance asked me.

I turned to her and smiled, "October 5, so it leaves me... What date is it?"

"Saturday, September 20. Leaves you three weeks to finish up. Good luck... I guess."

"Thanks, bye! See you Andy!" I called as I left off quickly. I ran out of the park until I reached outside of the gates. The sun was rising, I could see, and a few early birds were already taking their walks. My eyes felt a bit sagged now that that the sun came shining upon them. I had a rough night sleeping...

I guess taking a walk home wasn't the best idea for someone so tired, that's why I chose the early bus...