Chapter 32: It's Over
Your body didn't feel the same. Something felt wrong.
Upon awakening, you felt different. You felt weak, but your limbs felt heavy like you couldn't lift them, even if you tried. Your vision swirled above you, so you closed your eyes again, trying to regain your senses. The sound of a door opening grabbed your attention, and you opened your eyes. You tried to move your body to sit but couldn't; your wrists and ankles were bound to your platform; your body felt too heavy to move. Moving a finger took too much effort, but you could move your head. You looked around and felt fear grow in your heart.
Your body was lying on a metal table in the center of a round room. Underneath you was a symbol drawn in white, but you couldn't read the writing on the floor. There were three cages behind you, filled with the missing children, but their eyes looked blank like they couldn't process what was happening around them. There were pillars and rows of seats around you.
' What the hell is this? '
You looked toward the doors that opened at the top of the white staircase and spotted Ciel, pointing a gun at a bandaged and crippled man's head while Sebastian was restraining Joker's hands.
Ciel, however, was shaking. His body shook upon seeing the room, his trauma returned to him, and he felt all of the memories from that month come back. And seeing your body on the table in the center of the room made his blood burn. Joker looked at you lying on the table and realized that 'father' had planned to steal you from the point of entering the manor. Joker's own heart lurched seeing your weak body on the table.
" I'm afraid it took me three years to get ready. " The bandaged man said, smiling toward Ciel.
You could hear them talking, but just barely. Your body felt weak and heavy. You wanted to get off the table, but you couldn't move any of your limbs but your head.
" You know, my lord, I remember perfectly the first day we met. Yes, it all started on that day five years ago! "
You listened to the story, but there were some instances your hearing went away for a second but would return later. You understood the story, though. Lord Kelvin was obsessed with the Phatomhives after meeting them at a soiree. Ever since then, he wanted to get close to Vincent Phatomhive, but Lord Kelvin claimed that special people are untouchable by those who weren't special. So, he got surgery to make himself look 'more beautiful to get close to Vincent Phatomhive and his sons. Then, Joker and the others came into the picture, collecting children, and Lord Kelvin would turn them into dolls. But when the manor was burned, he lost all hope until Ciel was found and tortured in a chamber just like this. But now, Ciel had returned, and he was no longer a boy; he was a man in his father's image.
Indeed, Lord Kelvin's obsession went beyond belief.
You turned your head and noticed that everyone was on the ground floor to the left of the table. You turned your head to look at them and saw Ciel's expression. He looked like he was on the edge of killing the man in front of him.
" I, who gave up everything to meet you, was the only one who couldn't. 'Why is fate so bent on keeping us apart?' I wondered. And then, on that day, they were all gone. It was you who killed them, wasn't it, my lord? How I envy them. A beautiful end, with the cold moon at their deathbeds. . .Please, make me one of them. Look! I've prepared everything just as it was then! This ritual chamber. . .and the lambs. . .And finally, my lord--you! I've even prepared someone to practice on, so we can get this right! Though she is much more alive than the others, she will only be there in moments--"
A gunshot rang throughout the room. Ciel had pulled the trigger and shot Lord Kelvin in the stomach.
" Father! "
Joker slipped out of Sebastian's grip by letting his skeletal hand hall out of the socket. But Sebastian grabbed his other arm, holding him back.
" Look at the table. Isn't that the woman you desire? " Sebastian whispered to Joker, using his sly demonic words.
Sebastian knew what Joker had planned but found more entertainment in manipulating people. Though he wouldn't like Joker to desire you so much, he discovered that he could use that desire and conflict within Joker for his own desires. For his own entertainment.
" How could you serve a man that is so willing to hurt children who are innocent? So willing to kill and torture the woman whom you have grown fond of. "
Joker couldn't speak, and the conflict within him grew, making Sebastian smirk.
" Think carefully. " Sebastian whispered to Joker, with his eyes slightly turning pink.
Sebastian gripped Joker's wrist but took his skeletal bone in his other hand, keeping Joker back. Lord Kelvin fell to the ground, with blood spilling from his mouth.
" It hurts, my lord. . .It's agony! "
Lord Kelvin crawled toward Ciel's feet and gripped onto Ciel's shoes, begging the man above him. He grabbed Ciel's calves, spilling blood and sweat on the earl's shoes.
" Please! If you're going to kill me, please give me the death they had! "
" The death they had? "
Ciel kicked the earl off his legs and slammed his foot on his head, pointing the gun down. Ciel's finger was on the trigger, ready to kill the man underneath him.
" Then you'd best prostrate yourself like the worm you are, and beg a demon. "
Joker felt the words crawl up his throat, and he was going to beg Ciel to leave his father alive, but he was held back by Sebastian.
" So, you would rather, save a man like him, than to help you dear? Truly, are you a man worth your name? "
" He saved us! There are other children that need to be protected, and they can't live without him at the orphanage! He was the one who--"
" Who made you kidnap and kill children. But tell me, what if it was one of those children at the orphanage that he asked you to kill? What if it was the woman on the top of the table? Would you still do it? For a worm like him? "
Joker looked toward your form and remained quiet. He could only speak a little, but Sebastian's words were starting to creep into his brain and change his thoughts.
" We wanted to protect the ones we cared for, and he gave us the ability to do so. He gave us arms and legs, in order to protect them. " He spoke softly.
" You aren't wrong. "
Ciel's words shocked Joker, making the man look towards the earl. However, Ciel didn't look toward him but toward the table, where your body lay.
" You fought to protect your world. What's wrong with that? I am just doing the same. "
" Sorry I'm late--I brought more! "
Ahead of the table, at the entrance, was the doctor from the circus. Behind him was a cage.
" Hmm? Black and Smile? What are you doing here? "
" They're the Queen's guard dog, doc. " Joker said, looking toward the man who gave him his arm.
" Hmm? Oh, you're the ones? Well, isn't this interesting? "
The doc stood from his wheelchair and walked down the stairs. Joker's eyes were wide as the doctor walked around without struggle.
" Doc. . .your legs aren't. . .lame? "
" My legs? Oh, yes, they're perfectly sound. I've just been sitting in the chair--kids like you trust me more easily that way. Lord Kelvin! "
The doc ran toward the dying lord and touched the bullet wound, coating the tips of his fingers in blood. What surprised everyone was how he didn't look concerned at all.
" Well, he's done for. THat's just cruel. I'd finally found a patron who understood my ideals! "
" Ideals? " Sebastian questioned.
" Right my ideals! "
The doctor stood up, smiling, and his eyes looked joyful. The doctor walked away from Lord Kelvin's body and toward the table where you were lying. Ciel took notice that your hands had gone slack on the table. Before, your head was moving around, but now, it was still, as your head lay sideways with your eyes starting to cloud.
" I've been working for years to make the perfect prosthetic! And after all that research, at last, I arrived at the finest material. Lighter and stronger than wood, and with the unique, sterile beauty of ceramic! I created what no one before me had been able to. The only problem with my material was that it was a touch difficult to gather. "
" Yes, your prosthetics did have a lovely texture. Almost like bone china. "
" You can appreciate this beauty, Black? But you're off the mark! I wish you wouldn't rate my work the same as cattle bone china! "
" I do recall you saying you used 'special' materials. "
" That's right! Special materials I can only get here! It saves the trouble of dumping them somewhere. Brilliant recycling, don't you think? "
Joker's body shook, and his knees fell from underneath him. He looked at the bone arm he had, feeling sick.
" No! It can't be! "
Joker screamed at that moment. His scream was one of absolute agony. He slammed his arm against the floor and attempted to take the bone out of his body, the bone that wasn't his but someone else's. He couldn't remove the arm and slumped on the floor, crying. His tears dripped down his cheeks and hit the floor below him.
" See? Another patient rejecting it. And you were so happy to have this right hand too! "
" If I'd known, I wouldn't have. . ."
" You wouldn't have wanted it? Are you sure? Everyone sings my praises until they know! But the baron was different. He was highly motivated to seek beauty, and he spared no expense covering my materials and costs! He was a top-class patron. Making top-class products takes top-class ingredients. IT's just common sense don't you think? "
The doctor crouched beside the stone platform you were on and pulled a drawer from underneath, revealing weapons used for scaffolding and a long knife. Ciel felt his body shake. He was receiving flashbacks to that night when the torture began.
" A cow's bones are fine to use, but a human's bones aren't? Who decided that? "
The doctor stood up with the long knife and smiled at your slowly lifeless body.
" And though she isn't young like the children, her bones would still make great work. But the serum I put into her body is almost done, but I don't want to wait any longer. How can a man be patient while waiting on materials when he needs to work? He has to start somewhere somehow. She won't be with us anymore, anyhow, just like the lambs in the cages. "
Ciel's body shook, and he felt his mouth open. The flashbacks were coming too fast and too suddenly. He saw the cage bars in front of him and his brother's lifeless body. It was too much for him. It was to the point that he couldn't move to stop the doctor from stabbing your abdomen. He could only scream.
Joker yelled toward the doctor but felt weak to get up. And his mind was already twisted from everything that happened in the last couple of minutes, and he was weak in his mind and legs at this point.
Ciel stumbled, but Sebastian caught him, leaving Joker's side. Sebastian's eyes flashed pink, and he held his master's body up. Then, Sebastian gently pulled on the string behind Ciel's head, making the eyepatch lose.
" What is there to fear, master? You are outside of the cage. Now, call my name. "
Ciel's eyepatch fell to the floor, and he gripped Sebastian's clothes.
" Sebastian! Kill them! " Ciel yelled, glaring at Sebastian.
Sebastian only nodded and set Ciel near the podium, where you were stabbed, and he started with the doctor. The doctor's smile faded once Sebastian punched his abdomen, making the doctor cough up blood. Then, Sebastian smashed Lord Kelvin's head with his foot, killing the man instantly. While the butler killed everyone, Ciel used the table to stand up. He looked down at your body and pulled you to the table's edge.
" Y/n! Wake up! Please! "
You gave him no response, and the tears he had been holding in spilled out of his blue and purple eyes.
" Don't leave me like my brother! "
You still didn't respond, and your eyes looked clouded entirely over. Finally, in an attempt to stop the bleeding, Ciel threw his jacket off and pressed it on your wound. Once Sebastian was finished, he stood behind Ciel, waiting for his next order.
" It's over. "
" Burn it. " Ciel replied, glaring at your body.
" Would 'it' be this mansion, my lord? "
" Yes. "
" Master, I gathered from Her Majesty's letter that our current mission is to find the kidnappers and rescue the children. "
" Shut up! "
Ciel stood and poked Sebastian's chest, glaring at his butler. He stared Sebastian in the eyes as he demanded his next request.
" Don't leave anything behind! Burn everything here to ash! Have you forgotten your job!? This is an order! And you! "
Ciel pointed to Joker, still sitting on the ground, lost. Joker looked up at Ciel, waiting to hear what the man had to say.
" Get your circus and leave! I didn't let you live so you could get killed here! Go! ANd get them out of London before I change my mind and kill you all! "
Heading his warning, Joker stood and stumbled out of the room. He stumbled through the manor and escaped to the outside world. Doll had been traveling from the circus to get to their father's house and had appeared in front of the manor and called for her friend.
" Joker! "
" Doll! "
Joker ran to the horse and jumped on the horse behind Doll. Together they rode back to the circus, leaving the mansion behind. But once they were far enough, the estate erupted in flames that danced lavishly. The fire looked abnormal in a way, by how it moved and consumed the manor. Sebastian walked out of the manor beside his master, who carried your body in his arms, with his jacket covering your wound.
The smoke danced in the sky, and by the time the sun rose, the manor was gone, with only ashes left in its spot.
Ciel rested in a chair beside your bed as the sun rose in the sky. He stayed in your room throughout the night at the townhouse and never left your bed. Prince Soma sat outside the door, not feeling comfortable leaving you alone. You were sleeping peacefully, but you had not woken up yet. Your eyes were still closed, and your wound was still delicate.
Ciel slowly opened his eyes and rubbed them from sleep. Ciel looked at your sleeping face and felt guilt rise within his heart. He was in front of you, yet his trauma prevented him from saving you.
" Good morning, master. The bags are packed, and breakfast is ready downstairs. " Sebastian said, walking into your room.
" We will leave after breakfast. "
" Certainly. Please come down for breakfast. "
Ciel only nodded and stood from his chair. His back popped as he stood up, and it ached from his horrible sleeping position. His blue eyes looked at your peaceful face before walking toward the door. He stepped outside the room and spotted Prince Soma on the floor, also sleeping in a horrible position.
" Evaluate her condition, and inform me at breakfast, how much longer she will be asleep. "
" Yes, my lord. "
Ciel walked down the stairs and toward the dining room. He sat down at the head of the table and looked down at his food, not having an appetite. Soon enough, Sebastian opened the door to the dining room and stepped toward his master with his evaluation.
" The antidote, Agni prepared, is working. She will be asleep for some time before the serum the doctor injected is exterminated by the antidote. "
" And her wound? " Ciel asked.
" If we arrived any later, it would have been infected. Her wound will heal nicely, but it will leave a scar across her skin. "
" And what of the circus? "
" They, packed up during the night and left this morning. Joker has left something behind for you, and for Lady Y/n. "
" Give it to me when we get back to the manor. Go wake the prince so he's not waiting outside Y/n's door. "
" Yes, master. "
Sebastian disappeared from the dining room, leaving Ciel alone. Ciel sipped his tea, but he didn't attempt to eat any of the food in front of him. For once, Ciel felt lonely without you with him.
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