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Chapter 1: The Undead

I was minding my own business really before it hit me. Or more accurately, ran me over.

I had just been out buying my master some groceries for dinner since according to Sebastian all the other servants in our household excluding himself are useless (no bias there). Don't get me wrong or anything, Maylene, Bard, Finnian, and Tanaka are really nice people, but even so, they tend to make everything worse than it was originally. By doing so, either Sebastian or I will have to clean after the mess (most of the time its Sebastian though).

That's right. Sebastian. Where do I get started with Sebastian? Well for one he's very handsome or so Maylene tells me, and he's perfect -a little too perfect; it makes me suspicious about him. He's just not right. When he's there it's like he shouldn't be or he's not meant to be. Its almost as if he's some supernatural thing -a demon or something. I'm half believing it, too. He can do anything and everything with the slightest ease and it makes me as a maid, jealous. Just who is this Sebastian? While trying to find the slightest clue, I must do so without attracting attention which is just as hard as it sounds. If I ever get caught stalking him, it'll make me look like a paranoid fanatic or something.

But despite my best attempts, he knows I've been watching him.

He knows that I am suspicious, that I am trying to use something to bring him down, that my imagination is driving me crazy. Being the devil he is, I bet he is enjoying every last one of those minutes. I can just see him now! Taunting me. Mocking me with those eyes! How DARE he? That-

Off topic. Sorry, my bad. Where was I? Ah yes. Ahem.

Walking across the street to the carriage with a bag of fresh meat and veggies, I had in my mind the recipe for my special soup that not even Sebastian can match. Master Ciel can't resist any of my soups no matter how unappealing it may look. I was nodding my head, gloating about how happy Master Ciel would be when he started eating the soup. His small adorable face would relax and he would give a tiny contented sigh before moderately gobbling down the rest and asking for seconds. Master Ciel….

Because of my air-headedness I completely missed the racing carriage rapidly speeding at me and eventually over me. I never even got an actually chance to see it; all I saw was my everybody else's horror.

My whole life then slide-showed through my head. I was four when I first laid my eyes on Ciel. Wrapped around in a silk blanket, his mother gingerly handed him to me as if he were a gold bar -so precious and yet somewhat heavy. Ciel wasn't a crier and that was one of the things I really liked about Ciel -he was smarter than normal kids, (I could tell); his eyes would lightly observe the room as if cataloguing the items in the room. I remembered how I sang Ciel to sleep, how I would pat his bsck and hug him close when he cried which he did less as he got older, how I would play with him while his aunt and mother were smiling and chatting, how he loved to play hide and seek, how he loved my soups even before, how beautifully pale his face was and how clear blue eyes were. Most of all, I remembered his smiling face -grinning from ear to ear.

And then that day happened. I had been out shopping again to find master Ciel something to wear to Baron Von Strudels' ball. By the time I got home, all that was left of the Phantomhive mansion was debris. For what seemed like an eternity I had waited in Madame Red's mansion until the day that perhaps Ciel would come back, and miraculously one day he did. Out of the blue, he just appeared with Sebastian at his side. We were all so, so grateful that he had come back; however, he had changed into a colder, less cheerful, darker version of himself. Nevertheless I was glad he was back.

It was upon that night I was giving young master a bath that I realized what had happened, for on his back was the branded tattoo of a slave. I just stared at it until young master had said, "Get out." But I didn't. Before my duties of a maid were the duties of a sister and a friend and he needed me right now. After my parents died when Ciel was about two, he was all I had. Ciel was everything to me, just everything, and I treated him like a master and a younger brother. For years, I helped raise him and protect him, but at that moment, I felt like I failed him. I hadn't protected him from being sold a slave. I hadn't protected him then, but I promised to protect him from then on. So with all my might I hugged him and sobbed softly, "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. You're alright now. You're safe now." He somehow relaxed and I could tell he was crying, too. We sat in the bathroom until he gained his composure. From that day on, Sebastian gave master Ciel his baths and dressed him in the morning. I was very much heartbroken and disappointed that young master had chosen Sebastian over me. Sebastian hadn't raised him! Sebastian didn't know him that well! Still, I thought to myself, Sebastian was there at his worst. Ultimately, I was very relieved at least young master had somebody to count on.

Over the next year or so I came into a routine: In the mornings, I would sweep, clean, and polish. At noon, I would kick Bard out of the kitchen to make room for Sebastian and prepare the ingredients as Sebastian had listed. I only cooked dinner on Sunday. Sebastian cooked cuisine and I cooked more homier things as hamburgers, mashed potatoes, shepherd pies, and soups. In the afternoon, I would stop the other servants from destroying one area of the mansion only to have them wreck havoc somewhere else, and afterwards, Sebastian would clean it up. It was a fun and gleeful year, and even Ciel returned more to his normal self every now and then when there was no other company…

My memories ended. Then I saw a flash of white light that enveloped around me and pulled me to the end. Through a glass door I could see fluffy clouds and hear the tinkering of harps with a fragrance of rose; even the air felt fresher than in life. Looking back behind me I saw my memory of a smiling Ciel -he'd be very much devastated if I were gone wouldn't he?

"What's wrong?" asked a booming voice sounding like a grandfather, warm and gentle. I couldn't tell whether it was a boy or girl. I didn't even know I actually heard it.

"Kind sir," I explained, "I know my Ciel would hate me to leave him behind. His parents had left him too. I don't think he could bear to lose anybody at this time." A stab went through my chest. I couldn't bear losing him either.

"I'm sorry dear. You must go on. Go. Look. Aren't they your parents?" And there they were my mum and dad. I cried for them but they just smiled and beckoned me towards them with surreal laughter. Almost past the door, I saw Ciel's parents who whispered to me, "Stay with Ciel, please we beg of you. And tell him we love him no matter what happens." That was all the encouragement I needed. With Mrs. and Mr. Phantomhive's last wish I ran towards the darkness behind me, feeling strong tugs all around me to turn back to the fluffy laughter and white light, but I just kept running and running and running, willing myself to go to Ciel.

And everything went black. Was that a good thing?

"Ara ara~ What do we have here~"

I woke up to see a man's face a few inches away from mine. "ARRG!" He was definitely scary enough to be my murderer. I was on a medical table in a dim lighted room next to a white haired deathly pale guy who was carrying a scalpel. Erm... I don't usually like to assume but its either a) I'm in the morgue, b) I'm being dissected by my murderer, c) I'm in a nightmare. Let's go with the third one, I like the third one, I thought. I pinch my eyes together trying to go back to sleep or to wake up.

"It's not a dream~" says the weird cloaked guy carrying a scythe. A scythe? Whoa.

My heart beat faster and faster and -wait a minute. I put my hand on my heart. Why was there nothing? Can somebody please tell me why there was nothing? The heart was on the left side right, right? I desperately felt myself up in any search for my heart.

"You won't be finding your heart missy~"

"Huh?"

"Missy~ How do I say this?~"

"H…huh?"

"Missy~ You're as dead as roadkill in a morgue~" he silently laughed at this to himself.

"HUH!"

"What you don't get it?~ Road kill… you~"

"No that's not what I meant!" I snapped at him, "I'm dead there's no way! No -well that does explain the voice." So this means I'm in the morgue. Still better than choice B.

"Oh?~"

"What day is it?"

"November 7th why?"

"I've been here for four days?" I hyperventilated trying to get off the bed only to fall to the ground. Just then, I realized I was missing a leg. Don't panic. Don't panic. Don't panic. Don't panic. Breathe.

I definitely wasn't dreaming because it hurt like blood-gutted, pus-spewing hell. My head felt the cold floor. Was I in some sort of virtual game? I don't think so. I looked at the little stump of what I think was my upper thigh. "Where's my leg?" I asked quietly. Actually, I'd rather not know.

"Kukuku~ hehehe~ its over there~" he pointed to a little mound of body parts with the scythe. Mine was on the very top of the mound. I hopped to the mound and collected my leg. "Hey, what are you? Wouldn't normal people run away screaming by now," I had just realized this, "and what's with that scythe too? What are you suppose to be? A death lord?" I laughed at this in my head.

"Ara ara you found me out~" he said chillingly, walking around the room to a drawer. I, on the other hand, was trying to reattach my leg to well, my leg. "Do you need assistance?~" I shook my head, unyielding. "Well Ciel was very worried about you~ Although you're looking quite fine now~ hehehe~" Ciel? That's right! What was I doing here? I need to get back to Ciel! I quickly stood up just to fall over again. "Would you like some assistance?~" I furiously nodded, he just grinned. This man was infuriating! He should not, in any way, be enjoying this as much as I knew he was.

On a metal tray was everything you needed to stitch somebody up; he carefully took a needle and started stitching everything together with some sort of clear string. The string wove in and out in and out, in and out; what the hell!- I was being mesmerized by a piece of string! It only hurt slightly even though he didn't use any anesthetics; I think it was the fact with me being erm…. dead! Although I had told myself not to be so mesmerized with the string, I still found myself following the needle with my eyes, but only because he was doing it with so much precision and delicacy. When he had finally finished, I was shocked, completely shocked. There was almost no mark at all and you could only catch a glimpse of the string when it reflected the light.

"Impressed?~ Young mister Phantomhive told me to take care of you well~," he said, "would you like some tea and biscuits?~" "What did the young master say?" I asked but he was already out the door. Sighing, I took this time to look around me. Excluding myself, there was only one other dead body lying patiently on a metal examination table. Beside him were three other medical beds. The room was lit by an array of candles sporadically placed around the room and a gas chandelier hanging from the middle of the room. I tried to move my leg. At first it twitched a bit, and as the death god came in, I was already walking. It responded incredibly well for a limb that was on the other side of the room just a minute ago. Zombie limbs are a plus.

"So Mr. Death Lord. What is your name?" I asked glancing at the biscuits that curiously resembled dog biscuits. I took a small bite with the front of my teeth, but it turned out the cookies -although musty and dry- were very well made and complimented the tea -earl grey, my favorite. "Most people call me The Undertaker~ but you can call me Terry~ and yours?~" He winked at me through that mess of a hair. Almost half of his face was covered by his bangs, and he had this curiously long scar across his face. I smiled. Cheerfully, I thought that Terry couldn't be so bad after all. "Most people call me Emily, but you can call me Lulu." I grimaced a little at my familiarity with my mortician.

"Well, Terry. I think I will be on my way for now." He just grinned like he knew something that I didn't. I walked out the door, through the hallway, and into the first door that I saw which appeared to be Terry's bedroom. I found myself staring at a strange lady. It took me a while before I realized that I was standing in front of a mirror. My jaw dropped to the floor in a split second. Firstly, I was half naked -only in my undies- and secondly -more importantly- my hair! When I was alive, I had long dark locks of hair, you know. It was jet black and swayed which ever way the wind blew, gently whipping across my face, and I was proud of my hair -it was one of the few things I loved about myself! But now…. Now….. I had no black hair to speak of because as it seems, my hair is now completely and repulsively white! I screamed a blood-curling scream.

"It's my job you know to clean dead bodies~" said Terry leaning against the door frame. I blinked at him, finally understanding what he was talking about. "No! not that! My hair is ruined!" I hollered. "You're hair?~ You're mental you know~ You should be worried about your nakedness!~ And on the side note, I think your hair looks better now~~" he giggled. I lost it. Completely lost it and I started to scream my lungs out. "Oi, oi, its alright you know~" he said stepping towards me with his palms facing me as if the action would calm me. No! NO! It wasn't alright! My beautiful hair was the only thing that Ciel had ever complimented me on. "Ciel is not going to like me anymore!" and then, it hit me like that carriage that hit me three days ago.

I'm dead. Why would he accept me now that I'm dead? Who cares about my bloody hair! Sinking to my knees, I curled up into feeble position rocking myself back and forth. Crouching down to my level, Terry patted my shoulder with awkwardness and told me, "Its alright~" He stopped for a second to think. "Would you like to stay with me? Or would you rather go back?" he asked reading my mind. Not knowing what to think, I shook my head. "I don't know…" I murmured. Tink tink. Tink tink. It was the shop door.

"Undertaker!" a voice called, that voice I knew so very well. "What shall we do Lulu?~" "I'm staying here and hiding from him. After all, I am still dead..." "Whatever you say Lulu, but this cat and mouse game won't last very long~" "I know!" I exclaimed, "but I can't think of anything else right now!" "Alright~ There are some clothes in the bottom drawer if you're feeling a draft~"

As he walked to oblige Ciel's call, I sighed and looked into the last drawer. Surprisingly there were some expensive women's clothes that perhaps was used to dress the corpses? Sniffing them, I suspected they were new and put them on. I felt bad for putting on somebody else's clothes, but that person most likely was dead and couldn't do anything about it.

It was an ankle-length dress that was a lot less puffy than that of the latest fashion. It was moderately low in the chest area to show off my non existent boobs but didn't go too low. Wholly, the dress felt elegant and the material looked like some sort of expensive silk. There were also black gloves that fit to the 'T' and a ring. I tried to put it on my middle finger -the only finger I like to put my rings on- and it also fit like it was made for me. I took the ring off and noted some etchings on the inside. "To my beloved, Emily Lurysmith, May you rest in peace for eternity" I snorted. A bit too late for resting in peace I might add…. Hey! This is for me! And it says "my"! Young Master Ciel did this just for me? I am deeply touched and not worthy! I missed them and wondered how they are doing. I hoped they'd be getting along okay without me. What am I saying, they have Sebastian. Sebastian, you a-hole, you better take care of my family! I thought.

Again, I looked into the mirror again this time noting how I almost look exactly the same as before minus the white hair and the paler skin. I don't look blue but I don't exactly look human colored either. I guess my luck will depend on the lighting then. My eyes are still black (actually if you were wondering, they aren't black -they are so immensely dark brown, they look black if you aren't close enough). Even though I had been run over by that stupid driver of that stupid carriage, I didn't look like I had, but I suspect Terry fixed me up good. I tried to feel the stitches but it seems I can't really feel anything. That's a minus to being a zombie: you can't really feel anything (which might explain for the heightened ability of my other senses).

The door's bell rang again, so I assumed it was safe for me to come out now. I tiptoed out of the hallway and down to the room I thought was the lobby. Another plus for being a zombie -better hearing because I don't think I would have heard the bell from Terry's room if I were my normal self. I peeked into the lobby, Terry was there sitting down smiling. He turned to me.

"Ara ara ara.~ Somebody sure looks pretty~" I blush. Just then the door bursts open as if we were the mall on a special sale. "One more thing, Under-" Ciel walks in but he cannot finish his words. My mind goes blank as I stare at him staring at me. Even the calm and collected Sebastian looked a little confused . It seemed only Terry was not looking flabbergasted. His smile just fades slightly. "Is the game over already~?" he pouts.

"E.. em… Emily?" Ciel sputters out.

I look around me for anything to hide behind, too late. "Er….no…?"

This is actually my first story so I hope you enjoy it. Please review. If you don't review it means you'll be sending me to the depths of despair. I don't care what you write as long as you tell me something. So be nice.

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