Hello there! Welcome to my first technical fanfiction! I have written some before, but have unfortunately never had the means to post them. I have to admit, writing in the sort of angsty and depressing category is something a little new to me, I usually tend to write in the humor category. This chapter can be a bit reminiscent of episode 18 from season 1 of the anime, but I've added my own touches to it and the plot, otherwise, is completely different. Oh and the title is a reference to the movie of the same name (one I HIGHLY encourage you to watch) with Robin Williams, God rest his soul. You'll also find a reference to a quote in the movie within this first chapter. Enjoy!
"I want to stay, forever."
It was not the young boy who said such words, rather, it was his soul. This place made him happy. It made him feel safe and warm. Everything seemed so expressive, vibrant and, quite simply, perfect.
He could feel the corners of his lips pull up into a broad smile, an experience he hadn't felt in a very long time. The view was spectacular. A large mountain loomed in the distance, puffy white clouds dotted it's peak along with patches of snow. A field of wheat covered the landscape, golden by the sunsets gleam just hidden behind the mountain, swaying gently in the breeze. The same breeze ruffled the boy's hair and tickled his cheeks. He was standing in what appeared to be a small stream, the clear water parting only for his ankles.
Exactly where was an event yet to be developed, but that seemed like the most minute detail at the moment. This was peace. This was heaven. Not a single soul stirred among his dreamscape, if you didn't count the doves flying high in the picturesque sky or the fish nibbling at his toes in the stream. That didn't bother him at all though, and soon the boy was falling back into a patch of nearby wheat, laughing as he spread himself out as if he were making a snow angel.
The boy inhaled deeply, closing his eyes and savoring the fresh air and the sunset's final beams of gold warming his face, and when he opened them he couldn't stop smiling. All he could think of was how happy he was, lying there on nature's blanket, closed off from the rest of the world. His thoughts were only shaken as a loud 'woof' invaded his ears. He sat up instantly looking around for the creature, only to be brought back down again by the dog's heavy body and gleeful licks.
"Sebastian!" His voice laughed as he attempted to sit up on his elbows to pet the waiting creature, "I couldn't be in dog heaven, could I?"
The dog barked once more and seemed to motion it's head to behind the boy. He followed it's gaze which rested on two silhouette's walking closer to him. From where he sat he could make out the form of both a man and a woman.
I know them. He knew he did, but his mind seemed muddled compared to the clear sky. Bits of information surfaced though as he began to dig into his memories.
As the realization hit him, he got to his knees and began to slowly walk towards them; his gaze completely transfixed on the figures not even letting his eyes so much as blink as if they would disappear at any moment.
No, it's impossible. He told himself, as his walk suddenly turned into brisk jog and then an impossibly fast sprint; Sebastian bounding close at his heels.
The figures only grew clearer with every step he took. The man's blue hair, styled in a way similar to his own, the woman's blond locks cascading carefully down her fragile body. The perfect couple, beaming their perfect smiles on a perfect day.
No words were spoken, not as if they were needed. The simple act of the two pairs of arms embracing him tightly as he collided with their chests was enough. It was all more than enough. The emotion spoke for itself.
His mother gently kissed his forehead as his father smoothed his hair.
"Sweetie... you're finally home." His mother's soft voice finally broke the silence, overwhelming and trembling with emotion.
This must be heaven. He found himself thinking again as he stained the fabric of his parents with his tears.
Which means I'm dead.
The thought had struck him out of nowhere, but it resonated deeply within his soul. And the first feeling to strike him from that realization was fear. Intense fear.
His body felt cold all of a sudden, the warmth from before all but extinguished, and he moved slowly to release the fabric he had once clenched so tightly to as if his life depended on it. He backed away slowly, mindful to keep his head stared towards the ground, as he began to take rapid breaths from his increased fear.
Don't you dare look. He told himself, as if he were a parent scolding a restless child. He could hear his heartbeat quicken in his ears.
"Ciel?" The man asked taking a step forward to grip the young boys shoulder, only to be slapped away by the boys hand.
"Stay away from me." He whispered, slowly taking another step back.
"Son. This is nonsense, whatever's the matter?"
"What's the matter?" His voice had suddenly turned into an angry shout, "You both are dead! You both have been dead for three godforsaken years! And... and..." His head throbbed to search for the right words.
"And what?" His father's voice prompted him, also laced with anger, "And you think we're here to drag you into hell? Is that what you think? Ciel, if you haven't taken a good look around we're in paradise itself! What could be better?" His voice softened slightly, "What could be better than being a family again?"
"But I'm not dead!" Ciel screamed back, "I didn't have a funeral, I don't have a tombstone and I'm not buried six feet under like the two of you!"
You could hear the deathly silence that separated the two parties.
"My little boy..." he heard the woman whisper, her voice cracking slightly as he assumed she was at the point of tears.
The boy had to bite his lip from saying more, their voices were all that it took to set him off.
"I'm sorry." He knew he had to run, to escape and find the exit. But something kept him glued to the ground. Perhaps it was the pain of leaving his parents again for his own sake?
No sooner had he contemplated his decision, could he hear his father's footsteps approaching him again, this time resting both hands on his shoulders.
"I think we both know what you want, Ciel."
Those same hands that had once rested gently on his shoulders were now coiled dangerously around his neck, and they were squeezing. A gag escaped the boys lips as he flailed about helplessly, trying to release himself from the grip on his neck. His feet moved first, trying to kick; then were his hands trying to scratch at his assailant. He had no choice but to finally stare the man in the face in his attempts to escape.
He had no eyes.
The blood curdling scream that escaped the boys lips seemed muted in comparison to the sensory overload happening about him. Chaos had consumed his paradise.
The sky was consumed by dark clouds almost instantaneously. The wheat in the field shriveled and withered. The water within the river evaporated, replaced by a river of lava. The large mountain with snow covering it's peak, had transformed into a ravenous volcano. The dove's in the sky had become carnivorous ravens, circling about the struggling boy.
The stench of the smoke was the first thing that consumed his nostrils, the same smoke made his eyes squint and aided him no better in his continual struggle for oxygen. The woman who had the same soulless sockets on her face had finally helped the man, trying to the best of her strength to keep the boy's arms down at his sides while the now ravenous dog bit down on his legs.
Fear had never seemed so real until that moment.
Embers danced about him as everything was consumed by fire. The skin on the their bodies seemed to melt like candle wax, leaving just two skeletons fighting the mortal before them. It was a fight he was losing and one sure to be lost.
Let go. The voice told him.
So, with a final wheeze for air, the boy closed his eyes and woke up.
Sorry for the cliffhanger! But chapter 2 is already in the works and will actually introduce the real plot (this chapter was more of a prologue to the actual story). And the cover picture was taken by my brother, thanks bro! Thanks again for reading and please favorite, follow and review if you enjoyed it! Bye!