Back again. Yay. I hope you all enjoy this.
(Most awkward intro in the history of intros)
I only own my character and the plot of this fanfiction. Everything else belongs to their original owners.
Don't forget to leave a review; it tells me how I'm doing!
-ShockScythe
(p.s. Everything got deleted the first time around. Don't ask why, I DON'T KNOW)
It might have just been my imagination, but the cold seemed to grow worse as I ran. I ran out of the town and down the path towards the Phantomhive manor, not looking behind me at all. My left knee suddenly gave out and I dropped to my hands and knees on the road. Taking only a second to catch my breath, I kept running. I didn't know why I ran. Maybe because I thought that if I went back home, everything would be fine again. It was a naïve thing to hope but it was all I could do. The manor came into view, golden light pouring from the front windows as it flooded the ground in front of it, and hope filled my chest, making me speed up. If everything was a horrible dream, then the past week or so, when Sebastian's presence was scarce within the mansion, was a dream as well. I slowed to a stop at the front doors, my hand inches from the handle. If that was the case, then Hydria was all a dream too. Would I be able to face that? Sure, she was just a girl, but... Swallowing, I opened the door and was surprised to see Hydria. Even more surprised to see her asleep on the first few steps of the stairs, her hands under her head and her legs curled close to her body. Relief quickly replaced the surprise but was countered by ache and hurt. It wasn't a dream so far, which meant everything I've heard is all true. Closing the door quietly behind me, being careful to not wake her, I took silent steps towards the stairs and crept past her sleeping body. My foot was by her head when she stirred, groaning lightly as she lifted her head, looking up at me with clouded eyes, "...Huh..? Ciel..?" Instantly, she was on her feet, "Ciel!" she exclaimed, "Oh, I'm sorry! I tried to stay awake but I was exhausted from cleaning while I waited." I looked at her as if in a daze then looked down slightly, my eyes widening when I noticed a tear in her clothes that reached her body. On her side was a long, red mark, "...What happened..?" I asked faintly. Hydria quickly put her hands up, "Oh, don't worry about it. I fell from the ceiling and hit the chandelier on the way down." When I didn't say anything, looking away instead, she continued, "I didn't damage the floor or the chandelier so don't worry, Ciel."
"Don't...call me Ciel..." I said at last.
"Huh?" she questioned, her eyes widening slightly, "Why?" I simply shook my head. If I am a fake, it wouldn't do Hydria any good by smiling or talking to the person she thinks is Ciel Phantomhive. "Don't call me Ciel," I repeated. In the next moment, she was looking up at me, her head appearing in front of my own as I looked down, "What happened?" she asked, "Are you okay?" Frowning slightly, I looked away again, "I'm fine. I'm just telling you to not call me Ciel."
"And since when did I take such stupid orders ?"
I bit my lip then started up the stairs, "I'm...going to bed." Hydria was in front of me again, her arms crossed over her chest with a cold look in her eyes, "What's going on, Ciel?"
"I told you not to call me Ciel!" I snapped suddenly, causing her eyes to widen in shock, "What's the point of calling someone a name that's not their own?!" I demanded. Hydria's gaze softened, "Not your own..? Ciel..."
"I'm not Ciel!"
She put a hand on my chest, pushing me back ever so slightly. "W-what the hell are you doing?!" I demanded shakily, looking down at her pale hand. "You're Ciel," she said confidently, "Nothing inside of you has changed. And everyone knows you as Ciel." I smacked her hand away, "It's all been a lie!" I snarled, feeling tears in my eyes for some unknown reason, "It's what Sebastian told the real Phantomhive!" Her eyes widened, her hand returning to her side, "The real Phantomhive..?"
"I'm the only one alive. Well, I thought I was... Sebastian's loyalties lie with the Phantomhive family, no one else... I saw him," I told her shakily, feeling the tears threaten to overflow, "talking to his 'Master' by the fountain..."
"What an asshole."
I turned to look at her again in surprise at her comment when she suddenly embraced me tightly, "H-Hydria?!" I questioned, a hint of panic in my voice, "What're you doing..?!"
"Reminding you that you're real," she responded softly, "Because it seems to me like you forgot. Don't listen to whatever Sebastian says; you're real. There's no way you can be fake." I lifted my hands awkwardly, unsure of what to do, when her words suddenly hit me like a wave. Squeezing my eyes shut as tears spilled from the corners, I returned her embrace (Though very awkwardly since I'm not one for hugging). And I'm not one for crying as well. What was happening to me? Suddenly, the door opened. Hydria stiffened. She was the first to see the guest since she was facing the door, "Sebastian..." she breathed. I jumped and looked back at my butler. He stared intently at me, my discarded cape folded neatly and hanging from his arm, "My lord," he said carefully, "you left this behind." I opened my mouth to say something when Hydria stepped forward, her arms crossed, "Ciel, head up to bed," she ordered, "You're tired. I'll bring you something to calm you down once I'm done." I looked at her then back at Sebastian. "Please," he said, a pleading tone in his voice as he got to a knee, bowing his head slightly, "let me speak to you. And only you. I will explain everything, my lord, I promise."
"Promise, huh?" I asked, my voice cracking for the first time in a long time, "I thought your promises where 100% true. It is clear I was wrong."
"Master, I-" He fell silent and gazed down at the cape, "I wouldn't try to hurt you," he said. I turned away, "And look what happened." Hydria glanced at me, the fierceness in her eyes fading slightly, "Ciel..." she breathed. I waved her off, heading up the stairs, "I will be in my room." She nodded then went back to glaring at Sebastian. "My lord..!" Sebastian cried, getting to his feet to follow. I shook my head and Hydria got the message loud and clear, using her powers to keep Sebastian down in a kneeling position. "If you have any loyalty left to me, obey this one order; Stay where you are," I commanded. A pained expression flashed across his face, "As you wish, my lord." Hydria released her hold on him and he stood up. However, he didn't try to chase after me. Just as I was about to disappear down the hall, Hydria said; "Rest well, Ciel." Acting as if I had not heard her, I kept walking, a pain in my head and my chest. The pain in my head was real and the one in my chest was just a painful sense of dread. It was clear that Sebastian still followed the 'real Phantomhive' just by the look in his eyes as he stared at me earlier. Which made it clear that I was still a fake. So, I would have to convince Hydria to forget about me and my existence as Ciel Phantomhive.