I'm sorry this took so long. It would have been up a lot sooner, but I have been having terrible headaches lately...
Ciel swung his legs back and forth slowly, as if he could make the minutes pass by more quickly by moving. He figured he should be thankful for the time he had alone and use it to rest, but he couldn't. Not when at any moment someone might come back through that door.
The wait was unnerving. He still had no idea why be had been brought to this room, and every second that passed only made him think up a more horrible explanation than the last. No one had spoke to him or told him what was going on, though that wasn't a surprise. He didn't expect them to think he needed an explanation for their actions.
He let his gaze travel around the room for the fourth time. It was some sort of interrogation cell. There was only a table, chair and a door. No windows or anything else that might give him a clue as to what was going on outside the stark, white walls.
He took a deep breath, laying his head down on the table as the minutes turned to hours. He wondered if perhaps they had forgotten all about him in here, and just left him to die alone. Wasn't he supposed to be dead anyway? That's what should have happened to him the day he arrived. Maybe fate wasn't going to allow him to escape it's clutches this time around.
His eyes slowly closed. The lack of a proper meal, and the fact that he had had no sleep during the night was beginning to affect him. He was slowly slipping into a state of unconsciousness, when a loud sound caused him to jerk upright, his eyes going immediately to the door.
Ciel held his breath as the commander stepped into the room and shut the door. The man's eyes focused on him, and he fought the urge to look away. Sebastian's gaze was always so unreadable, and yet, Ciel couldn't help but feel that those crimson eyes were the key to unlocking the mystery of this man. He could do so much with just a look. Ciel knew it well, for every time the man stared at him, he felt like a little child again. Helpless and alone. It was frightening. He was at this man's mercy, and knew that he hadn't any.
He stayed silent as Sebastian stopped in front of the desk. Something was set down, and Ciel tore his gaze away from Sebastian's face long enough to see the food that had been set before him. He looked up at the dark haired man in confusion and distrust, making no move to reach for the bowl, though the tantalizing smell was driving him almost mad.
"Eat."
Ciel stared at Sebastian, but could see nothing in those eyes except the direct desire to be obeyed. He slowly reached out his hand and picked up the spoon, hesitating only briefly before dipping it into the liquid. The soup might have been made from rotting vegetables or the finest in Germany for all Ciel could tell. All he knew was that it was definitely the best tasting food he had ever eaten in his life.
He was careful to not eat too fast, not wanting to risk being sick, and not wanting the man in front of him to know just how hungry he had been. He tried not to think about Sebastian staring at him as he ate, chosing to enjoy the meal since he had no idea when he might get another.
After a few minutes he placed the spoon to the side of the empty bowl, drawing his eyes up to meet the commander's gaze. He knew it would be best not to talk until he had found out just why he was here, so he stayed silent, waiting for the other man to say something.
"Ciel.."
The boy shivered when he heard his name being spoken. There was something chilling in the way Sebastian said it. He kept his eyes on the man, but didn't say a word, not sure if he was supposed to reply or not.
Sebastian took off his hat, setting it on the table. He leaned forward, his hair falling gently into his face. "Did you not enjoy the meal?"
Ciel was caught off guard by the question. It was strange to have this man acting like he cared about him. Sebastian was supposed to be cruel and merciless, or at least that's what Abberline had told him. It made no sense. He nodded slowly.
"Doesn't one normally thank another when they are given something?"
Ciel barely heard him. Sebastian was so close and it was making it hard to think about anything else. He was afraid, of course, but there was something else, something exciting about this man in spite of the danger he embodied.
A gloved hand reached across the table, cupping Ciel's chin gently. The boy's breath caught in his throat. He noticed every aspect of Sebastian's face. The way his long eyelashes fell softly across his cheeks as he blinked, the way his silky hair draped across his forehead, the way those cruel lips moved when he spoke. And those eyes...Darkness and evil, bloodshed and pain. He could see it all in those eyes.
Ciel's body stiffened instinctively as Sebastian's lips pressed against his own. His mind went blank with shock, and all he could do was sit there, unmoving, as he was kissed.
He hadn't expected the possibility of this. He knew the women who were brought here were no doubt abused and raped by their guards, but he never thought something like that would happen to him. The Nazis were known to abhor homosexuality, treating it as a crime. He had seen several men with pink triangles on their uniforms around the camp, and knew what that meant. Surely the commander of the camp wasn't doing this.
Ciel pulled away abruptly, despite the hand that was holding his chin firmly in place. To be perfectly honest, he didn't know what he felt. He was confused and humiliated. Was this the only reason he had been kept alive? To be used and manipulated like this? He should have realized this was why the dark haired commander would be so worried about his well being. A part of him hadn't wanted to move, yet another part of him wanted nothing more to do with the hateful man in front of him.
If Ciel had thought he could escape anything through his little show of defiance, he was sorely mistaken. Sebastian moved around the table, grabbing the boy's neck. He pushed Ciel's head back and looked down at him.
"Ciel..you must remember something. I can make your life here better..." He reached out with his other hand and brushed his fingers over the boy's cheek. "I noticed the way you struggled to lift those heavy rocks. With just a word, I could give you an easier job. I could give you food so you would never have to starve. I could protect you. But," He tightened his grip on Ciel's neck, "With just one word I can also make your life hell in ways you could never imagine."
Sebastian let go of him. Ciel coughed, gasping for breath. He looked up at the commander, the words the man had just spoken still ringing in his ears. He knew from the look in those red eyes that the threat he had made was not an idle one.
Ciel gathered all his available courage and took a deep breath. "I will never do what you want."
Sebastian shook his head. He walked behind Ciel's chair, leaning his head close to the boy's ear. "Oh but I'm sure you want to know what happened to your aunt. What is her name...Angelina? Yes, I'm sure you want to know if she is safe..."
Ciel's eyes widened despite his effort to keep himself from showing any emotion. This man had found the one and only thing he cared about. To think Sebastian knew where his aunt was... What if he could harm her? Ciel hated that she could be used against him like this, but he didn't know where she was, and he couldn't allow her to be hurt. Slowly he turned his head to look at Sebastian. Abberline had been right. This man was indeed cruel.
"You have no need to decide right away. I'll give you a week to think about what I'm offering." Sebastian straightened up and walked to the door, leaving Ciel to stare at the place he had been standing a moment before.
"Ciel, they sent you back! Are you alright?" Abberline rushed toward him the moment he was led back to the barracks by a guard.
Ciel nodded slowly. He knew Abberline was only worried about him, but he wished the other man would leave him alone. He was confused and needed to sort out his emotions in peace.
Abberline looked relieved. "What did they want with you? I was sure something..Well never mind. I'm glad you're safe."
Ciel looked away. "They just...wanted to ask me some questions. That's all..." He walked to his bunk and sat down. His emotions were so scrambled at the moment, he hardly knew what he was saying. He could only hope it satisfied the man's curiosity.
Abberline nodded. He noticed something was bothering the boy, and backed away, giving him some space.
Ciel placed his head in his hands and let out a long sigh. What had happened in the interrogation cell kept replaying in his mind. He could still feel the lingering touch of Sebastian's lips on his own. Shivering, he pressed the back of his hand to his mouth.
The thought of doing what Sebastian wanted frightened him. To his mind it was no better than giving up. He had thought that perhaps Sebastian had saved his life for another reason, but now he knew that was all just foolish wishful thinking. Sebastian was just like all the other selfish people in the world. There was nothing different about him.
Slowly Ciel lifted his head and glanced up at the small window in the back of the room. There was nothing else he could do. He would have to try and escape. He felt as if he were trapped in more ways than one, and while this would only rid him of one set of chains, it was better than doing nothing.
After a moment, his thoughts turned to Abberline. Would the man possibly help him with an escape plan? He realized he didn't really know anything about him. Yes, he had been kind, but could he trust him with something as important as this? He dreaded to think of what Sebastian would do if he was found to be trying to escape.
He turned his head from the window to the man sitting in the bunk across the room. His eyes widened slightly. Abberline's face and arms were covered in bruises and cuts. He hadn't noticed it when the had arrived, though he had been so eager to be left alone, it wasn't a surprise. He had been too caught up with himself to see anything else.
His mind went back to what happened in the quarry, and he shook his head slowly. He had been looking for proof that Abberline wouldn't betray him, when it had been right in front of him all along. The man was willing to sacrifice his own well being to make sure someone else was safe. Ciel had become so used to people who let selfishness rule their hearts, he had forgotten what it was like to have someone who actually cared.
He stood up and walked toward Abberline. It was difficult to admit to having been wrong. He couldn't do that. But he could tell this man how grateful he was.
Ciel wiped the sweat from his forehead as the guard looked the other way. The day had been hotter than the one before it, though the prisoners had been given the same water rations as always. Two men had collapsed from the heat, unable to get up again. Ciel knew that if it wasn't for the sheer will to survive, he would have done the same.
He licked his cracked lips slowly, wincing slightly at the pain. He wanted something to drink, but it didn't seem as if he'd be getting anything anytime soon. A prisoner had gone missing and the guards had gone looking for him. That meant all the others would have to wait in the hot sun till he had been found.
Ciel shifted in place, casting a quick glance toward Abberline. He had yet to tell him about his idea of escape. While in the quarry he had been thinking of it, and had planned on sharing his ideas as soon as they were taken back to their barracks. Of course he had not planned on the possibility of another prisoner carrying out what he was still only thinking about. He wondered what Sebastian would do if he could no longer brag about his camp being inescapable.
Ciel sighed as he realized he had once again thought of the commander. That man had been in his mind constantly. Always taunting him when he thought of escape, always chasing him in his dreams. He had had a sleepless night because of Sebastian.
Hearing a shout, he snapped back to attention. One of the guards who had been sent to find the prisoner had returned. Ciel's eyes didn't settle on him, but shifted to the man who was being dragged along behind him. Bloody and bruised, the man still had a look of defiance in his eyes that Ciel couldn't help but admire. He was clearly defeated, yet he still looked as if he had won. They had stopped him, and yet it was as if he were free.
"Get up."
The man stared his oppressors in the eye as he did as he was commanded. A guard lifted his gun. Ciel was well aware of what was going to happen and he knew the man was as well, but he could see no fear in his eyes.
"You may be able to beat us, oppress us, and eventually silence us, but you can never keep us behind this barbed wire fence. In our hearts we will always be free!"
The shot rang out against the silence.
Ciel watched as the man slowly fell to the ground and lay motionless. To the guards he was nothing but a foolish man who was an example to the rest, but to Ciel he was an inspiration. He had never stopped believing, not even when faced with death. And he had taken a risk, even when he knew he had almost no chance of survival. Ciel looked at him as a martyr for freedom.
The prisoners were finally allowed to go back to their barracks after another roll call was taken and everyone found to be present. Ciel sat on his bed, following the example of the others. He looked around at the faces of the men. None of them seemed at all upset with the fact that one of their own had just been murdered before their very eyes. Of course, Ciel reasoned that most in his barrack had been here for a while, and therefore had seen this happen more times than they most likely wanted to remember. They were all half starved men, and most of them had given up on life. Seeing that man be killed only reminded them of what would eventually happen to everyone.
Ciel was not about to accept that. He had seen the look in the captured prisoner's eyes. That man had fought for his freedom. And he had been right. The guards in this camp might be able to harm him, but they would never be able to change what he felt in his heart.
He sat on the edge of his bed, waiting as the minutes ticked by. The curfew bell had rung an hour ago. Everyone else in the barrack was already asleep, and he dreaded the fact that he was going to have to wake Abberline. He felt bad about it because he knew the other man needed all the rest he could get, but this was the only time they could talk freely.
Quietly he slipped out of bed and tiptoed to Abberline's bunk. He leaned over and shook him gently, calling his name in a whisper.
Abberline opened his eyes, blinking several times before sitting up slightly. "Ciel. What is it?"
Ciel sat down next to him on the bed. "I have an idea.."
Abberline looked at him through the semi-darkness, encouraging him to continue.
"I want to escape this place," Ciel began, watching the others face closely to determine his expression. "I know that it's never been done before, but I think with enough planning, we could pull it off."
Abberline looked as if he did not know what to say. He stared at Ciel for a moment. Finally he shook his head. "I cannot believe you would say that after what happened this afternoon. It's completely foolish, not to mention impossible." There was silence for a moment, and he caught the look of disappointment on the boy's face. He smiled. "What did you have in mind?"
The two spent the better part of the night sharing ideas on the subject, though most were dismissed soon after they were spoken. Ciel begun to realize this would indeed take more planning if it was going to succeed. With a sinking heart he realized he would never be gone by the time Sebastian would want to see him again. But even with that thought in mind, he continued. He didn't care if he had to endure some hardship. He and Abberline wouldn't be just accepting their fate here, they would be fighting for their freedom.