PP12: Chapter 13, or as I like to call it, the CLIMAX CHAPTER! Getting reeeeeeal excited!
"Splendid," Ciel groused as he stared at the corrupted forest, the aura now obscuring just above him. His feet planted firmly on the ground but he could feel the aura luring him in. Without realising it, Ciel found himself inside the forest surrounded by darkened trees and the thick, murky atmosphere. He couldn't see the sky anymore, blocked out by the treetops which made the forest more claustrophobic. The earl heard rustling and often had minor tremors when something 'invisible' touched him, though he logically knew it was the atmosphere playing tricks on him. More rustling sounded from the treetops and Ciel darted his head up, able to spot some branches shaken by the movement.
"Sebastian?" he questioned.
"Ooh my~!" a new familiar voice called out.
Ciel swung his head around and saw Grell behind him, leaning against a tree and twiddling with his hair that now reached to his shoulders. "Grell!" he exclaimed. The red haired reaper flashed his shark-toothed grin.
"And what would a small boy like you be doing in a scary forest like this one?" he asked whilst flicking his hair.
"I would ask the same about you," Ciel responded, hearing more rustling, "But I think I already know."
"You couldn't be more correct about that."
Ciel recognised the stern voice and heard someone jumping down the trees and landing perfectly on the ground. He turned to see William T. Spears, and by the look on his face he wasn't pleased.
"So you weren't able to lock the demon up," William glowered and walked towards the boy, "And to top it off you caused us more trouble as well. Do you have any idea how much of a threat this creature is? He is highly dangerous and it's careless enough that you let him escape."
"Don't take that out on me!" Ciel spat angrily. The shinigami cocked an eyebrow but everything else on his face remained neutral. At this moment a strong breeze gusted in the forest, the wind much warmer than usual, that created a melancholy howl close to a pack of wolves. Ciel suddenly noticed the figure again in the distance.
"Sebastian!"
He prepared to run after it but was hauled back by William.
"Only an ill-minded idiot would even think about-"
"BASSY! My dear sweet Bassy!" Grell squealed as he dashed towards the shadowy figure, spreading his arms openly. When he was about a few centimetres from him however, Grell was abruptly pushed back by a powerful force, making him slam against a tree. A dark sinister chuckle echoed through the forest and the figure vanished. Ciel couldn't move; he was already frozen in fear.
Was that…really him?
"Do you understand now?" William asked sternly. He took out with death scythe and tipped his glasses, staring at where the figure once was. "If you'll please excuse us. Come, Sutcliff."
Grell got himself up and also readied his chainsaw.
"We won't be needing that," William stated and suddenly he stopped when his wrist was grabbed.
"Wait!" Ciel shouted. William looked down on the boy and sighed irritably.
"There is no point in stopping me."
"Just what do you plan to do?" Ciel asked with a firm look in his eye. William tipped his spectacles with his scythe that made a white flash in his lenses, hiding his own eyes.
"If you want to come that's fine by me, just don't interfere."
"Interfere what?" Ciel demanded getting close to yelling.
William turned away from him and headed for the darkest corner of the forest where sudden flashes appeared like lightning. The howl of the wind grew louder as William gave both Ciel and Grell a serious look.
"We're going after the demon," he said grimly, "Before he spreads like a plague."
Ciel and Grell followed William further into the woods after many encounters with ghostly apparitions and spooks, making Grell cower behind William. Even though Ciel looked unaffected, in truth he felt like sprinting off just like Pluto did earlier. The thought of his butler creating all this equalled the memory of his parent's death. Maybe slightly worse. Typical for a demon, he laughed dryly in his thoughts, but then he frowned and looked to his feet not wanting anyone to see his face. None of this would've happened if it wasn't for me. This is my fault, my entire fault. What the hell have I done? Suddenly he bumped against Grell who bumped against William when the shinigami came to a sudden halt.
"There he is."
Sitting back against a tree was Sebastian, his skin much darker and the aura at its full potential. His irises burned a hellfire pink and he was ripping handfuls of grass from the ground. At first Ciel was shocked at the sight of him; if he entered the Halloween Costume Contest, Ciel knew Sebastian Michaelis would've won the gold.
"Bassy sure is terrifying," Grell quivered, trembling behind William.
It wasn't long until Sebastian gasped and arched his back, coughing up blood and his chest heaving up and down. He was in pain, and just after he hacked, the shade of his skin grew darker, almost black.
"What's happening to him?" Ciel asked.
"He is experiencing a transformation," William explained, whispering.
Suddenly the demon shot his head upwards. His fiery eyes scanned the area until they were looking straight at the direction of the three watchers which happened to be Ciel, William and Grell.
Oh crap.
Sebastian growled and lifted himself up. William positioned his scythe and waited for the right moment to attack.
"Wait…"
In one swift move, the demon charged at the group, his eyes blazing dangerously.
"Wait…"
He was getting closer and soon he leaped, aiming at them with what looked like claws on the tips of his fingers.
"Now!" William shouted before letting the length of his death scythe extend so the sharp talons reached the demon's throat. They clutched his neck and the demon was thrown back as the scythe extended further, hitting him against a thick tree. Ciel widened his eyes and his mouth dropped. Grell intertwined his hands and rested them on his chest as he watched the scene.
"Sutcliff, can I trust you to finish it off?" William asked not taking his eyes off Sebastian.
"Oh Will!" Grell beamed, fumbling in his pockets and revealing a set of gold chains, "You can count on me!" The red haired reaper dashed excitedly towards Sebastian, holding the chains in his hand. He swung them around like a lasso and latched one end on the demon's wrist and did the same with his other wrist. Sebastian jerked his arms and growled at the reaper.
"So sorry my love," Grell apologised as he tied the other ends of the chains around two trees, spreading the demon's arms out wide. Again Sebastian attempted to escape, jolting his body sideways as an endeavour to knock the trees down. He looked like an untamed beast.
"Those are strong chains," Ciel muttered.
"We keep those just in case," William replied, "But I doubt even they will hold him back for long."
After a few more violent swings Sebastian started to slow down, and precipitously more blood made its way out of his mouth. Soon he was motionless and looked more like a hanging scarecrow. William released the scythe from Sebastian's throat and walked towards him. Taking slow and steady steps, Ciel joined him and stared face-to-face with his butler. But no, he didn't look like his butler at all. Ciel saw those eyes, the same eyes that glared at him in the study. He stepped back when memories returned and decided not to look at him for a while.
"How long will he be like that?" Ciel asked William.
"Long enough so by the time he breaks free he should return to normal, however when that happens, it is possible the demon will go on a rampage," the shinigami answered. He adjusted his spectacles and looked at the boy solemnly. "But since this is a contracted demon we're dealing with, you will be the one who is most likely to be attacked."
"Me?!" Ciel nearly shouted.
Great. My butler is going to kill me. That's just what I need, isn't it?
"This should approximately go for no longer than ten seconds. If I were you I would provide a head-start," William suggested.
Unfortunately it was already too late for that. Sebastian started up again, juddering for freedom and eventually his skin had reached to the shade of pitch black, making him look like a silhouette apart from the eyes. Out of nowhere, black feathers fell down upon him and the aura sickly plagued over him. His normal shoes became pointed heels and Ciel thought he was dead there and then when a grin appeared on his face.
William tipped his glasses. "Now might be a good time to run."
There was the sound of metal being broken and without thinking for a moment, Ciel ran as fast as his legs could carry him far away into the haunted forest. As he ran, he started to count.
"Ten," he started.
Suddenly he heard the horrible howling of the wind and later the crashing sound of fallen trees echoing in the woods.
"Nine," he continued.
Something seemed to be slowing him down, but he ignored it and focused on running. He felt a terrifying presence gaining closer and closer.
"Eight," he breathed.
Sebastian was after him now, and Ciel had to stop, resting his hand against a tree. Regaining his breath, he sprinted further into the forest.
"Seven…" he panted for air.
His heart raced just as fast as his feet continually hit the ground, and he took a sharp turn in a different direction, hoping to trick the demon.
"Six," he counted.
Ciel felt the presence again and before he knew it the howling gained stronger and knew Sebastian was close.
"Five!" he gasped as he tripped on a twig. He collapsed on the ground and panicked when the twig curled tightly around his ankle and refused to let go. Ciel wriggled his leg for escape, but struggling became pointless. He was trapped like bait.
"Four…"
Ciel trembled and gritted his teeth, his death calling for him as he heard more trees crash in the forest.
"Three…"
Ciel shut his eyes, waiting for the demon to find him and end his life. The presence struck again and he picked up the sound of the intimidating 'tap, tap' that sounded like heels walking towards him. The boy dared not look back at the frightening silhouette that picked up his speed.
"Two…"
Sebastian's eyes shone brighter at his prey. Ciel thought he might as well die from a heart-attack if he had to wait any longer.
This is it, this is my death. I'm going to die.
"One!" he screamed and flinched, preparing for his slow and painful death. He waited for something to happen, but nothing did. After what was fifteen seconds instead of ten, Ciel noticed the forest stopped howling and the twig loosened on his ankle. He opened his eye and found he was still alive and breathing.
"What...?" Ciel murmured.
An answer popped in his head and he cautiously turned around, and what he saw could almost make him the happiest boy in the world.
PP12: Reviews please!