There were no thoughts as the young boy was carried quickly down the white cliff edges. His eyes were shut tightly, allowing the sea-salt wind to tingle his bare skin with sloppy, wet kisses. He let out a breath, and inhaled another, and his last, thoughtless breath.

Instead of hitting the hard rocks like planned, the earl had drifted into the foaming water; the channel's water ice against his skin. A burning sensation lapped at the exposed skin from hitting the surface. The cobalt eyes opened at the dark blue that surrounded him, glancing at the white bubbles to see how far down he was. Wasn't too far considering the approximate hundred meter drop.

The young earl had two decisions now. He could swim to the top and climb onto the rocks, and successfully create a loophole through Sebastian's plan. But this involved surviving, and Ciel didn't have anyone to return home to. His second decision would be to get his death over with, and swallowing the channel's water, causing him to drown. But this would involve dying, and Ciel was having second thoughts about that.

Ciel looked around, deciding to let his fate choose for him. The water closer to him was more of an aqua green color, and the farther it got the darker it was. Moonlight trickled into the water, causing white patterns on his pale skin. The clothes felt heavy, as if they were dragging him down farther and farther into the dark abyss. Ciel let out a little bit of air through his nose, turning his head to look at a floating weed. His lungs were beginning to ache and hurt. Perhaps it's a test, an angelic test to see if I turned to the light. Ciel thought, blinking and looking up toward the surface.

The ache began to build, spreading from his lungs to his stomach and limbs. Ciel watched the waves pulse over the surface. There was a small conscience telling him to swim to the top, to take a deep breath and to enjoy the freedom he had. But there was an even smaller part of him, a small part at the bottom of his dark and hateful heart; it told him Sebastian would take care of it.

A scoff nearly left Ciel's mouth. As far as he was concerned, Sebastian no longer wanted part of him; He would take his soul and be done with the Phantomhive name. He had put Ciel in danger too many times, and this was the last of those times. If Sebastian really knew me, he wouldn't have given me that option. Ciel thought bitterly. But another thought came to his mind a few short moments later; Sebastian was testing my loyalty.

Ciel knew his decision; He wanted to live. He wanted to prove to Sebastian that even in the most dire situations he would always remain at Sebastian's side as his demon had him. Every single situation and bad thing that happened over the two and a half years of their relationship was a test to Sebastian's loyalty; he had proven devoted to his master. The end had come and it was Ciel's time; He hadn't proven anything at all except his will to die! It all made sense to the earl. Sebastian had a stubborn personality as did the young master, but when the time was right he would always comply and prove the master to be better. Now that the roles were reversed, Ciel couldn't even prove the same!

I'm a royal idiot! Ciel said angrily, beginning to fight his way to the surface. He felt the weight of his clothes and his biggest part of his will now, trying to pull him down farther to his death. But the earl's stubbornness was heavier than any obstacle. He clawed his way, struggling, until finally his face broke water.

A deep breath overcame the earl, inhaling deeply and exhaling quickly in a panting motion. He pushed off the overcoat and kicked off his shoes (or at least one), attempting to be lighter. He treaded water for a moment, before he looked up at the top of the cliff, expecting to find the butler there watching. When no figure stood, he looked toward the rocks; no figure stood there either.

"Sebastian!" Ciel managed. His breaths were ragged, his eyes looking frantically along to coast and the cliff. He was interrupted with a crushing wave into his body, crashing into him and forcing him under. He tumbled, vision distorted, before he was able to break the surface again. The earl was closer to the rocks this time, a few meters away. He coughed hard, inhaling the water again as he was forced under again.

"Sebas!" Ciel cried out when he was above the water again. He was frightened, death so close, closer than when he stood on the cliff. He wanted Sebastian, needed him. He hadn't even said a proper goodbye.

Ciel was picked up this time with the third wave, the foaming water boiling over him. He was basically tossed into the rocks, which came closer and closer every second. He shut his eyes tightly. He decided his last words, that spewed from his lip without a second thought.

"It hath been said often, that it is not death, rather dying, that is terrible."

It was a horribly realistic quote from Ciel's favorite book, Amelia. It was a book he had read while in the 'orphanage'. While a romance novel, he had remembered that quote. It was the most complicated idea Ciel could have ever thought of, but now he understood that as well. The idea of death was not a painful nor horrible thing, considering death is approached by every one in a way. It is the ending to the story we write, the ending to pain and suffering. But when you were in the process of dying, each painful word that dripped from your quill seemed more dreadful that the last.

Ciel prepared himself for impact.