Dripping...

What's dripping?

Rain... Right, it was raining before...

Before what?

...

Oh well...

Something stinks too... Oh god, is that (Y/N)? Is she the source of that strong smell of dirt, rain, sweat, and a faint hint of trash? The girl groans, trying to will her sore muscles to move so she could grab a shower. But that works against her too; the skin on her back screams at her to just fucking stop moving because it's threatening to tear in half with every movement. The smell of blood doesn't reach her nose until that moment. Where's that smell coming from?

(Y/N) pushes herself up anyways, despite every fiber in her being telling her that it was the worst possible idea. She lets out a raspy sob as that aching pain spreads to the rest of her trembling body. She opens her eyes, finding that darkness is all that welcomes her. What? Is she blind now too? She wouldn't put that past her luck.

Her trembling hand - covered in dirt, she can feel the pebbles against herr wet skin - reaches to her back to find the shirt burned away, and hanging on by little threads... And the skin of her back, bumpy, torn; she can't tell but something isn't right.

What the fuck is going on? (Y/N)'s energy to find out is practically sapped from her now that she's tried to check her upper back and found absolutely no answers. She doesn't even want to lay down, knowing how much pain that's going to send to her already twisting stomach.

"H-Hey." She calls to absolutely no one. Jeeze! She's in a very alarming situation, possibly in the basement of the new Ted Bundy, maybe in hell, and the first thing she think to say is "Hey"? "Where am I?" Who is she even talking to? Despite (Y/N) kicking her own ass over how stupid it is for her to be talking to no one in particular, she knows it's all she can really do. She doesn't want to move because of her back, but she also doesn't know what is surrounding her... Maybe it's like in the Saw movies where there's traps everywhere and if she moves an inch to her left she'll be eaten by sharks.

Heaviness sinks into her chest as her head falls; bad idea because even that movement sends pain down her spine. What is she going to do? (Y/N)'s face contorts as a sob rocks her battered body, and her hands try to take a fist full of the cobblestone ground beneath her.

"Please..." She whines through her childish crying. She can't help it, she's paralyzed in fear. "Help me." The girl knows that burn in her lungs anywhere as shivers run up her bare arms and her cold cheeks set on fire. The shortness of breath. The hollowing of her head, to where there's nothing up there except fear. The feeling of a bag being placed over her head, and she can't even tear it off to make it feel better. "H..." She huffs out, without breath. "Help me." She mouths. She keeps her eyes wide open, trying to see if light will come in the wider she holds them. "Help me." (Y/N) repeats just under a whisper. Can no one hear her? Another sob strangles the little breath she has from her.

(Y/N)'s desperate.

"Help me!" She screams, loud enough for God to hear her from where ever she is. Loud enough to feel like she tore the lining of her throat. "Help me!" She screams again. Is no one really going to come? Can no one really hear her?

Light. Just a little bit of warmth. Another person. Before she knows it, the only sound between her and that man is the sound of her sobbing. "Please..." (Y/N) drinks in the light pouring from around him, pushing away her tears with the dirty ball of her palms. "Help me."

"Fetch the master." The man whispers. "The woman has woken." Her breath leaves her as he moves to close the door.

No.

"Please..." The girl whimpers. But he tears his eyes from hers; what did that word ever matter, coming from (Y/N)'s chapped lips? She stares at where his sharp features once were; pink lips parted, blue eyes nearly falling from their sockets they were so wide, feet set apart as if he were ready for her to attack him like a rabid dog any second... He was... Scared of (Y/N)?

Her body crumbles under the weight in her chest. She wraps her arms around her head, cradling her throbbing body... Is this... How she'll die?

If this is all she'll be able to do with the extra time she was given, why didn't He just take her when he took her parents?

And she submits. What else can she do? What else can she do but cry? Cry and wait to die... It's all you she do now that she's chained somewhere in someone's wet basement.

"She's in here, My Lord." She hears before the door opens slowly, and another silhouette stands in it, watching her like she is a demon... Wait. A smile cracks onto her lips before it falls with another sob. She rubs away her tears aimlessly, relieved that her fear is shaking away into irritation. And then, she begins laughing... What the actual hell is this? Is this a joke? Is someone pulling a joke on her? What kind of fucked up joke is this? For Christ's sake (Y/N)'s back is burned all to hell - at least that's what she's going with - and they think now is a good time to play dress up?

"What the hell are you doing?" She snaps before the boy can even introduce himself. "You think this is a good idea? I'm wounded and you think it's a good idea to throw me in your basement and play around a little? You think it's okay to take just any girl who's passed out on the street and take her to play dress up?" The girl rants, tears still pouring down her face. The boy draws back, his face flabbergasted at (Y/N)'s explosive behavior. But she just don't care; she's hurting and she needs to be at a hospital. The boy sucks in a long breath through his nose, and opens his one eye to watch the girl strongly.

"My name is-"

"Ciel Phantomhive, yeah, I get it. And he's your butler Sebastian; he's a demon and you're sad. Great outfits, now let me out of here so I can get help." (Y/N) snaps angrily. Silence runs between them. "Please." She pleads strongly, tears still thick on her face, she shows him the chain biting at her reddening skin on her ankle. She looks up to them, and then to the red eyes on the butler; they look mighty convincing, though.

"How do you know my name?"

"Basically everyone knows the name kid."

"I'll cut you a deal," the boy begins, "You tell me everything you know, and I'll spare your life."

"Like what? The recipe to Martha Stewart's special christmas cookies?" (Y/N) cries at the boy. "Or would you like to know who killed your parents?" His eye widens greatly, but she could care less about how he's reacting to her harsh words. (Y/N) presses her hand over her eyes, and then pinches the bridge of her nose. "Listen, kid. I'll cut you a better deal. You let me go, and we'll call it even. You kidnap me, in return I get set free... No harsh feelings."

Yikes... This kid sure does take his costume seriously cause that sure looks like a real revolver pointed at (Y/N)'s head right now.

"Tell me what you know about my parents death." The girl's shocked expression quickly falls away to annoyance as her brows pinch together and her upper lip lifts in a slight snarl. She smacks his hand away from her, almost in a scolding manner, and points her finger at him, ignoring the gun skidding across the floor.

"You shouldn't be playing around with things like that! Guns are dangerous! You could seriously hurt somebody with one of those!" The boy turns away and walks towards his butler, who watches (Y/N) with unashamed amusement on his attractive features.

"Sebastian." The butler bows to the boys wordless command.

"Yes, my lord." Her entire being ices over as she watches the mans eyes begin to glow... Man... Those contacts... Are really... Those seem pretty real...

"Hey! You know what? Now that you think about it my back isn't hurting at all, "Lie, "So, I'll take your deal. But, maybe... We switch it up a little... Huh?" She glances nervously between the two. "You, Mr. Phantomhive, get me out of here, maybe give me a little Tylenol, maybe call off Mr. Sebastian too. And then, I will tell you everything I know. How about that?" She smiles up to the two, relieved to see the boy considering her proposal.

"Fine, but if you don't, Sebastian won't hesitate to kill you." (Y/N) sucks in a breath between her teeth.

"You know, I sure wouldn't doubt it. Mr. Sebastian seems to have good taste in souls to eat and people to kill." She nervously babbles as the butler chuckles at her and they leave.

(Y/N) heaves out a terrified breath as she's shut away in that darkness again; oddly enough she almost prefers this than having that boy and man in front of her interrogating her like that. If she's down here a little longer, surely she doesn't have any wounds deep enough that they won't scab over. So, she should be fine if she just plays along a little and then heads home after having tea; worst part? (Y/N) hates tea. But as her father used to say, life is hell, and then you die. So, suffer here, suffer there, and it all pays off!

Her forced enthusiasm dies as quickly as a stone falls when you throw it. What the hell is she going to do? What the hell is going on?

All in all, what the hell?

(Y/N) jumps as the door is opened, and the butler stands there with a candle, clean clothes, and medical supplies. Even better, (Y/N) thinks. She looks away from him slowly. He closes the door and walks to her, examining the burns across her back.

"My, my... What caused these wounds?" The girl sighs.

"Lightning."

"Surely not!"

"If you can be a demon, I can be struck by lightning, I guess." She listens to the butler.

"My lady, I merely one hell of a butler." (Y/N) giggles dryly.

"I've heard that one many times before, Sebastian." He begins to pull away the fabric from her skin, ever so gently. Silence engulfs both of them as he begins to clean her burns, much to (Y/N)'s agony. "So..." She forces out, "Are you really... Ya know... A demon?"

"Where would you get that idea?"

"Wild guess?" She turns to look at him, his red eyes surprisingly deep in the candlelight.

"If you believe me to be a demon, why aren't you scared?" The girl watches him and smiles before turning away.

"I think there's a lot more to be scared of than a demon..."

"Oh?" She nods and flinches as he begins to put some type of freezing creme on her back.

"Plus you don't strike me as the type of me to hurt a young lady over nothing." He chuckles as he begins to wrap bandages around her. She can feel the cold radiating off Sebastian's body, her tongue becoming thick as she thinks, perhaps... Maybe he isn't fake. Maybe this really is Sebastian Michaelis. The Sebastian whom she's been dreaming of marrying for years, the one who she's written cringy fanfiction for, and read even more of. That would mean, of course, that the Ciel she just met, is real too... And she was so unkind to him... After all he's been through. Her chest tightens even more and she grips her arms with white knuckles... She'll apologize if the situation calls for it. Then again, he might just be a brat and not deserve it.

"This gown is given by the queen. Will you need help dressing?" Sebastian asks. (Y/N)'s cheeks heat quickly as she takes the clothing gingerly and shakes her head. Stopping short, she looks at the corset, and the several different pieces... Is she going to loose all of her honor in one night?

"Sebastian?" She calls to his retreating form. Her head hangs as she tries to hide the blush rushing over her cheeks. Why she's embarrassed, she's not sure. After all, Sebastian has probably been with a lot of women, so it's not like he's never seen it before... And it's not like he'd be interested in (Y/N) in any possible sense. So, no worries, right? Wrong. Very wrong. Looking to meet his purring eyes, consumed in pleasure -if she is reading him correctly - with the way she's looking at him so shyly, is a huge mistake. But she can't take it back now. "I don't know how... Any of this works..."

"What ever do you mean?" He questions with a smile, which is more than just a pleasantry smile; he is enjoying himself... A lot.

"I've never worn a dress..." She looks away from him and to the ground before shooting her eyes back to his, "Like this, at least." She clarifies. He raises his eye brow. "I need your help." (Y/N) mumbles. He smiles, his eyes damn near started glowing with pleasure as he bows and assures her he will help her.

The girl holds her breath the entire time he dresses her, ignoring the goosebumps she gets when his hand brushes her skin, or the way he is standing just a little closer than he needs to be. Her eyes narrow; he's doing it on purpose.

"There." He sighs, stepping back to admire his handy work. The embarrassed girl grabs the candle and hands it to him with her lips pursed.

"Thank you." He takes it, his eyes on fire along with the candles. Sheesh, he sure does take amusement out of small things; like a child. Easily excited. (Y/N) shakes her head as she follows him from the room, down the hall up a stair case, a thousand turns, and she's standing in...

"Is this the... Royal Palace?" She wheezes.

"Of course." Sebastian assures as he leads her down a long corridor, lavishly decorated with gold and purple and portraits of nobles and royals. (Y/N) looks out the window and stares outside. Where's all the cars? Why are there only horses and carriages? She's plastered to the window, looking at the women in dresses and men in top hats and how no one had a cell phone out...

"Sebastian?"

"My lady?"

"What year is it?"

"1888." Her wide eyes, hollow in disbelief, turn to him slowly.

"You're sure?" He watches her, his expression blank of all emotion except the slight raise in his brow telling her that he thinks she's entirely insane.

"Of course." (Y/N) nods and swallows; this is not good at all. A nervous smile cracks across her lips slowly, and you she nods again.

"Right. I guess the strike must have shaken me a little more than I thought." That's a damn understatement. He smiles sweetly at her and begins to show her the rest of the way to the large drawing room, where Ciel and the queen sit, chatting over sweets and tea.

"My dear! I am so very glad to see you awake! And to see you looking so beautiful in that old gown of mine warms my heart greatly! You must be very tired. Please, come and sit. Let this old woman get a good look at that face of yours." (Y/N) stares at the silver haired woman, the crown on her head; the girl doesn't know how to act around a queen. Shoot, she barely even knows how to act around other humans... Deciding to bow her head lightly and take the seat the queens gloved hands are held out to, (Y/N) watches Ciel with a critical eye. This boy in front of her has the ability to end her life in a second if he wishes it. And he is also so unnaturally adorable she could just pinch his cheeks and scream.

"Are you hungry?" The queen asks.

"Not at all, your highness."

"Your accent, you're from the colonies?" Mouth in a thin line, she nods and smiles shyly.

"How did you find yourself here on the outskirts of London?" (Y/N) looks down to the cup of tea being placed in her hand by Sebastian. She swallows thickly before turning her eyes back to the queens and smiling away the confusion.

"On a boat. I remember that! But, my lady, I forgot entirely what I came to visit for."

"Oh dear! How troublesome." Sipping the tea with a sour face, (Y/N) puts down the cup just as Temaki from Ouran Highschool Host Club taught her, pinky first, turn to the side. "What is your name?"

"(Y/N) (L/N)."

"You must not have a place to stay." (Y/N) shakes her head and looks to her hands.

"I do not. But, I'll find my way!"

"On my honor I should not leave you to brave those cold streets alone, being as cute as you are you'd be snatched up by hungry wolves in the matter of seconds!" The queen scoffs before taking a bite of her cookie.

"Your highness?" (Y/N) asks, confused by what she means.

"You know Earl Phantomhive well. He explained the situation to me fully. You were to come here and see him on business, but you went missing as soon as your boat landed. Since you have forgotten your duties I shall send you to stay with him so he may enlighten you. He will watch over you well, I know it." Drawing her mouth into a thin line, the girl looks to the sneering boy with half lidded eyes; it's too much.

"I couldn't impose on him so!" (Y/N) tries and deny him with waving hands in front of her, but Sebastian silences her quickly.

"It is our honor to have you." The girl meets their eyes; ah, the deal.

Staring at her hands, (Y/N) decides now is your turn to move her first chess piece. He wants to know everything he can about future events. Using her knowledge to her advantage, and she'll be safe... However, if she's too quick to talk, she might ruin the entire timeline. From all the sci-fy novels she's read, she knows how detrimental it is that she doesn't alter events. Guidance. Play hard to get. She smiles at the two with shut eyes.

"Of course." The butler returns (Y/N)'s smile; she's screwed.

Unequivocally screwed.