"Damnit!" Ciel hissed, spotting his picture for the fourth time in a row.

Loss and he had just retreated into an alley near the undertaker's parlor. She stood and walked to the wall where the picture hung, before quickly pulling it down.

"Earl Ciel Phantomhive, missing." She read aloud. "Last seen October 18th . £1,000 reward. If seen, contact Frances Midford."

She handed the paper to Ciel, who crumpled it up and tossed it away without a second glance.

"How the hell are we supposed to get through London without being seen!?" Ciel groaned. "Damn posters..."

Loss thought for a moment.

"I wasn't expecting this. I guess we'll have to keep moving and hope no one sees you..." She drifted off, her attention drawn to something else at the alley entrance.

"I've only been missing for three days! Leave it to Elizabeth to make a big deal over it." Ciel said to himself.

Loss wasn't listening to him, she was walking swiftly out of the alley.

"Hey!" Ciel almost yelled.

Loss, having reached the end of the alley, ignored him. She snatched another piece of paper off the wall, and returned to Ciel. She stared at the flyer for a moment, before silently handing it to him.

It was another missing alert, but instead of himself, it was Sebastian who stared up at him from the paper.

"Sebastian Michaelis," Ciel read the name he had given to the demon. "Butler to earl Ciel Phantomhive..." He was cut off when his stomach loudly growled.

Loss smirked. "When was the last time you've eaten?" she asked.

"I haven't eaten since that night at the manor." he replied, "I haven't had anything to drink either other than some dirty water from a puddle in those woods."

She bowed her head for a moment in thought.

"Stay here," she said suddenly, "I'll be right back."

"Wait, where are y-" Ciel didn't get the chance to finish his sentence. Loss quickly ducked out of the alley and was running off in some random direction.

Ciel sighed and retreated to one the darker corners and sat down. He wasn't really concerned for Loss, though he still wanted to know what she was doing. Loss would be fine. She didn't have her face plastered all over the place.

The boy could feel exhaustion creeping up on him. He looked up at the slowly lightening sky. How long had he been running through that damned forest? He knew that falling asleep out in a public place where nearly everyone was probably looking for him was incredibly stupid, but fighting sleep was a losing battle for him, and his heavy eyes eventually dragged him down.

"I hate it here," Akuma sniffed.

"It's okay," Ciel said quietly.

He had grown rather attached to the girl. He never really had anyone to talk to around here, and Akuma had proven to be a great friend.

"I'm hungry," she whispered. "Why do they keep hurting us?"

"I wish I knew." Ciel said in a hushed voice.

There was a long silence between the two in which the only sounds heard were that of the other children shuffling and crying in their cages.

"Ciel?" Akuma suddenly asked.

The boy looked up at his friend.

"We're going to die here, aren't we?" she said.

Ciel sighed. "Probably."

A tear slipped out of Akuma's eyes.

Ciel ached with sorrow for her. The way this place had robbed her of that childlike innocence. They had put out the little rebellious spark and distorted her view of life, just like they always did. All she saw was the bad, never the good.

His eyes swept the room, taking in each and every child. He watched some of the older kids. The broken ones. The ones who had given up all hope. These were the kids who were on their way out of life. Their every move scream hopelessness. The way they hung their heads. They never slept or ate. They didn't struggle anymore when they came and pulled them out of their cages for some sick ritual. They never screamed in pain when a burning blade was pressed to their skin. Their eyes were glazed over, completely devoid of light, staring into nothing. They were numb. Just shells of the smiling children they once were.

Ciel was brought out of his reverie by a pale young man with shoulder-length red hair and gray eyes. The man kneeled in front of his cage and looked at him.

"Hello," he started quietly.

Ciel glared at the man with distrust and said nothing.

"I'm really sorry this happened to you all. I wish I could do something."

The man watched to see if Ciel would do anything. When the boy said nothing, the man just continued.

"I want to leave this place. I hate everything about it. The only reason I joined this stupid cult was because I was homeless and had nowhere else to go. I'd rather be back on the street begging than staying here. I'm not allowed to leave, though. They'll kill me if I try."

"Wouldn't they kill you for talking to us?" Ciel asked in a cruel voice. "Aren't we supposed to be 'tainted' and 'impure'?"

"I don't believe any of that," the man said. "I want to help end this thing." He glanced at Akuma, who was listening intently. he spotted the newly burned brand on her back.

"They hurt us, too." he said as he pulled up his sleeve to reveal the cult symbol which was carved into his arm.

"What's your name?" Akuma suddenly said.

"Michaelis." came the reply. "At least, that's what everyone around here calls me. When we first join, we are given new names."

Ciel scoffed.

"Here," Michaelis said while holding out a bit of cheese. "I don't have a lot, but I hope it helps." he handed a slice of bread to Akuma. "Don't tell, I'll get into serious trouble."

He stood and walked away, leaving Ciel and Akuma staring.

Ciel jolted awake when he felt someone shaking his shoulder. His eyes focused on Loss, who was standing over him with an impatient expression.

"Do you know how stupid it is to fall asleep out here!?" She yelled in a hushed voice. "Someone could have found you and you wouldn't have been able to get away!"

Ciel looked up and concluded that it was about midday. There was a delicious smell in the air, and he realized that it was coming from Loss. She had a large, cheap purse strung over her shoulder. She caught him staring at it and tossed the bag to him.

"These two Indians were on a street corner selling this stuff called 'curry bread'." she said, "I told them I was homeless and they gave me three for free."

Ciel ripped open the purse and stared hungrily at the buns inside. He ripped into it and started devouring the food.

"Slow down!" she snickered. "Last thing we need is for you to choke."

Ciel rolled his eyes but tried to slow down. He swallowed suddenly and started coughing when he heard a soft whinny coming from behind Loss.

"I told you!" she said. "Oh, and by the way, I think I just solved our transportation issue."

She stepped back and pointed to the end of the alley. There stood a saddled, gigantic black horse with a thin white diamond on its forehead. It bowed its head and softly tapped one of its hooves against the ground.

"Isn't she beautiful?" Loss asked. "I watched her owner tie her to a tree and just walk away. I think she called her Agro, but I'm not sure. Either way, this horse looks strong enough to carry the both of us. I rode her back here. She's decently fast, and she can run at her top speed for a long time."

Ciel swallowed, and stood. He looked down and saw that Sebastian's poster was still on the ground next to the now empty purse. He kicked both the paper and the bag away and began walking towards the horse. Loss hung back. She reached over and grabbed the flyer. She stared at Sebastian's face for a moment, before carefully tucking the paper into her dress.

Ciel who was about to get on the horse, looked back.

"Loss, you coming or what?"

She snapped her head up at the sound of his voice.

"Yes, of course." she said with a slight hint of sadness in her voice.

She got on in front of Ciel and gently kicked Agro's side. The horse threw her head up and reared before slamming her hooves back on the ground and charging out of the alley.

I HATE THIS CHAPTER SO FUCKING MUCH!

That is all I'm gonna say.

Got questions? post them in the reviews and they shall be answered next chapter!