Remember that a past tense indicates that the action is not happening in "real time."

Sebastian nearly dies of internal laughter. The world has truly gone insane.

What are … y - you playing at, Sp - spears?

"The Department is being audited for … mishandling the Campania incident. We require from you an oral statement as an unbiased, honest, third party. Meaning we need you to be able to speak." William huffs. "Eat, demon, before I feed you something much lower on the food chain."

Sebastian parts his lips to allow the reaper to shove the fist size ball of energy into his mouth. The soul slides easily down the back of his throat and is absorbed into his being. It is without taste, almost offensively so, and provides little sustenance.

A deer. You fed me a deer.

"You'll take what I give you and you'll be grateful. Can you speak yet?"

Sebastian visibly struggles, but produces nothing more audible than a hiss of air. William sets another soul against his lip. It's warmer, rounder. Sebastian takes it into his body.

He recoils almost instantly. The thing in him is oily, and its flavor is that of soil combined with mold. William's gloved hand clamps over the demon's mouth.

"Keep it down, Michaelis. That's it. Now can you talk?"

When Sebastian fails to respond, without a warning, William slips a third soul into the butler. Sebastian groans as it sinks into him.

This won't work, Spears. There is a reason my kind pr- preys on … on humans ex- exclusively.

The animal souls did help, to some extent. A small extent, comparable to putting a droplet of water on a Phantomhive family bonfire.

"If this fails to make a difference, the Council will simply wait for your body to repair itself naturally. We all are immortal, after all."

There is a faster way for us to all get what we need. You just … need to fi- figure it out, … reaper.

He tries to force air over his useless vocal cords. He gasps, the extra effort forces him to suffer another round of contractions. Teeth grind together and eyes close, Sebastian fights to remember anything other than this place, the contract, and the hole in his chest.

Hu- hurry up and use yo- your brain, Sp- … ears.

"Of course, I've been made aware that your contract continues to punish you until you properly reject your order. It matters little to me should that come to pass later, rather than sooner."

I- I ca- can't talk. I- I can bar-ely think. Wil- … William please. You said be- before I'm noth- nothing more than a d- dog on a leash. You don't … you don't tru- trust me, you don't … you don't ha- have to trust … but I need you to cu- cu- cut my le- leash … left han- hand … or ha- have my Master …

The demon stops breathing.

Ciel's eyes began to close.

This is all too much. This can't happen to me again. Not like this. My body … my hair is … freezing up. I can't … I just … sleepy …

"Young master! You mustn't allow yourself to sleep!"

Sebastian is calling. He's pleading. My knight is injured, and I'm ready to fold. This is where I die … completely and utterly alone. When ever have I not been alone?

A gloved hand smacked across Ciel's face. The world around the earl sharpened with renewed clarity. He was on a life boat; his butler in the water beside him. The Campania sunk. Undertaker got away and …

"You are not to hit me again, Sebastian! I'm awake, you daft twit!"

The hand lowed mid-strike. He could tell his demon was grinning even in the dark.

"I merely wished to confirm that for myself. For you to freeze to death after we've come this far together, well, that would be most inconven— agh!" Sebastian broke into a strangled scream as the mouth of a bizarre dolls clamped down hard on to his ankle. He kicked the thing off of him, feeling a portion of his flesh leave with it.

The effect of the bite was dramatic. At a later time, Sebastian would recognize that the doll was, same as he, a member of a parasitic species. Had the realization occurred to Sebastian an instant before, he would have braced himself for what would happen. His body lurched forward in agony, the sensation he had was about that of splatting on the ground after falling a very far distance. The small amount of the energy that remained in his body, the reserve of souls he had consumed over the years, was leaking out of the new injury. He gasped; he would be dead by sunrise.

A shout from his young master broke through his terror. "They can move in the water!?"

"I- It isn't ne- necessary for them to breathe," his flawless composer officially destroyed. "I suppose it wouldn't be possible for them to drown either." He blinked blood out from his eyes. He couldn't afford another hit like that; the first thing to go would be his—

"Then …"

"Shh! Quiet!"

He's afraid. My butler, afraid?

Dead limbs pushed their way though the water. The quiet splashes multiplied and drew nearer.

"No … No way … this is …" Ciel whispered; his breath clung to the air.

The dolls. They're everywhere.