Unwinding Time (Black Butler Dreamfic)

Part 4: Memories

I suddenly sat up in a bed, gasping. The air had stilled. The world reappeared around me, as usual as it ever was. There was no evidence that anything had happened at all. Was it all a dream?

I quickly jumped off the bed, clumsily falling on my knees. It was then that I realized I was in my old room-- the one I had slept in before I moved to the larger bedroom. As I stood, I caught my reflection in the mirror. Besides the fact these weren't my usual clothes, I looked different. My hair was the same, my face hadn't changed (much), but my eyes... the eye patch was gone. And with it, the contract seal.

"No... Sebastian..." I reached up to the edge of my lashes, as if waving my hand across it would make it re-appear. I even touched the cold glass of the mirror to make sure it wasn't a trick. But it was real.

I decided to carry on and make my way down the halls, trying to get any clues on what just happened. I stopped in my tracks when I heard voices coming from the study. Surprised that anyone would be in there without my knowing, I opened the door to inspect.

My heart nearly skipped a beat at the sight before me. It was my father, sitting at the writing desk, reclining in the chair in that familiar manner. Beside him was my mother, leaning over his shoulder, conversing with him. They were smiling—as they almost always were.

They were there, in front of me. They were alive.

"Ciel," my father greeted me with a smile. I couldn't breathe.

"Good morning, darling," my mother came to my side. I stood frozen, unable to find a suitable reaction before she bent down and kissed my forehead. Did they even remember they were gone at all? "How did you sleep?"

"Not very well," I answered her as smoothly as I could.

"Oh, well, I know something that will cheer you up," she cooed as she stroked my hair. It was a kind, familiar touch that I couldn't find it in myself to resist feeling one more time, even if all this were to be an illusion.

I shut away the happiness I was beckoned to feel at that moment and tried to rethink the situation. The only explanation I could fathom was this all being a dream. A sweet, enjoyable dream at that. At this point, it didn't even seem to be a bad idea to let it all play out around me.

"Ciel?" Mother asked me, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Don't you remember?"

"Remember... what, mother?"

"It's your birthday today. You're ten years old!" she chuckled softly. "I thought you'd be the one to remind us."

"My... tenth birthday?" I repeated, hopefully inaudibly. I'm reliving a past memory. Of course- that must be why I woke up in my old bed and why my appearance changed discreetly. I'm younger.

"Ciel, why don't you run along and find Tanaka to order your breakfast? I need to finish speaking with your mother," my father told me from his desk.

"Yes, father!" I answered almost naturally, swiftly making my way out of the room. I stopped before taking another step down the hall and went to look back, just to make sure they were still there. I scolded myself for acting childish, but continued on and followed my father's orders, nevertheless.

I didn't even need to recall that not only was this my birthday-- it was the last day I ever spent with my parents. If the dream should continue into the night, I would experience the tragedy all over again. I wanted to leave the dream, but I had no way of waking myself. But... someone else could. And even in my dreams, I was sure he could hear me.

"Sebastian," I called casually. I waited. There was no answer. "Sebastian?" I tried again. "Sebastian!"

My heart leapt at the sound of something. Upon growing louder, I made it out to be the patter of feet across the floor. The edge of my door creaked open, and my dog, Sebastian, entered.

"Hello, boy!" He replied with a cheerful bark and ran to me, knocking me over. "Hey, watch it!" I almost caught myself laughing as I petted his head. He wagged his tail playfully.

But my butler still wasn't coming. Was he even... with me anymore?

Perhaps reviewing the bizarre scene before all this madness could be a source for some, somewhat, logical answers. Yet, the instrument, the windstorm, Sebastian fading into dust... none of that made any sense whatsoever. The entire day prior to that made no sense. Maybe this is long, continuous dream?

Only time would be able to tell, I suppose. I was trapped in a world heading to a brutal end, with no escape. The only thing left to do was let time run its cruel course.

~~~

The hours had passed by quickly, but surely. By nightfall, I was sure I had lived every second of them. Nothing seemed fake anymore. Nothing was missing from this time. I was even able to see Elizabeth and spend a few hours with her before eating cake.

I found myself smiling easily and naturally once again. In this life, I had never forgotten how to.

It was soon late. I began to feel worried as I observed the darkening world outside the mansion's windows. I didn't even remember what I had me so worried until father asked,

"Ciel, would you like to sleep in our bed tonight? I'll read you as many stories as you'd like."

An awful dread fell over me, but I somehow kept my smile.

"Alright, father."

Along with smiling, I had not yet outgrown the childish customs of sleeping in my parent's bed. Had I ever? Perhaps, all of that time before, was just a dream. Now that I looked at it, from this world's view, it was all a blur. They were years of my life, condensed into a single nightmare. Had it ever happened? Did I simply imagine it all? There was no evidence in the now seemingly real world that stated otherwise.

I fell asleep between my mother and father that night. For that single moment, I imagined I was safe. And safe in between them, nothing in the world could harm me-- not even the haunting dreams of what I thought to be memories. I knew they were only dreams now. Because, that night, there was no fire.

~~~