Half Complete

Attack

                                           Walking without knowing what's in front of you is indeed an eerie experience.I stumbled forward, Ciel's  firm footsteps my only lead.I was straining my ears to the maximum to catch the slightest sound.But that was even more disturbing.Small pattering of rats running around and the cobwebs that stuck to your body like glue made up a surreal experience.My foot caught on something and I dropped my sword, steadying myself on the wall.It was wet, and my hand came away with some sort of sticky substance. What a horrible place. I cursed,  how was I going to find it now?

              "Don't worry,  Clarie." Ciel pushed the sword into my hands. "I heard it falling down.Now come on, I think there's an exit up ahead." I was glad Ciel was with me. But he acted too used to the place, as if he had been here before.

       "Ciel, do you know this place?" He stopped and I walked right into him. "Why did you stop?" I said.
 
     " I don't know.  I have this memory of a place like this. But it's really hazy.  I think it was before Dorian came to work under your father. He was in the King's army then. The soldiers hated me , I think once they had shoved me into one of these secret passages.  I was young,  maybe five or six. But.... Clarie.... I remember crying, calling out, hitting my head on the walls sometimes.  There's some part which is a door. Somehow I had found it and stumbled out. But I don't remember what happened after." He slapped his head. " Come on, we'll walk till we find something like that" he said and pulled my sleeve.

          I meekly followed him. Prejudice was everywhere and even Ciel wasn't exempted from it. But we had to go on, what else could we do?  But what was that? Beside me,  Ciel stiffened. "Do you hear?" He whispered,  alert.

      There was some sort of grating noise,  and voices could be heard. " Now's our chance. " Ciel said and pushed me back against the wall.  Footsteps were getting closer and I could vaguely see a part of the wall jutting out. I pulled Ciel behind it and we waited, with baited breath.

        " Are you sure that those rascals went this way?" A female  said. " Yes. There's no other way.  Wait till I get my hands on those brats. They'll get what's coming to them for sure" Another voice growled. That must be the man who had captured us . The other voice laughed. " Ciaran was pleased. They managed to not act like total dimwits.  No offence, Edbert but he kind of wanted them to be smarted than you".

           "Shut up , Hag! What do you know? The boss definitely holds me in high regard". They had a torch and a faint light could be seen, coming closer and closer.

    "Whatever runs your horse " she said. The light was blinding after all the time in the darkness.  Ciel's face was pale and glowed strangely in the flare.  As they passed us, I crouched down, making Ciel and me as small as possible.  But they didn't notice as they passed us, bickering all the way.

                         I exhaled,  in relief. We were once again clothed in darkness.   But my relief was short lived as  there was a slithering sound and a low hiss. My hand brushed something slippery.  There was a weight on my legs. What?  " Clarie,  don't move!" Ciel shouted.

     The weight was moving on my leg. I almost  screamed, I was frozen. It couldn't be a snake. Suddenly a swing and the weight stopped moving. Ciel took my hand roughly and pulled me up.

       "There are more. I killed that one but I dont know if I can kill them all. Stay still". I didn't need the advice.  I was already frozen . My hands felt clammy  and I felt cold. I cluthed Ciel as tightly as possible.

         "Oh, thought you'd escape?  Well I see my darling pets have found you," They were coming back and the place was once again flooded with light.  I looked down and almost jumped on Ciel, there was a huge  snake  curled around our feet.  Another lay on the ground, in two pieces with blood oozing from it. Their skin was a greenish hue and eyes red.The one one our feet suddenly raised it's head and hissed. Ciel gasped and held me tighter.

           The woman came forward. She was blonde with her hair completely covering one half of her face. Her eyes were the colour of amber and her gait confident , sure. The snake slithered back to her and she stared almost lovingly at it. Had we stumbled into a mental asylum?  She moved closer and held up my chin. I stared defiantly at her. She tilted her head and the hair covering her face was swept to the side.

        I was speechless and stared unabashedly at her. One half of her face was damaged..... heavily and was a mottled colour, skin too grotesque to be human. She chuckled , but there was no mirth behind it. "Nice isn't it?  My father was an apothecary and had an assistant who sort of fancied me. I rejected the imbecile but he couldn't take it, he tried to drown me  in a vat of boiling acid. He didn't live for long after, though. I'll have to thank my sankes for that" she said, inspecting her nails as though it was the most natural thing in the world.

        The man came forward , then.  He was huge, bulky and had a black eye. He stiffened when he saw Ciel and glared menacingly at him. "Enough chitchat," he grumbled." Take them to the boss. He'll know what to do with disobedient runts like them."

              "You can't do this!" Ciel shouted.He clutched me " Do you know who this girl is?  She's the king's fiancé's sister. He'll have your head once he comes to know about this. " He was putting on a facade.  Stupid brave Ciel. He clutched his daggers and lunged at the man. This was it. I drew my sword and knocked the torch from the woman's hand. It fell down  and we were plunged in darkness once again.

         The man was spewing all sorts of curses and groans as Ciel hit him and tried to knock him down. I quickly moved back, keeping my footsteps light. My heart was pounding but the woman seemed to have forgotten about me. I backed up till I was standing against something solid. I gave it a push and it moved a bit. Was it? Clashes  and clangs and thumps were heard but there was a low hiss too.... The Snake!

       How was I to get Ciel's attention? But I needn't as there was a thump beside me as something hit the wall and fell to the ground. It was enough for it to start turning.  The lump on the ground groaned.  God! It was Ciel. I pulled him but wasn't strong ebenough to lift him. Curse my damn weakness. No, the wall was closing. It was our only escape.

        My eyes were stinging.  No this isn't it. I'll have to do something.  I sheathed my sword and put it through Ciel's belt. The boy was knocked out.  Then I pulled so he was in a sitting position and I got a hold of his hair. Ciel , please forgive me.

               I stumbled up and fell through the wall, pulling Ciel behind me. I closed my eyes and hit the ground on my knees. Ciel gasped and sat up. I opened my eyes.  We were in a room and there was a faint light.  Ciel's lip was split and my knees were scraped too.... considering the pain. He was rubbing his head.

        I groaned and looked up. And screamed so hard. A man  , wearing robes and a blank mask was sitting in front of me.... staring.

               Hi! Please comment and vote. Thanks a lot to JenniferEmbers for reading and voting. Hope you all like this ch!!!!