Mute (A Black Butler Fanfic)

Chapter 8

They eventually disperse to get changed into their regular clothes and continue their work. Dana shows me where Lauren was, leaning against the wall, and I apologized as best I could. He understood when Dana explained to him and forgave me.

"Okay," Dana whispers, "Here comes the hard part. Your mother is in the next room. You ready?"

I take a shaky breath and nod. We walk through the double doors into the breakfast hall. Ciel and his butler are there, along with Carlotta and Mother.

Ciel notices me as soon as I enter. "Mary-Clara, you're here!" Carlotta, with bags under her eyes, glares disgustedly at me. Mother doesn't look up.

She stands up.

She walks over to us, circling us like a hawk circles its prey. But strangely, I was the one with the gun.

"So," she drawls, "You ran away last night. At midnight. Waking your poor sister and our guests along with shattering a window. What, may I ask, was so important you could not wait until morning?"

I hung my head, listening to Dana explain. "And how did you know the wolves would attack your horse?"

I hesitated, then signed Didn't. "Sh-she didn't know they would attack Dahlia." Dana whispers.

"I see. So you left on a whim?"

I nod. "Yes." Dana whispered.

Mother stops circling us, turning to face us directly.

She smiles, "Actually this couldn't have worked out better. Do you know how much a new window costs?" I shake my head.

Her smile turns evil. "About the same as a horse and her foal."

My eyes widen. She spins around and walks back to the table. "What? No!" Dana starts, speaking for herself now. "Madam, you can't! Separating a mother from it's foal could to horrendous damage to both of them!" Mother picks up a knife. Dana doesn't notice. "And taking those two away from MC? She cares about them more than herself! She proved that last night! That wound on her arm is from a wolf that attacked her! How can you just-"

SLICE ~

I clap a hand over my mouth, staring in horror. Dana's hair, her beautiful black hair I admired so much was lying on the ground. Mother stood behind her, knife in hand, a bored look on her face. She had cut the ponytail short, leaving only an inch left in it.

Dana, surprised, reached back, feeling her new haircut. "There," Mother sighs. "That should shut you up for a while. I've already found a buyer, so there's no going back. Now take MC and clean that wound of hers before she gets any blood on the floor."

Dana, a steely look in her eyes, grabs my good hand and marches us back to my room. We stand in front of the door, neither of us saying anything.

I sign Sorry, guilt eating away at my stomach. She chuckles, but it doesn't sound amused. "It's okay," she sighs. "I was needing a haircut anyways. You head on in, sit on your bed and wait for me, I'll get some needle, thread, washcloths, the like."

I nod, watching her retreating back turn the corner before heading into my room. The candle from last night still burning bright. I close the door behind me and move to sit on my bed.

A shadow moves.

I whirl around, pulling out my gun, too slow. The person wraps their hand around my windpipe, lifting me up off the ground. My lungs start to burn for air, the gun slipping from my fingers. Maniac laughter fills my head.

I open my mouth to call for help, or to cuss at him, but as always, nothing comes out.

Black spots dance before my eyes, I claw at the man's hand weakly. I'm not going to make it.

Light floods the room as the door opens. Something is dropped and makes a loud clattering sound. It must be Dana with the tray.

Just before I passed out, I dimly registered a gunshot and a gasp.

The gunshot came from the man.

The gasp from Dana.

MC's POV

Ugh . . .

My arm . . .

My throat . . .

OOOWWWW!!!

I snort and push myself up. I'm lying in bed, it's probably the next day because it's morning again.

I lick my lips sleepily. Where's Dana?

Dana . . .

My heart takes off at light speed. The man. Is he still in my room?

No, this is a different room.

I scramble into trousers and a shirt but spend a few minutes looking for father's jacket before I remember I shredded it. I glance at my arm. Someone must have cleaned and stitched it because it's wrapped in an actual bandage now. I run a brush quickly through my hair and slip my gun into my waistband.

Sprinting, I race to the breakfast area again. I throw open the doors, panting and scan the room.

Ciel. Carlotta. Mother.

No Dana.

I collapse on the ground. He can't have-that man didn't-was Dana--

"Oh MC, you're awake finally. Yes, that was quite a surprise that was, walking in to see you passed out and Dana with a bullet wound. I'm rather surprised the man didn't finish you off. I suppose we should consider ourselves lucky. If Sebastian hadn't done away with that man he would have come after Carlotta and myself next. No matter." Mother says carelessly.

Tears prick the corner of my eyes. Dana's dead? No, she can't be. But-

"OH it was horrible!" your sister squeals. "All that blood! Yuck! I'm just glad it didn't stain the floors, really. Imagine that-then we'd have to get all new floors!

I glare at her through my tears. How dare she! She doesn't care that Dana is dead at all!

She notices my death stare. "Oh, don't bother. You couldn't lay a hand on me anyways! The stupid butlers would stop you before you got close enough." I stand up and walk over to her. "I mean I honestly don't see why you'd care. All you care about is yourself! You just wanted to look good for Ciel, that's why you went to the stables and got yourself hurt. That's why you act like you're mad at me for insulting Dana. That's why-"

Mother's selling my horse. Dana is dead. I have nothing to lose.

So I slam my fist into her cheekbone, snapping her head to the side and earning the most satisfying cracking sound I've ever heard.

Complete silence.