Ciel x OC - Skyfall (Chapter One)

She's cold. Hungry. And not entirely sure where she is.

The young woman opens her eyes, her blurry gaze falling on the river, which reflects the full moon back onto her pale, naked skin. A light dusting of snow covers the cobblestones, and a fresh layer is falling from the black sky. She shivers.

Uncurling from her fetal position, she moans as each and ever muscle in her body protests in unison. She resorts to just lying on the freezing ground, taking in her surrounding with curious cerulean eyes.

It seems to be a street corner of some kind. There's a lamp burning to her right, and a neat row of little shops facing the river, their windows dark and devoid of recognizable features. The entire length of the road she can see is empty, in both directions.

The young woman closes her eyes, the wind rustling her copper hair across her shoulders and back. Some time later - she's not really sure how long - the vague sounds of horse hooves and clattering wheels catch her ear. She thinks to cry out, but can't seem to make her frozen muscles work to produce a sound. A sudden fear of going unnoticed hits her, but, to her relief, the horses are pulled to a stop by a man's voice, and the carriage comes to a halt.

"Sebastian, what is it?" Another man's voice, this one perhaps younger, comes from within the carriage, followed by a sigh.

"My apologies, Master. There seems to be a young lady in need of our assistance." A man with raven hair steps down from the driver's seat and pulls off his long, woolen overcoat with a smile. "Allow me to help you up, miss."

"What do you mean, 'assistance'?" The other voice asks, and from the window of the carriage, a young man's face emerges, instantly taken aback by the young woman's lack of clothing. He blushes profusely and sinks back away from the window.

"For Heaven's sake, Sebastian, don't just stand there. It's freezing."

"Of course, Master."

The slender, dark-haired man smiles, the expression genuinely spreading across his face, and offers his hand to her. She looks at him for a moment, trying to judge his intention, and notices that her eyes can't quite focus on him - he's a bit blurry, almost seeming darker than his surroundings. Though, his coat does look warm, and her hip and shoulder are starting to complain to her about the cold, so she reaches a shaking hand up to his and takes it.

Something instantly doesn't feel right about the touch - a prickling on the back of her neck and a feeling of intense dread. By the time she can even think about pulling away, he's got her on her feet and wrapped in his coat, and is guiding her to the carriage. He opens the door and gestures for her to get in, again with a smile.

"Please, miss. It's much warmer inside." He gestures again, eyeing her a bit differently this time, like he's watching her every move with a sense of suspicion. The young woman manages a meek smile and steps up into the carriage cab, taking a seat opposite the young man, who currently seems to be ignoring her.

"Thank you," she whispers, finding her throat scratchy and dry, enough so that her words come out hoarse and stuttered. She pulls the coat tighter around her shoulders.

"Of course." The man outside says. He shuts the carriage door with a wayward glance at his master, then resumes his position of driver. The horses are stirred and they begin to move.

In the moonlight that filters into the cab, the young woman watches her companion from the corner of her eye. She suddenly feels very aware of her nakedness. Although the coat covers much of her bare skin, it isn't buttoned and reveals a small portion of her breasts in the moonlight.

He's watching her, as well. Of course, not directly, but still enough to make her cheeks heat up and her fingers fidget with the coat.

He appears to be in his early twenties, his features still somewhat soft and boyish, but the breadth of his shoulders and length of his legs betray his age. His clothes are fine and detailed, down to his shined shoes and clean-pressed shirt.

"Do you have a name?" He finally asks, obviously trying very hard not to look directly at her chest.

The young woman begins to speak, but realizes all too quickly that she has no real answer to his question, so she remains silent.

"Surely you do," he says in mild annoyance. "Everyone does."

The young woman can only shake her head in shame. She wracks her brain, trying to come up with any memory that might serve her.

"Well, where are you from?"

Again, silence.

The young man sighs.

"Perhaps, Master, it might be prudent to introduce yourself to the lady first." The driver speaks through a small window that connects him to the inside of the cab.

"Yes, of course." He says, grumbling. "My name is Earl Phantomhive. Ciel, that is."

The young woman nods.

"That man is my butler, Sebastian."

"Pleasure to meet you," the young woman whispers, feeling rather ridiculous in that she can't reciprocate the introduction.

"Why were you out in the cold? Without clothes, no less."

"I can't remember," she says, the honesty reflected in her features. She can swear she hears a scoff from outside, but passes it off.

"What do you remember?" Ciel asks, leaning forward a bit.

She thinks for a moment.

"Fire."