Time Collateral

Chapter: Demonii

So many people were filling the dirty, stoned streets with smiling faces and fast paced hearts. It had been years since the town had seen even a bit of excitement. Now that the festival had arrived, children all over were begging their parents to take them there. One child in particular, Ritzy Solomen, had waited forever for a bit of excitement. She had been told that there would be food and drinks there at the festivals. No, that wasn't it. Someone had told her that there would be all kinds of games and people dressed as clowns. She couldn't wait to go. Her mother had been planning for it all afternoon.

Eight-year-old Ritzy hopped up out of her bed and headed towards the kitchen where she heard her mother cooking. The smell of eggs and bacon filled the air. But Ritzy didn't just want to eat breakfast. She wanted to go to the festival to have snacks and other foods that she had never tasted before. She ran to her mother, with excitement and wrapped her arms around her.

Her mother slapped her hands over her mouth and let out a loud cough. Ritzy stepped back.

"Mama?" she said.

"Oh, I'm sorry Ritz." Her mother said. Her eyes were sullen and her nose was red and puffy. It was clear to see that she was sick. "I don't think I'll be able to take you to the festival this morning. Maybe we'll go tomorrow."

"But it's only in town for one day, mama." Ritzy said. "Cant you try to take me?"

"Ritzy, honey, I'm just not up for it." her mother shook her head. "I'm so sorry."

"Hello?" Came a familiar voice that Ritzy recognized all too well. Just then a male with long blond hair, tied back into a messy ponytail entered into the kitchen. There was a smile posted on his face and he was holding some kind of watch in his hand, twirling it in between his fingers.

"Edward." Ritzy's mother gave him a smile. She covered her hands over her mouth again and coughed. "I didn't know that you would be here this morning. How are you?"

"I'm fine." The make named Edward smiled, crossing his arms. Edward Elric was a handsome, nineteen- year- old, young male... not really on the tall side though.

"Ed!" Ritzy ran over to him and wrapped her arms around him, almost knocking him to the floor.

"Whoa!" Edward said. "Hey, Ritzy." he bent down to her and wiped the tears from her eyes. "What's the matter?"

"Mama won't let me go to the festival!" Ritzy said, as if there was anything that her mother could do about it.

"Well, I'm sure there's a reason, Ritzy." Edward stood up.

"I'm ill." Ritzy's mother said. "I'm sorry. I really wish there was something i could do. She's been looking forward to this festival all week long."

"Uh huh?" Edward looked down at Ritzy. "Well, I'll take her." he said, finally. He really dreaded the fact of not being able to finish his studies. He knew that although the gate was closed, there was still something that he could do to get back to Shamballa. His brother, Alphonse Elric, was trying to figure it out just then.

"Really?" Ritzy smiled.

Edward shrugged his shoulders and let out a sigh. "Sure." he said, blowing a strand of hair from his face. "Why not? What are big brothers for anyway?" Just then a face of a small, brown haired girl popped into his face. Nina. He thought to himself.

"Yeah!" Ritzy smiled. "And just think, in a few years, I'll be taller than you." She ran past Edward out of the house.

"Hey!" Edward through his hands in the air. "You will never be taller than me you little twerp!" Ed looked back at Ritzy's mother, who was looking at him in total confusion. "Kids." he said. "They're so darling." he shook his head and left out of the house, following after Ritzy.

Ritzy was skipping down the street, holding some kind of stuffed animal in her hand. One of the sown eyes was missing, and the stuffing was coming out of one side. Edward caught up with Ritzy. Pretty soon, they were crowded by a bunch of people heading towards the festival. Ritzy couldn't get the smile off of her face. She was hoping around holding Edward's hand as if he were her big brother. Ed liked the feeling. It wasn't long before Ritzy spotted an icecream stand.

"Icecream, icecream!" she shouted. "Ed, Ed, can we go!"

Before Ed could answer her, she broke free of his hand and ran towards the icecream stand. Edward chased after her.

"Ritz!" he called. "Slow down, would ya!"

"Icecream, Ed!" Ritzy shouted.

When Edward finally caught up with Ritzy he realized that her thoughts had completely trailed from the delicious cold icecream on her tongue to a large purple tent in the middle of all the commotion. Ritzy's eyes were big with curiosity. She held her hand out for Edward to grab. Edward grabbed her hand and turned her away.

"Alright." he said. "Let's go and get that icecream."

"No wait." Ritzy pulled away from him. "I want to go in there." She once again broke free from Edward's grip and sprinted into the purple tent.

"Ritz." Edward sighed, arched his back, and followed Ritzy into the purple tent. It seemed much larger inside than it looked outside.

Edward grabbed Ritzy's hand again, determined to keep her where she was and looked around the large tent. It was dark and beyond silent. There was a small table in the middle of the large space. Two chairs were on one side of the table and one chair was on the other.

"What is this place?" Ritzy asked.

"Stay close to me, Ritzy." Edward told her. "Hello?"

"I changed my mind." Ritzy said. "I don't want to be in here. Can we please go, Edward?"

"Yeah." Ed turned to leave, but was stopped by a deep, scratchy voice. He turned around to find a woman dressed in red and black cloth. Her front teeth were yellow with brown spots and her hair was a greasy black that looked as if it hadn't been washed in days. There were wrinkles at the cracks of ehr eyes and lips and a dark mole above her eye.

"I've been waiting for you." the voice croaked again. "Young Edward Elric and his young one, Ritzy Solomen." She let out a wicked laugh as if she were a witch and took a seat in the chair.

Edward pulled Ritzy closer to him and she wrapped her arms around him. "Who are you?" Edward asked.

"Have a seat young Edward, have a seat." the woman pointed to the two chairs.

Edward sat down in one chair and Ritzy sat down in the other.

"I've been waiting for you." the woman repeated.

"I said who are you?" Edward asked.

"They call me Demonii." the old woman said. "And I'm the woman whose going to tell you your future." she let out another laugh that filled the entire tent and before Edward knew it, the tent was crashing down around him. Ritzy let out a loud scream.