Disclaimer/A/N: I don't own FMA. This is a sequel to On the Brink. It isn't nearly as good so far, but I have a couple plans for it. It won't be as exciting though, specially at the beginning. Please don't flame.

Chapter One: One Month Later

Every time he thought about Alphonse, Edward's heart would race. It was until just a little while ago, it seemed he was right there. Since Al was taken away from him, just saying his name made his eyes sting with tears. Colonel Mustang had gone to work. The day he brought Ed back, he lied and told everyone he was killed in the huge fire. He severely thanked Roy for that. After all, were would he be if they wouldn't have said that. Then they would have found out that he had carved the time into the wall. That he heard his brother's voice long after he was already gone. That he burned the house and the woods in a desperate attempt to kill Roy and keep Al by his side. They would put him in some kind of insane asylum. With people that all say they're like him. With doctors saying they were just trying to help him, while deep inside they all thought he was a monster. They would do strange things to get the voice to stop. Then even when he would say it was gone, No one would really believe him. Since Ed never left the house, he looked pale, and deep down he knew Roy thought he needed more than sunlight. He rarely ate, even though Roy told him to, he was just never hungry. Sometimes he felt like he just had to scream. Every day his will to live would shrink. The silence made him lonely, but since all this had happened, he loathed all people, except Roy. The truth was Edward felt himself fading away, inside and out.

It had been one month since Roy and Edward had returned. And no, not even Hughes knew Ed was alive. The Flame colonel had made a promise to himself and Edward.

" Dammit, I told Ed I'd be home by six." It was nearly ten o clock. He hated the unexpected overtime of the military. Even though it had been one month, Roy still feared for Edward's sanity. One thing was for sure. The colonel was having a horrible day. As he reached his house, he played what he could say over in his head.

" Hey Ed!" He called as he entered the house. No reply. Roy looked around, but the boy was nowhere to be found. Roy panicked. "Edward!" He yelled his name over and over, but Ed did not answer. Suddenly a moaning sound drifted to him. Roy hurried to find Ed, he could never tell where sounds were coming from. He opened the closet door. Relief washed over him, Ed was laying on the floor of the closet. Muffled sobs floated to Roy. He placed his hand on top of Edward's head.

" What's wrong?" He asked in a kind, caring voice. Ed lifted his head.

" It's Al. He won't stop torturing me." Roy wished he could turn back time and save Edward from this mess. The phone rang, Roy hesitated, but went anyway. Phone calls always made him nervous. He picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Colonel?" It was LT. Hawkeye.

"Oh, Hawkeye, why are you calling this late?"

"Are you okay? You seem so distant from everything."

" I'm fine." 'Though Ed's not.' Roy thought,

"This is about Ed right. Roy there was nothing you could do."Click. Roy hung up. He hated it when people said that. It sounded like they were blaming Ed for something he didn't have any control over. Of course, they didn't even know he was alive. Everyday Roy wondered if he had made the right choice. Maybe Ed really needed professional help. He seemed to be slowly drifting away from reality. Though Roy said otherwise, he knew Alphonse would never completely go away. Ed was sitting on his bed. Roy walked in.

"Hey Ed, I was thinking maybe I should call that girl. What was her name? Winry." He started.

" Why?" Edward asked. His tone gave the impression that it was a stupid idea. Roy loved that tone. It reminded him of the old Ed.

" I was thinking that she might help. You two are good friends, right? Maybe you can talk to her when I'm at work." Roy had little doubts that she wouldn't tell anyone about Ed.

" No. She shouldn't talk to me. She might go crazy too." He said laying down. Roy left, guessing that he wanted to sleep. He walked out of the room and sat down on the couch. He was trying to relax. Something he rarely did. He decided to lie down. He shut his eyes and drifted into blackness.

A sound. A sound kept repeating itself. What the hell was that sound? Knocking? Someone was at the door. Roy stood up. He hoped that Edward wouldn't come out of his room while someone else was in the house. He walked to the door, wondering who would come over this late. He opened the door. It was LT. Riza Hawkeye. He relaxed. It could have been way worse.

" What brings you here Lieutenant?" He asked. Then he remembered hanging up on her earlier.

" Sir, I just wanted to inform you about the. . . . Rumors . . . " She said the last word as if she was unsure she should tell him.

"What rumors?" He asked casually. There was always rumors about him, what else was new?

" The rumors about Edward Elric." She replied quietly. Roy's heart skipped a beat. What did she say? Rumors about Ed? How could they have found out? He never even left a clue that Edward was alive. How could they have found out?

" Wh-What rumors?" He asked, trying desperately to hide how nervous he was. Riza sighed.

" There are many. Ones that say Ed's alive, or the worse ones that say you started the fire to kill Edward. The higher ups are investigating, colonel. They actually believe them." She told him. Colonel Mustang sighed and thought for a moment. Then he opened his eyes and smirked.

" That is completely ridiculous lieutenant."

Edward had his ear against the door. He heard voices. Roy and a woman. He knew her, what was her name? Oh yeah, Hawkeye. He heard his own name in the conversation. 'Damn, I wish I could hear them.'He thought. Quietly, he cracked the door opened. He heard few words. What the hell were they talking about? He heard his name and the word fire. Then Roy said something. They talked for a few more moments, then Roy closed the door.

" What's happening?" Edward asked.

" Nothing. Just a few rumors. Everything's fine." Roy said, forcing a smile. Deep down Edward really wanted to believe him, but for some reason he couldn't.

The light of the full moon shone brightly through the window. Frank Archer chuckled looking through the files.

" You fucked up, Colonel Mustang."

A/N: Okay. I have a lot of ideas. It's going to be strange. I doubt anyone still is interested in this. This chapter wasn't very good, I have more ideas for later on, so hopefully people like it. I started this chapter right after I finished the other story, so I hope I've gotten a little better than last time. And remember, I'll only update if people review.