Disclaimer: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist.

Chapter 1: the book

"No! You're not going to make me wear that," shouted Edward as he saw the clothes that Winry wanted him to wear. It was Ed's birthday today and there was going to be a party late at night to celebrate it. Winry was helping him dress and right now she was forcing Edward into a collared button down blue shirt and black pants.

"I don't care what you say Ed, your going to wear it. Everybody is waiting to see what you will wear. It's your 18th birthday," said winry.

"Since when have I cared about what people think of me," shout Edward.

"Ok shorty. I'm glad to see that you're still a shrimp." Said Winry mockingly

"I'm not that short. And stop calling me a shrimp," shouted Edward.

"Here's to deal Ed, you can wear what you want to wear if you promise to drink milk for a whole month for all three meals. Or you can just wear what I'm telling you to wear." Said Winry, suddenly having a wrench in her hand.

"Hand me the clothes," said Edward, undressing from his normal clothes.

Five minutes later Edward was looking at himself in the mirror.

"Wow Ed your looking good," said Winry.

"Where's Al?"

He's at the party. Come on we're going to be late," said Winry as she dragged Edward out of his apartment by his ear.

Little tall café

Edward and Winry walked into the café. It was a building that was two stories high and on the second floor they were having Edward's birthday party. Walking up the stairs to the second floor Edward noticed all the decorations leading into this hallway that lead to a doorway. Edward opened the door revealing a room full of party decoration. Havoc pulled Edward into the room. "Happy Birthday" was everywhere in the room. Riza, Havoc, Alphonse , Hughes, Winry, and Roy Mustang all said "Happy Birthday." Roy murmured "shorty." Edward turned towards Roy and gave him the evil eye. The party went on and everyone was having fun expect for Edward and Roy. Edward didn't like the idea of getting older while he was still under average for his age. Roy simply was grumpy. Edward got a lot of gifts. Havoc got him a bottle of beer. Hughes got him a scrap book full of pictures of Elicia . Al got him a new wallet. Winry got him a book about the history of central. Riza got Edward a book too, but she got him a book called Alchemy for the Strange. Soon afterwards everyone went home.

While everyone slept in the military dorms, Edward had stayed up late reading the book. The book was full of strange alchemy circles. One circle caught his attention. It was actually more of an octagon than circle. It needed strange stuff. All of them could he found easily it needed dish soup, salt, pepper, hair of an alchemist, and blood of an alchemist. Curious he went and got all of the strange things. Locking his room door behind him, he realized that Al was not there. Then he remembered that Al was spending the night with Winry. They have been going out for a month so far. Al was a big boy he didn't need him anymore. In the middle of his room Ed drew the octagon and in the middle of it he put all the stuff. The strange part was that there had to be two people doing this. One person had to be in the middle and the other on the outside. He would have to be in the middle or else it wouldn't work. He got in the middle, got on his hands and knees. The room started to change colors and Edward started to get dizzy. He felt like he was going to die and he fainted.

one hour later

He slowly opened his eyes and he started to look around. It was the same room nothing out of place. Yet here was a strange energy in the room. It started to creep him out. He stood up and the first thing he noticed was that the octagon was missing. He needed to get out and find al. he ran as fast as he could out of the room. Edward ran past Riza's room. She opened the door and yelled," Hey who are you?" He didn't care to ask her. Once out side he realized that al was with Winry. There where a thousand and one inns, and hotels in Central. He ran into the alley that was closes to him. After a couple of minutes Edward realized the he was lost. He didn't feel right, his shirt was tight on him. Edward started to hear footsteps behind him. The alley was so dark he didn't notice the man in front of him until he ran into him. He knocked into and the man caught him before he could fall.

"Sorry sir," said Edward as he tried to move from the man. The alley was in fact so dark that he couldn't see the man that was right in front of him. The man didn't let go of him.

"Hey! Not so fast baby. Lets go have soon fun," said the stranger pulling him a certain direction. Was it his imagination or was the man grabbing his butt.

"Son of a bitch let go of me," shouted Edward trying to pull away from him. Suddenly the man grabbed at his shirt, ripping it open. Edward finally got away from the man and punched him. He heard the man back away from him and grab something in the dark behind him. Edward suddenly felt something metal crash into his face. Edward fell down and the man was on top of him in one second flat. Edward was losing it. He felt like fainting again. He heard another man's voice. Then it sounded like two people fighting. Someone picked him up. After a couple of steps the person holding him must have been hit because he was dropped on his head and the last thing he heard was two gun shoots. Then he was surrounded by total darkness.