"You're too slow Evee!"

"You're too fast, Magpie."

I watched my little sister, Maggie, prance up the sidewalk, and shifted my heavy backpack to a more comfortable position. With a sigh, I walked after my sister.

"Slow down, Mags!" I called after her. "It'll be there when you get home, even if you travel at a slower speed."

"Itachi's a dream. You hurry up."

Despite her urgings for me to hurry up, she slowed down slightly so that we were now in talking range.

"Mags, you waited all day to watch that episode. You can wait another fifteen minutes."

"I might explode right here from the pressure of waiting."

"M'kay. Just do it quietly."

"You're so unsympathetic."

"Yup."

Maggie huffed and ran ahead again.

Maggie is a nice normal name, don't you think? I couldn't be called something nice and simple like Margaret, could I? Oh no, my parents just had to call me something grand. That grand something being Evangeline. Hence my sister calling me 'Evee.'

Maggie's 13, younger than me by two years, and considered the beauty of the family. She got Mom's long, shiny blond hair and huge green eyes. I'm more like Dad, with blackish hair and brown eyes. Unfortunately, I got Mom's height which means I'm 5'3 while Maggie's 5'6. Life is so unfair.

At the moment Maggie was hyperventilating because she had taped last night's Naruto episode. She was an anime enthusiast, happily devouring anything that had to do with her favorite series. She had tried countless times to make me interested in anime as well, but I was less than enthusiastic. These days, the most she could hope for was me being in the same room when she was watching a show. I'd actually listen to her when she talked about a certain character or scenario or fan-girlish dream, but I just wasn't interested in watching or reading anything myself. I had my music.

Mom wouldn't be home when we got there. Dad died a couple years before, so she was busy working. I was in charge of Maggie until she got home, usually around seven.

"Mags, for the last time, slow down!"

She stopped by the corner and waited for me, pouting slightly.

"You're so slooooow today!" she complained.

"You're just hyper. Beside, you try carrying a Bio book that weighs as much as an elephant."

We stepped out onto the empty street, squabbling enthusiastically. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I saw something moving rapidly towards us. Time slowed. It was a car and the driver was obviously drunk. I saw that he was going to hit Maggie.

"WATCH OUT!"

Without thinking, I rammed myself into Maggie, sending her sprawling on the other side of the road. Then the car hit me.

I felt bones on my right side snap and grate. I fell to the left, my head crashing against the cold asphalt, which was now flecked with red. I was dimly aware that some of my school supplies had spilled out onto the road. I heard Maggie scream my name. Then everything went dark.

Ed POV

It was dark, I was tired.

Need I say more?

Cnl. Sarcasm and I had been at the same library, him for his reasons, me to do some research. I was still smarting from his 'short' jokes, so I decided to 'commodore' his car for the night. Don't worry, I left a note.

I tiredly pulled on the steering wheel, swinging onto a dirt road leading out of the city. All I wanted to do was sleep.

Suddenly the car shuddered to a stop, the engine making an ominous choking noise. It spat, then died completely.

I growled and swore under my breath, vainly trying to get the car running again. It was no use, the engine wouldn't respond.

Swearing a little more audibly, I got out of the car and popped the hood, staring into the bowels of the engine. Not like I knew what I was doing. It was times like this that I really wished Winry was here.

For a moment I entertained the fantasy of suing Mustang for every penny he owned for subjecting me to this. It would never hold up in court, but it cheered me up somewhat.

I was brought rudely back to reality by a loud noise. It sounded like a bang and someone screaming. I ran to where the noise was coming from, transmuting my auto mail into a blade as I went. When I reached the spot that seemed to be where the noise originated, I couldn't see anyone. I carefully scanned the area and walked forward. And promptly tripped.

A moan told me that whatever I had tripped on was alive, so I kneeled down for a better look, keeping my arm ready just incase it was Envy or something just as nasty.

It was a girl. She had dark hair and clothes a little like what Winry sometimes wears, yet different. They were ripped and bloody. There was some blood on her face too, a gash running along her hairline.

I carefully placed a hand on her shoulder and gently shook it to see if she'd wake up. With a groan, she slowly opened her eyes. She looked at me, at my arm, back at me, and started to scream.

Eva's POV

I hurt. Really badly and all over. But considering the last things I remembered, I supposed it was good news that I felt anything at all.

I was just thinking this when something hit my leg. It really hurt, but all I could do was moan slightly. A moment later I felt someone gently shaking my shoulder. That really hurt too, but I figured it was Maggie trying to make sure I was okay, so with a groan I opened my eyes and tried to sit up.

Who I saw was most definitely not Maggie. It was man, boy, guy, whatever, male entity who seemed to be holding a nasty blade over my head. I did the first thing that came to mind.

I screamed.

Ed's POV

At first I wasn't sure why she was screaming at me. Then I remembered that my arm was still in blade form. Smooth Fullmetal, very smooth.

"No! It's okay! I WON'T HURT YOU!"

I tried to yell over her screaming, but she didn't seem to hear me or she did hear me and didn't believe me. Either way, she kept screaming.

I clapped my hands over my ears, wishing she would be quiet. Quite suddenly I got my wish. I looked over at her in time to see her eyes roll back in her head as she fainted.

I frowned. One problem solved, but now what. I supposed I should take her with me. If I could get the car to start.

Eva's POV

I felt warm. That was an improvement. Last time I had woken up, I had been cold and lying on something hard. Now I was warm and lying on something slightly hard. And moving. I could feel it vibrating under my cheek.

Remembering what I had seen before I fainted, I carefully opened one eye. At first I didn't realize what it was I was looking at. It was flat, dark and about a foot from my face. After a few moments of gazing blearily at it, I realized it was the back of a car seat.

My mind started racing. That person I had seen, was he the one who had hit me? Where was he taking me? Where was Maggie? Was she all right?

I carefully moved my head so that I could try to see the driver. I was disappointed to see that my view was blocked by a coat he had placed over me. I stayed quiet, trying to figure out what to do. I could run when we stopped, but I wasn't sure how far I'd be able to go before it hurt too much. Still, I did want to be trapped with this person much longer.

But I was warm and in no immediate danger. Even my ribs were feeling better. I struggle for a few minutes against my heavy eyelids, then submitted to sleep.

I woke suddenly. It took me a moment to realize that the vibrations had stopped. I heard the person get out of the car and shut his door. Coolness snaked up my legs as he opened my door. I heard him enter the car slightly and sensed him leaning over me. I tried to bite back the fear I could feel rising in my chest.

Ed's POV

I had carefully put the girl on the back seat and covered her with my coat to keep her warm. After prodding at the engine for about ten minutes, I gave up and kicked the beastly car. With a cough, it started up again. Figures.

The girl was quiet during the drive to the inn I was staying at. I hoped that she'd continue to be nice and quiet for a while longer. I had a headache.

I pulled up in front of the inn, stopped the car, and got out. Golden light spilled out of the inn's windows as I made my was around to the back seat door. I guessed that the girl was still unconscious since she hadn't made a noise or moved.

I placed my right knee on the seat and leaned forward. It was going to be a bit tricky to pull her out without hurting her anymore.

Just as I was thinking that, I heard a slight whimper.

"It's o-" I started to say, but was rudely interrupted, when my coat was thrown up into my face. As I tried to pull it off, I felt what seemed to be her elbow connect with my collar bone as she scrambled past me. I managed to claw the coat from my face, and looked around wildly to see where she had gone.

I saw her figure racing down the road in the direction we had just come from. She was moving quite quickly, considering how badly hurt she seemed to be. She stumbled, but kept going.

It took me a few moments to fully comprehend, but once my brain started, I raced after her. She obviously heard me coming because she tried to run faster, but she seemed to be in too much pain.

I caught up to her, grabbed her shoulders, and spun her around. She raised a hand as if she was about to slap or even punch me.

"HOLD IT!" I yelled before she could inflict any pain. "I'm not going to hurt you, okay?"

She gave me look of total disbelief.

"But you hit me with the car... and kidnapped me... what do you want with me?"

I was speechless.

"What the... Are you insane?"

She grabbed the front of my shirt.

"WHERE'S MAGGIE? WHAT DID YOU DO WITH MY SISTER?" she yelled.

My already short temper snapped.

"I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ANY SISTER! I DIDN'T HIT YOU! I COULDN'T EVEN GET THE FREAKIN' CAR TO MOVE! YOU WERE LYING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD! I'M JUST THE KIND OF PERSON WHO DOESN'T SEE SOMEONE BADLY HURT AND LEAVE THEM OUT IN NOWHERE, OKAY?!"

"You were standing over me with a BLOODY SWORD!"

"I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT YOU WERE! YOU COULD HAVE BEEN A PSYCHOPATH FOR ALL I KNEW!"

"YOU ARE A PSYCHOPATH!"

I shoved her hands off my shirt and turned my back to her. It was quiet for a few moments and then I heard a whimper. The girl was kneeling one the ground, her head between her hands.

"I want to go home." I heard her whisper. "This is just a dream, I'll wake up and see Maggie watching Naruto... It's just a dream."

I looked at her and sighed.

"Come on," I said flatly, offering my hand. "You need to see a doctor."

She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and stumbled to her feet. And promptly sat back down.

"Ohhhhh," she moaned. "I feel dizzy."

I raised an eyebrow. Of course she felt dizzy. With another slightly exasperated sigh, I pulled her to her feet. She swayed, but I kept her upright.

"Don't squirm," I ordered, and pulled her into a piggyback. When I was sure she wouldn't slip, I started trudging back to the inn. I felt like I could fall asleep on the floor right now.

As I was mounting the steps of the inn, a cheerful thought struck me quite suddenly. Blood stains if not washed out promptly. And I had no intention of washing Mustang's car seats at this time of night.

I entered the inn, whistling a cheerful tune.