TheParadoxGlitch56
(Formally ShatteredSoul56)
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Chapter One
Quiver
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"Child abuse occurs at every socioeconomic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education." :
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"Over here!" Lieutenant Colonel Mustang barked. Everyone regrouped and studied the door. Scratching his chin thoughtfully Roy's brow furrowed. "Major, force the door open." The group focused their weapons on the door. Once the door had been cracked open a fierce stench raced outward. First Lieutenant Hawkeye covered her mouth and nose with her sleeve. She could hear a gag come from behind her as the Major poked his fingers through the opening and slowly shoved the door open.
Second Lieutenant Ross inhaled sharply at the sight. Checking the corners of the room they moved toward the still figures crumpled on the filthy ground.
The Day Before...
"Worthless." The blond man hissed under his breath and released the shirt he had a hold of. The body fell to its knees then fell forward, landing on its stomach. The door opened and the man left without a second glance. Glazed eyes tracked the mans progress before he attempted to rise.
"A-Al?" There was movement.
"Brother?" Al's small figure inched forward as he pulled away from the shadows. "Are you all right?" The voice quivered.
"Mhm." The older boy dragged his battered body toward his shaking brother. "It's okay, Al."
"N-No it's not." Al accepted the comfort his brother offered as he was hugged tightly. "I'm s-sorry, brother. If I hadn't had t-that stupid n-nightmare h-he wouldn't-"
"Hush, I'm here." Their tears had long since dried up, though it may be the fact they hadn't had water today, or yesterday. The ten year old frowned. "You're warm, Al."
"I haven't f-felt good f-for a couple of d-days."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't w-want to w-worry you." Al's face scrunched up in misery. "I'm s-scared, brother."
"I know." The older boy could feel the helplessness weighing heavily on them today. He held fast to his younger brother, despite the pain he was in. "I know."
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"What is it Lieutenant Hawkeye?" Hawkeye straightened and nodded slightly.
"I'm sorry, sir. It's just this strange transmission we got last week." She looked away.
"Yes. We have no idea where it came from."
"I know. That child sounded so frightened. I just...no never mind." The dark haired man studied his partner for a few moments as he leaned in his office chair.
"He did say his name was Edward. I suppose we could have another look at the records."
"I would very much appreciate that, sir." She smiled slightly.
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After about an hour the boy's finally felt safe enough to limp around. Al could tell his brother was in deep thought.
"What's wrong, brother?" With a sigh the older boy turned.
"He forgot to lock the door." There was a heavy pause, "I'm going to try to sneak out again, Al." The blond boy studied the door. "What ever happens, stay here."
The child's heart raced as he peeked outside the door. He turned and gave a thumbs up and a small smile to reassure his brother. Despite his damaged left knee, he quietly made it to his father's study again.
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"H-Hello." A small hesitant voice came across their military server.
"Hello? Who is this?"
"...I need help...(static)...trapped." The voice was so soft it barley came across the radio.
"This is Sargent Major Fury. I need you to speak up." Fury remembered the transmission quite clearly. He remembered his breath hitching as he waited for a reply. He could not tell if this was a real problem or a prank, but if it turned out this child was in danger he needed to get as much information as he could. He dearly wished he could have done more.
"...hurt...brother is with me...(static)...Edward! You little brat!...(screaming)...(end transmission)."
"I wish we knew his age." Second Lieutenant Ross moaned.
"That certainly would help." Major Armstrong replied, on the verge of tears again.
"He name is Edward. He has a brother, we are assuming this Edward is the oldest. Maybe we should go through the younger children again, age 4 to 6." Lieutenant Hawkeye muttered to her self. "The system they used has a connection to the military. However; none of the staff has a child named Edward."
"It's possible that it might have been an accident or he had access to a our line, without being related to a member of the military." Fury said as he surfed through the channels hoping to hear the child's voice again. Major Hughes and Warrant Officer Falman were both quietly scanning the papers, knowing the seriousness of the situation.
"Well, Edward is a pretty rare name on our records, so it is possible he is not on record." Second Lieutenant Havoc mumbled around his cigarette.
"The name does sound familiar." Lieutenant Colonel Mustang began to stare off into space again. More and more folders were thrown out.
"It just doesn't make any sense." Hawkeye closed her strained eyes.
"Maybe it is just a prank. A sick twisted prank." Havoc said as he leaned in his chair, rubbing his blue eyes. "Alchemists and all."
"That's it!" Mustang barked and raced from the room. Two minuets later he enter the room carrying a orange folder. "Here." He placed his finger on the name. "Edward Elric."
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Edward crossed the room and sat before the work bench, where his father's radio sat. His breath caught in his throat when he heard the squeak of the door behind him.
"Tisk, tisk, tisk, my son. You know better." The boy's heart skipped a beat. He was then yanked roughly from behind. "I am through dealing with you two brats." Grabbing his oldest son around the back of his neck they walked slowly back to the boy's room.
"Brother?"
After shoving Ed into the door frame he slammed him into a wall. Leaving him breathless. Then man advanced on the younger boy.
"Alphonse!" Ed rasped. The man's smacked Alphonse with a twisted grin. He then grabbed Al by the hair and dragged him across the room. Turning he kneed the boy once in the stomach he watched the child crouch over, gasping for precious air. The blond man advanced on Ed and sharply grabbed the ten-year-old's arm. "Such a bitter disappointment, you two." He dragged Ed to his brother and went to lock the door. He stopped in the center of the room and placed the light bulb in the old socket. It flickered in annoyance.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Ed whimpered as he slid in front of Al, who was trembling helplessly behind him.
"I'm sorry too, son." The blond man walked straight up to Ed and kicked the boy's chin with as much strength he could muster. The pain was immense and he nearly blacked out, but the only worry in his mind was protecting his brother. He knew his jaw had snapped and he let out a wail of pain. "Get up." Ed barely heard the growl through the ringing in his ears. Apparently Ed was too slow because the next second he was being pulled to his feet by his hair. "Turn around and place your hands against the wall." Swaying the boy followed the commands. "Good. Don't move." Ed braced himself. Then he heard a strangled scream.
"Al?" Ed slurred. The next instant his ribs smashed against the wall.
"Shut up." On shaking knees he turned to see his brother on the group with his father on top of him, hands tightly wrapped around the nine-year-old's neck.
"No!" Gathering all his strength, Ed charged his father. Hohenheim slammed into the cement ground. The man got to his knees and stood straight holding his sore shoulder.
"Stupid brat, that hurt." He hissed and made a dash for the door, locking it firmly behind him. Frowning Ed quickly turned his attention to his brother.
"Al? Alphonse!" Ed gave a painful grin at Al's groan. "You're okay. We're okay, he left." Together they dragged themselves in their corner and huddled together, while Al coughed and cried.
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"B-But the boy is dead. Along with his brother..."
"The boy should be around 10 years old and his brother," Mustang checked the list, "Alphonse is around the age of 9. It is worth checking into." The group agreed and began to gather a few essentials for the trip. "Besides, I haven't seen Hohenheim in quite some time."
"Where is he located."
"Resembool, I believe."
Mustang gathered his troop, which consisted of Majors Hughes, Armstrong, First Lieutenant Hawkeye Second Lieutenants Ross, Havoc, Breda, and Sergent Major Brosh. They collected three cars and had two ambulances on standby in Resembool.
"If it is these boys, then why do you think Hohenheim lied?" Mustang, who was leaning his elbow on the window seal of the car door shrugged at Hawkeye's quiet question.
"My best guess is he became overprotective and trapped the boys within their house, but that transmission just doesn't make any sense. We should be prepared for a worse case scenario." The dark haired man closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Hohenheim, I hope this is a mistake. You better not have done anything to your boys."
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Twenty minuets later Hohenheim returned.
"Oh, son, I have a surprise for you." Ed and Al shivered. "Edward, you stupid boy, get your ass over here." Ed's first instinct was to whimper and refuse, but he managed to pull himself up, with help from the wall, and limped over. His head pounded and his heart raced. "I think it's finally time to give you a nice haircut, don't you agree?" Honestly, Ed loved his hair long. It was warm and when it was washed it shined and was so smooth, he also loved to twirl his fingers in his long bangs.
Golden eye's widened as he was forced to his knees. He absolutely hated when his brother was forced to watch him get hurt. "Lets take a little of the top." The man began to hum and he worked to removed his son's hair. "This is harder than I expected, your hair is so filthy and matted. Didn't your mother teach you how to take care of it, stupid boy." He continued to chop the lumps of tangled hair off. Ed wouldn't admit it, but despite his love for long hair, it was nice to get his hair cut. He knew his hair wasn't healthy and it did itch a lot. The man smirked and scraped the scissors across the boy's scalp. Ed groaned as his skin split, soon it would fester like his other wounds, and he felt blood trickle across his head, then down his neck. Lifting his hand he stuck his middle and pointer finger in his mouth to help silence his pained grunts and moans.
Finally, he shoved Ed away. "Now, you, son." He smiled at Al. Edward gritted his teeth and with a harsh breath jerk himself into a standing position.
"You will not lay a hand on him, anymore!" The man scratched his beard and smirked at his oldest son with an odd glint in his golden eyes.
"Yes, of course. I must follow your orders." Hohenheim mocked. His eyes turned back to the younger boy. "Get over here, now." He barked.
"No, stay where you are, Alphonse!" Ed always used his brother's full name when he was worried or serious.
"You good for nothing, brat." Hohenheim rose and grabbed the child by the shoulders and forced him into the wall. His right fist came around and sunk deep into the boy's starving stomach, while his left hand held the boy up by his collar. Ed choked and gaged. While Ed struggled to regain his breath Hohenheim brought his fist back again and it collided with the side of the boy's face. The ten-year-old's lip started to bleed profusely as the impact forced open an old wound. "I'm sick of this shit. I'll be right back, stay here."
Ed slid down the wall, having nothing to hold him up anymore. He was tired of this also and his whole body hurt.
It was hours later until Hohenheim entered the room again. Al was fast asleep and Ed was just trying to lay in a position that would relieve pressure in his many wounds.
"All you boys ever do is bring me grief." Ed heard a click. "Never again." Golden eyes widen and focus. Once the gun was in sight Ed could feel the adrenalin race through his veins. Ed yanked his brothers shirt and pulled him out of the way just in time to hear the bullet collide with the cement floor, then ricocheted against the wall.
"Wake up, Alphonse!" That jerked the younger boy awake. "He's got a gun!" Ed pulled his brother with him as he moved, making sure to keep the other boy behind him. "Lets charge him." Edward hissed and raced forward knowing Al would follow. They both managed to head butt the man in the gut, but not before Ed took a bullet to the shoulder.
Hohenheim laughed. "Stupid boys." The brothers ran through the open door and raced across the house. Having no idea where they were going they got trapped in a bathroom. A small window sat a few feet above the toilet. Ed tried to push Al up, but Hohenheim was only a few steps behind so they decided to hide. They pushed and pulled each other into a bottom cabinet that contained cleaning supplies. "Boys." The man shouted. "I'm sorry. Please don't do this." The man's shoe's lightly tapped the floor as he searched the rooms. Ed's chest burned and he could hear his racing heart.
"Peek-a-boo." Hohenheim hollered playfully as he popped his head into the bathroom. His eyes traced every inch of the room, but didn't see anything amiss. Al's mouth was currently being covered by Ed's sweaty hands. Looking over he saw his brother biting his bloody lip. The brothers heard their father step in front of their hiding spot and they held their breath. They heard him open a cabinet above them. The boys shared a glance and started to prepare themselves for the inevitable. Al's eyes began to get moist. "Come now boys, let us settle this like men." Ed tried to force his brother behind him, but they barely fit as they were.
Suddenly an arm shot forward and grabbed Ed by the shirt. "There you are, son!" Ed felt a soft tug on his leg and he glanced down. Al was grabbing his brother's leg and was attempting to stand. "I'm so glade your both safe. There are a lot of hazards in this house, stupid boys." Hohenheim marched them back to their room and locked the door behind him. Once again Hohenheim pulled hard on Edward's right arm and smacked him hard on the face. The boy would have fallen if it weren't for his father's grip. "Idiot, you know what would have happened if you managed to leave this house?" He kicked the boy hard in the shin. "They would have taken you away! Separated you both and placed you into homes. The people that own those homes are vicious people, that will work you like a slave. Is that what you want? To live with that kind of treatment?"
"Just about any place is better than being here, with you." Ed spat on the man's shirt. He had broken rule number two: never ever talk back. The man gnashed his teeth and smacked his son again, hard. Then he began to kick and stomp with all his might.
"You little shit. I'll kill you." Edward knew he was serious and if there was proper light the man would have seen all the blood drain from his face. His left leg flared with pain as it took blow after blow, the man even managed to jump on the battered limb. He used his arms for protect his face, to no affect. He just hoped it would end soon and the man would leave. Now, the man was beating his head relentlessly. He was sure the pain couldn't get any worse until he felt a sharp ache in his ribs then his chest and with that everything went dark.
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The shadows shifted when Armstrong opened the door. Against the back wall two bodies laid on top of each other. Both were littered with gashes, bruises, and one had a few protruding bones.
"My word." Ross hissed. "Are they...?" Mustang crouched and felt for a pulse on one of the boy's bruised neck. He felt a very weak thumping. Examining both bodies his eyes widened slightly and he bared his teeth as he reached over to search for a second pulse.
"They've been shot." Came his harsh whisper. "First Lieutenant Hawkeye alert the hospital, we need two medical teams, now!"
"Yes, sir!" She raced from the room. Having some medical knowledge Mustang ordered Ross to retrieve a few medical supplies they carried in their vehicles, including a neck brace. He was not completely confident that it would fit their small necks. Havoc and Brosh knelt to help Mustang.
"That monster." The blond short haired man grimaced at Roy. "This is not good." He muttered as he took in the damage done to the boy's. "This is Edward and Alphonse?"
"It appears so."
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Unfortunately, I have gotten a little too addicted to FMA. Tell me if this story is worth pursuing. It took me a while to decide if I should begin to post this or not. I will most likely update once I get a chapter done. I have edited this chapter a couple times, so I'm sorry if there are any blaring mistakes. Love ya'll. Have an awesome summer!
April 28, 2010
TheParadoxGlitch56