Hello everyone, so just a brief authors note here. This is my first FMA fanfic so please forgive me for any OOC that may be below. Also, I have genderbent Ed and Al so they are now Edie and Alley. There will be others that will be genderbent but, for now, that's it. Also, pairings that will be in this story is Fem!EdxRoy. So, if that's not your thing, please just don't read it. Thank you all for reading and I'd love to hear what you guys think of it so be sure to leave a review! I hope you enjoy!
Was this the way it was intended to turn out? Was this what God wanted? The bible has told us countless times that we must fear him. But isn't this extreme? Or is there no God at all? Will we bounce back? Can we be saved?
I ask myself these questions as I look at the only person in this damned world I love. But love was never enough, was it? She's bleeding out, even with my hands on her wound, her bite, she's bleeding out fast. There's nothing I can do to stop it now. Even if she wasn't bleeding heavily, the infection's already spreading. And, in this moment, I want to die. Tears are stinging my already freezing cold cheeks and I can't do anything. Panic's rising, the dead are sure to have smelt her spilled blood by now and me and Alley can't stay here. But, my sister isn't going to make it through this one.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." I sob out as I try and keep pressure on her neck, where she was bitten. But the sickly warm, red liquid is still running out onto the dirt packed earth and I can't fix this! She's beyond words at this point but, even in her condition, she smiles at me. The only thing that registered when I saw her smile was, 'Does she even realize she's dying?' I hope not. Maybe now she'd get to see mom. Maybe she'd go to a place where she wouldn't have to live in fear and she wouldn't have to be ready to kill at a moments notice.
They're here now. The smell of rotting flesh and something that can only be described as death is in the cold December air. "Al, I can't leave you." Panic's racing through my blood as reality sets in that its either her or me. The sickening part is that she's too far gone anyways. She smiles again and manages a small nod, which causes me to let out a pained cry. "Stupid, I can't leave you!" I shouted, my voice shrill. But I knew I had too. If I could only stay with her until she passes then I wouldn't feel like a total piece of shit for leaving her behind. I wasn't sure if it was shock or grief, but when I saw them, the dead that is, I felt no fear. Only pity. Free from the fear of death that entraps all living things, there nothing but ruthless animals and will never again feel the grief of losing someone. What started out as a bizarre story in the news turned out to be the human race's worst nightmare and it spread throughout the world like a wild fire.
I had promised to protect her though. Out of the billions in the world, I just wanted to protect one little girl. But I couldn't even manage that.
"Edie, you n-need.. to g.. go.." She managed to get out, her words gargled due to the blood and her words pained. I was a mess, the dead were closing in and I was sure to be next victim but I couldn't move. Was it even worth it anymore? Why should I go on?
"Go!" Alley's voice rang through the dense forest and, as if on some queue, they all sprang on us. My feet had hit the dirt as I took off and I wanted to puke due to the fact that I was running again. This time though, I was running alone. I couldn't bring myself to look back because I knew she was just another meal to them now and, oh dear God, I felt sick. For the first time in a long time, I was petrified. I was alone in this mess now. I was without my sister and it was my fault. But I didn't slow down, I didn't stop or even look back until I broke through the dense trees and my feet hit gravel. I promptly slid on the loose rocks and, just like that, I was out in the open and on my ass. I wasn't all eager to get up though and, instead, I laid down on the snow covered has-been highway. I didn't have to worry about vehicles or other people on the road anymore since everything was different now.
So, I laid there and just sobbed. I was shivering and shaking due to more reasons then just the cold. Why had I been that stupid?! I might as well have just used my sister as bait! I knew so much better then to try and find shelter in a house like that. It was clearly not safe, but we were both so cold. I was worried about Alley getting frostbite and I just wanted shelter. I thought that maybe the dead hadn't overrun the house, that maybe this place had been left untouched. My theory just proved to be wishful thinking though, since the place was housing a good fifty of the damned things. I thought I was covering Al but it was made evident very quickly that I wasn't. And I was paying all over again for my foolishness.
I laid in the snow until I heard footsteps fast approaching. My mind was going back and forth between whether I should fight back or just let them kill me. I mean, I really had no reason to fight back anymore since I had nothing to fight for or protect. It was just me, and I hated that.
The sickening call one of them let out alerted me that if I didn't move now and fast I wouldn't have an option of living anymore even if I wanted too. On unsteady feet and with aching body, I stood to see them already swarming out of the trees. Dozens on dozens were now standing at the forest's edge. My body screamed for me to run, but my mind said I had nothing to run to anymore. I guess basic survival instincts took over and, before I could even think about my decision, I was taking off down the road.
See, this is anything but your typical 1960's Night Of The Living dead cheese fest. These beings are smart, even known to plan full blown ambushes. And pain doesn't phase them. There quick, resourceful and killing is an everyday thing to them. Granted, if they don't eat they'll grow weak, but I knew these guys had just eaten.
I was the weak one, and they were gaining.
I was out of breath and out of strength long before this pack had appeared and I knew that if I didn't find a hiding spot soon, I was going to be there dessert. I hadn't eaten in well over three days and I was shaking and undernourished. My future looked everything but bright right now, but I was ok with that. Maybe I could be with my mom and Alley too. Why the hell should I be left here alone?! It wasn't fair!
'Girls, it will be hard out there but promise me you'll never stop fighting. And protect each other at all costs.'
'We promise.'
Tears flooded my eyes at the memory and that goddamned promise. I had promised though.
My lungs were burning and god it hurt to suck in deep breaths of the icy air that surrounded me but I didn't stop, and I didn't slow down. I wasn't sure if it my imagination or just panic, but I swore I could feel there sickly breath against my neck and, just as I swore this was it, I made a sharp turn and darted into the shaded forest that I had been parallel to this whole time. In my time alive in this living hell we call life, I learned that dark areas could either offer the best of shelter or the worst death you could imagine. That was one of the weaknesses these things had. They couldn't see in the dark, even if there was moon and starlight. They were clumsy too, and reckless. Lack of fear only benefits you so much before it becomes a downfall.
I easily wove in between the tall birch trees, where the dead were crashing through them and hitting them smack on with no recognition that they were actually injuring themselves. It looked as though I was actually going to be getting ahead of the pack, until my footing gave way and I began rolling down the forest hill instead of running down it. The air was knocked out of my lungs and I felt my skin being scraped and scratched in more ways then one. But, all in all, they were superficial wounds. That is until I felt the branch that was sticking out of the ground at just the right angle go through my side.
Once my body hit the bottom of the hill I found I couldn't move, not with that damned branch in me. So, I decided I'd just stay where I was. The smell of my blood was sure to attract more of the dead so it wasn't like I had a fair chance anyways. My vision was hazy and blurred but I could still see the sickly pail bodies closing in on me. This is it, its over. A million thoughts raced through my head but, the only thing I could feel at the moment was relief.
'Just a little longer and I'll be with Alley and mom.' I though to myself as I felt the hot, sticky breath of one of the dead against my neck.
I was sure it was all over, until I heard the first of many gunshots fired. Maybe this isn't my time after all.