Chapter 2: A Prompt Conjunction

Waking up after falling unconscious feels sickeningly different compared to waking up from a dream. Everything went black and white. The world started to spin without pause and she lost all balance. A pounding in the side of her head kept rhythm with her heart, a method for her to estimate how many times she drifted in and out of consciousness; between when she could hear the pulsing and not.

She never dared to open her eyes. The sentiment that she may awake to find her body mangled and broken or perhaps sent off to whatever hell or heaven she dared to believe in. She found comfort in the blackness of her eyelids. Perhaps she knew that what lay beyond would be too much for her to bear right now. Or was it simply that she feared what lurked in the light?

As for her other senses, there was little she could do to prevent experiencing what the rest of her body noticed. She was laying down a stiff surface; likely metallic considering the cold sting it had against her bare skin when outside hands adjusted her. Bindings were wrapped on her wrists, ankles and waist, preventing her from escape if she dared to consider it. Strangely, no pain threatened to arose in her bones or flesh. She felt not a scratch or mark on her skin. But she still had no recollection whether she was injured to begin with.

The smell was unpleasant, but not assaulting. It reminded her faintly of a doctor's office. Too clean to be a home and far too devoid of a building's normal charm. Had she been transported back to Aerugo? Was she in the hospital?

Idril shifted, but received little relief from the stiffness as the restraints kept her detained. No. They wouldn't tie people down in a hospital.

"Good, she's conscious again. Sit her up." A voice from nearby broke the silence, it registered as a man's tone to her mind.

The sound of moving gears and pistons caused Idril to tense her muscles, before the platform where she laid began to rise and lift her upper body at an angle.

Don't look. Don't look. Don't look.

"Are you sure she's conscious? She hasn't opened her eyes for quite some time." A different voice. Another male, less certain and more than likely a henchmen.

A quiet laugh came from the other man, throaty and gruff. "She's awake. Doesn't matter if her eyes stay closed. It won't stop anything. Get me the muffler. She might be a screamer."

Her hands tightened into fists at his words. No. She wouldn't scream. She needed to know what was going to happen.

The Aerugonian's eyes slowly opened, her pupils immediately shrinking by the high amount of light being presented from the cieling. It was a lab. Her eyes eventually focused on one of the doctors, widening as he leaned forward to return the gaze with a grin.

He was an aged man by the look of him, with dusty auburn hair that was receding from his hairline and wrinkles that were telling of his state. His eyes were hidden from the shine of his glasses and in his grin was a single gold tooth.

"Well, well, well. Aren't you a quiet one?" He breathed out, his rancid breath causing Idril's nose to flare in disgust.

The gold-toothed doctor wheezed out a laugh before leaning back and setting the muffler aside. "We won't need this, then."

Idril watched as the muffler was put on the counter and the 'doctor' set his instruments on a moveable table near her side. Oh god. Were they going to perform an experiment?

Swallowing her fear, she addressed him calmly. Drawing back to her upbringing in a merchant family; having been trained to remain calm while speaking or bartering with anyone. "What are you going to do?"

The doctor's smile grew, "Something I hope you survive."

She winced and spoke again, "Who are you?"

"Your doctor, of course! As my patient, I assure you. If at any point you want me to stop. Just scream." He cackled once more before leaning back in his chair.

She watched as the other man came over and stuck something into her arm, briefly causing her to assume it was a needle judging by the momentary prick. Idril also took into account that both men were wearing white overcoats. Scientists, more than doctors.

From the corner of her eye, she saw a broad and tall figure standing in the doorway, dressed in the typical Amestris uniform. - No, his uniform was too decorated to be standard. The number of stars lining his shoulders and the hat that covered the raven-hued hair on his head have it way. Führer King Bradley.

"Ahh, Wrath! Have you come to watch the show?" The doctor giggled and reached for something metal, she heard something inhuman. An animal, maybe. Probably a bird of sorts.

The Führer shook his head. "No. I'll address the issue at a later date. Who is she?" His dark eyes fixated on Idril, cold and uncaring as he bore into her unflinchingly.

"An Aerugonian spy, apparently. The one Envy brought us. I thought we'd show her some Amestrian hospitality."

Idril's eyes narrowed in anger. Amestrians. How dare they! Her hands fought against the binds, but she gradually began to feel weaker and weaker. As if her energy was being drained.

"Do you think she'll survive the process?" The Führer questioned with an absence of true interest.

"She'll survive. The question is whether or not her consciousness will remain. If not, well, the sewers will have another guard-dog." The doctor slipped on his gloves and directed his henchman to grab the bird cage.

"Very well. Come see me afterwards, then."

Idril gritted her teeth and hissed at the ruler of Amestris, "I'll stand over your corpse, Amestrian scum!"

A hand roughly slapping her across the face was enough to silence her. As well prove a disorienting and painful diversion from her anger.

"Come now. Let's begin!" The doctor jittered with unrestrained glee. Drawing some sort of pattern with paint on her torso.

She turned her head to the side, the sedative now fully taking it's toll as she felt herself losing her grip on consciousness once more. Her eyes made contact with those of a beautiful snowy owl. Watching her from its cage, though the same could be said for both of them.

A rush of illuminating light flooded the room and she felt herself fall.