Chapter 2: A brief moment of Hope

She watched as they tore apart her home looking for it. Whatever it was. Riza was glad they had abandoned getting into the panic room as it gave her time to look around. She found some rations. Canned fruit. Obviously it wasn't the healthiest meal, but she had to eat something. For the baby's sake. Using the hook, she pulled the can open and ate the contents. It could have been worse, but then again it could have been better. She wiped her face using Roy's shirts sleeve and checked the cameras again. They were still searching, that was good. It gave her time to plan her next move. But she did have to wonder what exactly their motive was. If it was money they had found their stash a while ago, and there were plenty of valuables lying around. They probably wanted some dirt on Roy or something. Hopefully they would tire and give up soon.

She thought wrong. Soon after Hawkeye had finished reinforcing the door with a tall shelf, she saw that the three men had returned to her location. The tallest banged loudly on the door making the shelf vibrate violently. Several objects fell off it as a result.

"Okay bitch open this door right now!"

A different one spoke in a softer tone. "Listen what we want is inside that room. Just let us find it and we'll be out of your hair in no time." Riza smirked slightly just as Roy would when he could tell his rivals were bullshitting. His habits had obviously rubbed off on her.

"Go to Hell!" She yelled, whilst clenching the shotgun tightly around her swollen stomach.

The same man flipped out, his kind façade falling instantly. "Right then, Bitch. Just for that, once we get inside that room I'll make sure that you and that baby suffer a long horrible death." He led the others away from the door. "Come on boys let's get that." He laughed loudly while heading away loudly.

Riza moved away from the door to look at the objects that had fallen. Noting the miscellaneous items that may come in handy later such as more canned food, she jumped in excitement as she spotted the rotary telephone. It had to have been the first type of telephone invented, the way the wire were loosely held together, the microphone section had nearly fallen. But as luck would have it the rotary dialling wheel still worked. She turned it rapidly to get the number she desperately wanted. Once she finished she crossed her fingers tightly and prayed for a dial tone. She was inwardly relieved when the beep could be heard and eventually someone picked up.

"Eastern headquarters command centre how can I help you?"

"Uh-Roy, no, G-General Mustang! Get me General Mustang!" She looked at the screens nervously hoping the three men hadn't returned.

"Who is speaking?"

"Riza Mustang." She said hurriedly.

"May I have your code please?"

"Dammit! There's no time for that! Just get Roy on the damn phone now!" She was clearly getting frustrated as she saw the three men had nearly returned, their battering ram from before in their hands.

"I'm sorry ma'am, I'm not allowed to connected from an outside li-"

"It's an emergency! Give him the phone quickly." She whispered violently, as she feared them overhearing. The men had returned to the door and proceeded to ram the door, in attempt to open it. With each ram the shelf shook harder and at times nearly toppled over.

"I can't-"

"Look, just connect me up, I promise there won't be any repercussions." She tried to speak calmly but her heart beat was actually racing rapidly. She was flinching every time a bang shoot the room.

There was a brief pause. "I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you." Riza muttered relieved, she stood up to push the shelf back against the door and stop it from falling. There was a long pause. Hurry up and answer the damn phone Roy!

"Riza what's wrong?" There was panic in Roy's voice, he spoke hurriedly in worry. Riza never rung unless it was serious.

"Roy! There's people in our house, they're-" Only a dial tone could be heard.

She had been disconnected.

Her heart fell. She turned her head towards the monitor. The smaller thug held up some needle nose pliers and the telephone wire he had just cut. "Dammit!" Riza muttered angrily whilst throwing down the receiver.

The middle height one laughed loudly. "Even Mustang can't save you from this. Don't even think about calling for help cos it isn't gonna work!" They continued to ram the door with as much force as they were capable of.

Riza dashed over to the shelf again pushing against it, tears of frustration in her eyes. Black Hayate noticing his master's distress joined her and also pushed against the shelf. "Hang in there boy, all we can do is hope they'll give up eventually." Her voice was muffled by the sounds of ramming. For a brief moment she wished she didn't have the burden of carrying Roy's child because she could have gone out and dealt with them a while ago. Instead she had hold on and hope help would make its way. Maybe a kind hearted neighbour who had seen the break in would call the military or maybe Roy had worked out their brief phone call. Either way she pushed harder against the door, ensure that the door wouldn't open. Not even a single centimetre. Because that single centimetre could be the opening that they need.

(-)

Riza didn't know how much time had passed. When the banging finally stopped, by the point she had slid down to the floor, her back leaning against the shelves. Her heart still beating erratically. Over the time of watching them over the monitor she had learned that the tallest was called Seth, the middle height was the brains of the operation and they called him Raoul and finally the smaller one they called Mole. She sat there and wolfed down another can of food whilst the three had stopped.

"This isn't working." Seth had muttered as he lowered the ram.

"Well done dumbass." Raoul said loudly as he crossed his arms glaring at the door.

"If we had that flame alchemy, things would be a whole lot easier." He grumbled loudly.

"Maybe shooting it will make a difference." Mole pulled the shotgun off his shoulder and fired several at the steel door, only to have several recoil and the three ducking for their lives.

Raoul smacked him hard across the head. "You idiot! That door's made of steel! Quit wasting your bullets!"

Mole covered his head and apologised, whilst Raoul stood once again, hand under his chin as he thought. By luck he happened to look up and spot the security camera. Riza shifted slightly in the other room as he looked directly at it.

"That's a security camera right?"

"Can that Bitch see us from inside that room?" Mole asked joining Raoul to look at the camera.

Suddenly the three men looked towards a different direction simultaneously. She could swear she heard someone's voice but it was too quiet to tell what they were saying. After a brief moment the three men moved downstairs together, making Riza nervous as she couldn't tell what was happening

She leaned forward anxiously hoping that they would go into one of the rooms with a security camera installed in. Each minute waiting for them to appear was like torment.

Riza was briefly relieved when they finally reappeared, but that relief evaporated when she saw they carried a fourth person. Her eyes widened as they dragged the man into a wooden chair in the living room and tied his arms and legs to it. A trickle of sweat dripped down her face and her hands shook as she watched them continuously beat him and shout at him. The raven black hair and military uniform was unmistakeable, but Riza still prayed hard it wasn't him. Her fears were confirmed when Raoul grabbed his hair and tilted his face bloodied and bruised upwards towards the camera.

They've got Roy.

Cliffie yay!

Next update probably will take longer but let me know your comments anyway!