Hello again! :) So I started working on this next chapter shortly after I posted the first, I hope you enjoy it! I guess I should've posted a warning for the first chapter since it contained a major character death, though in my story Alley wasn't one of the main characters. I don't want to spoil it but I can let you know that this chapter isn't as angsty. :) Please review and let me know what you guys think! And please let me know if I'm staying in character or not with Roy and Ed!

"She's losing a lot of blood." Who's voice was that? It was a deep males voice that I didn't recognize.

"Sir, there's more on the way. We have to make a decision and move out." Another male spoke, though his voice was distinctively higher then the other. There was a silent pause and I could feel my stomach drop. Will they put me out of my misery? I silently prayed that they would.

"Here, we have to more her." The deep voice said right before I felt arms grab my arms and slide me into a sitting position. Against my will, I let out a little groan of protest as I was moved, pain radiating from my injury. Though my voice was weak and came out hoarse. My back was now leaning against something.. warm, but I wasn't sure what it was.

"Like this, sir?" The not-so-deep voice said, his voice now sounded extremely close to my ear. Oh.. so I was leaning against him. I tried focusing my spinning vision ahead of me, but it was difficult to do so and I knew this was because of my loss of blood. I guess I really got myself good. Finally, I was able to focus a bit on the man who was now hovering over me, but all I could make out was dark hair, though I did see him nod his response.

"Make sure she doesn't move." The dark haired man commanded, and I felt the grip on my tighten just a bit. What the hell are they doing?! Only when I saw the man in front of me grab the stick that was lodged in my side did it register what they we're doing.

Oh shit..

I felt him give a nice hard pull and then the damned thing slid out of my side with a sickly slick sounding noise, a throbbing pain left in its path. "Fuck you!" I managed to curse at him, mainly out of pain, though it sounded like the yell was more out of anger.

"Keep your voice down!" He scolded me, as if I was a child. "You're already in enough trouble with your injuries, don't alert every demon in the area of your presence too!"

"I never asked for your help!" I spat out, though my words were ignored as I felt a new searing pain in my side. Was that.. heat?! The cry I let out was quickly muffled by a hand over my mouth, this time though, it was the man behind me that silenced me. My hands flew up to try and pull his hand off my mouth, but I wasn't strong enough. With the searing hot pain I felt, it wasn't long before I completely blacked out.

I only remember bits and pieces after that. I remember being thrown over someone's shoulder and I remember hearing gunshots and smelling that god awful rotting stench that those things gave off, but I couldn't tell you where we were heading or what the two men were saying to each other. All I knew is that I wasn't going to die, which disappointed me since I had been so willing, so ready to call it quits just a half hour earlier.

When I woke up, though I felt way more then just a little drugged, I was in a white room that wreaked of antiseptic. I saw a blur of yellow.. or, blonde, but it was still a bit hard to focus. Blonde though? Immediately, Alley made a painful appearance in my fogged over brain and I felt a strong hope in the bottom of my stomach rise up. Was she ok? Were my prayers answered? Did God grant me a miracle of the sweeter kind? I ended up passing out again to wonderful thoughts that all surrounded my sister still being alive.

"Well, she's lost a lot of blood, but she's stable as of now." A female's voice spoke. I tried to open my eyes but the bright lights stung my eyes too much.

"And did she have any weapons on her?" It was that same deep voice from earlier, I registered that much.

"Yes, she had a nice size knife and a pistol, though there were no bullets in the gun." She spoke back.

"Perfect, thank you Winry. You did a very good job." His voice almost sounded.. warm. Unlike the more matter of fact tone he'd used earlier with me. But, not matter how sweet or warm he was, I did not know him, so therefor I could not trust him. Already, I was thinking of a way out of this place, but my mind was in no shape to be making any logical plans. In the end, I just ended up falling asleep again. I blamed it on the drugs I was obviously on.

The rest of whenever was just a blur of bright lights and of dreams where Alley was still breathing. I was in and out of consciousness for what felt like days, though I knew it hadn't been that long. There was a friendly face that I kept just getting glimpses of, her deep blue eyes or soft smile. And then there was a more stern face I got see in between my many naps that showed dark eyes and a flat line that was his lips. No smile there. When I finally did wake up was when I noticed a few things I hadn't earlier. For one thing, I was no longer wearing my tattered, bloodstained t-shirt. In its place was what looked like an ace-bandage wrapped around my chest, making me seem near flat-chested. My faded and torn jeans were now gone and I was in nothing but a pair of white panties. Great. I wondered who had changed me and I just prayed it was the girl I saw earlier. Of course, there was also the white gauze that was wrapped around my midsection, protecting my wound from earlier. But, besides those few things, I was left almost bare, or so it felt.

When I realized that I was starting to truly wake up was when I attempted to sit up. As soon I moved though, the room began to spin. I quickly rested my head back on the pillow, letting out a little breath of disappointment. Hey, they have pillows! I actually contemplated whether or not I should take it with me since little luxury's like pillows were hard to come by nowadays.

Ok, second attempt.

This time I sat up much slower and, as a result, the room only spun slightly. Ok, I can handle this. I slowly swung my legs off the edge of the table and that's when a shooting pain ran up my side. "Shit.." I cursed as I felt the pain. That's going to pose quite a big issue. Ok, just move slowly. I tentatively placed my feet on the ground, though I quickly had to use the bed as support. Now the room was definitely spinning out of control. What the hell was I even on anyways? Once the room had stopped moving on its own, I stood up straight and let go of the table. Step by slow step, I made my way to the door. I didn't hear anyone outside the door but that didn't mean the coast was clear. I peaked out to see what I was in for and, when I saw the a guard posted outside my door, I realized that I wouldn't be going anywhere after all. There was no way I was a match for an armed guard who was double my size when I was healthy, let alone the state I was in now. I was about to go back to the bed when the door flew open without warning, successfully knocking me onto the cold tile floor. "Will ya watch it jackass?" I cursed as I held my side, a fresh wave of pain radiating through my body.

"Oh look, she's already up."

I looked up and my eyes met those dark eyes I remembered from earlier, his voice making a chill run down my spine. I didn't even know him so I immediately felt threatened, especially since he was much bigger compared to me in size. I'd rather die before I admitted that one aloud though. I always hated feeling small since it made me feel weak and useless which really, at this point, was more then true.

"Piss off." I told him, putting on my little 'I'm so tough' show. Whoever the hell he was though, I knew we both knew I was in no position to be picking a fight.

"Hmm, it seems you woke up in a foul mood, or is this your usual self?" He asked as he walked over to me to offer me help up off the floor.

"I. Said. Piss. Off." I growled as I stood on my own, not even considering taking his help. I did not want to be indebted to some stranger, though I already knew I was from my earlier run in with him.

"You know, last time I checked, the proper way to greet the person that just saved your life is to thank them. Not tell them, and I quote, 'Piss off'. So, what's your name? You sour little leprechaun." He asked with furrowed eyebrows.

He did not just insult my size.. "WHO THE HELL ARE YOU TO INSULT ME?!" I hollered at him, trying my best to keep my balance, though I did sway a bit. Damn, I must have really lost a lot of blood if I'm this weak.

"Well, the way I see it is you're on my ground. Not yours. So, either you can cooperate or I can put your sorry ass right back where I found it. Surrounded by demons and looking death right in the eye. But I'll leave that decision up to you. Now, I'm only going to ask one more time. What is your name?" He asked, keeping his tone emotionless the whole time well he spoke.

I began weighing the pros with the cons that the situation offered, seeing if I should comply or have them show me out. With the state I'm in right now, there's no way I'd be able to hold my ground. Damn, I couldn't even hold my own ground when I wasn't injured. Finally, I decided and I drew in a shaky breath. "My names Edie." I told him blandly, looking up at him with the best icy gaze I could muster up. "What's yours?"

"I ask the questions here." Was his bitter response and, well, that just earned him an eye roll. "But, my names Roy. You can address me as Colonel Mustang though. How old are you, Edie?" He asked, putting his hands in his pockets casually. This small move made me quite uneasy though since, nowadays, you never knew what people had on them. My uneasiness caused me to take a step back but he didn't notice, or if he did, he didn't let it show.

I was only seventeen, but I didn't want to tell him that! When you're young, you're considered weak. That's all there is to it. I considered lying, but I was sure he'd see through it. So, I just stood up straight, trying to seem bigger then what I truly was, and told him the truth. "I'm seventeen." I spoke, mimicking his boldness.

He gave me a once over and I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to know what he was thinking. Probably something along the lines of 'She's not a real threat.' or 'I'm surprised she's still alive in the first place.' "And are you by yourself or do you travel with a group?" Was his next question. I just hoped the pain I felt at hearing the question didn't show on my face.

"No. I've been alone all along." That was the first lie I had told him and I was sure it wasn't going to be the last.

"Well well, your a tough one. Aren't you?"

And that was the first smile I saw graze his lips. Why did I feel as though that wasn't the last one I was going to see either?


The next few days I spent at The Base, or so everyone called it, I spent recovering. I was given food and water of the cardboard tasting kind, but I was far from complaining. A meal was a meal nonetheless. And it was hot cardboard too! I was also given more appropriate clothing that consisted of a dark green jumper and black combat boots. They had good tread on them, which meant good footing, which also meant no more rolling down hills and almost killing myself! They'd beat my old sneakers any day. As far as actually seeing all of The Base, I wasn't allowed out of my cell.. err, room. I was kept on close watch twenty-four seven and was definitely treated as an outsider.

Even though it was far from pleasant for me to be locked up, I did respect there decision to keep me separated from the others that lived here. It meant that they didn't just allow anyone to roam there facility and put others at risk. According to the Colonel, though, something as short as me wasn't much of a threat. He shut up after he received a black eye which, in turn, caused me to received a second guard posted outside my door. Guess I was viewed as a threat now. . .

After about five days in confinement (and me about going completely stir crazy!) I received a visit from the Colonel. Did I want to smirk at the fact the smug bastard still had a nice shiner? Yes. Yes I did. But I didn't let my satisfaction show and, instead, played it cool.

"Edie, given your circumstances and, well, this world in general, we'd like to have you assessed. How is your side healing?" He asked, straight-forward as always. The question threw me off a bit though. They wanted to have me assessed? For what? And who the hell are 'they'?

"Umm, well it still hurts like hell if I raise my arm over my head, but as long as I don't do that its just sore." I said a bit skeptically. I didn't like the idea of being assessed, though people had said I did do well under pressure. Typically.

"We'll give it another few days. Until then, you are allowed to leave your room for a few designated hours a day. Of course, you'll be accompanied by an escort. If you break protocol however, you'll be shown the exit. Do I make myself clear?" He asked, his hands back in his damn pockets. What was up with this guy anyways, being so strict and all. Last time I checked, even if there weren't bars, we lived in a prison of fear with what lied in wait for its next victim just outside these walls. I didn't need some prison guard with a stick up his ass bossing me around too.

"Yes sir.." I mumbled sarcastically, crossing my arms over my chest. If he thinks for one second I'm gonna take his crap, he's sadly mistaken.

Well, it turns out that The Base wasn't the dinky little refuge shelter I thought it was. It was just that, a military base. It was equipped with guard towers and walls that were a good twenty feet high topped with barbwire circled the premises. There was even a courtyard that was for those who needed fresh air, and it was all reinforced and reinforced again. There was a mess hall, with actual food and the guard towers were equipped with well trained snipers who'd pick off the few dead that would wander by. Of course, the guns had silencers so they didn't attract whole herds of the damned things. All in all, after seeing the main areas, I wasn't exactly wanting to look for a means of escape anymore. I enjoyed how I was able to walk around without looking over my shoulder, though I did just because of habit but nothing was ever there. Just.. people. Healthy, very much alive people. I got a few skeptical looks from some, but most faces offered smiles. That's something anyone could get used too.

"So, how many people are staying here in total?" I asked once we were finished with the tour. The Colonel had taken me out of my cell and on the tour himself even though I expected someone else to show me around. He took a moment to think before answering my question.

"I would say anywhere in between a hundred and eighty to a hundred and ninety people. We haven't done a head count recently but we haven't exactly needed to since we haven't had any fatality's recently. Only thirty of us are unable to fight either due to medical conditions or age." He responded. So, they do take in those who can't fight. I also like this fact since the people who can't fight are only more mouths to feed, but its clear they don't look at it that way. They look at it as everyone should. There humans in need.

"Nice size group. How do you manage to keep them all fed?" I asked curiously, remembering just how hard it was for me to feed myself and Alley, let alone a whole group!

"Well, we have people who have applied to be part of scavenging groups. No ones forced to leave the premises if they don't wish too. No ones forced to stay either, but that's beside the point. These groups will only go out once a week but we have six groups of ten each, so typically we haul in enough food and supplies for everyone. We also grow our own fruits and vegetables. Believe it or not, we have a very sound system here of how we run things." At this point, he paused, as if thinking through what he was about to say. "You could be part of this system too, if you wish.. and if you stopped punching superiors." He told me. Was that amusement I heard in his voice? Why did it make me want to smile?

I managed just fine without letting my smile surface. "Well, the more I see of this place the more I want to stay. Places that offer true safety are rare nowadays. On the other hand though, the more of you I see just makes me want to sock you again."

And that was the first time I heard Roy laugh. I'd be a liar if I said it didn't bring a small smile to my lips.