"Ed...Edward's gone..." Roy panted as he caught up to Winry, Al, Izumi and Riza. They turned around, looking at him. "Colonel. you're supposed to stay in you room!" Riza yelled. "And what do you mean Ed's gone? We were just in the canteen grabbing a snack, but we did hear a commotion and we just came to see..."

"D...Delphi..." Roy panted, looking at them. "They... kidnapped Ed...We have to rescue him quick, or else... they might administer something into his body... and I don't know... if he'd die...if it'd be too late..."

"What?!" Izumi cried. "How did you know?!"

"There was a crash in the locked stairway... and I also heard from the nurse that there was someone that sounds like a boy in the stairway making muffled voices... like having a cloth pressed over his mouth... and then... I found Edward's... soup container." Roy said, holding the dented container up.

"We have to go after..."

"There's no need for that." A woman's crisp voice cut through the air. Roy looked around and tensed, his face darkening. "E...Ed..." He muttered.

Edward Elric was lying limply in the woman's arms, with 4 or 5 medically dressed personnel standing behind her.

"ED!" Winry stared running forwards, But Riza held her back. "Wait... Miss Rockbell."

"But Ed's..." Winry looked up at Riza.

"You haven't left?" Roy asked, glaring at the woman. "Who are you anyway?!" He snapped.

"Why are you so protective of this boy?" The woman glanced down at the unconcious Edward, then back up at Roy. "I thought you said... that he was selfish? You disliked him? You didn't want to talk to him and you want him to go away? Just let us do the favour of... disposing the Fullmetal Alchemist for all of you then. And my name is Xen. I am the leader of Delphi and this is my last victim."

Roy stepped towards her. "SHUT UP! You... you let go of him that instant, and don't you dare do anything to him!" Roy yelled as all the nurses and patients cowered at the sides. here was a sound of police sirens behind Roy and looked looked back. "DON'T COME IN!" Roy yelled at the police and military men that were about to stream into the hospital. They stopped in their tracks.

Xen smiled, touching Edward's cheek with one thumb. "He was a poor thing... trying to express his apology to you through that healing soup he brewed for 5 hours every time... But it was so wasted, being rejected by you... I can end this for him you know..."

"Grr... keep your flithy fingers away from him..." Roy growled, glaring at Xen. Then he looked down at Ed, his heart leaping frantically in panic as he stared at the boy's face. Ed! Hang in there... I am going to save you...

"Do you know what this is?" Xen asked, holding up a syringe filled with a clear liquid. "This is Pancuronium. I've already administered 3 grams of sodium thiopental into his body, so now, Edward Elric is in an induced comatose. As an alchemist, Miss Izumi, Alphonse Elric, Roy Mustang... you know what will happen if I..." Xen placed the needle point to Edward's bare arm. Roy shouted immediately, together with Izumi and Al.

"NO!! STOP!"

"DON'T!!"

Xen smiled as she examined the tensed faces of the trio. Winry looked worried too. "What.. what will happen... Al..?" Alphonse looked down at her. "Big Brother... big brother will... stop breathing... this combo is used in euthanasia..." Alphonse said. Winry heard the word 'euthanasia' and she turned towards Xen with horror. "It... that... witch...!" Winry glared at Xen.

"Well...?" Xen narrowed her eyes as she pressed the needle against Ed's skin.

"Maybe I should just push this in a little more..."

TO BE CONTINUED...

thinking of which, I haven't killed Ed before... perhaps I should this time, give him a quick... painless death...