After thirteen hours of walking, I finally reach central, if I could even see central. All my eyes permit me to see is a forest of stone buildings, buildings I used to think couldn't exist. They are all the same uniform color: gray. Gray, the color of sadness, loneliness, and gloom. The paved streets use stone all the same color, the sidewalk a mixture of gravel and cement, yet they all include the same gray pigment. It gives off an aura of sadness that suddenly hits me, making people turn towards me while they are supposedly on their morning route to work. Or maybe it's my ratty clothes and rancid odor.
"Umm, miss? Do you have anywhere to stay?" a young man asks me. He holds himself high above me, wearing a military uniform and all. His hair's kept, holding a walking stick. I then notice his eyes. They're dulled, the same gray that inhabits the city. Alas, this man is blind. I consider my options. Should I tell the man to go take a hike or should I take his gesture? If I take the offer, I would have to explain my reasons for being in central, and that would take a decade. Yet, if I tell him I couldn't accept his offer, I would have to conjure up a lie describing a fake predicament and a fake reason. Also, I wouldn't trouble the man. I make a choice.
"I do have a place to stay, but thanks for the offer. I don't want to be a bother," I kindly reject the offer. I keep walking towards the nearest information center until the man grabs hold of my left arm.
"Hmm, automail, correct?" the military man asks me. Dang it, why is another person pitying me?
"Yes it is automail kind sir, but don't think I need to be pitied. I can handle myself," I say, trying to jerk my arm out of his grasp. But the man still holds on tight.
"I know you can handle yourself young girl. You reek, so you must've been walking for miles in the wilderness. Your automail proves you can endure even the harshest pain, showing your inner strength as well. And for the record, I never said I will pity you. I have a subordinate that has been in the same predicament as you. I don't take pity on injured teens," he explains. I can't believe what this man was saying. Does he actually understand my thoughts? The man coughs a hushed cough. "Ah-hem, as I was saying, you need to come stay at my apartment. I believe you have nowhere to reside and you might as well reside where you are welcome." I reluctantly considers this new piece of info. I come to a conclusion.
"Fine, I'll come with you young man, but don't you have to continue to your office?" I ask him. It is the morning, isn't it?
"It's ok; I can take a few minutes off. I do have a high rank" he chuckles. I nervously laugh as well. We make our stride to his apartment.
Ten minutes later we enter the man's apartment. I survey the surroundings. It's simple and plain, fitting for a blind man. There are few pictures hung on the walls. I begin to examine them closely. The first picture is of the man with another young man, possibly five years ago. They are sharing beers, acting like brothers. The second man has circular glasses and a messy hair style. They both are wearing similar uniforms. They seem like real friends. I move to the second picture. It has an additional five members to the man. It has one large guy, one tall guy, one short guy with glasses holding a dog, a handsome man with a cigarette in his mouth in a chair, and one woman with a sniper. All these men look happy, possibly working under this guy. The woman just has a flat face, not really showing any emotion in her expression, but her eyes do the talking. They hold admiration, adoration, and true happiness. This picture is dated two years ago. Lastly, there's a picture without the man in it. Instead, it has two boys in it. One is average height with a metal limb. Doesn't this man have a worker with a metal limb like this? This must be the kid. Both kids have long gold hair and are pretty handsome. The second kid's a bit taller than the first kid, and looks extremely joyful. They look like real brothers. They are really nice looking.
"I know what you are thinking, that those two brothers look nice. Well they aren't the sweetest boys," the man jokes. "They only look gleeful now because they just finished a war and got their lives back from the shadows."
"What do you mean by that?" I question him, eager for more. "Who are they? You say that the metal limbed one works for you? How is that possible? He looks fifteen, sixteen max." The man laughs.
"The Fullmetal Alchemist is sixteen, almost seventeen years old. And Alphonse, the taller one, is fifteen years old. They have an extensive history," he continues. Suddenly I see him in deep thought. He must have an idea. "Hey, why don't I invite these people over? You seem to be a curious guest, and probably need to get adjusted to central, right?"
"Umm, sure," I say cordially. I have never even heard of the Fullmetal Alchemist or these other subordinates, and now I'm going to meet them? This is real strange. At least it will have me do something for today.
"This is good. Look, I have to go back to HQ so why don't you stay here and get washed up?" he tells me.
"Thank you. I will have everything set up for tonight," I promise him, escorting him out the door.
"Say, what is your name?" he asks me. I've completely forgotten that I hadn't told him my name!
"My name is Anastasia. May I ask what your name is?" I ask him. I'm staying at a stranger's house for Pete's sake!
"My name is Fuhrer Roy Mustang," he tells me in a dignified tone. What? How could I be staying at the Fuhrer's house? Isn't he the head of Amestris? Why does he settle for an apartment like this if he is the Fuhrer? But before I could ask him any of these questions, he closes the door on me!
"Well, if that man is going to be like that then fine! Ugh, I'll just get washed up," I grunt as I turn to the hallway. I head towards the bathroom, undress myself and hop into the shower. It doesn't take me a while to shower though; I'm used to making them quick. As I come out, I remember something important; I left my bag of clothes in the front room! With only a towel coving her body, I carefully exit the bathroom and I slowly make my way to the front room, afraid of anyone seeing me. Luckily, no one is monitoring his house. I grabbed my bag without haste and quickly scurry back to the room. I dress myself in my second pair of clothes, a baggy t-shirt, normal fitting pants, and ratty shoes. Although it's a different set of clothes, it still emulates the sad being within me.
Strangely, for me, time apparently passes slowly in the center of Amestris. There's nothing to do inside the Fuhrer's apartment. I'm completely and utterly bored out of mind. Time seems to pass so slowly that I eventually lose track of the time, ending up in me being startled when Fuhrer Roy Mustang re-enters his apartment. "Sir, you startled me!" I shriek, making the Fuhrer laugh. I then look up at one of the clocks. "It's already five o'clock?"
"Yes, it is, Anastasia," Roy tells me. "I already told all my subordinates to arrive at my apartment at around six o'clock. You should use this time to get ready."
"I would use this time to get ready, but I'm already dressed," I reply.
"Oh, right you are," Mustang jokes. "I'll be up in my study," he continues, walking into his room.
"I seriously wonder how he is able to see without being able to see" I whisper to myself. In due time it becomes six, and I'm quite afraid to see new people, especially military people! Haven't I already had a hellish past with them? This is going to be a horrible time for me. A knock strikes the front door.
"I'll get it," Mustang commands. He walks towards the door and opens it. Four men and a woman come through the door, and from their appearance, they are the five from the second picture. They look older though, approximately a few years older. All those people begin to chatter.
"Hows it going Mr. Fuhrer?" the tan one asks in a friendly manner to Roy.
"Good Breda, everything is going fine," he reports to him. They all look friendly with each other. They must've been working together for a while. Yet, soon after, a second knock emulates from the door. Roy opens it once again and out comes those brothers from the final photo. They look exactly like in the picture, the very recent picture.