Wow. Thanks for the support. :D

After writing the first chapter, I was thinking, "You know what? This sucks. I have no idea where I'm going." But then I decided not to...because of you guys. So thanks again. =)

Soooo. Here we go. Enjoy! ^ ^


Chapter 1: Arrival

2012

The circle was complete. I had used a red permanent marker to draw on a large white sheet of poster paper. I didn't know if it was going to work, but I had to try.

"I don't think this is a good idea," Oliver said worriedly, for the hundredth time. "What if something goes wrong?"

"Everything will be fine, I promise," I answered, for the hundredth time. I scanned over my brother's notes to make sure I did everything right. When nothing seemed wrong, I took a deep breath and tucked the journal in my back pocket. "Well, this is it."

When Oliver didn't speak, I turned to him, about to ask a question, but then he reached forward and wrapped me in a bone-crushing hug.

"Be back soon," was all he said, and something made me blush. He released me and I stared at my childhood friend, trying to remember everything about his face, because something told me I wasn't going to return for a long, long time.

My mouth said the opposite. "I'll come back before you know it, and not alone." I gave him a smile, then looked down at the circle, raising my hands. "Here goes nothing."

I closed my eyes, tried to concentrate all my energy in my palms liked the journal said, clapped my hands together, and slammed them on the center of the circle.

Nothing happened.

I repeated the process again and received the same results.

Oliver sighed. "I told you so. Alchemy doesn't work here, Jaime." I could hear the relief in his voice.

"No, it has to work. It has to!" I took out the journal and flipped through it, trying to find something, anything, that could prove me right. "It can't be, I did everything perfectly..."

But there was nothing, nothing I hadn't read already, anyway. Unwanted tears came to my eyes. "Damn it!" I yelled, and in a flash of anger hurled the notebook across the room. "I was going to find him! I was so close!"

I sank to the floor and cried, embarrassing myself, but I didn't care. After a moment I heard Oliver move towards me, but then he stopped and asked, "Hey, what's this? It fell out of the journal."

I looked up. In his palm was a small red stone that seemed to glow by itself.

And then I knew. It had to be.

I jumped up, took the stone, and placed it on the poster paper. This time when I pressed my hands against the circle, the red designs brightened, filling the dim room with crimson light.

We stared in amazement as the circle became brighter and brighter, until it was almost white.

"It's working," I exclaimed. "It's really working!"

In the center something began to form, twisting and widening into something that resembled an eye. Black snake-like things with fingers at the end slithered out and reached for my arm.

Oliver grabbed the journal and took my other arm.

"What are you doing?" I asked, though I knew very well what his reply was going to be.

"I'm coming with you," he said, a determined look in his green eyes.

My eyes widened and I tried to break free of his grasp. "Let go of me! It can only work on one person! If you come with me you'll-"

Before I could finish my sentence, the black fingers pulled us in.

xXx

White. Blank. Empty. Those were my first thoughts.

Then I saw the gate.

It stood tall and firm, thrice my height, with complicated designs and symbols etched into its surface. I walked towards it and ran my fingers over its smooth, cool face. Something about the gate made me want to go in.

"What is this place?" came Oliver's voice behind me. He sounded curious, but calm.

I turned around and screamed.

Half his face was gone, as was a quarter of his left leg and his right arm. His body seemed to be made of small units, which were slowly eroding away. "W-What's happening to you?"

He gave me a confused look. "Huh? Nothing's happening..."

"He shouldn't be here," a voice said. I faced the gate; in front of it was a...a creature. It was sitting cross-legged on the ground, and although it didn't have eyes, I could feel its gaze. Something about it seemed familiar, too.

It looked like...it sounded like...me.

"He'll be gone soon," it said. "In...a couple of seconds? Then we can have some privacy."

Oliver looked down and yelped. "AAAHH! W-What's wrong with my body?"

"You're disappearing, human," the thing replied. "Back to where you belong."

"No, wait! I have to...tell her something..."

And just like that, Oliver was gone.

My brother's journal lay on the white ground, a little battered, but elsewise perfectly intact. I walked to it and picked it up, tucking it in my pocket. Then I turned to the creature, a seed of fear growing in my stomach.

"Hello, Jaime Crosswell," it said, and smiled widely. "I believe I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Truth."

I stared at the thing, Truth, unable to reply. It sighed. "Well, I suppose I do look a little strange. I assume you're attempting to cross into Amestris?"

I nodded and placed a hand on the journal.

"And what makes you think you can do that?"

Somehow, I knew the right answer. "I have this." I held out my right hand, which was clenched in a fist, and slowly opened it to reveal the red stone.

Truth laughed at the sight of it. "Clever. I'll be taking that, because I know two brothers who will be searching for it very soon." The stone in my hand eroded away. Truth stood and stepped aside, giving me a mock bow. "Please, go ahead."

As I approached the gate, it said, "Have fun. And good luck. You'll be needing it."

The last thing I heard before I stepped through was its laughter, loud and cackling, as if it couldn't believe someone had dared to cross its gate.

xXx

I found myself lying on the ground in an alleyway, my muscles sore and head pounding. Staring up at the sky, Truth's words replayed themselves in my mind.

'Have fun. And good luck. You'll be needing it.'

I groaned and sat up, rubbing my head. Judging by the lack of light, it was probably seven or eight in the evening. And judging by the style of the buildings, I was probably not on Earth anymore.

"Where...am I?" I muttered aloud. "What the hell is this place..."

A rough hand grabbed my wrist and I screamed. I whirled around and found a lean face staring at me. The man grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. "Hello, sweetheart," he growled, and I shuddered.

He raised his hand and I saw a design drawn on his palm. The man slapped me across the face and I felt marks burn into my skin, the pain making me cry out.

"That's right, scream, little girl," he whispered. "Let me hear you scream."

His hand wrapped around my throat. My only thought was, I'm going to die, and in a world I don't know a thing about.

Then I felt his grip loosen and he was thrown aside by a wave of water that came from nowhere. I collapsed, panting, trying to stop my hands from shaking.

"Hey, you okay?"

Impossible. Impossible. I knew that voice, and very, very well.

"You shouldn't be out here alone," the voice continued. "That guy that jumped you? He's the serial killer the military's been looking for. Apparently he only targets young girls."

I looked up. The owner of the voice was standing with his back facing me. It was hard to tell in the light, but I guess he was pretty tall...taller than me, anyway. He was wearing a black trench coat, dark pants and white gloves.

He turned around and asked me, "Anyway, where do you live? I can take you home."

Green eyes. Messy brown hair, high cheekbones, strong jaw, full lips. Quite young, too, not much older than me.

"Oliver!" I sputtered.

He gave me a puzzled look. "Yes, that's me. How did you know my name?"

I jumped to my feet. "W-What are you doing here? You can't...how did you..."

He was looking really confused by now. "What are you talking about? I live here, in Central."

"Don't you recognize me?" I asked. "I'm Jaime! Your neighbor and best friend."

Oliver stared at me for a moment, then gave me an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry," he said, "but I've never met you before until today."


Wow. This feels so short. I think I got too used to writing 5000 word chapters.

The Elric brothers and Mustang and all those military people appear next chapter. :D So, Clair Aragon, I kept this short and simple. Thank you for the nice review, by the way! You too, madacat153. :) And thanks for following and favoriting, my fellow fanfictioners. =D

See you all next time!

...x Whitlinger x...