Sorry this was a late update compared to the other chapters. I have exams at the moment. The chapters are still quite short for the same reason…
But please REVIEW. The ones I've had so far made me so happy! The more reviews I get, the more I can IMPROVE. So please, I can't stress it enough. REVIEW.
Thank you! Enjoy the chapter….I hope.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Verity was sharp as a razor.
When a large, possibly human, thing crashed through the carriage window, she moved quicker than a bullet. Unfortunately, the bored sounding warning she had issued to the Elric brothers hadn't quite registered and poor Alphonse ended up being showered with broken glass and splintered wood in a last second, noble attempt to shield his brother.
The thing that had crashed through the window slowly rose to its feet. A few terrified screams were heard down the train. Edward and Alphonse were dully reminded of the time they had spent on Yock Island when they had been stalked by the animalistic masked man, (whom bizarrely had revealed himself to be the friendly Mason).
The man (well, it was male, they at least knew that) stood taller than Alphonse and had a muscular physique that could match up to Major Armstrong. He had a fierce face carved in granite and strange tusk like appendages growing from his mouth.
At this observation, the brothers concluded that he must be a chimera, though they had never seen one so advanced since the ones that had escaped from Lab 5.
The chimera gave the Elric's a steely look, before turning to Verity.
"Took us a long time, but we found you." The chimera's voice sounded as if his throat was scrubbed with sandpaper daily.
Verity just stood there, shuffling her feet as though unsure what to say.
"I guess so." She finally shrugged. "Ain't it a little inconvenient? Holdin' an entire train just for me?"
"It's the perfect trap." He growled. "You got nowhere to run to."
There was a cold moment in time when everything seemed to go quiet and time slowed down. Verity bent her head slightly and the brothers picked up a dangerous, quiet sentence.
"I can run wherever I am."
The chimera charged, disrupting the strange solitude. Verity didn't move. Alphonse instinctively threw the whole of his weight against the chimera to stop him. The carriage gave a sickening rock, more terrified screams ran down the train.
"You know Al," said Edward slightly shakily "We need to stop taking public transport."
Alphonse steadied himself, thinking the chimera had been knocked out, but he rose up suddenly and swiped at Al's helmet, sending it to the floor with a clatter. He frantically tried to find it before anyone noticed that the armour contained nothing.
There were still a few passengers watching in frozen curiosity. The chimera took another cautious step towards Verity, her foot jerked back and he froze. He eyed her with a great resentment. Verity scrutinized him warily, seeing his mind go tick, tick, tick.
Taking everyone off guard he lunged to the left grabbing the nearest civilian, a young man whom looked just a little older than Edward. He cried out as the Chimera wrapped his whole fist around his neck. The simplest movement would snap his neck.
"You're coming with us." He growled.
Edward furiously regarded the situation from behind, he had been taken off guard and if had maybe got himself together a few seconds earlier, an innocent civilian (who was now whimpering in complete and utter terror )wouldn't be in a hostage situation right now. Of course he had been in circumstances in which lives had been in danger before, but he was the Fullmetal Alchemist for fucks sake. Why didn't he know what to do?
Verity herself was at a loss too. Never had they resorted to kill people just to get her back. Desperate. They must be getting desperate to resort to this. But they were desperately selfish. She had to find away around it. She had to.
"I thought the whole purpose of your lil' project was to restore life. Not take it away."
Keep your eyes on him, don't even blink.
"It's all up to you, not me." He replied gruffly.
Seconds that dragged on like hours passed. Verity took a step forward.
Edward pressed his palms together silently. Almost as though he were praying.
Edward Elric didn't believe in God.
When he was absolutely certain the chimera wasn't looking his way, he slammed his hands against the carriage wall, snaking out from the side and wrapped round the chimera's arms, the boy tumbled to the ground before stumbling up and escaping with everyone else. The chimera roared with rage already cracking his restraints.
"The military'll be here soon, you betta' get your ass out!" Verity barked at him "If they catch you, they'll find about your illegal experiments. Then what'll you do?"
Breaking free, he gave Verity one last venomous look before escaping into the breaking dawn.
Soon, military automobiles were showing up to take the passengers home. The chimera hadn't been alone, and the train had been sabotaged. The area was before long teeming with the distinctive blue uniforms. Verity and the brothers waited quietly at the side, watching people getting escorted into the cars.
Edward opened his mouth to speak, but Verity's once again drawling tones got in first.
"In case you boys hadn't noticed. Those are the folk that're after me."
"Yeah, we figured." Edward muttered rather angrily.
"I didn't know they were that desperate!" Alphonse said quickly, before his brother went into full rant mode.
"It seems to be the case." Verity yawned, resting her chin on her knuckles. "I suppose I shoulda' met up with you both in Central, but they most likely woulda' caug-"
"ARGH!! WHAT IS IT WITH YOU?" Edward demanded, cutting her off. "YOU WALTZ INTO OUR LIVES OUT OF THE FRIGGIN DESERT AND JUST EXPECT US TO LET YOU FOLLOW US AROUND. A BIG-ASS CHIMERA HIJACKS THE TRAIN TO GET TO YOU AND NOW YOU'RE JUST ACTING LIKE YOU DIDN'T MUCH SLEEP LAST NIGHT!"
Verity didn't even flinch.
"Actually, I didn't get any. And you should sorta' know that."
A pause…
"She's sorta' right you know Brother." Alphonse's small voice took on a slight drawl.
Edward expressed his infuriation through a series of frustrated noises through clenched teeth and began tearing at his hair.
"YOU ARE NOT. I repeat. NOT. COMING WITH US."
"But why? I've grown fond of you brothers over the last few…" She stopped for a moment, as though calculating a quick sum. "Hours we've spent together."
Edward remained looking irritated. Verity tried a new tack.
"Alphonse…Thanks for savin' me. I really appreciate it."
"It's really OK Verity, but Brother helped out too."
"I know. You boys have risked your lives for me." She took one of Alphonse's metal hands in her own, looking earnestly (as her sluggish eyes could manage) up at the lofty armour. Edward rolled his eyes, knowing that Verity would most DEFINITELY be coming with them. Alphonse hardly had an iron will when it came to girls, not to mention he was obviously not going to be approached keenly by them often with his metal body.
Verity was hardly pretty, in Edward's eyes at least, but Al saw the good in everyone after all. Looks really didn't matter to him.
"It's alright though." She continued, suddenly entering dramatic mode. "You boys go on ahead without me, I really don't wanna put you both in danger. I can carry on alone. I'll get by somehow. I've still got a lil' bit of money left. I'll be fine for now."
Jeez. Talk about taking out the violin.
"Great." Said Edward "Come on Al, lets go." Edward attempted to pull his arm away.
"Poor Verity!"
And here we go. Edward thought, giving up on tugging his arm straightaway.
"Don't you worry, you can come with us. It's really no trouble, really! Brother's fine with it too, aren't you?" To turned to Edward and he could almost see Al's face putting on that pleading, human expression.
Oh good god, how could he refuse?
"…I guess we did have a deal." He muttered.
Verity smiled a bit. It had an edge of smugness, but it was genuine, but then the smile she gave Alphonse truly was warm and grateful.
"Oh my, I just can't thank you boys enough." Verity went to board one of the cars. Edward walked quickly, Alphonse clanking behind him as they headed to the car.
"Just until we get to Central." Edward stated. "Then you can take it up with the military. They'll definitely do something." Edwards voice dropped low. "Human transmutation is illegal after all."
Alphonse remained silent.
It was a bit of a tight squeeze in the car. The driver was an officer Edward vaguely recognized.
"Well, if it isn't the Elric Brothers!" He chorused cheerfully.
"Hello." Alphonse felt obligated to reply politely. As usual. Verity gave him an analyzing look before copying.
"Hello sir."
"Just take us straight to Central Headquarters." Edward said moodily. "I think I need to have a long discussion with the Bastard." Edward looked up to see Verity giving him a dull glare.
"WHAT?!"
"You're justa' barrel of laughs ain't you."
"ARGH!" Too tired to argue. Edward leaned his head against the window and shut his eyes. Just because he trusted Verity, didn't mean he had to like her.
Hmph.
It appeared Al had already taken that post anyway.
It was most of all though, that he now knew, that under the docile exterior.
Verity was as sharp as a razor.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So? How was that? I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. REVIEWS, GOOD OR BAD ARE SO MUCH LOVE.
Thanks for reading.
(Roy's in the next chapter.)