.

.

The pain surprisingly stopped.

The wires that closed his eyes felt like they were slowly unraveling, and the incinerating heat of the white-hot flames disappeared. He no longer felt like he was plunging into some horrible bottomless pit. Now there was a certain strange sensation like if he was...floating? The grisly screaming had decreased significantly, almost like the sound itself was fading into nothing.

'What...how is this? 'He couldn't even think coherently at the sudden change of atmosphere. A sudden coolness caressed the angry raw welts formed by the fire. He felt his hair flow carelessly by a pleasant breeze and made him find all of what he was experiencing so bizarre and frightening. There was a dead silence.

His breathing couldn't be heard. Somehow the ghastly calm of the air made his insides churn with a dread more powerful than when he was literally almost dragged to Hell. The bottom of his soles finally touched a cold surface that sent his skin into spasms of Goosebumps. He wanted to say something, to scream and lash out at whoever was in charge of doing this to him. His mouth opened to start his barrage of insults but was cut short by a soft yet deafening voice.

"Envy."

His violet eyes opened and blinked rapidly as if they were never pierced with steel cables. Virtually unharmed. There was white all around him. Nothing else but the empty blankness that seemed to stretch for eternity. "Where the hell am I...?" The homunculus murmured crossly.

He took notice a strange gray outline materializing in front of him that he was pretty sure wasn't there a few seconds ago. The gray color quickly turned darker, a shadow that surrounded the shape. It was a black outline of such a familiar figure, he could swear it was... His eyes widened as he took in the shape of the person that was in sight. Long piecey hair seemed to overflow from the thing's head, and a large smile that looked oddly known yet new to him. The figure had a lean athletic built, one that could not be differentiated between male and female, and was standing presumptuously the left arm on its hip in a very effeminate way. She...he...it gave a wide insane grin that showed perfect white Chiclet teeth.

Himself.

"Who are you?" He attempted to demand harshly but it came out more like a frightened question. If possible, the eerie grin grew wider. "I am God. I am the World."

"Cut the crap." Though his words sounded strong, it was not how he was feeling at the moment. "I am the Universe...all and one. I am the Truth." It continued. Its grin was jeering and unpleasant but at the same time, it was impossible not to stare at. "But most important of all, I am you."

"Why do you look like me?" He pointed at the Truth with a trembling finger. "Why am I here?!" He yelled. The thing merely chuckled, looking very amused at his antics.

"Answer me!" It took two steps to the side to let him see the Gate. To him, they looked like two gigantic stone doors that had a strange tree engraved in its surface. The homunculus walked slowly to the Gate and touched the doors with an unusual gentle touch. His fingers ran through the grooves and indentations that the stone had. His head swiveled to see the outline of himself, with the same amused grin. A million thoughts bombarded his head at the same time, and he wanted to say so many different things but the only one that he could muster out was "You still haven't answered my questions."

"Why should I answer?" It stated. "Why shouldn't you?" He shot back boldly. Whether this thing was God or the Universe or whatever. He wasn't going to let it get away with making him feel like a fool. Before he could pick a fight with the entity, it interrupted his train of thought with a peculiar statement.

"Homunculi or artificial humans..." Envy couldn't help pursing his lips in confusion.

"...are without a doubt the greatest achievement that any human could create. Don't you think?" His eyes narrowed in suspicion. "They regenerate instantaneously, considered practically immortal. They are indestructible, have incredible strengths and abilities. Powers those humans could only dream of ever having. Obviously superior to humans, am I right?" It said, grin never falling from its face. From the nonexistent expression on its blank face, he knew exactly what was going on. It was ridiculing him.

"They are so inferior to you homunculi, they are not worthy of even the slightest of sympathy. Let them all crash and burn. But there's the impending question..." It seemed to put a momentarily puzzled expression, and rose two fingers up, pointing at him. "How did your name come to be?" He closed his fists tightly, knowing what game the entity played.

"Envy the jealous was it?"

"Shut up."

"It's quite amusing, really." It took a grin that strangely resembled his own malicious one. "They are the ones that are the 'scum' of earth as you so affectionately call them. How could you possibly be jealous of them?"

"Shut... UP." The shape-shifter was trembling in growing anger.

"But, even with all of their flaws and obvious mortality, they defeated you."

"Shut the FUCK up!" He exploded, which made the thing chuckle directly at him. "It's time you finally realized the Truth." ...What the hell was it even talking about?

"The real truth of how humans are far more superior to homunculi."

"THAT'S A GODDAMN LIE!" Envy roared, his chest heaving, arms flown back in furious tight fists. "Humans are pathetic. They are nothing compared to me and the other homunculi. Hear me? NOTHING!"

"Then why do you envy them?" All of his words died on his throat. Gasp after gasp, he still couldn't get one word out. There was just this overwhelming urge to break down. To let down his walls. To cry for hours.

"We're just-" He couldn't finish his statement. "Better? Says the one who was created by humans."

"Father created me." He hissed. It stared him down and stayed silent, but he knew there was the unspoken question in the air. 'And who created him?'

Envy hung his head low, not wanting to look at anything, not wanting to acknowledge the Truth and the words that clouded his head. It shook its head at his pitiful state and finally spoke. "Homunculi are a disgrace to human life. A mockery of my creation. A cheap copy, if you will." Though the comment hurt him, he didn't even have the spirit to spitefully say something back and regain his pride. "Especially you, Envy. You know why? Because you embody the true and original meaning of a monster."

He grit his teeth, almost to the point where he felt his jaw would dislocate, and shut his eyes tightly in order to rid himself of the disturbing wetness in his orbs. "I am not a monster." Envy spoke in almost a whisper.

"But...surrounding all that monstrosity, all that evil, there is a shard of good, isn't there? Although being a homunculus does not in any way dissolve your atrocious acts, I do seem to find it...unfair you are tried with a human punishment. And you have a sliver of a conscience, even if it's one of the weakest I've ever seen. After all, you did ask me for forgiveness." It chuckled. The homunculus opened his eyes at the strange uttering the Deity was spewing, looking directly at it.

"And who am I to not pardon sins which you truly regretted?" Its words echoed in his ears yet he still couldn't believe them. It heard him. When he was already descending to Hell, God heard his prayer. And it forgave him!

"You are to return to Earth, Envy the jealous and show your repent to humanity as you did for me. They need to forgive you as well." It continued. He stayed still in shock. He was to return? "I give you a word of advice, child. What goes around comes around in life and you are no exception to it. After all, this isn't only a second chance, but punishment for your sins. "

"Wait. Are you going to? - Not human..."

"You don't deserve to be human...Yet."

He blinked in confusion. "I don't understand. Why me? Why do I get another opportunity when the other's didn't?"

Its grin, for the first time, was gone. "Do not think you are the only homunculus who got another chance. As if you are so significant." He jumped to his feet. "You mean... the rest... are alive?" His eyes shined hopefully.

"You'll see. Now bye-bye."

"What- AAAAH!"

He shrieked as some black coils that looked that had tiny hands wrapped around his arms and legs securely before lifting him off the ground.

The Gate had opened.

A bright white light flashed in his eyes so much, he felt like he would have a seizure. Once again the air around him felt burning hot. Whispers could be heard, as more and more black coils dragged him into the two enormous doors. Envy finally saw the Truth grinning at him through the small space that was still visible, until the door stone doors slammed into each other redundantly.

Darkness consumed him.

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