Little Bird:
After spending time with the group of men for several days a few things became clear to Winry. First, she recognized a mechanic she had once seen in Rush Valley. The sight offered her no comfort because she found no sympathy there, no recognition that she was worth more. Second, she was becoming aware that they did not let others join their ranks and that her acquisition was out of the ordinary. Simply put, they didn't know what to do with her.
The leader was scarce only showing his face a few times, but it was clear his authority reigned supreme. She couldn't be entirely sure what their operation consisted of but it appeared that they were a mobile operation and if she didn't escape soon, she might be taken farther away from Central.
It wasn't until the fifth day that she noticed her care had been turned over to two of the men she found most disturbing. They didn't speak to her unless they were ordering her to do something. Her previous watchers let her use the bathroom with the door shut, but these two men had different ideas. The way they grinned as she moved to shut the door made her insides squirm.
"We've been ordered to keep guard, so we'll be keeping guard."
Winry would love nothing more than to bathe but she would rather her skin crawl in dirt than in disgust.
"You needed to use the bathroom, so you're going to use it. Unless you need our help."
Swallowing back her disgust, Winry began to slowly pull the shirt over her head. Shooting a look over her shoulder she scowled at them. She decided she wasn't going to cry anymore, not until she had escaped their grasps. Reluctantly she began to undress, doing her best to keep herself covered with her hands. Stepping into the warm water, Winry finally turned her gaze away and sunk under the surface. Under the water she pretended it was just Rose standing in that door and they would share their stories of the Elric brothers.
They weren't unkind at first, they offered her food, water and a change of clothes. But there was an underlying threat and a narrative she knew had not be revealed.
"Now don't you look like a fresh daisy."
Winry sat up straighter in the chair, her voice still hoarse from not being used. "Are you so threatened by a girl that you need to keep her tied up?"
The man chuckled, "Only until you learn to play nice little bird. Jimmy needed stitches from that mouth of yours. Now, can I trust you to behave?"
There might be an empty threat in there so Winry decided to be honest. "No."
He must have expected her response because he nodded his head and got to his feet. "Well I thought you might come around, but maybe you need a little more time with my boys here."
Two large men walked in and it was clear the talking was over.
"Let's see if my boys can't loosen you up to the idea."
Her mouth opened to protest but they wasted no time as the leader with the hat left, shutting the door firmly behind him. The larger of the two held her still as the other gagged her, tying it is so tight she thought she might choke on it.
It was then that she realized they had not brought weapons with them and she knew this lesson they were supposed to teach her would be worse than any pain a tool could inflict. Winry closed her eyes and pretended she could hear the fields whispering in the hills and feel the sun on her face.
When they forced her to the ground and began to tug at her clothes she fought like hell, but she was no match. At last she opened her eyes and rolled her head to the side letting her gaze trace the grains of the wood floor until the end of the planks.
At least it had been quick and she made sure to stare at the man who held her down because it was one thing to hurt, it was another to watch as it happened and do nothing. When they left, Winry found herself staring at the ropes that bound her hands and began to chew on the gag in her mouth, tasting the wet cotton. She had not come this far to live in captivity like some pig being fed for slaughter. Struggling to get her clothes back on, Winry focused on pulling herself together as best as she could. All she knew was that it hurt, it hurt in every way that she could think of. But she wasn't dead, even if at the moment she wished she was.
Winry thought of other things, things that also hurt her. Taking a deep breath through her nose she made a list of the evil things that had been done to her, that she had seen and then she breathed them out. The lump in her throat only grew as she realized she wasn't going to make it to Central, she wasn't going to see her friends again. The sooner she accepted that, the sooner she could push forward and decide what came next. Curling up against the wall she listened to the footsteps outside the door and kept a count in her head. She was going to pay closer attention to the details.
Alphonse wiped the sweat that had pooled at his temples with the sleeve of his shirt. Getting back to his feet he waved off his brother's concern. "I'm fine, its just freaking hot here."
Edward sighed, "We're headed south It's only going to get hotter."
"Think we should stop by Rush Valley and pick up some tools?" Alphonse suggested hoping to distract his brother.
"Why would we do that?"
Al shrugged, "Figured you might want to bring presents, we are a little late coming home."
Edward shook his head, "At this point I'd almost welcome a wrench to the head, but I don't need to give her one to do it."
"Come on brother, it's not too far off course. We could say hi to Garfiel and maybe rest for a bit." The last part sort of slipped out, but he made sure to stand up taller and pretend that he wasn't in need of a rest.
"There hasn't been any communication from Rush Valley Al, for all we know-"
"There wasn't any from Resembool either." He countered.
"I don't think we are going to like what we find there." Edward shook his head, "We stick to the original plan."
It had been about three weeks since she had been taken in by the gang of men. They were a rag tag kind of group, but it was clear that they had survived the initial purge by turning themselves into vial scum. She had stopped eating until they began to shove it down her throat. For a while she wasn't sure what to think and then it came, a sign she had never expected.
A small bird had perched in her window, one that sang the most beautiful song and when it left all she could think was that its coloring was the same as Edward's eyes. Winry also decided that if that little bird could be fly free so could she.
That was when she began to ask herself what they would do and it came to her. These were vial human beings but they were bruts and she could outsmart them. When she first began to undermine their authority it gave her a high and a piece of her confidence returned. The first had been discovering the layout of the floor. She was on the first floor and the sounds and echoes had indicated where she might go to leave said floor. Not only that, but she managed to get one of the back boards of the chair loose enough that it broke off in one clean piece. No one paid attention to what was now missing from the chair when she sat so nicely upon it every time, they came in. That felt good and she prided herself on the way the end of the piece now resembled a stake. She had long since freed her bonds, but they never took notice of the way the ropes sagged around her wrists. They were too busy paying attention to other things. They ogled her and while only the man named Jimmy had touched her, she could imagine that he wouldn't be the only one and that might not be the only time it happened. To protect herself she plotted and used every waking moment to plan her escape.
Jimmy it seemed couldn't be held at bay and she was counting on it. There was no doubt he was a sadistic but selfish idiot who would want her all to himself. Two was one too many, but one man by himself were odds she was willing to play with. Winry decided to play nice, even hinting she would like them to be alone. The way his eyes flashed let her know he heard every word. Men like him were clumsy and he was sure to underestimate what she was capable of. When he finally came to her, it was in the middle of the night, and she knew he was all alone.
"You better make sure no one can hear us." She had told him when he snuck in.
He had sized her up with a leering gaze before leaving and when he returned, she knew he had cleared the area. Good. She let him put his hands on her, held back the urge to bring the stake up and smash it through his skull.
Winry waited until he was too busy pulling his own pants down and then she struck him across the head. The way he slumped to the floor gave her the permission and vindication she needed.
Breathing hard she pulled the dress skirt down and stood shakily to her feet. Looking at the pointed edge of the stick she debated for a moment and then decided on a different plan. Patting down his pants she found a switch blade and pocketed it for herself. Peaking out into the hallway it seemed Jimmy had been good for one thing; the area was clear.
Clinging to the shadows she stalked her way through the hallway and even past a room with a light on. When she arrived at the front door she nearly cried out in relief.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Winry turned quickly, the switchblade held out in defense. "Don't move or I'll slit your throat." She whispered fiercely. She had come too far, too damn far.
Even in the dim moonlight she could see this was the only member of the gang she had recognized as a Rush Valley resident.
He stepped forward, this time his voice sounded softer, almost as if he were calming a frightened deer. "You're safer here."
That was a lie. "I'll take my chances."
"Go, but you won't get past that herd they'll linger for days before retreating."
Winry ignored his words and bolted out the door. Once she was out in the open, she realized she had no idea what came next, but she ran as fast as her feet would carry her.
Heading down the street Winry could hear shouts in the distance but she was more concerned about the shadows that were beginning to materialize in the darkness. Her footsteps began to slow as the shouts drew them in her direction. They were closing in and while she fully recognized she should turn around she couldn't stomach the idea of going back to that place. Pulling out the knife she armed herself and decided she would rather end it here fighting.
The first few walkers came slow and steady allowing her to take aim and push them off. Then her foot slipped and she realized this might be it. Keeping her arms outstretched she screamed in effort and frustration. It felt like she was suffocating and that reminded her of the promised day…and all the promises she wasn't going to keep.
Then the walkers were redirected and as she began to try and crawl out from the under the bodies of those she had slain, she saw him. A hooded figure reached out for her and while she couldn't make out his face in the dark, she almost hoped to hear Jeans throaty laugh.
It didn't take her long to realize this wasn't Jean Havoc, and when he pulled her onto the back of his horse she just held on. They rode through the night and up into the mountains. Winry could barely walk when at last he helped her off the horse. Even with the sun barely peaking its head up Winry felt her jaw drop as she recognized the cabin and more importantly, the man, as he pulled his hood off.
"Dominic?" The tough layer began to flake away as he put his shoulder under her arm and helped her inside. The old man looked like he had added several lines to his aged face, but it was a familiar face and one she knew would never hurt her.
They sat in silence for a while, each just staring into the flames flickering in the fireplace. When he offered her a warm cup of tea Dominic didn't flinch at the way she gripped the sleeve of his shirt not letting him walk away as she leaned into him and began to sob.
