Chapter Nine
This was just great. Edward was locked up in a cell with his hands handcuffed to a chain that hung from the wall, which gave him just enough slack to sit down, but his hands were forced above his head. Looking out the small window, he could see the sky had darkened, the moon was full and the stars shown brightly. He had promised to call his mom and brother, they would be worried. Edward sighs heavily and lays his head against his arm. He figured that since he was here, he might as well try to sleep, as uncomfortable as it would be.
He was awoken early the next morning, by the sound of the door being unlocked and opened. When he looks up, with bleary eyes, from still being half asleep, he sees Rose walking in with a tray of food, and Cray was in the doorway behind her, seemingly watching her in case Edward tried anything. Edward yawns and looks down at the tray Rose had sat in front of him. A glass of water and some bread. Edward snorts. "Prison food? Really? I really didn't do anything to your precious false priest. Why won't you let me go?" asks Ed.
"We won't know that for sure until the military arrives. They should be getting here soon," says Cray, ignoring Ed's "false priest" nonsense. Father Cornello had worked miracles, there hadn't been anything fake about him.
"So tell me, what are you going to do now that he's dead? It's not like he's going to be coming back from the dead to perform more miracles," says Ed. Rose gasps, as Ed's words sink in. Even Cray looked frightened once he realized what Edward was saying. He was right. What were they going to do? Without Father Cornello they wouldn't have the miracles he performed for them. The citizens of Lior wouldn't have his guidance. They would be lost without him. They had been lost before, without him.
"Father Cornello might come back. He could bring the dead back to life. Maybe he could bring himself back," says Rose, weakly, but Edward knew she didn't believe what she was saying, not really.
"You know as well as I do, Rose. He's not coming back," says Edward, fiercely. Rose seemed like a nice girl, he didn't want to see her get hurt. Didn't want to watch her get her hopes up just for it to all end badly. Lior was about to be in for a rough time. Ed guessed that they had gone so long leaning on Father Cornello for everything that the people had forgotten how to stand up on their own. "So, you going to unlock these cuffs so that I can eat, or do I get to sit here and stare at my food all day?" asks Ed, and then a mischievous grin spreads across his face. "Or are you going to feed me? Okay. Ahhhh..." says Ed, opening his mouth wide. With a sob, Rose stands up and runs out of the cell, leaving Cray standing in the doorway.
"You could show some pity for her, you know? She's had a rough life," says Cray, angrily, before walking over and unlocking one of Ed's hands.
"Yeah? Well, we can't all live luxurious lives," says Ed, before taking a bite of bread.
"What do you know? I'll bet you're life isn't that bad. You're probably a spoiled little brat," argues Cray.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SMALL?" demands Ed. "And for your information, my life hasn't been a walk in the park." He adds, before pulling up his pant leg to show Cray his auto mail. Cray gasps.
"Between my dad walking out on us when I was younger, and trying to fill the space he left, and getting hit by a train when I was seven, my life hasn't been easy. The only reason I'm even in Lior, is because I'm trying to find my dad. I could care less about that phony Cornello. If you ask me, his death was probably going to be your biggest blessing," says Edward.
"Father Cornello saved us! You don't even know him. How do you know that his death was a good thing? How can you say that?" demands Cray.
"No one can bring the dead back to life. There is no such thing as God. Humans are nothing more than minerals and water. But even knowing that, Alchemists can't create human life. They've tried, but they just can't," says Edward.
"You talk about alchemists like they're Gods," retorts Cray.
"They're the closest things to Gods, humans have," says Ed. "And I'll bet your "Priest" was just using alchemy," says Ed.
"Prove it," says Cray.
"Uncuff my other hand and I'll gladly prove it," says Edward, staring at Cray expectantly. Cray unlocks Edward's other hand and he rubs his wrists and rolls his shoulders, trying to get the blood flowing again after having his hands cuffed above his head for so long. Edward reaches into his pocket and pulls out a piece of chalk before drawing a simple transmutation circle on the ground. Cray watches intently as Edward lays the plate that the bread had been sitting on, in the middle of the circle and then places his hands on the circle. Suddenly the circle begins to glow blue and the plate begins to change, molding and taking on a new shape, until the glow died down and in the middle of the circle was a toy horse, made of clay.
"That's amazing! You perform miracles like Father Cornello!" says Cray, amazed by what he had witnessed.
"So, do you still think that he was a miracle worker?" asks Ed.
"Father Cornello didn't use a circle like you do," says Cray.
"What?" asks Edward, startled. How could that be? Alchemy without a circle? The only person he had ever known to be able to do that was his teacher. She clapped her hands and was able to perform alchemy. She had said that it was something that was learned when one saw the truth. Edward didn't know what that meant, but maybe Father Cornello had seen it.
"Alchemy is possible without a circle. I'm not advanced enough to do alchemy like that, but my teacher was. Besides, maybe he had a circle, you just didn't see it," says Edward. Just then a man comes in.
"Cray, the military is here," he says.
"Good," says Cray, before turning back to Edward. "Come on. You have an interrogation to attend," says Cray, pulling Edward to his feet before handcuffing his hands behind his back and leading him out of the room.
Edward is lead to a small room with a table and at the table sat two men in military uniforms. Behind one of the men was a woman, also in uniform. Cray takes Edward over to the empty chair across from the two men and sits him down before handcuffing him to the chair. "What the hell? Now You feel the need to cuff me to the chair? Haven't I been good? Come on, uncuff me," complains Edward.
"Shut up. You're a suspect in a murder investigation, kid. You have to be handcuffed to the chair," says Cray, before leaving the room. Edward groans before turning and scowling at the two military men in front of him.
"My name is Colonel Roy Mustang, and this is Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes. The woman behind me is Lieutenant Colonel Riza Hawkeye. She's here to make sure that you behave yourself, kid," says Roy. Edward looks back at Riza and notices that she was holding a handgun in her hands.
"So, let's start with your name," says Roy. Edward glares at Roy for a long time. He didn't like Roy, he could tell that he was an arrogant jackass, probably just out for a promotion.
"Edward Elric," retorts Ed.
"Okay, Edward. How old are you?" asks Roy.
"Eleven," says Ed.
"You've got to be kidding me. These people honestly think that an eleven year old kid could kill a fully grown man?" asks Hughes, incredulously.
"I guess so. Why do they seem to think that, kid?" asks Roy.
"Probably because they found me in the room with the body," says Edward, with a snort, "That guy had to have been dead for a few days, and I just got here yesterday. I tried telling them that, but they won't listen."
"What makes you think that he had been dead for a few days?" asks Roy.
"Did you see him?" demands Ed. "He's already partially decomposed. Not to mention the smell coming from him. He reeked," says Ed, scrunching up his nose at the memory of the odor.
"So where were you a few days ago?" asks Roy.
"Depends on how long ago you're thinking," says Ed.
"Three days," says Roy.
"I was at home, getting my things around to come here," says Ed.
"And why did you come here?" asks Roy.
"I have my reasons," says Ed, looking away from him.
"You need to tell us if you want to prove your innocence," argues Roy.
"Fine. I'm looking for someone," snaps Edward.
"Who?" asks Roy. Edward sighs heavily. He had had enough of the twenty questions for one day.
"My dad, okay?" retorts Edward.
"And why did you come here?" asks Roy.
"Because he said he was here in the last letter he sent," says Edward.
"Who is your father?" asks Hughes.
"Hoenheim," says Ed, simply. Roy and Hughes looked surprised though, and Ed wondered if he had said something wrong.
"Van Hoenheim?" asks Roy, slowly.
"Yeah...so? Why?" asks Ed, hesitantly. Was his father a wanted criminal? Was that why he left?
"The military has been looking for your father," says Hughes.
"Why?" asks Ed. "What'd he do?"
"Nothing, but he's a powerful, skilled, well known alchemist. He could be of great use to the military," says Roy.
"If he wanted to join the military, he would have done so by now, I'm sure," says Edward.
"Do you know where he was headed?" asks Roy.
"Aren't we supposed to be talking about the murder I didn't commit?" asks Ed, he knew that Hoenheim was headed to Central, but he didn't want to tell them that.
"Honestly? You're an eleven year old boy. These guys just want a suspect. I don't think you did anything, and the military would agree," says Hughes.
"Hughes is right. You say you were at home. And I'm sure the train records would tell us the same thing. If you just got here yesterday, and the body was as decomposed as you say, then there's no way you did it, but, just to be safe, you're coming to Central with us, and if you promise to be good and stay in Central until we tell you that you can go, you won't be locked up," says Roy, with an smug look on his face, that made Edward want to punch him.
"And if I decide to sneak out of Central first chance I get...?" asks Edward.
"You'll be locked up for the rest of your life for impending in an ongoing investigation," says Roy, simply.
"Don't worry, you can stay with my wife and I. We'd be happy to have you for a few days." says Hughes, cheerfully. Edward looks back at Roy and sighs. He didn't seem to have much of a choice in the matter, and at least this way he would get to go to Central as planned.
"Can I get out of these handcuffs now?" asks Edward, jingling the cuffs to emphasize his point.
"Sure. Hawkeye," says Roy.
"Right away, sir," says Riza, before walking over to Edward and unlocking his hand cuffs with the spare key.
"Hughes, you can be Edward's escort until we leave tomorrow morning. He'll be staying in your room," says Roy, before getting up and leaving the room, with Hawkeye not far behind. Hughes walks over to Ed and puts his arm around his shoulders.
"This is going to be great! Gracia will be thrilled to have you. And she's pregnant, so I'm sure this will be fun for you as well," says Hughes, cheerfully as they walk outside.
"Pregnant?" asks Edward. He knew what a woman being pregnant meant, but he had never seen a pregnant woman before.
"Yes! She's almost nine months along now, and could have the baby any day! We're both really excited!" says Hughes, proudly. Then he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a photo to show Ed. The picture was a head shot of a woman, who Edward assumed was Gracia. She looked very nice, judging by the picture. Then he was reminded of his own mom, who was probably worried.
"Um, I need to go make a phone call," says Edward, before running to the nearest pay phone. After putting some change in the phone he dials his mother's number and waits for someone to pick up.
"Hello?" says Trisha.
"Hey mom," says Edward.
"Edward? Is that you?" asks Trisha, obviously worried.
"Yeah," says Edward.
"I was so worried about you! You said that you would call me yesterday. I even called the train station to see if you made it there safely, and they had said you did. Why didn't you call me?" asks Trisha.
"Well, you see, when I got here I was worn out from traveling, and after I ate, I went to an Inn and got a room, but as soon as I reached my room, I fell asleep and didn't wake up until this morning. I'm sorry, mom," says Ed.
"Oh, what am I going to do with you?" asks Trisha, her tone chaste, but with a hint of relief.
"I know. I'm sorry," says Edward.
"I'm just glad that you're okay," says Trisha.
"Yeah. I'm headed to Central next. The train leaves tomorrow. So I'll call you then. Is Al there?" asks Ed.
"Al is out with Winry right now. But I'll let him know that you asked about him," says Trisha.
"Okay. How are you?" asks Ed.
"Oh you know, just busy. Laundry, and housework, and yard work. The usual. Al has been helping me though," says Trisha.
"That's good. Tell him that I said that if he doesn't help you, I'm going to kick his butt when I get home," says Ed, causing Trisha to laugh.
"I will," she chortles.
"Okay. Well, my time is almost up on the pay phone, I should get going. I need to get ready to leave," says Ed.
"Thank you for calling me and letting me know that you're safe. Call me when you get too Central, before you fall asleep," says Trisha.
"I will," says Ed.
"I love you, little man," says Trisha.
"I love you too, mom," says Edward, before hanging up. When he steps out of the booth, he finds Rose standing a few feet away. Hughes was sitting on the bench next to the booth.
"Hey Rose," says Ed.
"So, you're innocent?" she asks.
"Yeah. It's exactly how I told you it was," says Ed. Rose nods, before walking over to Edward and holding her hand up like she was going to slap him, but instead she begins to cry.
"What are we going to do, Edward? Without Father Cornello, we're all going to be lost again!" sobs Rose.
"You need to move on, Rose. Something bad happened, so what? Put it in the past where it belongs and move on. You have two strong legs, Rose, you should get up and use them," says Edward, before walking over to Hughes.
"What do you want to do?" asks Hughes.
"Honestly? I didn't sleep well last night. I could use a nap," says Ed.
"Okay then, right this way! We'll go to my room and you can have a nice shower and nap before lunch," says Hughes, throwing his arm over Ed's shoulders and leading him towards the hotel.
End Chapter
A/N: Thanks for reading! Page wise, this is my longest chapter so far. Yay! Okay, so hopefully this didn't go too fast. I know the interrogation probably seemed a little fast paced, but I'm just sort of assuming that Roy would want to get through it quickly. He knew that Ed hadn't done anything, but he's taking him to Central anyway. He's got plans for Ed. (Just don't ask me what...I haven't thought that far ahead...) Anyway, it's looking like my goal of 50 reviews will definitely be met, which is totally awesome! I'm already over halfway there! YAY! So thank you everyone for the reviews! I also failed to mention in my last A/N that the person who gets me to 50 reviews will get a special story dedicated to them! YAY! It'll be a one chapter story and I'll let the reviewer choose the plot, pairing (if there is one)/ main character (if there isn't a pairing), and rating, and if they want a lemon or not...So for example: If someone wants a day of Ed and Al and Winry at school, rated K+ then I'll write it. Or if someone wants an EdxRoy fic where Ed is a porn star and Roy is his...partner or whatever...and it's rated M for lemons, then I'll write it. Or anything in between. As always, review! And if I hit 50 before the story is finished, I'll probably up my goal and have another situation like this. So thanks again for the reviews and keep them up! 50 reviews here I come! Sayonara! =]
