Chapter 10

Days passed, Clara was extremely weak. She could barely swallow the food forced down her throat. Every now and then, Envy would come in and taunt her, poking and digging his nails into her wounds, twisting around the spikes already driven into her flesh. She wanted to die. Her mind was trapped in a cycle of depression and desperation. The want to escape was starting to run thin. The only thing that kept it in mind was the thought of Scar. He would look for her, she just didn't know if he would find her. She didn't know if he would be killed. The cell had already begun to become her home. It was just like when she was imprisoned with the military. Her entire body was numb. She felt as if she wasn't with the world.

One day, the door opened slower than usual. Lust entered, a plate of food in her hands. She kept her eyes on Clara's drooping head. She set the plate on the floor and look up at her pale face. Her eyes were closed, blood dripping down from her mouth. She lightly wiped it away. She let out a sigh.

"Oh dear... Father is right... you are starting to withdraw... Hmph... I never thought this way would work, kid. I didn't want you to be chained up and tortured like this... but Father said it was the quickest way to make you realize what you are..." She smirked. She stood up and turned her head.

"Father!" The old man came in, his robes dragging on the ground.

"It has begun, Father." Lust stood back a few steps and let him through. His old, wrinkled hands cupped Clara's chin, lifting her face up and examining it. He let out a grunt and stared at her chest.

"One way to find out..." He pointed his two fingers at her chest, pressing the tips of his nails into her skin. She let out a pained groan and shifted slightly, only to be stopped by the chains. His fingers dug into her flesh. Clara let out a short gasp, then shudder. Her blood dripped lightly to the ground. He ripped open her chest and peered inside. No heart. No regular organs. Her ribs stuck out of the wall of muscle and skin. It wasn't what he was looking at. A small grin crept across his face. A pale, white light shone from the opening in her chest. He chuckled.

"Yes... it has begun..." He moved his hands away and wiped them on his robs. Slowly, a sickening sound rang through the air as her chest closed up, bleeding being stopped immediatly. Lust followed Father out of the room.

"No more meals to her. No water, either. Keep the door extra secure. Make sure there's no way for her to escape the cell."

"Escape? Father, she can't even move from her bonds." He chuckled.

"Oh... she can't... not with that weak spirit in her frail body... Just make sure Envy doesn't get an urge to try and taunt her again. It could easily kill him." Soon after he said that, Lust heard a terrified roar from Clara's cell. Father sat at his throne and rested his chin on his palm.

"Ah yes... it is starting..."

The voices kept whispering in her head. Their pain entered her body. Her heart felt as if it was swelling up inside her, pushing against her ribcage, being crushed by her own body. Her skin tingled, bones ached; but the thing that hurt her the most were the voices. Her head was pounding. She grabbed tightly onto the chains and let out a roar of misery. She felt the chains leave her body. She was floating, her mind a blur.

Clara opened her eyes. She peered around. All around her, people were staring at her. Most were in pure white robes with hoods over their heads. The few without robes were clothed in dirty and rough shirts and pants. Elders had kind eyes, youth were afraid and spirited, and the others were all blank. It was frightening for Clara. She was alone in the center of them, all eyes on her. She shook with fear.

"Who are y-?"

"Give us your body." They chanted. Clara froze.

"W-what? Who are you people?!" She whispered. A child ran forward, a boy, and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"You're too weak." She stared at him in confusion.

"You are letting our body be destroyed. If you had shared your body and let us all contribute our power, we could have escaped this." Clara peered past him. Something was staring at her with evil eyes. It stuck out against everyone else. The boy looked over his shoulder and ran. The crowd parted, murmuring as they watched a mirror image of Clara walked forward. Her eyes were different. They were unafraid, mean, yet kind, careful, and cautious. Her clothes were dirty, some soil smudged on her face.

"You're... you are me..."

"Yeah. I'm you. Big deal." Clara stood up.

"You probably think I'm like some other side of you, don't you?" Clara nodded.

"Ha! Well I'm not. I'm merely what you would be if you had listened to these people and escaped the military long ago."

"What?" She smirked.

"You heard right. You, you are afraid of these people."

"What are you talking about?! There's no way people are inside me!" She shook a finger.

"They are... but they are only souls. They are sealed away in the stone that is your life. It's your heart. It's in your chest." She poked Clara roughly in the chest.

"Stone? I don't... understand..."

"You're a purified version of the Philosepher's stone, idiot!" She snapped.

"Purified...?"

"Yes... you know the 'main' ingredient for the regular philosepher's stone, right?" Clara nodded.

"Humans... Well... the purified version is made from only virgins and pure people. Those who have done little sin of the smallest kind and those who have never released their innocence." Clara looked around. There were more people than she thought. Hundreds were staring at her, eyes all kind.

"Then... what about me? It... am I... am I the one who... is my body really mine??" She asked, desperation in her voice. The other Clara sighed.

"Yes, idiot. Actually... it's no one's... the soul that was supposed to be with it never came to be. It was never created."

"Then... what does that mean?"

"It means... this body is one that was sacrificed, one that was already dead, to be the host of the stone."

"What?!"

"Yes. The most dominant spirit of the stone would be the one to inhabit it. Somehow... it was shy little us. But... I understand... I mean... look how we'd be if you had listened to these people from the beginning. I'm... well.. a tough girl. You are weak willed and unwanting to harm others, even to save your own life. That makes you weak. That's why you are here now. Unfortunately, for us... we are going to be overthrown. That's only if you don't straighten your act now and agree to listen to them."

"But..."

"But nothing!! You are destroying this body!!" She grabbed Clara's shoulders.

"Listen!! If you don't listen, if you fight against all of these poor people, the stone will turned evil. That is what they want! They want to control you to kill all of our friends and loved ones! To perform what they desire, they will want you to be under their control. Understand this, Clara... You need to hone the power of the stone. It's the complete opposite of the homonculous. It can be used to destroy them so easily! I know this because I've learnt from the people! You can't let them win. We were put into this body together... so we could be used to fight back against these deadly weapons of Hell! Get it now??" Clara nodded.

"But... I have to... harm-"

"Would you stop with the fear of hurting people!?" Clara shuddered.

"I just can't... I can't hurt anything..." An elder lightly touched the other Clara's arm.

"It is not her fault... That is the effect of all of us being in the stone. Do you both understand? Since we all don't believe in harming others, that belief is doubled, maybe tripled in her mind. She refuses to harm anything because we don't want to. It is only natural." The other Clara sighed and released her.

"I understand... Clara..." She stared at her.

"Remember to keep hold to the memory of your loved ones... Especially Scar. He is connected to us. Our bond with him is unbreakable... I know it is... we all know it is." The people began to disappear one by one.

"Why are you all-" The other Clara whirled around.

"Wait?! What's going on?!" She stood in front of Clara and watched as all the images of the people disappeared. A black fog drifted towards them.

"What is that??" Clara whispered.

"What?? Get away!" She pushed Clara back.

"No!!" It engulfed them. Clara let out a scream. She heard the screams of everyone else. She saw them being tormented, burning, bleeding and crying out. Clara covered her ears and screamed. It was too fimiliar. Her body shook with fear. Blood seeped from her eyes, dripping out of her mouth. She felt her flesh tear open. The wounds from the chains appeared. New chains slowly wrapped around her body, binding her down against something that was unseen. They dug into her skin, ripping it off and making her suffer more pain. She let out a scream. The black mist attacked her. It forced itself down her throat, taking control of her.

She opened her eyes. The chains were broken, spikes had fallen from her wounds. Black mist seeping from the opened injuries. Her eyes were black. She felt cold. Her entire body was cold. How many hours had gone by? She looked down, a moldy dish of food at her feet. No, not hours. Days. How many days? She figured about three. She heard a deep rumble from above her, small specks of stone fluttered down onto her. Clara was in a daze. She glanced around the room, a passive look in her eyes. The mist coming from her wounds began to decrease. She was healing faster. More rumbles erupted from the ceiling.

What is that? What... what is it that... makes my body tremmer? Is it... someone? Clara walked forward and lifted her hand into the empy space before her.

A way out... find it... a way out... then find that... thing... that makes my body tremmer... Her fingers brushed the iron door. She laid her whole hand on it.

It's... so strong... but what is it...? She closed her eyes, black mist seeped under the door and climbed it's way to the locks and bolts built into it. Loud cranking sounds and squeals of protest were made as the locks were forced open and the bolts were pushed away. With a loud creak, the door swung open a few centimeters. Clara's dazed eyes peered at the bright stream of light and blinked in curiousity and wonder.

Light... it is... bright... what makes it...? A shadow interrupted the stream, someone fell heavily against the door. Clara didn't move. It was pitch black again. She ran her fingers down the door again.

My light?? Where... where did it go?! Her nails scraped against the metal, letting out a horrible sound. She grinded her teeth, her eyes wide with anger.

Who shut out my light?! She slammed her hand against the door, it flew open. She closed her eyes to the sudden bright light, letting her black hair fall over her face to provide shade.

"Agh!!" A scream of pain rang out. Edward pushed the door out of the way of the tunnel.

"Dammit! These things just keep coming!" He clutched a bleeding arm with his automail and dodged a chimera. Clara stared at the creature. It's features were hideous. She found it repulsive and an insult to her sight.

"Edward..." She whispered. He stopped. He slowly turned his head.

"Wha...? Cl... Clara?!" He gasped. A chimera bounded for her with a snarl. Clara blinked slowly and stared at the beast. Her dazed and lost expression turned deadly. Her eyes narrowed and filled with murderous rage.

"Ugly beast of Hell!!" She growled, raising her hand and summoning a spear from the tunnels walls. She threw it at the animal, piercing it's flesh and making it scream with pain as it died. Edward stared at her.

"C... Clara... what happened to you...? Y... Your face... your hair!" Clara turned her murderous glare to Edward. He gulped. She was perfectly still. A hand laid itself on her shoulder. A more human like chimera.

"Hehehe! Father wants to see her!!" He laughed. She let her eyes flicker to the ugly chimera. She growled and grabbed his hand. A cracking sound erupted from it, he let out a scream of pain. A shadow fell across her eyes.

"Slimy... beast... never touch me again!" She yelled, throwing him at Edward. She huffed with anger and walked forward, her eyes blazing with rage. The aura around her was deadly; filled with intent to kill. Edward could only fall to his knees and watch.

"What happened to her...?" He whispered. She continued down the tunnel, ignoring everything that came near her. Soon she was swallowed up by the darkness; Edward couldn't see her anymore.

Clara put a hand to her head. It was pounding with pain. Her breath was more ragged. Her body was trembling with protest to rest. She fell against a large pipe and groaned, fighting her body's urges to rest. Her head pounded harder, a nasty pulsing feeling spread through her body. She let out gasps and grunts of pain. Sweat fell from her face and onto the ground. She froze and clutched her forehead, letting out a yell of pain. Her eyes were wide. Blood slowly trickled from them. She let out a scream of pain.

"Dammit!! We had an agreement!! AHHH!!! Stop it!!! I'm making you live!! Ahhh!!" She fell to her knees, screaming and panting hard. Her hair turned a sickly white, blood dripped from her cheeks and onto the ground. The screams stopped. Clara's eyes were still black; a dazed look in them. She glanced around, panting.

"Scar... Scar..." She whispered. Her legs trembled beneath her as she rose to her feet. She grasped the smaller lines on the walls to support herself, moving her way slowly down the tunnel. She felt a tingling sensation in her feet.

"Ah... alchemy..." She whispered. She walked faster, soon, she saw the source. A large hole was in the middle of the tunnel; it lead to floors below it. She felt something pulling her to it.

Get to Father... Clara slapped a hand to her head and let out a hiss of pain. She peered down the hole, gasping for breath. She was frozen still. Below was Mai and Scar. They were helping each other out of the rubble. She smiled a bit.

"Scar..." She whispered. She felt her chest suddenly erupt in pain. She let out a yell of pain, falling to her knees. Scar froze and looked up, gazing around for the source of the noise; he saw Bradley standing at the top of the hole and ran. Bradley was staring right at Clara. He smirked.

"What are you waiting for?? Hurry up and get to Father, brat!" He yelled, blood gushing from his wounds. Clara shuddered and crawled to the hole, her hair turning grey. She was fighting against the stone desperately; trying to win against the others.

"S... Scar... Scar..." She gasped, clutching her head.

"Aaaagghh!!" She screamed. Bradley frowned. He sighed and leapt down from his stance.

"You weakling... Move your ass!!" He kicked her roughly down the hole and onto the rubble below. As she hit the jagged rocks; as her neck broke and spine cracked into different positions; her eyes widened in rage. Her hair turned jet black. She cracked her neck back into place and stood up, allowing her spine to recenter itself. She glared up at Bradley.

"What are you glaring at, witch? Get to Father, now!" He yelled. She held her hand out, summoning up a few iron knives. She held them in front of her face, grinning sadistically. Bradley held up his sword.

"Don't try it, bitch. You can't possibly harm me..." He growled. Clara smiled as she pulled her arm back and threw them at Bradley. He swiftly sliced through the air, thinking the knives had been destroyed. It wasn't Clara's plan for them to cut him. She leapt up at him, tongue lashing out and laughing. She grabbed his sword and broke it into two and clamped her teeth down into his neck. He let out a yell and struggled. Clara dug her fingers into his flesh, he let out a scream of pain. Clara pulled back, ripping out a huge chunk of flesh. Blood rained down on her from the wound; covering her face with blood. She grinned and licked her lips feverously. Bradley fell to the ground, clutching his neck. She was still grinning, bright red teeth bare and gleeming. His words were mere chokes and coughs of blood. Clara reached down and dug her fingers into his chest. He froze, his body solid. She ripped out the stone. Bradley's eyes stared at her, slowly growing dull. She cackled and bit down on the stone, splitting it in half. The halves slowly crumbled into small pieces. She chuckled and leapt back down the hole.

"Hehehee... Where are they? Where are my prey!?" She yelled with great sense of lust. The obvious tone of her voice screamed for blood. She stormed down the tunnel, a murderous grin across her face. Drops of Bradley's blood dripped from her chin and onto the ground.

"Scar... Scar... Scar... Scar... Scar..."

The thing that was once called 'Father' was now a black mass with bloody red eyes all over it. Hohenheim was inside it's body, being absorbed. Edward and Alphonse were unsteady on their feet. Mustang had just arrived, blind and wandering. Izumo was keeping Mustang at her side, making sure he didn't go anywhere. Mai and Scar were cornered with them all, unsure as of what to do next.

"Oh yes... it draws near, sacrifices! It draws near! The time is almost on us! We're just missing one person! Hahaa! Let's see if she's ready yet..." It bent down and brushed his fingers onto the floor. A bright beam of light appeared under him. He stepped back a few strides and grinned.

"Ah! Yes! Yes!! There she is! She's ready! My, my... what a beautiful transformation!" Clara stood in the middle of the room, panting with blood running down her face, hair jet black and her coal eyes gleaming with murderous blood lust. Her teeth were bared in her grin, showing a hint of insanity.

"There's my prey... hehe! Hello prey!" She hissed, glaring at Scar. Scar only stared at her. He dropped to his knees.

"Cl... Clara..." He whispered. Edward was opened mouth at the sight. Mustang clutched his sleeve.

"What?!" Izumo gasped.

"Fullmetal... what's going on? Who's voice is that??"

"I... It's... Clara..." He said. Mustang froze.

"What?! That... That couldn't be Clara!! It doesn't... It doesn't even sound like her!" She lashed out her tongue and laughed.

"Clara! Clara! Clara!!!! Where is Clara?! Where is she!?! Ahahaa!! That shy little bitch is under my control!!! Gehaha! She is dead... she is no more!! I am Clara... I am her now! Unfortunatly for you... I hate everything she loves... and loves everything... she... hates... So Scar... You're on the top of my list to kill!" She laughed and took a step towards him. Scar's eyes were filled with dread.

"Clara... how could this have happened to you?? Why... you were... you were so happy!" Father put a hand on her shoulder. She hissed.

"What??" He grinned.

"Be patient! Killing Scar can wait a bit!"

"No! NO!! He must be killed now!!" She swatted his hand away.

"Don't disobey me!!"

"Shut up!! I don't need you... it'll be quick... Just a snap of his neck!! That's all it takes!!" She leapt at Scar. He didn't move, he was too dumbstruck to pay attention. His mind was wandering in thoughts.

"Scar! Move your ass!" Edward yelled.

"Scar!" Alphonse yelled. Mai leapt in front of Scar.

"No!!" She held her hands up. Clara grinned.

"Out of the way!!" She grabbed Mai's neck and slammed her head into the ground. She then crushed her face into the stones with her foot.

"Ahahaha!! See what happens when you get in the way!? Nothing good!! That's for certain, brat!" Scar stared.

"This isn't like you... What happened to you!? Clara!" He yelled. Clara froze. She growled and glared at Scar.

"What happened? Didn't I tell you... I woke... the fuck... up..." She kicked Mai aside and walked towards Scar.

"Just so I can make her shut up... I kill you and she'll shut up forever!! This body will be mine... I'll do whatever I want without her interferance!!" She grabbed Scar's neck, grinning like an insane killer.

"Clara!!! NO!! Don't do it!! Stop!" Edward yelled. Mustang stared at blank space.

"Listen to Edward, Clara! Stop what you're doing!! You're not yourself!!" Clara squeezed Scar's neck harder and summoned a spear of iron. She pointed the tip at Scar's forehead.

"Soon!!!"

"I know what you've been treated as!! You're doing exactly what they did to you when you were imprisoned!!" Mustang yelled. Clara froze, her madness had vanished. Her eyes were wide. Sweat rolled down her face.

"You're turning into one of them, Clara! Into the ones that nearly killed you every single day! Snap out of whatever the hell you're in and wake up! This isn't you, Clara!! This isn't you!" Mustang yelled. Clara's hand trembled. She dropped the spear and released Scar. She slowly put her hands to her head. Father glared at Mustang.

"What have you done?!" Clara let out a scream of pain. She fell to her knees and cried. Scar blinked he looked down at the hysterical Clara and watched her hair turn from black to grey. He gently reached out to her and touched her back.

"Clara... it's... ok... just remember..." He whispered. Her body shuddered, sobs rang throughout the air. Father ran towards Mustang.

"You bastard! Now she has to go through the ordeal again!! You just wasted so much of my time!!" He yelled. He grabbed his collar and threw him to the ground. Edward leapt to his feet.

"Mustang! You bastard!" Edward charged at him. Clara screamed.

"Stop it!!" 'Father' turned his attention to her. Edward froze.

"Stop! STOP!! STOP!!! I can't take it!! I can't take it! Just stop! Please stop!!" She screamed. 'Father' glared at her.

"Shut up girl... if you know what's best for you!" He yelled. Clara shuddered and glared at him, her eyes still black.

"Shut up?! I've had enough!! You've tortured me for years! For my entire life!! Why don't you just kill me already?! Kill me already!! I've had enough!! Everytime I close me eyes...! Everytime!! The voices they... they keep torturing me!! Kill me already! Please!! I don't want to live anymore!!" She cried. Scar's eyes turned to pain.

"Clara... no... don't say that! It hurts me so much..." She let out a cry.

"I can't take it!! I can't!! Please... just end it!!"

"Arrrgghhh!! Fine!! I will!!" A black spike shot up from underneath Clara and stabbed her through, more spikes shot up and lifted her off the ground. 'Father' walked to her. Scar was on his feet, staring at Clara; terrified for her life.

"Clara!"

"Shut up! She won't die... she simply cannot! Watch... I'll show you why..." Clara's body was flipped so it was hanging in the air. Her eyes were closed and blood was dripping from her mouth. 'Father' stabbed his fingers into her chest. She let out a stressed groaned of pain. He ripped open her chest and pulled it apart, giving a clear view of the white stone that was hanging in her rib cage.

"What... what is that?!" Izumo whispered. Edward could only stare.

"It looks like... but... it's not red... it couldn't be... it..." He said. Alphonse was silent.

"C... Clara..." Scar was staring in utter disbelief.

"She... no... that's... this can't be right!! She's nothing like them!!"

"You idiot! This is nothing like the Philosepher's stone. It's pure, and innocent. A Philosepher's stone is made from any human lives. But this stone... ohohoho... This stone requries such a special selection... Only the virgins and most pure of humans can be used for it. Clara here... she carries the only thing that could hold a chance of destroying me!" He let out a laugh. With one swift movement, he reached his long fingers into her chest and gripped the stone tightly between her fingers. Her eyes snapped wide open, she let out a scream. Her eyes rolled back into her head; her screamed died. Her entire body was twitching a bit. 'Father' grinned.

"You see what happens? I touch it... and she goes insane! But look! I grab it... and she is... Unconcious! Just think what would happen if I pulled it out... It's just what I need to achieve my goal of destroying this nation!!" Edward gaped at him. Scar let out a roar of anger.

"Let her go!! She doesn't deserve any kind of this treatment!!" He yelled. Clara weakly put a hand on 'Father's' arm. He smirked and released the stone, then kicked Clara to the ground. She coughed and hacked; weezing for air. Her chest closed slowly. She held her hands over her chest and curled into a ball, tears streaming down her face.

"Clara!" Scar pulled her into his arms. 'Father' merely laughed.

"You monster!! How could you bring yourself to harm her?!" He laughed again.

"She is the monster here! She is more of a monster than I am!! Hahahaha!!"