It's been a while and in the time I have taken two science exams and broke several keys off my keyboard.

Disclaimer: I don't own FMA.


Slowly, the blonde's russet eyes opened. They looked clouded and disorientated.

A figure swam into view but Riza couldn't put a name to it. Her head hurt and a faint smell of blood was wafting through the dusty air. It was mixed with the smell of rain.

Were they outside? Riza thought blurrily. No, she'd be soaked if they were. She could see better now and the burly man from earlier was about five metres away, wide back in her direction. She could see that the door had been forced off its hinges and that the wall that surrounded it had been damaged in places.

A motorbike lay within the rubble, its paint work scratched and worn. She let out a deep ragged breath and it hurt her chest so she did not repeat the action. The rounded man had by this point noticed the movements of the woman and turned, his sunken eyes snapping about her bruised body.

"So you finally came around?" He said lowly. Riza merely gave a low grunt, her head hung. The man sighed and brushed a hand back over his balding head which was flecked with mud. He extended a large arm and picked something up off the table. "You know, I'm not sure I've ever met a woman like you. This man, he obviously means a lot to you," Another grunt from the blonde.

"Well he'll be no good now I'm afraid, Solaris and Bradley will make sure of that," Yet again a small noise of acknowledgement that could of meant anything. The man's callous hand moved over the item he had picked up. A small silver gun.

"You know, I've read books 'bout this sort of thing, they always say that the person who takes someone else hostage always tells them their plan. Perhaps I should of lived my life like a book, a story set out for me, knowing what I would do by each page. That would of been best," He shook his head as he forced himself out of his thoughts. "You deserve to know, especially if Bradley wants you dead," He leant back against the table, the small firearm tossed back onto its surface. Riza watched him from underneath her long blonde tresses and for a moment she was uncertain as to whether the furniture would take his weight.

"We've been watching your Colonel for a while now," He spoke slowly and carefully, putting in the words he wanted exactly. "Studying his powers and such, then we stumbled across you. Reliant, loyal, hard working. All these words come to mind when your name is used. Then Bradley met a man called Envy, or so we thought he was a man. It seems a lot of people have it in for Mustang," Selim paused and scratched his bristly chin with bitten nails. Riza had adjusted her position to lean more back against the seat and the burly man's eyes covered her briefly. He continued. "So being that Bradley and Envy had something in common, we came about. Solaris and myself were taken against our will. Bradley met her at a bar and roped her into it, saying he'd kill her, similar story for myself. Then more and more people were pulled in, Bradley was now corrupted and saw Roy as an opposition for a leader of the country. Then there was the terrorist attack at the military ball a few months back and in case you're wondering, no we weren't involved," He trailed off and scratched his neck, his fingernails catching a scab and tearing it away from the skin.

Riza was still staring blankly at the floor.

Her heart was thudding softly within the caging of her ribs and her temples were literally bursting with pain. Selim sighed softly, seeing the woman had made no action and retrieved the fire arm and loaded it. Riza's fists clenched uselessly and for the first time she spoke, her voice rough and unpractised.

"That's how it'll always be. There's always someone at the top of the food chain, picking off the people below him as if they were pawns in a lifelong game of chess. Roy plays chess and he always told me the pawns and other pieces are just as important as the King. In fact he always said the Queen held everything together, moving anywhere she can on the board but she'd always be below him because of the way the rules went. The bishops, the knights and the rooks making intelligent pushes forward. Then there are the pawns, the people of society as he always compared them to. Victims of the game."

Her head rose and a small lopsided smile perched upon her cut lips. "Everyone's quest is to take out the King yet there'll always be the other people who will give their lives to rise against the opposition. Life is like chess if you think about it hard enough. In black and white and all about making the right decisions," She finally finished, her stony brown eyes resting on his broad frame. Selim's arm had lowered and the gun was held limply at his side, pressed against his thigh. He swallowed hard then looked at her, his face contorting in pain. He lurched forward and raised the gun, his eyes now cold and emotionless.

"It's my job!" He cried, his eyes flitting over her.

"It's not your job," Riza said softly, wearily.

"Don't use your mind games on me!" Riza stayed silent watching steadily as the gun rose, the barrel aimed at her head. The man was trembling and Riza could see his finger retreating from the trigger. He gave a heavy sigh and made to lower the limb. Just then, the door slammed open and the muscular man from earlier stood within its frame. His face was stony and the veins on his arms were raised.

"Have you not done it yet?" He boomed and set his eyes on the blonde who had turned her head just slightly to the left. "What are you waiting for Selim? Shoot the bitch!" The burly man's face looked torn as he yet again moved the gun back to Riza. Riza's eyes dropped to the floor.

Perhaps humans were weak.


Thanks for reading, I don't really like the way this chapter turned out...but just trying to move it along somewhat.

:D

Drop a review if ya have time.

-Amie