Another flash of lightning curled around the sharp edges of a store devoid of customers and thunder crashed outside. Ed stood on the doormat, the rain slowly dripped off boots and his jacket and hair were a bit damp, but nothing that couldn't be fixed with a clap of his hands.

Movement from the darkened corner behind the cashier desk caught Ed's attention. A door that most likely led to the back swung open. The owner, a middle-aged man dressed in simple brown slacks with a white button-up and black and white peppered hair, stepped out of the back room. Two buckets swung at his side and with each step, the rags that clung to the metal siding threatened to fall to the hardwood floor.

The owner hadn't glanced in Ed's direction. It seemed like he hadn't realized there was someone else confined within the four walls. However, with the storm raging outside the owner must have thought no one would dare venture outside thus had no customers to worry about.

Ed was about to make his presence known and ask if he needed any help with the leaks that threatened to ruin the shop. However, before Ed could usher a word the owner hustled up the set of stairs that were behind the cashier desk.

Maybe he should follow. Ed thought, but quickly decided against it.

Even though fixing the leaks would help pass the time. The owner would be back down soon potentially to get more supplies and that's when Ed would ask.

In the meantime, Ed had to find something to do. He didn't have to glance out the window to know that the storm was still upon Central. The echoes of rain that stuck the roof and siding made background music within the silent room and the wind whistling down the chimney made it clear enough.

Ed could brace the storm and show up on the hotel welcome mat soaked to the bone in rainwater, shivering slightly from the cold, but then Al would have a fit saying he should have waited out the storm.

Al would have a fit no matter what Ed did.

Ed didn't even want to entertain the thought of getting sick and how many days he would have to spend in bed, lying around when there was information in the library waiting to be found. Then there was the fact that Al wouldn't let him go for another late night walk, Al would even hold him down if need be, but things could turn dangerous if that was to happen.

However, there was another course of action that could be taken. The military headquarters were only a few miles from here, closer than the hotel. He could run there, still, he would be showing up soaking wet, but at least he could get someone to drive him to the hotel if he bugged them long enough that was. However, there was still the risk of catching a cold.

He sighed, it looked like he was saying here until the storm let up a bit, which wasn't so bad at least there were books here to entertain him for a while.

There had been moments when Al and he had ventured into this small bookstore mostly in a mad dash to get reading material for one of their long and spontaneous train rides. However, even since Ed first stepped into the store he had wanted to come back and take a moment to look around to see the fine details the place had to offer.

It looked like the opportunity had arrived. Ed glanced around the store once more and tried to take in the smaller details. Like the line of dust-covered toy cars that occupied a shelf behind the long wooden cashier desk. Or how the sides of each bookcase had small hand done carvings in them depicting animals and monsters, flowers and vines.

Or how some shelves were overflowing with books, paperbacks being bent due to getting caught within the small space while other shelves laid barren with a couple of books lying randomly on the dust-filled surfaces.

However, that's when eyes landed on a grandfather clock that sat in the corner behind the desk. It was almost nine and Al was going to start to worry if he hadn't already especially with the storm.

Al knew that Ed was caught in the middle of the storm and had most likely sought shelter however that wouldn't stop Al from worrying about Ed's safety. He should call, make sure Al knew he was fine. That he found a safe and dry spot and was going to wait out the storm then he'll make his way back to the hotel.

His eyes scanned the room once more in search of a phone, but when one couldn't be found hanging on one of the walls he ventured over to the cashier desk in hopes there was one lying on its surface. Another bolt of lightning hit the sky and while thunder rumbled overhead the overhead lights within the shop started to flicker. It only lasted a moment or two, but it was enough to make Ed pause.

Maybe he wouldn't get to call if the storm kept up like this. There was already a high chance that some of the phone lines had already been taken out.

And with that thought Ed hurried over to the desk, eyes swept the surface, but there wasn't a phone lying within the corners of the desk.

He could wait until the owner got back down and then ask about a phone, but Ed had a feeling that by then the power would be out. He could make his way over to the military headquarters, at least there would be a phone there.

Ed turned back around and faced the front of the shop. There was a large window beside the front door and the streets of Central were being distorted by the rain-slicked window.

He was left with the same dilemma as before. However, that's when Ed's glaze got snagged on a distorted black shape on the other side of the street.

Ed would have ignored it if it wasn't for the fact that the streets were abandoned because of the storm. That's when Ed cautiously walked towards the front of the store hoping to get a better look at who was out there without having to open the door and let the rain make a home within the store. However, once Ed got to the window, it became apparent as the rain-slick window still distorted the outside that the door was going to have to be opened, at least a little bit to get a better look.

With a deep breath, Ed braced to feel the chill wind and rain. The door was slowly pushed open, but the wind fought back, trying to trap him within the store. He was able to force it opened a little, the door rattled within hands as the wind contained to tried to push him back. However, he was able to get a glimpse outside and that's when his eyes locked onto Lilith's.

She stood on the other side of the road, a black cloak whipped within the wind and features were covered except for her eyes that were stained crimson. Ed stood within the door frame, not caring that the wind was exploring the store or how rain already made a nest within hair and made his jacket damp.

None of that mattered.

Lilith moved, ran down the street and took a sharp turn down an alleyway. And within that moment everything snapped back into focus. Ed opened the door wider and slipped out onto the streets of Central.

He ran after her, not caring about the consequences of the action. He barely noticed the sharp and cold wind that whistled throughout the streets, the rain that was coming down in sheets pounding the pavement or the lighting that lit up the shadow covered streets.

None of that mattered.

Because Lilith was going after someone, would either find a straggler who was caught within the storm or would break into someone's home and kill everything that breathed within those four walls. Ed couldn't let that happen, couldn't let someone else met an untimely death. He had to stop her.

Ed ran down the street and turned the corner. Then he was quickly pinned to the wall and Lilith was in front of him, a grin etched into features.

"Well, hello there." She said lightly like they were playing a game.

Ed struggled, each limb twisted and turned trying to break free from her grasp. Ed tried to kick her, brought his foot to her stomach and watched in hope that she would double over in pain, but all she did was smile as gripped tightened.

"Was that supposed to hurt." She said, there was a moment where she watched him struggle, but then her smile faded a little, it was time. "Don't fight."

It wasn't a suggestion, it was a command and Ed felt the control over limb start to fade. His mind hadn't given up on fighting, plans and alchemy made a home within its corners, but his body was no longer under his control.

All of it was useless. Ed thought as he went slack within her grip.

"What are you doing here?" Ed said, hoping to figure out what angle the game was being played at.

He was sure someone was going to die by Lilith's hands. However, running out of the store was a split-second decision. And now that he was pinned to a wall with no way to escape there was more time to think because reacting with no thought was no longer an option. The more he thought about it, replayed the events leading up to the current situation, the more it didn't make sense.

Because it was a trap.

Lilith smiled, "Looking for you." That's when grip loosened until Ed was no longer pinned against the wall.

Ed was about to let the question of what did she want, fill the air, but what happened next made the question hesitate within lungs. Lilith brought her wrist to lips; fangs pierced fare skin and blood slowly carved a river down flesh.

"Drink." She ordered and Ed obeyed the commanded.

Lilith's wrist met parted lips and sweet blood landed on his tongue, filled every corner of his mouth before it slid down his throat with each unwanted gulp. That's when fear made a home within thoughts as Ed realized he had consumed more blood than last time and that her wrist still lingered at parted lips. And then a sickening thought joined the fear, Lilith should be taking his blood, not giving him hers.

Then everything violently clicked.

Today was the last day he had to be human.

Within that moment Ed didn't think about the future, how once the clocks struck midnight tonight he would end up back in the abandoned building.

And the same scene would play out.

Ed tried to push Lilith away, tried to peel himself off the brick wall and run, but the compulsion held him to the spot. Every thought that consumed his mind turned to construct a plan on how to get away, on how to derail Lilith's plans enough so he would wake up tomorrow morning, human, but first he had to get away.

He was compelled not to fight, but he was never ordered not to run and that was the loophole that would lead to freedom, even if for a little while. Lilith's wrist lingered at parted lips for a few more moments until her wrist was withdrawal and hung at her side, blood slowly dripped to the rain-soaked cobblestone.

She no longer had a hold on him and that was the moment the plan kicked in, but Lilith was one step ahead.

She was always one step ahead.

She watched as realization took hold and how it slowly melted into fear then how it dissipated and hope took its place. Ed had a plan, found a loophole.

Before Ed was able to take a step, he was once again pinned against the wall, harder this time as if Lilith was sending a silent message that if he wanted to draw this out, she would and she would make it hurt.

She would have let him go, watch him run then return to her at midnight. However, she was under strict orders to turn him the moment an opportunity arises.

"Don't move." She said.

The plan to escape slowly slipped away.

Ed was once again no longer being pinned to the wall because both of them knew that the compulsion completely immobilized him. One of Lilith's hand disappeared within the folds of fabric from the cloak that hung around shoulders.

Ed's heart thumped loudly, it echoed within ears in anticipation of the next move. That's when breathing hitched at the sight of a shiver shiny gun that made a home within Lilith's hand.

She was going to kill him.

Ed felt defenseless, feet plastered to slick cobblestone, arms hung to at his side, alchemy suppressed by compulsion. The streets of Central were abandoned, no one would come and save him from Death's icy grip, not this time.

He was going to die.

Lilith aimed the gun at his head, an easy kill shot. Short and simple and there wouldn't be anything anyone could do to save him.

He can't die.

The click of the safety being pulled off was deafening and finger traced the trigger.

He won't die.

Ed took a step. The compulsion slowly retracted from limbs and another step was taken. Lilith stared, shock traced features as Ed broke into a run. He hadn't fully realized what happened as fear still gripped him tight.

However, he didn't get very far before the gun went off and he fell to the ground. Pain, dulled by shock seeped up his flesh leg. The opportunity to escape was lost as the compulsion that restricted movement slithered back into limbs and Ed was left motionless on the rain-slick ground.

Lilith began to laugh."After all this time, it only took staring down the barrel of a gun for you to regain a little bit of control."

"What -"

Bang

Ed's breathing hitched as wide eyes stared at Lilith who still pointed the smoking gun at his head. It took a moment to realize he was still alive, that the bullet didn't make contact with flesh and bone, but with the cobblestone beside him.

He was going to die and there was nothing that could stop that from happening.

Lilith stood there for a second and watched as new fear mixed with the pain, watched as it made a home within features. She wanted to hold onto this moment, drink in the sight of Ed's wide eyes, the sound of a struggling heartbeat, pumping faster as fear traveled through vines.

She loved watching how humans spend their last moments alive.

But time was ticking fast and there was a job that had to be done. He should already be dead by now, she should be hauling his body further down the alleyway, where shadows would consume them in case someone came looking for the person who pulled the trigger.

She hated how sloppy this plan had become.

There had only been half an hour to thrown something together when she became aware that Edward was walking alone. This sloppiness was beneath her, she knew better and if it wasn't for him breathing down her neck, she would have waited till midnight, where four walls would stop prying eyes from stumbling upon the scene, to kill him. But he wanted this done now.

And there was no escaping that.

Eyes snapped to the entrance of the alleyway as the sound of fast-approaching footsteps mixed with the buzzing of the pouring rain filled her ears.

Shit.

She looked back down. This had to be finished now, there was no time to deviate from the plan. There was too much at risk.

The gun was once again aimed at Ed's head, an easy kill shot. However, the decision was seconded, guest. Edward would be pronounced dead at the scene and if word got back to anyone he knew then there would be a lot of people looking for answers when Edward starts to breathe again. And she didn't want those people on her doorstep.

The footsteps were closing in and it would only be a matter of time before they stumbled upon the little scene.

Then the gun was lowered to Ed's chest. Maybe she could deviate from the plan, at least a little bit.

Bang

A clean shot to the side of Edward's chest.

The footsteps were approaching much quicker than before, good, Lilith thought.

She turned and ran down the alley until she rounded the corner. She stopped and peered down, hoping to get a glance at who was running through the streets of Central within this storm.

Then she saw him, Roy Mustang at the entrance of the alleyway. He had stopped running, gun was out, but all he could do was stare at the horror before him.

Shit. Lilith thought, hoping it was a stranger, someone easy to pick off, but it wasn't. This was what she got for putting a plan together within a half hour.

The gun was placed back into its holster.

She just hoped everything was time perfectly, hoped that there was still enough of her blood within his system to keep him from death. At least until they got to the hospital, where he would be able to die and come back behind closed doors and no one would be wiser.

She silently walked further down the alley. Now, it was time to organize a backup plan, one that was better than this one. Then it just had to be set into motion when the time was right.