*You guys wanted a longer chapter.
So... Your wish is my command! Enjoy!
(Warning: Blood, Gore, Nightmares, and a Gruesome twist towards the end. If you don't like anything horror related, then this is not a chapter you should be reading. You have been warned. Proceed at your own risk.)*
Also, I feel like an idiot. I just discovered that you can add a break point line in editing. I'm so stupid...
Chapter 8: The Dark Side Of Resembool (Part 2)
A cold glass of odd colored water was placed in front of the nearly trembling duo, as they stayed as still as they could in the bar stool. The pub they were dragged into smelled like puke and piss; something that the owners that stood only inches away haven't cleaned in decades. There were mounds of dust in the air, as the countertop they touched felt sticky like maple syrup.
"I called Dr. Torrez. He should be over soon to check on the little fella." A woman said, looking older than she actually is. She smelled like smoke that probably caused the wrinkles on her face, and her graying brown hair.
She honestly gave both Hughes and Ross the major creeps. The duo spared a glance behind them at the boy laying on one of the many tables in the pub. His seizure had seemed to be gone, but the boy was out like a light and seemed to grow paler by the minute. It didn't take a genius to tell that something wasn't right with the poor boy.
"T-Thank you, Miss…" Hughes begins, looking at the woman.
"Abigail." She replies, with a creepy smile. "Abigail Summers is my name. And this hunk right here is my husband, Richard Summers."
She points to the man that stopped them at gunpoint in the middle of town. He sat across from them on the other side of the bar counter, giving them a weary glare with the shotgun next to him. He was a big and muscular man that sent an uncomfortable aura their way, making them freeze up under his intense gaze.
"It's nice to meet you both." Hughes continued, sensing Ross was too afraid to even speak. "I appreciate you helping us out."
"Oh, it's no problem at all." She replies, a voice of sweet but bitter honey. "I still can't believe your car broke down on your way here. They really need to start building phones that you can't take with you. Wouldn't that be useful?"
"It would be. It would have been better to call for help then going on foot through the woods here."
"Oh, yes. I feel bad that those wolves came after you three. Such a shame, those injuries."
"Yes. We'll pull through. We always do." He gave them a small, forced smile as he tried blocking out the pain in his shoulders. He was even too terrified to try bandaging them on his own with the trigger happy man across from him.
"Good to know." Abigail replies, clasping her hands together. "How about I make you something to eat? You look famish."
"S-Sure. That'll be great, Mrs. Summers." Hughes said, taking any chance to get at least her out of the room.
She hums and faces her husband. "Richard, help me with cutting the deli meat." He grunts and eyes the duo before complying, reaching for his gun. "Leave the gun, Richard."
Another grunt as he follows his wife to the kitchen in the back. They both deflated and let out a quiet sigh.
"Something's not right here." Ross finally said, not even hiding the cracking of her voice.
"You think?" Hughes replies, whispering. "But… who knows, maybe it's just them. Maybe this doctor will be… less creepy."
"The operative word right there is 'maybe', Mr. Hughes. I'm so terrified right now, I don't even want to bend down and wrap my bleeding ankle in case something happens."
He glances at her ankle, seeing the bleeding was starting to slow, but the overall look of it was still gruesome. He swallowed, and shifted his position again to get more comfy. "I know what you mean."
"Do you… do you think this is what Ed was talking about? How this town isn't… 'Family friendly'?" She spares a glance at him, her eyes holding fear. They seemed to hold more fear than they did when she was on the train just hours earlier.
Hughes looks over her shoulder, catching the boy's tiny chest move very slowly with each breath he took. He starts frowning when he starts recalling the conversation the three of them had about South Resembool.
"I think.. I think you might be right." He replies, facing her again. "He did mention that this was where all the bad people were at."
"Bad like in what?" Ross asked, her voice seasoned with curiosity. "I mean, this is no Central City, but it's still a pretty big town. Could he be talking about.. I don't know, gangs maybe?"
"That's a possibility… or it's worse." Hughes didn't even want to go down the possible list of crimes that could be happening in this city. He didn't want to even imagine that's probably sitting in a 'dragon's lair' right now. He didn't want to even think about it.
Ross sighs, leaning a bit closer to really whisper even quieter. "Off topic here, but since we're pretty much stuck until we figure out what we're going to do, I need to know." She begins, all business now. "How are you alive? And do you know what's going on with Ed?"
Before Hughes could say anything, the pub's main door opened, and along came a man with a medical bag. The short and stubby, and very hairy man started wobbling over towards them. Hughes could feel Ross stiffen a bit beside him as the man came closer.
"Mrs. Abigail called me." Was all he said in a scruffy voice.
The duo held back the urge to cough when the horrindence smoking smell hit their noses.
"Seriously? Does everybody smoke a load in this town?" Hughes wondered.
Speaking of the devil, Abigail came out from the kitchen with two plates in her hand, along with her husband that followed her extremely close. Her face brightens when seeing the doctor.
"Oh, Dr. Torrez! Right on time for some late night dinner." She says, cheerfully.
*Break*
Dr. Torrez hummed, before wrapping his stethoscope around his neck. "Well, there seems to be no damages whatsoever from his seizure. But I would keep him away from anything too bright for the next couple days just to be on the safe side." He replies, looking up at his family. "As for the paleness, it's just from all the blood he's vomited up. This poor boy going into shock in the woods probably didn't help either."
"So when do you think he'll wake up?" Hughes asked, his parental instincts kicking in a high gear.
"Best guess, probably the evening of tomorrow. You and your son just keep an eye on him for the time being."
"Thank you, Doctor."
"Don't mention it. But uh… might I suggest changing his shirt at least?" He gestures to Ed's now ruined, blood soaked shirt that looked like he was an actual human target. It made the ex-soldiers feel bad.
"I would, but we left our bags in the car." Hughes quickly lies (they left Ed's backpack on the train when they were escaping from the military), before the creepy woman near him clapped her hands together again.
"Oh! We can give the boy a spare shirt." She replies. "Richard, go get one of your old shirts from upstairs." Her husband scowled, glaring at the rest of them very bitterly.
Hughes fought back a shiver. "Oh, no! It's okay! We don't need a spare. Don't waste it on us."
"Nonsense. It's fine." Abigail shoos her husband away. "Go, go get one. A fetch a couple of spare blankets as well for them."
Richard grunts, before walking through a door that says 'Employees only' to fetch what they needed.
"Blankets?" Hughes asked quietly, but she heard.
"Well you can't move your poor son until he's awake. So you three will be staying here tonight. Okay?" She flashes him an almost too bubbly smile that made his skin crawl.
"Yes, Ma'am."
The doctor cleared his throat, silently telling the duo to sit back down again. "Alright Mr, I'm going to check those wounds of yours before I patch them up." He replies, stumbling over like he might not be sober.
Hughes holds his hands up. "Get Justin first."
Ross looks at him with slight anger. "Dad." She hissed in her deep voice.
"Your injuries are worse than mine." He replies, sternly. "Do his first, Doc."
Torrez shrugged. "Whatever man. I'm going to treat you both anyway." He gets down on one knee, gently pulling back the tattered pant leg up, getting a painful cry from her. He gives a low whistle. "My stars, this is the worst ankle injury I've ever seen! Did one of the wolves bite you?"
"Uh.. y-yeah. O-one did…" Ross winced, swallowing down another cry as Hughes threw her a look of pity.
"Not good. This might take a while to heal." He reached into his medical bag and pulled out bandages and some rubbing alcohol. He carefully removed her shoe and began fixing it up. "I suggest you try not to walk on it too much for these next few weeks. Okay, son?"
Ross nods, not trusting her voice right now as the antiseptic starts bubbling her skin. After he was finished with her ankle (and covered the huge gash under her eye too), he moved on to do Hughes' shoulders that had nasty claws marks in it. Hughes made sure to keep his hand over his chest where the blood rune was, not wanting it to be destroyed until Ed finds out more about it.
"Similar suggestion, try not to move around too much." The doctor said afterwards. Hughes nodded as well as his bandages were finally tied together. The poor man could also feel his skin bubbling at the cleaning liquid. "Alright, Mrs. Abigail. I'm going to head out."
"How do we repay you? I still got my wallet on me." Hughes asked, reaching for his pocket.
The doctor waved him off. "No need, just doing my job. Besides, we haven't had visitors here in a while. Remember my instructions."
"Thank you, Mr. Torrez." Abigail called out as the doctor wobbled out of the door. "He's a good man." Her face lights up soon afterwards. "Oh, Richard, you're back." Her husband hands over the things with a grunt. "Thank you, honey."
"I can take those, Ma'am." Hughes says, holding his arms out for the shirt and blankets.
She hands them over without hesitation, and gives her guests a small wave. "We'll be upstairs if you need anything. But please, get some rest if you can."
"Okay. Thanks again." The odd couple disappeared behind the door, and Hughes let out a sigh of relief. "Finally…"
"Mr. Hughes?" Ross said, touching his shoulder. His olive eyes met her navy ones. Once again holding pity as he could see the pain in them. "C-Can you help me onto the floor? I think I'd b-be more comforting than sitting in a chair."
"Of course. You don't have to ask."
He slides off his own chair, and slings his arm around her. She then grabs onto him, as he helps her slowly get off her own chair, before being placed on the ground. Hughes makes sure she keeps her right leg straight the whole time. Ross sighes, a bead of sweat dripping down her face as she rests her head against the back of the bar.
"Are you alright?" He asks, worriedly.
"I'll manage." She replies, closing her eyes to relax at the tiny once of comfort she had.
Hughes didn't say anything, and instead stood up to go change Edward's bloody shirt. While doing so, he continued to worry at the way the boy looked; So small, so fragile and pale looking. He could easily forget that this legendary state alchemist was only fifteen.
Fifteen.
Only fifteen and he'll now be considered an MIA soldier, and will slowly become something else until they figure out what the homunculus and the military are planning.
Hughes sighs quietly. "He's too young for all this…"
He finishes changing his shirt, and takes one of the blankets and places it over him to keep him warm for the night. He then grabs the two plates full of food before sitting down next to Ross. He nudged her lightly, getting her to open her eyes to look.
"Eat. I know you're hungry." He replies, and he could practically see her drooling over the sandwich packed full of meat and veggies.
"Thanks." She says, taking the plate. She immediately bites into it, chowing it down to quench her hunger. "I'm not a big fan of ham, but this is good."
He chuckles, taking a bite and savoring the taste. He could taste the ham, but also some turkey and even chicken as well, along with some onion and lettuce and really sweet tomato. It was a lot, but it tasted so damn good.
He chuckles at a happy memory that appeared before him. "This kind of reminds me of the sandwich Gracia used to make me for work." His smile fades shortly afterwards, stopping when his heart tightens at the mention of his wife. "Gracia…"
Ross stops as well, reaching up to give his shoulder a small, but gentle pat of comfort. He leans into it, and says nothing as they both stayed silent for a few moments.
"I know this is probably the worst time to ask, but-" Ross begins, her voice very quiet. "What happened? And what exactly are we running from?"
Hughes lets out a tired sigh. "Since we're not going anywhere, I'll tell you. But for this to make sense to you, I have to ask." He spares her a glance. "How much do you know about alchemy?"
"I know enough." She smiles at a fond memory of her own. "Remember? Me and Brosh were in charge of keeping an eye on the Major for a whole week. I learned so much just by eavesdropping on him and his brother, who, by the way, are both extremely loud talkers."
Hughes actually smiled at that, shaking his head slightly at the thought of those Elric brothers. "Oh, I hear you."
Ross eyes him curiosity, asking him her next question. "So this has something to do with alchemy?"
He nods. "Yeah. I'll start from the beginning. A week ago, the brothers asked me to look over some of their research notes while they visited Rush Valley with their mechanic. I ended up finding some things… not right."
"Like what?"
"It'll be better if I had a map, but I'll try to explain the best I can. Basically, I tranced a map of Amestris, and connected all the dots from every spot that there was a war/major bloodshed at, and you know what it made up?"
"No."
"One giant transmutation circle."
She gasps quietly. "A transmutation circle? Like the ones alchemists use?"
He nods. "Yep. Exactly."
"But… why would the whole country be one?"
"It's to make a philosopher's stone."
Ross tensed and grew pale almost immediately as those words came out of his mouth. "A philosopher's stone?! The one that's made out of people?"
"That's the one."
"But… you said you connected every war to it, does that mean that the…" She trails off, already knowing the fatal answer.
"It means the Military is involved." He finishes, frowning. "That, and some bad people too."
"Bad people? Like who?"
"Did Ed ever mention who he fought in the Fifth Laboratory?"
"Sort of. He drew an… interesting drawing of some man."
"Apparently the man who attacked Edward is the same man who's working with the military. He's also the one who killed me in that phone booth."
She swallowed. "Killed?"
"Yeah… Killed." Hughes suddenly finds the floor more interesting than Ross. "I died, Ross. The man, Envy, shapeshifted into you; and I knew he was an imposter, and when I went to attack him, he turned into my wife and shot me. After that, I bleed to death."
She blinked, a mixture of confusion and slight fear, as the gears in her head started turning to make sense of this all. "But… If you died, how are you alive?"
Still not looking, he answered, "Ed did the same thing he did for his little brother, he brought me back to life." He pulls his shirt collar down just enough to show off the seal, earning another small gasp from the ex-female soldier. "Since I still had my body, he bounded my soul back, and revived me." He lets go of his collar. "After that, I revealed to him what I found, and we decided it would be best to pretend I'm dead so we can investigate it in silence. However, when we found out you were facing jail and possible execution, we decided to rescue you. And.. here we are."
Ross runs a hand through her hair, knocking the hot beanie off. "That's… That's insane…" Was her reply. "I'm not sure what to say."
"It's alright, I understand that this is a lot to take in."
"Yeah, it is. I mean, the military? Shapeshifters? Alchemy? This is… so fucking crazy."
Hughes eyebrows shot up in surprise, never hearing the Lieutenant speak that way before. He guesses he shouldn't be surprised given the situation they're in. "You okay?"
"I guess so." Ross sighs. "It's a lot to process." Her eyes look up at the boy laying across from her, cocking her head to the side in thought. "If Ed brought you back to live, doesn't that mean he loses something in return?"
"Yeah. It's the law of equivalent exchange alchemists follow."
"Then what did Ed lose? He looks the same to me."
Hughes looks at the boy as well, frowning again. "We've talked about it, and he doesn't think it's anything internal. He says that he feels like he's not missing any organs, or anything like that; and we obviously know he's not missing any limbs again."
"So what do you think it is?"
"I…" He pauses, carefully choosing his words. "I have a hunch. I think Ed might have the same hunch I do."
She spares a glance at him. "Which is…?"
Another pause, and there was a flicker of pain in his eyes. "I think something's wrong with his alchemy."
"Explain."
"When I woke up in that phone booth, Ed had blood all over his shirt, and I know it wasn't mine because it was all over his mouth. He had even more blood on him when I woke up in the hotel room he rented, and when he got home after making a fake corpse of me, he had put on a different shirt."
"And then there was the woods. He used his alchemy to get the wolf off you, and he threw up even more blood afterwards." Ross finishes, piecing it together. "Did he have a seizure before?"
Hughes shakes his head. "No." He replies. "That was the first. Although, he's been really tired too, so I think it might have something to do with his alchemy as well."
"But what exactly is happening with his alchemy? I still don't understand."
"That part I'm not sure myself. It's almost like he has a side effect now every time he uses his alchemy. It's rather strange."
She hums in agreement, looking back at Ed again. "Well, if anyone's going to figure this out, it's probably him."
"Yeah." The corner of his lips turn upwards. "To think a prodigy might end up saving the country."
"Well that'll make a good headline." They both quietly laughed, and ended up smiling in this gloomy pub. Ross takes her plate, and puts it on the counter. "I think I'm going to try to get some sleep." She says, grabbing a blanket.
"I guess I should try myself." He replies, also putting his plate up. "I don't know how, Ross, but we're getting out of this town tomorrow. I don't trust this place."
"You're getting no complaints from me." She lays herself down, using her arm as a pillow and shutting her eyes. "Night, Mr. Hughes."
"Night, Ross."
*Break*
He felt someone tug on his arm, waking him up from his slumber. "Huh?" He squinted in the light that was in his eyes. He could see a silhouette of someone, someone that looked so familiar. "Pa.. Patricia?"
Her laugh gave her away, and she came closer into his view. "Wake up sleepyhead." She laughs again and pulls him up to his feet. He watches her take a few steps away, going towards the light. She stops and faces him, her face as warm as the sun. "You coming?"
He looks at her confused. "What do you mean? Where are we going?"
His sister looked a little hurt for a second, before waving it off with another smile. "We're going home together, silly? Did you forget?"
"Home?"
"Yeah." She holds her hand out. "Can't you believe that our letters finally worked? We can finally see each other again."
Her aura grew brighter when she said that, and he couldn't help but be drawn by it. He slowly reaches out, finally happy that their long awaited reunion would finally be over. Their fingers touched, but a sudden realization made him pull back.
"Maes?" She said, the hurting look returning in her green eyes.
"I can't."
"What?"
"I can't. I... I didn't think we would meet so soon." He replies, truthfully. He gives her a bittersweet look. "I thought I would see you when I was older, and my daughter's all grown up."
"But, Maes-"
"I'm sorry. But I'm going to have to decline for now. I'll see you soon." It hurts, but he knows it's for the best. He spins on his heels to move away from the light, but his sister's hand latches around his wrist and jerks him back. "Patricia?"
He takes a look back, finding a dark shadow covering her eyes. Her hand felt much colder than it should be. And he swears her skin is tinted black. What is going on?
"You're going to leave me again? Why?" She asks, with a voice that wasn't her own.
"Sis… you feeling okay? What's wrong?"
"You're going to leave me again? Why? Why would you do that to me, Maes?" She looks up with reddened eyes that started to leak tears made of dark blood. "Why would you leave me? I don't want to die alone."
His eyes shrunk, and her hand turned to bone and blood. "Sis?!"
"Don't leave me to die alone, Maes! Don't leave me to die alone like my boyfriend did. He left me and our family."
He froze, feeling a bit angry towards a man that's never met before. However, the fear was still there. "What do you mean he left you alone? And what do you mean 'Our family'? Are you telling me it's not just you and him? Sis, please answer me!"
She suddenly started laughing like a mad man, and her skinned seemed to melt off as it was replaced with an all white form that seemed to glow even in the white room. Standing there and holding his wrist was no longer his sister; It was a being with no eyes, and grin that went from ear-to-ear. This being sent a new wave of fright through him, as it continued to laugh and tighten it's hold.
"W-what… a-are you?"
Another round of laughter, and it's grin seemed to grow even more. "This is the law of equivalent exchange. Isn't that right, young alchemist?"
.
.
.
.
.
Hughes bolted upright. A few strands of his dyed hair fell in front of his eyes that felt wet with his tears. He could hear his heart beat in his ears, and feel beads of sweat run down the sides of face.
"A nightmare?" He thinks, trying to calm his breathing. "Or was that something else?"
He looks around to find himself still sleeping on the pub's floor, and nowhere else. He sighs when he finds Edward in the same spot. "At Least he's still here."
"Mr. Hughes?" Ross whispered from beside him.
He looks in her direction, surprised to find that she was standing up and leaning against the bar counter. She also looks quite frightened as well. "Ross? What's wrong? And what time is it?"
"It's a little after 3pm. And I woke up a few minutes ago after hearing something." Worried eyes glanced back at the kitchen behind them. "I think something's definitely wrong here."
"Mr. Hughes?" Ross whispered from beside him.
He looks in her direction, surprised to find that she was standing up and leaning against the bar counter. She also looks quite frightened as well. "Ross? What's wrong? And what time is it?"
"It's a little after 3pm. And I woke up a few minutes ago after hearing something." Worried eyes glanced back at the kitchen behind them. "I think something's definitely wrong here."
"Why?" He stands up, her fear starting to rub off on him. "What did you hear?" He watches her bite her lip, before gesturing to him to follow.
He walked after her as they creeped into the kitchen, and his ears picked up on a faint sound that sounded like water dropping. It was odd, and he starts to wonder what's wrong with the water, but doesn't want to start questioning it just yet. She takes him to one of the corners of the kitchen, stopping completely.
"I want you to look and tell me if I'm just being paranoid." She replies, before pointing up towards the ceiling.
Hughes' followed her finger, taking a look. Liquid was dropping out the cracks of the old wooden ceiling, dropping on a large growing puddle on the floor. His eyes grew wide, catching the color of the liquid. He slowly held his hand out, letting a droplet fall on the palm of his hand, confirming his theory.
"Blood." He whispers.
"So I'm not crazy?" She whispers back.
"No. But where's this coming from? Above?" He looks up again. "Didn't the Summers say they live above?"
"They did. Did you think something happened?"
"Not sure. I'm going to check it out." He walks past her, opening a couple drawers before pulling out a knife. He knows how to wield one with effectiveness.
"Wait." She says, making him look back. She too also grabs a knife. "I'm coming with you."
"Ross, no. You're injured."
"And so are you. If there's something going on with the couple, then you're going to need back up."
"Ross-"
"You're not changing my mind." She held her gaze that he couldn't possibly break. He frowns and gives in.
"Fine. Just stay close."
They moved out of the kitchen, quieting their footsteps as they approached the employee's only door. They both give a silent command to each other and move in. They were met with a staircase leading upwards, and they slowly walked up them, staying close. When they got near the top, a horrible smell hit their nose. They held back the urge to gag as Hughes looked at Ross with knowing eyes. The smell was strong, and it was something they knew like the back of their hands.
A dead body.
Now intrigued but also afraid, they kept moving until they were on top. They were met with a wall, and looped around the railing to go down a narrow hallway. The smell was coming from the first door, and with a semi steady hand, Hughes touched the door knob. He looks back at Ross who nodded for him to go on, and compiled. The smell hit them in the face as flies buzzed in their ears as they were met with a dreadful sight. Four decomposing bodies that seemed to be hacked and slash laid all over the small room. Blood stained the walls and it made puddles on the floor that painted their shoes.
"Oh my god…" Ross replies, horrified by the sight.
Hughes' jaw went tight as he took a small step forward, examining the floor. "These are so old. No wonder the blood was leaking below." He silently gasps when he spots something in a bucket nearby. He kicks it over, and out comes thin cut strains of meat. He tenses. "I don't think that was ham that we ate…"
Ross gagged, and covered her mouth, fighting off the urge to vomit heavily. And he unfortunately, was doing the same when his stomach coiled.
The Summers were cannibals that sold parts of people to their customers in the pub to eat.
It was sickening, frightening. It was truly horrifying to even begin with.
He takes a sharp inhale through his nostrils. "Okay, we're leaving. Now." Hughes said, ready to go-
The lights flickered on in the room, and the woman appeared before them with a creepy. "Leaving so soon?" Abigail asks, a glistening butcher knife by her side. "You can't possibly leave yet. You haven't even tried the ale we serve."
"Lady, I think we'll pass." Ross said, backing up closer to her partner.
"Are you sure?"
"Listen, Ma'am, we're leaving. End of story."
"I don't think so." She wags her finger. "Nobody who stays overnight leaves Lupin Creek alive."
"And why not?" Hughes asked, eyeing her carefully.
She smiles, and the duo just now notices how sharp her teeth really are. Her eyes seemed to glow with hunger. "Because, this is Lupin Creek, and everyone here is a descendant of a wolf."
Before anyone could react, she lunged at Hughes who was close by. Abigail swung the knife, and he dodged leisurely. He managed to nick her in the side before slipping on the puddles below. He fell on his back harshly, dropping his knife while getting a kick to his gut. The woman laughed, and kept her foot on him as she raised her knife.
"Perfect deli meat." She laughs, licking her lips.
"SICK BASTARD!" Ross yelled as she swung the heavy bucket in the back of Abigail's head, rendering her unconscious.
Hughes stared in surprise again, his partner stunning him with her actions every passing second. "Oh, Damn…"
"Abigail!" Richard yelled, coming into the room. He glares menacingly at them, cocking the shotgun in his hands. "You bitch!"
Everything was like in slow motion all at once.
The raising of the gun.
The small gasp from the ex-lieutenant.
And the heart beating in the 'dead' man's ears.
It was all happening way too slowly.
.
.
.
.
"Clap your hands, young alchemist."
.
.
.
.
Hughes perked up at the voice in the back of his head.
And before he even questions it, he brings his palms together, igniting a spark. With a quick speed, he got on his feet, passed Ross and clasped his hands onto the barrel of the gun. A loud shot and gunpowder ran in the air as the barrel exploded in half.
Richard stared at the broken weapon. "What the-"
Ross smashes him with a bucket as well, before dropping it with relief. Heavy pants filled the room as they both looked at each other with concern and ease. Her eyes soon trailed to the gun, staring upon it with curiosity.
"Did you just do alchemy?" She asked, recognizing the markings on the gun.
He blinks and looks down at his palms, examining them. "I… I think I did." He shakes his head quickly. He'll worry about it later. "We've gotta go."
"Right."
They ran themselves out of the room, and headed straight for the sleeping teenager.
"I saw a back door in the kitchen, they may lead to an alleyway. Maybe we'll find a car." Hughes says, carefully taking Ed into his arms.
"Hope you're right." Ross replies, taking the lead.
Sure enough, there was a vehicle waiting for them. A truck that seemed like it could run for miles. She smashes one of the windows to unlock the truck from inside, before sliding into the passenger's seat, before Hughes handed over Ed to her. Since it was only a two seater, Ed had to lay on Ross' lap (probably for the best instead of laying on the floor board).
"Wait, how are we supposed to start the truck?" She asks, as Hughes hopped in the driver's seat. He scratches his head and looks around, before grabbing something off the dashboard. The keys. She blinks with slight embarrassment. "So… the car was unlocked?"
"I guess so." Hughes said, a small smirk playing on his lips.
She let her head hang low. "God, I'm so stupid…" She replies. "Where are we going to go?"
"Away. We'll travel up north and away from the forest, and maybe then Edward would be awake to tell us where the Rockbells live."
"That's kind of farfetch, seeing that his condition is not the best right now."
"It is. But it's all we got." He looks at her, hands on the steering wheel. "Are you in?"
"Hell yeah." She replies, almost scoffing. "Get me the fuck away from here."
He hums in agreement as he starts the engine and pulls out of the alleyway. He then steered the truck onto the path that lead away from the forest, and up north where they hope they'll finally be safe.
*Will the trio finally be able to have peace? Or Will something else stand in their way?
PS: Apologize for this chapter being gruesome, but you'll understand more once Ed wakes up (Hint,Hint: It has something to do with Ishval).
Thanks for reading!*