Welcome back to The Water Alchemist. I don't own any of the intellectual property of Fullmetal Alchemist.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Blind Faith
Ed walked up to me and rested the back of his hand against my cheek, then my forehead. I stood there frozen as he stepped back, looking puzzled.
"You don't have a fever," he said almost to himself.
"Of course I don't, I feel just fine," I retorted. I hadn't felt sick at all after resting in Resembool.
"Well, something is definitely wrong with you if you think we're about to use you as bait."
"Just hear me out," I said.
"No way," Ed said hastily, frowning. "I'm not going to hand you over to them, not in a million years." He folded his arms and walked back to the couch. I followed and rested my hands against the back of the sofa.
"I'm not saying that. I'm saying use me to draw them out," I said, motioning my hand to my chest. "It's a more direct approach to what you were planning. You wouldn't have to fight Scar, and we have an element of surprise by being prepared for what may already be inevitable." My explanation came out rushed and erratic, barely registering in my own mind.
"What do you mean 'inevitable'?" Ed asked, raising a brow.
"You heard Mustang; they're already looking for me," I said, clutching the back of the couch tighter. "If they're so determined to find me, it shouldn't be long before they notice I'm back. Why not use that to our advantage?"
I knew that what I was suggesting wasn't very pleasant. I had been spending all this time avoiding the Homunculi, and now I was offering myself up to them on a silver platter. But the strange part was that I wasn't scared; I was more worried that the brothers wouldn't allow it. Al looked over to Ed.
"We won't use you. We'll do my plan, and you'll stay out of it," Ed said, a note of finality in his tone.
"Ed—"
"Besides, shouldn't you be focused on getting back to your side?" he asked, his words stabbing me in the chest.
I inhaled sharply, biting my lip. He was right, of course, but I couldn't focus on it. It made my head hurt, and my heart ache, and I didn't want to think about it. I was barely thinking at all.
"We appreciate the offer Marina, but we won't use anyone else to clean up our mess," Al said.
"But you're not using me. I'm offering myself willingly," I countered.
"Even if we took you up on your offer – which we won't – we don't have a way to catch them. They're super strong, and they pretty much can't die," Al said thoughtfully.
"Can't die?" a certain Xingese Prince asked, entering unannounced through the window with his trusted vassal. "Was that hyperbole?"
"Or are they actually immortal?" Lan Fan finished asking for him. We all looked at them in disbelief.
"Why don't we lock the windows?" Al asked as they stepped through.
"Aw, but if you did that, neither of us would get what we want," Ling pouted, crossing the room to us. He glanced over to me but didn't make any strange remarks about my presence or anything of the sort. Without the stone, there was nothing for him to sense. "Now, what's this about your plan?"
"We're going to lure out the Homunculi using me as bait," I said before Ed could answer.
His head whipped around to glare at me. Ling and Lan Fan watched us in quiet curiosity.
"What do you not understand about the word 'no'?" he asked, storming up to me.
"I understand it perfectly," I said. He suddenly reached out and grabbed me by the shoulders.
"Obviously not. It's too dangerous," he said. His eyes were intense as they scanned over me.
"You know it's a decent idea," I said, my voice even as he squeezed my arms just slightly.
"Just what the hell is wrong with you?" he asked with an incredulous laugh.
"Brother!" Al chided him. Ed turned to him sharply, releasing me.
"Don't tell me that you agree with her, Al," he said fiercely.
"Of course I don't, but that wasn't very nice," Al shot back. I stood between them, holding my hands out.
"Look, I'm not taking this lightly," I said, giving Ed a pointed look. "I know the risks. But I told you I'd look out for you two. Let me do this one last thing before I— before I go…" I trailed off, my arms dropping to my sides.
I stared at the floor, unable to see the grit of his jaw, the uncertainty in his countenance. He clenched his fists as he spoke lowly, just barely under his breath.
"If you got hurt or taken, I wouldn't—"
"And you won't," I cut in, a little too afraid myself of what he was going to say. "They need me alive, remember? I'll be just fine. Do you trust me?"
I chanced a look at him, and he closed his eyes, letting out a harsh breath. He eventually met my gaze with furrowed brows and a look that threatened something worse than the Homunculi could ever do to me.
"Don't make me regret it," he said, moving past me and settling on the couch.
He motioned for our guests to join us, and we began discussing our plan. While we talked, I couldn't sit still, so I was quietly pacing near the couches. The plan was simple, really; I would go out, 'alone' and walk around the city in plain sight. If they were as desperate to find me as I was beginning to believe they were, it wouldn't be long before one of them showed up, especially if Pride was lurking around. Ed and Al would follow me at a distance from the ground, and Ling and Lan Fan would keep watch from above. All our manpower would be dedicated to the capturing of a Homunculus, rather than expending unnecessary energy on fighting Scar. It marveled me how the idea had popped into my head, and suddenly we were putting it into motion. It reminded me of how impulsive I had been, rushing in to rescue Hughes as soon as I knew. But this time, I had help. This time, I was surer of myself and my abilities. This plan was going to work. It was going to work.
"Count us in! We'd love to help you guys," Ling said, leaning over his knee after we fleshed out our plan of action.
"Why's that?" Ed asked, receding even further into the couch he lounged on.
"I can't say I care about the military stuff, but it sounds like these Homunculi are just what we've been looking for," Ling said with a satisfied smirk. He looked back to Ed, who was staring him down. "What's wrong? You look kind of skeptical." Ed sat up.
"Don't get me wrong. I am grateful for the help you've already given, though I don't exactly love how you've been around Marina. But this—"
"You've got better odds with more help. And as for Miss Marina, I apologize for my previous conduct," he said, bowing. He lifted his head just slightly. "I promise, it won't happen again. I'm serious about this. This could be what rescues my clan." Ling explained, meeting Ed's eyes with just as much intensity. Ed glanced at me, and I nodded.
"I appreciate it, Ling. I look forward to working with you," I assured him with a smile, which he returned. There was a long pause before Ed agreed.
"Alright then. Just remember, we're in this together," Ed reminded the Prince.
"I promise not to run off with them. I owe you that much," Ling assured us.
"What for?" Ed asked, raising an eyebrow. Ling shuffled around the inside of his coat, unfurling a lengthy roll of paper, handing it over to Ed, who realized nearly immediately what it was. "Is this for room service? You're damn right you owe me!"
He wasted no time kicking the two out of the room, sending them flying out the window they came in from, sending glass flying out after them. Winry slammed the door open, startling us all.
"Would you guys shut up? Do you know how early I have to wake up tomorrow?" she yelled angrily, holding her pillow firmly. We all looked at her sheepishly.
"Oh, right, I forgot. You're catching an early train to Rush Vall—" Ed stopped mid-sentence, seeming to realize something. "You know what? You should cancel that. Why don't you just stick around and relax?"
"Huh?" she said, walking up to us. Ed nervously scratched the back of his head.
"Well, uh, I mean it's just that—you know, well… there's always a chance that my arm could get broken. Or even... destroyed," he almost whispered. Winry was quick on the uptake, pulling a wrench from beyond the pillow she held, socking Ed over the head with a few quick strikes. Her hand trembled with fury as Ed laid motionless on the floor, Al hovering over him. I looked to Winry, just a bit frightened.
"Are you planning on destroying it?" she asked irritably. Al was busy rescuing Ed's soul from leaving his body when her expression changed. "I can't believe you. Just promise you won't do anything too dangerous."
"We won't," I assured her, and she looked over to me with a soft smile. "I'll keep them out of trouble."
"Thanks, Marina," she said with a nod, shaking her wrench one last time at the brothers, who cowered together in the corner. "You listen to her, got me?"
"Yes, ma'am!" they chorused, and she breathed a relieved sigh. She inclined her head to the door.
"Let's get to bed," she said, turning. As she left the room, she called out behind her. "Night, guys."
"Night," they said, as I gathered my bag and the boys removed themselves from the floor. I hugged my bag to my chest, happy to have it back. I turned to the boys, who gave me somewhat wary looks.
"It'll be alright, okay?" I said, trying to seem reassuring. "Get some rest. We have a long day ahead tomorrow."
They nodded, and I retreated to our room. Winry was already in bed, so I took a quick shower and got dressed for bed, sliding in between the covers. I tossed and turned, the moonlight that shone in through my window falling across my pillow and regretfully into my face. My eyes were shut, but it still felt like daylight, and even when I turned away, it was far too bright. It was preventing me from getting a good night's rest. That's what I told myself, anyway. Really, it was the way my mind mapped out our plan repeatedly. It seemed simple enough, but I was worried about the possible varied results. It was entirely possible we'd fail. It was also entirely possible we'd succeed, but what came after? Was I really alright with constantly changing the landscape of their lives without sticking around to see the result? I turned into my pillow and groaned, inhaling the stale scent of bleach. I knew I wasn't. And with that thought came a question I couldn't answer; when would be the right time to leave? I couldn't decide what exactly needed to happen for me to be ready to return home. And that thought led to another, and I just had to go and wonder; would I ever be ready to go back?
I awoke early and anxiously, trying to prepare myself for the task ahead. Winry was still asleep, so I carefully meandered around the room, collecting the necessary materials to get ready. I slipped my sneakers on and stood, checking myself in the mirror before I made my way to the boy's room. I had on a plain sage green t-shirt tucked into a pair of black slacks, topped off with my jacket from Isabelle. My knife was safely hilted at my hip, nicely hidden by the length of my jacket alongside the canteen I had also attached there. It was heavy, and I was grateful for the weight grounding me.
I picked up the brush from the sink and combed out my hair. It had gotten longer, lightly tracing my shoulders now. I ran my hand through it a few times, still not quite used to the missing length. I oddly looked like my mom had when she had first cut her hair, though it felt different somehow. I couldn't help but think that it suited me. I exited the bathroom and then the room and noticed Ed was already in the hallway leaning against the wall between our doors, dressed and ready to go. He looked up to me and nodded as he pushed off from the wall.
"You ready?" he asked. I nodded.
"Where's Al?" I asked, looking around.
"He's downstairs talking strategy with Ling. We were just waiting for you," he said, nodding to the stairwell.
"Ah, I see," I said, shifting my weight between my legs. We stood staring at each other for a moment.
"You can always back out. Whenever you want," Ed said quietly. I shook my head at the offer.
"You know I won't," I said, approaching him. I rested my hand on his shoulder. "I can take care of myself. It's going to work."
I wasn't sure if I was assuring him, or myself. He stared at the floor, resting his hand over mine.
"Marina," he said, his tone suddenly serious.
I looked at him as he lifted my hand from his shoulder, taking it in both of his. I was surprised to see the strawberry hair tie in his palm, and I glanced at his braid with curiosity— it was tied off with a regular hairband. I looked back to our hands, where he was stretching the elastic over my wrist until the charm rested against my arm.
"What's wrong? Decided it was too childish for you after all?" I chuckled. He shook his head.
"It's insurance," he said, and I quirked a brow at him. "When we're done, I want this back." I sucked in a breath as his grip on me tightened.
"Oh, I get it," I said softly. "I'll be sure to give it back."
"You'd better," he said. I chuckled with a soft smile.
"I will," I said, resting my other hand over his. Our eyes met, and I could see how apprehensive he was about all this. I wondered if he could tell that I was, too. "I trust you implicitly. Let's catch a Homunculus, huh?" He averted his gaze quickly with a nod, releasing my hands before scratching the back of his neck.
"Just stick to the plan. If something goes south, get out of there. And don't get caught," Ed said, shoving his hands in his pockets, heading for the stairway.
We ventured out to parade me around in plain sight before too many people lined the streets. Unfortunately for us, the people of Central were apparently morning dwellers, and – as the day dragged on – I was beginning to worry that there were too many civilians milling about for the plan to work. The Homunculi weren't careless; I doubted they'd snatch me out in the open. We were in the middle of a crowded market street, filled with the hustle and bustle of the city. My poor feet hurt with all the walking we had already done, the sun high in the sky now. I began making my way to the outskirts of the city, hoping I'd have better luck. My steps echoed over the cobblestone as I weaved in and out of dark alleyways and slowing marketplaces. I hadn't noticed it, at first, too focused on the mission— but as I entered a silent alleyway, I registered a shuffling that seemed far too close. I turned slightly, my heart rate spiking, but when I realized whose footfalls I was hearing, I groaned.
"You guys are following way too close," I sighed, looking back to the boys who were a mere few feet behind me, ever vigilant. The alleyway was quiet and empty, save for me and the seven-foot-tall suit of armor and angry blonde kid at my heels. "I'm supposed to look like I'm alone."
"We've been following you this long," Ed said in their defense.
"Have you been this close the whole time?" I asked.
"Yeah, and it's been just fine," he said, crossing his arms. I blanched. No wonder it had been some hours of walking with nothing to show for it.
"And we haven't found any Homunculi, have we?" I asked, a hand on my hip.
They gave each other a look, and Ed grumbled as he and Al took a single step back, seeming satisfied with themselves.
"Happy?" he asked.
I rose a brow, bringing my hand to my face and pinching the bridge of my nose. I knew they were worried, but these two were hopeless.
"You do want this to work, right?" I asked.
"Well, yeah, of course we do," Ed said.
"Then stick to the plan," I said, regurgitating his words and pointing to the other end of the alley. Ed scowled at me as they took another single step back. "Further."
Another single step. Another further. We went back and forth until I gave them a thumbs up when I felt they were a suitable distance away, about fifty feet judging by the length of the alley end to end.
"How the hell are we supposed to watch you from way back here!" Ed exclaimed, stomping around, Al trying and failing to calm him.
I just shook my head, pointing to the building just up ahead, and they both stopped to look. They seemed to be a bit more at ease when they glanced back at me. I smiled and gave them a nod, and began walking out to the street to try another shadowy alleyway. As I walked, I glanced to where I had pointed, glad that the boys weren't the only ones keeping an eye on me.
"Are you sure about this, brother?" Al asked as they trailed further behind Marina. Ed shot him a glare.
"Course not," he grumbled, his hands clenched in his pockets. He had been up half the night contemplating what their best move would be, could be, and while he realized that Marina's solution was solid, that didn't mean he had to like it. And he didn't like it. "Even with Ling's help, there's no telling what will happen. She's so damn stubborn." Al chuckled.
"You know, she's a bit like you in that respect," he said through good-hearted chortles. Ed frowned.
"You saying I'm stubborn?" he asked incredulously.
"Come on now, Ed. It's not like it's a secret. It's not always a bad thing," Al tutted, patting Ed's shoulder.
"Not always, huh?" Ed pondered, his eyes trained on Marina, who seemed ready to turn the corner ahead.
"Yeah, I mean, you seem to like it in Marina, after all," Al said thoughtfully. Ed's head snapped to his brother, and he felt his face flush.
"What the hell's that supposed to mean?" he asked, feeling a little flustered. Al sighed.
"If you keep denying something so obvious, I'm afraid there's not much hope for you, brother," Al shrugged, strangely sage and incredibly infuriating. Ed was about to retort when he heard an annoyingly familiar voice call for him.
"Hey, Fullmetal!" he heard the Colonel call from the window of his car on the street behind them, motioning for the Lieutenant to stop. Ed and Al turned to him, a look of surprise on Ed's face.
"Oh, great, the Colonel," he muttered, looking back down the alleyway. He glanced at his brother knowingly, and with their previous conversation forgotten, Al turned the corner after Marina as Ed made his way to the car the Colonel rolled up in. He leaned on the open window. "What's up, Colonel? Shouldn't you still be in the hospital?"
"Probably," Mustang answered a little irritably. He looked back down the alleyway Marina and Al had disappeared down, then to Ed with narrowed eyes. "What are you up to?"
"Whaddya mean? We aren't up to anything," Ed said nonchalantly.
"I'm sure you've heard that Scars back," Mustang said, cutting to the chase, and Ed tensed. "Not to mention, the Homunculi are actively looking for Marina. What's with the casual stroll around town? What, do you want Scar to find you, or for them to find her?" No matter how much he hated to admit it, Mustang always saw through his bullshit.
"Yeah, actually, that's exactly what we want," Ed grumbled. Mustang's eyes widened a moment. Mustang grabbed him by the collar, nearly dragging Ed into the cab.
"Are you an idiot?" he yelled angrily.
"Hey, it was your stupid little tip at the hospital that got us here!" Ed seethed.
"If they find her, there's no telling what could—"
"Colonel!" Hawkeye warned, and his grip loosened on Ed's collar, much to his appreciation. He'd have to thank the Lieutenant later. Mustang composed himself and released Ed's collar, who adjusted it with a frown.
"People are watching. Get in," the Colonel instructed, opening the door to Ed. Ed looked back down the now empty alley with a sigh and entered the cab. The Lieutenant drove to the end of the street. Mustang crossed his arms, glaring at the young alchemist. "So, just what exactly is going on, Fullmetal?"
"Look, it wasn't my idea, alright?" he said, mirroring the Colonel with a huff. "We're trying to lure out the Homunculi, and Marina offered herself up as bait."
"She what?" the Colonel roared, incensed. "And you just let her?"
"I didn't want this!" Ed snapped back, his face twisted in anger. He was already fed up with having to enact this plan in the first place; he didn't need or want the Colonel's judgment on the matter. He looked away from Mustang, speaking lowly. "I didn't want to use her. I wanted to fight Scar since the Homunculi want me alive, but she wouldn't have it. She thought it was too risky. Said this would be a better option since they're looking for her already. I couldn't talk her out of it."
"I can't believe either of you," Mustang muttered, running his hand over his face. "You'd better have a plan, at least." Ed nodded.
"We do," Ed assured him.
"Tell me," Mustang ordered.
Ed disclosed the details of their little scheme as they rounded on the street Al and Marina had gone down. They slowed as they passed alley after empty alley, eventually coming up on a familiar suit of armor lurked at the edge of one. He stood just shy of the opening, looking down it cautiously. Mustang looked at Hawkeye through the rear-view, and she stopped the car. They got out and walked up to Al.
"Brother," Al greeted quietly. "Hello, Colonel, Lieutenant."
They nodded to him in greeting as Ed looked beyond Al, noticing Marina at the far end of the alleyway, chatting with someone. He couldn't see him very well in the dark of the alley, but he wore black slacks and a plain black t-shirt. Whoever it was, he was tall. Ed felt something unsettling rise in his chest as he studied the height difference between the guy and Marina. It reminded him too much of that stupid kid from Dublith.
"Who the hell is that?" Ed asked. Al shifted nervously. "What's going on, Al?"
"Uh, that's… the masked man," he admitted.
Ed looked at his brother in pure disbelief before looking back to the man, his eyes having adjusted to the light in the alley. Whoever the hell was standing before Marina wasn't the person he had fought twice before. His hair was almost pure white, while the man's hair from before was black. There was no mask, no foreboding weapon that Ed could see. He couldn't deny that the height was similar, judging by how tall Marina stood.
It must be him, Ed thought. It must be Elias. Something awful panged in Ed's chest, something much stronger than what he had felt on that day in Dublith; that strange and disquieting feeling of seeing Marina being mistreated by someone he didn't know. But he knew Elias. He knew exactly the type of person he was, and it only intensified the feeling. It bubbled in his chest like a smoking cauldron, fierce and furious. He barely suppressed it as the Colonel spoke.
"I'll handle it," Mustang said, and Ed was sprung from his trance as Mustang tugged his gloves on, ready to march off into the alley. Ed held him back.
"Wait, Colonel," Ed said through grit teeth, trying to contain his own fury.
"Why wait, Fullmetal?" Mustang asked, adjusting his gloves. "He's a criminal."
"Yeah, but he's kinda… helping Marina," Ed tried to explain vaguely, hoping what he said would suffice for the Colonel. The look in his eyes told him otherwise, but he heeded Ed's wish and stepped back.
That damn bastard, Ed thought, seething. Elias was right there, talking to her like nothing had happened. He wanted to sock him in the jaw, make him pay for all the hurt he'd caused her, but he managed to hold back. He wasn't going to jeopardize Marina's only means back, no matter how much his heart throbbed at the thought of her leaving for good. They all watched the exchanged quietly out of sight, and Ed eventually noticed the impatient tapping of his boot against the cobblestone. He wanted to know what they were talking about. Was it about her going home? Was he telling her that her time was up? Ed hadn't considered a time constraint before. What would happen then?
Damnit, this is taking too long, he thought irritably, looking up to make sure Ling was still keeping an eye on her. Ed relaxed a little, seeing that he was— that is until he noticed she had turned to go, and the bastard grabbed her arm and held her there. Ed was about to storm out after them and give that guy a piece of his mind when Al yanked him back by his coat.
"Brother," Al said, pulling him back.
"What the hell, Al? Did you see what he just did? I'm not going to just stand here and let him—"
"Brother," Al implored him. He pointed around the corner, and Ed looked more carefully, noticing what his brother and the rest of their company had noticed as Hawkeye cocked her gun. A third person had entered the alley, towering over even Elias, his hands cracking at his sides.
"Scar?"
I noticed at some point that Ed had broken off from tailing me, and I wondered to myself what exactly was going on. When I realized, I made a move to turn back and ask Al. I jogged up to him, looking around.
"Where's Ed?" I asked. "Don't tell me he went to do something stupid."
"No, no," Al assured me, waving his hands around. "The Colonel showed up, so they're chatting. We can keep going." I looked at him a little skeptically.
"Maybe we should go back and wait," I said, about to head back the way we came when my name echoed around the walls behind me. I turned sharply to see Elias at the other end of the alley, walking toward us.
What the hell? I wondered, swallowing back the saliva that had accumulated in my mouth.
"Marina, who's that…?" Al trailed off beside me, and I realized Elias looked much different from when Ed and Al had first met him. His hair was almost all white now, and he didn't wear the mask either, his scarred face on full display.
"It's Elias," I whispered, and Al gasped, pushing me behind him with his arm outstretched. I grabbed his arm, and he looked at me worriedly. "It's fine, Al. Wait here— I'll go see what he wants."
I nodded to him, and he nodded back, dropping his arm. I walked over to Elias cautiously, who had stopped mid-way at my approach. I had been fooled once before, but I wasn't going to let it happen again. I stopped in front of him, a safe distance away, my nose scrunching at the smell of rotten garbage mixed with rancid water. It was more intense when you stood still.
"Marina," he said in a stale greeting.
"Elias," I greeted back. I let my hands rest in the pockets of my jacket, twirling the charm around my wrist. "This may sound strange, but I need you to tell me the last thing you said to me." He quirked a brow, looking irritated.
"I don't really have time to mess around," he noted.
"If you don't know, I can't chat. Have a nice day," I said.
"I told you to beat it," he sighed roughly, crossing his arms over his chest. "I took the stone for you already; I'm not fond of playing games." I smiled, having all the information I needed. That was the real Elias, alright. I nodded.
"Thanks for indulging me. So, what brings you here?"
"I have to talk to you. Privately," he said, looking beyond me to Al, who had retreated around the corner of the alley but still watched us. It didn't seem that he had noticed Ling or Lan Fan, so I was careful not to alert him of their presence.
"This is private," I told him, shifting the weight to my left hip and settling over it. He rolled his eyes.
"Look, it's really important," he said, grasping the back of his neck. I frowned.
"Well, I'm a bit busy right now. If you can't tell me here, it'll have to wait," I said, turning to return to Al. He reached out and grasped my arm, pulling back on it tightly.
I winced at the sudden movement, and I looked up to him, glaring. When I saw the look on his face, I was confused. He looked lost and scared, and I never imagined he could look like that. I blinked a few times as he gripped my arm, opening and closing his mouth, looking for something to say.
"It's about sending you back," he said quietly, almost pleadingly. I narrowed my eyes at him, feeling my throat close.
"What about it?" I asked lowly. He was about to answer when we heard a strange cracking behind us. Elias turned and released my arm to investigate, and I looked beyond him, my breath hitching in my chest when I noticed Scar standing at the end of the alley. Shit! I thought, taking a step back. "Elias, let's go." I tugged on his sleeve, but he didn't budge.
"You're that girl from East City," Scar said, and I stiffened, my grip on Elias tightening. Elias looked at me curiously.
"You know this man?" he asked skeptically, and I nodded. He looked back to Scar, studying him. "He's Ishvalen."
"Yeah, and we're not exactly friends," I griped, tugging on his sleeve again. "Come on, let's go." I managed to get Elias to move finally, and we backed down the alley to Al as Scar approached slowly.
"Where's the Fullmetal boy?" Scar asked, and I stopped momentarily, glaring at him.
"Like I'd tell you," I spat, clenching my fists. Scar narrowed his eyes at me.
"Funny, I was thinking of looking for you too, Scar," I heard a voice call and quick footfalls behind me, and I turned frantically, hoping I wasn't going to see who I thought I was. Ed was fast approaching with a gleam in his eye.
"Fullmetal Alchemist," Scar said lowly. He stood next to me, clapping his hands and transmuting a blade on his arm. I grabbed onto Ed's coat, and he looked at me.
"What the hell are you doing?" I hissed, glancing between Ed and Scar. "This isn't the plan, Ed."
"The plan wasn't working anyway," he said, directing his attention to Scar. "It's time for plan B."
He glanced up to the top of the building that made the left side of the alley and nodded. I looked up in time to see Ling give Ed a thumbs up, and I frowned. Ling just shrugged and disappeared over the ledge.
"Ed, you can't be serious. You'll get hurt!" I said, turning, but Scar was already on us.
I just barely noticed his approach from the corner of my eye as he lunged at us, his arm reared and ready to destroy whatever was in its path. Ed shoved me away, and I stumbled backward into Elias, who managed to stay upright. Ed just barely evaded Scar, jumping back as Scar uprooted the cobblestones. I blinked rapidly, my heart in my throat.
"What the hell?" Elias said, righting me just before the ground shook beneath us.
"Get her out of here!" Ed yelled as Scar pivoted, readying another attack. I was about to transmute something between them, but Elias caught my arm, and he sprinted down the alley in the opposite direction with me in tow. I looked back, calling out for Ed, but Elias's grip was relentless. He dragged me from the alley, and we ran until we couldn't hear the fighting anymore.
"Elias, stop! Let go!" I yelled repeatedly, trying to keep pace so I wouldn't fall. He ignored me, and I dug my heels into the ground, only slowing him slightly. "Stop!"
He halted, and I slammed into him, groaning as I regained my balance. He looked down at me, eyes full of fright and rage.
"What the hell was all of that just now?" he yelled. I tried to pry his hand from my arm, but his grip only tightened, and I winced.
"I told you we weren't friendly," I said sarcastically. He gave me a look.
"Yeah, I'd say so," he huffed. "He looked ready to kill you."
"It doesn't concern you, so let me go."
"Okay, fine, don't tell me," he sighed, his grip loosening a little. I took the opportunity to pull away from him, taking a few steps back. I rubbed my wrist gingerly. "I only came here to deliver a message, and that's it."
"So you said," I growled. "But as you can see, I kind of have some more pressing matters to attend to, so it'll have to wait."
"No, I need to tell you sooner than later," he said his face creasing. I sighed, exasperated. I didn't have time for this.
"Then just say it!"
"Fine!" he yelled, clenching his fists. "Marina, I can't—"
I was rocked from my feet and nearly thrown to the ground from a sudden earthquake. I managed to stay upright, though I noticed what caused the earthquake from my peripheral, and my eyes widened in horror. Gluttony towered over the two of us, staring at me with a menacing gleam in his eyes. The color drained from my face, and I just barely managed to yell to Elias.
"Elias, run— mpfh!"
Gluttony caught me with his humongous arm around the top of my torso, pinning my arms to my side and covering my mouth. My feet dangled just above the ground as he began to squeeze me tightly until I couldn't breathe, and I let out a strangled sound. It was an awful sensation, and though it probably only lasted a few seconds, it felt like forever.
"I found you!" he proclaimed excitedly, his voice beginning to sound echoey.
"Marina!" Elias yelled, attempting to hit Gluttony. The blow he took to the gut seemed to rock Gluttony just enough, and he stepped backward, flinging me around, and his grip around me loosened enough for me to gasp for air.
"Run!" I repeated as Gluttony's hand slipped from my mouth, and Elias attempted another blow.
"Let her go!" he yelled, only to have his hand caught by Gluttony.
"Can I eat him?" Gluttony asked aloud, and we both tensed. He swung Elias into a wall, cracking the very structure.
"Elias!" I called out as he groaned and stood, wobbling as we approached. Gluttony grabbed him as he had me, and Elias spat blood out onto his arm.
"Now I get to eat you!" Gluttony said excitedly, as he opened his mouth, nearly unhinging his monstrous jaw and revealing the ouroboros tattoo centered on his tongue. His saliva dripped from his mouth and onto the ground.
"No, don't!" I screamed as Gluttony pulled Elias closer, who writhed and wriggled desperately, trying to get away.
I strained my arms, trying to reach my knife, my fingers tracing the top of the hilt, but it was stuck. I slammed my eyes shut, unable to watch when I heard a shink sound, and felt something splatter across my face. I heard what sounded like Gluttony's voice cry out, and I felt the backward movement as we stumbled into a wall. We crashed against it, and I opened my eyes, a smile spreading across my face.
"Ling!" I cried out, happier than ever to see the Xingese Prince and his vassal, who held a bloody kunai, and Elias, who seemed unharmed. I breathed a sigh of relief. "Just in time." I looked to Gluttony, realizing he was missing his other arm.
"W-who, who are you?" Gluttony asked, seeming frightened. Red energy crackled around his disembodied arm, which laid in the alley between us, and his shoulder. In a flash, his arm rematerialized, forming the flesh and bone in a snap. My face tingled where I had felt the splatter, and I noticed what seemed like ash fly from my face as it disintegrated Gluttony's arm. Ling looked on with excited anticipation.
"That's an interesting body you've got there," he noted, a grin on his face. "Now, if you'd let our friend go, we just have a few questions—"
Gluttony let out an outcry that startled all of us, like a petulant child on a rampage. He swung his arms around angrily, subsequently throwing me around, and I was getting dizzy.
"No, no, no!" he cried, crouching.
With the force of a sonic boom, we propelled fifty, no, one hundred feet into the air, and we just kept soaring. I screamed bloody murder, my vocal cords straining to manage the sound. My stomach was in my throat, and I felt queasy by the time we landed on the roof of one of the towering structures. He slung me over his shoulder and began running across the graveled top. I tried moving my arms, but he just gripped me tighter and tighter until there was an awful pop sound. I cried out at the searing pain in my shoulder. I knew what that felt like. I had felt it once before, dislocating my shoulder at the Tucker estate.
Not good, not good, not good, I thought frantically, sucking in air sharply through my teeth, trying to keep a level head. I could feel tears spring to my eyes, and I tried to blink them away. I didn't have time to cry. Through blurred vision, I noticed something shiny headed my way, and as soon as I noticed it, I was sent flying across the rooftop. I tumbled over myself a few times before my back landed against an industrial fan, halting the momentum of my rolling. I groaned as I sat up, noticing yet another disembodied arm right next to me. I sat up quickly and kicked it away with a yelp, glancing around frantically. Gluttony was a few feet away, screaming and grasping at the air around his missing arm.
"Marina," Ling's voice called, and I jolted back, noticing he was right next to me. His eyes were trained on Gluttony, who writhed in agony.
"Ling," I breathed, placing my hand over my racing heart.
"You alright?" he asked, helping me to stand. I moved my arm strangely, and I winced.
"I'm alright," I said through grit teeth. He looked at me disbelievingly. "Thanks for rescuing me."
"Well, that's the job, right?" he said with a grin. "Besides, I still have some questions for you." I eyed him nervously, but our attention was back on Gluttony, who had regenerated and looked between us.
"Give her back," he said, extending his open palm with a frown. He made a single step before Lan Fan sprung up from the alley we had come from and slammed her feet into him, sending him tumbling. As he stood and regained his stance, he looked worried. Ling tapped the blade of his sword over his shoulder.
"Don't worry, your friend should be safe," Ling assured me.
"Thank you," I said with a nod.
"Now, Homunculus," he said, his tone shifting to a more serious note. "Just how many people are inside you?"
"How do… how do you know?" Gluttony asked, raising a finger to his mouth to suck on.
"Don't bother running," Lan Fan said, still angled to fight. "I sense your presence. And I can follow it."
"Follow? Me?" Gluttony asked, cocking his head to the side with a grin. "Then I'll just eat you now!" Ling tensed beside me, and I looked over to him. My breath hitched when I saw another figure approaching us.
"So, you're able to detect his presence, are you?" Bradley, or rather, Wrath said, unsheathing one of his swords. I glanced over at Lan Fan, panic swelling in my chest. "Well, that's quite the nuisance. Let's take care of it!" He unsheathed another sword, wielding two of three, and he dashed in her direction instantaneously.
"Lan Fan! Run!" Ling cried, maybe feeling the unsettling amount of blood-lust that tainted the air at Wraths arrival. We watched helplessly as Bradley cut her down, her scream ringing out along the rooftops. "No, Lan Fan!"
She tumbled down to a lower roof, her kunai twirling along the ground as she skidded to a stop. A trail of blood streaked beneath her. I gasped, knowing what awful end this led to. This was one of the many things I was trying to avoid, using me as bait— but it was trying to happen anyway.
Damnit! I thought irately, clenching my fist.
"Clever. You took a swipe at me with your kunai," he noted, looking to his blade, which had been halved. I felt a disturbing shift in the air and turned to see Gluttony jump at us.
"Ling!" I yelled, shoving him out of the way as Gluttony crashed into the industrial fan beyond us.
"Damnit!" Ling cried, grabbing me around the waist and taking off after Lan Fan. He was quick, quicker than I could ever hope to be, and I yelped as we jumped off the roof and landed next to her. Ling set me down, though I was a bit unsteady after scaling so many heights in one day, and he crouched beside her. "Lan Fan, please stay with me!" She whimpered as he turned her over. I took notice of Wrath, who had been rejoined by Gluttony.
"Can I eat them?" he asked.
"No, I'll handle them. Retrieve the sacrifice," Wrath said, an awful look in his eye. I scowled at him as he made a move toward us.
"Ling, run!" I said, clapping my hands together. A shot of pain ran up to my useless shoulder, and I winced as Ling hoisted Lan Fan over his shoulder.
"If you thought you could escape from me that easily I'm afraid you'll find you're surely mistaken!" Wrath growled, cutting his sword between us and taking off after Ling.
"Leave them alone!" I yelled, about to transmute the ground before him. I felt that awful approach again, coming in fast from behind me. A chill shot up my spine as a shadow encroached over mine. I could feel the inhuman desire to feast. I slammed my hand to the ground, sending sharp spikes through Gluttony's abdomen, arms, head; you name it, I stabbed it. I turned to see his lifeless figure over the spikes, but I averted my attention back to Ling and Wrath, who were currently crossing swords. I ran at a sprint, clapping my hands painfully together, and touched my hand down to the ground, uprooting the roof beneath Wraths feet. He jumped up and away from Ling, who I ran to. He looked briefly to me, then turned his gaze forward, his eyes wide with fear.
"Marina, look out!" I turned to see Wrath, coming at us full force, and Ling grabbed my collar, jumping just narrowly out of the way of the sword.
"Gluttony!" Wrath called, and suddenly, Gluttony was on us, his arms positioned above his head. I stared in disbelief, wondering just how he had recovered so damn fast. We couldn't dodge the blow mid-air, and the strike sent us flying. We crashed through the window of a vacant apartment building a few feet below. The glass tinkled as it fell all around us, the sound of it shattering hurting my ears. I could already feel the sting of the shards that had sliced small cuts into my skin, though it was luckily only over the parts I had exposed. It was a good day to wear a thick jacket and a pair of slacks. I was winded, having taken most of the attack to my side, though I was sure Ling had taken the brunt of the blow. I coughed out the dust in the air I was inhaling, unsettled by our entrance. Ling and I managed to get to our feet as it began to settle. We heard glass crackling under boots, and we turned to see Wrath at the window, swords drawn, with Gluttony behind him. I hadn't had a moment to think, but I knew the situation was grim.
"Excellent. We should have some privacy in here. If you don't mind, I have some questions," Wrath said, a disturbing smile on his face like he was enjoying this. I knew he was. Ling looked to him apprehensively, and I took on a fighting stance. "First, I'd like to know who you people are and how you found out what's inside Gluttony."
"Marina," Ling tugged on my sleeve, looking around.
"You're looking for an escape, even now? You don't give up, do you?" Wrath asked, narrowing his eye at us. "You might stand a fair chance of getting away if you only abandoned the injured girl because she's just excess baggage at this point." I felt Ling's grip on my sleeve tighten at his words.
"Excess baggage?" Ling asked, his eyes darkening. "I can see all those stars on your uniform. You're the ruler here. Fuhrer King Bradley, unless I'm mistaken. A ruler's duty is to his people. Without them, he is no King at all! King Bradley… you're no true King. Not now, or ever!"
"Naïve boy," Wrath chuckled, a bit too hardily. "Don't you understand there are no true Kings in this world?"
As he finished, I heard a click and from behind us flew a long stick-like object that bounced on the floor once before flashing. I closed my eyes at the bright light and felt a strong tug on my jacket. I ran blindly, following Ling to the exit. A gust of wind rushed by my face, and there was a loud shink sound, halting us from moving forward. I ran into Ling's back, and I opened my eyes to a sword in the wall. We glanced back at Wrath, who had covered his eyes along with Gluttony.
"Nice try," he said smoothly, evenly. His tone of voice shook me, and I could feel my body begin to tremble. "But your flash bomb didn't succeed in blinding this eye." If this went on much longer, there would be no hope for saving Lan Fan's arm.
"Ling," I whispered, stepping in front of him. "I'm going to give myself up. When I do, run for it."
"What?" he hissed, grabbing my shoulder. "Ed would kill me if I let them have you."
"Better him than Bradly," I shot back, my heart beating out of my chest. I glanced back at him. "Lan Fan isn't going to be able to wait around." His gaze hardened as he realized what I was implying. I grasped at the charm at my wrist, twisting it between my fingers, squeezing it tightly.
Forgive me, Ed, I thought as I shrugged my shoulder from Ling, approaching Bradly.
"I'll go willingly on one condition," I said, my voice wavering slightly as I approached. I stopped in the middle of the room, hoping the space would be enough for Ling to make a break. "You let them go free."
Wrath stood, not meeting my gaze. He started to laugh, and I inhaled deeply, not even realizing what was happening until the sharp taste of copper filled my mouth. I swallowed it and gaged, the crimson liquid spilling from my mouth, down my chin, and onto the floor, where a pool was forming slowly, steadily. I noticed the smell of blood had grown much stronger, permeating my nose. My hands were shaking, but I reached down and felt the sword, the cold steel covered in sticky, warm fluid— blood. My blood, I realized after a moment.
I didn't even notice his approach, I thought frantically. He moved like Izumi. I coughed and nearly lost my footing, but I couldn't move. The sword in my gut prevented any hasty movements. It stung like a wasp bite, a pinch at first, but with each passing moment, the sting widened, attacking each severed nerve, each bit of flesh impaled and surrounding. This bastard just stabbed me.
"Foolish girl. You thought you had a choice in the matter?" Wrath asked, twisting the blade in my abdomen ever-so-slowly. I cried out, my breath coming out short and ragged, black encroaching in my vision. "I'm afraid you've overestimated your worth."
In a diet coke-fueled frenzy, paired with listening to Gravity on repeat for hours on end, I present to you all my most ambitious chapter yet— whose planning has been two months in the making. As soon as I finished Hughes's rescue, I began mapping this arc out, and, boy, is it a trip. I've been animating it in my mind for quite some time, and now it's down on paper, and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. This chapter is probably one of my more action-filled, and it was a real treat to work on the fight scenes. I especially love the end. I wonder, did y'all see it coming? I told my girlfriend my evil plans, and she was shook. I hope you all were just surprised! I know Marina was. This spells trouble, but I wonder how they're going to get out of this one? (Okay, I know it's not super fair to ask since I know, but you get the idea.) Also, I am feeling much better after some R&R, and I am back to my regular schedule. I may decide sometime down the line to take a break once a month, but for now, I think taking a break from uploading as needed has been working so far. I also just wanted to say a huge thank you because my story has officially surpassed 10,000 views! It sincerely has blown my mind just how many people have seen it or given it a second look and followed and favorited and reviewed. I really didn't know what I was doing to start, or if I'd actually finish, or if anyone would read my story and care, but here we are. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I'll see y'all next week.
