I'M NOT DEAD! George guys, I haven't updated this since September?! Man I'm horrible! But inspiration finally kicked in where I have finished chapter 4! Whoo-hoo! So anyway guys, I would love your thoughts on this in the magical box below! I have no idea if I'm doing a good job writing this thing.
So anyway, please enjoy chapter 4 and hopefully the inspiration keeps coming to me!
Disclaimer: Don't own FMAB or the book mentioned towards the end.
(3rd POV)
Bree didn't have time to act, how could she? The knife only gave her a glint of light before it hits its target. It buries itself into her head, making her take a step back from the force behind it. She couldn't think, or feel anything other than shock. The world hazes over, swirling around itself as if it was fresh paint.
The Elric brothers arrive just in time to see the girl slump to the ground, the man jumping down from the boulders with a smile on his face. He yanks the blade out of her head, her body jerking in response.
"Ha!" He yells down at her, her body twitching slightly, and continues to howl obscurities down at her.
Something in Edward's guts twists at the sight, anger swelling inside of him. Without any warning, he rushes the man and swings his automail arm as hard as he could. The impact sends the man barreling into the ground, motionless but still alive. For some reason, Ed was breathing hard as if he just ran a few miles, and turns his eyes to the girl on the ground.
Laying like a broken doll in a forming puddle of black, you just knew that she was gone. Even if they had an alchemical doctor here, there would be nothing that he could do. Edward would know, studying some about human anatomy to perform his taboo. But wait, why was it black and not red? It may look black with the lack of light, so Edward dismisses the thought.
This wasn't good. This was defiantly not good. Al thinks frantically, kneeling beside the girl and turning her over so that she was laying on her back. A blade had lodge in her forehead, just off center but now was a dark hole with some kinda black substance oozing from the wound. It was like black rivers was running down her face, trying to pick a direction to go. Her green eyes had dulled, but were wide open with shock. All Alphonse could do was stare down at her, his armor shuddering.
Al's whole world was crashing down at that moment. He didn't even know this girl, but they had failed her. She didn't look much older than they are and she had her whole life ahead her. This is the first death Alphonse has seen since his mother, even if he didn't know her he still taking it pretty hard. Over the years, he's learned that life is a precious thing from his experiences from the military. So when he hears, or in this case sees, life being taken it hits him.
And Edward knew that better than anyone. Alphonse was more in tune with his emotions, some would say he's very sensitive. Edward has a harder shell than Al, they've known that since they were little. But in some instances, like this one, that shell can be easily broken.
Edward curses under his breath, coming to stand alongside Al to stare down at the girl. He knew there was something he could've done to prevent this, to save this unknown girl. To ask her questions as to how she acted around them. But now, that thought was snuffed out. Edward was disappointed that he couldn't talk to her, but was more devastated that she's gone.
(Bree P.O.V)
The last thing I remembered was a horrible pain in my head, but now I was in some sort of void. And no, it wasn't Truths white void. This was darker, like I was inside of a cave. I couldn't really see anything beyond my hands, and trust me I tried.
I couldn't tell how much time had passed, but it seems like I'm stuck in here. Forever. And that gave me time to think. Like, this was a fun one, was I dead? Cause I think Ben killed me with a knife to the head. I wasn't a hundred percent sure, but more like ninety-nine percent sure that's what happened. So this is what it's like to be dead? It's defiantly not what I expected. Cause what's the point of living if this was the end result?
A cold shiver runs down my spine, having the feeling that I was being watched. I spin around to see a…a what? Could I call it a person? It had an outline of a person, but that was it. Now it didn't look like Truth or anything. It reminded me of smoke, a wispy figure just kinda floating there. And what do I do? Nothing, absolutely nothing. Cause I didn't know if I was just seeing things, or if it was something that could potentially hurt me.
So we stand there, for again who knows how long, just staring at each other. I had no idea what to do, or what I could do to make the thing go away.
But then, the wisp lifts it arm towards me. I immediately stiffen, ready to run to who knows where. What was it doing? Was it going to hurt me? What was it anyway? I had a million questions fly through my head. But that all ended when white light shoots from its arm and hits me.
I start to scream.
(3rd P.O.V)
Ed puts a hand on Al's big shoulder. Even if he couldn't feel, it was still an automatic thing to do for Edward. He did it a lot when they were kids, so why stop just because his little brother couldn't feel it? But Al was shuddering under his automail hand, the soft sound of metal hitting metal. He knew he was taking this hard. Edward was too, but wasn't the one to show it so easily.
"Al…" He mutters, trying to get his brothers attention without being too harsh, "Al we need to take him to the police in town. So we gotta go," Al didn't answer right away, Ed figuring that he was trying to compose himself.
"Ok," Al finally whispers, slowly getting to his feet. He knew that he couldn't mourn this girl forever, that he'll have to move on from this. "But what about…her?"
Edward looks down at the girl's body, her eyes unsettling him. He's never really seen a dead body before. Well, one that he didn't know. He really had no idea what to do with her. Maybe she was a local? He didn't really want to break the news to anyone down there that someone they knew was dead. But, if it had to be done, it had to be done.
"I guess we take her down with us. She's probably a local and they'll give her a funeral service." Edward says, seeing a broken log down the path some and moves to it. Transmuting it into rope, he walks back over to the ex-military man and ties his hands behind his back, making sure there was no knifes in his reach.
"But…" Al trails off, making Ed look back at him in question, "I don't want to touch her…" Now this surprises Ed. But after some thought, he could justify Al's hesitance. Who would want to touch a dead body, it's kinda freaky to think about. Even if in the past Ed guilt tripped Al into doing stuff that he didn't want to do, he wouldn't on this one.
"Ok," Ed breaths, "I'll carry her." The thought of touching her wasn't a thrilling idea, but he'll do it for his brother.
"Thank you," Al sighs, clomping over to the guy that was still unconscious and slings him over his shoulder, being careful of his shoulder spikes.
Now it was Edwards turn. Looking down at the girl, he knew he had to close her eyes or else he's going to be freaked out by them the whole way down. Crouching beside her, he reaches out his hand towards her face.
There was a short popping sound that made Edwards hand stop. Then, crackling white light dances around her form, making Edward fall back on his butt and stifling a curse. Al must've dropped the man, hearing a thud from behind him
"Brother what did you do?!" Al yells at him.
"I didn't do anything!" Ed yells back, getting on his feet. The brother's watch in fascination as white light, no lightning, dances about her form. It looks a lot like alchemical sparks, Edward thinks as he tries to watch for a place where the sparks were concentrated, but found none.
"Brother…her forehead!" Al exclaims, Edward finally noticing but couldn't believe what he was seeing. That was virtually impossible cause no one even preformed an act of alchemy. They didn't do it, but someone had to. But there was no concentration of sparks anywhere except for around her body.
So how was the wound in her head closing?
That was where a cluster of sparks were, but that couldn't be where it was originating from. That would mean that it was coming from the inside of her body. Would that mean that she has an inner circle too? But he had to clap his hands together to create his inner circle, she hasn't moved. Cause ya know, SHE'S DEAD. So what was happening?
Anyway, even if her head is healed, she's still going to be dead. So what's the point?
After a moment, the sparks fade away. There was no trace of a head wound, even the blood somehow disappeared. The brothers look at each other quizzically. How are you supposed to react after seeing that? An uneasy silence fell over the brothers, who were staring at the girl.
The girl suddenly lets out a shrieking gasp, her eyes flying open. Al yelps and Ed jumps back in surprise, their heartrates reaching a million miles an hour. She continues coughing and gasping for air, the brothers quickly approaching and kneeling beside her with the same thought. How is this possible?
They saw her die, and now she has come back to life. The brothers couldn't wrap their heads around it. It was so controversial because they have attempted what they had just witness. But it didn't work. They saw the Truth and learned that people don't come back to life, EVER. That's what Edward told Rose a few days ago. But were they wrong? Was it still possible?
"Edward," Ed looks up to his brother, who he knew was giving him the look. Save it for later. He hums in response, looking down at the resurrected girl.
Her coughing had subsided into wheezes, eyes becoming restless under her eyelids as she lays there in the dirt. Al had taken upon himself to lift her head into his huge hands, making it easier for her to breathe. After a few moments, her eyes slowly open to bright green irises full of confusion.
"Hey," Al says softly to her, "Everything is going to be ok," Which Al didn't know if it was going to be true or not. His head was spinning with questions and theories of his own. But one thing he knew for certain, even not knowing how it was possible he was relieved to see her eyes open.
"I…" she wheezes, swallowing hard, "want to go home," Tears stream down her face because really, who wouldn't cry? She's been thrown into an alternate universe, died, then just came back to life. She was confused, scared and all she wanted to do was to run into her mom's arms because then she would know it was all just a bad dream. Of course, like any other fangirl, she had dreamt of coming to Amestris. Of meeting Edward and Alphonse Elric. Of going to adventures to save their world. But it wasn't all romance and funny scenarios she has read in fanfics, it was very real and very dangerous.
But Al didn't take it as Bree was thinking. She must be lost. Al concludes, seeing the whimpering girl in his hands. He could relate, wanting so many times to go back to his old house. To his mother's waiting arms that would never be again. That was home to him, and he never wants anyone to have their home ripped away from them like it was for him and his brother.
"Where's your home?" Ed asks, Bree not really recognizing who was speaking, her vision going cloudy and dark. She manages only to shake her head before everything goes black. Al starts to panic before Ed telling him she had only passed out.
"Now what do we do?" Al asks, still holding the girls head. Edward didn't really know that answer himself. He also didn't know what her shaking her head meant. Did she not hear him? Or was it an answer to his question? Either way, judging by her clothes, she didn't really scream Amestrian.
"Well…" Ed starts, standing back up. "We should take them both back down into town. I have some questions for her and we need to turn him in," Ed jabs a thumb behind him to the still unconscious man. "We'll discuss the rest on our way down."
The brothers turn the man into the police station, learning he was a deserter in the Ishvalan Civil War and that he went crazy because of all of the chaos. They were very grateful to the brothers for catching him finally and for bringing peace back into the small town but they waved off their praises, saying simply that it was their job as part of the military. The brothers decided not to mention the girl as they wanted to know more about her themselves. They hide the girl in Al's armor, getting a hotel room to wait for her to wake up.
"Now what brother?" Al asks as he closes the bedroom door, leaving it open a crack so that they could see her still. They hadn't taken off her clothes or anything, but wetting a cloth to get the most of the dirt off before tucking her in. By now, the street lamps where on to guide people through the darkness. It's been a long day for the both of them and Al knew that Ed was exhausted. Of course, Ed didn't show it.
"I was thinking that I'll ask around town about her, to see if she has any family here." Ed responds, flopping down on the couch. "But that can wait 'til morning." Al was glad to hear that his brother wasn't going to push himself, and grabs a book from Ed's suitcase.
"Ok," Al sits on the floor to read, but couldn't focus. He had so many questions flying around his head and not enough explanations. Same could be said for Ed, who appeared to be sleeping but he couldn't shut his mind off of it. Because everything they had worked for in the past, all those years of studying and failing that night, was just slammed back into their faces.
Here was this girl, who they had no idea who she was and wore strange clothes they have never seen, die and come back to life in a matter of maybe ten minutes. She had also gave them a strange look when she saw them, one that they can barely decipher but was even more confusing. So many questions that they wanted answers for at that moment, but would have to wait.
Edward was finally able to fall asleep, who knows how he will never know. But it was harder for Al who couldn't sleep. But he found that writing down his questions made the night more bearable and made time fly. Because before he knew it, the sun was poking through the curtains. He looks over to his brother to see his hand on his stomach, exposing his abdomen and snoring softly. Over the course of the night, he had reflected his life these past few years and how much has changed. But after all of that, some things will never change. And that made Al feel a little bit better.
And hour or so later, Edward wakes up with a jolt. Of course Al didn't see because he went out to buy something for breakfast which Ed was thankful for. He hated being weak around his younger brother, mostly because of his pride. But the dream he had…He could help but sit up and runs his hand down his face slowly as to whip the dream away from his memory.
Thinking about that night brings nightmares for him, especially after seeing that girl revive in front of them. His dream consisted of his mother of course, but she morphed slowly into that…that thing. After all these years, he still couldn't call it a human. Then it was moving towards him, pleading and screaming for him to save it.
Determined to forget this dream, Ed gets up to get in the shower as if the water could wash all of this away. Before he did, he peeks into the room where the girl was still asleep, the blankets all crumpled up around her.
It was a weird thought for Ed to have, but he couldn't help thinking that he couldn't wait for her to wake up. Of course, it was only so that he could finally get some answers to all his questions. But none the less he groans, thinking how creepy and weird the thought was as he steps into the bathroom. Maybe the hot water would clear his head.
(Bree's P.O.V)
Two people were hunched over, starting at me. One was a woman, with soft brown eyes and auburn hair in a messy side braid. She smiles fondly down at me, reaching down to touch my face. The other one was a man with short brown hair and blue eyes. For some reason, I knew that usually his face was hard set, but here his eyes had a twinkle in them as he looked over to the woman.
They must be married, I thought. But why are they looking at me like that? Who are they? This is a really weird dream… It is a dream, right?
Two small hands appear in my line of vision, but where they came from had to be from me. Was I a baby? As if to prove my point, the woman took a hold of the hand which now I could tell was defiantly mine, and coos down at me. Out of my mouth came a gurgled laugh that confirmed that I was in fact an infant. Why the heck am I a baby? Who are these people? I've never seen them in my life and I know for a fact that they are not my parents.
But as quick as this dream appeared, it fades away like an old photograph. For some reason, I didn't want it to end. I want it to stay for a moment longer and I could feel a tear sliding down my cheek. What is wrong with me?! I didn't know these people, why am I so emotional? I was left in utter darkness, the only thing I could see was my hands outstretched. This was getting too weird.
Something cold slides down my spine, caressing each vertebrae. Spinning around quickly, I find that wisp of a person. I've seen it before, though I couldn't remember for the life of me. We stare at each other, or at least I think it was looking at me, for some time. Then slowly, something emerges from where its mouth would be, to see a Cheshire cat smile.
I wake up kinda in a frenzy, throwing blankets away from me and trying to sit up right. A small headache pushes at the back of my head and an exasperated sigh escapes my lips. It was dark, suggesting it was sometime in the night. The curtains were drawn at the window, but soft light came from the cracked door to my left.
Squinting and trying to focus through my groggy mind, I make out a small lamp and a couch in the other room but couldn't see anyone using it. My headache was starting to become something fierce and what do I do? I fall back to sleep cuddling the blankets for warmth. This time, I don't have any confusing dreams or anything. But the confusing part comes when I wake up to the sound of the shower running.
I'm not a morning person, it's really hard for me to actually get out of bed. But when someone wakes me up, I'm even more irritable. But once I look around the room, irritability becomes a soft spoken fear. Where am I? This isn't my room. I could feel the springs of the mattress and scratchy blankets. Cream walls, a small night stand next to the bed, and a door I suspect lead to a closet on right with the curtain drawn window too. There was another door on my left that was cracked open for me to see a back of a couch.
Again, where am I? I have half the mind to get up to see what was in the other room and to maybe find out what was going on. But I didn't notice the shower turned off some time ago and hear the door opening close to my bedroom.
Fear squeezes my chest as I think of way to avoid conflict. I pretend to fall back to sleep, hoping the person getting out didn't notice me. I didn't dare face the door as I tried to steady my breathing. In all honesty, I was freaking out. Waking up in a strange bedroom and hearing someone come out of the shower reminded me a little too much of the movie 13 Going On 30.
There was defiantly someone looking at me, you just get this feeling on the back of your neck. I couldn't help but hold my breath and crush my eyes shut, praying for the person to leave. Now, if he/she came into the room I didn't know what to do. But one step at a time.
They mutter something, still not knowing if it was male or female, but heard another door close none the less. I wait a few moments longer, just to make sure they weren't coming back. I let out a huge breath that I couldn't hold any longer, quickly throwing the blankets off to see thankfully that I had my same clothes on.
But how did I get here? I remember being completely lost in the forest after seeing truth, which I have become accustomed to thinking about and not freaking out. Hours later I saw the town and met that psycho, Ben something-or-another. But how did I get out of that predicament? Seems like I've been retelling myself what has happened to me now a days, and I'm not liking it. I sit there for a few more minutes trying to paint a canvas that has been bleached white.
Maybe there's a clue or something to tell me what the heck is going on. Jumping off, I creep to the door and put my eye to the crack. Couch, lamp, and a small kitchen off the left. To the right was the bathroom door that was open and a suitcase with a book next to it. I walk around to the door, to see if there might be a peep hole or something to look outside. No such luck, but when I turn around I was speechless. Because there, lying on the couch was a coat. A coat that I've seen many times on the TV screen.
It was Edward Elrics signature red coat. Briskly, I touch it just to see if it was real. The fabric was stiff on the outside, but softer on the inside. The hem and sleeves were slightly frayed with use, and to be honest it didn't smell too good either. Flashes of Edward fight Ben with Al run through my mind, finally remembering what happened last night. Or I think it was last night. Edward and Alphonse Elric saved my life.
I couldn't help my plop down on the couch with the new discovery, not really believing what I was seeing. Ok, let's be rational here. There's no way a TV series could suddenly become reality, especially to a viewer like myself. This story was made up in a room where Hiromu Arakawa with a pencil and paper. There's no way she was drawing about a REAL world.
Maybe I just need to stop thinking about it so hard. Because there's only one way to find out if this is real or not. I gotta see if Alphonse was empty because if he was, how else were you to explain it other than this being real? So that person in the shower had to been Edward Elric, which I had claimed him as my fictional boyfriend before finding out that this world exists. Which, by the way, he's never going to find out.
And at that moment, my stomach decided to sound like a dying whale.
"Oh shut up," I glare down at it, walking over to the small kitchen. Opening pantries and cupboards didn't help me in my search for food and I let out a frustrated sigh. I mean, I could just leave in theory. But that wouldn't really get me anywhere. I didn't have any money to buy anything.
Looking out the large window that took up most of the wall in the kitchen, I see a flurry of activity in the street below. Some people have stalls lining the street selling their merchandise, there was even a flower stall on the other side of the street. I must be one the second floor, cause I could also see that this small little town was surrounded by mountains. It was a beautiful day outside that I couldn't help but smile at it for a few minutes without thinking about anything.
I look back over to the book by the suitcase, not being able to read the cover from this far away and saunter over to it. I've always been fond of books, my parents read to me religiously every night when I was really young. Books had always been my escape and something to ease my mind during troubled times. So I guess seeing a book in a confusing situation such as this gave me solace.
Gently picking up the red leather bound book, the cover read Alchemy: Rosicrucian Digest. Curious, I open up to a random page. Most of the pages corners have been folded over in time and have been starting to yellow. This makes my heart throb, seeing someone carelessly handling their book. To me it's a sin to mark your place with a downward corner, showing that you have no respect for the writings inside. Maybe I'm a little dramatic, but books are so precious to me that I can't help it. I don't even let people borrow my books, and yes I admit I'm a little stingy.
I skim over the pages, not really seeing anything interesting. Just a bunch of formulas, explanations, and instructions. It almost reminded me of a chemistry book. I decided to read the first few paragraphs on the first page, one section catching my eye and I was lost to the world for a few minutes.
"Whatever the cause or whatever its effects may be, a tremendous responsibility is connected with it. He who has read about the lives of the Alchemists has found that most often many years had to elapse before their goal was reached. Many had to await another incarnation before they proved themselves worthy and ready to receive it. But, if all doubts are put aside and if a firm Belief has grown into a strong Faith, then that quickening moment that produces knowledge will eventually help one to come to 'Understand', to 'Realize' the oneness of the universe, the secret behind Creation and the unfolding of cosmic consciousness."
It was like the author was giving a motivational speech about not getting discouraged if you don't succeed for a while. But what I found interesting was that the words Faith and Belief were capitalized in context. In the TV show, which was really my only knowledge of Alchemy, they don't really believe in those concepts because I guess it's too religious for them. They were guys of scientific fact, and even Edward told Rose in the first episode of the whole stinking series that they don't believe in God. So for me, it was interesting that this author almost highlighted these words in a scientific book.
A large hand grasp my shoulder, startling me so much I let out a airy scream and spin around to whack the person. My hand hits something made out of metal and a loud bang echoes in the room followed by a series of small clatters. A slight pain erupts on my hand, making me wince a little bit. Realizing I had closed my eyes, I open them to see a headless Alphonse Elric with his head on the floor.
"Um, hello"
