Back on track with Chapter 7! Through this whole story I've been trying post each chapter with 1.5 spacing, but for some freaky

reason, it only keeps the spacing in every other chapter o0 Well, I hope this one keeps the spacing, because I find it much easier

to read that way! (Maybe I'll try double spaced) Well, here it goes. . .

Ed gawked at the passage door, which had, in some mysterious way, closed on its own. He was crouched on hands and knees

under the closed door, with the others lined in a row behind him. "Well? What's going on up there!" Hughes yelled, bringing up

the rear.

"The door shut all by itself!" Ed yelled back. "Don't worry though, I'll get it open!"

Ed composed a confident smirk, as he crouched into a stance, ready to lash off the door. "Just one push and this piece of junk

will fly right open!" With a grunt and pushoff, he sprang from his feet, and rammed into the solid wood door, making a distinct

'THUD' that echoed down the tunnel. The others watching winced as Ed fell back down, rubbing his shoulder. Wiping a bead of

sweat from his forehead, he took his stance again. "Okay, so this antique is slightly stronger than I estimated. Big deal!" He

leaped up, ramming the door again, and again preceding to fail. "Dammit! Why can't I-" He cut off as Riza pushed passed him.

"Edward," she said dully, motioning to a locked latch on the door handle. Ed gave an annoyed look, crossing his arms. "I knew

that."

"Sure you did," Riza sighed sarcastically, unlocking the trap door.

"I did!" he protested. "I was just, um, just testing you!"

One by one, everyone in the passage climbed out safely, all still curious about the door. "It's one thing for it shut on its own, but

lock itself, too!" Hughes ranted. "That's just plain ol' crazy! One of us had to have done it. SOMEONE among us isn't

trustworthy!" "But who?" Al asked.

All eyes shifted to Ed.

"What! You think I did it! I'M THE ONE WHO FOUND IT!" Ed folded his arms in denial. "And besides, what possible motive

would I have!"

Hughes scratched his chin, cleverly. "Well, you tried to scare us with that story, Edward. How do we know this wasn't just a

trick to scare us even more!"

A vein bulge appeared on Ed's forehead. "Fine, I tried to scare with a story, as a joke. Big deal! But I wouldn't go as far as

locking the door, then pretending I didn't know how to open it!"

Hughes smirked, doubtfully. "Alright, Edward, if that is your real name, where were you this past hour?"

"Hughes, you idiot, I was with you! I HAVEN'T LEFT YOUR SIGHT ALL NIGHT!"

Hughes rubbed the back of his head. "Huh, I guess you're right. My bad! Well, that rules out you as a suspect! But what about. .

.Roy!"

Everyone looked over to Roy in suspicion.

"I was unconscious, Hughes," he replied, getting annoyed.

"Oh, okay then. Well, it couldn't have been Al, because he was with Ed and I the whole time. But, there's still one person."

Hughes made a gesture towards Riza.

"Riza was with an unconscious Roy, Riza was separated from us, and Riza knew how to unlock the door!"

"Hughes, I wouldn't pull off desperate trick like that, because I don't care about scaring any of us."

"Good point." Hughes agreed. "I can't picture you stooping that low anyway."

"But with all your accusing," Riza went on. "How do we know it wasn't you, Hughes?"

Hughes face went pale. "Aw man! I never even considered myself as a suspect! But it's the perfect crime! Oh, I'm a shameful

father figure. What would Alicia think if she knew daddy was deceiving his friends? But why-"

"Hughes! Pull yourself together!" Ed yelled. "You're taking this way too seriously."

"Yeah, calm down," Roy said, laying a hand on Hughes shoulder. "If no one's fessing up, than the door probably did just lock

itself . . . somehow. Well, just forget, let's head back to our rooms, and try and wait the night out."

The group agreed. It was getting late, and all the running around the mansion had tried them out. They treaded back to the

hallway towards their rooms fed up with heir little ghost hunt.

"Well, this is where we leave you," Al said, stopping in front of his and Riza's room. "G'night everyone!" he chimed, as Riza

opened the door.

"Good night," they muttered in unison. "I am so beat!" Ed complained, stretching his back.

"Yeah, rough night," Hughes agreed. "That lock still bothers me though."

Ed gave him a concerned look "Hey, it's nothing to worry about. C'mon, don't lose any sleep over it!"

"Actually, with all his sleep talking and snoring, maybe it's best if he did," Roy uttered, yawning.

Hughes glared over at Roy as they approached the door. "I don't snore that loud!"

"Ha! Yeah right! You snore so loud, I kept waking up thinking there was a freight train in our room!" Roy teased.

"Roy, you weren't even in the room half the night!"

"Just relax, Hughes! I'm only messing with you!"

"Ed was there! I so do not snore, right Ed?"

Ed stalled. "Um, you? Snoring? Well, uh, you- Oh! I'll get the door!" he stammered opening their bedroom door. "I call a bed

this time!" Hughes announced, jumping onto Roy's bed.

Meanwhile, Al and Riza were getting ready for bed. Riza was fluffing her pillow, while Al tried to fit onto couch again. "So, is

there no ghost, Riza?" Al asked, fitting onto the cushions.

"Well, I journeyed through the whole mansion and I didn't see anything," she replied. "In fact, the only time I even thought I might

have seen the ghost, it was just Roy."

"Wow, that sure is a relief," Al said smugly. "But I still get the feeling that we're not alone here." Riza climbed into the bed, and

shifted under the layers of covers. "What makes you say that?" she asked.

Al looked up the ceiling, unsure of it himself. "I don't really know. I guess what with the lock on the door, the humming we heard,

it just gives off a creepy vibe, you know?"

Riza gave him a softened look. "Well don't worry about it. Like I said before, I covered this whole estate and saw nothing."

Nodding in agreement, Al laid his head down ready to finally get some sleep.

While Riza and Al decided to doze off, Ed sat atop his bed, chatting with Roy and Hughes. "What time is, Mustang?" Ed asked,

as Roy lay on the floor.

"About 30 minutes after midnight."

"Wow, time sure ain't flying by," Hughes commented, as he sat cross-legged on Roy's bed.

Suddenly, they heard a hallow thump come from outside the door. "What was that?" Ed asked, standing up.

"Watch it Fullmetal, you're stepping on my only covers," Mustang argued, shooting a look over at Hughes, who was now making

himself comfortable in Mustang's bed.

"What was that look for?" Hughes asked, pulling layers of blankets over his legs.

Mustang rolled his eyes, as Ed walked the other side of the room. "What's up, Ed?" Hughes asked.

"Sssshhh," Ed hissed, putting his ear to the door. "I heard something hit the door."

Hughes look down at Mustang who shrugged. But sure enough, as they sat in silence, they heard the thump again. Ed backed up,

ready open the door, when he felt a hand grab his shoulder that made him flinch. He turned around to see Hughes, pushing his

glasses up. "Let me check it out," Hughes offered, pulling out his pointed razors from the cuff of his jacket. Ed eyes opened wide

in surprise, but softened as he stepped back to let Hughes by. "Don't worry, I won't be long," he chimed, giving a wink.

Hughes skipped through the threshold, humming as the door creaked shut behind him. After he left, Ed looked over at Mustang

who had now reclaimed his bed and was celebrating. "Finally! My bed! It's all mine!" Ed's eye twitched as Mustang jumped

across his bed, dancing with his musty, grey pillow. "I mean, I know these beds are old, but anything beats sleeping on the floor!

And now I got it back!"

"Don't get too smug Mustang, he said he wouldn't be long," Ed reminded him, smirking. Ed had liked seeing Mustang on the

floor. In a way it made him feel superior, for once. "Silly chibi, if you're so confident he'll come back, why don't you sleep on the

floor," Mustang pestered.

Ed's face flushed blood red with anger. "CHIBI! WHO ARE YOU CALLING A

SUPER-SMALL-SPECK-OF-DUST-THAT'S-SO-SMALL-IT-CAN-BE-BLOWN-AWAY-WITH-A-SINGLE-GUST-OF-WIND!"

Mustang back up, as his face took on a confused look. "Um, I never said that."

But it was too late, as Ed had already tackled Mustang, causing the two to roll across the floor. They both gritted their teeth, and

continued to try and rip each others head off.

Meanwhile, Hughes skipped down the dark hallways, inspecting the thud that Ed heard. "This is so ridiculous," he said to himself.

"Honestly, I feel like I'm babysitting these guys. Even Alicia is more mature, especially for her age!" His face went smug, as he

pulled out a photo of his blonde pig-tailed toddler in a pink lacey dress. "Oh, I can't believe how fast my wittle Alicia is growing

up! Infact, I bet she could Ed and Roy a nice lesson in manners!" He smiled wide hugging his picture, as he continued down the

corridor. "Yup, there's nothing here," he stated, inspecting the hallway. "I guess I'll just head back to-AH!" he gasped as he fell

to the ground, dropping his photo of Alicia. He grunted, reaching for his picture. "Something's got me!" he thought to himself, as

he struggled to break free. He looked behind him, and yelled as he got pulled into the darkness. His clutch on the carpet was

useless, as the last of him was pulled away, unable to be seen, as his picture of Alicia laid face up on the floor of the corridor.

END! What will become of Hughes! Will Ed and Roy stop fighting and save him! Find out in Chapter 8! COMING SOON! (dum dum dum!)