I still apologize that the last chapter was so short! I'll make this one longer, I promise! Please review.
IIIII
None of the sins were careful in the taking care of Al or Elisia. The two were thrown into the bathroom. With the door locked there was no way to get out. There wasn't so much as a window. Besides, what would they do if the door was unlocked? Al didn't have any arms to fight with. He might be able to punch them straight in the face if they stood still but that would be about it with these stumps.
Al sat between the sink and the bathtub and could only hope that Edward would come save him. He didn't like to be the one being saved. He hated it. Not knowing if Ed would be able to get there at all, if they would hurt him, if he was even healthy enough to stand up. When he saw his brother laying in the bed he didn't look like he was about to get up and walk anytime soon. So what were the chances they would be okay? Al could only hope. It's all he could do.
Elisia sat in Al's lap, holding onto his big metal waist. "It'll be okay," Elisia said.
Oh, great, I've got a four year old reassuring me. Now I know things are bad, Al thought.
"I know they will be. Brother will come and save us," Al said. Though, his voice wasn't as reassuring. "I'm sure of it. He has to. He wouldn't just let us rot here."
"Of course he wouldn't!" Elisia encouraged. "And daddy will come too! He'll help us!"
"Uhh...I'm not so sure," Al said more to himself. He immediately saw Elisia's hope go straight down hill and being smashed by his careless words. "W-W-Wait! I didn't mean that! Just that Hughes wouldn't be a match for them! Oh, wait, I shouldn't...um...Elisia...j-just-er-"
"It's alright. You're probably right. S-She did stab daddy..." Elisia wiped some tears out of her eyes. With a small smile she said "But atleast I have you."
"Yeah..." sighed Al. But I'm not so sure that's a good thing...
IIIII
"Ed..." Gracia sat beside his bed. She looked behind her to see that no one was coming inside of the room.
The woman knew that this situation was desperate. Edward might get some hidden strength flowing through his veins if he knew the situation. All she wanted was her daughter back. And Ed was the only one who could save her daughter.
"Ed, it's Gracia. I don't know if you can hear me but I hope that you can," she said softly. Reaching towards his relaxed face, she wiped his bangs out of his eyes. "We tried our best. But it wasn't enough. Al was kidnapped and so was Elisia. This black haired woman, small man, Albino woman, and boy were so harsh on us too."
From within his mind, Edward listened. He jumped up when he heard Al and Elisia were kidnapped. What! How could he let this happen? And why couldn't he move his real body!
"Keep going!" Ed said.
"They said that...that if we sent anybody besides you that they would kill Elisia," Gracia said with fear in her voice. "A-And...I don't...I don't want that to happen..." She buried her face into her hands as she sobbed "Please Ed...wake up! We need you more then ever! They just took her and Al without warning!"
It has to be Lust, Envy, and Gluttony. And that white haired woman. Cahts. Damn them all, Ed cursed in his mind. He sat down and forced himself to calm down. There was no use in getting angry. I can't do anything anyway. Getting angry would be pointless. I think all I can do is rest and wait until I can wake up. Then I'll do something alright and it won't be pretty.
Gracia's sobs rang through his mind. He covered his ears but they only got louder.
"Stop crying! I want to help, I really do, but I can't do anything! Stop it!" Edward shouted at no one. He just wanted the crying to stop so badly.
IIIII
"What in the world are you doing?" asked Envy, annoyed. He looked at Cahts who had came into the room with a couple of bags of various things. "I thought you went out just to get your lunch, not a whole slew of things. What did you get?"
"It's really none of your business," Cahts replied.
"None of my business? We hired you-"
"Correction. Miss Lust hired me. Not you. I don't have to do anything you say," Cahts flopped down onto the couch next to a very ticked off Envy. "You really like having everything in your control, don't you?"
"Oh, shutup."
"What did you go out for?" Lust asked. The woman was standing next to the window. She looked out onto the streets with a disgusted look on her face.
Cahts began to pull various things out of the bags. "A coloring book, some crayons, a jug of orange juice, some apples, banana's, pears, peaches, instant-curry, and many cups of instant ramen. I hope you don't mind that I got all of these things."
"What's with all of the healthy crap?" Envy asked. He picked up a pear, took a bite, then spat it out. "Yuck. Humans think this is delicious?"
"I didn't know what that girl liked so I got a bunch of things. Besides, pears are good. You just have to have a good sense of taste," she glared at Envy.
Lust had an angered look on her face. "And why in the world did you get things for that brat? She's a prisoner. We aren't babysitting."
"We can't let her starve."
"Yes we can," Envy said.
"If we let her starve, you idiot, we can't even use her as a defense if the Military decides to send someone."
"I doubt that her father will. I mean, his love and caring nature for the brat will get in the way. I can't see why he likes the kid. I mean, all she does is whine," Envy rolled his eyes. He looked over at Lust who was still angered by the fact Edward would be out for six days. "I warned you to question everything, Lust, or things would screw up."
"I don't need you reminding me," Lust replied, hatefully.
"No need to get all mad at me. Get mad at this two-bit alchemist who is buying things for a little girl who is supposed to be our prisoner! Did you buy something for Little Elric too, like some wax to keep up his shiny appearance?"
Cahts only stuck her nose up in the air as she headed towards the kitchen to make some curry for herself and Elisia.
"I hate that woman," hissed Envy.
"I don't particularly like her either but she promised to make a Philosophers stone for us. When we get enough red water and enough people she promised to do it. So keep your mouth shut or she'll run off!"
"Look, I want to be human just as much as you, but I'm not going to pick up every little alchemist I see."
Lust was silence once again. The only noise that echoed throughout the room was Gluttony making hissing noises for no particular reason.
IIIII
The bathroom door opened and Elisia immediately hid behind Al. Al looked up to see Cahts, holding a plate with curry on it, a sliced up apple, and a cup of orange juice in one hand and then a small bag in the other hand. She set them down on the floor and shut the door. Al wasn't sure what she was doing but he didn't think she was going to hurt them. Was she trying to help them?
"Look, I may have been hired to kidnap you and hurt that other Elric boy, so I'm not going to help you. But I'm not completely heartless," Cahts defended herself, seeing the scared look on Elisia's face. "It's dinner for the girl. I brought a coloring book and some crayons for her to play with."
"Why are you helping us?" Al asked.
"I'm not helping you," she spat. "Damn Elric."
"What do you have against us? What did Ed and I ever do to you!"
"Edward Elric became my enemy the moment he joined Roy Mustang. That man ruined my life! I'm telling you that he's a no-good idiot who is only out for himself. You should tell your brother that. Oh. Wait. Guess it'll be to late."
"So, you'll help Elisia?" Al asked, his voice getting a curious tone.
Elisia slowly came out from behind Al. She was hungry...she sat down in front of the tray and picked up the apple. She seemed to inspect it for a moment, all the while looking up at Cahts, just to see if she was going to hurt her or anything.
"I didn't poison it," Cahts said bluntly. "And, yes, I'd help her. Why?"
Elisia bit into it and gave a smile to Al to as to say that everything was okay.
"Would you help her out of here?"
"Ha! You ask to much of me. If I went against Miss Lust, I'd be snapped in two and my head would be on a stick. I think they're getting annoyed with me. They were pissed that I helped little princess here."
"I just thought I would ask. Because this shouldn't involve kids."
"But..." Cahts raised an eyebrow "You're a kid, aren't ya'?"
"Sort of."
"I suggest you get far away from your brother after this. If he survives, that is. With these guys after him, there's no telling who'll they'll go after. Just a bit of advice."
Cahts turned her back on the two when she felt someone tug on her shorts. Turning around, she saw that innocent smile of a four year old. She bent down to her level, asking "What is it?"
"I don't want it."
"What are you talking about?"
"I don't want this. If you're going to not like them, I don't like you, meanie face!" the small girl crossed her arms. "Daddy always said that you don't trust meanie face's."
"Elisia. Don't be stubborn," warned Al. "If she doesn't feed you and it takes brother a couple of days to get here then you could be-"
"Dead, little girl. D. E. A. D," finished Cahts. Her eyes turned from caring to dead cold. She grabbed Elisia by the front of her shirt and threw her roughly into Al's arms (er, stumps?) "You had a friend but I guess you've lost it. Little boy, you should really teach her some manners, otherwise she'll die. Miss Lust doesn't intend to keep her around for long if Edward doesn't hurry."
"W-What are you talking about?" Al asked nervously.
"She plans to send the girl in pieces in two days if Edward doesn't get over here, which is pretty bad for her because he isn't supposed to wake up for six days," Cahts turned back around. She exited the bathroom with a, "Toodles", leaving Al to wonder why Elisia just had to get her father's mouth.
IIIII
Edward felt his head getting heavy again. As if he were getting dizzy, or something. Putting his back against an icy wall for support seemed like a good idea at the time but it only made his head hurt worse.
Alright...cold and headache's don't mix... he thought groggily as he tried to keep stepping forward. I have to stay awake. If I fall asleep...I'll just have another nightmare. I don't want to have another one. I...I have to... he found his feet getting heavier and heavier to carry so he stopped ...It's not fair.
He fell onto his back with a loud thump. He could feel pain surge through his back but he was just to tired to do anything about it. Edward put a hand over his eyes, trying to think of something else besides being the hero for once. If he didn't get there in time it would be his fault if Elisia and Al were dead. Edward tried to keep himself awake by pinching his arm but that wasn't working.
Alright. There's only one other way to stay awake and that's a whole crap load of pain. Does my side still hurt? Edward patted his bullet wound and groaned as it stung. Y-Yep. Now I just have to aggravate it enough that I don't fall asleep. Desperate sounding but I have to do it. I won't be victim to those two idiots again! I don't think I would be able to handle it.
All he had was a wall. Running in the opposite direction, and with all of the strength he had left, Edward began running towards the wall. He knew this was going to hurt. Bad. But maybe this would get him to wake up?
He jumped and forced his hurt side out. It collided with the brick wall, scraping his skin, making his wound throb and open even more then before. Edward fell to the ground and rolled around on the ground, trying to keep his cries of pain on the inside. He couldn't do it.
IIIII
Gracia jumped back as Edward cried out in pain. "Edward! Edward! What's wrong?" asked Gracia. The boy started shaking furiously. "I-I don't know what to do!"
Hughes opened the door and asked quickly "What happened to Ed?"
"Sweetie, you should be laying down..." Gracia began but Hughes wouldn't hear of it. He kneeled at the beside of Edward with a look of deep concern on his face.
Edward groaned in the bed, sweat all over his body, tangled up in the sheets as his body tried to get comfortable. Hughes grabbed Edward's pale hand in a desperate attempt to get his attention but Edward wasn't there. Hughes could tell. He would have atleast reacted. All he kept doing was moaning in serious pain.
"Edward, I don't know what to do," Hughes said softly. He rubbed the boys cold hand for he was trying to get some warmth in it. "I-It's my fault that Al is gone. I should have protected him better. I don't know if you can hear me or not Edward but I just want to apologize."
Edward could hear him. But he couldn't reply. His outer body gasped for air. He tried so desperately to reply. Only a few words came out.
"Not...your...don't blame...yourself..." he muttered.
Hughes was just as shocked as his wife was. He said, shaking Edward's hand now in an attempt to bring him back "Come on Edward! Fight this! I don't know what you did to bring yourself back but you did!"
"Please, Ed!" Gracia added.
IIIII
Edward realized what he had done. By putting himself in extreme pain his outer body did it too. The pain was transferred into both places. It stimulated both minds. If he could just pain himself enough then he would wake up. He just wished that there was another way. And with Gracia and Hughes cheering him on, Edward used his alchemy to make a spike on his metal forearm.
This is going to hurt like hell...just hope it'll be enough to wake me up! Edward raised his arm. Alright. 1...2...3...and go!
He jabbed that sharp end into his upper leg. Edward swung his head back in pain.
It's for Al...Elisia...I have to save them...if I don't, nobody else will... he thought as he struggled with the pain. I won't be tricked again! I won't be stuck here! I won't let Lust or Envy or Gluttony control my thoughts! Just as I won't let them hurt my few friends and what little family I've got left!
He opened his eyes and could feel someone holding his hand. Looking down, he saw that his mind did reflect what happened on the inside. The gash he had made had came out of nowhere to Gracia and Hughes.
Edward grasped onto Hughes hand, "S-So...you gonna' help me or just stare?"
IIIII
Yay. Ed's awake! Won't be long now until stuff will happen. I'm not saying what will happen but...stuff will happen.
'All the memories I have are beautiful in my mind,
But they don't feed the hunger deep inside my soul' - Freckles, Rurouni Kenshin opening