Protect Me

Written by: Luna

Chapter 11 – Release

Disclaimer – I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist, yet any new characters that I have created to fit the story are mine, and part of Protect Me. Thank you!

Alphonse immediately became tense as he saw Sid storm into his room. He flinched as he tried to move away, his back a mass of pain from the previous abuse. Al began to whimper as the man came in front of him and glared down with unfeeling eyes.

"Cry all you want to. It won't do you any good." Sid spat as he brought his leg back and then swung it with force into Al's side.

Al shut his eyes against the pain and let out a small sob. He was sure he just felt one or two of his ribs crack. Without the use of his arms, he was unable to defend himself at all.

"Shut up! I don't want to hear your whining, brat!" He was in a bad mood.

Al attempted to hold back his cries as Sid continued to kick him, hoping that the less sound he made, the sooner Sid would stop and leave him alone. He suddenly felt blood rush into his mouth and turned his head, coughing it onto the floor. Sid then landed a hard punch to Al's jaw, causing blood to trail from his mouth.

Sid straightened back up. He stared down at Alphonse, crossing his arms. That had helped him vent some of his anger, and watching the boy cringe and draw up, as best he could, generated no emotion within him at all.

"Lucky for you, boy, that I want to keep you alive for now." Sid spoke in his low voice and then abruptly turned to leave the room, leaving Al to fight the burning pain within his body. His breaths came in short gasps and he clenched his teeth, not wanting to yell out.

Al pulled on the chains once more, weakly, but they only rattled in response. Was this really the way he was going to die? Being slowly beaten to death? He tried to keep faith that his brother would find them and save them from this hellhole, but he didn't even know where he was, so how would Ed know? Al dropped his head and his shoulders began to shake as he quietly released the tears he had been holding back.

Kyle was lying on his back on a ragged couch that had been brought down into the underground cave, his arms fold behind his head. He wasn't really interested in the beatings that occurred to the boy every day, but the girl was on his mind frequently. How he would love to get his hands on her. He kept his thoughts to himself, though, producing a dreamy grin on his face, which then changed to a smirk. He decided to pay her a visit.

Winry's first reaction, when she saw the slender, red-haired man walk into her room, was one of fear. She began struggling against her chains and moaned protests as she tried to scoot back from his approaching figure.

"Hey there, girly." Kyle spoke softly as he bent over, supporting his weight with his right hand on the wall behind her. "I bet you would like me to take that gag out, wouldn't you?"

Winry paused in her motions and stared at him with wide eyes. She didn't like the way he was talking to her.

"But then I know you would scream when I touched you, so sorry babe, ain't gonna happen."

Kane had gone into a nearby town to get some more food and other supplies they needed and he had seen Sid go by and leave the cave in a silent rage. Kyle wasn't about to go after him and he really didn't care why he was leaving or where he was going so he had just settled back on the couch in the silence.

So he knew he was alone with this girl that had been plaguing his thoughts ever since they had captured them. He moved his left hand to slide it along her cheek slowly and lightly, and then continued to move it over along her shoulder.

Winry was starting to get very scared and tried to get him away but turning back and forth, letting out a suppressed cry.

This didn't sway the man at all. In fact, it only seemed to encourage him as he slipped his hand down her chest. He lingered there, his hand resting on her breast, and squeezed it slightly. A chuckle escaped his throat at the sound of Winry's muffled cries growing more frantic. He continued running his hand down her side to her hip, and then the length of her leg. When he reached the end of her pink sundress, he smirked wickedly and began to lift it higher up her thigh.

No! No! No! Get away from me! Winry screamed in her mind, her voice being stifled by the gag. She shut her eyes tight and turned her head away from him, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her body was tense with fear from Kyle's vile touch.

Just as she began to fear the worst, the molestation abruptly stopped. She slowly opened her eyes to see Sid standing behind Kyle with a firm hand on his shoulder and an angry frown on his face.

"Don't touch the girl when I'm not here, understand?" Sid spoke quietly in a dangerous tone.

Kyle stood up from his bending position and turned to face the man before him with a temper of his own. "Why's that? You just want her for yourself?" He spat and glared with his sharp green eyes.

"No, but I do not want her to be touched that way. Leave her alone, Kyle." Sid said as he held his ground against the stare.

Without another word, Kyle turned and stormed out of the room, muttering curses under his breath.

Sid stayed where he was, facing Winry on the floor. He stared at her for a while, which began to make her uneasy. She didn't exactly know what to make of him.

"You remind me of her…my sister." He whispered. "She was just a little older than you."

Winry's eyes widened slightly. She couldn't believe he had said something personal like that to her. He had a sister? She wondered what had happened to her for him to be speaking about her in the past tense. Winry had also noted the sad look in his eyes when he spoke about her.

He stood there a little while longer and then turned to leave, not saying anything else.

Edward got off the train after the long journey to the town of Rush Valley, carrying his suitcase over his shoulder. He was on his fifth day of searching and he had yet to come up with anything useful. It was hard to keep his hopes up about being able to locate Sid's hideout.

Ed showed the picture he carried of the younger Sid from his file and gave a current description. People recognized him, but no one had seen him for a while.

What was odd, Ed thought, was that everyone he had met that knew him talked about how great a man he was and very thoughtful and kind he had been. He wondered if they were thinking of a different person, maybe mistaking the younger man for someone else, but they were sure of their memories.

What could have changed him so much? Ed wondered. He knew he was from Liore, but just losing your home wouldn't bring about such a transformation, would it? No, he knew there had to be more to the story.

Edward spent the rest of the day walking around the busy town and stopping to ask as many people as he could.

"Yeah, kid, I know young Sid there." An old man said, sitting at a bar, pointing at the picture Ed was holding out. "He helped me with some construction I had been working on a while back."

Ed perked up a bit. "Really? Do you know where he would be now?"

The man scratched his head and thought for a bit. "Actually, I haven't seen him in about two years or so."

"Oh. I see." Ed lowered his head in disappointment and sighed. "Well, thank you for your time, sir." He got up from his spot slowly to stand. Ed must have looked worn and tired because the man gave him an apologetic look and spoke. "I'm sorry, kid. I don't know why you look so eager to find Sid there, but if I see him around, I'll be sure to let him know you're looking for him."

The young alchemist gave a strained smile since he didn't think Sid would just waltz right into a town like this.

"Thanks, Pops. Take care." He waved politely as he walked away.

Ed went over to a bench to sit down and rest a bit, pulling out his pocket notebook afterwards. He opened it to his marked page and scratched off Rush Valley. Ed closed it with a slap and shoved it back into his inside pocket. He let his head fall into his hands as he sat, leaned over on his legs. He had to stay calm and remain focused. There had to be answers out there somewhere, and he was determined to find them. They couldn't hide from the whole world.

After a short time, Edward stood back up and left to find a hotel for the night. He knew he couldn't go much longer without a full night's sleep.

He came to a decent place not too expensive and walked in, stepping up to the check-in counter.

"One room, sir?" A middle-aged man asked, standing behind the counter.

"Yeah. One room for one night, please." He replied with another tired sigh, sliding the money across the table.

The man took the money and handed him the key. "Have a good night, sir."

"Thanks." Ed said with a half-hearted wave.

He went up the stairs and found his room number that matched the one on the key.

Ed let himself in and tossed his suitcase on the bed. He wanted nothing more than to fall onto the bed himself, but he knew he needed to take a shower first. Hopefully, a hot shower would relieve some of his tension.

He opened his suitcase and removed the necessary bathroom supplies to take with him and retreated into the room, shutting the door behind him.

After turning the water on hot and undressing, he stepped in and immediately felt more relaxed. There was still the back of his mind thinking about his brother and Winry, but for now his body released its stress.

It was a little while later that Ed stepped out of the bathroom followed by a thick cloud of steam.

"Ugh. That's better." He muttered as he collapsed onto the bed, resting his head on the pillow. His damp hair draped over his shoulder and clung to his forehead. He had dropped the towel on the floor and lay there in nothing but his boxer shorts.

Before he knew it, he was fast asleep.