Protect Me

Written by: Luna

Chapter 13 – Where Are You?

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!

"Hey Kane." Sid said, looking over at the man from where he sat. "Go deal with that kid again. It's been a while, hasn't it?" He questioned, glancing calmly down at his fingernails. "I think it's been long enough. Just remember not to kill him."

Kane smirked and got up from the couch against the other wall, passing Kyle on the way to the door.

"That kid's too much trouble if you ask me." Kyle brought up, leaning back in his chair. "I mean, after all you've done to him, he still puts up a fight, even if it's a weak one." I don't know if he will be able to stand much more. He acts tough, but he is getting weaker by the day."

"I don't care." Sid responded. "As long as he's still alive when Fullmetal gets here."

Kane had stopped by the door and was listening to the conversation. "And what if the boy isn't able to find us? I mean, this isn't the easiest place to get to."

"Oh, he'll make it here." Sid looked up. "He's already on his way to Golden Vale, he'll figure it out from there. I've had men posted in the areas nearby, so I know what he's been up to." He chuckled, amused. "He's been going almost non-stop looking for me, and is only now getting warm. There is no way he will miss this chance."

Kane shrugged and left the room, heading in the direction they were keeping Alphonse.

Winry looked up from her slumped position as she saw Kane pass by her doorway, not even glancing in her direction.

Thankfully, they had finally taken the gag from her mouth, but she refrained from screaming since whenever she did, Kyle would pay her a visit to remind her to stay quiet.

Her eyes widened with her sudden realization. Oh no! She thought to herself frantically. He must be going to Al again!

She was already torn to shreds on the inside from overhearing him scream on a daily basis and she didn't think she could stand much more. Winry had wondered more than once why they didn't beat her the same way and she had yet to figure it out. She squeezed her eyes shut. To her this was its own kind of torture. Winry was left alone for the most part. She just sat there, tied up to the wall behind her, able to hear all that went on outside her room she was kept in.

Please hang in there, Al. She pleaded to herself as her eyes watered.

It had already been a week at the least since they had been brought here, but to her, it seemed like a lot longer.

Kane came to a stop in front of Alphonse's room and stared inside, his arms folded to his chest.

Al was sleeping in a way that looked very uncomfortable, but it was the best he was able to do.

The man walked over to the boy slowly and then after a moment of watching him, kicked him with his foot in the side.

Al immediately came awake in response to the kick, coughing in an attempt to regain his lost breath. He grunted and tried to sit up a bit straighter as he raised his head to look up at the man looming over him. He didn't know what Kane had in store for him this time, but he tried to prepare himself for the worst. He always did.

His eyes flinched as he heard a flick and then saw the light reflect off of something in Kane's hand.

Kane was holding a large switchblade.

Al's breath caught in his throat as Kane moved closer, the knife firmly gripped in his right hand.

There was no more space left between wall and Al's back, but he tried to move back nevertheless.

"What's the matter, boy? Afraid of me?" Kane chuckled.

Al let out a growl under his breath. "Stay away from me you bastard!"

The man only smirked at Al's response and bent down so he was eye to eye with him.

"Why squirm, runt?" He said as he flipped the knife open and closed carelessly. "It's going to happen either way and there's nothing you can do about it."

Al's eyes kept going back and forth from Kane to the knife. He didn't like the way he was playing mind games with him.

"Perhaps if you're a good boy we won't have to hurt your little friend in the other room. How about we call it a favor, hm?"

"You leave Winry alone, you hear me? My brother will come for us and then your little games will be over! You just wait!" Al narrowed his eyes and growled. He didn't have much strength left, but he would be damned if he gave up without a fight.

Kane let out a gruff laugh and flipped the knife open one last time, bringing it in front of him. "We're counting on that, kid."

Al's eyes widened at his words right before Kane brought the knife down to his left leg and ran the blade down the front, bringing blood to the surface immediately.

Alphonse closed his eyes tight and hissed through his teeth at the pain. The cut hadn't been deep enough to be fatal, but it hurt like hell.

Kane didn't give him time to think too much about it as he did the same to his other leg, causing blood to run down to his shoe.

"Ah! Stop it! Enough!" Al yelled.

Kane looked him in the eyes and smirked again, a smirk that Al was just about to get sick of seeing. "What are you going to do about it?" He asked mockingly as he raised the knife up to Al's right arm, which was tied up.

Al saw the blade coming and, without hesitation, swung his head over to Kane's arm, that was now beside him, and bit him as hard as he could.

Kane grunted, bringing his arm back and then growled. He shifted his eyes to look at the teeth marks that were now showing his own blood.

Alphonse glared at the man, but was now asking himself a thousand times over what was going to happen now.

Kane spoke in a low, dangerous voice. "You'll pay for that…" His fierce eyes met Al's. "…you BRAT!" He raised the knife over his head and swung it forward above Al's head.

Al could only watch as everything happened at once. He thought Kane was going to kill him, but within the next second he let out a deafening scream as he felt the knife being driven though both of his hands and into the wall behind him.

Winry heard Al's screams as they echoed off the walls. Without thinking of the possible consequences, she cried out his name in a desperate sob, yanking forward on her chains. "AL! AL! NO!"

She didn't know what had happened to him, but she could only imagine.

Kane stood up from his position, looking down at the squirming boy, who was still screaming from the pain, and glanced towards the doorway. He still didn't know why Sid had agreed to un-gag the girl, but she got on his nerves when she got into one of her crying fits.

Alphonse bit down hard on his lip to stop screaming, his eyes shut tightly, fresh tears running down his face. He kept his eyes closed and heard Kane leave the room. Once it was quiet again, Al tried to move his hands, but stopped quickly at the horrible feeling of the blade sliding through them. He writhed and shook his head from side to side, letting out a helpless sob. After a while, he opened his eyes slowly and stared blankly at the bare wall in front of him, his head slumped over against his arm. He could feel the blood from his hands running down his arms and into his hair. Brother. Where are you?