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Chapter 6 - Laiba's Revelation

Twelve Years Ago

"Can you stop snoring," Roy nudged Hughes. The Flame Alchemist clenched his gloved fists as he tried to get into a more comfortable position upon the train seat. However, he found himself sliding down the seat. "We could have gotten into the compartments with the beds," Roy yawned.

Maes sighed, "We don't want to take that chance even if some compartments are reserved for military. They'll ask to see copies of our orders."

"Yeah." Roy sighed as he failed to turn over on the train seat, "What I wouldn't give for my own bed?"

In a few hours, the train pulled up to the station in Roy's village. Hughes nudged Roy and together they both walked off the train. Roy looked over at Hughes, "I need you to keep a secret for me."

Hughes narrowed his eyes, "What are you getting me into, Mustang?"

"Nothing illegal." Private Mustang sighed, "I did tell you that someone was missing. But, I didn't tell you who."

"Okay," Hughes tried to keep up with Roy, "who?"

Roy took his left glove off and Hughes' eyes widened. Hughes exclaimed, "I didn't think that someone like you could be mar -"

"Not yet."

"Engaged?" Hughes made his statement come out as more of a question. It gave Roy the impression that Hughes was in doubt of the situation that they were entering.

"Is that a compliment," a small smile crept upon Roy Mustang's features.

"No offense." Hughes added in, "But, how did you manage it?"

"Easy." Roy coolly walked ahead, "I asked her."

"It can't be that easy," Hughes shook his head.

"It is," Roy stated and halted when they reached a familiar grove off trees. "The candlelight is still flickering in that window."

"Do you know this place," Hughes sent Mustang a suspicious side-glance.

"That's her home," Roy monotonously responded as he moved closer towards the window. "But, it is strange for candlelight to be on at this time. It's nearly midnight." The Flame Alchemist paused as he stared at the inferno burning the wick; sending candle wax dripping onto the window ledge. "They're all asleep. They've got to be. They couldn't have let this just happen." Roy watched the candle dripping upon the window ledge, "She's not irresponsible. She wouldn't leave a candle burning."

Hughes nonchalantly added in, "Unless it's her way of sending us a clue. Could it be that she knew that you would come? And, if she knew that you were coming, wouldn't she want to leave the candle on to show that something is wrong?"

Roy exchanged a look with Hughes. Hughes paused for a moment, for, he knew that his comrade had much on his mind. For awhile, no words were spoken and soon, Roy moved on and walked towards the front door. "It's open," Roy mumbled to himself.

Hughes conveyed the expression of a concerned friend as he stepped into the humble cottage. "Look anywhere," Roy turned around; determination written over his features. "Look anywhere for some kind of clue so that we may be able to locate her. You take the bottom half of house and I'll take the top. It'll be easier that way. We can cover more ground."

"You mean," Hughes took in a deep breath, "we have to split up?"

"Yeah." Roy walked up the stairs without looking back, for, if he had looked back then he would have seen the look of fear that had consumed Hughes' features.

Once Private Mustang was out of sight, Hughes stood in the living room. His mind was torn between running out the door and staying to look for a clue. Hughes looked back and forth between the door and what seemed to be a library. There was a soft light exuding from behind the door, for, it was ajar.

With curiosity, Hughes walked towards the door and held the doorknob in his shaking hand, "Eighteen is too young to die." Hughes sighed as he shook his fist in the air, "This is going on your conscience, Mustang."

Hughes opened the door fully and his eyes widened at what lived in that very room. Quickly, he shut the door with a loud slam and he swiftly turned around only to face an elderly gentleman. The man had bone-white hair that was thinning out in patches. His nervous eyes made Hughes uneasy. His voice had a creaky sound to it, "Who are you?"

"I - erm ..." Hughes bolted towards the stairs and shouted, "Mustang!"

At the mention of the word Mustang, the man clenched his fists, "Who are you?"

"Can't you tell," Hughes pointed towards his military uniform.

"What do you want from me?"

"Nothing," Hughes paused. "Listen, who are you?"

"Who am I?" The man clenched his weathered jaw, "You come into my house and ask me who I am?"

"Wait, your house," Hughes commented and turned towards the stairs, "Mustang!"

"Mustang," the elderly gentleman scoffed. "You mean, Roy?"

"Huh?" Hughes peered at the man, "You know him?"

"He is my daughters' fiancé."

"Well, what are you doing at home?" Hughes paused, "Why aren't you looking for her?"

"You ask far too many questions." Doctor Grey advanced towards Hughes and clenched his fists again as though he were ready to fight.

"I'm sorry." Hughes shook his head, "I'm not supposed to fight civilians unless they pose a threat."

"What do you think I am," Doctor Grey advanced further and side-kicked Hughes in the stomach. Hughes doubled over in pain and grasped his stomach. "Mustang," Hughes shouted, "are you going to come down?"

"He will not come down." Mr. Grey rasped, "He cannot come down."

Hughes pushed Mr. Grey away and ran up the stairs. "Mustang?"

"Sssh." Roy furiously motioned for Hughes to remain quiet. Roy was crouching down upon the floor; his ear pressed against a large French door. Roy whispered from the side of his mouth, "The Collective Coalition is in there."

"Collective what?"

"The Collective Coalition are crazed alchemists. They do not work for the state nor do they work for anyone. It is merely a selfish cause. They wish to collectively gather humans to perform the largest human transmutation in history."

"How did you find all this out," Hughes whispered back.

"I read her diary."

"You're in trouble."

"No, she is." Roy's brow furrowed, "She's kept all of this from me. It seemed as though she never wanted me to know."

"It could be that she was just trying to protect you," Hughes shrugged.

"I don't need protection. She knows that," Roy whispered back.

Hughes tilted his head to the side, "What else did you find out?"

"Her father is not what he seems." Roy shook his head, "She wrote in her last entry that Doctor Grey's behavior has become stranger during the past year."

"Yes." Hughes shuddered, "I had a talk with him downstairs."

"He's home," Roy raised his eyebrows up. "Obviously, if they are in his home -"

"Then he has something to do with the Collective Coalition," Hughes finished Roy's sentence.

The vertical lines between Roy's eyebrows showed as he thought about what Laiba must be going through at this moment. Hughes seemed to have noticed how tense his friend had become and whispered, "Don't worry, Mustang. I'm sure she's fine."

- - -

Later on ...

They had dragged her into an abandoned factory and had locked the door with chains and a padlock. The building was so cold and damp that she shivered. There was no warmth inside the workshop. Once in awhile, the oddest sounds reverberated through the walls of the place that made her cower in fear. However, she quickly reminded herself that the building was old and was aging.

"That crinkling sound is the chains aging." Laiba looked up at three rusty chains that hung from the ceiling.

The door to the factory opened and the members of the Collective Coalition strolled inside. Gabe sent Laiba a worried glance that caught her off guard. It seemed as though he did not wish this to happen. Amaya walked towards Laiba and smiled, "It's rather painless. I've been told that those who go through with the procedure gain access to the gate." Amaya smiled, "Imagine, all of us having the time of our lives beyond the gate."

Laiba shook her head, "It is not that simple."

Amaya narrowed her eyes, "Why not?"

"There are rules to follow." Laiba paused, for, she did not know much about alchemy aside from what Roy had discussed with her. "Rules like this are made to be followed; not broken."

"That is what we do," a voice replied from behind Amaya.

It was that voice again. It was the voice that Laiba knew very well. However, why was that person here?

"Father," Laiba asked.

Doctor Grey moved away and nodded, "Yes."

"What are you doing here?" Laiba shook her head in confusion. "These people are bad. You shouldn't be here."

Doctor Grey smiled, "This is my organization."

Laiba's eyes widened in shock, "Where is mother?"

"She is safe." Doctor Grey added in, "She is staying with Mrs. Mustang."

"Is Mrs. Mustang safe?"

"They will be fine if you cooperate," Amaya smirked.

"Why did you start this group?"

"The Collective Coalition aids me in my research." Doctor Grey shook his head, "However, I never meant for them to take you. Nor did I advise Amaya to perform experiments that would render you ill and weak. However, I believe Amaya preferred it that way, for, she had always been jealous of you."

Amaya cast a rude look in Doctor Grey's direction. Amaya added in, "You were just in the way."

"In the way of what," Laiba snapped.

"They will not answer this," Gabe replied monotonously. "Some of us have blindly entered this group; thinking that we were doing good for mankind."

Amaya sighed and ignored Gabe's comment. "Listen, you were just in the way."

Laiba looked down in confusion and then it dawned on her. They did not want her. She looked back at them; her eyes burning with rage. "I get it." Laiba clenched her jaw, "I'm not the one that all of you want. I'm the bait."

There was silence in the room.

"You want Roy." Laiba paused, "You want to understand why he is the Flame Alchemist. Do you not understand that to perform an experiment upon a member of the military is heresy?"

"There are some people that say alchemy is heresy." Amaya stated, "Some of those people are in the military. However, the military still uses alchemy even when some of their members believe it to be doctrinal divergence." Amaya concluded, "So, in a way, isn't Roy the military's experiment too?"

Laiba shook her head, "I would rather have him in the military than become an experiment of the Collective Coalition."

"So be it," Amaya sneered as she advanced towards Laiba. However, Doctor Grey stood in the way. "Remember," Doctor Grey rasped, "I told you not to hurt her."

"You seem to be quite protective of a person that means nothing to you," Amaya scoffed. "Paper and research mean more to you than people. So, what is one more life worth to you?"

"One more life?" Laiba asked, "How many have you done this to?"

"About a dozen." Amaya nonchalantly added in, "Of course, those experiments failed."

Amaya turned back towards Doctor Grey, "I repeat, what is one more life worth to you?"

There was silence in the room.

Amaya turned towards Laiba, "Laiba, today is not a very good day for you."

Laiba sent Amaya a look, "Tell me something that I don't already know."

The factory door swung open in a large clamor. Amaya, who had opened her mouth to speak, turned towards the door only to find the rest of the Collective Coalition that had been stationed at Laiba's home.

"We have found what you have been looking for."

"Good," Amaya smiled evilly.

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