Chapter Six, Inhuman Malice, Attempted Escape

Deep ruby eyes, gazed intently as so many people were dying before them. The young girl watched, as blood was shed endlessly, and screams of horror hit her ears. The entire village was destroyed, and all for the sake of a young man's need, and determination of getting her back. Her baclk, navy hair blew in the wind, as she sat quietly watching on a hilltop. One building after another, crumbling at his will.

"His motivation is his hatered. For everyone.", she spoke softly to herself, "He blames them all for my death before. How very tragic indeed. But who am I to begin with? He said I was his sister, once upon a time."

"Malice. Are you ready to leave?", a young man's voice came from behind her.

"Yes. I hate waiting you know. You said it wouldn't take long."

"I know. But I needed all of their lives. It can't be finished without them.", he replied.

"Why? Why do you want me back so badly? I was dead wasn't I? So what am I now? Answer me!", her childish anger flared at the young man.

"You'll see soon enough. You're not human, but I can change that."

"Not human. So what am I?", she asked again.

"Lets go. There's still much to be done. I have to find the Ishbalan man. He has something I need."

Walking away without answering her question, His short, reddish brown hair flowed in the breeze. Long bangs covered his blue, green eyes. Malice didn't understand what he meant, or why he was trying to bring her back. All she knew was that he had found her, alone, and seemed to know who she was. Or at least who she used to be. As she followed him, the image of flames surrounding a child, identical to herself, passed through her head. "Was that... a memory?"

--On the train--

Sarah was laughing, as Al told her some of the stories of their travels, and their childhood. They told her about Resembool, and Winry, who was a good friend, as well as Ed's automail mechanic. She liked hearing about them, and enjoyed the stories very much. She even told them more of her own childhood, though she hadn't travelled as much as them. Ed laughed at the memories as well, and flared up in defence, when Al would tell something that envoled him getting into trouble. The train ride was long, and it would take about a day or so, to get to the northern village where they were headed. So passing the time with stories and playing cards was all they could really do. Of course every game they played, Ed had won, and Sarah finally declaired that he had been cheating the whole time.

Eliza sat listening, glancing back at them from time to time. She wasn't interested in playing any card games, but she did listen a little to Al and Sarah's stories. It made her think. Her thought's trailed off, and she soon fell asleep.

Ed had enough of playing cards for the time, considering Sarah was catching on to his his winning streak, and decided to watch the trees go by outside. time had passed very quickly it seemed, and darkness had already fallen. Sarah had gotten hungry, so she went to the dining car to find somehing to eat. Ed had already raided the dining car earlier, and was regretting eating so much. His stomache felt like someone hit him ten times with an iron fist, and then some. Al sat across from him, staring out the window as well.

"So what do you think we'll find when we get there?", Al began the conversation.

"Who knows. Hopfully something worth while so we can get this stupid thing over with."

"You think it's the same place Sarah's parents were?", he turned to look at Ed.

"I'm hoping its not, for her sake. But something tells me thats where we're headed.", Ed frowned.

Al looked across the aile where Eliza was sitting, fast asleep. She was lying on her side, legs pulled in close to her, and using her arm as a pillow. Al couldn't help but wonder about her. Whatever her reasons for doing what she did, he still felt she wasn't a bad person. She was just misunderstood, like many others they had met before.

"She looks so peaceful, doesn't she brother?"

"Huh?" Ed had been staring into nowhere.

"She seems like she's been through a lot, but I know she's not bad. She's got her reasons, just like us."

"Hmm, maybe. But still, she was snooping on military ground. That's reason enough for keeping an eye on her, even if I'm the one stuck with the job.", Ed gritted his teeth as he said the last bit.

"Come on Ed, she didn't mean what she said earlier. I'm sure she just wasn't thinking when she said it.", Al knew what his brother was referring to.

"Well maybe she should start thinking before she says stuff.", he glared at the sleeping girl across from them.

"You're one to talk brother. You say stuff without thinking all the time.", Al thought as he sighed to himself. Ed stared for a minute or two, his thoughts focused on the, "Hey short stuff", coment that Eliza had made earlier that day. She might not have meant anything by it, but it meant something to him. He was still glaring at her, when Sarah returned from her snack quest.

"Hey guys, I'm back.", she smiled, holding several edible items in her arms.

"Welcome back Sarah.", Al replied.

"What took you so long?", Ed asked, turning to face her.

"Well, they had lots to pick from, so I just grabbed a bunch and figured I'd bring it with me. You guys want any?", she held out a bag of sunflower seeds to Ed.

"No thanks. I'm still recovering from the meal I had.", looking at the food made his stomache hurt even more.

"Al? How about you?", she turned to look at him, not knowing his secret.

"No thank you. I'm not really hungry.", waving his hands nervously in front of him.

"Oh. Okay then, more for me and Eliza.", she smiled, and turned to their other travel companion, but frowned when she saw her sleeping.

"Aww, I can't eat all this myself.", she whined.

"Just put it away for later or something. We should be getting some sleep too anyway.", Ed told her.

Sarah nodded, and stuffed most of the snacks into her travel bag. Sitting down next to Al once again, she ate a few cookies and some peanuts, then decided that was enough. She looked at Ed, and Al curiously. They had told her a lot about them now, but there was just something that didn't add up. Like why Al wore that big suit of armour, and what happened to make them decide to join the military. She couldn't understand what they were hiding, but she figured she wouldn't bother asking. They must have reasons for not telling her. Eliza on the other hand, was just as strange. She refused to even say a word, the whole time they were on the train. Sarah wondered just what could make anyone that bitter. She could tell Eliza wasn't a cruel person, or anything along those lines, but she couldn't understand why she acted so hateful, and rude. "Kinda like Zander before all this mess.". Sarah shrugged off the thought, and decided to try and get some rest.

"Well I'm going to catch some shut eye. Or at least try to.", she smiled at the boys.

"All right. We'll wake you if anything happens.", Al said.

Nodding her head again, Sarah leaned against the side of the car, and slowly dosed off. Al looked at her, then at his brother. Ed was also tired, from the uneventful day. He wanted nothing more right now, then to get back to looking for the Philosopher's stone. But that would have to wait untill this was over. Glancing back at the additional assignment, who was still sleeping peacfully. Ed reminded himself to give Mustang a good kick in the ass when they got back, before he finally dosed off himself.

--Elsewhere--

Three figures sat in the dark, discussing amongst themselves the issue of a certain red stone, and what seemed to be a new threat to their desires. A tall dark haired woman, a round and odd looking man, and another with rather booshy looking hair.

"Well what should we do then? The boy's gone off on another tangent, and it's starting to piss me off.", the wild haired figure spoke.

"Patience Envy. It just means we'll have to wait a bit longer."

"I'm sick of all this waiting. And what about that other one? We can't just let him run around unchecked."

"Ooo, can I eat him? Please Lust can I?", the short round one pleaded desperatley.

"I'm not too worried about him yet. At the least he gives the military a distraction for the time.", the woman answered.

"Fine, just so long as he doesn't interfear. What about the little one travelling with him though?"

"You mean the one like us? Homonculus or not, she's none of our concern. Those two are nothing but a small bump in the road.", she grinned evilly with her reply.

"You'd better be right Lust. Or it'll be a problem for us all.", returning her grin.

--Back on the train--

Eliza opened her eyes slowly. It was still dark out, which meant she had only been sleeping for a couple of hours. She sat up and stretched her arms, looking over at the others across from her. Ed and Sarah were both asleep, and Al seemed to be just staring into nowhere. This was a perfect opportunity for her to leave them behind. She got up quietly, and made her way to the back of the train.

Alphonse had been off in a daze, but quickly noticed something wasn't right. Looking over where Eliza had been, he got up from his seat, and woke Ed.

"Brother, brother wake up."

"Wha? What is it Al?", came the half muttered response.

"It's Eliza, she's gone."

"What!", Ed shot to attention, "Where?"

"I don't know, I wasn't paying attention. She must have left while you and Sarah were sleeping."

"Oh this is just great. Come on Al, we'd better find her."

"What about Sarah?"

Al looked at her. Somehow she was still sleeping, even after Ed had shouted. Getting up from his seat, Edward scratched his head and sighed.

"Well It's not like we have to keep an eye on her. She just happened to be heading the same way.", came his answer.

"I guess so."

"C'mon Al, knowing that annoying bratt, she's probably trying to get away."

"You don't think she'd try to get off while it's still moving do you?"

"Who knows, but I wouldn't be surprised. Let's head to the baggage cars. Chances are that's where she'd go."

They headed for the back cars, making their way as quickly as possible through the ailes of the train. Sarah was still sleeping peacfully, completely oblivious to what was happening.

Eliza shuffled through all the luggage, pushing her way to the end of the last car. She had realized she would have to jump from the platform, but that never stopped her before. It certainly wasn't the first time she'd run away from something, and it probably wouldn't be the last either. Jumping from a fast moving object was easy enough for her. She opened the door, and stood on the platform. The wind from the train's movement was strong, but she only grinned as she stared at the tracks underneath her.

Ed and Al finally reached the last car, and they were hurrying through, checking any place they figured she could be hiding. Ed dreaded the thought of returning to Central, and explaining to Mustang that they had been sleeping, and she snuck away. He could hear the Colonel's voice in his head, taunting him for another failure.

"Come on Al! She's gotta be here somewhere!"

"We checked everywhere else. This is the last car."

"Not everywhere.", Ed looked at the door, "I'll bet she either jumped already, or is going to."

Edward grabbed the handle on the door and turned it. The door swung open, startling both boys, and the girl on the other side. Eliza cursed, and moved aside, out of their view. She was lucky they hadn't seen her just yet. Still hoping to get away, she found the ladder on the side of the car, and quickly climbed it. She waited, and watched as Ed and Al stepped out on the platform. She didn't dare jump from this height, especially at the velocity the train was travelling at. Instead, she sat clinging to the top of the car, hoping they would think she already jumped. To her dissapointment, they didn't give in.

"Dammit! I was sure she'd be out here!", Ed shouted.

"Brother, look.", Al ponited to the ladder on the side of the car.

"Well what do we have here?", Edward grinned, and took hold of one of the steps.

"Think she's up there?", Al asked.

"Only one way to find out.", he started to climb up.

Just as Ed reached the top, a foot came crashing into his face, nearly knocking him right off the train. Struggling to regain his hold on the ladder, Ed's head was spinning from the hit.

"OWW!"

"Brother! Are you okay?"

Al moved forward to help Ed, but was sent into the railing of the platform with another foot to his face. Jumping down from the roof, and getting her balance from the force of the wind, Eliza ran back inside, shutting and locking the door behind her.

"Dammit. A lot of good this'll do me. I'm back where I started.(sigh) Those two just won't quit."

Looking around for any place to hide within thirty seconds, Eliza decided it was useless to try and run. At least while she was still on the train anyway. She would just have to wait it out for now. She stood calmly beside the door and unlocked it, waiting for Edward to come crashing through in a fit of rage. Sure enough, that's exactly what he did. Stressmarks on his forehead, and a footprint planted on his face, Ed looked around, ready to blow up as soon as he found her.

"Where the hell is she! She's really gonna get it now!", Ed was furious.

"Ahem. I'm right here."

"Wha?"

Al stood in front of the door, and Eliza stood beside him. Eyes closed, she had a smirk on her face, that almost looked appologetic. Al just stared at his brother, shrugging his shoulder's at the scene.

"What the... Why the Hell?", Ed was now rather confused.

"I give up, you win this time. There's no point to continue, I've got nowhere to run.", she looked up at him.

"Well that was stupid. I just got smashed in the face, by your foot, for absolutley no reason!", Ed yelled.

"Yeah, pretty much."

"WHY YOU!"

"Brother..."

Ed was ready to tear her apart, but Al held him back. Eliza couldn't help snickering to herself. It had been stupid, but it was kind of fun. They still had another day to go on the train, so any form of excitement, was good enough for her. This had been quite the chase, and at least she wasn't bored anymore.

The three headed back to their seats. Ed was exausted from the whole event, not to mention he now had a sore face. Sarah hadn't moved an inch since they left, and was still sleeping when they got back. Al sat down next to her, and Ed flopped in the seat across from them. Why did he always get stuck with some crazy girl who won't listen? Putting his feet up, he fell asleep in no time at all, not caring if Eliza ran off again. Taking her seat, Eliza yawned a little as she stretched out. She would have to try again, when they got off the train, but for now, she was stuck with them.