Listless
Chapter 3; In What Has Come to Pass
Bane; "Here's how it works; bold in a full sentence means that it's a thought.
Everything's in Italics 'cause it's a flash back.
One bold word means that is has emphasis.
Anyway...This chapter is even more tearfully angsty than the last. So, it's at your desgression..."
"Al?"
The word rang within the empty room, rebounding off nothing but blank walls and eery blue light. Beads of cold sweat ran sparingly down his tank-topped form, telling of the hours he had spent that night, preparing for an event that had to be flawless.
His inquiry was retorted by a slight whimper—the kind only heard in utter silence. Worry gripped him with adreneline-fueled digits.
Nothing can have gone wrong…he reasoned, still unsure.
But when his bare feet were moistened with a swelling pool of dark fluid, he knew something was wrong. Panic swept him, and quick strodes brought him towards the center of the floor, where Alphonse had disappeared in a bright show of dazzling blue reflections.
He neared the light uncautiously, hating himself for ever having thought he could perform this.
"AL! Can you hear me! AL!"
His voice came out in cracked gasps, as though he were fighting the tears. As though he were fighting off the sinking pit at the bottom of his stomach.
Abruptly, from the source, a hand shot out,gripping his leg firmly. The agony began as the cold, surreal fingers burned flesh away from beneath. Skin blistered, scorching away with nothing but a parting fume of bitter metallic.
Blindly, he pulled away from the fist, wrenching himself from its grasp. Simaltaneously, the light faded, and a blood-drenched boy was revealed.
No he begged, It was perfect—it can't have…
Relief hit him as he viewed the crumpled, naked form. It was human. His knees drenched from the crimson, Edward kneeled beside his sibling.
"Al?"
The boy who lay curled in somethin like a ball let forth a groan, as though recovering from a recent aggrivation. Ed turned Alphonse over, trying to catch glimpse of his face…
…Amber found contact with two eyes, which were glazed over. He had been so sure that it had worked… So sure…
No spirit recoiled within those green, listless optics. He was a souless shell. A being capable of only breathing… no thoughts… no wants… just…a few sodden memories the creature would never comprehend. He was lifeless.
Edward uttered a gasp, and rose to his feet. He stepped backwards, but lost his footing in the murky pool of claret. The prodigy fell backwards, colliding harshly with the wooden floor. A splash of blood occurred, soaking him with the red he had brought from his sibling. Scooting backward, Edward round the wall, where he hung his head. A sob escaped him involuntarily.
A warm recognition enveloped Alphonse. His world was a confusing array of black and white. But flashes of images—memories he no longer recognized… except for the boy in the corner… Something at the back of his impudent mind told him he knew such a brother. …Brother… Without really understanding, nor truly knowing what it meant, or why he felt so compelled to do so, Alphonse spoke in rasped whispers.
"B-B…rotherr..."
Wracking with sobs now, Edward looked up at the source of the voice, at the gaze of confusion that the blood-stained creature returned. And he couldn't help but let out a long, agonizingly pained scream that darkened the area. The sound was blinding, but it didn't matter. Not another soul could hear him.
A; 0.0 "I wanna' cry."
Bane; "Good. That was the desired effect. Now, I thought I could write angst before this…but WHOA! This is like Angst Palooza. I'd continue and all, but I figure I might kill you all if I do anymore gritty scenage…But, seeing as I didn't kill you, make a hungry authoress happy? Hit that non-blood-stained button that says 'Submit a Review'! "
A; "By the way, 4 reviews must be placed for chapter 3 in order to earn the next chappy. Sorry, but Bane's feeling a little... unloved..."