First and foremost, shout to my best friend/ heart sister Lashonda for her parts of Nicole's character! I luv ya! She's at stackeasy56 and dolphinlover56! Check her stories out!
Shout out to Roxy for her adds in this chapter as well. I would also like to point out Roxy's personal touches in Chapters 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, All of the Metal to Metal, Heart to Heart parts 18 - 22, 23, 28, 29, 30, 36 and 40.
Let me start by saying this. When I first started rewriting this story, myself and Roxy came to a mutual verbal agreement that she wanted me to take full credit for every chapter that was written and released. I am going against her wishes and giving her credit where her credit is due. I am doing this not out of shame or to feel accepted but out of respect. I love you, Roxy. You deserve to be mentioned especially if you spent god knows how many hours you stayed up at night with me to write some of these chapters just to make sure that were perfect to the T. (And had many missed spelling errors later on that we found, LOL!)
This chapter is inspired by Krista's song called "Ashes Of Pain" off of her debut studio album called "Taking Back Brooklyn."
Sorry for the wait! Enjoy!
Alchemist Chronicles
Chapter 40 - Ashes of Pain
A few minutes after the train that is taking them to Central takes off.
Ed yells. "OW!" As she smacks him on the back of his head with her hand.
Winry yells, glaring at him. "You told me that you were only gonna stay in Central!" Glaring back at her. "That's what I was lead on to believe. You know I don't have control over everything, woman!"
Winry huffs angerly and turns her head to the side. Ed rolls his eyes at her and turns to his brother.
Ed - "So Al?" Al looks at him. "Any plans yet on what you wanna do? Ling still has-"
Al cuts him off. "I know. ...But I don't know what I wanna do yet." He sighs, slouching, looking back out the window.
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Opening the door to his office, he sees her asleep on the sofa.
Jean looks up from his paperwork and tells him. "Found her leaning against the top step, asleep. Probably didn't get much sleep last night."
Roy sighs. "Thank you, Captain." Walking over to his desk, he gets started on his paperwork almost immediately.
A few hours later, she wakes up. Sitting up and rubbing her eyes. She looks up and sees a plate of food sitting on the table in front of her with a note attached to it.
AJ smiles as she reads the note.
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One by one they return to the office, noticing her disappearance. Each one of them takes to their seats. Roy notices a note on his desk. He reads it, smiling afterward
The door to his office then opens up. Janine walks in, closing it behind herself. She walks over and hands him a folder and tells him as well. "First, thanks for letting me snooze and not reporting me." She whispers to him. He smiles and nods. She turns to Jean and thanks him as well.
Turning back to Roy, she tells him. "Ok. So apparently while we in Xing. Hakuro made several requested transfers while The Fuhrer was away but was immediately denied by Armstrong herself once she got wind of it."
Roy - "Do you know who?" AJ looks away slightly with a grin. "Maybe I do. Maybe I don't." Roy grins back. "Buuut. because I was politely left a plate of food for lunch. ...I guess. In other words." She continues as she walks around the desk and then whispers it in his ear.
As she's walking away and standing back in front of his desk, she quietly tells him. "You didn't hear it from me of course."
Roy nods his head and smirks. "So what now?" He asks. "A callback maybe. Don't think those ivory blankets up North would want the two in the same spot. You know, unannounced and all." Roy chuckles a bit. "You do understand how entertaining it will be to watch, though?" He grins again.
She makes a stern expression at him. "Do tempt me not to say anything." "Then don't." He replies quickly. AJ then shrug her shoulders, smirks, and heads for the door. Before she closes the door behind herself, she tells him. "Sorry for getting you the folder later than planned, General." "Apology accepted, Sargent." She nods her head, smiles, and leaves. The sound of a 'click' happens when the door closes behind her.
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As the train is just one stop from Central, Ed tells Winry.
"So Janine doesn't know about what happened to Roy on The Promised Day." She looks at him surprised. Winry asks. "Why hasn't anyone told her about it?"
Al - "She only wants Roy to tell her." "So why hasn't he told her anything?" Winry replies.
Ed puts his hands behind his head, shrugging his shoulders as well. "Who knows."
Al - "Maybe he's waiting for the right moment. Or maybe he's protec-" Winry interrupts him. "He sounds like a complete jerk if you ask me."
Ed beams happily. "Thank You! Someone else finally sees it other than me!" Al makes a stern expression towards his brother. Ed then puts one elbow on his knee and the same hand underneath his chin. "The only thing that is troubling me is. Central Command is pretty big, so who's not to say that she hasn't heard anything yet? Not to mention and only if she hasn't heard anything from her travels?" Al and Winry look at him with a concerned expression.
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Walking off of the train in Central, heading for their next train. A soldier spots Ed and stops him.
Saluting the Major, he tells him. "The Fuhrer wants to see you before your trip to the north, Major. He says its important and urgent." The three of them look at each other with worry.
Making it to the Fuhrer's office a short time later, Grumman says from the other side of the door. "Come in, Fullmetal." Ed takes a deep breath before he enters.
Closing the door behind himself, Ed salutes to Grumman once he stands in front of the Fuhrer.
Exchanging good mornings, Ed sits on the sofa across from Grumman. "You are probably wondering why you are here?" Ed nods his head. "Are you aware of the situations that have recently resurfaced in Table City?"
Ed tells him what both Al and Pinako told him. Grumman replies. "I see." Taking a breath, he then asks Edward. "I have both a request and an important question to ask you." Ed nods his head.
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Alex Louis Armstrong walks out of the elevator and heads straight for both Winry and Al, who are waiting down at the entrance for Ed.
Bowing himself respectfully first, he then escorts them to the Fuhrer's office.
Opening the doors, they immediately take their seats next to Ed.
The Fuhrer then excuses himself, leaving them in the room.
Winry quietly asks Ed as soon as the door closes. "Ed? What's going on?" Patting her hand gently, he tells her. "I'll tell ya in a bit."
A few minutes go by and the Fuhrer re-enters with Alex and Janine. She drops a few folders on his desks and Alex holds the door open for her as she is carrying a new batch of files, quickly leaving the room soon afterward.
Getting right to the point, He asks Edward. "So have you decided yet?" Ed nods his head and grins. "Only the best, Mr. Grumman... right?" The both of them smirk at each other, leaving Al and Winry confused.
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Walking out the office, Ed kisses Winry on the cheek and tells her and Al to wait for him downstairs since he has to take care of something. She smiles and nods.
Waiting down in front, inside. Winry, who is already annoyed with Ed recent constancy distancing.
'She's gonna beat him to a pulp.' Al tells himself as he looks at her quickly before looking away in a different direction to avoid her wrath.
With a raised eyebrow, she turns to Al. Before she says anything, Al tells her. "Nothing. Not even a peep." Groaning in annoyance, she looks at the elevator, waiting for Ed to exit out it eventually.
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As Ed is leaving the Fuhrer's office, he spots Fuery. Waving him down, Ed asks him. "I thought you were heading up North?" Kain replies. "The Fuhrer apparently had a change of plans last minute so some other poor guy took my place instead." The both of them share a laugh.
Ed then asks him. "By the way. How would you like to help me with something?" Kain raises an eyebrow at Ed.
Ed then runs over to the Information and Accounting Department, quickly grabbing Janine and pulling her outside of the room.
AJ - "Hey! What the-" He shushes her, quietly telling her. "I need you to follow me to the Fuhrer's office. I'll explain everything when we get there." She nods her head and they start walking.
Making it to the Fuhrer's office, letting her in first. Ed quickly closes the door behind them.
Standing in front of them, on the side of the Fuhrer's desk, he faces them, explaining. "There's an issue that has rebounded itself in Table City. I-" Grumman interrupts him. "I gave Fullmetal the option of continuing North or to inspect Table City as his final military duty. He has already mentioned his answer."
Ed looks at Grumman. "You may continue, Fullmetal." Looking back at Janine and Kain, he continues. "Right. As I was saying. With that going on, I am allowed a team. A small group. I am choosing the both of you."
"Why?" AJ quickly blunts out. Ed, Kain, and Grumman all look at her, surprised. "Because of Janine. Since you are Native. I notice a similarity between The Milotians attire and the one you wore on your arrival to Xing. They're Natives as well, correct?"
AJ nods her head yes. "So have you met any of them yet?" She nods her head no.
Turning to Kain, he tells him. "Since you are way better at communications than I ever could be, that is why I need you." Kain smiles. "Of course, buddy." Ed thanks him.
Grumman - "All three of you are leaving today. I would suggest Sargent Rambo and 2nd Lieutenant Fuery pack up once you leave here... Edward." Ed turns to the Fuhrer. "I would suggest that your wife and brother go back to Resembool or Rush Valley. It will be too dangerous for them in the worst case scenario."
Ed - "Al can handle himself but you are right. I don't want either of them to get hurt." Grumman nods his head.
Walking into the elevator, Ed sighs sadly as the doors close behind him. Kain and AJ are staring at Ed with concern.
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Walking out of the elevator, Ed spots Winry as she rushes toward them. Janine and Kain stand back to the side of the hallway that leads to the main entrance. Al notices them as well but stays seated.
Ed grabs Winry and places her against the wall gently, whispering and quietly telling her the plan. Once he finishes, he tells her. "Take a deep breath and don't swing at me. Other officers might think it is a threat because they don't know you like I do, Winry."
She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. Then unexpectedly, wacking him in the head with her wrench a moment later. "Dammit, Winry!" Ed whines as he rubs the side of his head.
Winry - "You Moron! You could of told me that upstairs!" She yells at him. Al sighs exhaustedly. Both Kain and Janine chuckle a bit.
Ed then sighs, telling her. "I've already made my decision, Winry. We are leaving today." She grabs him by the collar of his shirt. "And where does that leave me and Al?" She raises her eyebrow.
AJ - "Winry." She looks at AJ. "I don't know how many but over there in Table City. We don't what to expect.-" Ed cuts her off. "I don't want to put either of you in danger, dear," Ed tells Winry.
Al stands up and walks over to them. Placing a hand on Ed's shoulder, he nods. "Just be careful, brother." Ed nods back. Al then walks to Janine, pulling her into a hug. "And I want you to be careful as well." AJ smiles and hugs him back.
At the train station, Kain, who is already on the train waiting on the two. Al hugs her again before he kisses her, wrapping his arms around her waist as she places her hands on his cheeks, deepening the kiss.
Panting heavily after they part and smiling widely as they hug once more, Al helps her onto the train as Ed embraces Winry one last time and kisses her before he too hops on the train as well.
Waving to each other as the train departs, they sit down as the view of the station is at a distance.
Winry sighs sadly as they stop waving. "This is just like before." Al looks at her sadly.
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As they finally make it to Table City, they immediately head over to the Amestrian Command Post. AJ looks around at the change of the status safe zones.
'Jeez, things are worse then what was reported.' She says to herself.
A soldier approaches the group. AJ recognizes him. "Niko?" He waves to her. "Ah! Janine. A pleasure to see you again." "Likewise." She replies. They shake hands. She then introduces him to Ed and Kain.
As Ed is shaking Niko's hand, he tells him. "It's nice to finally meet a Drachmian, Niko," Niko replies. "It's nice to finally meet a Xerxian as yourself, Edward." They smile at each other.
Afterwards, Niko takes them to the Colonel in charge of the post. "This is Colonel Kaden Stone. He's the one in charge over here."
Putting down the stack of files on a table to the side of the tent, he turns to face them.
Stone puts his hand out towards Edward. "Golden hair and eyes. You must be Fullmetal. I've heard alot about you, kid." Ed smiles as he shakes his hand. "I can't say the same about you though, Mr. Stone."
Stone then puts his hand out towards Fuery and shakes his hand as they exchange hellos.
The Colonel then asks Janine to wait outside without introductions. Ed tries to say something but Stone stops him. "I believe introductions with her are for at a later date. History will not be repeated, Fullmetal. I won't allow it again." Ed looks at Kaden with confusion.
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While she is waiting outside, she sees Niko and flags him down and asks him. "I have a question to ask you." Niko gives her his undivided attention. "Do you know anyone with the last name Simmons, who was stationed over here?"
After a moment of thinking, Niko replies. "No. Sorry." AJ sighs sadly. "Someone, you know?" She nods her head. "I know someone that he knows. It's a long story."
Niko - "I've got time."
As she's about to reply, Ed, Kain, and Kaden along with a few other officers walk out of the tent. She excuses herself and walks over back to Ed.
She stops next to Ed and faces Kaden. He looks down at her then walks away back into the tent. With a raised eyebrow, she then turns to Ed who shrugs his shoulders.
As they're walking away, Fuery asks Ed "So what now?" "Now, I can do my job, hopefully. But I just hope that that Colonel stays out of our way." Ed replies.
AJ - "And what if he doesn't?"
Turning to look at her, he tells her. "Then he will have to answer straight to the Fuhrer." AJ eyes widen.
Once they pass another station, Ed rubs the back of his head. "Now where is this house at again?"
AJ smiles. "You're taking us to Roxy's house, aren't cha?" Ed nods, then says. "Well, it's getting late so I figured she'll let us crash the night. (AJ starts walking away) Where are you going?" He asks her. She nudges her head for them to follow her.
As they reach the house and knock on the door, she tells them. "My grandfather once owned this house with my grandmother." She smiles. The both of them look at her wide-eyed.
A few moments later, still no answer from the door. Janine then pulls out and unlocks the door with her key. "Rule number one as the owner of any property that you own. Always keep a spare key for yourself."
Ed looks at her surprised. "You own a house?" AJ smiles again. "Yup."
Letting herself and the men in, she checks every room, one by one. Walking back into the living room, she tells them. "She's probably still at work." Sighing afterward.
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Almost an hour later, Roxy enters the house, staring at all three of them. "Sup, Roxy?" AJ says, staring at her with her arms crossed.
Roxy - "Yeah, sup dawg." Crossing her arms as well, staring back at AJ with a stern expression.
Clearing his throat, Ed asks her. "So, Roxy." She looks at Ed. "What's going on with Table City? Heard there's been a few conflicts between Milos and Creta again."
Roxy - "Yup. And Julia been leading her group a few times. Even Vatenen joined her in wit her a few times. Gone down there a few as well as backup. Nice outfit,by the way, homie." She then looks back at AJ. "We need to talk."
"If it's about Medesto, just tell me already." AJ quickly responds with.
Roxy sighs. "It's about Ti." After a few seconds, AJ coldly replies. "Let me guess. She's dead as well."
Roxy, Ed, and Kain all look at her surprised/ shocked.
"Well DAMN! Tell us all how you really feel then, Marisol!" Roxy shouts, replying back.
AJ shouts back. "You Told Me That You Were Gonna Let Me Know Any News About My Father, Tori! But I Guess Silence Is The Impedimy Of Both Of Us!" Roxy then looks away sadly.
After a few minutes, she tells her. "I thought I found him a few weeks ago but it wasn't him, yo. (AJ stares at Roxy in shock.) I went to the old neighborhood. Ain't none of them seen him in years. Hell, most of 'em ain't even talkin'. Cool's been looking too. Hector's that rat that I knew he was. Neva a rider."
"You thinkin' Oakland?" AJ asks. "Maybe? But with help." Roxy replies.
"And what 'bout Danielle, Valerie or Patricia?" "Knocked up or moved. Rhapsody and Ace are still the best drags thru in the streets thou." She chuckles, earning a chuckle out of Ari as well.
"Anything from Sarah or Colleen?" "Naw, sis. Sorry." They both sigh.
"Well ...what about Ti, then?" AJ asks with a raised eyebrow.
A knock on the door breaks them out of their conversation. Opening the door, AJ stands behind Roxy. Before Roxy could say anything, AJ asks. "What's up, Niko?" "Hello again, Janine. About that Simmons guy you asked me about-" "Yo, why are you looking for him?" Roxy cuts him off, asking Janine, looking at her shock.
Janine turns to Roxy with confusion. "You know 'im?" Roxy grabs her hand and forces her to follow her. "Hey!-" "Can it! Move!" Roxy excuses her and AJ and pulls her out the door and over to the old store that they were in years back.
AJ says. "It's gone." After she stands in front of the building with Roxy, who walks to the other side of her friend.
Roxy tells her. "When I came back to check out the house, this was the first place I checked out once I settled down. Lenny and my other friends here said that once the owner of the building got wind of some homeless people living on his property, he torched it to collect the insurance. At least that's what they were told."
AJ sighs. "Anything other particular reason why you dragged me out of the house?" Roxy then takes her down to the destroyed bridge. "That Simmon's guy was the one who told me that you were dead."
AJ looks at her with shock then looks down at the ground sadly. 'He probably blames me for what happened to Jake.' She sighs.
Looking back up at Roxy, she tells her. "His younger brother was the little boy that was with me on that day. He was the one that was shot by Adam." Roxy stares at her in disbelief.
Walking back into the house, AJ tells her after she closes the door. "His brother is still alive. Sort of." Roxy looks at her confused. "What do you mean "sort of?" AJ sighs. Ed nods his head to her when she catches his expression.
Roxy catches it as well. "What the hell is going on here? Why aren't ya'll talkin'?"
Ed then stands and faces her. "Roxy." She faces him as well. "We need to talk about that red day." "The same day your mother died," Janine adds.
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All four of them are seated. Roxy has her hands covering her face as she is silently praying. Her elbows are on her knees. Everyone else is staring at her, waiting for her to say something.
Sighing, Roxy takes the hairband out and runs her fingers through her hair. She then looks at Ed and tells him. "So that explains those nightmares that you were having a while back in your sleep, Eddy." Ed raises an eyebrow then sighs as well. "Yea. Going through hell and back does that to a man." The others sigh as well.
After a few minutes of silence. Roxy starts getting teary-eyed. "I know what killed her now. All this time I thought she overdosed because of what they said. But now, I fi-" She stops as she covers her face and starts crying. Janine immediately rushes over to her, pulling her into a hug. Ed and Kain sigh sadly as well.
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The next morning as the Sargent and 2nd Lieutenant head to the post for an update on the Colonel's plan, Ed's tells Roxy of the Fuhrer's plan regarding Janine.
Roxy - "Are you an idiot, homie?" Ed looks back her perplexed. "Everyone there thinks she's dead. If she shows up, they'll freak out. Thinkin' they're seeing a ghost or sumthin'."
Ed replies with. "And you don't think that she misses her other friends as well? What about that girl, uh, ...I think her name is Nicole?"
Roxy - "And? What? You wanna meet her? You rememba what you had to change just to cross the border, right? A new identity, Id's and accent. Don't tell me you forgot already, dawg?"
Ed - "No, I didn't. Not to mention, Winry wasn't happy when I told her. Said she feels like I had to please other people to get out of the closure. Same o', eh?" "Same." She replies.
As they stand up, Roxy grabs his arm. Ed looks at her. Roxy looks down briefly before sighing and looking at him. "I need to show you something in Milos." Ed raises an eyebrow at her.
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When they return, Kain informs Ed of the situation at hand and the Colonel's plan.
Sitting down at a table before Roxy comes home, Ed goes over the plan with both of them and that same night, Kain sets up his equipment in the spare room.
As Roxy calls it a night and about an hour later. Ed, Kain, and Janine leave the house quietly, making it to the side of a trench. Just underneath, through a tower, where a secret mine tunnel leading into Schuylkill Falls is mostly blocked up by falling debris.
Ed - "Me and Al found this while we were exploring the city looking for the Sanguine Star. A Philosopher's Stone, in other words, Janine." She nods her head understandably.
He continues. "I told Roxy about this place when we returned from Brunswick. She confirmed that Schuylkill Falls is in fact on the other end of this tunnel. That should take you to your friends that are over there. And hopefully, you can find ... your father." She smiles at that last part. "yeah." She whispers, happily.
After giving each of them a hug and waving goodbye, she takes a deep breath before she proceeds through the tunnel.
Before she gets too far, Ed tells her. "Give us a call when you make it. We wanna know that you're ok." She turns around and smiles back. "Sure."
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The next morning Roxy yells at Kain. "WHERE IS SHE?!" Fuery, who has his hands in front of him, stares terrified at Roxy.
Ed barges through the front door and yells back at her. "Quit YELLING!" Roxy looks stunned at Ed, who then tells her. "She got called back. Don't worry, she'll be back soon. Damn assholes at Central can't keep their shit straight the minute she leaves."
Roxy then asks Ed. "So she's not-" He cuts her off. "No." Ed then walks away back out front with Fuery following him quickly.
When they are at a distance from the house, Fuery asks him. "Are you sure about that back there?" Ed stops and turns, nodding his head. They continue walking afterward.
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Walking out of the tunnel, she looks up. 'It's a few past daybreak' She then starts following the road down the hill. Fixing her cap. 'Glad I changed into some of Roxy's clothes before I left. It'll help me blend in.' She tells herself.
As she gets passed a few blocks, she sees a singled-small house that is in between an apartment duplex and several row homes. 'This is it. This was her house.' She tells herself. Just as she makes it to the front door, a woman approaches her.
Excusing herself, the woman asks. "Are you lost, honey?" Janine replies. "No. Actually, I remember this place quite fondly from my childhood. (She smiles as she gets teary-eyed) My mom once lived here."
"May I ask what was her name?" The woman asks. AJ turns to the woman and asks. " Her name was Nara. Can I get your name by the way? And did you know her or knew anyone that had?"
She extends her hand. "The name's Didi." Ari shakes her hand. "Marisol Rambo. My mother was Nara Rambo. Medesto Matos is my father. Have you seen him?"
Didi nods her head. "Sorry. I haven't seen him in a while." She sighs. "As for Nara. I knew her. A very kind woman." Ari sighs. After a moment of silence, she tells Ari. "There's that bar across the street. Maybe someone else there knew Nara." Ari turns and looks at it.
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Leaving the bar, she reminisces about what the locals and Didi told her about her father's behavior towards her mother.
{Sitting on a stool, she tells the man behind the counter her life's story. (Only of her life in Cornwall Ridge though.)
(Gentleman) Gent in the bar - "I'm sure that growing up, you probably never pictured that behavior from your father."
AJ - "Too be honest I can't remember him too fondly. It feels like forever since I last saw and spoke to him myself. (She sighs) I know that all of you are not lying to me but it's just a lot to take in at the moment." The Gent nods his head.
He sighs as well. "Well good luck with finding him, young lady. I hope that you find closure." She thanks him then pays for her glass of tea, leaves a tip and as she turns to leave, she stops and turns back to him. She asks. "I just remembered. There was a woman that my mother once considered a friend. She went by the name Pastor Tracy. Any clue where she's at?"
Gent - "Gone. She moved out of state years ago. In fact, I don't even think she still works for any church for that matter anymore. Sorry." 'Damn' She sighs. "Well alright. (She smiles at him) Thanks anyway." They wave bye to each other as she leaves.}
As she walks off the bus and walks about a block until she sees a sign on the side of the road that says. "Welcome to Cornwall Ridge."
Janine sighs. "Well, it's now or never." She says as she walks past it.
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Making it past Market Square and taking another bus to her old neighborhood, she runs into the owner of the corner store that is at the corner of her old block. "Marisol?" He asks as he opens the door form the store and stares at her. Janine turns and sees him. He then walks over to her, closing the door to his store.
"Is that really you, ...Marisol?" He asks again. She bites her lip, relaxes after a breath and then asks in an assertive tone. "Where is Mr. Medesto Matos, sir?"
He flinches at the tone in her voice. Bowing his head respectfully, he replies. "My apologies, then. I had you mistaken." He then walks back into his store.
Rolling her eyes, she turns the corner and slowly walks down the block. A man walks out of his house, she stops walking as she spots him. He walks up to her.
Smirking, he says. "So you're not dead." She just stares at him. He then sits on his steps, pulls out and lights up a cigarette.
He continues. "If you're looking for him, he's long gone. Been that way for years." "What happened?" She asks.
"Spiraled out of control once you ran away." "I didn't run away." She barks back. He looks her dead in the face. "I don't give a fuck if you ran away or some other bullshit that happened to ya. You have to live that for the rest of your life so don't waste your time on me. All three of you knew what you did was wrong and did any of you give a fuck about the consequences of your actions? No! All of you are the blame for the way your lives have turned out!" A few other neighbors either open their doors or sit on their steps as well. She looks away from him briefly.
Looking back at him, AJ tells him. "You know what? You're right. We were stupid, dumb, a bunch of complete idiots. Reckless children who let our curiosity of wanting answers for our own selfishness get the best of us when we let our guard down. But you are no saint as well. You've made mistakes before just everyone else. So don't toss my faults back in my face if you clearly haven't accepted your own at all, dude."
AJ adds. "Everyone wears a mask to hide their past. I can't ever change what I've been through then and I've accepted who I am as a person now. I'd rather rise instead of freefalling into the abyss of self-destruction. Everyone has their own ashes of pain that are sealed down in them to their very soul. You are no exception, Mr. William."
He stands up, looking down at her. Both staring each other fiercely.
Woman - "Willy, that is enough." He looks at her. "Marguerite, stay out of this." She nods her head no, informing Marisol. "Marisol." She looks at Marguerite. "Your father doesn't live here anymore. The last time anyone of us saw him was over six years ago. He got injured at his job. Next thing we all knew was the bank coming after him since they couldn't get in touch with the landlord who owned the property. Some of us tried to help him but it already too late. I'm sorry."
AJ then turns to look at the others outside as well.
Marguerite - "We don't know where he's at now, honey." AJ sighs. "Alright. What happened to my father's stuff in the house?" She asks as she's looking at it. "House Auction," Marguerite replies.
Janine then asks everyone. "Do any of you have my family's pictures?" Marguerite excuses herself and enters her home. Minutes later, coming out of her house holding a brown package. "Here. These are all of the ones that I bought at the auction."
AJ asks Marguerite. "So do you want to be reimbursed?" Marge nods her head "No. It's fine. Take it." She hands it to Marisol. "Good luck with finding your father, Marisol." "Thank you, Marguerite." Marguerite then pulls Ari into a hug, whispering something in her ear as well. Backing up, Marguerite and several other neighbors leave and head back inside of their houses. Willy looks at AJ once more before he too heads back inside of his house.
AJ sighs as she walks away, back down the street.
As she turns the corner and hops on a bus, heading in the opposite direction. Willy runs out of his house at the same time Marguerite walks out of hers. In a demanding tone, he asks her. "What the hell did you do that for! Why in the hell would you tell that Amestrian trash anything! She didn't need to know that!"
Marguerite stomps to him. "She needed to know the truth. Not too mention, I don't expect her to return to this block at all. It's not she's the one who tried to screw with our lively hood. Good riddance to the both of them, I'll say."
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Marisol walks off of the bus once she makes it to Masterson and Watts streets.
Looking up, she smiles at the memory of her old school, Marie Adleigh Charter.
Suddenly she hears a few voices nearby and when she turns the corner, she sees Nicole.
Nicole brightly smiles as she's approached by Marisol.
"Marisol!" She runs up and hugs her so tightly. She was overjoyed at the sight of her best friend being right next to her.
"How have you been?" Nicole asks her. Things have changed so drastically and much time has lapsed since they last touched based and seen one another.
Hugging her friend back, she replies. "I'm good! How are you!" She adds. "You look amazing! And you're still taller than me!"
Nicole laughs at Marisol's height comment. "That's true." And continues. "I've been okay. Just working on my studies and trying to make my life better." Nicole states while sighing.
"It's been a slow process but I'd take that then no progress." She excitedly daydreams about her future. "But how have things with you been?" she asks curiously.
Smiling at her friend, Ari tells her. "Good. Well kinda. I'm trying to look for my father but so far no luck. Stopped by our old neighborhood. They obviously don't care about what happened to him then nor now. But I guess that's to be expected by a bunch of bullshitters." She pauses.
Sighing before she continues. "Anyway, Roxy said that you know about the house in Table City. I'm sorry for not relaying that to you sooner. It's getting pretty busy since I'm The Messenger for the Führer of Amestris." She says rubbing the back of her head, smiling nervously.
Nicole looks down surprised at what Marisol says. She hugs her before speaking. "I'm sorry I haven't been much help but I can help as much as I can. Yes, I do know about Table City and would like to show you something. Its a lot more to this than I can fully explain." She says.
"So no one was able to help you with anything about your father?" Nicole says trying to console Marisol. "Well, I can try my absolute best to do anything to help you.". She understands how her friend feels because she too is searching for her parents.
Nodding her head, Ari tells her. "No, no one has directly told me anything verified. But hopefully, I can find him eventually. I know that he's still alive. That gives me hope." Ari adds, smiling. "Thanks for wanting to look for him for me. It means a lot coming from you." She smiles brightly.
"Don't worry bestie, things are going to be ok," Nicole states positively. "So the house has actually been empty for several months (referring to Ari's old childhood home.) But a new family is planning to move in soon." She says looking at Ari.
Turning to walk, she nods to Ari as they begin walking to continue the conversation.
End of Chapter 40