"God help us!"

"Save my baby!"

"It's the planes again, run! For gods' sake run!"

"Dear God!"

Ed ran along with them, but he did not cry out. He didn't flinch when the bomb hit right behind them, he only ran further. He saved his breath; he didn't call out for a God that didn't exist. The planes roared overhead, drowning out everything but the blood rushing in his ears and the ragged pant of his breath. The shelter was so close, open, waiting for them; he ran harder, his metal foot slamming with each labored step. He dove into the shelter, and then hurriedly prepared himself to slam the door behind the people running behind him. Once the steel door was shut and locked behind them, Ed allowed himself to slump over, clutching his side.

"We should pray." A woman said to his right.

A child huddled in the corner spoke up next.

"Why is God doing this?"

"We'll be fine as long as we believe." The woman replied, blithely ignoring the true question.

"You truly think that if you put all of your energy into your God that he will save you? You don't think that those resources would be better applied to survival, to fighting?" Ed's voice was flat.

"Of course! God takes care of all of his followers!" A man piped up.

"This is taking care of you? Sitting in a bomb shelter while the entire town is burned to the ground. You're all mistaken. There is no God."

The woman immediately began to weep, the muddied chilled clutched to her bosom. The man swelled with rage, pointing at Ed, face red with anger.

"That is not true! God is testing us!"

"A war, followed by another war. More pain for these people, more death. How many tests are there? How many times must you prove your loyalty to this god before he loves you enough to save you?" Ed continued in monotone. His golden eyes were glazed, almost as if he were saying the words to himself.

"You're the reason this is happening! Men like you who do not love our god, who turn away from his gifts! We're suffering because of you!" The punch to his jaw woke Ed from his inner reverie.

He immediately went to clap, a habit that he couldn't quite break, before he rolled away from the next punch. The woman screamed and the child in her arms squirmed to watch the scuffle. Ed continued to dodge the oncoming blows before finally having enough. With a cry of effort he slammed his prosthetic fist into the mans nose. He fell to the floor bleeding and didn't get back up.

Edward realized the sirens had stopped during the fight and made his way to the door.

"If your god was so great and merciful, I wouldn't even be here." And without a second glance he left the shelter.