Colonel Mustang stands at the mouth of the alley, the stink of blood and death wafting through the air, blanketing the nearby houses. "Sir we found another one. It's… you'd better come check it out." says Havoc. Mustang nods and follows his subordinate to an alley several yards away.

In the other alley, a pile of discarded guts lay in a steaming pile next to a mutilated carcass of a young man. A fist sized hole in his stomach suggests that the guts were his before they were brutally torn from his chest.

On the wall at the back end of the alley, the body of another man, slightly beefier than the first, is pinned to the wall by stakes of earth driven through each hand and foot. His face is shredded and his lower half is lacerated with gashes and wounds from what looks to be a rather large animal, blood still flowing from his open chest.

Mustang had to walk away from the scene to keep from puking.

"So much blood." Riza murmurs from nearby. "You don't think it was Barry, do you?" Mustang shook his head, wiping the back of his hand across his mouth. "Falman would have reported him leaving. Besides. These seem to be done by someone much worse." Roy kept his voice low, not wanting anyone to overhear. Riza's eyes narrowed. "What if Scar is back?" Roy frowned. "His murders were of State Alchemist. These men don't work for the State and they aren't even Alchemists. No, we've got another murderer on our hands."

On the roof of a nearby building, a girl kneels, watching the soldiers with quickly deflating interest. A demonic smirk plays across her pale lips. "So you'll play this game with me, will you Colonel?" She chuckles. "I hope you're ready for the heat, Pretty Boy, 'cause I'm bringing the fire."

She turns and dashes off, disappearing within seconds, chuckling. "Let's make this fun, shall we?"

With surprising ease, I hop along the rooftops of Central, scaring a few birds and the occasional stray cat. Not sure what to do now. Perhaps I ought to go find Lisa? Nah, I don't wanna help with her stupid 'quest'. Maybe I should go back to the Homunculi. It could be fun getting to mess with Lisa through them. I don't actually like them though…

Fuck, what do I do?

Riza mentioned Barry. So he's hanging with Falman in some random building then? I chuckle. "Time to find a new friend."

I stand at the corner of one of the various buildings in Central, overlooking the bustling streets and I almost blast the whole city to ashes right then. But what would I accomplish then? Mass destruction is fun, but I think leaving it alone so the 'storyline' can build will work out to my favor much better. Good things come to those who wait, right?

I scan the city until I latch onto Falman's Ki signature. I only know it because Lisa ran into Mustang's team when she arrived here. Not up to flying, I drop to the street by a fire escape and tug at my clothes. My previously favored attire sticks out too much, so I've changed to something that doesn't stand out like a sore thumb in a snapping turtle convention:

A black hooded tee under a long-sleeved gray shirt, baggy black jeans and my usual combat boots. My hair, while it used to barely pass my shoulders, has grown to a ridiculous length, brushing just past my hips now. Perhaps I should chop it to- what's it called? A pixie cut? Whatever.

I stick my hands into my pockets and pull the hood over my face, shading my eyes from any curious passer-bys. I slip into the busy afternoon traffic of Central, keeping my face turned to the ground and watching those who walk past me.

Should I really go after Barry? He's supposed to die soon if I recall so now or never I guess. I sigh and continue walking, following Falma's ki sig until I find the building. I glance up at it.

The building looks ridiculously old and there are chunks missing from windows and walls. Glancing around, I spot a newspaper stand by the entrance. I make my way to the door, snatching one of the papers and slipping it under my shirt to hide it. That grey haired military guy likes newspapers, right?

Keeping a lock on the man's ki signature, I walk upstairs, keeping my head down and searching for any other ki signature that I recognize. Need to be prepared in case there's any trouble.

I stop as I come to the floor his signature is and walk up to the door where his ki is. I knock on the door with the back of my hand and pull out the newspaper. "Newspaper." I call and the door opens.

His face is scruffy and he looks tired. His clothes are rumpled and it smells like he hasn't had a shower in a few days. "Oh, thanks." He reaches for the paper just as my hand shoots forward and pushes him into the apartment. He yelps in surprise as I smirk and step inside, closing the door behind me. I toss the paper at him as he scrambles to grab a gun.

"Don't bother with that stupid pea shooter. Won't do you any good." I tell him. "'Sides, if I wanted you dead, this whole building would be rubble." His eyes widen to the point I can actually see the whites of his eyeballs. I turn and find exactly the face I wanted to see. I grin at the confused suit of armor sitting at the chess table. "I get the feelin' I've seen you before." he says.I pull back my hood and shrug. "In a sense, we have met, but it wasn't this face you saw." I smirk and sit across from him. "Barry the Chopper, crazed murderer and death row victim. Guys like you are the kind I enjoy getting to know." He chuckles and leans back. "Is that so, toots?" I hold back a snarky comeback as I glare at him. "Don't EVER. Call me toots." He chuckles. "So, what'dya want?" I sigh. "I've got time to kill and need someone to kill it with. I figured a fellow psycho would know somethin' fun to do." He leans forward, eyeing me suspiciously. "You don't look like a killer." I roll my eyes. "Neither does flame-fer-brains, but yet, he is."

Barry blinks before belting out laughter. "AHAHAHAHAHAHA! I like you!" he says. I smirk and lean forward. "So, you wanna have a night on the town?"

"NOW WAIT A MINUTE!" I raise an eyebrow as I turn to the shaking military man holding a pistol aimed at my head. "Y-you're not taking him anywhere! My orders-" Faster than the fool's eyes can follow, I stand up and and latch my hand to his throat, eyes narrowed and glowing dangerously. "Your order mean nothing to me, and I will not have you trying to pull military authority over me. I've killed four men in the past two days. I'm more than willing to add you to the list." He gulps nervously and backs away, the gun clattering to the floor. I chuckle. I put my hands on my hips and glance at Barry over my shoulder. "Why haven't you killed this useless piece of shit yet?" He stands up as his soulfire eyes turn into hearts. "That hot lady Hawkeye told me not to." I roll my eyes and smack my hand to my face.

"All men are useless."

I take a step out the door and glance at Barry. "You comin' or what, Chopper boy?" He laughs and waltzes out the door. "Later old man!" I call as we head to the nearest fire escape.

We both head to the roof and glance around. "This city stinks." I say coldly, watching the stupid mortals walk around their daily lives like ants. Barry shrugs. "Well, I can't smell anymore, but if you say so." I smirk and glance at him without moving my head. "Whaddaya say we have some fun?" Barry laughs and nods. "You're my kinda girl." I roll my eyes and smack him, his helmet spinning 360 a few times before he stops it. I take a few steps forward before turning around and leaning over the edge. "Just an FYI. I'm spoken for. Got a Lord of darkness and punishment waiting for me back home." Barry adjusts his helmet and glares at me. "Yeah, yeah. whatever." I smirk and hop to the next roof. "So, any place special you'd like to go first?" Barry shrugs. I sigh. "Fine." I grumble. "Let's just go find someone unimportant." A manic, cheshire grin spread across my lips. "And make him regret the day he was born."

We begin running across the rooftops, scanning for any low-life creep or any unlucky fool we can find. "There's one!" shouts Barry. I glance down to where he's pointing. A young boy, probably not even 10 years old, waddles down an alley, clutching the remains of a tattered shirt. I frown. "Won't put up much of a fight. I don't think it'll be worth our time." Barry glances at me, already pulling out his cleaver. "You soft or something? A meatbag's a meatbag, no matter the age!" I tap my chin before shrugging, allowing a malicious smirk to pull at my lips. "Well, when you put it that way…"

I position myself above the alley, just behind the boy, while Barry drops in front of him, startling the already terrified child. He screams and turns to run. I take this as a sign and drop down, landing just in front of the boy. I stand up straight and look down, feeling my eyes glimmer and a blood-thirsty smirk stretch across my face. "Well, well, well, what have we here? A poor little thing, wandering about on his own?"

The boy whimpers, backing away slowly.

I crack my knuckles and then chuckle. The boy clutches the tattered shirt closer to his chest, hiding his mouth and nose from sight. I kneel down and put my finger to his chin, tilting his eyes up to meet mine. I put a fake frown on my face and jut out my bottom lip. "Poor wittle baby. All alone out in the cold." My smirk returns. "Allow me to send you home."

With a flick of my wrist, his neck snaps to a gruesome angle. He drops to the ground, eyes glazed over already.

"Awww! Why'd you have to do that fer?!" Barry demands as I pick up the child's body. I frown. "I have one rule when it comes to killing. Children and the helpless are ended quickly. They never last long so it's easier to end them fast and move on."

"Can I chop up what's left?!"

I glare at him. "No." I stomp my foot to the ground, a hole opening up in the ground, just large enough to hide the boy's body. I lay the boy down. Noticing the shirt on the ground, I pick it up and then lay it on top of the boy like a blanket. I close up the hole and look up at Barry. "Let's find someone that'll put up a fight." Barry chuckles and shrugs. "Whatev'r ya say girly."

I frown and float up to the roof, Barry climbing up a wall after me. "So what now?" Barry asks. I sigh through my nose and shake my head. "I suppose we just wander about till things get interesting."

'Unless I go find out what Lisa and Blondie are up to, I have no idea how long we have until he has to go hang with Falman for his final hours... I suppose I ought to make his last day fun.' I smirk and crack my knuckles. "Alright, let's go find us a gang of no names."

It's not until nightfall that either of us spots anyone that meets our requirements. A group, not unlike those that I fought, no that's too strong a word.. A group not unlike the one I destroyed yesterday. Yes, that's much better.

Another group of drunk and angry men, but these men are harassing a young woman, probably in her late 20's, dressed much like a... Oh what is the name of that religion that forbids modern technology? Well, she's wearing things like a long sleeved shirt and long skirt, and some kind of hood thing. Regardless, she is very scared, I can smell the fear rolling off her from way up here, and she's trying very desperately to keep the men away.

I kneel on the edge of the roof and grin at Barry. "Ready to have some fun?"

Barry drops down and, before anyone can move, has his cleaver in one of the men's arm.

I float down, smirking and arms crossed. "Don't do it too quickly." I joke. "We want them to last, don't we?" Barry laughs. "Aw hell yeah!"

Barry sets about chopping several of the men to bits, bits that will probably end up tomorrow's lunch, as I walk over to the girl. One of the men, probably the leader due to his overbearing confidence, steps in front of me. He's almost sober. "What the hell, you god damned bitch!" He shouts as I stare at him coldly. "We were just having some fun and-!" My hand closes around his throat as I glare up at him. "What you were doing is not my concern." I say calmly. "We saw a group of drunk men and we decided to kill them for fun. That is all." I put my free hand to his face, his eyes wide with confusion.

His agonized scream fades away with the smoke from his face.

I drop the charred face and stare at the terrified girl. Her big brown eyes meet my red orbs. I smirk at her and she flinches. "I won't kill you, in fact, I'm going to tell you something." I kneel down as Barry laughs, singing some stupid song about meat and blood. "Go and tell anyone who will listen of what you saw today. Make sure word gets to the military for me." I pat her head and stand. "B-but.." I raise an eyebrow at her stuttering. "What?" She flinches. "A-a-re you with..." "Drachma? Naw, we're freelancers." I smirk. "And we're professionals."

With that, I turn on my heels and set about finding anyone Barry hasn't chopped yet. The thundering of small feet warns me of the girl's departure. I smirk and step on a man whose legs Barry has chopped off. He was attempting to get away but now his angry, pain filled eyes meet my eyes.

"Wh-what... Who are you?" He asks slowly. I smirk and grab his arm. "To you, I am Azrael." I rip out his arm, fluids of all colors spurting from his shoulder. He screams, liquids streaming down his face. "To others?"

"Darkness."

"What, sir?"

Mustang glances over his shoulder at his subordinate. She walks up beside him as he gestures to the wall in front of him.

All around them are corpses mutilated in all sorts of ways. Even if this wasn't his actual job, Mustang still had to come see the dead and attempt to connect them to known murders.

So far, he had only one real clue.

On the wall at the back of the alley, where a young woman claimed she was attacked before two people, one in terrifying armor, the other with eyes the color of blood, dropped from the sky and killed all 10 of these men, was one word. Written the blood of the dead.

"Darkness"