The stench. Revolting. So horribly, horribly disgusting.
"…N…No…"
The chalked hands trembled. The scraped knees buckled. The tear stained face twitched.
"…N…No…No…No…"
The shadow moved, no writhed. It shuddered and tumbled. It gasped and bled. The fingers, no claws, reached out. Teeth, no fangs, snapped. Speaking. The monster spoke.
"F…u…j…i…i…n."
Spasms pushed it forward to the trembling girl. Black oozed from opened flesh. It drizzled along cracking bones. Intestines gurgled cries of the undead. Black eyes blinked. Blood poured down as did the monster's dying question.
"W…h…y…?"
The girl dug nails into her scalp. The girl tore at her hair. The girl tried to make sense of what that was. Where she was. Who she was.
And Truth granted her a departing gift.
Truth offered one last glimpse…of Truth itself.
"K…i…l…l… m…e…"
The girl opened her eyes one final time and saw what she had done.
"E..eh…EHHHHHHHHYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
She saw what I had done. She remembered she was me. I remembered who I'd brought back. Who I'd summoned back to the land of the living in disfigured pieces.
"RITZUUUUUUUUU!"
I screamed and screamed until I had no voice. I punched the floor repeatedly until my knuckles had chipped down to a raw red. I kicked and threw and shattered anything that I could get my hands on.
I gradually started to fade.
I gradually started to approach his organs.
Tears blurred his mangled outline. Delirium threatened to settle in.
Madness possessed my thoughts.
A heart, his heart, was in my grasp. Beating.
I sobbed. I held it to my chest, willing it merge with my own.
It wasn't until it stopped that I heard Truth laughing maniacally.
Truth laughing over the sound of a heart being splattered.
Over and over and over.
Brrrrrrrrng. Brrrrrrrrng. Brrrrrrrrng.
I fell to the floor, gasping, too lost in the grips of the nightmare to distinguish the shoulder I had landed on. I fought for air, feeling the carpet beneath me, breaking away from hell and back into reality. Riza's. Yes, I was in Riza's place. It is not the palace. This is not the dungeons. I am in Amestris. I fell asleep.
Brrrrrrrrng. Brrrrrrrrng. Brrrrrrrrng.
My hand went up to my face, pulling away wet.
Brrrrrrrrng. Brrrrrrrrng. Brrrrrrrrng.
Telephone. The telephone was ringing. Riza hadn't returned yet, meaning I was the only one here to answer it.
Shakily, I use the table as guidance in getting up. Tremors travel up and down my entire body. My fingers constantly twitch. I couldn't rid of those god awful screams. My god awful screams. And the following laughter…
Brrrrrrrrng. Brrrrrrrrng. Brrrrrrrrng.
Someone. I needed to hear someone speak, other than myself. I needed someone to be here. Wasn't the Colonel-?
…Right…I drove him off.
Brrrrrrrrng. Brrrrrrrrng. Brrrrr-
"H-Hello?" I try, unfamiliar with the device in my hands. The shakes are getting worse. They pass into my throat and distort my voice. Despite knowing it was only a dream, my mind is experiencing a major freak out. I have the urge to break something. The room is so small. I needed space to spread out my wings. Where was Riza? Where was-
"Misaki?"
I nearly pass out with relief. Gracia. Gracia was talking to me. And dimly in the background I could hear another, male, voice. I could distinguish a hearty "hi!" from Maes Hughes. The Hughes. Their lovely voices erased my fears. The room seemed cozier.
"Gracia…" I sigh, not even trying to conceal the pure comfort she blessed me with. I collapse to the ground, tugging on the cord. It wraps securely around my fingers. I squeeze it in fear that we'd lose connection. It was a plastic object and wires that I placed my absolute faith in keeping me together. The thought wasn't entirely reassuring.
"Misaki? Are you alright? How are you feeling today? Did you eat? Did you get home alright? Is someone there with you? Sweetie, do you need anything?" Gracia unleashes a whirl of questions, throwing me off guard. I think back to when she was crying at her helplessness when I grew sick. How I eyed her with wonderment. I still couldn't understand why she would go so far as to grieve over my condition. Like it had been her fault. "Misaki? Are you still there?"
"Ah!" I exclaim, nodding my head then cursing myself for my stupidity. Telephone. Can't see face to face. Duh. "Y-Yes, I'm fine. Uh… I'm feeling much better, I'm so sorry about yesterday's mess."
"There is no reason for you to apologize!" Gracia cuts in, causing me to jump at her abrupt scolding. "You were just feeling ill! You couldn't control that!"
In the background Hughes mutters something I can't make out. Gracia, letting out a startled "oh!" went back to the phone and sheepishly apologized for her loudness.
"Ah…no it's not a problem, really. And thank you. I mean for… well taking care of me and such," I respond shyly.
"Hmm?" Gracia lets out, sounding suddenly worried. "Misaki? Are you sure you're alright? You sound…nervous?"
She must have noted the lingering quivers in my speech. The woman is sharp as a tack.
Chuckling, I twiddle with the cord in my lap. "Well…" I'm tempted to just go with the original lie and begin my quest of avoiding sleep forever, but then again, I wanted very much to see the Hughes. Of course that would completely ruin the strategy of keeping distant and unattached. No, I need to tell her I'm perfectly fine.
Just as I open my mouth, I recall the heart beating in my palm and shiver. My words get caught. I can't speak. Gracia, tired of waiting, goes ahead to answer for me.
"Maes and I are coming to pay you a visit. We'll be there as soon as we can. Sit tight!"
"W-Wait!" I protest, shooting up to my feet and wincing as the platform where the phone usually rested collided with the top of my head. I rub the stinging area, seeing spots. "Please don't trouble yourselves!"
"Don't be ridiculous," another voice takes over, warm. Maes. "Never once during the time you've been here, have you been anything less than pleasant. Don't worry about Riza. She'll be fine with it. Catch you in a bit, doll."
The phone clicked dead before I could add anything.
Putting it back in place, I slump to the floor, trying to make sense of what had happened.
A bouquet of roses greets me at the door. The powerful aroma hits me at full throttle and I hold the knob in preparation for my mind to burst. Behind the massive gift, black hair bends down to the snippets of brown I could see between the plant's stems. With some difficulty, the flowers move and I stand before Maes, beaming brightly as ever, and Gracia, her eyes sparkling at the living sight of me.
"Ah…h-hi-" I timidly try to speak, but am interrupted by the frail, delicate arms of Gracia engulfing me. Stunned, I stumble a few feet back but recover and gradually put my own arms around her. Watching the two of us hugging, Maes looks almost left out, holding to the ginormous array of flowers. As for me, I'm not entirely sure what to make of this dramatic reunion. We'd seen each other just the other day. But Gracia's way of saying hello certainly didn't bother me.
After some time, she lets go.
"Misaki! I'm so sorry! The train was behind schedule and the man simply wouldn't hear of anything I had to say! Honestly, so what if it's raining?! That shouldn't keep anyone from getting to where they need to be on time!" Gracia goes off ranting, throwing her hands about in a furious manner, nearly hitting Maes in the attempt. Not sure what to do, I only nod frantically, every once in a while passing Maes a look of confusion. Of course Gracia being upset was perhaps the most adorable thing ever, but it was still a display of frustration over arriving here in twenty minutes rather than fifteen, and I had no idea how to handle it. Maes, however, went right on the job.
"Honey," he coos, gently putting away the vase out of the knock over range. "You know I love it when you make that cute little face of yours, but…"
Maes didn't seem able to finish when Gracia turned to pass a scrunched up scowl spelling frustration. Instead, a ditzy expression spread across his lips and he made a sound somewhere between a squawk and a chirp, trapping her in a bear trap of a hug and twirling her around madly. Gracia, practically the same speed as her husband, matched his energetic response, and gleefully laughed along with him, all the negativity vanquished. Meanwhile I just sort of…awkwardly smiled and wondered how on earth two people could be this perfect for one another.
When the moment was over and the couple made for a more intimate embrace, I chose the opportunity to clear my throat loudly. Sheepishly, they remember their place, parting and offering me their undivided attention.
"Sorry," Gracia says.
"I couldn't resist her adorable face," Maes adds.
They give each other a loving look and I shyly find myself playing with my hair. When I notice what I'm doing, I toss a hanging strand away violently and swallow down embarrassment. In the presence of these two lovebirds, I could never seem to maintain my cool.
"It's fine," I finally say, drawing my gaze over to the monstrous size of roses they brought. "Really, as I said before, you didn't have to go through all the trouble…"
Gracia laughs, an angelic sound that rings throughout the apartment. "Nonsense," she says, taking my hand and leading me to the sofa where I had folded the blankets after hearing of expected company. She insists I sit with her and I do. Maes, close behind, chooses a spot on the other side of her. I notice how they seem to automatically link fingers. Looking down, I also see Gracia has kept her hand wrapped around mine. Not know why exactly, I find the sight to be flattering. It felt as though a bit of her goodliness was passing on to me, pushing away the dark.
"Now," Gracia addresses, tightening her grip in a comforting way. "When we were on the phone, I remember hearing something wavering in your voice."
She smiles kindly, patting my knuckles. Maes listens respectively.
"It's ok to speak your mind. And it's ok to keep it to yourself. But Misaki," she continues, pausing to note whether she was going too far. I blink unresponsively. "Are you…Are you really alright? Did something…frighten you?"
The accuracy of her worries makes it difficult to reply. A glimpse of the nightmare strips away some of the contentment I held for the Hughes and I lose my smile. Maes, quick to take in every detail, focuses his stare on me. Gracia continues to hold my hand.
"Yeah," I admit to my own surprise. "A nightmare. Really bad one, I guess."
Gracia deepens her gaze, appearing genuinely apologetic. Maes jolts to his feet, walking over to the vase to pluck out a single rose. In a couple of steps he stands in front of me, holding the flower out for me to take it. Daintily, I accept the generous offering and turn to catch Gracia observing the thinness of my wrist.
"Well, we're no experts on slaying nightmares," Maes says with a tone of disappointment. "But we do know how to make it easier to forget!"
"Umm…" I say, blinking uncertainly at Gracia who had torn away her saddened gaze from my noticeable weight loss. "What does that mean, exactly?"
"We're the Hughes," she says with a shrug. The brightness in her spirit seems to flare. "Being the weird folk we are, we will not rest until you've forgotten every single detail of that horrid dream."
"That's right," Maes agrees, taking off his glasses to wipe them clean of dust. "You'll have that nightmare replaced with this one."
Nervously, I rub the stem of the rose in my hand, eyeing Maes' face with a mixture of awe (seeing him without glasses on) and pure terror (replace nightmares?).
"Wh…What do you plan on doing?" I say with a weak chuckle, looking to Gracia for an explanation. She has on that pretty smile, squeezing my hand.
"That's the beauty of it. Not knowing what we have in store for you," she sings mischievously.
"You'll forget soon," Maes adds.
Suddenly, I'm wondering if I should just stick with the original nightmare.
"Ah…You know, I'm actually feeling a lot better," I lie, holding the rose closer. The Hughes pass each other one of their looks before breaking into laughter. Gracia releases me to make a grab for my upper arm. Maes, following example, takes my other one, making sure not to place any strain on my shoulder. This feels strangely like a kidnapping, but I'm clueless as ever so I simply comply.
"The usual place?" Gracia asks her husband. I glance between the two, struggling for words. Maes gives an approving nod.
"The usual place," he confirms.
In a careful yet forceful manner, they lift me to my feet and walk me to the front door. My legs, just as lost as the rest of me, obediently keep up at their pace and I'm out in the hallway, glancing back at the door they made sure to lock. It dawns on me the lack of keys on our pockets, the spare Riza had made sure to point out to me lying safely on the side table next to where I slept.
"Key…" I say stupidly, feeling tired. From both sides Gracia and Maes look at me then smile simultaneously.
"Whoops," they say at the same time. I start to figure out just how scarily alike they are. Almost supernaturally in sync.
We go back to walking, their grips slackening slightly, still strong enough to prevent escape. Sighing, I decide to just go with it. It wasn't as if I was supposed to be anywhere anyways. Being in Riza's was beginning to get a bit tiring. This would be my second time seeing the city?
A couple of other inhabitants of the apartment go by us, bidding good afternoon. They can clearly see the restraints being forced upon me, yet they smile and act as if being held down was normal. What they don't take in as normal is the ghostly impression I make with my pale skin and bone thin figure. It's considered rude to point this out, so they retain polite self-control and refrain from firing sensitive questions. I should be thankful, but with the obvious stares, they may as well have.
"Where's the usual place?" I ask after we step into an elevator, eager to have something to distract me from this tight, confined space. Gracia thinks before coming with a vague answer.
"It's big, private, and green."
Quite the information to go off on. With a frown I cast a hopeful approach with Maes. He only shrugs and says Gracia basically said it all.
Great. A secret destination that's apparently big and private and green. Whatever that means.
The elevator closes and lurches. The sensation of being crushed overwhelms me and I exhale a wave of queasiness. Gracia notices my expression, being sure to ask for a cup of water at the front desk before we head out into the outdoors.
Rain. Just as Gracia said, it was raining. Actual rain, hitting my gawking face and dripping down my arms which were freed from the Hughes. Turning to look at the two, I see they'd joined hands again and were watching me humorously, gazing wide eyed at them in the middle of a sprinkle. They didn't pull out an umbrella like most of the pedestrians did. Instead they nod in the direction of the train station, waiting for me to join alongside them down the slick pavement.
Cars drive on the streets and much like yesterday, I watch them with fascination. The smell of exhaust is sort of soothing and I take in the low rumbles with a comforting hum. Despite having vehicles back in Aerugo, there were never any that matched some of the fancy paintjobs such as these. People of all different clothes, sizes, and moods travel along the sidewalks. Most mannerly. Some downright rude.
Buildings surround the whole area, a few frighteningly huge. Hard to believe most of these are businesses. Being a child of the markets, seeing actual roofs over people selling produce and such was amazing. So amazing that I fail miserably at hiding my shock, just as I had yesterday with Maes along. Gracia watches me curiously. Our gazes meet and I brush away imaginary flies off my reddening cheek. Maes, already having gone through this, laughs.
"Still find the city life crazy, huh?" he says, swinging the arm that connected with Gracia. I nod, smiling at Gracia. She has a thoughtful look, pondering where I could be from. That's right. Maes, Riza, and Roy were the only ones who knew where I originated. Would it be so horrible for Gracia to also know?
"We'll need to take you to this insane pho house," Maes speaks, shaking me away from my temptation to let Gracia know more about who she was dealing with. What he said was bizarre and has me bubbling with questions.
"Fuh…House?" I repeat, peaking a brow quizzically. Gracia laughs at my pronunciation, instantly knowing I'd misspelled the word in my mind.
"Pho," she says, brushing back wet wisps of her short hair. "P-h-o. It's a noodle house."
Perplexed, I go into overdrive, processing what in the world she was talking about. "A house of noodles?" I ask feeling ridiculous. Why would someone have a house of noodles? That was just silly.
"It's not exactly a house, like where people live," Gracia continues for me, giggling at Maes leaning towards her to peck her on the cheek. "It's a restaurant."
Oh. Well, that's still retarded. But I nod anyways to show I understood.
It began to rain harder. The Hughes ask if I want an umbrella and I shake furiously, enjoying the feel of water on my skin. They beam at my answer and I think that they already knew what I'd say. Such a short time knowing one another and yet they seem to instantly guess what I'd prefer. Already.
It's kind of nice. Having someone know me long enough to make assumptions.
I clear my head, focusing on the upcoming station. When I see the first train zoom by, I can't help but gasp. Yet another form of transportation to boggle my mind.
Maes snickers and I go crimson, remembering yesterday's ride to Central City. Desperately I try to pass a silent plea that he'll keep to himself only to find him leaning to Gracia, eyes glinting sinisterly. I quickly avert my gaze and tell myself to ignore the humiliation bound to come.
"Misaki had never been on a train before," he says, loud enough for me to hear. I go on listening to the pitter patter of rain hitting the pavement. "Until yesterday."
Gracia, greatly interested, glances at me with surprise then goes back to prod her husband to continue. "And how what did she think?"
"It was fine," I mutter, drowned out by Maes going on a chatting spree.
"She freaked out. Started going up to people and asking: are you aware that we are basically inside a snake? A giant, life size snake that takes people to their destinations? By a track? We're inside a snake, on a track, going faster than a car."
He bursts into a chain of snorts, pulling Gracia down with him. Blushing madly, I struggle for my dignity.
"I-I didn't say that!" I protest, paranoid about eavesdroppers. I really hadn't said all that nonsense… exactly…
Maes grins, sticking out his tongue in a childish pose. I'm just ready to return the mocking gesture when a man runs right into me, hitting the worst spot ever.
With a yelp, I clutch to the bandaged wound, watching the guy, face covered by a hat of some kind, continue on through the crowd. No apology. No acknowledgment. Nothing. Jackass.
"Misaki, you alright?" Gracia asks, reaching out for my injury then thinking better of it. I nod, revealing the unkind attitude I held for jerks like that. Maes, after noting my answer, looks down and reaches for something. Confused, he holds a slip of paper, beginning to read it. It's a flimsy little thing and it takes no time for him to finish with a clueless expression. Submitting to my own curious nature, I ask what it is. He shrugs.
"No idea. He must have dropped it on accident, but I don't see how it would be important enough to return it."
I frown, asking why. Maes hands it to me and as we continue our trek to the ticket booth, I read it.
She loved the rain. But you already knew that.
-819326
Something about the message forms goose bumps, or maybe it's just the rain. What bothers me is the gibberish at the end, the numbers. 819326. What was that about? Was this some sort of angry ex-boyfriend threat or something?
I try reconstructing how he looked but recall just the hat. Hmm.
"Misaki? You're not going to flip out this time are you?"
"No!" I snap, still holding on to the slip. Maes, in mid chuckle, notes I haven't thrown it away yet. And just why hadn't I tossed it out already? It wasn't of any use for me.
Not wanting to cause any unreasonable suspicion, I excuse myself, casting a dirty look for the insult, and head over to the nearest trash bin. I put my palm over the container that reeks of gin and hesitantly peel open my grip.
The slip remains stuck between my fingers and I rejoin the Hughes. They have the tickets already and the next train had arrived. Much to Gracia's relief, there were no delays and we were soon boarding. When we take our seats, I casually grab at my shoulder, massaging it, and ever so discreetly, shoving it beneath the tight wrapping.
"Misaki, something wrong?" Gracia asks as I drop my hand, burning like I'd touched something foul.
"Nope," I answer, smiling weakly and tossing Maes a face that said I'd be calm and composed for the trip. He shoots back one saying he highly doubted it. "Say, Gracia? I never had the chance to tell you how amazing that apple pie of yours was."
It's a terrible way for me to change the subject, but Gracia seems excited enough. In an essay-worthy run down of ingredients, connections, and cooking steps, she pours into a normally dull, but interesting by the telling of the angel herself, description of how she came up with such a delicacy that tasted of the highest heavens. Maes, completely ensnared by everything about the woman since marriage, grins and coos and kisses her constantly. I try listening as intensely as I can manage to her explanation, but with the Lt. Colonel going bonkers and acting like a love addicted pup, I could hardly stifle several of my own snickers. It didn't help that on top of all that, Gracia kept going as if there wasn't a distraction of a man drooling all over her innocence. With a peek behind her, I could see that several other males were giving Gracia the fullness of their attention. As for behind me, well, I'm fairly certain they were clever enough to realize Maes would not put up with any 'check outs'. In fact, I was pretty positive that the man was the severe, psychotically jealous type. He may even come after me if I were to continue gaining his wife's attention. The thought makes me smile. Maybe it'd be fun to try it one day, test his nerves.
I didn't even realize the dangers of what I was thinking. I didn't even comprehend my own determination to stick around for a next time. The Hughes, as they said, were helping me forget.
The train doors slid shut and my heart sped. I knew Maes was watching me like a hawk, Gracia not too far behind. But why should I care?
Day two of being on a train. A train. Just connected cables and cars and people bustling about. On a track. A track. How insane was that?
The scenery outside begins to move and my nose is already pressing against the glass. We move faster and faster and I'm smiling, really smiling. Amazing. Too amazing. This is insane. The world is going by so quickly and we're aloud to walk around. Move freely about the cabin as they say.
"Misaki, did you want to grab something to eat? I'm sure the dinner car is nearby…"
I jolt up, not quite sure who spoke in the first place, just certain that I heard the words "dinner car". People could eat on this thing? Like at a restaurant?!
I stand up, admitting to my hunger, not bothering to recall the many times I'd thrown up. Staring at Maes, who was grinning like a loves stuck teenage boy, I dismiss my smile and speed on down the aisle, ignoring the amused glances of random strangers. At a sharp turn, I barely miss tumbling to my side, but I'm too eager to see this "dining car", so reflexes come handy. Gracia and Maes come after me far too slowly. I glance back at them impatiently, craning my neck to take in the moving background. A door, whispering my name, beckons so I thrust it open. Maes has a grip on my elbow, preventing me from jumping out and busting my head open on a sudden step. A burst of wind sweeps across my skin, bits of rain pelleting and hitting my eyes. Squinting, I sneak from Maes' clutches and lean my head out into the fresh air, remembering just how much I loved the feel of the wind speaking its foreign language. A sense of longing comes across me and I suddenly crave unleashing my beast like span of wings and take a quick flight, but the truth of immobility dawns on me and I sadly move forward into the next car.
When I've gotten far enough inside for the Hughes to shut the door, I open another, step inside, and nearly spit.
"Holy crap!" I shout shamelessly.
Tables. Tables on a train. Waiters going around and taking orders and chefs actually cooking. This was a train and we were moving. And yet people were going about, as if we weren't.
Well, they were until my little outburst.
Everyone in the car stares at me, thrown off by my excitement. Gracia, turning around to note her expression, was red. Maes, from behind me, was laughing his butt off. I wasn't sure what to do, so I casually strut forward to the nearest customer and lean down to their eye level, looking absolutely awe-struck.
"Are you aware you're eating while we're in motion?" I ask, wide eyed. Maes laughs even louder and suddenly I hear Gracia chime in. The lady I'd spoken to, at first stunned speechless, looks over at the Hughes and then back at me. Slowly, her lips twitch, and teeth show. She's grinning, covering her mouth, since it was full, and her shoulders dip up and down with laughter. I'm still in wonderland so I spin around to face the others, raising my voice excitedly.
"Seriously! Do you guys not realize just how amazing this is?! It's as if we're flying and dining at the same time!"
Someone snorts. Another giggles. Then suddenly a voice rang out, clear as ever, and familiar as ever.
"Cheers to that!" he says, raising his glass and chuckling as everyone else in the room joins. Everyone erupts into laughter and cheers, shouting things like: "Welcome to Amestris, kid!" or "Enjoy the ride while you can!" But I couldn't seem to appeal to their mood any longer.
Because sitting smugly, pouring back his glass of whatever, was the egoistic, despicable man I'd yelled at just this morning.