Chapter 6

Marie sat on the bed looking at Edward with downcast eyes. She felt guilty for knocking the vase over on him. She didn't know how to tell him that she had knocked him out, but he figured it out before she had the chance.

"What did you do that for?" He rubbed his head with his automail hand and stood up, leaning against the chair next to the little writing desk for support. The slight breeze blew through the window but he couldn't feel it, nor could Marie.

"I'm sorry. I had to. I needed you to come here first and then come to the dream world. It's the only way you can help I think. Please help me." She said looking at her toes. She wiggled them slowly, wishing she could feel them move.

"Well how are we supposed to help. Where's my brother?" He looked out the window and saw a faint figure running down the street but he wasn't all that clear. Edward turned around and looked at the girl with long dark brown hair to her waist and the blue layered dress. She was beautiful and she did need his help, but how did she get here? What was he going to do to help her?

Edward asked that question now. Marie sat silently on the bed.

"Well, it started the day my mom brought home the old man. She had been looking for someone to replace father since dad disappeared, but this man was not interested in her, I could tell.". Ed sympathized with her there. He knew what it was like to have a father leave your family never to come back. "He was after her money. I tried to tell her but she wouldn't listen. She would go to town to look at books and wait for dad at the desert post, but he never came. Then that man showed up. After they met, he would always take wine from the cellars without asking and then he'd bring expensive gifts for her. They got married 2 months later and then he betrayed her within the year."

Tears started to roll down her cheeks and she furiously rubbed them away before continuing. "He came back one night; it was raining and I was in my room crying because mom wouldn't listen to me. He'd left because they were arguing again. Then he came back and he convinced her he would stop and... And -". She took a deep breath before continuing. "I peered out of my room to see what they were doing at the door and they were all there in my hallway. They were hugging, or what looked like hugging. He had stabbed her! After all she did for him, he stabbed her. The maid thought it was suicide and ran screaming from the house. But then he came to my room. Mom was on the floor and bleeding and he came at me. He pushed me onto—onto my bed and- and cursed me!" She burst into tears and sobbed into her knees.

Edward moved forward to comfort her. That's when he noticed her leg, her automail leg. Now he was more curious. When had she gotten that, and how? She lived almost 400 hundred years ago! No automail engineer was this sophisticated back then. He looked at her as she stopped crying. Her eyes red from the tears that were most likely not felt. She looked up and stood. "Sorry, I should control myself." She walked over to the desk and pulled the book towards her. She flipped through the pages to the front and began to read.

"'Day 1, I sit here in this ghostly place wondering how I got here. I hope that cursed man gets what he deserves. I dream about old memories while I sit and watch the familiar things I loved in my room disappear. There's weird noises outside my door. They howl and scratch and then go away. I can't sleep either, it's weird. I hope I can find my way out before I forget everything.'" She paused and flipped a few pages and began to read again.

"'Day 14, the world here is very bright. I sit and look out the window and think of all the things I should have told mom before she died. I still hate that man, when I get out he will pay. The noise at my door sounds like wolfs now, dogs that are hungry. I'm afraid to go out. My favourite blanket disappeared today, I miss it dearly. My leg aches."' This time she flipped whole chapters and began to read.

"'Year113 day124, I long to die, this is very boring. My room is bare and all I can think about is that man whose name is forgotten in the storm. He was nice and had long blond hair. Fiunny the things you remember and the things you don't. Mom liked him much; I think she should have married him. He was gentle and nice."' She flipped to the last pages.

"' Year 403 day 289, I long to be rid of this feeling of dread. It's been so long since I breathed air and saw living things. I've talked to the boy in my dreams and he says he'll help. He much resembles the man that helped me those long years ago. I will help him and tell the world what this place is like, and rebuild the home my mother loved. The noise continues but I'm not scared. I will face them and defeat them when I leave."'

She finished and closed the book. Then she laid it on the table and looked at Edward with determined eyes. "We will get out of here. I have a plan, but I needed outside help for years. A soul can't wield weapons, and there are none in my room, so I need you to do that. Please."

Edward gazed at her and nodded. He had a thought. If alchemy worked in the dream world, he could create a sword from his auto mail to defend them from the wolves. He clapped his hands together and a bright light flashed as he touched his right arm. Suddenly a blade appear from his sleeve and Marie stepped back in astonishment. "Alright, I'll help. What's your plan?" He said with a smile. She smiled back with an ageless look. "How did you do that?" She was leaning forward as if to touch it, to see if it was real.

"Careful, it's sharp." Ed warned.

"Ok, The creatures outside the door are like ghost's of demented wolfs and other things. Their like cross breeds."

"Chimeras you mean?"

Marie's face made a sour look. "What are those?"

"They're animals that have been crossed like you said, but my alchemists." He answered.

"Oh, that's terrible." She said horrified. "Anyway, they're savage beasts. I've tried before, but they won't let me down to the stairs. They've attacked me, and I've been cut. The injuries u sustain in this world will impact you in the physical world as well. At least that is what I think. When I was cut it took weeks to go away. When I open the door, you run through. They'll hear the door and come soon, I don't know where they go when they're not at the door so be prepared."

"Don't worry, I've fought chimeras before." Marie looked at him. He was so brave. She sighed. There was something about his demeanour that reminded her of how her mom used to look at the blond Doctor. Marie knew her mom liked the man. And if felt to her that she herself may feel similarly about Edward. Then again, she wasn't sure if 403 years just did that to you with the first person you met, whether they were rescuing you or not.

"Ok, are you ready?" She was nervous for him and herself. She couldn't believe she might finally get free of this prison. She glanced at her notebook, then looked at the window one last time. 'At last I'll be free!'

Edward made his way to the door. Marie followed close behind. She wasn't sure what would happen after the door was open, but she could guess. Edward glanced at her over his shoulder. She looked a bit pale, but that might be because she was not quiet living. Or so he guessed.

"Do you know what will happen after you're free?" He was wondering way she wanted out so bad. He supposed that it was the freedom to be restful, but that was again another guess. Was he hoping she'd be alive? After 400 years her body should be dust! Unless... The philosophers stone. He'd not yet asked her about it.

"I-I don't know, I just want out. I hate this place. It's not normal." She looked at him coldly, from her memories in her mind from this dream world.

"Ok, I'll do my best. By the way, have you heard of-" a sudden bang rumbled from outside the house and the dark rolling clouds flashed with bright light. The dream storm had finally hit. Ed flung open the door and ran out. Instantly the dogs howled and appeared from nowhere, running after him. He ran for the stairs then passed them to lead the dogs away so the way would be clear for Marie. They got dangerously close and Edward had to make a few slashes with his arm sword to fend them off. They ran harder to catch up, ghostly eyes glowing after him. They were savage like Marie said, and they meant to kill.

Marie flung her head out the door as soon as the dogs past, then bolted towards the stairs. To her, it felt like she was running through ten feet of snow. Her legs dragged as she moved slowly towards the landing. It was like the room was trying to suck her in. All of a sudden she got to the stairs and the suction left, she practically fell down the flight of stairs. But before she lost her footing she yelled up to get the dogs' attention so Edward could follow.

Just before the dogs could attack Edward they heard her yell and bolted towards the stairs. Edward quickly took his free chance and jumped over the railing and land just under Marie as they hit the floor.

"Oww." He grumbled and she got off him quickly. The dogs were approaching fast and Edward grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards the door. Her heavy feet slowed them down. "Edward, hurry, save yourself!" She said, stumbling and tripping along behind him. But he didn't listen. He continued to drag her along.

The dogs were already down the stairs as he gripped the front door handle. He flung open the door and threw Marie out the door and then followed himself. He still grasped the handle just as the dogs snarled in the entry way. The door slammed in there face and he landed hard on his front in the gravel beyond the porch for the 3rd time.

As soon they were out the door the world began to twist and shift. Marie stared in horror as she clung to Edward's sleeve. Soon the world began to settle and the colours so long forgotten to her, began to return. she was suddenly flung away from Edward, he reached for her as she disappeared and she was plunged into darkness. Her breathing slowed and her eyes closed. Suddenly she woke up in her room feeling heavy and stiff. It was dark, grey and full of cob webs. She didn't move a muscle.

Edward lifted his head slowly. He wasn't on the gravel but back in her room, leaning against the wall under the window. The top of his head hurt a lot from getting hit by the vase. He looked beside him at the floor and saw the broken pieces. Slowly he got up and went to the door, thinking it was all a dream before he realized there was someone in the bed. Her body lay still and cold. He walked up to her, thinking it was the body of a dead girl but surprised to see her smooth features just like in the dream and her chest slowly rising and falling. She hadn't aged a day. She looked exactly as he had in the dream world.

He leaned down towards her ear and whispered, wondering if it was truly real what had just happened, her name. "Marie?" Suddenly her eyes flew open and the pendant around her neck cracked. Edward threw his arms around her shoulders and almost cried. "Oh my gosh, it was real. You really were there? Are you still ok? Did we get out?" She looked at him with soft eyes and smiled. "Yes, you saved me. I'm free!" Tears began to trickle down the sides of her cheeks and together they embraced with relief.

Edward thought she meant to disappear into dust because he suddenly remembered all the details; her age, the stories. "You're not going to ... disappear?" He asked. His eyes confused and his hair all a crazy mess. He still held her tightly, hoping that at least she could enjoy some of her life in the real world after all she had endured. She smiled to him. "No silly, I'm still here; I was frozen in time you could say. That makes the most sence" She giggled. Her accent was strong in the old way. She moved to sit up when they both noticed the medallion resting on her neck. SHe moved to take it off when Ed grabbed it, inspecting it with intense scrutiny.

"That was no magic trick the old man put you under Marie. This is a transmutation circle. In fact, It's different than the ones I know. It's a reverse soul binding transmutation circle. There's glyphs, they indicate that your soul would have been cast from your physical body. That means you were stuck between the world and the gate!" The realization that wash over Ed felt surreal and almost euphoric. Ed had never encountered such cruel use of alchemy before and it's complication was jut as real as human transmutation. She sat up, with Edwards help and they stood together. "Let's get out of this retched place." She said just as she grabbed her diary and they walked from the room. Ed understood, she just wanted to get away from the memories that were haunting her. He'd try to ask her later about the stone, but one more question prodded at his mind. "Hang on Marie, If your soul was cast out, how was your body preserved for you? There has to be a reason." Marie shrugged, "I'm not sure. I would really like to find out, but -"

Ed understood, "Don't worry, I can come back to investigate. Let's get you some food and clean clothes, hmm?" Ed held her hand to help steady her as they climbed down the same stairs as they had in the dream, just moments before, but much more aged. They had to hop from the missing steps and they both stumbled out the front of the house.

Ed looked around the field on edge, "Al where are you?"

Thanks for staying with me for soo long, I really had to get things straight so I couldn't post for a while. Hope you enjoyed this next chapter! The next one will come soon... eventually! haha

Edited and Updated