Title : Whispers of a Nightmare
Genre : Anime/Manga
Category : Full Metal Alchemist
Disclaimer : Nope, this one belongs to someone else as well.
Summary : Takes place after the incident with Nina. Something's wrong with Ed, and Al just can't quite figure out what it is. Serious situations and angst ensue.
Warnings : Angst, mild language, violence, and other issues that shall go unnamed for now. I don't want to give away too much of the plot just yet, now do I? ;)
Rating : T
Chapter 15 : Spiraling Into Oblivion
"Alphonse! Al!" Edward's fear-filled voice called out through the swaying trees, heaven's tears starting to fall faster and faster. "Al!" he cried out again, scrambling for the origin of the source. The tears that hadn't quite disappeared from his downcast golden eyes melted over his cheeks once more, his ability to see faltering more than he would have liked.
He kept trying to tell his legs to move faster or push harder, but the end result only made his steps even more scattered and clumsy. And the fact that his leg was still badly wounded and oozing blood didn't help him either. And even though it had indeed reopened for the umpteenth time, that fact didn't really faze him, it was just that the pain was deciding to travel up and down it then back again a few hundred times a second, which what was truly getting to him.
And the crutch of a rail he was using was also seemingly turning out to be a bad idea on his part. It kept getting stuck in the firm yet mucky earth, the rain making it even more of a challenge.
But all those worries about such trivial things diffused in the back of his mind, the same phrase continuing to murmur between his bleeding lips.
"Just let this be a dream. This isn't real. Just let this be a dream. This isn't real," the words tumbled out of his mouth at an alarming rate, his vision practically spinning out of control with thanks due to the lack of nourishment his body had consumed in the past twenty-four hours; and the light shower that had transformed into a full blown thunderstorm in a matter of minutes.
A second scream echoed through the trees, the wind howling right along with it, scaring the twelve year old all the more. The freezing rain beat down on his unclothed skin, so hard it actually hurt. Even in the thick underbrush, it soaked him without remorse, his clothes and skin nearly submerged in the liquid substance.
"Al! Al, where are you?" he called out, his heart pounding a little too hard in his chest when he received no response. "Al, dammit!" he cried, an involuntary sob emerging from his lips. Everything was starting to weigh in on him at once; the dizziness, the almost unbearable pain from his wound, and the cold; and the simple fact that he couldn't find his brother.
The boy couldn't control the sobs that were now leaking loudly from his mouth as he pushed himself further into the forest that had turned into a sickly shade of grayish green, not helping the fact that he was already nauseas.
Where is he? I know that was him! He's got to be here somewhere! I need him! Dammit all!
He knew he could shout in his head all he wanted, but if he didn't get to Al soon, he was sure to have a breakdown right then and there amongst the shadows of the trees, and the moment, he really didn't care.
"Brother?" a voice called out weakly between the blurred flashes of lightning and loud claps of thunder.
"Al?" Edward practically screamed, stopping dead in his tracks, unsure of where the voice was coming from. "Alphonse? Where are you?" he shouted, the droplets of rain clinging to his now loose golden locks, his wet hair sticking to his face and neck. He stood deathly still, watching impatiently as the breath escaped from his lips.
"Edward?" the voice called out again, a gloved hand reaching out of the ground a few feet from him.
Slowly, Edward's golden eyes drifted towards the hand, his eyes widening as a different kind of reality took over his eyes. His lips quivered as Alphonse appeared before him, appearing surprisingly human, though the eleven year old's skin was rotting; decaying and falling off of his body. The honey-colored eyes that he so painstakingly missed looking into stared back at him; eerily quiet, frighteningly still, inhumanly dead.
"Brother…" the word broke through Al's grey tinted lips, his gaze never leaving his older brother's. "Ed…please…help me," his younger brother requested, his dying hand reaching out to the twelve year old, a finger falling off in the process.
Edward froze, a bloodcurdling part-sob, part-scream, emanating from his throat. He immediately backed away, inevitably tripping over himself and crashing to the ground, dirt splattering up all around him. He clawed at the ground in a desperate attempt to get away from the thing that was supposed to be his brother, he unable to face it for more than a second. His fingers dug fruitlessly into the squishy earth below, the rain having transformed the lot of it into mud.
"Brother…" Ed could hear the voice call out again, forcing the boy to close his eyes tight, not wanting to look back at the thing that had become his brother.
"This is all just a dream. It's just a dream. I'm going to wake up now. Wake up!" he yelled at himself, covering his ears upon hearing Al's voice call to him again. He fell flat on his knees, doubling over as the voice continued to torture his soul, whimpers filtering through his trembling lips.
"Brother, snap out of it!" Alphonse exclaimed, clasping a hand on his brother's violently shaking shoulder, sending the smaller boy straight on his back, sending another terrified scream flowing through the cold air. "Edward, what's wrong with you? It's only me," his younger brother stated in a heavily concerned tone, still holding on tight to the broken boy.
"Al?" the twelve year old asked in what was possibly the tiniest voice that had ever traveled from his usually obnoxious mouth. He slowly peered up at the gigantic suit of armor that was towering over him, worry in its soul-filled eyes. "Alphonse?" he tried once again, just for reassurance's sake.
"It's just me, Ed," the eleven year old offered soothingly, fearful of the state his older brother had fallen into. "It's okay, alright? It's me, Alphonse," the voice wafted through the metallic shell and into the other boy's ears. Al watched as Ed slowly pushed himself to his feet, gave the eleven year old the slightest hint of a smile, and then collapsed into his younger brother's arms, his over-adrenaline-filled body finally giving out, the boy succumbing to exhaustion.
Al stood still, holding him close for a second, strangely afraid to loosen his grip for fear of somehow losing him in the hole he had just plucked himself out of. Slowly, he turned around, easily picking Edward up and putting him on his back. Cautiously, he made his way over to the hollow earth, peering down into the abyss of darkness.
Curious thoughts began to corrode his mind, though he knew that his older brother should be at the top of his priority list, but the fact that there was six foot deep hole in the middle of the forest struck him as slightly more than odd. Shaking his helmet, he turned back around, someone now blocking his path.
&&&&&
The pounding rain didn't stop Maes Hughes from continuing his investigation. The hazel eyed man paced back and forth inside the make-shift infirmary tent, one hand underneath his chin, a finger tapping at his stubble.
What should have been a regular(yet still unusual) train derailment was seemingly something more in the Major's inquisitive eyes; there was just something about the whole thing that didn't seem right. Now perhaps, if Ed and Al hadn't been involved, he might not have been as interested, but still, something nagged at him.
Pulling on the rain coat that was designated for him, he slipped outside, making his way back over to the wet wreckage. Though there was still a pretty good bit of it left, he finally made out the origin of the point of derailment, the train having traveled more than thirty yards before having come completely off the track.
He bent down, examining the piece of iron that appeared scorched before him. An eyebrow arched at this as he stood back up, following the track until he reached the edge of the debris.
"Why didn't I see this before?" Hughes asked himself, staring at the mangled iron bars where normal track should have been. "No wonder this isn't normal, the track's been transmuted!" He gaped at his sudden discovery, finally realizing why he hadn't noticed it before. It was simple, it had still been covered with wreckage and debris. But that wasn't the only clue he hadn't taken in before. It was also the exact spot where Roy had found the piece of Ed's jacket, the realization sending the hair on the back of his neck to stand on end.
"What the hell happened here last night?" the question uttered from his lips, worry constraining his already concerned orbs. "Dammit, kid, what the hell did you do?" Shaking his head as he continued on, he murmured, "Roy is so not going to like this…"
&&&&&
"Who-who are you?" Al questioned, tightening his grip on his older brother, fearful of what was going to unfold next. He'd had enough excitement for one day, a little more could possibly send him back into that damned hole in the ground.
The person was silent for a moment, unmoving and oddly still. Lightning flashed, giving way to the face of a man, probably around the age of fifty or so, fine lines just starting to trace his hardened features. His dark blue eyes gave off a dull edge, apparently at one point in time holding life but not anymore, a questioning look reigning in them.
"I think I should be asking you that," the man replied, his voice deep with a hint of anger in his response, his gaze drifting between the two alchemists.
"I'm-I'm Alphonse Elric, and this is my brother, Ed," the eleven year old replied quickly, motioning at Edward with his helmet. "We were on our way to Kiase when our train derailed and we got lost."
The man continued to study them intently, his glare landing on Edward's dangling pocket watch, his navy orbs immediately filling with anger, his brow narrowing as well.
"You're State Alchemists? Why would the State send two alchemists to Kiase?" he questioned, resentment still heavy in his tone, the hidden anger slowly bubbling to the surface.
"Well, um, I'd really like to tell you, but I'd rather get my brother out of the rain, sir. He's hurt, and soaking wet," Al stated, worry clearly evident in the voice that was much too young to be trapped in the metallic shell it originated from.
The older man was silently reluctant again before giving a quiet nod, motioning for the boy to follow him. "My home isn't too far away from here," he muttered, the eleven year old hesitantly following suit.
The walk was quiet except for the underlying noises of the thunder and rain, echoing through the stalking trees and shrubbery; the question that had been on Al's mind for the past thirty minutes finally making its escape.
"Um, sir, this may seem like a strange question, but do you know why that hole was there?" he asked, albeit a tad sheepishly.
Silence drifted between them for another long moment, the boy starting to grow nervous at the lack of response the man offered. He tried once more, quickly wishing he would have kept quiet.
"Sir?"
"It's a grave. For my wife," the stranger replied, a ripple of emotion traveling through his tone, yet it was so low, Al almost didn't hear it.
"Oh…I'm sorry…" the boy tried but failed at hiding his surprise. Guilt immediately flooded through his system, making him feel even worse than he already did. "I didn't know," he added, casting his gaze downward.
The man gave off a grunt in response, a small but modest looking house coming into view. He walked quickly up the small stone pathway that led to the front door, taking out a key. For some reason, this struck Al as being a little strange, having to lock your doors out in the middle of nowhere, but then again, what hadn't been strange about their whole trip?
He followed the man inside, thankful to get Edward out of the rain, though worry for his older brother still scurried around his crowded mind. First of all, he didn't know how long Ed had been running around that forest looking for him; and then there was the fact that he still hadn't eaten anything in who knew how long; and then Ed's reaction to actually finding him. The twelve year old had been scared to death, and obviously whatever was going through his mind at the time was not real, which worried Alphonse even more.
He couldn't quite understand Ed's reasoning for anything. Not eating, hiding it from him, the secretiveness, and the want so badly to defy Mustang's orders and get back to Kiase; none of it made much sense to the younger boy. He'd tried to work it all out, but no matter how many times he went over it, the meaning of it all was still lost on him, which scared the hell out of him.
"You can set him over there," the man motioned to a medium-sized sofa that lay tucked away in the corner of the living room, a heavy blanket draped over it. The stranger drifted out of Alphonse's sight, disappearing into another room.
The eleven year old did as he was told, laying his older brother flat on his back and beginning the painstaking chore of undressing him, something he knew Edward hated others doing for him, but in this case, it had to be done. He'd surely catch his death if he stayed in those drenched clothes much longer.
Alphonse gently slid the soaked piece of red material from his arm, afraid of what he'd find the more layers of clothing he took off. He carefully unzipped the black over shirt and pulled off Ed's heavy black boots, a small puddle forming on the wooden floor next to them. Reluctantly, he peeled the black undershirt from the twelve year old's body, his soul nearly breaking in half as he saw what his brother had been hiding for a while now.
Ribs peered through the boy's pale skin, Al being able to count each and every one as though it were a mere normality and no reason to be worried. Dark purple bruises littered his sides and chest, the largest one about the size of an adult's hand, gracing the left side of his rib cage; obviously all leftovers from the wreck. If he hadn't felt so bad for his older sibling he would've smacked him right out of the state of exhaustion the boy had fallen into. But he came to the conclusion it would probably be best to save that for later when he was a little more rested and awake, of course.
"These should fit him," the man stated gruffly, coming back into the room and handing Alphonse a pair of boy's pajamas, appearing to be just the right size for his older brother.
"You have a son?" Al asked curiously, gazing up at the older man, hoping that he hadn't hit another sour note.
"Yes," he replied simply, taking off his rain coat and hanging it in the small hallway closet.
"Is he here now?" the eleven year old inquired, trying to sound as positive as he possibly could, inwardly knowing that no matter what he did, the man would retain his sense of detachment and continue to wear that same hard, bad-assed expression on his face.
"No," another one-word answer came. The man traveled into the kitchen area, Al hearing the sound of pots and pans shifting.
"Oh," the quiet response drifted from the seemingly lonely suit of armor, his gaze drifting back down to his older brother as he carefully removed the rest of his wet clothing and dressed with the lent sleepwear. "So…you live alone?" he asked, unable to refrain from his cascade of questions, the man interesting to him for some reason. He felt no fear around the stranger, but only sensed a feeling of sadness and hidden loneliness.
"I have for some time now," the black-haired man stated, standing at the kitchen stove, Al wishing he could smell what it was.
"But I thought you said that that grave…was for your wife?" he finished uneasily, placing the heavy down blanket over his older brother, a faint lecture already stewing in the back of his mind.
The man was silent as he made his way into the living room holding a steaming bowl and a glass of water. He handed it to Al, nodding towards Edward as he disappeared back into the kitchen, retrieving another for the younger boy.
"Oh, it's okay, sir. I'm actually not all that hungry right now," Al said, hoping not to piss the man off any further. Silence rested between them again as the man made a bowl for himself and sat down at his kitchen table, leaving the eleven year old alone with his sleeping brother.
&&&&&
Scenery passed by at a seemingly alarming rate and probably would've concerned the man seated in the back of the vehicle, except for the fact that the driver was First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye. The sky lit up every so often, the man's expression never changing. He merely stared on, strategic planning likely going on in his constantly moving mind.
"Sir, you never told me exactly where our destination was. I thought that we were going after the Elric brothers," Hawkeye stated in her usual professional tone, using it even when the two were alone.
"We are," Mustang answered simply, the corners of his mouth creeping up slightly, his arms neatly folded across his chest.
"Then may I ask, sir, why are we traveling by vehicle and not on foot?" she questioned, glancing at the Lieutenant Colonel in the rearview mirror. "It seems like it would only make sense judging that's how the boys are moving."
"True, but their destination is a given factor in the equation. No matter where they are now, they're going to wind up in Kiase within the time frame of forty-eight hours, and when they arrive, we'll already be there, ready to escort them straight back to Central." His smug expression only grew wider as he saw the look of misguided understanding on Hawkeye's face, hearing a, "Yes, sir, of course," part from her lips followed by silence.
He continued to stare out the window, rehearsing the words that were going to slam into Full Metal's ear the minute he laid eyes on him. But when it came down to it, he really didn't know what the hell he was going to say to the kid.
&&&&&
He couldn't make his footsteps any quieter than they were, all thanks to the metallic shell he was confined within; but doing his best, he made his way into the kitchen, a small glass now sitting before the stranger that had taken them in. He glanced over at the eleven year old, a sort of dazed expression settling into his eyes. For some unexplained reason, that expression seemed familiar in a way, though Alphonse couldn't quite place it.
"Um, excuse me, sir, is it okay…?" He cut himself short when the man nodded, motioning towards the small wooden chair that was adjacent to his, filling the small glass once more with a brownish colored liquid. "So-"
"I have to move her because the place where she was buried before is slowly getting submerged. There's a dam nearby and it has a leak. I don't want to take the chance…" his voice drifted off, his navy orbs wandering to the empty glass.
The hollow boy was silent for a moment, thoughts of possibly repairing the leak for the man springing to mind, but unsure of whether he should offer or not. It was quite possible the man wouldn't remember their conversation come morning, due to the alcohol flooding through his system at the moment.
"I'm sorry to hear that, um…" Al stopped, unsure of what to call the man.
"Rian. The name's Rian," he offered, unusually informative, adding more substance to the small tumbler, his strong hand shaking slightly. He closed his eyes as he downed the whiskey, the burning that should have been there numb due to years of it being routine. "He's a State Alchemist," the words tumbled from his mouth, his dark blue eyes drifting once more. A small chuckle emitted from his lips, though it sounded more like a low grunt instead, his brow narrowing a bit. "Hell, I haven't spoken to that kid in years…What did you say you were doing in Kiase? Official State business, huh?" He grunted again, the glass seemingly refilling on its own.
Alphonse stared at the older man for a moment, feeling more and more sorry for him the longer the conversation continued on. "Yes, you could say that," he replied, his gaze falling on the near empty bottle of whiskey.
"You two--you two seem a little young for being State Alchemists. What are you, 'bout thirteen, fourteen? And your little brother over there? He looks like he's only ten years old!" he cracked, a deep laugh erupting from his throat. "Ha! I can't believe they're letting children into the military now. Go figure," he muttered, slamming the glass back on the table, his face transforming back into the hardened expression it had worn since they first meeting.
"Well, actually, sir-"
"There's something bad going on down there, isn't it?" he questioned, his gaze steadily falling on the body of armor, his eyes meeting Al's soul-filled ones. "I've heard--rumors or what have you of things going on there for quite awhile now. I knew there was a reason I never quite liked that place. Don't treat strangers too kindly. Soon as you walk in, you're a target," Rian stated, shaking his head, his fingers still clenched around the shot glass, a sense of anger starting to burn in his eyes.
This peaked the eleven year old's attention by far, the boy already leaning in closer to the table. Had he had a jaw, it would've been slowly dropping with each new fact that poured from the man's drunken lips.
"Hell, I even heard they've tried to raise their dead there too. Something about a magical stone there or something. Wait, is that why you boys are going there? Because of that? Well, something needs to be done," he muttered, his navy blues blinking a few times before lazily drifting into the living room. His gaze fell on Edward, the boy buried under the thick blanket but still somehow managing to shake. "Tell me something. Why in the hell did you two boys want to become State Alchemists?"
Al hesitated a moment before replying. "To fix something, sir. A mistake we made a long time ago."
"To fix something, huh? Yeah, same thing my boy said…" he mumbled, his tone immediately turning bitter, his brow set in a fine decline. "Said that he had to get away. Kid was always getting himself into trouble one way or the other. Then just one day, he and his buddy disappeared. I found out a few months later what he had done. Haven't heard from him since."
"How long ago was that?" the eleven year old questioned intently, though hoping the man had more to say about Kiase and what other rumors he had perhaps heard.
"About seven years now. Stupid kid. Smug little bastard he was…Would you like some?" he asked, holding up the empty bottle.
"Um, no thanks," Alphonse stated sheepishly, standing to his feet. A sinking feeling filled his soul, knowing he probably couldn't get much more than more ranting about the man's son or the military.
"Your loss…"
Al shook his head as he entered the living room, his soul-filled eyes immediately falling on his older brother, the boy's mouth slightly open; though where there should have been a quiet innocence on his youthful visage, there was a strong expression of pain, his eyebrows narrowed.
The eleven year old sat down on the edge of the sofa, using his gloved gauntlet to push his brother's still slightly wet locks from his face, a thought circling through his weary mind. What's wrong with you, Brother? What are you seeing? He sighed and leaned his helmet back against the soft cushion, knowing he wouldn't receive a reply.
&&&&&
The moment some form of consciousness initiated in his soul, he felt pain spread throughout his limbs, nearly convulsing in reflex. It was almost as though his breath had been sucked straight out of him, his chest tightening at the thought. The sensation lasted for only a moment, but that feeling would stick with him for quite some time, as he would later recall.
The crackling of wood on fire met his ears, golden eyes slowly peering out of sleep-laced lids. The room he found himself in was warm, due to the fireplace that sat comfortably to his right, the coldness and shivering he had felt his body succumb to gone.
Thankful, his gaze drifted down to the foot of the couch, Alphonse's helmet drooped in a state of rest, the sight immediately making the wounded alchemist feel ten times better. He was safe, he was warm, and his brother was by his side; there wasn't much more he could ask for except maybe his brother's body back, and that would pretty much do it. But for the time being, he was quite content, even a little hungry.
Whatever took place that day was pretty hazy in his mind, and as he tried to recall the events, the images in his head blurred even more, forcing him to focus on other things. He let out a small sigh, not wanting to wake Alphonse up, but knew it would otherwise be impossible not to do if he moved.
But just as he was about to push himself up, his whole body tightened, paralysis settling in. His golden orbs widened at this, knowing this was not how his body was supposed to react, fear immediately gripping his soul. He tried once more, but it didn't take long to realize that he was frozen, stuck in the position he was in. And yet even worse, every time he even attempted to move a muscle, pain electrocuted the spot, though he didn't give up.
He opened his mouth to say something--anything, yet it was as though his voice were gone, rendering him completely and utterly silent. Though the terror of what he was going through at the present was nothing compared to what he would be experiencing in the moments to come.
Author's note : Yes, I know. I've done it again, but sometimes, I just can't help myself. Hope you all liked the chapter. ;)
And THANK YOU all so much for reviewing. I'm going to attempt something I don't think I have yet, so here goes : THANKS go to Lyemi, Roy-Fan-33, cuylerjade, Me and My God Complex, ThePatheticWriter, TayloWolf, Akamori-chan, OrangeKittyAlchemist-Sony, Aemilia Rose, agent000, DarkAmber112, totallyinlovewithed, Hasso, Legendary Chimera, DoThePieFace, vampire elf, karikado, BlackHalliwell, marufu-chan, Harryswoman, American-Idiot14, Birth of Venus, CrazyDreamin, Crystal Remnant, Dragonjewel24, Elliote, Enpowera, FullDexter Alchemist, Here's Hoping, InuB, JChrys, Jaz the Wolf, Kagome92111, Kuropuu, Majestic Puppy, Maximum Poofy, Mayoki, Nefarious Idiot, Nejidragon, Punk Rocker Girl, Shattered Mirror01, The Silver Goddess Alchemist, Twilight-Cullen, Yueh-san, amrun'quessir, br14nn4, candle on the water, citrus peach, full metal-flame-lover, golden-eyed-heretic, hyperdude, iwantalife, kianna13, pippy32388, protegem0i, youkaiwriter, ChibiCorsair, Dark Mage Makai, DarkSquire008, Densu, Dreamthreader, Keeper of the Times, Mecha Otaku, NoZoMi17, ominous-Shadow, RanMinamino, TelevisionGod, The-Rogue-Angel123, TreeStar, Uzamaki Kakari, Zion, alienaileen, beccaRAR, coughkouichicough, demoncastaway, kawaiiangel22, pink-kitty, sarcasminabox, ssj2raider, yin vs. yang, and all those that have left me a review for any of the chapters.
Thank you all for your continuous support for this story. I really do appreciate it. And I apologize if I didn't reply to every review. I will try to this time around. Hopefully, this chapter will suffice. Sorry I jumped around a bit. Hope it wasn't too much. The one shot'll probably come out once the movie does, just for spoiler purposes. Until next time…
P.S. Oh, and I realized I called Hughes a Lieutenant in earlier chapters, but when I was going back through the show, I realized that he was a Major instead. My apologies for the error. ;)