An Array of Wonders

Chapter: The Unsettling Night

Trisha Elric looked up when she heard a peal of thunder roar overhead.

"He's in this mess, I just know it, he's getting soaked." She whispered as she slowly walked through the darkened house. Small hands reached out into cabinets to grasp a long candle stick. She then found a match in a bottom drawer and set off to lit it from the stove. Her long, brown, mid back, length hair was tied into a loose braid that dangled dangerously close to the fire. She sighed as she finally lit the match and put it onto the candle's wick. "Good, now there's just the shadows to deal with." It had always been her little secret that Trisha Elric, wife of one of the most renowned alchemist of their time, was deeply afraid of shadows. She sighed as another thunder's cry was heard, and flinched when the lightning briefly lit up the night.

Moments passed in silence as she adjusted to the dim light that the long, thin candle gave off. It's diameter of light was barely a foot and Trisha was certain she would bump into some object before long. With the one hand she dragged against the wall she could kind of feel where she was going. Her footsteps silent in the storm seemed loud to her ears. Her brow creased with worry as her hand, for the third time that night, found the room's light switch. Her brow deepened as she flicked the switch one last time hoping beyond hope that it would light up the room in a pale hue.

"No such luck tonight." She said unhappily, then continued on her way to the stairs.

She flinched when her shin hit the first step. "One at a time." She murmured as she grasped the banister and slowly mounted the stairs. Her hands cast eerie glows in the small light, and her breathing hitched when shadows became even more prominent.

"The moon's become overtaken by clouds, I guess." She joked, trying to smile in the dark. As she reached the final step she heard an unmistakable noise. Alphonse was having a nightmare. The same ones he'd been having ever since Edward has disappeared.

Trisha blew out some air as she tried to calm her frazzled nerves. Nothing good would come out of breaking down in tears in front of her son. She was supposed to comfort him, not the other way around.

She slowly walked toward her youngest son's door then stopped when she noticed the noises coming from Ed's room. Green eyes blinked in surprise for a few scant moments before she turned to the other door which was slightly open.

Alphonse tossed and turned as his mind was tormented with unhappy thoughts.

Brother's hurt.

Brother's bleeding.

Brother's run away (why?)

Brother's… dead.

He jerked awake when he felt a cool hand on his forehead. Grayish, gold eyes slowly opened to see his mother looking down at him. The candle she had barely gave enough light off to see her face. "Kaasan? I dreamt that Ni-san wasn't going to come back. That's not true, right?" He whispered.

Trisha bent down and kissed his forehead. "Of course it isn't. Your Ni-san isn't going to stay gone for long. Tousan is out looking for him right now. Even in this weather." She said soothingly. "Go back to sleep. He'll be back before you know it."

Al sighed ,then noticed where he was.
"Did I really fall asleep in his room? Why was I-?

Oh yeah! The letter! I thought that could be where Ni-san went, but ….it's not time to meet with that guy yet, he wouldn't have gone so early."

Al said, his voice going from excited to depressed in a matter of seconds.

"What letter?" Trisha wondered, and Al felt around him on the floor and found the letter

.
"Ni-san got it a few days before but wouldn't tell me what it was about. I-I read it today, but I don't think it'll help." Al said sheepishly. "I know I shouldn't have but…"

Trisha shook her head, "I'm happy you tried. Anything that could help is okay dear."

"Who sent it?" She asked, as she wrapped Al in an embrace. She had placed the candle on the desk a moment before.

"Some guy called Mustang, I think. Said he'd become a colonel"

Trisha blinked and then wondered what the flame alchemist wanted with her son.

"So, you've never met him?"

"No, and Ni-san never talked about it. The letter wanted him to meet up with Mustang tomorrow to talk about stuff. Military stuff!" Al explained, then looked out the window at the pouring rain.

"Tomorrow will be bad for meetings." He murmured as he pulled out of his mother's embrace and went to the window.

Trisha sighed and grabbed the candle in her hands. "It's late. You'll be alright?" She asked.

She saw Al's shadow nod, then quietly went to the doorframe.
"Oyasumi nasai, Alphonse." She said as she left.

Al stood by the window a while longer looking out. He jumped when he heard a loud banging noise on the front door.

Note:I alternate Kaasan with Mother and Tousan with Father. It just goes with what I think sounds better for the moment.And Ni-san is generally put in instead of older brother. Oyasumi nasai means goodnight, and I'll put Edward in the next chapter. Or Scar, though would he bother knocking anyways?

Enjoy!