Meanwhile, miles away, Edward was slowly waking from a drug induced sleep

Meanwhile, miles away, Edward was slowly waking from a drug induced sleep. He soon regained memory of what happened to him at the hospital and began to regain his full awareness as well. His captors placed him in a sitting position on a cold concrete floor with his hospital clothes still intact. There were no lights on wherever he was and he found there were chains around his flesh limbs that connected to different areas of the building, but because there was so much slack on the chains and dim lighting he couldn't tell where. This reminded the alchemist a lot of when he was being held captive by Barry the Chopper.

"This doesn't look good," He thought "My automail still isn't working and I have no idea who these people are and what they want with me."

A single light had been flicked on directly over his head, blinding the teen to an extent where his vision was impaired outside the light. He took this time to see where the chains leaded and while he couldn't see the ends, the one around his arm lead to the ceiling and the one around his leg led to another area on the floor. He heard footsteps and could make out the silhouette of a person. He saw the silhouette press a button on the wall and the chain around his arm rapidly was being raised above his head, forcing him to stand. The silhouette then flicked another switch, illuminating the room, and not much to Ed's surprise, it was the big man in black clothes and ski mask.

"Hello Edward," came a voice from behind the mask as it drew closer "I see your doing well."

"Yeah, no thanks to you." Snapped Edward "If it wasn't for you I wouldn't be here or have all of these stab wounds."

"That may be very true," said the man "However, if you look at it from a certain point of view, I believe you should be thanking me."

"Thanking you?! And from what sick and twisted point of view is this?"

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe the sick and twisted point of view where you finally tell your little friend about your true feelings for her."

Ed's mind searched hard for something to say but it kept coming up blank.

"Judging by the rare amount of silence ever generated by you, I'm assuming you understand," The man said, pacing around Ed "There's no need to thank me though. Sometimes love needs a little push and thousands of stab wounds was just the thing to do it. I'd ask that you please consider that the bright side of your long overdue penance."

"Penance?" Ed asked

"Yes Edward, your penance. Finally, after all these years, you are going to atone for all of your sins."

"What this time? The list seems to go on and on and on." Replied Edward. He wanted to know exactly what this was all about.

"Well Edward there is some truth to what you're saying." The man stared "The amount of sins that you have committed would be enough to fill the state library. However, this particular one is probably one that you don't even know you committed." He left and re-entered the room with his men and some torture devices including whips, knives barb wire, matches and a metal bat.

"Let it begin." He said. One of the men began wrapping the barb wire around the alchemist's legs and lower body, preventing him from moving without getting cut. The larger man took a whip in his hand, cracked once and then struck Edward with it in the chest. The Alchemist lowered his head and gritted his teeth, as he would never give him the satisfaction of screaming as long as he could avoid it. He glanced down at his new wound. The impact tore part of his shirt off and he could see blood trickling out of it.

As the lashing continued the next thing he felt were the knives carving different patterns into his back. He could feel the blood dripping down him and onto the floor. This was different than the first time he was stabbed, they were instant and there were more than he could count. This time around, the blades were taking their time and as far as he knew there were only two knives so far. He wanted to fall so badly, sink to his knees, but his restraints wouldn't allow it.

At this time Edward glanced up at the big man who through his mask could see a look of distaste on his face. Edward looked back down and found out why: The barb wire had not yet pierced him yet. He raised a hand to halt everyone's actions and made his way over to the bleeding Alchemist. He took a lit match and placed the flame directly on Edward's exposed stomach. Edward couldn't take it anymore. He tried squirming away from the match but all it did was slice him with barbed wire. In all his frustration he gave in and screamed for his captors to hear. The man glared in his face and smirked, knowing he got what he wanted. He moved back and signalled for the others to continue.

Ed lowered his head again while his penance continued. He felt like he was slipping away due to the huge blood loss. If he could only perform his alchemy, but with his automail deactivated and his flesh arm hoisted by chains, there was no chance of him being able to clap his hands. He looked down at all the blood at his feet. Then an idea clicked in his head. He slowly moved his flesh foot to trace a transmutation circle out of the blood. Ignoring the pain from the barb wire he began with the symbols inside the circle.

"Keep Going. Just a little more and you can survive." He thought to himself, trying to motivate himself as he felt weaker and weaker.

"Stop him!" He heard the leader yell. He looked up surprised to find out that his plan was discovered.

"No!" He screamed hundreds of times over in his head as he felt the chain around his foot yanked in the air and the metal bat hitting the back of his knee forcing it to buckle. His last hope of escape vanished before his eyes. He could hardly stand when the leader came over and forced him to look into his mask.

"You think this is over? We've merely just begun!" He screamed into the teen's face.

Finally the loss of blood had caught up to Edward. He felt more dizzy than ever and with his latest injury to his leg he started to collapse. As he fell all he could hear was laughter from the leader. He would have hit the concrete floor unless a pair of gloved hands gently caught him.