DOUBLE UPDATE! WOOHOO! Alright, this is dedicated to my AMAZING editor, Kayleigh, who helped me write a certain part of this chapter! At least, she said it was cool...
Chapter 10- Crimson Buttefly- See No Evil
"Wha- what?" Al mumbled. His voice cracked as his eyes welled up with tears.
No…he thought. Brother can't be… be… Alphonse couldn't even think the word 'dead'.
A single tear sprang from his eye.
Hiro sat Al down on the ground then shook his hands and head ferverently.
"No, no, no! He's not dead!" he exclaimed, his voice raising an octave. Al's head jolted up, his eyes widening.
"What?"
"I meant, 'There isn't time to be freaking out! We have a ritual to interrupt' kind of 'there isn't time!', okay?" Hiro stood, holding a hand out to Alphonse. "So, are you coming? Or do I have to save your brother for you?"
Al sat for a moment in silence. When it finally sank in that he'd fallen into depression far too easily and that Edward was still alive- most likely-, he gripped the steely hand and pulled himself up, leaving Camera Obscura where it lay a few feet away.
"But," he began. "I saw Ed fall… with Sae-"
"You saw what would happen if you didn't save him." Hiro announced. "But we're not going to let that happen, right?"
Al shook his head violently. Crack. "Ouches!" he mumbled, rubbing his neck. "Something else to put on the list of, 'Not Used To's'… Whip-lash…"
Hiro chuckled. "I didn't think you'd let him die. So come on! Right down that staircase!"
"Wait!" Al said. Hiro looked to him. "I thought you were dead! Did he-?"
"Yeah, he just disembodied me. No worries!"
"Oh…" Al nodded understandingly.
The two now began their decent, falling deeper and deeper into the darkness. Symbols were etched deeply into the stonewalls, the stairs carved recklessly from the rock.
Red light flashed brilliantly front behind Alphonse, striking his attention. He spun to see Hiro flying backwards. The silver-eyed boy rushed to the suit of armor. "What happened?" he questioned.
Hiro sat up.
"Damn," he mumbled. "I didn't think that still worked…"
Al cocked his head to the said, raising and eyebrow in confusion.
Noting this, Hiro explained. "You see, there's a spell placed on these grounds. It keeps the spirits from leaving this chamber, so as not to haunt the townspeople. Also, it keeps spirits from entering and upsetting the gods. So I can't enter because this suit is all of a 'body' I have."
So… Al thought. Now I'm on my own… He nodded. He stood to face the challenge. "Okay," he said, curling his fist. "You just wait here. I'll bring Brother back in a few minutes!" With that, the blonde sprinted off, taking three to four steps at a time.
Hiro sighed. "No problem…" he mumbled. "It's not like I have anywhere else to be…"
----
Al's eyes quickly adjusted to the light. Immediately, he began registering the sights at the bottom of the stairs.
It was once again a plain gray room. A rock futon sat before a large, vacant expansion. The hole was a deep black, giving way to none of the possible secrets that could be held within its depths. People stood tall on either side of a long walkway. There was only one long row of them on each side, all holding staffs which they pounded on the stone floor. The people themselves all looked much like the Kusabi: gray skin, glowing eyes. The only thing difference were the souls missing from around them.
And there, at the end of the walk, was Edward, gripping Sae's hand. His legs were tensed; he was preparing to jump.
"Ready?" Al heard him ask.
NO! Alphonse thought, lurching forward. "Wait, Brother! No, wait! Brother, wait! NO!"
Time seemed to slow down. At least, the time around Al. Edward just seemed to go even faster.
"Steady…" Sae said. The two leaned forward.
Al printed harder. Must save Brother… must save Brother… must save Brother… His breathing was sporadic and his legs were screaming in pain and shaking under him, threatening to give way, but adrenaline is a lifesaver.
Suddenly, time reverted back to normal speed. Ed was now right in front of him.
"Jump!" they both called, springing up and out with all their might.
Al reached out for Ed… and missed. No! A searing pain shot through his heart.
He lashed out with his other arm. Ed's arm was now gripped in Al's hand. Sae continued to fall, screaming as Al's shoulder was nearly ripped out of socket from the impact. A small plunk was heard.
Don't look into the pit! Hiro's voice cautioned. Al turned his head away, averting his silver orbs from the depths.
Alphonse sensed Ed's golden eyes on him. "Wha…"
"It's me, Brother." Al said, his voice cracking. I did it. he thought, smiling. I saved him like he's saved me… "It's Alphonse."
"Alphonse…? But… your body… I thought you…" Ed sniffled. His voice heightened a few notes and broke. "I thought you were dead…" he whimpered in dismay.
Al smiled, closed his eyes, and shook his head. "No, I'm fine."
He could almost feel Ed smile. "I'm glad… But hey…" he mumbled, returning to his normal self. "How's about lifting me out of this pit? It's a little unnerving…"
Al chuckled and began to heave him up.
He was finally almost out of the pit…
Slip.
Ed cried out and reached for his brother as he fell back, diving into the pit. Al's head turned and he swung out for the blonde, gripping him with both hands this time.
There was once again a large jerk, showing the hold was solid. Alphonse scooted forward slightly. Whew… he thought. He looked at his brother, who looked smiling back at him.
Then he looked past his brother subconsciously… into the pit…
Al gasped.
Hundreds of bodies were planted down deep, deep into the pit. Creatures of the night and maggots and other unknown beings crawled across the bloody corpses. Spikes extended through the chests and other body parts of the dead. Eyes stared unseeingly into the distance. The children's limbs bent backwards and sideways, contorting them into mangled lumps of human carcass. Even some skin was being eaten away, bones exposed, organs rotting away, hair matted with blood; clothes were tattered. The smell itself, now that Al noticed it, was revolting, making him gag and cough. They seemed to reach out to him… crying out in agony and despair… begging for his help that he couldn't give…
Sae sat atop this mound of bodies, smiling, her arm pointing up toward Al. Her eyes were wide and it seemed almost as if she were taunting the boy.
You're coming soon… my friend… Yae…
"Al…?" Edward clung to the dazed boy. He swung to the side of the vacancy, grabbing the edge of the pit and pulling himself up. He looked at Alphonse.
He shivered uncontrollably. A single drop of crimson blood rushed down his pale cheek, cascading from his eyes.
The male began screaming, clawing desperately at his eyes and crying.
Ed's golden orbs widened as he lunged forward to aid his brother. He gathered the blubbering Al in a hug, trying desperately to calm him from whatever he'd been spooked by. "Al? Al! What's wrong, Al? Please, it's okay! Al!" The blonde shook the hysterical Alphonse, trying to snap him from whatever daze he'd fallen into.
Al continued to shake and sob, trying to get to his eyes. "I don't wanna see.." he moaned pathetically, fighting against his brother. "I don't… no… NO!" he reached out and held his brother, still crying. His eyes seemed glued shut.
Ed blinked. What..? "Al, look at me."
The boy shook his head violently. I don't wanna see… he thought vigorously. I don't wanna see… I don't wanna see… Brother… please…Make it go away… He buried his head deeper still into the blonde's chest.
"Brother, look at me." He said, a little sterner. Still, Al shook his head.
Finally, Ed grabbed the boy's chin and forced Al's gaze upon him.
The once silver eyes were now red, bloodshot masses. The pupils had either disappeared altogether or were just intangible through the red, giving his eyes a glazed look. Crimson was smeared over his face from him clawing at his eyes and from the blood drenched tears.
Ed gasped, waving two fingers in front of Al's face.
"Al, can you answer a simple question for me?"
He nodded, mumbling slowly and weakly, "Yes…"
"Good," he croaked. "Now… how many fingers am I holding up?"
Ed continued moving the appendages until Al responded, "Mmh…mhmm…"
"What?"
"Can't see. Don't know."
"What do you mean, 'can't see'?"
"I mean just what I say: I can't see how many fingers you're holding up! Therefore, I can't tell you how many! I can't tell you're even holding any up at all!" Al sobbed, digging his face into Ed, who patted his hair numbly.
There was a moment of silence aside from Al's sobs.
Finally, Edward began leading Al away. Maybe… he thought. Maybe it's only temporary… Perhaps he's not really blind… What could he have seen… that would cause this violent of a reaction…? What was in the depths…?
"Al?" he mumbled, leading him up the stairs.
"Mm-hm?"
"What… what was in that pit?"
Al shuddered.
"You mean he looked? Even after I warned him!" The suit of armor loomed over the two brothers, blue eyes glowing. Ed jumped back, but Al pulled him forward again. "It's okay." Al told him. "It's just Hiro."
Ed shot him a questioning look. From the silence, Al inferred he needed to explain. "Remember when Sae showed up a few hours ago? You thought I was dead, but I wasn't! Then Hiro showed up…"
Alphonse told of everything: the body swap, the ritual, Sae and Yae… the only detail left out was what was in that pit. By the time he'd finished, they'd already reached the town. His eyes were closed the whole time. He'd resolved not to bother.
"And that's that." Al mumbled.
They all stood at full height.
"Actually, one more problem…" Hiro said, sadly.
Ed quirked a brow. "What's that?"
Hiro pointed. "They don't want you to leave."
Before them stood hundreds of "people", waving candles and knifes, anything they could get their hands on.
"Crap!" Ed swore, feeling around. "Camera… camera… Crap! Al, do you se-" he bit his lip, recalling Al's sight problem, then continued, " remember where you last saw the camera?"
Al cocked his head in thought, then slapped his hand over his mouth.
"What? What's wrong?" Ed questioned.
"Hiro!" Alphonse addressed. "Did you pick it up from earlier- before I went to get Brother?"
Silence ensued.
"Damn it! Now what are supposed to do?" Ed ruffled his hair angrily.
"Guess we'll just have to make a break for it!" Al exclaimed, taking a cautious step forward.
"But," Hiro started. "Al, with your eyes, you-"
"I know. But how else would we get out of here? I trust Brother. He can lead the way."
Both Hiro and Edward knew he had a valid point.
"I'll try to distract them as best as I can, okay?" Hiro told the brothers. The two blonde's nodded.
Hiro sprinted ahead, screaming his battle, "AH!"'s
"Brother?" Al whispered.
"Yeah?"
"Don't leave me."
Ed smiled and gripped his younger brother's hand tighter. "I'm not gonna leave you. No way, no how." He turned back to the parade of people.
He clapped, turning his automail right arm into a long, sharp knife to knock the bodies out of his way with.
"Ready?"
"Steady…"
"Go!" They both started running.
Hiro took out zombie after beast.
They dashed through the monsters, chasing their tracks through the town. The creatures followed. Mansion after mansion passed until, finally, they reached a long, broken bridge.
"What do we do now?" Hiro complained, slashing at the enemies.
Once again, Edward's hands met, leaving Al momentarily unlead. He touched the bridge, forcing the wood to extend along with the dirt and ground from the riverbeds. "Let's go!" he yelled, pulling Al behind him.
Across the bridge, all Al could hear was the light patter of his brother's and his footsteps. No metal clanking like there used to be…
He let go of Ed and turned blindly backwards. "Hiro!" he called. "Hiro! Where are you?"
The eldest Elric grabbed Al again. "Al, we don't have time!"
"But Hiro-!"
"Will be fine! Let's go!"
Hiro yelled back, "Go, boys! I can't leave- not yet! I belong here! I have to watch after this place! Get out while you can! Get outta here!"
Don't need to tell me twice… Ed thought.
Reluctantly, Al began sprinting off with his brother again.
Finally, two large pillars stood before them in the graveyard. Trees spread out in all directions, casting unsettling shadows to dance around them. The brother's stood hand-in-hand before the poles.
"I'm guessing… This is it…" Ed thought aloud.
Al replied, "Does it look like where we entered?"
Ed nodded, hoping he was right, since he didn't remember the entrance. Oh, wait… he thought, recalling Al's condition, "Yep."
"Then let's go."
The two stepped forward, through the pylons, and the world began to change…