Disclaimer: I own nothing of Fullmetal Alchemists only a few selected characters.
Note: This is not beta'd. I lost her email address….
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Lily woke up from her slumber she felt the gentle rocking of her bed. She open her eyes one by one, excepting to hear and see Mary jumping on her bed in "urgent Roy news" or a bad dream but nothing but darkness. She sat up in her bed, her sleep already ruin now, curious as to what made her bed shake. Lily looked around her darken room, surprise to see Tobias' bed empty and not hearing the occasional busy car driving by. She slipped her feet into a pair of slippers resting on the floor. Something felt strange.
Lily didn't bother to place a robe over her wife beater shirt and pajama bottoms as she moved towards the door. The door was slightly ajar, with a dim light showing through. She pushed the door enough for her to slip through. Her living room was bare in the sense without Mary and Leo sleeping out there. What was stranger was that the grandfather clock hand's had stopped moving, all pointing to the number twelve.
"Mary? Leo? Tobias?" she called out, hoping for an answer.
There was none.
Lily knew this was strange beyond belief. She hurried towards the phone in the kitchen. Hopefully she could get in contact with someone, anyone. She picked up the device off it's receiver and brought it to her ear. Just as she reached with her hand to turn the numbers, a noise stopped her. There was none. No dial tone. The blond felt scared and slammed the phone back down. What was going on here? No friends? The clock not working? And no dial tone to speak of? Something was defiantly creepy and scary about this.
A red flash of light brought her out of her thoughts. Turning around quickly, she just saw the last flash of light dimming outside her window. She rushed forward towards the door, in hopes to find at least some life outside. She nearly ripped the door off it's hinges as she opened the door.
"No...it can't be..."she said in shock as she stared
All around her were signs of destruction everywhere. The buildings were nearly torn by some powerful force. No windows hanged it's the hollow of the buildings. Craters, small as cars, decorated the streets and something buildings. Large rocks sprouted from the ground, some even had stains of blood and flesh. Evidence of fires was seen as it's ashes blew through the end. The sky itself was something strange. It was blood red as black clouds hanged heavily. This was almost Hell itself.
Lily felt her breath quicken in fear as she stared at all the destruction around here. There was no signs of life from where she stood. Not even a stray cat walking around in search for a meal. She backed away, to go back into her home to end this nightmare. But as she took a step back, she felt her balance failing she fall to the ground. Her body hit blacken wood and hard concrete. She hissed in pain as her hand scraped against a rock. Lily brought her hand to her face to check for the damage but froze when she saw her hand covered in rich and fresh blood. There was no way a little cut could cause so much damage. She turn her head to find out where the blood came from.
Lily let out a scream as she saw the disfigured body of Leo, laying in his own blood. Parts of his skull was bashed in, a large stab wound all over his back, and his left arm completely torn off, the bone was still showing. Lily stumbled to get up from the ground. Upon standing up, she let out another cry as she saw more bodies on the ground. Mary, SHeska, and even Tobias. Each of them were extremely wounded as they lay dead in the pools of the their own blood.
"Oh, God!" she felt like she was going to vomit. She placed a her uninjured handed against her mouth to stop from retching over the place. She turn and ran with her might out of there. She had to get out of here and seek answers.
Lily found more and more bodies scattering around the streets and hanging out of buildings. Children, women, men, and even their pets were all dead. She remember their corpse never there before. As she ran, she felt sicker and sicker. She felt tears falling down her cheeks as she silently wept for every body around her. Her path was clear from any body. Her slipper caught onto a hole in the ground and once again, Lily fell forwards. On all fours, Lily felt the acid and nasty build being release over the street. She purposely cough to get rid of anything from her throat. The sound of footsteps brought Lily to the present. She turn her head up, a smile graced her mouth as she felt a bit at ease she stared at the all too familiar face.
"Oh, Roy," she reached up and grabbed the tails of his pants, "I'm so happy you see you right now. I have no idea what's going on and I'm...I'm scared, Roy! Everyone is dead. Mary, Leo, Sheska, and Tobias are all dead. I'm so relieved to see you right. We can go and find out what's goi-"
Lily was interrupted by Roy's cold voice, "Get your filthy hands off me, worm."
She was shocked to see the cold and unemotional expression from Roy. His black eyes stared at her with hate and disgust. "R-Roy?" she croaked out
Roy, without warning, kicked Lily across the face with his leg. She fell to the ground by the force of the impact, her hand loosing it's grip. She felt her left cheek pulsating by the intense pain and shock of the kick from Roy. Before Lily could open her mouth to ask what Roy was doing, she felt another swift kick her belly. Over and over again, Roy kicked her on all parts of her body, excluding her face. Once he was satisfied, Lily curled into a ball and sobbed out loud. Her body, both emotionally and physically, ached and hurt all over. A loud laugh and cruel filled the air, blocking out Lily's crying.
"Weak and pathetic, you are, girl. Can't even handle a few kicks. You humans are strange creatures. I don't even see why you even matter to the Master." remarked Roy with a cackle.
Lily lifted her head from the ground, her crying stopping. She stared at confusion at Roy. What was he talking about? What Master? There was no way Roy Mustang she knew would act like this. There was no way!
She went silent as the man in front of her seemed to change in appearance. Soon was gone the blue and golden trimmed military uniform, ebony locks, pale skin, and the face she knew, in replacement was an entirely new person. There stood a fairly tall man with lock dark green hair, dark purple eyes, matching outfit of the same color but was quite revealing. On his left outer thigh was a blood red tattoo of a snake eating itself and a six pentacle star.
He frown as he peered down at Lily. He lowered himself to her level, tilting her chin up. He moved her head side to side, as if inspecting her. "You sure look strangely like her. Not like that is going to matter anytime soon." he said before smirking at her.
He placed two fingers against her forehead. A small red glow surrounded his tips. "It's time for you to wake up now." he said before pushing his fingers into Lily's forehead. Everything around them slowly surrounded by darkness. The last thing Lily saw the green haired man smirking at her before everything disappeared.
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Lily let out a large gasped and bolted straight up in her bed. Cold sweat dripped down from her pores on her body. She felt out a huge cough as she felt something heavy being lifted off her lungs. She wiped around wildly, excepting the twist green haired man to reappear. No, there was no sign of him. She was back in her own room with Tobias sleeping in his bed. There were the sounds of her snoring friends in the next room. Lily let out a sigh of relief as she realized that it was all a nightmare.
"Thank goodness." she whispered to herself
Lily moved back to go back to dream land but a horrible filled her body. It reappeared again when she twisted her body back up. She hissed as she lifted her shirt up. There on her belly was a dark blue bruise, six inches in length. She gulped as felt a chilly realization go down her spine.
What if the dream was real?
------
The hissing sound of the kettle brought Mary out from reading a magazine in her hand. The raven headed girl walked over to the stove, turning it off, pouring down the hot water from the metal container into a mug with dried up leaves. Smiling that it turn out great, Mary placed it on a tray full of food. There were a piece of blacken burnt toast, oatmeal that look all too soggy, and fresh squeezed orange juices that had pieces of the orange itself floating on the top.
Leo came around the corner, dressed in a business suit. He leaned against the counter as Mary made the finally touches on the platter. "So, our little flower still hasn't stroll out of her lair?" he asked his best friend.
Mary turn around, nodding her head, "Yeah and I'm getting worry about her. It's not like her to stay in late on week days," her eyes travel down Leo's outfit, "Going somewhere fancy, Mr. Lion?" she asked
He smiled, "I'm going for a job interview, actual several. All of them range from cook to book-keep! I still don't know what I will chose in the end," he sighed before coming serious, "You should go looking for a job too, you know. Don't want to spend your days living off Lily's money now do you?"
Mary smirked, "I'm an small business lady, Leo. I'm pretty much settle with the club and all it's glory," she picked up the tray from the table, "Well, good luck on your interviews. I will see you at lunch. As for right now, I'm going to act motherly to Lily." she said with a satisfied demeanor.
Mary kissed her blond friend on the cheek before strolling casually to Lily's room. Leo grimaced when he saw what type of food that Mary had cook up for their friend. He silently prayed that Lily wouldn't die from food poisoning. He took up a small briefcase he walked out of the house.
The young Lucas knocked on the door, hearing a soft 'Enter' from the other side. Turning the knob with her free hand, she walked into the bedroom. Inside was dark, the only light came from the lamp on the desk that Lily was sitting at. She had her shoulders slump, her head hanging low, hands keeping her head up, and what looked to be a open book in front of her.
Mary sat the tray of food next to her other blond friend and peered over her shoulder. Two pages worth of writing were filled on the open book, both with today's date. If she looked closely enough, Mary could make out water stains mixing with the ink. Shifting her body until her head was at the same length of her friend. Lily's skin was pale, almost pearly white. Her shoulders shook slightly as her hands kept gripping at her hairs. Mary felt a pain of hurt and pity as she gazed at her best friend.
"Lily? Are you alright?" she asked in a soft and smooth voice
Lily jumped in her seat at the sudden voice. Her hands went limp and release her strands of hair, they fell to her side. She turn her head, looking up at ebony haired woman. Mary let out a gasp she saw black circles under her eyes, red rimmed eyes, botchy skin, and shallow looking skin. She pulled up a chair and sat down next to her friend. Mary took one of Lily's hands into hers.
"Lily...What's wrong? It looks like you have been to hell and back." she commented
Not answering her question, Lily let tears run down her cheeks. With her other hand, she covered her face the best she could as her shoulders shook as she sobbed. Mary bit her lip, not knowing what to do. Right now, Lily acted much like she did when Viktor died. She wished Leo was here, he was more of a gentler type. He could probably sooth Lily just enough to talk. Her sobs dimmed down enough for Lily's voice to come through.
"I have no idea what to do, Mary. My life is a total wreck! Ever since Viktor died, everything is going down hill. I...I can handle remember who I was before I came to Central. I just want to run away from this place and never look back!" she yelled
Mary tucker the blonde's head under her chin, her hand rubbing up and down her back. "Shh, Lily, it's alright. Bad things happens to everyone, it's not your fault."
Lily pulled away, "No, I know some of it is my fault. It's hard to understand, even I don't understand, but my dreams...they are becoming more and more vivid. I sometimes see myself towering over Simon, who kidnapped Lexi, and slowly torturing and liking it. And this dream...It frightens me!"
"What dream?" Mary asked, something sinking into her stomach.
Lily pushed her dream journal, which as the open book on the table, towards the young woman. Taking it in her hands, Mary began to read six full pages of a description of one dream. By the time she was done, she too was pale and was in horror. Closing the book down, she tried to comfort Lily the best she could.
"Lily, honey, they are just dreams. Nothing that comes from dreams holds meanings in the real world. What you had was just a bad nightmare, probably caused from stress." she cooed
She shook her head, "That dream was all too real. I could feel broken concrete on my bare feet, the pain and stinginess of my cut scarping against the rocks, and even...being kicked by that strange man..."
Lily knew Mary won't believe her dreams were very real, she wasn't like that. She took a shaky breath and lifted her shirt up, showing her bare stomach. She could hear the loud gasp of shock from her raven haired friend when the navy blue bruise showed as clearly as day.
"Oh my God, Lily...This is serious! The man, in your dream, do you recognize him anywhere?" Mary asked
Again, Lily shook her head, "No, I don't...He said I look like her. He seem to know more about me then I did him. The dream was no normal dream for sure. For it to past into the real life means something..."
"Lily, the bruises is probably some else. It could've come from-"
Lily cut Mary off, as she stood up from the chair, "The wound came from the dream, Mary! If you can't believe...I don't know who I can tell this to..."
"I'm going to work." she added, already slipping into her uniform.
"Lily, wait!" Mary tried to pull Lily back from going out of her room.
Lily whirled around and face Mary with a serious face. She didn't know had over came her but words slipped passed her lips before she could stop herself. "Mary, promise me if I start acting not like myself, don't trust me..."
Before Mary could understand what she just said, Lily pulled herself from Mary's grip and walked out of her bedroom. Mary looked stunned and confused at her friend's words. Don't trust her if she acted strange? That was weird for anyone to say but it wasn't a joke either.
"Lily..."she whispered
----
Lily rested her head in her left hand as her right hand was slowly writing out an report. Normally, she hated doing reports that didn't involved her but right now, she was just writing down simple things, not caring if it involved the report itself or not. It seemed however, she finished up one report and placed it in the tray next to her. Before she could reach over and grab a new one, a hand picked up the all ready filled out one. The hand in question had eyes as well, also a body, and read what Lily had written.
"Do you care to explain to me, Marshall, how you think your...report is passable when it mentions giant bunny rabbits?" a voice over her barked
Lily sighed and turn her head to looked up at the tall figure beside her. "Whatever, Roy...I can just go do it again," she said, reaching up the take the report back but Roy placed it behind his back before she could.
"No, Marshall, you won't. You usually just throw an insult at me and go on with your life. Your face is whiter then a sheet." Roy pointed out
"I'm just not in the mood, Roy. I have a headache." she said, making up excuses
Roy mumbled something under his breath and reached forward and grabbed Lily by the arm. He pulled her out of her seat and as soon Lily recovered by his surprise action, the Flame Alchemist pulled her behind him and out into the hallway. All eyes in the office were on them as the door shut and let the two alone.
Lily was in shock when Roy had brought them out into the empty hallway but was more surprise when she looked into his eyes, it was a look of worry and concern. She watched as Roy let go of her arm and used the same hand to brush back a piece of hair from his face. What seem like an eternity, he spoke.
"There has to be a reasonable, better reason why you act like your dying then just...just a headache!" he exclaimed, controlling much of his anger.
Lily sighed and looked away for a moment and looked back, lowering her head and replied with a meek voice. "And what if I am. What if I'm telling you the truth, that I have a headache? It does not mean you have to drag me away from my work like that. It's not like you care about me, your just worry about your underdogs not able to finish their own work. A polite request would suffice. Now, if you excuse me, I have some reports to fill out."
Lily turned around and was about to turn the door knob to open the door. Just as the open slightly, it was pushed back to a close position. She looked up and saw a hand right near her head. Turning back around, she did react to see Roy standing close to her, she could smell his musky and spicy cologne from where she stood.
"Do you actually think I'm that selfish, Lily? That I won't give a damn of one of my 'underdogs' being harmed or not? Do you really think less of me? Don't be so damned foolish, girl," he leaned forward his mouth near her ear, "I risked my life trying to save you from a potential killer. I held you when Viktor died, letting you cry and weep. And this is how you treat me, Lillian? Before Viktor died, he asked...No, order me to take care of you with all costs. I've never fulfilled his request if I didn't care about you. Now, tell me why your acting so different then normal." he said, removing his face from near hers but didn't move despite that.
It seemed Roy's words effected Lily like that should. In a blink of an eye, it was like life came back into her eyes. Regardless of being alive again, her eyes spoke of much sadness and extreme worry. She hugged herself around the middle and continue to looked down, ashamed.
"I...I can't tell you, Roy. Y-you won't understand." she stuttered out, fear in her voice.
Roy couldn't help but notice the way her voice tremble. Whatever was happening in her life was effecting her badly. "Try me."
Her arms tighten around her waist, wincing from the pain of the giant bruise on her stomach. Once again, the Colonel took notice. He dropped his hand from the wooden door and moved to her arms. Lily didn't move or speak when he softly grabbed both her arms and let them dropped before placing his hand hard on her stomach. She flinched and gasped in pain. He slowly lifted the bottom half of her military uniform, stopping at her bare stomach. What he saw made his black eyes be filled with anger. Not at the poor girl in front of him but angry at the one who caused it.
"Who did this to you?" he whispered, lowering the uniform back down.
She shook her head, tears threaten to spill over. "I don't know who or even what, Roy. I thought I was safe but that...that dream! Oh, God, that dream. It felt so real and was so horrifying." she wept.
"What happen, Lily?"
"I don't want to say, Roy. I have involved you too much into my life, you don't need to be involved in my dreams." she said before moving from him.
Roy turn around to face her and saw she was thinking something over. Once her decisions was made finale, she stepped forward, their bodies almost touching. Reaching up, she placed a kiss on the ebony haired man's lips. She pulled back, leaving him with his mouth slightly open in shock.
"Thank you, Roy, but there are some things I need to think over before I let you go into my life that far. My dreams always mean something to me and I can't help but feel protected of them. I'm sorry." she whispered
Without a warning, Lily walked away from her higher up, her arms at her sides. Roy stood there stunned as he watched her retreating form. Something, deep in his stomach turned cold and warned him that he wouldn't see her again. He reached with a gloved hand and touched his lips. Through under the heavy cloth, he could feel the warm tingling of Lily's pressed against his.
Something was going on and he didn't like it.
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Lily was luckily to find the house empty, Mary and Leo had gone off somewhere. She now sat at her desk, much like she was that morning. She had quickly changed out of her uniform and into simple and causal clothing. She didn't want to face Roy after their conversation and kissing him on the lips. She didn't regret doing that but did regret not telling him about her dream. What she said was true, her dreams meant something to her and couldn't tell everyone about them.
The blond sighed, looking around her room to find something to occupy herself. She didn't need to rethink back to their conversation for awhile. Her eyes landed on the dresser, more on the giant black book lying on top of it. That damn book that couldn't open, no matter how much she tried. It belonged to her mother and meant something important to her and her daughter. If Lily could open it, she could find out what was inside it that her mother treasure.
"One way to do that is try again," she said to herself, getting up and grabbing the book again.
She planted herself back in her seat, staring at the thick and mysterious book. She looked from back to cover, looking for a secret compartment or something that could reveal how to open it. After ten minutes of looking, she let out another sigh in frustration. Lily rested her head on her open palm, staring at the book in hopes for a once of inspiration to open the blasted thing. Her blue eyes widen when she finally notice something, though very small, in the upper right hand corner. She swore she never seen that before. Her breath hitched when she saw what is was. It was the same marking from the guy in her dream, though only this time there was a five mental star in the middle of the snake. Straighten in her chair, she reached with her hand towards the symbol. She didn't know what compelled her but her finger lazily traces the outline of the snake.
In a flash of red light, she heard a lock click open. She watched with amazement when the book opened up by itself. The pages were yellow and old but looked fresh. On these said pages were writings in red ink. It looked like a journal from the looks of it. But there was hardly any dates or names of who it belonged to. Taking a deep breath, Lily looked around the room. It was empty and the door was locked. She had some privacy in her room, if only for a moment.
She turned her attention back to the journal and began to read at the beginning.
----
Mary sighed in relief as she stepped back in her "home". She carried some bags of groceries and set them on the counter in the kitchen. She notice Lily's briefcase and boots by the door. She frown, Lily wasn't suppose to be home for hours. With a huff, Mary walked over to the door and knocked on the frame.
"Lily? Are you home? Are you sick?" she called out, hoping no to repeat the mornings performance.
Lily's voice sounded but cleared and better, "Yeah, I'm fine. I just didn't feel well so I asked Roy to let me take the day off." she answered backed
Mary smiled and called out again, "Want me to make you some soup, sweetie?"
"No, thank you, Mary. I don't think I can handle something right now. I think I will go to sleep now and see you in the morning." Was the answered.
Mary nodded through Lily couldn't see. "Okay, Lily. If you need anything, just ask." she said before finally retreating from the door.
However inside, Lily was totally different from what her voice portrayed. She sat there at her desk, shaking and her heart racing as she stared at the finale page of the book. She couldn't believe what she just read. Could it be true? Was the book just a ploy to scare her? No, it had to be true, it just had to! It explain so much, despite sounding so unreal.
Lily looked around her room, her heart pounding in her ears. She looked at an old photo of her, Mary, and Leo as little kids that sat on her desk. Taking the photo in hand, tears rolled down her face as she stared at the perfectly happy picture of all of them. Salty tears fell on the glass shield of the portrait.
With a weak voice, barely a whisper, "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry." she repeated.
----
The next morning was peaceful in the office of Mustang and the rest. The only sounds coming from the room were the sounds of the clock ticked and pens scratching across paper. Roy put down the folder he was reading and looked at the empty desk of Lily. She had yet to come in all day, not even a phone call, and he was getting worried. He hoped their conversation didn't scare her off. He wanted to tell her so much more.
But as soon as he thought this, the peace in the office was destroyed when it's office fell to the ground. Everyone looked up and were surprised to see Mary Lucas putting down the leg that obviously kicked down the door. With a huff, the blacked haired beauty stormed over the fallen door, with Leo at her heels, to Roy's desk. Her normally green eyes were filled with anger, confusion, and concern. She glared down at Roy, something clutched in her hand.
With her other hand, she pointed an accusing finger at her once beloved idol. "You! You have a lot of explaining to do!" she barked
Roy raised an eyebrow, "I'm sorry but I have no idea what you are talking about, Miss Lucas." he admitted
Mary frowned and thrust him the object in her hand. It was a letter, though it looked like several tears mixed in with the ink. Roy recognize that handwriting anywhere. It was Lily's. Before he could it, Mary pulled out something from her pocket and threw it at his desk. He looked down and saw the familiar silver pocket watched that the military gave out to their alchemist. Why would Mary had one?
As if answering his mental question, Mary spoke. "Just read the god damn letter."
Roy looked around the room, all of them looking in interest at the contents of the said letter. He turned his dark eyes to the letter n hand.
Dear Mary, Leo, and anyone else.
I'm sorry. There is something I have to do and I have to do it alone. I don't know how long it will take but I just know I can't rest until I learn the truth. My eyes are heavy from tears but I can't cry. I can't cry anymore, I have been crying too much now. I have unofficial resigned from the military, the left behind pocket watch proves it. Please don't look for me, I hate for you to be involved. I know how to take care of myself, so don't fret. Please take care of Tobias, Mary and Leo. That's all I can say right now. I'm sorry.
Signed,
Lillian Anne Marshall, The Crimson Petal Alchemist.
Roy looked flabbergasted as he finished Lily's farewell letter. He leaned back in his chair, unable to take in the news. Lily had left them. She left her friends, she left her job, and she left him. The tear stains weren't from Lily but from Mary and Leo.
"What did you do to her, Roy? She wouldn't get up and leave without telling us where she is going. You must've done something to her." she said, accusing him of her friend's disappearance.
Roy felt numbed, no words would describe nothing else. He felt his heart ache in sadness and a cold feeling wash over him. "I...I have no idea, Mary...I don't know why she left..."he said weakly.
Mary huffed and placed her hands on her hips. "Regardless if it's your fault or not, it's your responsibility as her boss and higher superior to look after her. I don't care what you do but you have to find her, "tears began to travel down hr cheeks, "Find her so she can be with us again."
Roy knew she was right. As a duty as a high superior on Lily, or any other lower personal, it was his duty to take care of them. He sighed and tried to regain composer. He closed his eyes fro a brief moment before snapping open with a new resolve. He stood up from his desk and looked at each men or woman he had.
"Alright, inform every department of this. This is now our top priority. We are not to let Lily Marshall get away from us, you hear me?"
"Yes, sir!" everyone chorused before doing whatever they needed to do.
----
Lily sighed, taking in the finale sights of the Central station. Carrying only one bag, she walked towards her designed train. She stepped on board, the last one to get up. She let out a loud sigh and looked back behind her. She struggle with herself to not to cry.
"I'm sorry, everyone. This is my good-bye..."she whispered to herself before stepping fully on board and disappearing from view.
As the train chugged along, steam and smoke blowing out, a pair of eyes looked at the slowly retreating train. The pair of eyes smirked from it's shadows.
"All going to plan." it spoke in a dark and menacing voice and too disappeared into the shadows once the train disappeared from view.
----
Author note's: Woot! I love this chapter, don't you? Lily is having strange dreams, she kissed Roy willingly, and she just left the grand old city. Oh, boy, this took a whole to get up, right? Well, I hate to bore you but there were some things going on in my life that distracted me. Mostly because I just had a move and needed a new computer. Whatever. But, I'm still writing for this story, no matter what. And don't worry, this isn't the end of the story either. It's a new chapter, excuse the pun, in Lily's life.
Anyway, please, please, pretty please review!