Hypnotized To Murder

Disclaimer: I Don't Own FMA In Any Way.

Rating: PG—PG-13 Due To Bad Language and Blood.

A/N: Again, thanks so much for reviews! I appreciate them so much! I hope you enjoy the new chapter!

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Ten minutes after the blood-shedding event, Ed was the first to force his golden orbs open. He grumbled and let out small breaths as he strained himself to sit up. He tried to place both hands on the floor in front of him but failed as his Automail stopped about halfway.

The blonde's eyes widened curiously and he looked down to his arm. He was surprised to see it, somehow, transmuted into a hand-blade. He raised a curious brow and pulled the weapon in front of his face. Once again, he was surprised to see some blood on the tip and the left side.

What the? The confused teen asked himself. Then, he looked to his left; no one. His right; his eyes widened and all his muscles went stiff.

There, lying motionless on the hardwood floor in a small pool of crimson blood was Winry's scratched and nicked body.

Ed's breath grew heavier and he suddenly realized what had happened; he injured his friend.

But…how!? Ed thought nervously. How could I have hurt her? I don' even remember doing it! The Alchemist thought apprehensively. He shook his head, brushing the thought away, and then transmuted his Automail back to normal.

I'll worry about this later! The teen decided as he knelt next to Winry's body. I have to help Winry first! I need to cover her injuries he said to himself.

He looked over her sadly and his eyes strayed to the hand outstretched in front of Winry. The blonde eyed the hand curiously, considering there was a small crystal pendant, linked together with a broken chain.

"Wha-what's that?" the young blonde asked to no one in particularly. He swallowed a minor lump in his throat and reached his flesh hand down to Winry's hand. He nervously hovered his hand over hers, pausing for a moment, and then finally picking up the strange ornament.

He brought it up to his face and inspected the odd crystal further.

That's when it all came back to him.

From the moment Dante knocked him out to the last words he could remember her saying; "I want you…tomurder your mechanic and younger brother…then, I want you to return to me"

His eyes went from confused…to furious! He quickly stood up heatedly and clenched the chain in his fist.

"It was Dante! She hypnotized me! She almost made me"—he stopped right there and looked down to Winry.

He fell to his knees beside her and his shoulders drooped in defeat. "Winry…" he whispered sadly. "I…I could've lost her…forever…and it would've been my fault! And…I would've lost Al, too" he mourned. "I almost lost the two most important things in my life…and it would've been my fault"

It stayed silent for a few tense seconds. Ed then quickly shook his head. I can't worry about this now! He scolded himself. I. Have. To. Help. Winry! He decided finally.

Ed quickly put the chain in his pocket and brought up one knee and then slipped his Automail arm under her knees and his other arm under her shoulders.

"OK" Ed prepared himself to lift her. "One…two…three!" he quickly used his strength to pull himself to his feet and carry Winry in his arms as well.

Incidentally, the force caused Winry's head to lean on Ed's shoulder as he carried her. Ignoring the situation, he blushed at the close contact. He straightened his body to walk over to the sofa. Winry's limp body, though, caused her head to lean back and her arm to hang limply to her side.

Ed looked at her sadly; she was in this condition and it was because of him. He hurt her. He took a few bloody blows at her. And he didn't even remember it.

He knew when Winry would wake up he was gonna get a mouthful!

…That or she was going to whack him with her wrench until he was in a coma.

Either way, he brushed off all negative thoughts in his head and proceeded on walking his friend to the sofa. Carefully, he knelt down in front of the sofa and gently lay Winry down.

Ed stayed kneeling next to her, a very sad expression on his face. Considering the Rockbell was unconscious, the Alchemist took the opportunity to cup her cheek with his flesh hand.

Gently rubbing his thumb on her face, he closed his eyes and the smallest of tears shed through his right eye.

"I'm sorry, Winry" he whispered.

"I'm sorry"

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Winry fluttered her eyes open and looked around, moving her head only. She realized she was on her sofa in the living room of her home. She looked over to see Ed was sitting on the sofa next to her, holding a roll of bandage tape.

Her eyes widened nervously and she suddenly felt her life was in danger once more.

Ed suddenly turned towards her and looked up to her as well. He smiled nicely at her. "Glad to see you're OK" he said happily.

Winry became stern once more. "Stop screwing around with me!" she demanded as she used her legs to kick the Elric onto the floor. She screamed at the pain of her gashed stomach but tried her best to ignore it and keep her eyes on Ed.

"Ouch" Ed complained as he began to regain himself off the floor. "Winry, what was that for!?" the blonde asked as he leaned on his elbows.

"You tried to kill me, you sick bastard!" Winry replied angrily.

Ed's eyes widened but they softened sadly. "I know" he muttered. "And I'll never do it again; I promise" he told the mechanic.

Winry stayed stern. "How can I believe you!? You could easily turn on me and try it all over again!" Winry stated in a heated tone.

Ed sighed and then he stood up. "Winry" he said as he stepped forward; Winry tensed angrily and, immediately after, flinched from the pain that shot through her.

"Winry, at least let me bandage you up; if you lose too much blood you could get really hurt…" Ed reasoned.

Winry glared for a moment but agreed. She sat up, with Ed's help and then the Alchemist grabbed the roll of bandage tape and sat down next to her.

"You have to…lift up your shirt so I can…bandage you…" Ed said nervously as the blood began rushing to his face once more.

Winry's eyes widened as well and she blushed. She also realized that this could not be the same Ed that had attacked her. That or that pendant really had done something to her friend.

"Of course" she nervously obliged. The mechanic looked away, not wanting Ed to see her crimson red cheeks, and carefully pulled off her shirt; she had a white sports bra under so she kinda, sort of didn't mind.

Ed blushed further but shook his head and unrolled the tape bandage slightly. "Stay still, OK?" he said. Winry nodded coyly.

The Alchemist began wrapping the bandage tape around Winry's small waist.

The mechanic immediately protested. "Ouch" she complained. "It really hurts" she said painfully.

"Just stay still; I'll be done quickly" Ed said softly.

Winry held a pained expression on her face.

Luckily, just as Ed said he would, he finished quickly. Ripping off the end, he tucked in the bandage around her waist. "There" he said. "Anything else?" he asked worriedly.

"My arm" Winry replied as she showed him the nick in her arm. "You cut it a little" she explained, some scorn in her tone.

Ed quickly bandaged it.

"Winry….I have to talk to you" the older Elric told her.

"Yeah, well, I don't want to talk to you…I don't even want you near me!" the teenage girl said angrily as she pulled her shirt back on, stood up and walked away to a nearby window.

Ed stood up and walked up behind her, staying a few feet away as to not make Winry uncomfortable. "Winry, you have to listen to me" Ed told her. Winry said nothing at this. "About what happened…it…it wasn't me…you know I'd never try to hurt you like that" he explained.

"Then why did you?" Winry demanded quietly as she crossed her arms.

"This is going to sound crazy but…" Ed began, scratching the back of his head nervously. "See, there's this lady named 'Dante'; I saw her when I went out today. She wanted me to make a Philosopher's Stone for her…when I refused…she hypnotized into killing you and Alphonse…that's why that necklace was around my neck; it's what she used to control me" the Alchemist informed.

Winry's eyes widened about halfway through his explanation and, when he finished, she turned around fiercely to face him. Her eyes widened at him. "What do you take me for? An idiot!?" she demanded. "Hypnosis? You must've lost your damn mind!" she said angrily.

"Winry, it's true! Tell me, what happened when this chain came off of me?" Ed asked as he pulled out the chain and showed it to her.

Winry rolled her eyes but told him, nonetheless. Towards the end of her explanation, though, she realized he was telling the truth.

Her eyes softened and she looked over at the Alchemist. "Ed…" she whispered.

"I know it's hard to believe, Winry" Ed began. "But…it's the truth…and…I promise to never lay a finger on you again if you just believe me!" he swore, the last phrase leaving a bitter taste on his tongue.

"I…I understand" Winry granted. "But…if it's true doesn't that mean…Dante's still out there, waiting for you to come back? You know, like, with your confirmation that you killed me and Al?" the mechanic asked curiously.

Ed's eyes widened. "You're right…and by this time, she probably thinks I'm late…I have to go to her! If she finds out that you two aren't dead she'll kill you off herself!" he said and then paused. "..And then…she'll come for me…I didn't fulfill her request and she still wants that damn stone!" he said, rather annoyed.

"I'll go with you" Winry insisted.

"No!" Ed immediately told her. "I don't want you to get hurt anymore than you already are!" he informed sternly.

"Well, what about you!?" Winry asked, incredulously, as she stepped closer to him.

Ed looked away from her. "Can't be any worse than what I've already been through" he muttered, quietly so Winry couldn't hear.

"Ed?" Winry whispered worriedly.

"Winry" Ed said as he turned back to his mechanic. "I need you to stay here!" he told her firmly. "If you were to get hurt…" he trailed off a moment and looked down at Winry's bloodied shirt, undoubtedly from the fierce gash he had given her. He clenched his fists tightly, whitening the knuckles of his flesh hand. "I don't know what I'd do" he mumbled sadly.

Winry thought for a moment before smiling back at her friend. "I won't get hurt" she began.

"Because I'm already dead"

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A/N: Any metaphorical smarty's out there will understand the last sentence ;) And, if you don't…you'll just have to find out in the next chapter -looks away- Anyway, hope you guys are enjoying the read! Again, I've updated MUCH sooner than I thought I would so, please, return my favor to you and R&R, constructive criticism, no flames :) thanks.

Reviews make me happy! ;)

Sorry about the lengthy chapter :( I wanted to make it shorter but I couldn't find where to properly cut it off O.o Hope you guys don't mind...And if you do, again, very sorry. :)