Beyond the Nightmare of Life

Chapter Two – Alone

This was the second time he had caught himself waking up in an unknown place. But it felt different somehow. The smell of blood and rotten flesh was replaced with the smell of flowers, and the musty air was breezy and gentle. It was the perfect temperature. Light was around him instead of darkness and all of his injured were wrapped. His bloody hands...clean...but mentally still there.

He was still in the forest, but no one was around. He wondered how he had been treated and who had tended to him in the first place. Tears were still in his eyes, and the only thing on his mind was the sight of Mustang and Alphonse's body at his feet. He was disgusted. Not at the bodies but at himself. Still, in the back of his mind he couldn't believe that he had murdered his own brother and a man that was like a father to him.

"What am I going to do now?" he thought aloud. He stared into the sky and staggered to his feet once more. Then walked deeper into the forest.

~ Central Headquarters ~

Riza hung her head down low, standing in front of Furher Bradley himself. "We have no other choice. I know that you are dealing with losing Major General Mustang and Alphonse Elric, but with the Fullmetal Alchemist missing we have no other choice but to assume that he committed those murders."

Riza lowered her head even more, her chin almost completely touching her chest and trying not to cry and imagine the Colonel's face looking at her with eyes of determination. It was just like Hughes. They both wanted to climb to the top together but both died trying. For dying he was promoted two ranks and she also was moved up in the rankings as well. But once again irony struck...she was now Colonel Hawkeye. The Fuhrer wanted to put her in charge of this case. He knew that she was very strong and dependable and that she could solve it quicker than anyone else could. But in truth she knew that it truly wasn't just solving a case. It was about killing Edward Elric on the spot.

"Your dismissed Colonel Hawkeye. I want you to start searching tomorrow. I hope to see you at their funerals. And, I'm deeply a sorry for your loss."

She bowed slightly and walked out of the room, greeted by Second Lieutenants Ross, Breda, and Havoc. Sergeant Brosh, Major Armstrong, Master Sergeant Fuery, and Warrant Officer Falman were also there.

She raised her head, seeing all of them standing there.

"H-how did it go, Sir?" Fuery asked.

She just looked at him with her sad eyes, but suddenly she stood up straight and positioned herself in a tall position...like a leader...or really how Mustang would have done.

"You all are assigned to aid me in..." she paused, losing her strong feeling. "In the arresting Edward Elric. If he shows any sign of fleeing or preparing for attack he is to be shot on spot."

They were all in deep shock, especially Havoc and Ross. Havoc secretly broke down when hearing about Mustang's death, and Ross was hurt to hear that Alphonse had died and that Edward was missing. When Major Armstrong was told the news he excused himself and grieved alone. No Armstrong should act weak around others, that motto had been passed down from generation upon generartion.

"But, Colonel Hawkeye! You can't surely mean-." Armstrong paused, he couldn't speak he was so shocked.

"You're kidding m-me..." Falman choked.

"No, I'm not. We all leave first thing in the morning to Kalahari. This place is just a little north from Youswell and that was also where the Furher assigned Edward and M-Major General Mustang."

The others saluted her, even though every single one of them was against hunting and killing Edward it had to be done. But for Riza, this was something much more than finding him. She didn't know what to believe. But based on what she saw, he did murder them. And for that, he had to pay. She would shoot him where he stood the moment she found him. But still deep in her mind, she wanted to believe that he didn't do it.

"ROY!" she screamed, dropping everything she was carrying and ran over to his slashed body. She couldn't even make out his face and was stunned that he hands just hovered over him. Her tears fell onto him, hoping that they would work their magic like some fairytale and bring him back to life. But it didn't work, it couldn't work. It wouldn't work. She also saw Alphonse's crushed armor beside Mustang and his Blood seal punctured with hole.

After seeing him only one thing appeared in her mind: Where was Edward?

His body wasn't there so he had to be alive! That was when she saw the small hole. She shot up and looked through it. At that moment she could have sworn that she saw a red jacket flapping in the wind and a figure running away from the building.

"E-Edward?!"

Riza opened her eyes, sitting at her desk with her head resting on it. Tons of papers were beside her, so this is what it was like being a Colonel. She could see why he dreaded the awful paper work. She turned around and looked outside at the rest of Central.

Tomorrow she would go back to Kalahari, and begin her hunt for Edward Elric. Right after Alphonse and Roy's funeral.

Well, I have to say that I was really shocked to see that many reviews and stuff! I guess that I'll start posting these then! XD Thanks so much for the support guys! Before continuing to the next chapter I have to address a few things. Bradley doesn't have bad intentions on the group yet. Secondly this isn't going to be a tragedy fan fic. Hint…hint! Dealing with OC matters, sorry to say that it has to be done. I was writing the story without one and it just sounds really bad. They won't be a very big character in the story and a Mary sue. And defiantly no EdxOC love wise. I really don't prefer them either but I'll make this character as if they were a part of the actual show!

bougainvillea blossom and meladi1: Thanks for the review! I promise they won't be too much over the top! And don't worry I won't do EdxOC! XD

mr. unknown: I can see where you would think that. Most of them turn out bad but I have read a few fan fictions where an OC was a wonderful thing! XD Hope this can be one of the stories where an OC is good.

Bluefire21: Glad you're enjoying it! :) I hope you realize that Ed was the one that killed them right? I don't want you to be confused! XD But this chapter defiantly proves that Riza will get revenge for Al and Roy.

HowsBoutNo: Thanks! I hope I came close to how Riza would react in the situation. I know that she never really uses the Colonel's real name but in this case it just didn't matter to her!

I usually tend to update really fast and the chapters will be longer in the near future! The speed that I update will start to increase around February but will slow down again in the summer time.

Thank you , meladi1, skystormstar, for the favorites and Follows and Firefly264, HowsBoutNo, and Rex the wolf for the follows!

See you guys soon!

To Be Continued…

Kok0roxGuardian