Beyond the Nightmare of Life

Chapter Five – The Search for the Truth Begins

Winry walked into the night, just arriving at Kalahari and leaving her Grandmother behind in Central. The town seemed like a ghost town; and it just because it wasn't night time either. Some of the buildings had rotten wood while others actually look pretty new. But what was really scary to her was the empty streets and the wanted posters of Edward.

She was holding her luggage tightly in her hand, wondering where she could go and where he might be. That was when she saw two figures standing in the middle of the dirt road. She knew that red hood from anywhere.

Her eyes watered, and instantly she dropped her luggage. It was him. Winry ran at him full speed and when they were face to face she stopped and stared at him. His eyes were half empty and there was a small grin on his face, he was probably trying to cover up the hurt inside him.

"Winry..." he said with a soft tone. She sobbed and hugged him tightly thinking that it was all a dream. He didn't kill anyone. She must be back in Resembool sleeping in her bed with some high fever or something. That was causing her to have the dream right?

"Please...tell me you didn't kill them! P-please!" she pleaded. Her joy quickly switched to sorrow. Edward's arms began to shake as he slowly reached to grab her. He hugged her back, his fake smile turned into a frown. "I don't know..." he replied.

After a long hug, Sieza introduced herself and told them that it would be best if they headed to her home. Besides, her mom was working a late shift and wouldn't be home for another few hours. They agreed to follow her back home.

As they sat down Sieza started up a conversation, they needed to help Edward try and recollect some of the memories he had lost before going on the mission.

"About five days ago, Mayor Grippson told everyone to be on alert and to move indoors after nightfall along with avoiding the forest at all times. There was an Alchemist that killed civilians on the loose. Does that ring a bell?"

Edward shook his head, "All I can remember is Mustang telling me were going on some mission. That memory fades and then the next thing I know I'm in front of their dead bodies."

"But like Sieza said," Winry cut in "You were in the other room and what about that bump?" Winry asked. She reached over while looking at the nasty bump on his head. "Where and how did you get that?"

"I don't know. I woke up with all these scratches and burses on my body. But really it was the bump that was bothering me. It might be the cause for my memory loss too." He explained. "But Sieza, you wouldn't happen to know that Alchemists name would you?"

"No one really told the public about him. But I heard his name is Fukai."

That was their first major clue. For the remaining hours that Sieza's mother was at work they talked to each other about why the body wasn't around when Edward woke up. There was a small possibility that this man was alive and running away from the military.

"Fukai, we need to find clues to see if he's alive. But I can't wander the streets looking for him. The military will arrest or even kill me if I'm even spotted."

Winry gasped, "And I just realized that the military is here! If they see me with you..." endless possibilities began filling her head causing her to panic.

"I think I have a solution. Come with me." Sieza headed to the back of her house, the two of them following her until they reached a small room. Sieza spun around and put something on Edward's face. At first he couldn't tell what is what because his eyes were close from flinching. But when he opened them he saw...the terrible things they called glasses.

"I have the perfect outfits for both of you. And since you're an Alchemist we can start with the hair dyeing."

Winry and Edward both looked at each other with nervous smiles.

~ Kalahari: Police Station ~

Hawkeye was greeted with a small amount of soldiers dressed in Central uniforms. There was a young man with dirty, short, spiky, blonde hair, circular glasses, and ocean blue eyes saluting her. "My name is Lieutenant Colonel Abyss Deep. Welcome to Kalahari Police Headquarters. My crew and I are going to aid you in your search for Edward Elric."

"I'm glad to hear that...you may relax."

Abyss relaxed, his eyes flaring with excitement. She couldn't figure out why he was looking at her like that.

"I've always admired your hard work and dedication, Colonel Hawkeye. My dream is to become a famous State Alchemist. I know Alchemy but I wasn't good enough to become a state Alchemist. Even if I were, I'd have the ranking equivalent to a Major."

Hawkeye glanced over at his crew. There was a young woman with scarlet hair and green eyes smirking at her, along with a guy with glasses that looked exactly like Havoc…the nerdy version. But behind him…there was a man with black hair and black eyes. His skin was slightly pale. He looked like Mustang at first glance, and it made Riza's heart pound.

He walked up to her and saluted, "Second Lieutenant Fang Muston. It will be an honor to follow your orders, sir." Hawkeye slowly nodded and looked away. "You and your crew can rest upstairs. There are beds and..." he trailed off.

"Thank you Second Lieutenant." Hawkeye walked past them, not taking the chance of getting caught in another conversation. Abyss watched her go up stairs and looked at everyone else.

"Who exactly is her team? Have they all come from Central?" Ekken, was the woman with scarlet hair. She always seemed to speak out of line due to her curious personality.

Abyss turned to her and dismissed the other soldiers to get back to work. They did so immediately. "The Strong Arm Alchemist, Alex Armstrong, is among them. There is also Warrant Officer Falman, Second Lieutenants Havoc and Breda, and Master Sergeant Fuery. I heard that two others were supposed to come with them but couldn't. I think one of them was named Ross."

After explaining Abyss turned his back on his crew and looked at the stairs. "Colonel Hawkeye looks like a strong woman. She will be very interesting to work with. But let's just make sure that we capture or kill Edward Elric first."

"Sir!" the others saluted him and continued to their duties. Abyss just smirked and walked into his office to finish his work for the day.

Back upstairs, the Colonel was sitting at her desk, looking out at the small town of Kalahari. The others were in their rooms. Her mind was just too full of thoughts to rest. To think...that Roy was killed in a small place like this was heart wrenching.

"(I wanted to be by your side...but you insisted that I stayed...w-why?)" that was when the memory she last saw him alive played in her mind like a broken record player.

"C-Colonel"

"Lieutenant," Mustang sighed with a smile even though Hawkeye's was the exact opposite. "I'm going with Fullmetal and Alphonse. Four people coming along might be a crowd. I'm sure I'll be back before tomorrow."

He began walking towards the door, turning to look back at her red face. She was worried, he could tell.

After a small sigh he turned and disappeared.

"ROY!"

Riza gasped for air. Sweat was pouring down her face like rain. But she quickly covered her face with her sleeve and wiped away the tears and sweat.

"R-Roy...you...idiot..."

Sorry for the delay. My computer is acting wonky and we had a week off of school because of snow. And even though I was off I couldn't leave to post at my Grandmother's house! -.-" I can't really look right now to see who favorite and reviewed, but to those who did thank you very much and I will thank you all individually soon.

If you want more you HAVE to review! No more exceptions. :P

Anyways, thanks for continuing to follow the adventures of our depressed and innocent Edward~! See you soon!

To Be Continued...

Kok0roxGuardian