Author's Note: I apologize that this chapter is significantly shorter than the rest of the chapters, but I thought this was a necessary chapter with a nice cliffhanger. I hope you enjoy! And thank you for reading!
Alphonse woke up with a start. His mind was groggy and his head was pounding like he had been hit in the head with a hammer. He groaned in pain and confusion. Where was he? He couldn't remember a thing. How did he get here? What exactly had happened at the party at Winry's house? Winry. Where was she?
Al opened his eyes slowly. A light radiating from an unknown source shown brightly onto his face. He tried lifting his hand to shield his light brown eyes from the attacking beam, but failed when his arm wouldn't budge. He stopped; confused. Why couldn't he move his arm? Squinting his eyes, he looked over to his immobile arm; it was strapped down. Alarmed he looked to his left arm and saw that it also was secured tightly in place by his side.
Al began to struggle, the grogginess of his mind slowly ebbing away. His heart was racing in his chest; where was he? What was going on? Who had tied him down? Trying to free his arms, he discovered, not to his surprise, that his legs too were in the same predicament as his captive arms. He began to panic. What was the meaning of this? What happened to everyone else? As he continued his feeble attempt to free himself, he froze as a voice suddenly rang through the darkness surrounding him and the blinding light.
"Ahhh. I see you are finally awake. For awhile I thought you might have died." the voice said remorselessly as it sent chills down Al's spine.
"Who are you? Where am I? What did you do with Winry and everyone else?" he spat weakly, his strength swiftly deteriorating from the struggle of trying to free himself.
"How do you feel Alphonse?" the feeling less voice asked, ignoring all of Al's demands, "do you feel weak? Not surprising since you're still recovering from the gate."
"H-how do you know about that?" Al asked shakily.
"Alphonse, my dear boy. Who doesn't know about the Elric brothers? You and your brother Edward are practically legend in Amestris now. Of course I know all about you. After all, you and your shrimp of an older brother made quite a scene in Central when he restored your body and defeated that homonculous."
Al could almost hear the man sneering at him as he mentioned Ed. He struggled to think of what his captor could possibly want. He continued to try and get a better look at his surroundings, craning his neck, hoping to see anything that could aid him in an escape.
"You won't be able to escape Alphonse," the man continued, seemingly reading his mind, "you're too weak. I can see it in your eyes, you know it's true. So conserve your strength, you're gonna need it if you want to live and see your beloved Winry again." he chuckled.
"WHAT DID YOU DO WITH HER? WHERE IS SHE?" Al screamed, viciously demanding an answer.
"Hit a sensitive spot did I?" the voice laughed insanely delighted, "don't worry your little human head Alphonse Elric, we didn't touch her. Everyone at your little celebration from two nights ago is fine. We left them unharmed. We got what we went in for; you."
"T-two nights? I've been out for that long...?"
"And now you see why I thought you might have been silently dying in your sleep." the voice paused. "But now that you're awake, I don't need to worry about that anymore."
"What do you want from me? What do you have to gain?" Al asked hoarsely.
"Haven't figured it out yet have you? Dear little Alphonse, I don't want you. I want your brother." the man smiled evilly.
"Brother...?" he began slowly, "what do you want with Ed?!" Al asked genuinely alarmed.
"That's for me to know Al. But once I have him, you're free to go home to your dearly beloved Winry. I'm sure she is worried sick about you." chuckling again, the man stopped, simply enjoying the fact that Al was powerless at his hand.
"Ed won't let you have him that easily!" Al yelled at his faceless tormentor.
"Alphonse, dear boy. How stupid do you think I am? I know your brother would do absolutely anything to save you. He has before, there is no doubt in my mind he will surrender himself to me in order to set you free. My plan is fool proof. You can't do anything to change the way this is going to play out; so just lie there, conserve what little energy you currently posses, and enjoy the ride! Cause it will be one hell of a fun one!" the man laughed again; this time increasingly louder, and more like a maniac.
Al shuddered at the inhuman sound. He couldn't let Ed take the fall for this. Yes, he was weak still, but that didn't mean he was useless. He would free himself so that brother didn't have to sacrifice himself. He wouldn't allow Ed to do something to that extent ever again as long as he lived. His thoughts were interrupted when he realized that the laughter has stopped. His heart rate accelerated again when he didn't know where the crazy man had gone.
He soon had his answer when he looked up and saw an all too familiar face.