Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist, or the Full Metal Alchemist.

Burn

Back in Risembool, while Ed and Al searched for the stone, the days were lonely. When they had first left us, it was a huge surprise to me. I was worried, and confused. It seemed like my amazing childhood had drained away so fast. Death, along with age and science had wiped out my friendships and relationships with in the last few years. But when Ed and Al left-my closest friends in the entire world-I felt like trash, even when Grandma Pinako told me they would be back once they realized their mistake. That just didn't seem like Ed. He was the kind of guy that once he made up his mind, it was final. I completely gave up hope of them ever returning; Thoughts of abandonment crossed my mind. Sometimes I thought I would lose it all together. That's one of the reasons I studied so hard to become the best auto mail engineer I could. So that, maybe even when they wanted me to stay out of the mess they had created, I could still be of same kind of assistance to them. However that may help.

Learning how to become an engineer, and designing new models of auto mail became a daily aspect in my life. It was normal for an eleven year old girl like me. And as I grew older, things became even more interesting. I learned to love what I did, and my love for screws and wrenches took the place of love for a guy. It distracted me from real love. From heart breaks and nightmares. I think that was the reason why I was so new to this feeling I had been experiencing.

The next week went by slowly. Work basically went down hill and sucked. We weren't getting much business, plus the fact Ben had quit. I wasn't sure why; he had recently stopped talking to everyone. And before we knew it, he didn't show up, prior the last 5 days. It confused me when I felt sad after I learned he had left. But then again, he was my only friend there. The only one I could talk to.

Mean while, back at home Ed hadn't spoken a word to either me or Al. Even Alphonse was acting different. Something was bugging the two of them, and they wouldn't have me anything to do with it, just like in the old days. The three of us had started working over time, preparing ourselves for the rent price to rise. Ed hadn't mentioned a thing about what we did. He stayed in his room at night, as I stayed in mine. It was as if things had gotten back to normal, but I wasn't sure if I liked normal.

The accident started on a warm August night, in the old apartment. I was tired, drained from work. Thank god it had been a Friday, with a long weekend to follow. Ed had forgotten his book from the other night he was reading, and I had picked it up with interest. It was then it started to get warm. I ignored it at first, not giving the rising heat a second thought. With out realizing it I began to feel my eye lids grow heavier. I thought it was my exhaustion, what else could it be?

The last thing I could remember was the roars of trucks racing past our street, and the screams of people outside on the sidewalk pointing to the brick apartment building yelling one word. One word that sent panic through my entire body, "FIRE!"

xxx

Auther's Note: That was a real cliffy, huh? Things are about to get interestng... :)