Long Winding Road
EdxOC & AlxOC
Edited: 8/3/12
"Let's see, we have to go to Grandich's house... this'll be easy because I've been there before." Michelle said as she and Zack stepped off the train.
Michelle and Zack headed down the path until they came to a fork in the road.
"Am I going to lure Mikayla out of the house and then you'll get her?" Zack asked, as they went down one of the paths.
"Yep, this will be so easy," Michelle replied.
Meanwhile, Nami walked the path towards the fork in the road where she would turn to go to Kane's for more training. She tried her best to hide her excitement. She was finally going to be able to learn flame alchemy after all these years! Well, learn it well. She kept walking, but stopped when she saw two suspicious figures walking down the path towards her. She kept her hands at the ready as she slowly approached them, hoping to walk right by them.
"Yeah, then I can get my pay," Zack smirked. He went to turn down another path and bumped into someone. "Hey! Watch where you're going!" He snapped at the girl.
"Excuse me?" Nami asked, looking offended. "Why don't you watch where you're going?"
"Whatever, just keep out of the way," He glared.
"Come on Zack let's just go get our mission down." Michelle said, pulling him by the arm down the path towards the only house that was down there.
Nami wondered where they were going. Her friend's house was the only house that way, Kane's house was down the other road.
Oh well, she thought, reaching the end of the path and heading towards Kane's house. Having arrived a bit early, Nami knocked on the door and hoped Kane was already up.
"Hello Nami," Kane greeted, stepping outside with his coffee.
"Take a seat on the steps and we'll begin."
Nami nodded and took a seat, fiddling with the sleeve of her hood. Her excitement was now replaced with nervousness. What if he thought she wasn't good enough to teach? Or that she was hopeless and couldn't learn?
"Now, let me go over the basics..." Kane began, opening up a book and explaining things to Nami. She knew most of this, but a little refreshment couldn't hurt.
Michelle growled angrily as they (her and Zack) walked back up the path, "I can't believe that was the wrong house."
"Guess you don't know this area as well as you thought," Zack said, earning himself a slap on the back of his head. They asked a random person for directions and were pointed in the right direction.
"Alright, let's get this started," she muttered, heading up the correct path.
After only a few minutes of Kane explaining things, Nami caught sight of the two from earlier. Kane saw her staring and turned to also see the two figures.
Mikayla came into the room ready for the days training, "Morning." She looked at what the two were looking at and squinted her eyes, "Zack?" She walked out of house and walked closer.
Zack smiled and walked over to her, "Hey, Kayla."
"What are you doing out here Zack?" She asked, "Do you need medicine again?"
Zack shook his head as Michelle walked closer to them. "No, Michelle and I just wanted to talk to you. Are you busy?"
"Well... I have training soon. Can it wait until after?" She asked.
"No, come on it's important." Zack said, taking her hand and pulling lightly.
"You can go Mikayla, I need to talk to Nami anyways," Kane called before turning back to Nami. "Anyways, as I was saying. Mustang uses special gloves that help him control the elements in the air."
"Oh, I see," Nami nodded.
"But it takes more than just snapping your fingers?"
"Yes, you need to know what chemicals to change so you can control the fire."
"How long does it take to do that?"
"Well, to perform it? A few seconds."
"And to learn it?" Nami asked.
"Years."
"Where are we going Zack?" Mikayla asked, as she continued to let Zack pull her along. Zack stopped and gave her a smirk, "A place you've been before."
"Wha-?" She was struck in the neck at a pressure point and knocked out cold.
"Well, there we go." Michelle smirked as Zack lifted Mikayla over his shoulder. They made their way to the train station to sneak on to the next train.
Nami and Kane continued to talk and Nami was surprised to learn that Kane knew a lot about flame alchemy.
"Hey, where's Mikayla?" Kane said, standing up. "She needs to hurry back for training."
"I'm not sure," Nami said, standing up also. "Until then, should I just do the usual routine?"
Kane nodded. "Yes, go ahead."
[Mikayla]
I woke up in a dimly lit room that seemed to have many surgical tools lined against the wall.
The hell? I thought, trying to move. I found this impossible because I was tied down to a table and brute force wasn't going to get me out.
"Oh, you're up."
I froze, "Zack?"
I turned my head and saw my friend walking closer to me.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"He works for me."
I glared over in the direction of the new voice. "Dr. Jethro, you just don't know when to give up do you? Look, I'm not going to open the Gate for you."
"You really don't have a choice, dear." The old man smirked.
The girl I remembered from earlier walked into the room and over to Dr. Jethro. I think her name was Michelle.
"Dr. Jethro, I'm leaving." She said.
"Alright, I'll call you when I have another mission to offer."
Michelle walked out of the room without saying another word. If I wasn't tied to the God forsaken table that girl would be picking herself off the floor (or dead - either way works).
"Zack, take her to Cell B." Dr. Jethro said before leaving the room.
Zack undid the straps from me and grabbed me roughly by the forearm.
"Zack!" I shouted, shoving him away. "What's your problem?"
"Just come on," He grunted, reaching out to grab me again.
I grabbed his wrist and started twisting it, "Imma ask it again, what's your problem?"
His green eyes glared into mine, full of frustration. This wasn't the same Zack I had healed and befriended.
"What happened to you?" I asked, letting the hurt show through my voice.
He didn't answer me, his face fixed in a scowl.
"Fine then have it your way." I let go of his wrist and started walking towards the door.
"You're not going to leave that easily."
I stopped and gave him a look, "What can you do? Please boy, I can beat your butt any day."
By the look on his face he knew I was right.
"What did I tell you the first time I met you?" I asked.
"I don't know." He replied, crossing his arms.
"Yes you do, don't play dumb. What did I tell you the first time I met you?"
"I told you I don't remember! All I know is you are the enemy!" Zack shouted. "I don't even remember us being friends."
"What?" I asked in shock, "You don't remember?"
"No."
I couldn't tell if he was lying or not, but I was too pissed off to care.
"Well, let me refresh your memory. I told you my trust is easy to gain but even easier to lose." I said, "You lost it."
I felt him stare after me as I walked out of the room and into the hallway. I crept to the entrance of the hideout and made a run for it. Unfortunately for me the hideout was still in the North and it was freezing.
That was way too easy. I thought, I have a feeling they'll be on my tail any second now. Better get out of here fast.
I weaved through the trees until I came to a main road.
"Alright… now what?" I muttered, "Which way is the town?"
Walking aimlessly sucked - especially when it was cold. I hate the cold and being in a tank top wasn't helping though my sweats did keep my legs somewhat warm. It also didn't help that it was dark… very dark.
"Where is an Aperture Science Hand Held Device when you really need one?" I asked myself, "I mean really, I could just portal myself home but noooo my life has to be so darn complicated. Well… it could be worse. I could be a prostitute… or a druggie… yeah that would suck."
This was going to be a long night…
Twelve hours later and I was happy to say I was home. I dragged myself into the quiet house and crashed onto the couch.
"Mikayla? Where were you?" Kane asked, coming over to me. "You missed training to go off with some guy-"
"Kane, give me like an hour." I said exhaustively. "I was kidnapped by my friend, taken to the North, walked through the snow to North City and had to sneak onto a train because I'm broke. I've had a crappy night and I don't need this crap."
His violet eyes looked at my blankly, "Seriously."
"Dude, I got the marks on my arm to prove it." I said, showing him where my arm was bruised from the restraints. "The Blade Children found me again. I originally wasn't going to come back but I couldn't think of anywhere else to go. They probably think I'm in Central though to report to Mustang."
Kane looked at me for a moment before sighing, "I guess you're off the hook. We're going to have to do something about those Blade Children though."
He then reached onto the other chair and through a blanket at me, "Get some sleep you look like crap, Kid."
"I'm not a kid." I glared, wrapping myself in the blanket. "And I don't look that bad!" (I hoped.)
"You are under the age of twenty; you are a kid, Kid." Kane smirked. He then walked out of the living room and to his study - most likely to do some research on the Blade Children.
Ed's probably having a panic attack, I told him I'd take a walk with him after I was done with my training. Oh well I'm way too tired to care right now. I wish I could go into stasis right now…
Author's Corner:
~Hehe Portal references! XD Never played Portal or Portal 2? I would like to suggest you go play it. Best game ever!
~There wasn't any Ed... I should change that next chapter.