Yuck! I'm sorry for such a long hiatus! Honestly, I've been bombarded with school and projects and exams and family crap that …oh well you don't want to hear my excuses so I'll cut to the chase. This is a short chapter to warm up writing privvy sorry… D: *protects with cucumber*

Also if anyone is wondering in this story, Envy did not spark the Ishvalan War. Thanks for reviews anyway. Heehee sooo late I know. Ha.

Chapter 13: Hostile

The shouts got louder.

"So all because of your stupid errands we have T.M.K HIMSELF after us?"

Wyatt shrugged. "Er…yeah."

Ed made a long, heaving sigh with his gloved hand on his face. "Please excuse me for a moment." He then left to go into the bathroom.

"Standing around isn't going to get us anywhere," Izumi's hard voice split through the air like a spoon hitting a pan. "Ed get back out here."

Just the booming command of his old teacher's voice was enough for Ed to rush out the bathroom. He was now more alert and looked a bit more together to fight.

"What's your deal? No sly remarks?" Ed pouted to Envy. Envy had been calmly lounging on the edge of the bed for the past few minutes.

"Can't I stay quiet?"

"Why?"

"Because I want to," Envy snapped. Camile knew he was thinking but didn't say anything. She herself didn't want to be a dog's dinner.

Scar moved closer to the door in the midst of tension. He had his gaze focused firm. His fists were clenching and he had the determination of a hundred in his eyes.

"They're here."

"Already?" Ed was taken aback a bit. Envy smirked at this; it's not like Ed was being a coward but he was thoroughly surprised by the month's past events. Entertaining to watch to the homunculi to say the least.

Scar opened the door and motioned everyone to come outside. The sun still hadn't gone down yet and the smell of sand was tickling to the nose. Determination and intuition was the only other feeling accompanying tension. And a lot of it.

Bella was the only one shaking. She was the only one that she felt couldn't defend herself. What if something happened to the others? No—she couldn't let herself think that way.

A swift motion of air and less than a second of time before James was there.

"Boo."

The rushing of guards and the movement of feet against sand. Bella hid behind Luki as best she could. Everything happened so fast it was surreal. It was like she was watching a movie in slow motion that she couldn't quite get her head around.

The dreamscape came crashing down when James' fury grew. The fight wasn't lasting five minutes before the group cut half of his defenses.

No one paid attention to Scar as he was running into the distance. "This way!" They weren't quite sure what they were running to but they followed nonetheless.

Envy ran with Camile in his arms. She would only slow them down.

In the meantime, James was able to call backup along with Jordan and chase after the group.

Scar was trying to start up what looked like an old beat up golf cart type automobile. It obviously belonged to military officials.

"Come on! Come on!" Scar cried in frustration. Everyone climbed onto the back and held on as best they could. Their eyes widened as James was nearing them with a whole new army with guns. And the bullets were only getting closer.

Alchemy held them off for the while, but for some reason it didn't seem to do much. It was like they just kept coming.

"Outnumbered…" Greed breathed.

Jordan was the closest one now. Everyone held their breath. Envy stepped off the back calmly and morphed his arm right into Jordan's chest. A pool of blood leaked onto the ground and Envy's arm.

Scar finally was successful. "All right! Let's go!"

Envy stepped on calmly as Jordan's dying body hit the ground. Scar stepped on the gas and floored it. Little did they know that Wyatt's position was unfortunate.

With a startled gasp and a leaping heart, Wyatt felt his body lurch forward near the wall of sand. Envy's reaching hand was just seconds late and he missed. He couldn't have felt worse at that moment as Wyatt met face to face with sand.

"WYATT!" Bella shrieked.

"No!" Ed yelled trying to reach for his body in a failed attempt.

"WE HAVE TO GO BACK!" Bella screamed at Scar, shaking his motionless form as he drove.

Scar was silent. He was focused on getting out alive and if that meant losing one of the kids then so be it. Every man for himself.

Envy snarled. "Scar turn back!"

"No." Was the plain reply.

Everyone watched in horror as Wyatt lay on the ground by Jordan's bleeding body. The enemy closing in on him and waiting—for the worst.

The car left the horizon and all that was left of the accident was bitter silence and the sound of heart's beating in their ears.

The group dragged Wyatt by the arms as James huddled in horror around his friend's body.

"J…James." Jordan wheezed.

James' face scrunched up and tears clouded his vision. "No."

"James…" Jordan hacked up blood.

"This can't happen to you!" The tears finally spilled. "My friend!"

"I'll…be ok…just…kill them…all….it's what he wants…it's what…"

James' eyes widened as he saw the last breath his friend would ever know. Sadness was quickly replaced by rage. Pure hatred marked by clouded vision.

"Boss? What do you want me to do with him?" One guard asked, lifting Wyatt up like a doll.

James looked the darkest he'd ever been. "It's time we got information."

All was silent in the middle of the desert. The sunset had finally reached a pink and purple low to the sky. The group decided to set up camp with what little they found in the trunk of the car they stole. They were able to make a scrawny bonfire.

Bella had been crying the past hour while Luki just held and comforted her. Camile was silent, watching everyone. Izumi and Al were silent too. Greed was standing, watching Ed throw a fit and curse at himself for letting this happen. Wrath was Envy's shadow as they watched the sunset. And Scar was fixed firmly on the horizon.

"Due west, we should be in Amestris by mid-afternoon."

Ed stomped over to him. "Don't you realize, someone innocent has been kidnapped?! What is wrong with you?!"

Scar was silent.

Ed sighed. "We need to go back and fight!"

"No."

"NO?"

"No."

Ed yelled in exasperation. He stomped and kicked the sand.

"Calm down kid it ain't nobody's fault," Greed said with a solemn expression. "But I have to agree with him, Scar. I'm not one for picking fight's with someone unless I already know them or they got a beef with me. Sooo I say why not rile them up a bit?"

Scar turned around. "And you do realize only you and the rest of your kind would probably end up alive, homunculus?"

Greed shut his mouth.

"In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they found out a way to kill you too."

"There's so much you're not telling us," Ed said. "Why don't you start giving us something now? It's a perfect opportunity after what just happened."

Scar smirked and chuckled. "You sure do catch on fast."

Ed glared.

"Look, I told you a bunch of time already, I can't give you any information. Secrets are meant to be unlocked by the right key. If you have the wrong key at the wrong time in the wrong place, the secrets will forever remain a mystery."

"I don't have time for your philosophy right now, Scar, just tell us."

"I cannot. I'm sorry," Scar said. "Even if I told you, you would all freak out. It doesn't matter what you say to me or how you prepare yourself for it, it wouldn't end pretty."

Ed relaxed himself a little. "So…you're saying…"

"It would be apocalyptic," Scar said as though he had just told his life story.

All were silent.

"We need to go back to Amestris to warn them of an impending attack from these guys. They are relentless. Especially after you killed one of them—" Scar pointed to Envy, "and besides, military tactics and protection is the only advantage I can rest on right now."

Ed frowned. "Roy will look for another shot at glory. I know him. These will be his chance to be in the headlines—'Roy's A Hero! Fire Alchemist Champion!'"

Ed sighed.

"I don't think he will after he sees what he's up against," Scar replied.

"You don't know Roy. He'll try anyway."

Scar made a distant "hm" sound as he turned back around to face the sunset. He wasn't sure when he was going to sleep but when he did it would be after everyone else was. He was thinking about everything—good old vindictivism, reflecting with a heavy burden on his heart all that had happened and all that will happen. Thanks to vengeance.