Chapter Eighteen ~ Alchemy is a Curse, isn't it?

Bradley laughed demonically. Lust has gone out to screw with military dogs. Envy was out searching, and Pride gave up on searching and decided to kill special people. Pride's only reason for telling Envy he was going to do it was to rush Envy so he wouldn't enjoy it so much.

Greed would be a tough target. It was a good thing Envy was always up for a challenge. Hunting down people and killing them was second nature now. "Won't be breathing for long," Envy muttered under his breath with a bitter hatred.

Envy didn't get far into central. He was in a disguise as Riza, but he wouldn't need it now. Wraith was speeding up their plans. Light spread all around the sky and the clouds grew dark overhead. They were going to challenge God for Father.

"About time," Envy growled in Riza's usually soft voice. He would never admit that he wanted to be human, but everyone knew that was the goal that all the Humonculi shared.

The humans all around fell to the floor. "I wonder how Trisha and Hughes are suffering," Envy snickered as he ran off to visit the house before finding Greed. He didn't have to open the door- it was creaking open.

Envy scanned the whole house and even checked upstairs. No one was there. "Damn, and I wanted to see some suffering," Envy swore as he ran back to the military building. Only people in the military building were safe, and that was in certain spots. The transmutation circle started right under the military. It was safe and it was a symbol of irony. The military can't protect a single person when the transmutation circle activates.

Envy opened the door to the military building with a growl. He looked like Riza, but it would do for now. He wouldn't reveal his form until he had to. Besides, it would feel good to kill Hughes as Riza. It would hurt. The surprise might kill Hughes before he actually did.

Envy found Hughes hugging Trisha. Everyone else in the room had fallen to the ground and their souls were rising. Hughes had made it a safe spot. "Naturally," Envy growled. Hughes was never unlucky. He never had to go through pain. He was the luckiest man in Central.

Envy put out his hand to Hughes. "Take my hand- I'll get you out of here."

Hughes stared at Envy, who he thought was Riza. "How are you not dying?"

"The same reason you aren't," Envy-riza smiled.

"O-okay. Take Trisha first!" Hughes put his hand on her shoulder comfortingly.

"Alright, Trisha, come over to me." Trisha took two steps away from Hughes and fell to the ground.

"Wha-?" Hughes fell to his knees instinctively. He put his hands to the sides of his head as he tried to control his emotions. "How?"

"There isn't a reason you aren't dying right now except that you are in a safe spot." Envy growled.

"Why did you let her die?"

"Because I want to see you suffer," Envy-Riza glared in a hateful way that would make anyone but Hughes shiver.

"That's not fair," He whispered quietly.

"Life isn't," Envy-Riza whispered back as he took a step towards Hughes.

"No, stay away!"

"I won't kill you yet, Hughes. We have plans for you." Envy held his hand out and grabbed Hughes.

Hughes whimpered. Tears welled in his eyes but he knew he had to be strong.

Pride frowned as he walked up to Envy. "What's taking so long? Let's hurry up and get to Bradley."

"Fine," Envy growled impatiently. Envy grabbed Hughes and pulled him off the spot. He expected to die, but Hughes was fine. Envy's Philosopher's Stone was reflecting the circle's powers.

Envy and Pride hurried to Bradley. "So much for killing Greed," Envy mumbled as Pride frowned in agreement.

Bradley smiled as the two Humonculi walked in. It was a good feeling. He could already see Roy's defeat. Roy Mustang. The only human Bradley wanted to see hurt. Roy tried to hard to have it all. "Stupid humans," Bradley muttered with disgust as he saw Hughes' upset face. "Your wife was nothing and soon you'll be nothing."

"You'll be stopped," Hughes mumbled in a slur. Everything that was happening was emotional strain.

"By who?" Bradley grinned as he eyed Hughes like an ant. Nothing could stop a group of Humonculi.

"A friend of mine," Hughes looked at the ground and thought about Roy.

"Too weak to do it yourself?" Bradley asked with a teasing voice.

Hughes stared at the ground with a lack of determination. He couldn't do anything but pray with Pride and Envy holding his arms.

"Too weak to defend your own wife?" Bradley's toxic words reigned with truth and made Hughes cringe like he was belted across the face.

"We humans might be weak," Hughes' voice was cracking, "but we can do something you can't understand."

"Hmm?" Bradley offered as interest was written across his face.

"Those of us a little stronger than the rest protect the lesser of us, and the lesser of us protect the lesser. We all protect each other, and we have undying determination. Our will is a fire. It burns within us."

Hughes' words didn't do much for Bradley. "Then who protects the strongest?"

Hughes frowned as he had no answer.

"We Humonculi are the water that will quench your fire," Bradley growled. "You might as well accept your fate. Everyone is dying outside. Few are being sa-"

Bradley was cut off as Roy slammed the door open. His face was darkened in a rage. Bradley had made sure Roy wasn't effected by the transmutation by placing some shards of a philosopher stone over him. Roy hadn't noticed- his rage was always a blinding one. "Where is Riz-" Roy stopped mid-sentence as he saw a trapped Hughes. "What the hell is wrong with you?" Roy glared at Bradley, but Bradley didn't bat an eye.

"Why, we're having a nice talk. Would you like to join us?"

"Let him go. Let Riza go."

"What about your men?"

"What?" Roy's dumbstruck face made Bradley chuckle.

"They are gone too. Or did you forget your own pawns and only seek your queen?"

Roy gaped for a few heartbeats before closing his mouth and grinding his teeth. "Where are they?"

"What remains of them is scattered all over the walls in a hallway." Pride smiled sweetly at Roy just to get the horrified reaction.

"You're...You're...kidding," Roy stepped back as fear climbed up from his stomach.

"Dead. Dead. Dead." Pride said in a sing-song tone.

Envy joined in. "Dead as a log. Dead, dead, dead."

Bradley moved his head to the tune. "Catchy," he commented.

Roy brought his hand up, ready to snap. "I'll kill all of you!"

"Your friend here will die if you catch us on fire. Do you want him to burn?"

"You're underestimating me," Roy grinned as his stubborn confidence began taking over. "I know how to use a different attack as well." Roy lowered his right hand and brought his left one up in the same position. Few recognized that each had a different technique.

"Oh, and what is this trick up your sleeve?" Bradley asked with a confident smile.

"It's called 'Your Death'," Roy growled as he snapped. Three small streams of fire branched off from his fingers. This pinpoint attack was very accurate and far more painful than his right hand's general explosion fire. Pride and Envy were blown back. Bradley was hit right at the eyepatch. His head bent back before popping back into position with the patch falling off his face in burnt pieces.

"Funny," Bradley said. "Mine is called the same thing!" Bradley brought out his sword and was by Roy's side in a second. He brought the sword around Roy's neck and stood behind him. Roy was out of tricks now.

"I've got a show for you first, though."

Roy tried not to swallow as he felt fear and other emotions build up. He couldn't watch his best friend die.

Envy was back by Hughes' side in a second and grabbed his arms. Hughes hadn't realized he was free from the two Humonculi after Roy's attack. Trisha was on his mind. The woman he stole from Edward cruelly.

Bradley frowned. "We're ready, Pride."

Pride nodded before summoning the shadows. They brought a shadow cocoon over in front of Roy as Envy pushed Hughes to the corner to watch.

The cocoon unwrapped around the top, revealing the head of Riza. She grumbled as she opened her eyes tiredly. "Colonel?"

"Riza," Roy smiled as the last thing on this planet he loved was in front of him. "You're okay," he breathed out.

"I love you Roy," Riza closed her eyes as she knew what was coming. Pride grinned as he ordered the shadows to close on her. They wouldn't make her bleed out of everywhere. Oh no, that's too bloody. Instead, the shadows squeezed her so her ribs bend inwards. Her heart would be punctured last, leaving her to die painfully in two minutes.

The shadows released Riza and left her on the ground. She didn't open her eyes. She breathed in, breathed out, and let herself give in to the darkness that summoned her.