Chapter 4: Misery Is Shirley?
I have been in the infirmary a little after the Colonel and Fullmetal left. Thoughts flowed through my head of what he might say to Ed next after being dragged out. I giggled at the thought. Boy, will Roy give a nice lecture to him and then Ed will get all grumpy and annoyed. The thought just was entertaining. Sometimes, it was fun to think about them too. I smiled.
I wonder if Shirley is in this world too? I thought, If she is, she might be somewhere in the world and probably wondering about me too. She is always concerned about me anyway. And fanning over FMA B.
Smiling of the thought, I stared out at the window towards my left, my thoughts far off in the distance. I felt like a little girl again, with the excitement of being able to see my favorite characters up face to face. This was pretty awesome really and what I always dreamed off. Plus, the Colonel was the same as ever. The straight, commanding, stoic face on him. I practically squeal within at the look of him. I had to contain myself though, in order to not arise suspicion. Suspicion is the thing that will get you thrown into the military's cell.
A knock came on the door as I was thinking, breaking my train of wild imagination. Turning my head towards the door I answered,"Come in." The door swung open and my mouth literately dropped open in shock.
"What? Surprised to see me?" A voice answered from the door. Before me was my best friend, dressed in a military outfit. Her blond hair was tied in a a fashionable ponytail and she had that grin on her face like she was really excited about this.
"More surprised that you bypassed the military without having suspicions on you." I pointed out. I caught a roll of her eyes.
"Come on. Do you take me for a fool? I obviously have another self here before I came to meet you." Shirley made a that-is-so-obvious look on her expression. I snorted with amusement.
"Guess both of us have our own selves here. What is your self's name anyway?" I asked.
"I...don't quite know. All I know is that they call me Corporal." She replied with a shrug."How about you?"
"Ice Shing apparently. First Lieutenant of the military. The Colonel told me to act as that position once I am recovered. Ugh, this is gonna be a total workout." Something was off when I talked with my best friend about this but no reaction came from here. At least, as far as I can tell.
"Ohh..Well it looks like you are higher than me, Lieutenant." She teased with a grin.
"Ha, well you better do everything I say then." I teased back with a smirk.
"You are just so mean." She playfully whined. I giggled. It was good to have her back again.
"Well, I'm glad I am not alone on this craziness." I confessed. She walked over towards me and placed her hand on my shoulder.
"No worries. I am your best friend remember? I will be with you at times of trouble." She consoled me. Something within that tone made me feel like a hypnosis. Something wasn't right with my best friend. I still acted like I know nothing. I smiled brightly back at her.
"Great! I knew I can count on you!" I spoke, sounding relieved.
Something isn't right here. She is herself but isn't herself at the same time. What could it be that she is hiding from me? Is she really my best friend? Or is she an enemy to the military that is playing disguise? I better trend carefully. The hypnosis is frankly making me more aware, not making me drawn into it. Ha, that's funny. I thought as I looked at her, obviously not showing those thoughts to her. That would be just not wise of me.
"Oh now you are desperate for my help." She playfully smirked. But that playfulness seemed more to it. I rolled my eyes back.
"You just want to make yourself look good." I commented back teasingly.
"Oh please. Gimme a break on that. I was just jesting ya know." She laughed. I laughed too.
"Your jesting is part I totally love about you." I grinned at her. Shirley giggled.
"Thanks but I can't stay long. As a Corporal of the military, I got work to do." She told me. I nodded.
"I shall see you soon once I recovered." I smiled. She nodded and released the grip on my shoulder before strolling out the door, shutting it behind her. I sighed once I heard the footsteps fading away. Before I got any peace and quiet, the door burst open so suddenly that I squealed and nearly jumped out of my covers. I recovered quickly though and stared at the person in front of me. It was the Colonel.
What the? What is the Colonel doing here? Not to mention he looks panicked too...I thought with complete surprise. As I was about to ask the question, the man beat me to it.
"Are you alright? Fullmetal had reported to me that a Homunculus called Misery is going to visit your room." His eyes shot wide in worry. I gave him a quizzical look.
"Misery? Homunculus? No I got no such visit. But my friend, Shirley came and visited me. She apparently is in this world." I reported to him. For a moment, confusion struck the Colonel's face before it immediately twisted into one of sudden realization. I wondered what he had been thinking about in his head.
"There is no such girl with a first name of Shirley." He trended cautiously, moving to close the door and moving to sit next to me."Did she tell you her name in this world?"
"No she did not. I found that suspicious. All she told me is that she is named Corporal." I hushed my voice to a low whisper. It was still enough for Roy to hear though. I do not want anyone else to be let in on my suspicions.
"As I thought. She must be Misery, the Homunculus." I stared at him, bewildered.
"How can you be so sure?" I baffled.
"Isn't it obvious? She had not told you her name here. That is only the conclusive decision." He responded, his tone completely serious. I sighed.
"How is Ed by the way? I hope Misery didn't do anything harmful to him." I was obviously worried. Who wouldn't be if a Homunculus were to attack you?
"He has a pretty bad headache but he is otherwise fine. He told me Misery made him pass out. The damn Homunculus." He growled under his breath. The obvious anger was flared into his eyes. I managed to use my arm to pat him on the shoulder.
"I'm sure there is a way we can stop them." I reassured. Although I knew who was truly behind it, I wasn't ready to tell everyone in this world. I did watch Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood once anyway. No use spoiling what is going to happen in the future.
"We will need to be careful to not say our thoughts out loud here." The Colonel intoned.
"Right. Not to arise anymore suspicions among the military." I nodded in agreement. I will too when Shirley comes visit me next time. Or when we see each other again.
"I'm glad you understand Lieutenant Shing." He flashed a brief small smile on my direction. For a moment, my heart raced a bit. I did my best to conceal the blush that was quickly rising on my cheeks. Did Roy just...smiled at me!? I was just so excited that it was hard to keep a smile on back.
"T-Thank you." I managed at last. Deep within, I was squealing so excitedly.
Omg the Colonel just smiled at me! I can't believe it! Normally, he would just smile towards the First Lieutenant Riza! I practically screamed in my thoughts. I was just overly excited about this that I was ready to burst. My fan insides are totally coming out.
"Just don't get yourself in trouble again. Scar did a number on you." He warned, his expression switching quickly back to seriousness. I forced myself to look serious towards him. I made a small salute with my hand.
"Yes sir!" I responded back, trying my best to look attentive.
"Good. In the meantime, would you mind if I stay here and ask a few questions? Just to be sure Misery doesn't come back to get you." Roy offered with a smile. I blinked.
"Sure, I don't mind. Ask whatever you want." I was open to questions. After all, if I did hold anything back, I would only look suspicious on the Colonel's eyes. That I do not want to happen. Unless he asked about how I knew about him. Then I have no idea how to answer him. At the thought of that, I felt my stomach grew butterflies in them. I waited.
"Very well. Do you remember anything relating to Scar and his attack on you?" Was his first question. I had no idea where the he was going with this but I shook my head in response to that. Of course I haven't. Not to mention that I even knew that Scar attacked me, well the other me in this world.
"No I don't remember anything of the sort." I responded firmly."Besides, I am not the 'other me' in this world." The Colonel looked a bit baffled for a brief moment before his expression switched to a slightly apologetic one.
"Ah, I'm sorry. I have forgotten." He scratched the back of his head lightly and a nervous smile on his face. I laughed.
"No worries. It's normal for people to sometimes forget." I conceded with him.
"You are being modest. But back to the questions." His expression turned back to serious."You seem to know me and Fullmetal like long time friends. How have you gain such a knowledge of it?" That turned me on my rear. I tried to conceal the shock on my face but it was hard to.
"Well...I..." I stuttered.
So the Colonel does know something about me having knowledge of here so well. How did he figure that one out though? I thought to myself. I was trying to not know them or something but it's so weird. Then again, he always is one step ahead of me...
"You are reluctant and I thought you were going to be open in answering my questions. Should I take that as a no then?" A suspicion tone crept into his voice when he spoke it. I looked away from him and stared at the white wall across the room.
"I'm not sure if I told you would you believe me." I admitted.
"Is it a farfetched idea?" He inquired.
"In your eyes, yes." I responded with a nod.
"You can tell me and I'll try to believe it." He affirmed. Again, I was surprised. Though I don't know what he was truly thinking, but I knew that he probably can be trusted despite how crazed my knowledge of them might be. However, I still considered about my spill of that knowledge.
"Are you certain? Because you will really think I am crazy." I asked, for confirmation. A cocked brow rose.
"Unless there is reason for you to confide this 'crazy' information from me then I do not see why it must be kept from me." Replied the Colonel bluntly. I sighed. There was just way I can hide anything from him.
"Alright but I want you to swore an oath to me that you will never tell anyone else, even on Edward." I told him with a serious look on my face.
"Very well. I swear that I will never tell this confided information to any of the military, family members or friends." He rose his hand and swore in front of me. I would have laughed if the situation weren't that serious. I nodded. Once he did swore that oath, I began to explain why I have knew about them and how in my world we had known the characters here as anime characters. We had also information of each person's personality from that show and that people would even cosplay that character too. I tried to keep myself from sounding excited about it. Once I have finished explaining, I watched the Colonel's expression. A look of surprise had apparently crossed his face. For a moment, we spoke nothing to each other.
"You are right. I do find this very farfetched, even if it is true." He finally spoke, disbelief obvious in his voice.
"Well, it's true even if you don't wanna believe that." I crossed my arms. Sometimes, I do not like it when people in general distrust my words. And this is one of those times. He gently scratched the back of his head.
"I apologize if I don't sound trusting. You don't seem the type to lie so I will keep it to my word that I will say nothing about your world." He apologized a bit too meekly, causing me to suddenly feel bad to be cross with him.
"It's alright. I know you will keep your word. You trust your subordinates after all." I flashed a small smile towards him, taking him momentarily off guard.
"Oh right. I almost forgot that you knew about me and all the characters in that anime...called Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood?" He tacked a questionable voice in the end. I nodded.
"Yeah that's right. I almost forgot that you knew about all our personalities too." He looked slightly disturbed for a brief moment there. I patted his shoulder.
"I might know your personalities but it doesn't mean I know everything about you. There might be things that you have that I don't know about. Don't worry, I'll play clueless." I reassured him. I can tell he didn't like the fact that everything that he did was violated. I sympathize with him. Violation of privacy isn't the prettiest thing ever.
"At least you understand." He looked relieved by that. I smiled.
"I had my mom violate my privacy plenty of times." I responded."She practically knows every movement I do. It's creepy."
"People violate privacy in your world too?" He looked a bit surprised. I nodded.
"Parents do at least. Not the prettiest thing." I shrugged. But the talk about home suddenly made me feel homesick. I looked down at my bedsheets. All of a sudden, all those things at home sound so desirable. I just wanted to feel them again. As if the Colonel knew of my thoughts, he placed a hand on my shoulder.
"I'm certain we will find a way to get you back. You don't sit right in our world anyway." He reassured. I looked up at him.
"Thanks but I want to experience this world as well. I don't want to go back just yet." I put on a smile. But in reality, I did feel the want to get back home. But I couldn't decide. Both worlds are desirable so which do I choose? It was so hard to decide and hard to make up my mind. I sighed quietly to myself.
"Well, if you say so." He let go of my shoulder and then was quiet for a moment."Do you know why you were promoted as Lieutenant of the military?" I shook my head."Because the former Lieutenant Hawkeye went missing a week ago. Our search for her was futile." I gasped.
"Former Lieutenant Hawkeye was missing? When was she last spotted?" I questioned.
"Near Liore. Traces of footprints were found there but led to a dead end. We later confirmed it to be the Lieutenant's footprints herself. The way it was marked, she was being chased by something." The Colonel explained. His tone of voice sounded...distant. I had no idea what to say.
"I want to search her whereabouts after I am fully recovered." I finally told him.
"No Lieutenant. I don't want to lose another subordinate by my side again." He finally looked at me, stern.
"But former Lieutenant Hawkeye is missing!" I defended."And because of me being recently promoted as such position, I have the right to investigate into the matter. Plus, I am also worried about the former Lieutenant as well. With my knowledge from the country Xing, I am more than capable." I wasn't gonna give up on this. We both stared eye-to eye for a brief moment before he sighed in defeat.
"Very well but allow Fullmetal to be to your aid. Two people at the scene is better than one." I saluted with my hand again.
"Yes sir!" He nodded and rose from his seat.
"I shall be taking my leave then. Be sure to rest up well if you were to make your full recovery Lieutenant Shing." He commanded. I nodded and immediately slid under the covers just when a soldier of the military stepped inside, saluting at the Colonel. It was an unfamiliar face I had not seen before so I stared.
"Colonel Mustang sir! I have came to take your place in watching over Lieutenant Shing!" It was a female that spoke.
"Excellent Major Walters. I expect you to ensure that the Lieutenant is not attacked by anything. If any situation of alert is to happen, do not hesitate to find me." He then walked out.
"Sir!" She responded. Around this time, I felt myself drifting into unconsciousness due to the exhaustion of the conversation I had with the Colonel.