The waters of lethe
Disclaimer: I don't own FMA, I just like to play around in it's world and torture Ed for awhile.
Author's note: post series and somewhat AU. Some movie events will happen, but differently.
Warning: movie spoilers. Also violence, death and maybe sex. Some bad language this chapter.
Beta: Jedimasterwithapen
58. Enter Dr. Mengele (Dr. Mengele anmelden)
Edward sat morosely at the table in the cell and ate his lunch, a bowl of oxtail soup, and sourbraten served with fried potatoes. He stabbed up a piece of the meat (because he wasn't allowed a knife, the meat was pre-cut), added a potato and bore it to his mouth. His mood dark, he chewed slowly and swallowed. The food was well prepared, but it sat like a hot lump in Edward's stomach.
Yet Edward continued to eat in a mechanical fashion, he had to keep his strength up in case a chance to escape presented itself. He'd woken up two days ago and spent most of his time pacing the worn stone floor, searching for a way out. But he was defeated each time.
The windows were too high for him to reach, except by climbing up the walls, and he'd tried that more than once. But the walls were very smooth and he was forced to climb up in a zig-zag fashion before going left or right. Once he'd reached his objective, he'd been disgusted to discover both windows were barred as well as covered with thick glass.
Next, Edward tapped on all the walls with his prosthetic hand in hopes of locating a trigger for any secret passageways behind them. But the walls remained stubbornly solid. This left the door, but he couldn't get out that way. Made of thick planks of wood, it had a small barred window, a sturdy lock and was guarded at all times.
Edward discovered that the first and only time he'd gotten out of the room. When his first meal was brought, he swerved around the soldier holding the tray, dodged a second who tried to grab him and bolted for freedom.
Only to be brought up short by two more soldiers who seized him by the arms and dragged him, kicking and flailing back into the room.
Eckart visited him a few hours later and he'd glared at her with such ferocity she'd taken a step back until two soldiers grabbed his arms and held him in check. Not since the night he fought Envy in the buried city had Edward wanted to kill another living creature quite so badly.
When she said, "Hallo, Shambalan," a sound like a low-pitched growl forced itself up his throat and between his lips. Every word she spoke to him was answered by a sentence peppered with so many obscenities Eckart's ears were red with embarrassment.
Yes, he was her prisoner, but no he would not open a portal, no he would not stop swearing, no he would not cooperate. The only task he would willingly perform was throttling her with his bare hands.
She retreated soon after he screamed "Go to hell, you bitch!" and Karl Haushofer found her weeping tears of pure frustration in her office.
"Fraulein, what is the matter? Maybe I can help."
"The Shambalan refuses to cooperate, Karl. I tried, oh I tried to talk sense into him, but he just answered me with the filthiest words I've ever heard. He's all alone now so there aren't any one he cares for to threaten... I don't know what else to do!"
"Hmmm...," Haushofer rubbed his chin in the manner of one thinking deeply. "You could call that Dr. Mengele, the man Himmler recommended. He's made the study of psychotropic drugs his life's work. Perhaps one of those drugs would make the Shambalan more - amenable."
"Danke, Haushofer," a smile flitted across Dietlinde's face as Haushofer gave her a folded handkerchief to dab the tears from her face. She shuffled through the deep pile of papers on her desk, extracted one and looked at it, then went digging through the pile again in search of the telephone. "I shall do that right now."
The sound of many pairs of feet approaching made Edward stop his pacing. He looked curiously at the door. Lunch was past, and supper wouldn't be for hours yet. He frowned when he heard keys rattling, then the door was unlocked and swung open. Two soldiers came in, followed by Eckart and Hess.
Edward ground his teeth with anger.
Then he noticed the man standing in the doorway. He was young and handsome, his dark hair cropped short, and he was dressed in a gray suit. . If not for the dark red tie, and black shoes, he would have given a complete impression of grayness.
The man smiled slightly and Edward's blood ran cold. The smile was false, and it didn't reach those flat eyes.
His entire demeanor gave Edward the impression of a snake. The venomous kind, Edward's mind internally corrected when the other man walked into the room and set a black leather medical bag upon the table.
"Hallo, Herr Elric", he spoke with even, clipped tones and the temperature of the room seemed to drop several degrees. "My name is Dr. Mengele and I'm going to give you something to help you calm down."
Mengele opened the bag and took out the paraphanalia of injections: a hypodermic needle, a bottle of alcohol, some cotton, and a small bottle filled with a green liquid. He unscrewed a cap on the second bottle, held it upside down and began to fill the syringe with it. "Sit down, and roll up your sleeve, bitte. This won't hurt a bit."