The Price of Life [Fullmetal Alchemist]

Chapter Sixteen

Like Family Does

↑nobody can see me past these walls that i've been building up.↑
-issues.

•••

Winry couldn't find her.

She'd looked everywhere, from each hospital corridor to the darkest alleys of Central City, but it was fruitless. Her worry grew as the sun went farther down the horizon. She didn't know what to do.

She returned to the hospital, having to tell Ed and Al the news. The concern was aching and heavy on their hearts, but no one mentioned it.

"Well," Ed finally spoke, "you guys should head back to the hotel. We can look again tomorrow. I should be out of this damn hospital soon enough."

"Okay brother. We'll be back in the morning." Al confirmed.

After saying their goodbyes, the two left. They headed back to the military dorms. Even though neither were a part of it, Alphonse had managed to convince the front desk man that he was the Fullmetal Alchemist.

"Works every time," he muttered as he and Winry walked towards their room for the night, keys in hand.

They turned a corner, and Alphonse swore he saw a swoosh of black hair slip into the hallway.

"Did you see that?!" he exclaimed, turning to Winry.

"What was it?" she questioned, tipping her head.

He ignored her query and handed her the room keys. "Here," he said. "Find our room and wait for me to get back, okay?"

"Okay...?"

He was already running halfway down the hall when he looked back to see her skeptical expression. He stopped momentarily to say, "I'll explain later, I promise!"

Alphonse could only hope that was actually her.

He kept running, his metal legs clanking loudly on the carpet. It didn't take long to get in the same hallway as the girl, but since he was being so reckless she heard his clunky footsteps and turned around almost immediately.

It was her. Sonia.

She made a quiet gasp and took off running.

"Wait, Sonia!"

Sonia didn't have to go far. Her room was nearby, and all she had to do was open it with her key. Al didn't catch her in time to make it into her room before she locked it.

He sighed, taking a step back from the door. Tapping his knuckles on the wood lightly, he said, "Sonia, can you open the door?"

Silence.

"Please?" he added, putting a gloved hand on the doorknob.

Still nothing.

"Can we talk?"

"...No," was the feeble answer he received. Well, it was a start.

"Why not?" he questioned, hoping to get more out of her.

"I don't want to. Just leave me alone!"

Alphonse could tell she was right next to the door. Her sniffling meant she was crying, and he couldn't leave her alone like that - not with a good conscience anyway.

"Please," he pleaded.

She didn't say anything back. Al didn't know what to say. Sonia was stubborn, and if she didn't want to do it, she wouldn't. He's learned that much. So when he heard the door unlock, to say he was surprised was a bit of an understatement.