Free Falling

Chapter 16: Well, There Goes the Secret

"Talk about what, exactly?" I asked. He looked at the seat next to him. I sighed at sat next to him. He looked pissed and confused and pissed- wait. I said that already. But he did look extremely pissed!

"What the hell is this?" He asked tossing the book gently into my lap. "Did you make it? Is it some sort of sick joke?" He asked seriously but still in a whisper. I shook my head.

"No no no! That's not it st all!" I told him quickly. He glared at me. Man,if looks could kill, I'd be dead a trillion tomes over by now. Do they even have trillions here?

"Then what the hell is it?" I sighed again and looked right into his eyes. I hope he believes me...

"I'm from another world." I told him. He growled.

"Enough with the games Anna." Oh my god he doesn't believe me. Well, I'm screwed here.

"I'm telling the truth. I am from the other side of the gate. In my world, this is a story! I hate to say it, but you were supposed to die in the story. But the plot is completely and utterly screwed up!" I told him seriously. "If I were lying to you... I wouldn't know what happened at the fifth lab now would I?" I asked.

Dear holy lord, please allow them to have gone to the grotesque and inhumane laboratory five. I swear, if they didn't, I'm the most likely cause of it!

"It was in the newspapers." He crossed his arms. Thank everything that is good and holy!

"But I wouldn't know the brothers were told to stay away from it." That made Hughes gasp. Every gasps so freaking much, it's starting to drive me to insanity!

"How did you know about that?" He asked in a low whisper. Oh dear lord...

"Beacsue I'm from another world where you're all made up characters. But I now know, you're all real."

"How did you get here then?" He asked crossing his arms. I flipped through the book to a page Ed was using alchemy.

"This." I pointed to the transmutation. "Truth brought me here because I wished to start my life over in a new world. I didn't mean literally a new world! I meant another town!"

"Why would you want to start your life over?"

"I haven't told you?" I asked confused. I thought I did...

He simply sighed and shook his head.

"Well, my parents abused me. And I don't have a sister. My ral name is Nicole. Not Brianna. That's my middle name." Hughes sighed again.

"Why didn't you just tell us this Kid?" He asked. I shook my head and looked down; fiddling with the seam of Gracia's shirt.

"Two reasons. One, I didn't know what would happen to the plot. I mean, you were suppose to die but you didn't. And by the way, I'm thrilled to have you alive but, I've already screwed the time line. If I screw with it any more, I could destroy this world." I explained quickly. Hughes nodded.

"And the second reason?" I sicker in a shaky breath.

"I've never trusted someone before I came to this world. An that was only maybe six or seven days ago. I'm hard to understand. Even I don't understand myself yet. It's hard for me to trust people and for people to trust me because I look like I'm about to mug you all the time." I explained.

"Why do you dress like that?" Hughes asked completely off topic.

"I lived in a huge city in my other world. Bigger than central. I wanted to look that way so nobody mugged me. I gave off the 'mess with me your head's gonna be in the road' kinds vibe. Which is totally true." Hughes nodded and I closed the Manga.

I still can't believe he found my book...

"Have you told anyone else?" He aasked pointing to the book.

I nodded my head and took another deep breath.

"Winry was the first I told. I had to tell someone that wouldn't tell anyone else. Then I told their teacher. Miss. Izumi who helped me with alchemy a bit. I can do the clap and tap thing Ed does."

"That's incredible. I am still upset you didn't tell me about this, but I know now." He said. I smiled a little.

"I'm sorry Hughes. I should have but..." I trailed off.

"But, you were afraid of what might have happened. Am I right?" He asked placing a hand on my shoulder. I nodded.

"You could say that."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Oh no. Ed stood in the doorway of the living room.

"Look-" Ed cut me off.

"Are you from another world?" He asked. I stayed silent. "Answer me Anna! Or should I say Nicole. Al stood by Ed's side.

"Yes! I'm from another world! The other side effects the gate actually! And I didn't tell you because I was scared of how you would react to it!" I yelled. Ed growled again. The next few things were a blur because they happened so quickly.

Ed ran at me, and pinned me against a wall with a firm grip on my throat.

Hughes and Al yelled his name but he ignored it.

Then a memory flashed. Ed turned into my father. Myo mother appeared behind him.

"You lied to us!" Ed yelled. But, all I heard was "you're our personal punching bag".

Without thinking, due to panic, I clapped my hands and touched the wall where a large fist knocked Ed back. I then tan upstairs and grabbed my bag before jumping out the window.

I ran down the dimly lit street until I found a dark alleyway that I collapsed in from both pain and fear.

On thought ran through my mind over and over and over.

Ed just tried to kill me. A cackling laugh erupted followed by a voice like poison. 

"You know, the pipsqeak could have killed you." He said. I knew that voice anywhere. I looked up and saw the one, the only, Envy.