An Alchemist's Envy

Chapter 14: Sameness

"The hell am I looking at?"

I'm standing outside the library, near the extra reading rooms, and dangling outside a window is a long rope of cloth. Looks like blankets and curtains tied together. It wasn't too high up, so I grabbed ahold of it and gave it a quick yank.

"Who's there?!" Someone yelled, peering out the window with the cloth. I recognized the voice of Ross. The familiar tone of panic and authority.

"It's Lindsey! What the hell is going on here?!" I call.

"The brothers have escaped!" Brosh yelped, leaning out next to Ross.

"Escaped?" I laughed, "Why were they locked up?"

"No time! We need to find them before they get hurt!" Ross yelled, "They've gone to the Fifth Laboratory!"

"The Fifth Lab? Why there?" I questioned.

"Didn't I just say there's no time?! They're in danger!" Ross commanded, "Go! We'll catch up!"

She didn't have to tell me twice. What have these brothers gotten into now? What did they discover in those notes? And why is the answer at the abandoned lab?

"Guess I'll have to find out..." I whispered to myself as I snuck around the back of the building, noticing a guard standing by the front gate. Leaning against the concrete wall, I looked up to see barbwire trailing across the top.

'How do I get up there without getting hurt? Actually, how do I even get up there?'

I searched in the dark for something to use as a ladder. I couldn't use alchemy, the light from the transmutation would tell the guard I'm here.

"BWAHAHAHA!"

A terrible laugh filled the air and followed by the sound of metal hitting metal.

"I'M GUNNA CUT YOU TO LITTLE PIECES!"

"Well, if they're being loud, why can't I?" I found a stick and quickly dug my circle in the dirt. I slapped my hands against it and forced it to open the ground under the wall. I jumped under and when I climbed out, I saw two figures fighting.

"Alphonse!" I yelled as he pushed back his attacker.

"Lindsey?! What're you doing here?!" He questioned, "It's not safe!"

"I should say the same to you!" I crawled out of my hole and ran to him, "Where's Ed--"

"Oooooh, a young girl! I love the sound they make when I'm slicing their flesh!" A gross metallic voice cooed at us. I turned to see another suit of armor, only it was wider and its helmet had two horns. In both hands were a set of butchers knives. The armor twirled them around and pointed one at me.

"You'll be after the big guy." He cackled.

"One: hell no. And two: you sound familiar." I glared at him as he continued laughing. I reached out and grabbed Al's arm. That knife was not settling well with me.

"Maybe you've heard of me, unlike metal head here." The armor sighed sadly, "I was once a famous murder here in Central. Until I "died", that is." He air quoted.

"Wait... Butcher knives?" I gawked, "Barry? Barry the Chopper?"

"Finally! Some recognition!" He cheered, "It'll make killing you so much more enjoyable!"

Alphonse suddenly charged at Barry and pushed him back farther. He even took one of Barry's knives and threw it, causing him to run after it yelling, "My baby!"

Al quickly ran back over and picked me up. He carried me to the side of the building and held me up to an open vent shaft.

"Hurry! Find brother!" Al ordered, "I'll take care of Barry!"