The Phoenix Alchemist

Monster

The sun was fresh in the sky. I heard a knock on the front door and heavy footsteps. The door creaked open and a loud, deep voice spoke. "Hello, Mr. Elric. I believe you have a guest here. May I see her?" The heavy footsteps continued and stopped at my door. I gulped and a heavy - set man stepped in. He glanced down at a sheet of paper. "It's her. Let's hurry up and get back to Central." Ed ran into the room. "What's going on?" The man looked at him. "I'm Brigadier General Arian. We have reason to believe this woman is connected with the murderer of Brigadier General Maes Hughes. We need to detain her for questioning." I sat up. Ed stepped forward. "She's ill. I know for a fact she's not in league with Envy." The man looked at him. "I doubt she's your childhood friend, Winry Rockbell. What ever happened to her? Oh, that's right, she was kidnapped and murdered by the Homunculi. This is military business, kid. Step off." One of the soldiers pulled me to my feet and cuffed my hands behind my back with a wooden set of handcuffs so I couldn't put my hands together. Luckily, I didn't need to clap to transmute. I had to wait for the right time, though. They dragged me into the main room and Ed followed close behind. "You can't do this! You can't take her!" Ed yelled. I looked at him with tired eyes. "It's all right. I'll be back once these men find I'm innocent." He looked pained. They pushed me into a car and Ed seemed to realize something. "Wait! Ari, get out! They're-" His voice was cut off when they slammed the door shut. The car roared and sped off. I sighed and leaned my head against the seat. The man had a devilish grin and looked back at me. My eyes widened as I realized that there was no Brigadier General named Arian. "Stop the car!" I yelled. The fake Arian laughed. A shimmer of light flashed over him and a small man with green hair emerged. "Envy." I scowled. He smiled. "Miss me?" I rammed his seat with my head. His head hit the wheel and we swerved to a stop. "You're going to pay for that.." He growled. I laughed and tumbled out of the car. He pulled some red stone out of his pocket and threw them at me. I dodged them and did a roll. Envy tackled me, pinning down my arms. He grabbed some more red stones and shoves them into my mouth. He leaped away after I'd swallowed them. I felt a weird tingling sensation and looked at my hands. I screamed in terror, staring at the flames trailing off of my fingers. "So that's what you do, kid. I'll have to tell Lust to come get us." He picked me up by my hair, not reaching to the fire, and kneed me on tbe stomach. I coughed up some blood and the fire extinguished. He dropped me and I crumpled to the ground.

~

My foggy eyes slowly adjusted to the absence of light. It was dimly lit in this warehouse. My hands were shackled above me, loosely hanging. I groggily lifted my head and heard the clank of metal on metal. The chain lifted me to a standing position. Lust was standing in front of me. I growled and she made a pouting face. "You don't remember me? Such a shame. Those stones should've jogged your memory. Wait, maybe they don't have the same effect, since you're half human..? No matter. I'll just have to make you remember." She extended her finger and scratched my face. Blood dripped down onto the floor, splattering everywhere. She sliced through my shoulder. I wined and clenched my teeth. She laughed and dug her claw finger deeper into my skin. Blood was spilling viciously now. "You really think that's enough to stop me? Or to get me to remember? That's the best you can do?" She grinned insanely and used the claws on her other hand to impale me in the side of the stomach. I vomited blood and Lust stepped away. "You really are a monster, Lust." She sighed and turned. "Envy, patch her up. She's turned too soft." A large shadow stepped into a light spot. "Can I eat her now?" Lust shook her head. "No. We don't eat each other." Envy stepped over with some bandages and let the chain drop down so I could sit. He wrapped my arm and stomach with the bandages, which quickly was covered in blood. "Homunculi aren't the best at first aid. Especially since we don't need it nor help human." He stepped away and sat down. I hung my head and drifted off to sleep.

Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays!