Misery Looms

Chapter 2- Sabotage

Sarah walked down the halls as solemn as she could. The ordinary sounds: mismatch voices, beeping of machinery, and clicking of shoes hitting the tile floor were present. A smile was slowly appearing, but it wasn't hers. The words that came out of her month was not the ones that were thought it was like invisible strings had wrapped themselves around her leaving her mind untouched.

Shoving one of her hands into a pocket, turning a syringe and two bottles over and over; a nervous habit that seemed to never break. The memory of where they came from was wiped clean. Sarah stopped in front of a door. 308 written in the middle, the room belonged to Edward Elric. 

Turn around, please turn arou- the thought was cut short by instructions. Mind went blank and body went slack. The puppet master was in control. 

The door opened swiftly and she walked in. A boy was peacefully sleeping on the bed; skin still looking a little paper white, blond hair was spread over the pillow like liquid honey bring a little life into the hollow room. 

"I have to do this," Sarah whispered, the words came out like a choke plead.

Shakily a syringe and the first bottle that held dark red liquid was pulled out. The name of it was lost to her. Poking Edward's pale skin with the needle the red substance slowly disappeared. The needle was removed, the bottle put back and a second one was pulled out. The liquid was clear, so clear that it looked like nothing was there. 

The syringe was put back into Edward's arm and the substance was injected. Putting both the needle and the bottle back into the pocket so that later they could be safely tossed, as well as her humanity. 

Sarah took a step back and tilted her head to the floor. "I'm sorry," The words were barely audible.

Sarah's feet moved with urgency to the door, but she was stuck in thought. The instructions were clear, the damage had been done. Everyone knew that the kid wouldn't survive knocking on death's door twice that was the truth. Reaching for the handle on the door, a noise came from one of the machines. It was long and the sound was like glass shattering on tile. 

Hand was in midair, eyes widened. Edward had stopped breathing. The job was done.

A scream had caught itself in her throat, digging it's claw-like hands in the flesh, making indents. The scream made a home in the marks, it never wanted to leave. Sarah slowly opened the door pretending like everything was fine.

The noise filled the empty hallway just for a seconded before the door closed. It was over. 

"You've done well." A voice said beside her. 

Quickly turning, her stomach felt on fire, skin felt like hundreds of little needles were pricking it. A doctor who was, standing a couple feet away with skin beginning to sag and the years have not been kind on his weight. Dark gray bags curled around light hazel eyes, his head was covered in gray baby short hair. A golden name tag, with the name Connor on it, was pinned right where his heart was on a white lab coat.

He was the doctor who was in charge of looking after Edward.

Her lips moved on their own. "I'm sorry, but you got the wrong person. I don't know what you are talking about."

 Sarah turned around and began to walk away. 

"Under normal circumstance, you would have been fired." Sarah stopped. "I can tell, she's been using you too." At that point, Sarah whipped around and stared at the doctor. "You have been acting strange, avoiding people, never say what's truly on your mind, your eyes haven't held their usual light, at least that was what people have been saying. You should be more careful or else someone might find out and she wouldn't like that." 

"Who's she?"

"The person that started all of this, shooting the kid, giving you the two bottles," Connor said like all the information had been published in the papers, then he sighed. "The person who gave you the orders to finish the job. She's also been using me as well." Connor half laughed and muttered bitterly. "This place is turning into her personal playground."

The words spark something. Flashes of images came to mind, images of memoirs that were somehow forgotten, but they came too fast and left too early to leave a lasting impression. 

"The kid will be fine, come see in a couple of hours," Connor said.

How was that possible, he's dead, I killed him! Her mind shouted, but the thoughts weren't able to run free. Instead, Sarah stood there, watching as the doctor opened the door and disappeared into room 308.

Waiting was the only option now. Door open, door shut, next patient, new room, same routine. A smile was painted on her lips and head was held high. Minutes went by slowly, a couple of hours was a death sentence.

Finally, it was time. Sarah thought while standing in front of room 308. What was hidden behind this door?

Gripping the door handle, heart was thumping loudly, hands were slick with sweat. The door flew open. Edward's chest was rising and falling with the help of a breathing mask. Machines were hooked up, taking down notes and beeping every couple of seconds.

Connor was sitting on a chair beside Edward's bed, clipboard in hand, he glanced up. 

"As you can see, I told you the truth."

Sarah wanted to collapse on the floor and sob. She failed, Edward was still alive, whether that was a good or bad thing Sarah couldn't decide, but she just stood there, face was still as a stone. How was any of this possible?

Connor got off the chair and walked over to Sarah. 

"Tell Colonel Roy Mustang that Edward had stopped breathing and had gone into a coma. After that stop by my office, I have some information that you should know." Connor put a hand on Sarah's shoulder. "She will be pleased with your performance. Just a reminder, you can't tell anyone the truth about what really happened today." Connor said, repeating what Sarah already knew. Then, he left the room. 

Soon, Sarah did the same. She walked down the halls, a small smile had appeared and this time it was hers. Sarah opened the door to the waiting room and Colonel Roy Mustang was sitting in the far corner reading a newspaper.

"Roy Mustang."

Roy lowered the newspaper, it took a minute for him to realize that it was a nurse that was talking, but when realization hit, he looked alerted.

"It's Edward," Sarah said.