(DISCONTINUED) The Flames of Envy (Envy x OC)

Chapter 4

Alexis called out to Edward, "Ed, be careful!!" Alphonse continued, "He's a Homunculus!"

"Now, now, you two, be quiet or I'll make you be quiet!" Greed snarled at them. Alexis teared up, afraid of the new tone in his voice. Alphonse stopped talking immediately. The girl inside Al took control as they ran out the door, leaving Greed, Alexis, and Ed in the room. Al called out to Alexis and Edward, but he couldn't stop the snake girl. Alexis watched as Ed and Greed battled on.

Greed was very strong. Almost too strong. Almost.

"I have an impermeable carbon-fiber armor. I am unstoppable!" Greed gloated, holding Ed up against a wall, but Ed had a plan. He transmuted and grabbed his arm, but nothing happened. That is, until he punched Greed in the stomach. Alexis cheered as Greed reeled in pain.

"Y-you runt...! You actually hit me...?"

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A RUNT!?"

"Edward, focus!!" Alexis shouted, snapping Ed out of his enraged state. "Ahem...right. I transmuted the carbon in your armor, weakening it enough to break through. You told me yourself what it was comprised of, so all I had to do was manipulate it properly."

Alexis began to cheer as the two fought head to head once more, but her mouth was soon covered and she heard a familiar voice whisper, "Shh. Come with me." She felt the ropes being cut. Finally, she was freed from the chair and led out of the room by Hughes. She had no idea why he was sneaking her out without getting Edward, but she figured he must have had his orders.

The pair ran down the sewer tunnel for quite a while before Hughes stopped and said to Alexis, "Whew! Glad I got to you before Greed did. I'm just so happy you're safe!" Alexis hesitated for a moment, then smiled at him and said, "Yeah! Thank you, General! If you hadn't come, he might've finished me off before long!"

"He somehow knew Greed's name. If he really is Hughes, he will correct me to say 'Colonel'...not 'General'. What will he do?"

"No problem! Just following orders!"

"I knew it!"

She smirked and said, "You're not Hughes. He's not a General. He's a Colonel."

Hughes laughed and then said in a familiar, raspy voice, "Oh, you got me, Ginger!" Red sparks of lightning began to emanate from Hughes before he changed into the boy from earlier right before her eyes. She couldn't believe what she had seen.

"You're...the one from the Fifth Laboratory...aren't you?" Alexis was afraid, but stood her ground, ready to burn him to a crisp at the slightest wrong move. She glanced at his left thigh and muttered, "Y-you're a...a Homunculus...a-aren't you...?"

His violet eyes glinted and he smirked. "Oh, you figured it out, have you? You're pretty slow for being the daughter of the Flame Alchemist--" "Student," she interrupted. "I'm his student. He and Lieutenant Hawkeye sort of adopted me after the death of my parents." Envy put his hands on his hips and said, "Oh. Sorry. I just thought that you...nevermind."

Alexis noticed a hint of embarrassment in his tone as he said, "I told Father all about you--" Alexis interrupted him once more, "It was you? Outside Roy and Riza's home in the woods?" Envy sighed and said, "Yes. Now don't interrupt me again, Ginger! As I was saying: Father came to the conclusion that you, as well as those Elric boys, would be worthy sacrifices for the Promised Day."

"Alexis? Alexis, where are you!?"

Alexis heard Ed's voice ringing out through the tunnels, but before she could say anything, Envy grabbed her hand and started running deeper into the tunnels. "E-Envy, wait!" Envy kept running until they came to a ladder leading outside. He pushed her to climb up first, then followed.

Alexis reached the top of the ladder and took off running, only to feel Envy grab her arm once again.

"Let go of me!!"

This time, she turned around and snapped her fingers, causing Envy to burst into flames. Envy let out a terrible shriek, collapsing to the floor, writhing in agony as the flames died down.

Alexis stood there, watching as he regenerated. Envy snarled at her, "Damn it! That burns, Ginger!!" Alexis shouted, her voice breaking, "No shit!! Now, I would recommend that you stay the hell away from me and my friends!" Envy clicked his tongue and said, "Friends? Why do you need friends when you can protect yourself so well?" Alexis grew furious.

"My friends keep me going strong. We stand by each other. We cheer each other on. We're like...l-like family...." As she finished her sentence, her face dropped. Envy noticed and said, "Oh? Struck a chord, have we?" Alexis' mind was plagued by intrusive thoughts without warning, leaving her immobile.

"Family. That word. It keeps making its way back into my life...like it's taunting me. Taunting me with something I may never have. All because I wanted to be with my mother once more."

"H-hey, what's the matter? You feeling okay?" Envy asked her as she started to sway.

She felt light-headed and her vision went black. The last thing she saw before her vision faded was Envy leaping to catch her.