Eternity | Edward Elric x Reader

Chapter One

~ You ~

You pant heavily, your footsteps thundering beneath you against the cold hard floors of the abandoned factory. Despite your pursuer and your unending fear, you feel a tiny spark of glee in the chase.

And all you know is,

"If I stop now, I die."

<< 5 hours earlier. 4:13 PM >>

After doing all your shopping for necessities, you decide to return home- or rather, your small apartment. In the small town of Fleur's Creek, the roads are easily navigable, but to change it up, you sometimes take side paths.

In particular, there is one little trail through a wood you like to use. It's not usually trodden on by others, which makes it all the more quiet and viable for you to enjoy your surroundings. A worn down log grants crossing over a stream, and there are tons of plant and animal species to look at.

"Maybe I'll get to see that shadow again," you ponder aloud, readjusting the bag on your shoulder. As of recent, a silhouette of something large has been appearing in and out of the bushes and trees. It's piqued your curiosity, and you long to discover it.

After all, every day is excruciatingly boring. You pine for an adventurer's life, yet it's impossible for a commoner of the town of Fleur's Creek to possess.

If only it could change.

You suppose that's partially the reason you come to the wood. There are small ruins in the center, and odd rumors always circulated around them. Of course, most of them were false, and the ruins themselves weren't interesting, but it's always nice to be able to be at a place of history.

Suddenly, you hear a twig snap from behind you, and, whirling around, your eyes widen at the sight of a giant, burly man at least twice your size. His clothes are tattered and ruined, and his face is set in a constant grimace.

The man raises a fist and brings it down, slamming it into the ground with his body crouched down. At the last second, you had nimbly dodged, and a piece of the ground underneath his hand cracks and zooms past your face. A stinging sensation tells you the rock gave you a cut.

"How impolite of you," you say, words laced with mock courtesy. "I always thought introductions came first." The man growls and takes a wild swing, but your instincts kick in and you duck, wind rushing over your head.

"You're pretty quick," are the first words uttered from his mouth. "You an alchemist, or something?"

You give a wistful smile. "No, but I wish I were. And thank you for the compliment. It's just that I've had so much free time on my hands, I taught myself self-defense."

Sighing, he takes a careless step back. "And here I was, thinking you were easy prey, as just a village girl. Sorry, but because you've definitely seen my face now, I can't go easy anymore. You're coming with me, kid."

Making an odd growling noise, the man  is enveloped with a blinding red light. Shielding your eyes, you look away from the harmful rays only to open them again to see the man transformed into a... lizard-man-thing.

Two feet in front of you.

Finally, you realized. "You're that chimera outlaw I've seen on posters before-!"

With alarming speed, his scaly arms are brought above his head and start to crash down.

<<<>>>

Groaning, your head aches terribly as you sit up. The chilled air bites your skin, and the floor beneath you is definitely no help. It's all dark.

Wriggling your hands, you find them tied by a rough rope behind your back- your feet, too, are bound together. The last thing you remember was being knocked about by a lizard-human.

Interesting.

Curiosity joins your fear of an unknown environment, and in fervor, your heart pounds wildly.

"You awake?"

A familiar, gruff voice reaches your ears. Considering your situation, it's doubtful feigning sleep will be of any help. Especially if you're up against a monster, who's qualities and capabilities you haven't properly assessed.

Your reply is, "yeah."

You spot a bit of light appear from the flame of a candle. "While I'm your hostage, we may as well get acquainted," you say, concealing your fear.

A deep sigh let's out from the other. "Honestly, who are you? Not running when I attacked, being able to dodge, being perfectly calm in this situation. It just doesn't add up, considering you're just a town girl."

Oh, how many times you've heard something like that.

"Let's clear up one thing, yes?" Smiling, you continue, "my life is very boring. Exhaustingly boring. It's as if every day repeats itself. It's the same for everyone else, too, but I'm apparently the only one who never had the stomach for it. So I always want something out of the ordinary to happen to me."

After a few moments of silence, my captor grunts. "Even so, that doesn't justify your cool-headedness. Gotta commend you for that, girl."

"Oh," you laugh shakily, "don't get me wrong. I am afraid. But it wouldn't do me any good. I'd rather focus on what's happening and engrave it into my memory."

Shaking his head, he replies, "you're mad." Shrugging, you say, "maybe so."

Or perhaps it just means that you're not normal, not meant for this slow-paced life. Actually, you're quite sure of it.

"I'm gonna cut to the chase now. What're you gonna do with me, murderer from Central?" Laughing, he says, "yeah, sorry to break it to you, but you're not gonna be alive soon. In a way, wouldn't I be doing you a favor? Ending this timeless life of yours."

You feel a pang of fear. "I- I think I might have a little more to live for, you know?"

After this, especially. Who knows what'll happen? The prospect of it is exciting.

Interrupting our conversation, the pound of footsteps drawing near reveal that there are others who are present. The murderer stands up abruptly. "What?!"

"Al, go! I'll get back to you in a sec!" "Right, Brother!"

A hand-held lamp crashes and skids against the floor, illuminating the area. Someone in a suit of armor engages the chimera in combat, while you startle when you see a boy your age run over to you. His golden locks are tied in a braid, and his eyes of the same hue reflect worry.

"Miss, are you alright? Ah, nevermind-! Please start running away from here!"

A flash of steel, and the ropes around your wrists and ankles are cut. Opening your mouth to speak, he cuts you off and says, "thank us later! Go!"

Nodding, you jump up and take off.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Hope you enjoyed the first chapter! Yes, I know it's crazy and extremely rushed. But apparently, even starters like that hook people in, so I guess I'm trying it out.

It's also my first time trying to write in third person observational view, so it'll be weird for a bit.

Hope to see you read the next chapter!

Aelin