The Price of Life [Fullmetal Alchemist]

Chapter Seven

Haunted Memories

I see ｆｉｒｅ.
-ed sheeran.

•••

As planned, the brothers left the next morning to Resembool, accompanied by Major Armstrong. The two weren't exactly pleased with the thought, but it was of course necessary. Even with the extra company, Edward and Alphonse were pretty relieved. But, even as relieved as they felt about returning to their hometown, they were also guilty for leaving Sonia sleeping in the hospital.

Sonia hasn't woken up for about three days now. So, being a caring brother and totally not trying to avoid his paperwork, Mustang decided to check up on her again. He hoped she would wake. Nothing insignificant had changed, except Sonia getting a new nurse.

He was a male nurse with shaggy brown hair and light green eyes. His name was Carter and he was in Sonia's room when Roy entered.

"And who might you be?" the young nurse asked, somewhat startled by the entrance.

The Colonel answered swiftly, "Colonel Roy Mustang. I'm Sonia's relative, and also her superior. Why are you here?" He blurted out his last sentence accidentally. (Way to be professional, Roy.) But still, he didn't very much like the idea of a male nurse and a female patient, especially if the patient was his sister. It put him in a sour mood. Weird how protective instincts kick in once you have someone to protect and watch over.

"I was assigned to her. Nurse Carrie got sent to a different floor."

"I liked the hot nurse better," Mustang grumbled, but he didn't seem to hear it. He grabbed a chair and pulled it over to sit next to the hospitalized girl. There was a brief silence as he waited for them to be alone. The nurse seemed to get the idea and left quickly.

Roy sighed at his sister. He watched her breathe, her mouth parted open. She twitched a few times, in which he acted accordingly and hoped she would wake up. She shifted in her bed frequently. Mustang could only wonder aloud,

"What are you dreaming about?"

•

I stood with wide eyes at what lay before me. My fists shook with anger and anxiety at what my eyes saw.

A child. An Ishvalan child. On the sand. Lifeless.

Slowly, the blood pooled around my greyish boots. My whole body trembled and my legs would give out any minute now.

I tore my eyes away from below at my feet but made the mistake to look up.

Fire. I saw fire. The air smelled of ash and death. I choked, grasping onto my neck. It was hard to breathe, but when I could again, a scream ripped out through my throat.

•

Sonia shot up from the hospital bed, awake and screaming. A doctor and Nurse Carter appeared in an instant.

"What happened?!" Carter asked as he rushed Mustang out the door for the doctor to check up on Sonia.

"She was dreaming and then she just screamed," Roy explained.