Author's Note: Wow… it has been a long time. And I mean a really long time. Well, I suppose I should say hello and apologize for that… break I guess you could call it. I actually didn't have any intention to write more fanfiction (I wanted to focus on my own original works and fanfiction made that a little hard). But when a plot bunny is born, it's kinda hard to ignore it.
So! I'm making a semi-comeback! Yeah, I'll write up this story (which shouldn't be too long if all goes according to plan) but there may be some long breaks since I'm working on a novel as well (then there's school to consider…). This may be my last story, it may not. We'll just see where this takes us.
Now, I'll thank you for clicking on my story. Thank you!! And a thank you to all of those who have reviewed and favorited my stories! I love you all; your encouragement is what keeps me writing! Now I'll stop rambling and let you enjoy the story.
Warnings: Don't sit too close to the screen in the dark! It could ruin your eyesight or stunt your growth, heheh. Elricest, hints of EdWin, AU, insanity by yours truly, and other random things.
Disclaimer: I don't own FMA. That's all that needs to be said. :)
Prologue
Lightning flashed and lit up the entire alleyway. A bloody handprint, illuminated by the bolt of light, could be seen against the pavement along with the reddened smear that led to the fallen body of a tired man. He panted heavily, brushing aside his matted once-brilliantly golden hair to try and get a better field of vision. Everything blurred together and his ears rang with white noise. His heart rate wouldn't slow; a sound similar to that of a whimper escaped him when a pair of black boots halted in front of him.
Raising his weary head to see the one who approached him, he felt his blood run cold and terror shoot through his veins. A sick smile had plastered itself on the cloaked figure's face as it peered down at the broken man in front of it. The man closed his eyes and looked away, trying to catch his breath only to be kicked in the chest. He bit back the scream that wanted to erupt from his lips, but only blood managed to trickle down his chin from chapped lips.
"I suppose that makes three broken ribs now, doesn't it?" the figure asked smoothly, gliding over to where its victim had scrambled away to. "Or maybe I've lost count… would you care to remind me?"
A heavy boot slammed into his back, its wearer now satisfied with the pained moan it received. The rain washed away the blood that steadily filled the alley from the various wounds on the man's body. His eyes clenched shut partially because of pain, but mainly because he couldn't bear to look at the face of his attacker.
"Please…" he wheezed; his chest felt like it was on fire and knew that more than three ribs had been injured, "…stop… I… I can't…"
The figure removed their boot from the man's back and stooped down to look at his bloodied face, "Oh, but I don't intend to. I want to make sure that you suffer, dear brother. I want you to be begging for death by the time I'm through with you, but not even you deserve such a sweet sleep when I can't even hope for that."
Tears mingled with the blood staining the man's face, a shaky hand drawing something on the harsh concrete beneath him and out of the figure's field of vision. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"
"I know. But haven't you learned by now that no matter how many times you say that-"
"-I could never hate you!"
"-I'll never forgive you for this eternal damnation. Nothing compares to my hatred for you, pathetic human."
The twisted grin grew wider when the choked sob reached its ears. Even with all the pain the man bore, his hand continued to use his own blood as ink and his fingers as writing implements. He knew this array better than he knew himself now; he saw it in his sleep and drew it as he ate and studied it relentlessly. It was now or never.
"Pleasant dreams until next we meet, dear brother." The figure raised its hand, prepared for the final blow for the evening, but froze as a flash of blue light assaulted its vision. "What is this?! What are you doing?!"
The man did not answer, but allowed the blue light to engulf them both as a single thought echoed in his mind. I'm going to set things right. I promise you that…
When the next flash of lightning illuminated the alley, there wasn't a trace of a single living being.
A/N: Who were those two in the alley? And what the hell just happened? Where are the Ed and Al we love and cherish? You'll see. Heheh...
Yes… it is short, I know. But I'll probably update on Wednesday or even tomorrow if all goes well. I'll try to have my chapters for this story coincide with those of my own novel. Hope you enjoyed it and that this little suspense keeps you interested.
R&R please. It'll make the Elric brothers happy! And we all want happy Elrics, don't we?