Night 71: Patient Library

[forsworn]

[from here]

Shortly after Kratos closed the library door, the intercom came on abruptly. For some strange reason, though, the voice that came through was not Landel's, and it was soon joined by several others who also were not Landel. The rebels? How had they accidentally hijacked the intercom? And more importantly, where were they broadcasting from and what were they doing? Those questions, though, had to be saved for later: their goal tonight was very clear; they had their own mysterious lead to decipher.

He began to move again once the broadcast turned off, heading straight for where they'd found the switch the previous night. "Check the right side of the center aisle," Kratos said as he passed Lloyd. "We're looking for the Oxford Book of English Verse."

Comments

[envy_the_sinners]

Scar only nodded to Alphonse before turning to follow Edward's actions.

"I'm not even certain what exactly there is that we're looking for..." He began looking over the limited shelves with his light.

[armoredsoul]

"I guess if we find anything out of place?" Al headed down another section of shelves, fishing out his flashlight to get a better look.

[fullmetalheart]

"Pretty much. Be it a section of the wall that looks a bit different from the rest of it or a book that appears different from the surrounding ones," Ed said, still checking for a relatively obvious way, letting his gaze go soft to avoid getting too focused on any one thing.

[envy_the_sinners]

"Mmm..." Scar grumbled, poking his head in and out of isles. It had to be along the wall, they knew that much. There were rooms direction above them, which meant that there wasn't any space for a trapdoor to come out of the ceiling.

"Start with the walls. There are rooms above here, so there will not be anything coming directly out of the center of the ceiling. If anything, it will most likely be toward the back." Closer to the edge of the building itself. He tried to remember if he had seen any sign of a staircase from the outside, but the courtyard wasn't a good enough vantage point to the Institute's east-facing facade to have seen anything.

[armoredsoul]

Al nodded going along the wall and looking over the shelves. Eventually he stopped, eyeing a book. "Oxford Book of..." Considering the contents of the rest of the library, that was certainly out of place. He reached for it and tugged it out, causing a rumbling as the trigger was set off. "What in--?!"

Of course, his tighter grip on the book in reaction only meant that more of the hallucinogenic slime seeped into his skin, though it hadn't quite taken effect just yet.

[fullmetalheart]

Ed immediately headed over to Al. "Looks like you found it."

He played the light over the immediate area as he looked for what might have been revealed by Al pulling on the book.

[envy_the_sinners]

Scar glanced over to the two brothers, approaching them quickly as soon as Alphonse reacted and the rumbling began. Had he been one to keep up with those silent horror films and comedies that were becoming popular in central, the painfully cliche entrance would have warranted a raise of an eyebrow.

"Hold on-" Scar's light caught a slight sheen on the books surrounding the empty space where the dictionary now in Al's hands once sat. "Alphonse, is something on that book?"

[armoredsoul]

"...huh? I don't..." His gaze went slightly out of focus as he tried to keep his mind in the present, dropping the book and putting a hand to his head. "Something's weird..."

[fullmetalheart]

Ed swore as he put a hand on Al's shoulder. "I'm guessing that's a yes. How are you feeling besides weird?"

[envy_the_sinners]

"Dammit..." So even touching things wasn't safe? How were they supposed to get around when it seemed like everything caused some sort of unnatural effect?

Scar lifted his light, enough to illuminate Alphonse without blinding him.

"What feels wrong?" Not much help, but what else could he do?

[armoredsoul]

Al winced from the bright light, lifting a hand to shield his eyes. "I don't..."

His eyes went wide then, looking down the hallway. "Mom...? MOM!" He starts to make a dash down the hall--guys, it might be a good idea to stop him.

[fullmetalheart]

Oh, like that wasn't a dagger to Ed's heart. He froze for a moment, fighting against the sense of grief brought on by Al's hallucination.

Then he grabbed for Al's arm. "She's not real, Al. What you're seeing isn't there."

[envy_the_sinners]

Scar's heart plummeted into his stomach. Dear God...

He wasn't sure if he was intentionally giving them space or rooted to the spot by some sudden emotion he couldn't put a finger on.

"Nothing is there, Alphonse." The Ishbalan's voice was uncharacteristically soft. Not quiet, but soft. He swallowed painfully. Why did they do this to him? It had happened before, that one time in the Sun Room...

[armoredsoul]

"No, she's there, right there, Brother! Can't you see?" He tugged at Ed's grip, turning back to Ed with a pleading look. "I have to go to her, we have to!"

[fullmetalheart]

Ed closed his eyes, fighting back tears. "You're seeing things because of whatever was on that book you touched. I'm sorry. She's not really there."

[envy_the_sinners]

"Your mother is dead, Alphonse," Scar forced himself to say, his tone still gentle. The words were harsh, in retrospect. But how else could the boy snap out of whatever stupor had come over him?

They could only hope that nothing dangerous ambushed them while Alphonse was imagining things.

[armoredsoul]

"No, stop it! You're lying, she's right there!" Al struggled and managed to break Ed's grip, taking off down the hall.

[fullmetalheart]

Ed ran after Al and threw himself at him in a tackle. "She's not real! She's never coming back!"

[envy_the_sinners]

Scar finally managed to make his feet move toward the Elrics, not wanting to frighten Alphonse any further but ready to hold him back if Edward needed help.

It would pass. It had passed last time, it would this time as well. He wasn't sure what was worse... The terror the boy had been in last time, or this... Whatever this cruelty was.

[armoredsoul]

"Brother, stop it!" Al thrashed against Edward's hold, clawing at the ground to try and get away. "Mom, Mom! Come back!"

[fullmetalheart]

This time, a couple of tears did escape and he closed his eyes tightly even as he formed a tighter grip on his brother to keep him from getting away.

"She's not real, Al," he said, his voice sounding hoarse.

[envy_the_sinners]

Scar stilled himself, watching in silence with a pained scowl as Edward fought to keep his brother in place. He ought to help, but somehow he felt it would be wrong. That he shouldn't interfere.

So he stood behind them, half making sure that there wasn't anything more ominous in the shadows, approaching them while they were weak.

[armoredsoul]

"She is!" Al was crying now too, his shoulders shaking with emotion. "Brother, please, I have to go see her, I have to!"

[fullmetalheart]

"You're wrong, Al. You're the only one that sees her and you're only seeing her because of something on the book you touched. I'm sorry. I wish she was real."

[envy_the_sinners]

Scar's teeth clinched together. He couldn't watch it anymore. His grip was too tight on his flashlight and sword, his stance too stiff. How much longer until it stopped?

Had he not suffered enough?

"You are being fooled, Alphonse. Please. I know you can make sense of this."