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

[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."

[armoredsoul]

"I'm not being tricked, I know she's there! I know it!" He struggled, but Ed was just too strong and too heavy. Al turned to Scar now, his expression pleading the man to take his side. "Scar, I know it, I know! Tell Brother to let me go!"

[fullmetalheart]

"I'm telling you, she's not there!" Ed shouted, starting to lose it. "If she was, don't you think she'd have come talk to us by now?!"

[envy_the_sinners]

Scar was struck dumb when Al turned to him. What could he say? Reconciling with what was gone had always been one of the Ishbalan's greatest weak points. How was he supposed to help Alphonse when the boy was convinced that his mother was standing right in front of him?

He approached the brothers, crouching onto his knees before the younger. Slowly, unused to displays of comfort, Scar's hand came to rest on Al's shoulder. He was still frowning, now watching the boy's eyes.

"Use your sense, Alphonse. Think. I know you can."

[armoredsoul]

His whole expression crumpled--why, why wouldn't they believe him? Trisha was right there, he could see her smile, holding a hand out to him--how could they not see her, how could they lie like that?! "No, NO! Stop it, you're both lying!"

He thrashed again, the only thing keeping him from outright attacking Ed and Scar that he couldn't bear even in this state to let his mother see him fighting like that. "She's right there, I have to go to her, I have to! PLEASE!"

[fullmetalheart]

"We're not lying! Don't you think we'd be confirming your belief if she was real?" Ed kept hanging onto Al, not letting him go.

[envy_the_sinners]

Scar's frown deepened. Though Alphonse had always been the less stubborn of the two boys, he was no less strong-willed. This was not through any weakness of his own. It was the Institute's doing.

"Edward..." He hesitated, his voice finding its firmness once again. "It will wear off eventually. This is not the first time it's happened." For now, we may have to wait it out.

[armoredsoul]

For now Al ignored his brother and Scar, focusing on trying to get away from them. "Mom, mom, I'm coming, I promise! Mom!"