As dinner came to an end, along with that moment of peace and quiet that the patients were afforded only once a day, the weather also seemed to calm. The storm hadn't completely left them behind, but the hail had come to an end, leaving only a light rain that pattered on the roof of the institute.

The intercom came on, and while the Head Doctor's voice was calm and warm, as if he'd just finished dinner himself, most of the patients would know how much of a farce it was. "Well, here's hoping that the weather improves tomorrow, hmm? We'll have to get the forecast and see what's in store for us...

"In any case, I hope all of you are well-fed and comfy in your beds by now. Sleep well, and we'll be chatting again come morning."

With that message delivered, the intercom cut off, though it wouldn't be long before it was put to use once more.

When the intercom came on again, it was with the Head Doctor making a low rumbling sound in the back of his throat, something that was almost a laugh. "Oh, I'm sure you all had fun today, but we all know we're more interested in what happens after dark." The lights in the patient rooms flickered for a moment, almost as if Landel had triggered it for dramatic effect.

"Your numbers have probably thinned out slightly in the past few days... Though I wonder, did you even notice? I know I make it hard for you to keep track of each other with those portals and everything else, but you must all understand I can't make it that easy."

There was the sound of shifting, as if Landel was leaning back, and a tapping noise. "In any case, while you might not get lost quite so easily tonight, I am sending some friends of mine out to play. I hope you're properly polite to them.

"Have fun!" With that, there was a wave of static before the intercom clicked off in time with all the lights.

[In M1]

The second intercom message had startled Alphonse, and the chilling change to the doctor's voice threw him off more (though if he were honest he had expected something of the sort). He didn't waste much time, grabbing the 'magic torch' Link had told him about and searching around the rest of his side of the room.

A keyring in the desk and what he could only assume were batteries for the flashlight were the only really useful things he found. Still, it was better than nothing, and after he switched the slippers for shoes he slipped out of his room. Setting down the hallway at a trot, he turned down toward the entrance to the block.

[to here]

[from here]

For all the halls themselves weren't terribly different, the dark corridors sent a shiver up Al's spine. Perhaps it was knowing there were monsters prowling, but not where or how many--or who they'd been before. How fast did that sickness take effect? He had no idea if there was an hour or so of breathing room before his fellow inmates here might turn on him.

It wasn't a pleasant thought. Gripping the torch a bit tighter, he opened the door to the hallway.

[to here]

[from here]

For a moment Al pondered which direction to go. He'd seen other patients being led both past this block and down the hallway to another. After a moment he headed down the hallway and through the open door, keeping an alert eye out for anything odd.

[to here]

[from here]

Spotting the door to the second block, Al quickly went over and opened the door. After shining the light both ways down the corridor to make sure he wasn't being followed, he went in.

[to here]

[from here]

"M58...M58..." Al shined the light down each of the hallways, checking the room numbers at the beginning of each. After looking down the first two, it seemed he'd gotten lucky in his choice of direction. "Ah, this one!" With a grin, he turned down the third hallway of the block.

[to here]

[from here]

Al knew he probably should be paying more attention to his surroundings, but he was eager to meet up with his new friend. Besides, the quicker this chore was done the faster he could go and find where the nurses had taken his brother to. Only being allowed to talk with him when they'd first found each other was frustrating, and he had plenty that he needed to let Ed know about. Plus, the quicker he found him, the less likely it was his brother would wind up neck-deep in trouble.

He knocked lightly on the door to M58, shifting anxiously from foot to foot. "Sasuke? It's me, Alphonse. Are you there?"