Stand Up and Walk

My Own Soul

"I tell him to stop," they tell you, and your head spins as you try to keep up. "I tell him how he's feeling. I tell him how others must feel."

"But he doesn't listen?"

"No," they sigh sadly. "He hasn't for a long, long time."

You take a step closer, examining the chains. They are made of thick, sturdy metal. You get the feeling that, even with your alchemy, you would have no hope of ever breaking them on your own.

"And why doesn't he listen?" you question the figure, reaching out a curious finger to touch the cool metal.

"Because it's easier to lie to yourself than it is to feel pain," they tell you solemnly, and you feel a little jolt run through you at the words. "And the pain is easier to bear when it's on the outside."

You feel your guts churning inside of you. "W-what do you mean?" you stammer, taking a small step back.

"He's done it too, you know," the voice tells you cryptically. "But it's a lot harder for him. He heals so fast that he has to be creative." Your mind spins, struggling to keep track of the conversation. "He's tried stabbing. He's tried burning. He's shot himself in the face and he's ripped his own limbs off. He's been trampled by bulls, tried decapitation, and even used poison. But he always heals—physically, anyway."

"I don't understand!" You shake your head, beginning to feel frustrated. "Why are you telling me all of this? I don't want to know!"

"Because," the voice tells you, its voice insistent. "You're the only one who can help us!" They pull against the chains and the rattling of metal rings out briefly through the air; the wet walls seem to swallow the sound. "You have to make him listen to me! It's the only way we either one of us can be free!"

You shake your head, stepping back. "I don't even know you," you argue, not willing to take on unneeded responsibility. "And you still haven't told me who you're talking about!"

You hear the voice sigh. "Isn't it obvious?" it asks you. "I'm talking about—!"

※※※

"Echo!"

Ed is crouched over you, shaking your shoulders as you blink awake at him. You're lying on your back on a dry, hard surface, and the boy's worried face is all you can see above you. His ponytail hangs over one shoulder as he peers worriedly down at you. The white bandage on his head is stained with blood that isn't his.

"Echo!" he says again, searching your face with his golden gaze. "Are you okay?"

You groan, pressing one hand to your own aching head. "What happened? Where are we?"

Ed lets out a relieved sigh, sitting back on his haunches. "We're still inside Gluttony, unfortunately. Envy swallowed you," he says, glaring in accusation at the boy, who has returned to his human shape. "But I was able to get you out."

You sit up, and you feel his mismatched hands reach out to help. He guides you into a seated position, and you rub at your temples, eyeball throbbing in your skull. "How'd you do that?" you ask him, gritting your teeth through the pain.

The blonde boy flushes slightly, scratching the back of his head. "Well, I, uh..."

"He jumped in after you!" Ling pipes up from behind Ed, peering down at the boy dubiously. "That crazy fool actually fought to hop inside that monster's mouth to go after you!"

You feel you own cheeks begin to warm as you pin Ed beneath your glare. "Why would you do something so stupid?!" you demand of him. "You could've been killed!"