The City Under Central (Edward Elric x Reader)

Part 5

Beneath his brother's hands, Edward stiffened. It almost physically hurt just to look at Al after what he had just suggested they do. He knew exactly what would happen. If they did this, they would lose what they had come so far to achieve.

"Brother," Al continued. "We let her die. You know as much as I do that she didn't deserve this death. We need to bring her back because it's our fault she was involved in the first place."

Edward's face was now completely drenched with salty tears, but when he raised his head to look at his brother's armored helmet; Al saw a fierce light burn in Ed's golden eyes. He knew that he wasn't going to give up. Not now. Then Ed nodded his head before pulling you closer against himself protectively.

A scream of "NO!" could be heard far off in the distance, but Alphonse had already clapped his hands together in their traditional way of performing alchemy. Ed pressed a small kiss to your forehead along with the words of we're pulling you back, before a bright light filled up the entire room, trapping in Envy who had desperately and furiously tried to stop Alphonse. Edward squeezed his eyes shut, picturing only your smiling face in his mind.

Then silence.

Edward slowly opened his eyes and looked up to see a hazy white surrounding him in all directions. Scanning his surroundings he realized Alphonse was nowhere to be seen and your body had vanished from his arms, causing him to panic. When he turned around, he saw huge metal doors looming ominously in front of him and his fear dulled to a steady calm. He knew where he was: the gate.

"What's going on?" The acid voice cut through the silence, but didn't deter Edward from his calmed state. Instead, he glanced sideways to see a seething Envy stomp his way towards him. "Where am I you worm?" He hissed.

"The gate," said Edward softly and attempted to force his gaze to see through the dense white around him, hoping to see you standing somewhere not far off.

Envy threw an annoyed and unamused glare in the direction of the door. "So what's on the other side of it?"

Ed sighed and gave up staring intently at nothing since the brightness was beginning to hurt his eyes. "I don't know. For me it was a place called London if I remember right. That's what my old man said."

Envy stumbled back a few steps as if he was just smacked across the face. His narrowed eyes lit up dangerously. "Old man?" He took a threatening step towards Ed and jabbed a finger at him. "You mean Hohenheim of Light?"

"Yes," came Ed's simple reply. He was unfazed by Envy's threats, instead focusing his attention on possibly spotting you. It was enough of an answer for Envy to explode in anger. "You're telling me he's still alive?!" He snarled. He spun around in fury and boldly marched to the giant doors, forcefully pulling them open to reveal the pitch black beyond.

Edward shook his head wearily. "I wouldn't do that. There's no way to know where it would lead for you."

Envy dismissed him angrily. "Like hell there isn't! I'll tell it exactly where it'll take me!" He kept his acid gaze on the dark abyss which was now specked with hundreds of mysterious glowing eyes, both big and small, appearing from the darkness. Envy's lips twisted into a grin as millions of tiny black hands protruded from inside and reached, slithering around his limbs. "I've come to kill him!" He instructed, head held high. "Take me to Hohenheim of Light!" The gate pulled him in with ease before the doors slowly shut, relieving Edward from ever having to deal with the homunculus Envy, his half-brother, again.

The thundering of the doors sealing echoed in the air. Once again, Edward was left alone in deafening silence with nothing but the gate and his thoughts to keep him company. He was confused. His brain swam with questions and he swallowed thickly. Where was everyone? Was (Y/N) already gone? Were we too late to save her?