chapter 18

Memories swirl in your mind as suddenly, everything that you've forgotten pours into your consciousness. Your mind feels like it's going to explode, and you gasp for breath. You peel your eyes open.

You're lying in an endless plane of yellow that reached on as far as you could see. There didn't seem to be a ground, yet you felt as if you were lying on something. You sit up hazily.

"Ah. Look who woke up." A deep, masculine voice booms. The sound comes from all directions around you, and echoes. You look around.

"I see you got your memories back, (Y/N)." The voice continues.

Your eyes widen. "Who are you?"

"Me? That's not important right now. What's important now is who are."

You growl in frustration.

"You weren't supposed to get your memories back." The voice says seriously. "I highly underestimated you, (Y/N) (L/N)."

You don't reply.

"Now, you will receive punishment for escaping death."

"What...?" You mutter, confused.

"Now, what shall I take? Your other arm?"

You suddenly remember how the men stabbed you in the heart. You hear your mom screaming your name as the life flowed out of your body.

"No, that's not cruel enough. How about... Your leg?"

You remember how your sister had died in front of you.

"Nah. Still not cruel enough. Oh! I know! How about your brain!?"

You wince.

"No, just kidding. That's too cruel. Your organs? Vision? Ooh. I have an idea. I'll tale your voice. Your voice is powerful too, you know? It was what snapped that Edward Elric out of his trance, it's what makes his happy. Ha! That's perfect! Not only will I take away that Edward's motivation, I'll take away the boy you love, too! Perfect."

You inhale sharply. "No, no. Don't take them. I-I don't want to lose them."

"Ha! As if. You escaped my doom, you earn yourself punishment. Now, bear your consequences!"

Suddenly, your throat closes and you can't breathe. Your hands fly to your throat as pain explodes in your neck. You struggle for breath, but your throat wouldn't open again. The pain stays until your eyes start to see black dots and you you fall limp. Your throat opens, and you gasp for breath, leaning over.

Something felt wrong, though, like something in your throat was missi-

You gasp. That voice really took your voice.

"Hahaha! How does that feel? Now-"

You clap your hands together and slap them on the ground, hoping, wishing, that you could get yourself out. The entire plain shakes and booms, and the ground beneath you fails and you fall.

~

[November 22, 1917]

You open your eyes to sunlight streaming through the window. The curtains are off to the side, and you crawl up into a sitting position.

You look around blearily and rub your eyes. A desk, a nightstand, a bed with a figure on it. The figure had blond hair and-

You shoot up into a straighter position. You made it out. Quickly, you stand up and head towards the bed. Ed's gold hair was down, strewn across his pillow he was wearing a blue tank top. He was lying on his side, back facing you.

"Ed!" You say. You say that, but no sound comes out. You freeze. He really take your voice.

You go back into motion and place your hands on Ed's right shoulder, the cold metal of his automail greeting your palms. You shiver.

You start to shake Ed back and forth to wake him and alert him of your presence. Ed flips onto his back lazily.

"Al," he murmurs, slowly opening his eyes, "if you're here to-"

You smile at him as his eyes widen. "(Y/N)...?"

"(Y/N)!" Ed sits up abruptly and pulls you into a hug. You feel your face heat up a bit, but you hug back. Your hands run through his hair as you hug him tight, as if he would disappear and you would be back to that yellow plain if you let go.

"I-I'm not dreaming... Am I?" Ed says, worried. You open your mouth to talk, but then remember that you can't. You shake your head instead.

"(Y/N)? Why aren't you talking?" Ed pulls away, casting you a concerned glance. You press your mouth into a thin line, and you watch as his eyes flicker onto your lips. You simply point to your throat and shake your head.

"Wh-what happened to your voice?"

You sigh and shake your head again. The door opens and you spin around to see Al. He's standing at the doorway, leaning against the door. His eyes were wide and he was staring straight at you, making you blush. You open your mouth, try to speak, but then close it again when you remember that you can't speak. You wave, mouthing the word, "Hi."

"(Y/N)..." He breathes. "You're back."

You smile.

"Okay, how did you come back by yourself?" Your attention turns to Ed when he speaks. He avoids your eye, and you shrug in response to his question.

You look around and spot a pen and notepad on the desk. You go grab it and come back quickly, sitting down next to Ed on his bed. You try to come up with what to write to sum everything up. At the end, you go with:

"The gate took my voice. And it says it'll take Al too."

You blush as you write the second sentence, remembering that the gate referred to Al as "the boy you loved."

"But... Why?" Al says, reading the note. "Why me?"

You grab the pen. "It's punishment for me. I escaped the gate. Twice now."

The brothers both cock their heads. "Twice?" Ed asks. You nod.

You grab the pen and paper again from the desk and lean over to write:

"I'm a successful human transmutation."

*****

Hehe :

I'm really running behind schedule :(

If you enjoyed this chapter, be sure to vote, comment, share, and most importantly, ENJOY!!!!

~Sky-chan

Word count: 1048