Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ The Storm Within ❯ Midnight Folly ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter 5: Midnight Folly

 

Celeste couldn't understand it. The woman had taken six bullets to the head and was still standing. The gun fell from the girl's hand with a loud clatter.

 

Lust stepped forward and put her hand under the girl's chin again. A quiet gasp escaped from her lips when she met the woman's eyes. She laughed at the girl's fright. “I'm not human, Artillery. You can't kill me.”

 

She couldn't answer, couldn't comprehend what the woman was talking about. Her mind clouded over with fear, and her throat was too constricted to let her voice speak. Only one thought kept her awake in the midst of her chaotic mind; she didn't want to die yet.

 

Gluttony clapped his hands. “Food, food!” Celeste closed her eyes, prepared for the end to come. The last thing she saw was Gluttony's watering mouth and glittering eyes lusting for her own flesh.

 

As Lust prepared to spear the girl's neck with her fingers, a thick smoke engulfed the alley. “Damn, they found us already.” She stood, leaving Celeste to fall on the pavement face down.

 

The screen was so thick Celeste could hardly see the woman who was only a foot from her face. She saw her step away and turn into a shadow in the mist. From behind her, a hand reached out to take her arm. It eased her into a standing position, slung an arm over its shoulder, and hefted her legs up to carry her. She couldn't focus her eyes on whoever was taking her away, but it felt good. The Pendant of the Gods released her body and turned cold again. She took in a deep breath, but her lungs couldn't hold its capacity, and she coughed. Her eyes became heavy from her air loss, and she started to close them.

 

“Don't fall asleep, Celeste!” A familiar voice ordered. “If you do, you may stop breathing because of your earlier asphyxiation.”

 

Her mind cleared for a brief minute before her Pendant started burning again. A strangled gasp escaped her lips. “Hunter, those…things…”

 

“Yeah, I already know.” He said, running away from the smoky alley. “They're Homunculi.”

 

“No,” she said in a raspy voice. “My Pendant…it reacts to them. My body's on fire…can't breathe.”

 

“Damn it! Don't fall asleep! Focus on my voice!” He looked over his shoulder and saw Lust giving chase. He swore mentally, searching for somewhere to hide.

 

He turned down another dark alley, one that stank of putrid, rotting garbage. Celeste breathed in wheezing gasps, barely remaining awake enough to notice how filthy the ground was that he set her on. He knew it wouldn't be long before she completely lost the will to stay awake. Quickly taking action, he drew three transmutation circles; one on the ground and two on the buildings that formed the alley. He stood on one, his feet shoulder width apart, and put his hands out to touch both of the other circles.

 

Light crackled around his hands and feet, creating the illusion that he controlled lightning. The light particles around him started to get darker, a trick almost no other Alchemist could do. The entire area blackened in the alley, hiding both Alchemists in a shroud of darkness.

 

He didn't remove his arms from their posts. Should he take his arms down, their cover would fade instantly. The transmutation was very tiresome, often leaving him too exhausted to fight if he kept his shield up for too long. He knew he was in deep shit if his idea didn't work.

 

Lust appeared in his line of vision, standing by the dark alley. She looked down it in suspicion, but seeing nothing except darkness she decided to move ahead. Sloth and Gluttony followed her in the pursuit.

 

Hunter waited ten more minutes before lowering his arms. Never had he kept his shield up for so long. He collapsed onto the ground, chest heaving in exhaustion. Sitting there, he listened for Celeste's breathing pattern; it was normal again. His legs felt useless and wobbly. At best he could move her to a nearby hotel before dusk. That was if he had enough strength to carry her. And he couldn't stay in the alley. Thieves probably stalked the area at night, and leaving her to them wasn't an option.

 

He'd run away too fast from Colonel Mustang for him to have followed. There was a slim chance he'd be found before nightfall. They might go looking for him, but they'd never think twice about going a great distance, would they?

 

Celeste coughed from behind him and moaned. “Hunter, are you there?”

 

“Yes, I'm here.” He crawled over to her, feeling his strength resurfacing. “How are you feeling?”

 

“Better,” she wheezed out before gazing into his eyes. Hers were still cloudy with pain and confusion. “Where are we?”

 

He stood on rubber-like legs and helped her to stand. Slinging one arm over his shoulders, he let her lean against him. “In an alley a few blocks down. It looks as though we won't be found until tomorrow, so we should find shelter.”

 

For the first time she noticed his forehead was covered in sweat. “Hunter, are you hurt?”

 

“No,” he answered with a grunt. “I over exhausted my alchemy. I'll be fine give or take a few hours.”

 

She didn't believe his reassurance. “I can walk on my own if…”

 

“You're worse off than me. Don't think for even a second that I can't handle protecting you.” His voice took a commanding, cool tone that made Celeste's pride swell.

 

“You're overexerting yourself and making me feel guilty.”

 

“Live with it.”

 

She huffed. “Men, I swear I'll never understand them.”

 

“Like your kind is any easier to understand?” He added sourly.

 

“Asshole.”

 

“Bitch.”

 

As they limped along, silence spread between them. She thought of another comeback, but she didn't think insulting and infuriating a superior officer, who by the way had saved her hide, was one of her most brilliant ideas. Instead she laughed slightly. “It's funny how often we fight. We don't really have a trainee-officer relationship, do we?”

 

He spotted a tavern only a block away. Sighing in relief, he replied, “I can't say we do, but I prefer that we understand each other as human-beings. We shouldn't look at the other in fear or disrespect, but in understanding as equals.”

 

“Quite noble of you.” She pulled the door open for him, the least she could do after he'd risked his life for her. What he'd said though, that had surprised her. None of her commanders in America had ever said something so honorable or sincere.

 

She was quiet as he talked to the inn keeper and reserved a room. Hunter hoisted her into his arms on the assent of the stairs and put her down on the only bed in the room. Then he turned to leave.

 

“Stay here, I'm going to call Central and tell them where we are,” he stated uniformly. “I'll be gone only a minute, but stay alert. You can sleep when I return.”

 

He left with a soft click on the door latch and marched downstairs to the phone. After he'd dialed it, he prayed somebody would answer.

 

It was received in one ring. “Midnight?”

 

“Mustang, this is Hunter Phillips reporting in,” he responded, saluting as in instant reaction to hearing his superior's voice. “I'm at the Hilltops Inn.”

 

“Did you find Miss Dominique?”

 

“Artillery and I are both in weakened states, sir. We will be staying here and lying low until further notice.”

 

There was a pause on the other end, then, “Are either of you injured?”

 

“No, sir. I over exhausted my alchemic powers and Cel…Miss Dominique's necklace apparently reacted to the Homunculi. She's in the room resting as we speak.”

 

“Does she still have the Pendant?” The Colonel sounded worried, like losing that necklace to the Homunculi would end the world.

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

Hunter almost swore he heard a sigh of relief from the Colonel, but it was quickly covered. “Good work Phillips. I'll send Hawkeye out tomorrow to bring you and Celeste back.”

 

Before Hunter could hang up, Roy added, “And Midnight, if you ever choose to do another stunt like that, I'll personally strip you of your rank. We don't go gallivanting off on our own to save another soldier.”

 

`She's not just a soldier to me.' “Yes, sir.” He hung up, looked around for the inn keeper only to be unsuccessful, and headed back to the room.

 

He knocked on the door twice before entering. His eyes met with the girl's as she watched him enter. He smiled. “We'll stay here until tomorrow. Hawkeye's going to pick us up in the morning.”

 

“Oh,” she blushed. “Where are you going to sleep?”

 

“Not going to. I'm staying up to keep watch.” He took a seat across from her in the tiny room. The wooden chair creaked a protest against his weight, echoing softly against the walls. In the dim light he could make out every detail of the room; every crack and imperfection stood out from the walls. However, Celeste's pale face shone in the room as brightly as the full moon. Her cheeks carried no color, her eyes were glassy, and her lips were as white as her face. “Do you feel any better?”

 

“Yes,” she answered, “and how about you?”

 

He shrugged. “I've been worse, but I admit that I've never felt this weak before.” Leaning back on his seat, he added, “You look like someone scared the life out of you.”

 

“Thanks, I'll keep that close to my heart.” She muttered before yawning.

 

“Get some sleep, Miss Dominique. I'll keep guard.”

 

Nodding in acknowledgement, she lay down on the lone pillow and drifted to sleep.

 

When her breathing had evened out, Hunter pushed his chair forward to sit beside her. One of his hands reached out to brush an unruly lock of hair from her face. The emotions swirling in his head and heart were new; it was something he'd never experienced with other women. All he could wonder was why her?

 

His gaze wandered down her body to her chest. In between her breasts, under her shirt, lay the Pendant of the Gods. If they didn't do something soon, that very pendant would be the death of her.

 

His eyes grew lethargic, drooping as he gazed at the woman's beauty. Even though he willed himself to stay awake, his eyelids sank and put him in an ocean of slumber.

 

***

She wandered in a world of darkness and fear. Her blue eyes tried to find light, but to no avail. She was lost, never to see her brother or friends again.

 

Icy fingers wrapped her in a sheathe of frigidness. She shivered uncontrollably and couldn't seem to will her body to stop. Her body felt naked, overexposed to the world. How she wanted to scream, to cry in agony and despair. Tears traveled down her face. Perhaps this was her future, a death in coldness and darkness.

 

Light filled the area around her from behind her in a brilliant burst. She whirled around to see what it was, only to close her eyes in defense of the sudden invasion of her pupils. Her hand shielded them so she could see through the light, but all she saw was a face.

 

A gasp escaped her mouth. It was Hunter's face, but it was twisted into a frown of pain. His body was mangled, bloodied, and torn, but he didn't move like he was suffering. He remained perfectly still, almost as if he were…

 

“HUNTER!!” Celeste called out, gasping for breath. Her startled eyes scanned the room frantically. Where was she? Was Hunter alive? Suddenly, a door slammed open with a loud `BANG' from across the room. The one who'd opened it rushed in, gun drawn in automatic protective mode.

 

“What's wrong? Is someone in here?” He swerved the gun all over the room, scanning for possible danger or intruders. All her saw was Celeste clutching the blanket to her chest, her face sweaty and pale.

 

Just seeing him alive brought tears to her eyes. As he lowered his gun, the flood gates opened and tears streaked down her cheeks.

 

The sun had gone down, and all that illuminated the room was the waning moonlight. She saw him relax as he put his gun back in his holster, but it was the last thing she noticed before she jumped out of the covers.

 

Her legs carried her to Hunter as he looked up from his hip. She spread her arms and lunged into his chest. Clinging to him like he was her last salvation, she sobbed in heart aching gasps against him.

 

It was the last thing he'd expected her to do. Never had he thought she'd be crying into his chest, trembling like a lost child. Gone was her fiery nature; all that remained was a girl reduced to tears. “Celeste, what happened?”

 

She shook her head in despair. “I saw something horrible in a dream,” she confessed. “You were…Oh God, you were gone!”

 

His arms encircled her, giving her the only comfort he could give her. “I'm sorry, Celeste. I stepped out for a minute to wake myself back up. I was gone for maybe two minutes before you screamed.”

 

“No, you don't get it.” Her fists tightened into balls as she revisited the dream. “I was in this horrible place that was dark and cold, and I was shivering so bad I thought I'd never be warm again. Despair seemed to surround me, and I wanted to scream even though there was nothing I could do about it.

 

“Then a bright light exploded behind me. At first I thought it was a way out, but then I saw your face, pale and asleep in death. Your body was cut all over…you weren't moving!” She sobbed harder as her legs gave out. Hunter managed to lower her gently, using his own body as leverage. Her arms tightened around his chest in fear. Her body trembled against his as more cries of anguish escaped her lips.

 

One shaky hand reached up to smooth out her hair. He didn't know what to make of this dream she'd had. Was it just a dream after the horror she'd endured, or did that Pendant have something to do with it? He hushed her, whispering sweet nothings to calm her down. “It's going to be okay, Celeste. Nobody is going to die, especially me.”

 

Her body-racking sobs had been diminished to small hitches in her breathing. He lifted her limp body off the floor and carried her to the bed. Glassy-blue eyes gazed up at him as he laid her on the mattress. Why did her eyes always reduce him to a puddle of mush? He turned his attention on covering her with the modest blanket that had been carelessly tossed aside. After she'd been tucked in, he turned from her to sit in the chair.

 

Fear struck a wrong note in Celeste's ears, and her hand reached out to grab his right wrist. “Don't go,” she whispered. “Stay by me tonight.”

 

He closed his eyes. “Miss Dominique, you're distraught. I don't wish to take advantage of that to satisfy my desires.”

 

“Please, I don't want to feel that coldness again. I need you to give me protection.”

 

“But…”

 

“Hunter,” she pleaded, “don't leave me alone.” Tears built in her eyes. “That vision was more than I could bear. Seeing you come storming in like you were going to murder someone sent a huge wave of relief down my body after that dream. If I have another, I'd like to know you're still alive by feeling your breath on my face and the warmth of your body against mine. Please, just for tonight.”

 

He remembered what her scream had sounded like. It had been one of pain, suffering and fear, and he never wanted to hear his spit-fire Celeste scream like that again. He didn't say anything as he opened his eyes and turned to look at her. Instead, he wrapped her hand in his and stretched himself out beside her on the bed. His long legs surpassed hers by a few inches, and he put one on top of her calves in protection. The arm that was preoccupied with Celeste's hand brought her closer to him. He embraced her gently, drinking in her scent as her other hand landed on his chest.

 

“Hunter, I'm sorry I gave you the silent treatment for so long,” she whispered. “You didn't deserve it.”

 

He sighed. “No Celeste; I shouldn't have said those things or scared you like that.”

 

“But what you said is true. There's something going on between us. It's never been this strong for me before, and I panicked. Love has never really looked my way before.” She took a steadying breath. “And no one has wanted me as you do.”

 

His body's reaction to her confession was instant; his gut clenched, and he was instantly attuned to every movement she made. If she allowed him into her bed, he'd be her first. “Celeste, you're not…”

 

“I'm serious. I've never had a lover before, so I'm very inexperienced on these subjects.”

 

He was treading thin ice. If he wasn't careful with this special gift he'd discovered, he'd break it. Her heart was still whole, and he didn't want to be the first to split it in two.

 

She was sleeping before his busy mind could shut off. Listening to her even breathing, he focused on it to try and fall asleep. All that did was make his tired mind more active. Had she offered herself, or had that been a slip of the tongue?

 

He lay awake as she slept, not closing his eyes until the first rays of sunlight started to break the dark.

 

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