The longer he stared, it became ever more clear that the woman was Gracia. Older yes, but definitely her. Which meant that the man--unlikely as it seemed--was Hughes and the girl Elysia. But what had happened to drive him to the edges of his sanity and strip Elysia of her youthful exuberance and innocence? Just what was this Cataclysm? More importantly, why didn't they recognize him? A shot fired into the air shook him from his thoughts.
"Is this some kind of sick joke? Giving people a scare by putting metal on your arm and leg to evoke memories of the Cataclysm?"
"Wha-?"
"Surprised, are you? My husband may not fully remember the book, but I do. The illustration accompanying the phrase about the 'man with the metal limbs' bears no resemblance to you." she held out a tattered scrap of paper. Edward took it and held it for a few seconds before letting it flutter to the ground.
"That can't be!"
Ed couldn't for a moment believe that the paper accurately depicted the person responsible for the wasteland the world had become. Al could never do such a thing...unless he was trying to bring Edward himself back. Ed certainly didn't know how he had arrived here, so Al could have found himself in such a situation. Finding Al would be more important than ever now.
"It is. I'd suggest you come with us if you don't want to fall victim to the chimeras. Gunfire attracts them." she gave a small smile, a pale ghost of the woman he remembered. "And I'd be very interested to learn how you've survived in the Waste for so long without protection."
Edward nodded and numbly followed the three back to the odd building.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2005-07-13 04:17 am (UTC)"Is this some kind of sick joke? Giving people a scare by putting metal on your arm and leg to evoke memories of the Cataclysm?"
"Wha-?"
"Surprised, are you? My husband may not fully remember the book, but I do. The illustration accompanying the phrase about the 'man with the metal limbs' bears no resemblance to you." she held out a tattered scrap of paper. Edward took it and held it for a few seconds before letting it flutter to the ground.
"That can't be!"
Ed couldn't for a moment believe that the paper accurately depicted the person responsible for the wasteland the world had become. Al could never do such a thing...unless he was trying to bring Edward himself back. Ed certainly didn't know how he had arrived here, so Al could have found himself in such a situation. Finding Al would be more important than ever now.
"It is. I'd suggest you come with us if you don't want to fall victim to the chimeras. Gunfire attracts them." she gave a small smile, a pale ghost of the woman he remembered. "And I'd be very interested to learn how you've survived in the Waste for so long without protection."
Edward nodded and numbly followed the three back to the odd building.