Chapter Text
Chisa's POV
Clink...
Clank...
Clink...
The annoying sound of metal clanging against more metal fills my ears, pulling me out of my dreamless sleep. I struggle to open my eyes; they feel too heavy.
Then suddenly, my memories hit me like a brick.
The Chimera...
The blood...
Renfred...
Alice...
The pain...
Joseph's disapproving glare...
"I'll deal with you later..."
Fear pulses through my bloodstream as I force my eyes open; a blinding white light captures my sight and immediately I try to sit up.
Big mistake. Agony burns through my body like fire. I groan, tears seeping from my eyes as wave after wave of excruciating throbs rake through my small frame.
Carefully, I try to slowly raise myself from whatever I'm lying on; I don't get very far before I'm yanked back. I squint in confusion as my back meets a hard, cold surface - I didn't notice it before. I try again, only to be pulled back down a second time.
My fear heightens; realisation hits me as my eyes begin to adjust to the light. My breathing hitches as I recognise the hospital-like torture chamber. No no no! I start thrashing against the restraints, hoping somehow, by some miracle, that they would give out.
With my energy quickly diminishing, I stop. Panting heavily, a lump forms in my throat as tears fall from my eyes. Struggling... is pointless. I can't escape him, no matter how hard I try.
I spot Joseph instantly, exactly where he was in the Flash, shifting through the surgical instruments. He's humming that same tune, giving me goosebumps at how accurate my ability is. I see him lift the sharp scalpel... I immediately freeze. I start thrashing again, praying that these bonds will break - they don't.
He turns around. I can't stop the shiver that climbs up my spine as he gives his closed eye smile. Then he speaks:
"Are you afraid...?"
He pauses, and begins to walk over to the metal bed where I was tied down. I follow his movements - I instantly feel sick because I know what comes next...
I shake uncontrollably. He bends down and cups my check with his hand, leaning in closer to my ear. His next words chilled me to the bone...
"You should be, Chisa..."
I cry. What is he going to do? Is he going to kill me? Maybe I should wish for death...
"You seem distracted, puppy. I have to say, I was expecting a different reaction from you. Why do you appear calmer than I predicted you'd be?"
He's stalling. Thinking that I could get myself out of this situation, the words tumble out of my mouth before I think about them:
"I already saw this happening!"
No! Why did I say that?!
"Oh? Is that so? How, pray tell, did you see this happening, Chisa?"
I keep my mouth shut. He can't know. He'll find a way to take advantage of my ability. I know he will.
"Answer me, puppy. Truthfully. I'll know if you're lying..." he threatens.
And I believe his threat. He's in a position where he can make threats. Who knows what he'll do if I lie. So, out of fear, I tell the truth.
"I can... see Flashes... of the future..."
Joseph looks shocked. "Really? What an impressive talent you have, puppy! A talent that could prove to be very useful..." he trails off.
I knew it. He'll use my ability for his own personal gain. Although, I don't know how to control the Flashes... they just happen. His voice brings me back to reality:
"Consider what I'm about to do as your punishment for interrupting my discussion with Renfred."
My body stills... that's why I'm here...
He climbs onto the surgical table, hovering above me. New fear sparks within me as I vainly attempt to escape while Joseph laughs at my efforts.
"Come now, puppy! You said you saw this coming... so I don't even have to explain what I'm going to do..." he lowers his head towards mine, almost pressing his forehead against mine again. Whispering he continues, "struggling will only make it hurt more."
The scariest thing is, I don't know what he's going to do. But I'm too afraid to speak. Joseph closes the distance between our foreheads. As soon as our heads are pressed together, I'm greeted by another Flash...
*****
Opening my eyes, I find myself in a peaceful forest at dusk . The trees sway gently in the breeze and the grass tickles my bare feet. A small smile graces my features for a short moment as the calm serenity of the forest welcomes me.
However, the calming scene shifts when nauseating, crunching sounds fill my ears. Before I even turn around, crimson stains splatter all over the lush green grass. The rusty, iron smell hits my nose and I cover my mouth, turning slowly.
I gasp behind my hand, my legs start to tremble...
Beastly, glowing red eyes trap my own...
This creature belongs in nightmares...
I've never seen anything like it before in my life...
It towers above me, it's terrifying face is just bone - I can see every single razor sharp tooth. Horns sprout from the sides of its head, adding to its monstrous qualities. Its claws look equally sharp, attached to long, oversized, black limbs - it could rip me apart easily.
It's all I can really see of the creature, because right now, it's attacking one of Joseph's Chimeras...
No... it's tearing it apart...
Blood, guts and limbs fly everywhere. Then, I hear his voice:
"Seriously..? Those materials cost me a fortune! Corpses aren't cheap. Neither is the culture tank." He is poking the remains of the Chimera, looking disappointed.
I look fearfully at the monster again. It's straightening its inhuman to its full height. It tilts its skull head towards the sky, the scarlet pupils inside the pitch black sockets land on Joseph. Blood trickles from its jaws. It's voice sends a shiver down my spine.
"Cartaphilus..."
Joseph's whole demeanour shifts. His eyes widen before his features quickly morph into a deadly glare. His own voice in return sounds as equally terrifying...
"Do not... ever... CALL ME BY THAT NAME!"
He grips his left shoulder harshly as it suddenly transforms into a large, monstrous limb. I step back, horrified, even though I'm not really here. Stitch marks are visible where the green hand connects with the wrist. It looks like Joseph has fused with a Chimera...
He places the hand over his face, creating a dark void where only one of his eyes are visible. He turns to face the skull:
"You reeking monster in your cloak of human flesh-"
He doesn't get to finish before the monster lunges at him. It never gets to strike him as a small form throws herself at the monster, wrapping her arms around it.
"Elias!" She shouts.
Her eyes are squeezed shut so I can't see them, but her hair is a soft, sunset red. Blood stains her cheek and my heart clenches... I'd know her anywhere...
"Chise!" I yell, but I know she can't hear me.
She begins to fade from my view...
Again...
*****
I gasp, blinking furiously. That was the first time I saw a Flash that wasn't about my own future - it was Joseph's future. What I see always becomes reality... he's going to see Chise! Tears gather in my eyes as the image of Chise from the Flash burns in my mind. She was hurt, it was written in her features... and I can't stop it from happening. I don't even know when it will happen. All I know, is that it's in the future.
Coming to my senses, I'm met with Joseph's face, inches from mine. He smiles knowingly, placing his hand on my cheek as I cringe away from his touch. He applies pressure to his hold, forcing me to face him as he whispers...
"You just 'Flashed', didn't you, Chisa? Did you know your eyes glow purple when you do? It's really quite interesting... tell me, what did you see?"
My eyes glow purple... that's why the children called me a witch at school. I have no control over the Flashes, so when they happened in school, my eyes must have changed colour too!
Snapping my attention back to Joseph, I squirm uncomfortably as his eyes bore into mine. His words caused goosebumps to form all over my arms. Why does he want to know? The scene from the Flash plays in my head. It was about him. He shouldn't know anything about his future.
But I'm at his mercy, if he has any. He begins to press metal tip of the scalpel close to my neck - another warning. Feeling as though I have no other choice, I let out a shaky breath and tell him:
"It... wasn't my future... it was yours."
Joseph visibly tenses, surprising me.
"And what did you see, puppy?"
His voice doesn't sound as intimidating, it sounds like... he's afraid...
"There was... a monster, destroying one of your Chimeras... you were upset and... after he called you a name... you got mad and... your arm... changed..."
I trail off, unsure of how to explain it better. I don't want to upset him - he's angry enough. Joseph looks anxious, before he snaps his steel orbs back to mine.
"What did the monster call me, girl?" Agitation was written in his features, "what did he call me! Tell me, now!" Joseph was yelling now, shaking my arms with all his might.
My heart hammered in my chest and my palms grew sweaty. I'm so scared right now... This is why I didn't want to tell him! His whole mood has shifted because of this name... though he doesn't even know what it is... I don't even know what it means. But maybe, just maybe, he'll calm down when I say it.
The shaking intensifies and I find myself screaming the name at Joseph:
"CARTAPHILUS!"
Joseph stills. His grip becomes slack and he bows his head. His silver hair covers his face so I can't read his expression.
Cautiously, I repeat myself.
"That's what he called you, Carta-"
He abruptly cuts me off as his hand explodes into that monstrous limb again. I instantly pale, biting back a scream that threatens to leave my lips. If I was scared before, I'm petrified now...
His normal hand which holds the scalpel is removed from my neck, and is quickly replaced by the inhuman hand. My breathing hitches as the hands begins to constrict around my neck, slowly closing off the oxygen supply.
My arms jolt as my lungs begin to protest, trying to grab the hand. But I'm still tied down... I struggle in mute horror, my wide, fearful eyes focussed on Joseph's face as he lifts his head.
His expression holds one of pure fury, and his hair darkens his features even more. My heart stops altogether for a few seconds. He raises his normal hand, the light dances off the silver surface of the scalpel... I audibly gulp, despite my narrowed airway.
Then it happens... I howl in absolute agony as he buries the scalpel deep in my left arm, dragging the blade all the way down to my wrist. My vision blurs with salty tears, I can still make out his eyes, which hold no remorse, only flames of rage.
Scarlet liquid pours out of my wound, the rusty smell greets my nose, causing me to gag, making me lose more precious oxygen. I hardly have time to react when he rips the blade from my left wrist and plunges it into my right arm, repeating the same excruciating action as before. I scream bloody murder... I'm going to die...
Yet no one comes to end my suffering...
No one comes to save me...
No one ever has...
I'll always be alone...
No one will miss me when I die...
Joseph yanks the scalpel out of my arm again, I hiss at the pain. The flame in his eyes is still there as he continues to slice the skin on my arms. Each new wound sends a wave of pain crashing over my body. My throat is raw from screaming - I just cry. Sobs rake my body and my eyes become red and puffy.
He finally stops. My arms tingle with numbness after his brutal assault. Glancing at my arms, all I see is red. Will they ever heal? I choke back another sob, my breaths becoming wheezes.
Suddenly, the limb releases its death grip from my neck and I cough uncontrollably as pure air once again fills my lungs. However, my relief is short lived as I notice Joseph's hand, which has returned to normal, grips my chin, forcing my to look directly into his stormy eyes. He is still clutching the scalpel...
I watch his hand carefully, fear evident in my features as he moves the blade above my left eyebrow, applying enough pressure for the tip to pierce my skin. The sensation causes me to wince. Please, no more... I silently beg with my eyes. But he ignores my plea, slowly dragging the blade down the left side of my face. He doesn't stop at my eye, I quickly shut it, feeling the blade slice through my eyelid. He carries on until he reaches my chin. A white hot pain follows the trail left by the scalpel and I bite my tongue to stop myself from screaming again.
I open my eye and gasp. Crimson mars my vision, but I can still see out of my left eye. More tears mix with my blood, running down the side of my face and into my ear. The amount of pain this Alchemist can cause is inhuman. I lock eyes with him again and I start shaking irrepressibly. I have never been this afraid of something in my life. No monster that I have seen with these cursed eyes could match this level of terror. Joseph lowers his head towards mine, making my shrink further into the metal table as he rests his forehead against mine.
"Never..." he whispers menacingly, staring straight into my soul with his shadowy orbs which have visibly darkened. "Never... call me that again, Sleigh Beggy... Do I make myself clear?"
His voice chills me to the bone. I can barely speak due to my frightened state, so I frantically nod my head.
That wasn't good enough...
His hand reaches my neck again, lightly squeezing it as a warning. I wince at his touch, already feeling the bruises forming from the grasp of the monstrous limb. Not wanting to cause myself further pain, I quickly answer him:
"Y-yes... Jos-seph..."
He releases his hold immediately.
"Good girl."
He gets off the table and begins untying the restraints which bound me to it. As soon as he's done I dart off the table... big mistake... my head swims with the loss of blood as I take shaky steps forward. My vision is hazy and still partially impaired by my own blood. My head thumps with each wild beat of my heart. I blindly put my hands in front of me, trying to find a way out of this room and away from Joseph.
If I was afraid of him before, I'm terrified now.
Now I know exactly what he's capable of... and how much danger I'm in...
Why couldn't I just die?
Joseph's hand wraps around my arm. I visibly tense, pulling my arm free, hissing as this aggravates my wounds. I turn around, backing away from his figure - it's becoming blurry...
After three steps backwards, my legs give out. Luckily I fall against a wall. Sliding down the wall, I crumple in a heap on the cold floor. My emotions go haywire as I start sobbing - I'm in unbearable pain, I'm exhausted and I've mentally given up.
I've been broken...
He's broken me...
Bringing my knees up to my chest, I try to comfort myself, but fail miserably. Joseph's blurry figure appears in front of me. I press myself harder against the wall. He reaches out his hand, cupping my right cheek. I flinch away from the contact, he's the last person I want near me - his presence alone is now scaring me.
Black spots begin dotting my vision. With my last ounce of strength, I beg him:
"Leave... me... alone..."
I go limp. His arms wrap around my frame, preventing me from falling headfirst onto the tiled floor. If I could I would recoil from his touch - but I can't.
"Please..." I whisper.
It all becomes too much...
I welcome the inevitable darkness with open arms...
*****
Wow, another chapter done... I'm sorry about how dark this one is, it really wasn't easy to write. My interpretation of Joseph really creeps me out sometimes! I hope you liked it though, I promise the whole story isn't going to be like this
Until next time
ilovemanga2000 💕