Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist or any related characters.

"And when you love something, they say set it free

If it don't come back, it wasn't meant to be." –Blood on the Dance Floor, "Incomplete and All Alone"

Two months before the Promised Day.

When Edward woke up, he found himself in a cell.

Now, he had been in prison before. While up north in Briggs, he had, more than once, found himself behind bars. This was different.

For one thing, Ed was missing his automail arm. This indicated that whoever was imprisoning him was a bit more malicious than Olivier Armstrong had been. It also meant that he could not perform alchemy and escape.

Shit. What had happened? Edward wracked his brain, and then it came to him: the homunculi.

He could remember Gluttony standing there, and himself preparing to attack, when another pair of hands clapped his temples…he must have passed out.

Come to think of it, the cell was dank, dimly lit, and cold; it fit the underground hideout of the homunculi perfectly.

Ed looked around, and found that they had at least thought to put a mattress down for him. This meant they would probably feed him as well, especially since they couldn't have such a precious human sacrifice starve to death.

Think! He commanded himself. There has to be a way out of this. There's always a way out. This country needs your help!

But even Edward, the youngest State Alchemist ever, could not see a way out of the situation. Or at least, not one that would end well for him.

In fact, the only option he could come up with was suicide. If the homunculi couldn't use Ed as a human sacrifice, they may have to postpone the Promised Day, giving Al and the others time to act.

While this seemed to be the only viable option, Edward doubted he could act on it. Suicide seemed worthless, seeing as the homunculi may have backups prepared for such a situation, and there was no guarantee killing himself would help anyone. He wanted to live more than he wanted to die for such a slim chance. Regardless, the alchemist saw no way to go through with that plan, should he decide to, within the cell.

Locked in these desperate thoughts, Ed was startled to hear a key in the door, before it opened to reveal…

Envy.

That son of a bitch!

"Yo, shorty!"

"Go fuck yourself," Ed snarled.

"As appealing as the thought is," Envy drawled, leaning down until he was staring Edward in the face. "I have to watch you."

"You keep watch on your prisoners?"

"Nah," the homunculus waved the idea off. "Just you. Can't have you trying to escape, or hurt yourself, or anything like that."

Ed's face was a mask of shock. They knew he would think of that?

Envy just laughed. "Wow, already thought of that, eh, pipsqueak? I thought you would have more of a will to live. How sad."

He plopped down. "Look, this is how it's gonna be. Pride will watch you during the hours he's supposed to be with a tutor. Wrath will watch you after that, while he is still thought to be at work. And I'll be here the rest of the time, when they both have to pretend to be part of the happy Bradley family."

"Why would you tell me that? I could use the information to escape."

"Pfft, you wish, tiny! I'm telling you so you realize how hopeless it is. Wrath is crazy dangerous with a sword. Pride will seriously fuck you up, physically and mentally. And you already know what I can do. There's no way you can get past any one of us, nor will we put up with any of your shit."

Envy leaned in again. "I'm hoping that'll prevent you from acting up."

Edward thought a moment, then sighed. "Dammit! Why did I let my guard down? You've really got me this time…"

"Yup! We're keeping you here until the Promised Day. You won't be stirring up any trouble, pipsqueak."

"I-in that case…" Ed's voice faltered. "Can you take down my hair? It's uncomfortable to sleep with it like this and I can't manage with just the one arm."

"Sure, why not? See how nice a jailer I can be?"

As Envy bent around the alchemist, Edward turned his head and bit down on the homunculus's arm as hard as he could. Blood filled his mouth and dripped down his chin.

"OW! You fucking brat!" In retaliation, Envy smacked Ed, making him lose his balance and fall to the floor. The homunculus situated himself in a corner, glaring at Edward as though daring him to try that again.

His head stung now, but Ed found it worth it. If he was going to be in prison, he was going to make sure life was hell for his jailers.