Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

EPILOGUE

Their footsteps were soft upon the grassy knoll of the village square as they walked forward. Edward and Alphonse held their heads high as they were marched onwards; the little sag in their shoulders, however, illustrated the shame they both bore. As much as neither regretted the crime they committed or wished they never were guilty of that sin, they knew that forever they would be haunted by it even in death. The name Elric would always be associated with the word “incest” and all the memories of them negative.

And neither could deny that they were scared. In a fleeting moment Alphonse had though, what if it is true? What if I really will burn in hell for eternity because I have loved my brother?

A quick glance from Edward had silenced that thought before it even twisted itself into panic. They had never believed in religion and were not about to start now. It was foolish, invented only to guilt people into giving money to save their souls. Science was real, not false stories taken literally. Science was all that was true in the world. Science… and love. Ironically, it was science and love that had spun the tale of their lives and wove the web of their deaths.

The procession paused at the base of the wooden steps leading up onto the platform. There were two gallows erected…

XXX

“Have you any final wishes that we might carry out if we are so inclined to cater to sinners such as yourselves?” A slap in the face, verbally, but an insult nonetheless.

Ed had half a mind to say they’d taken his only wish from him, in a fit of anger, but he did have one final wish. The meekness in his own voice surprised him. “Yes… I...” he glanced at Al, still being held in the chair where he stood trial. “Together,” his voice was barely above a whisper. “I want to die at the exact same time as my brother.”

Edward knew he would never be able to see Al go first and witness them execute his little brother, the one he’d do anything to protect. He would offer to go first, but Alphonse would never allow him to do that. Al could not bear to see Edward die before him, not when… no, they were in this together and would die together.

It was a strange request, one that the council could find no reason for denying. And so two gallows were erected in the town square.

XXX

The gallows loomed tall above them, menacing shadows against the noon sun. Alphonse involuntarily shivered. Ed comforted him as best he could by rubbing his shoulder against Al’s; the rope that bound his hands behind his back cut in his skin sharply and rubbed annoyingly.

Roughly, they were forced apart and shoved up the uneven wooden steps. Only now did Ed begin to pick up on a buzzing sound in his ears, which he soon recognized to be the chattering of the large crowd assembled to watch an execution. Executions were a form of entertainment, a sick one, but the villagers loved nothing more than seeing a sinner swing lifelessly from the gallows.

Edward caught Alphonse’s eye, seeing the need for just one more second of contact before all feeling was snubbed out. Perhaps they were fools to struggle and dodge out of the grasp of their executioners, running toward each other with only their legs to carry them, bumping faces and lips in a sloppy kiss that lasted no more than a second before they were once again restrained and pulled apart.

“I love you,” Ed looked over and smiled, everything golden about him glistening in the sun. He was smiling even as he felt the coarse rope of the noose slide over his head to rest about his neck and saw the same being done to Alphonse.

And Alphonse smiled back, equally radiantly so that both their hearts were warmed by the strength of the other. “I love you too, Brother,” Alphonse replied.

No regrets, no words unspoken, no feelings suppressed, nothing not shared between the two as the lever was pulled, the door dropped, and the noose fell taught with an audible snap, the large masses swaying in the chilly breeze.

Together.

XXX

“We’ve been through hell and lived our own heaven, so I’ll see you on the other side.”