dedicated to @CaptainWinchester the latest reader. sorry about any errors, as per usual (more like used to be) just comment if you can understand what a part is meant to be saying.

Kristinas POV

"should have known it'd be you guys." The voice said from the shadows.

"definitely envy." Ling stated surprisingly calmly.

Ed on the other hand... "Quick! Show me the way out of here!"

"wait your going to just beg the enemy like that?!" Ling shouted.

"have you forgotten its Ed in front of us, if it means surviving he'll become his best friend." I sighed.

"yeah! Wait. NO!" Ed defended after realising what I said.

"Yes Ed. You would." I said putting my face in my hands.

"no I wou-"

"doesn't matter because there isn't an exit, now shut up already!" Envy stated making us all turn towards him. "you've gotten us into a big mess. I can't believe you got me swallowed with you!"

"wait... so this really is gluttony's stomach?" I asked.

"well, yes and no... it's a lot more complicated. I mean you two-" Ed and I glared at him before he even attempted to finish that sentence. "uhh, you two are alchemists, you should realise what this place is."

"I did notice something earlier... it's like I had a familiar feeling." Ed remember, as it occurred to me that I had a similar experience when we arrived.

"So you do remember? This isn't the first time you've been through this."

"w-what do you mean?" I asked, straightening myself up to try and give myself a wave of confidence as I felt a rush of nausea and nostalgia wash over me. Only to be greeted by a small amused puff of air be realised from the monsters mouth assumedly followed by an evil smirk.

"the portal of truth." Ed replied, confirming my fears as I struggled to breath, "but it wasn't like this... it was more like a white void"

"endless," I continued.

"oh yeah? So that's what the real ones like." Envy said to himself.

"wait... real one?" I asked taking a step forward.

"glutton is a failed experience by our Father to create his own Portal of Truth." Envy explained resulting in the air my lung had only just allowed back in to be refused entry again. "despite how powerful our Father is, he still couldn't create one."

"he shouldn't have tried to recreate that hell! That monster!" I shouted, envy turned his head towards me for a brief second, his expression insensible, before turning back to Edward to continue.

"We're trapped inside a defective Portal of Truth. It exists somewhere between reality and truth."

"in between?" Ling, Ed and I asked all at once.

"I can assure you that there is no way out of here. The only option we've got is to sit here until our strength runs out. And that's it. All we can do it wait here to die." Envy was oddly calm while saying this... does that mean he's lying... or he's just accepting?

"don't think I'm falling for any of that crap! I know you're lying to us Envy! You're lying! Aren't you?" Ed questioned, but sounding more like he was trying to convince himself.

"so there really is no way out? We're going to die here?" Ling gasped in shock, his eyes wide with the horror that is coursing through all our veins and thoughts.

"we can't die... what about Alphonse, I made a promise to him." Ed growled out.

"it can't end here, we won't let it!" I shouted at envy, "we will find a way, nothing is impossible until you believe that it is."

"except bring the dead back to life." Envy smirked as my eyes widened, I clenched my fists to control myself, thankful that somehow Ed hadn't heard. Envy's painful remarks aren't our concern right now. We need to get out, there has to be a way. Surely...