The sound of heavy footsteps echoed on the cobblestone streets. The shadowy image of a fairly tall man could be seen, cast by the streetlights onto the dark stone. The moon was hidden tonight, possibly because even the gods above didn’t wish to see what was going to happen.  No one was on the streets this night, perhaps because the town was near abandoned, only a handful of people left… This was a town where people began to vanish at such a degree that they just up and moved away…. Why stay when you are bound to be killed?

But tonight would be different, Tonight there was someone here to help them… maybe. The man was dressed in the official attire of the state alchemist.  His left arm coated in a thick glove with alchemical circles and runes inscribed all along it. His chin was thick and hefty with stubble, brown unkempt hair falling all over his face. The smoke of his cigarette trailing into the night sky as he looks on with his dull brown eyes.

Normally this would be a welcomed sight to the town, a state alchemist walking the streets… But this man had the look of one who had lost the will to live. What use could he be to the townspeople? What was the mayor thinking calling for such an alchemist, one who wasn’t even known… One who no one recognized. Perhaps, this was because this alchemist didn’t seek fame… didn’t wish to be known. He was the Squid Alchemist; Jason Gold.

But it wasn’t his appearance that worried the townspeople most, it was… the singing. [color=a0410d]“Hush… little baby… Don’t say a word… Papa’s gonna buy you… a Mockingbird...” [/color]He sung it in a low raspy voice, as though he was trying to be quiet… Perhaps even as though he was singing to someone that no one else could see.. It sounded like a lullaby you’d sing to a sleeping child. 

“Are you sure this will be safe?” One of the villagers whispered, watching the alchemist move through the streets. “I don’t know...” The other responded, both hidden by the curtains of the their home. The alchemist kept his head to the ground, looking at each of his steps, counting them as beats to the song. He didn’t know exactly where he was going or what he needed to do here, aside from figure out whose kidnapping everyone… 
[color=a0410d]
“Maybe it’s human alchemy...” [/color]Jason thought to himself, his eyes never leaving the ground, no sign of life in his eyes...