Fallen Stars [Howl's Moving Castle Fanfiction]

Chapter Sixteen - Surprise!

Chapter Sixteen - Surprise!

It felt strange. Ever since that day, when that visitor appeared, I felt uneasy. As if I’m less insecure than I was before, being Howl’s apprentice. Though, it was most likely only some paranoid thoughts which made their way to my mind. This place is probably the safest place against a visitor like Madame Suliman. It’s after all Howl’s moving castle, the home of the mighty wizard Howl. Being frightened shouldn’t even be an option, but for I couldn’t help it. What if I was the reason she visited?

“Alice.”

What if she searched after me?

“Alice…?”

What if she knew by now that this is indeed where I am?

“Alice..!”

What if there would only be a matter of time until she’d appear here again?

“Alice!”

What if she found my eyes familiar too?

 “Alice! Hey, be careful!”

My attention drifted away from my thoughts to the now occurring accident lying in front of me. One of the plates we practiced with had made contact with the floor and shattered into thousands of pieces. A hand gripped my wrist and spun me around, for me to face a concerned Markl. “Why are you so deep in thought nowadays? This is the third plate you broke only these last few days!”

I lowered my gaze to the ground and shrugged. “It’s nothing really…”

Markl raised an eyebrow suspiciously and shook his head unbelieving. “I don’t believe you, especially since you don’t even react anymore at the times you break the plates. There must be something bothering you.”

I scrunched my nose and glanced at him. “I’m just a bit thoughtful really…”

He leaned down to my face and gave a sly smile at me. “Or maybe you’re getting conscious of me being so very good-looking?”

I blinked at him, and couldn’t help but burst out laughing at him. He stepped back and gave me a supposed hurt facial expression, but I could clearly see how forced it looked. I tilted my head amused at him. “Good-looking? Well, if you say so!”

Markl crossed his arms. “Don’t you think I didn’t spot that blush you had on your cheeks! No, rather how your whole face resembled a tomato!” he said and smiled at me satisfied. I shrugged my shoulders and waved my hands. “I think your eyesight is misleading you.”

Markl didn’t answer on that, and let his facial expression turn into a genuinely happy one instead. “It’s been sometime since you smiled like that, lately you’ve only given us a forced smile.” He exclaimed and began to help me to pick up every little piece of the shattered plate. I glanced at him from the corner of my eyes, curiously in surprise. Did he notice that? I guess he must know me better than I expected.

At the sudden breeze making its way into the room, the sound of the door bursting open and hitting the wall invaded our hearing. I jumped in surprise as my gaze landed on the one entering the moving castle. Of course, it was no one other than Howl. He gave us a bright smile. “Oh but good morning my young apprentices! Are you two well?” at least Howl didn’t seem affected by the meeting with Madame Suliman, which was a relief.

“We’re well, it’s just Alice who won’t tell why she feels so distant from us.” Markl said and sent a quick glance at me, to which I only narrowed my eyes at and shook my head disagreeing.