Fallen Stars [Howl's Moving Castle Fanfiction]

Chapter Four - Help

Chapter Four - Help

"So... do I know you?" I asked feeling more than just confused. The boy standing in the stairs of this peculiar house, did look a tad bit familiar. Something with him recembled something, but I just couldn't put pieces together. 

His brown eyes widened and he closed his gaping mouth. "You shouldn't be here!" He quickly skipped over to me, almost as if he flied. Before I knew it, he stood in front of me, with a stern expression. I leaned my head closer to him and squinted my eyes. "Now that I look closer, I think I've seen that chin of yours before." I said and scratched my neck. He just stared at me, as if he didn't hear what I just said. Was he mad? Okay, him being mad could be explained, after all I did waltz in here without an invetation...

"I'm sorry if I intruded! And I'm sorry if I don't remember you! I just need help!" I rambled as fast as I could and shut my eyes nervously. Hopefully he won't kick me out of here, I need his help! Even if he's mad, he can't just shut my out, can he? I mean, you can't just treat a person like air if they need help, right?

"That doesn't matter. Please go now. You can't be here now! How did you even find us? No one have ever found this field besides us." He crossed his arms and furrowed his red almost orange eyebrows. I shrugged my shoulders. "I believe that was the magic's fault." 

He grimaced and I gulped. He just stood there silent for a while and stared. I felt like freaking out, I can't really handle a thick atmosphere like this. I lowered my gaze to the floor. No matter what, I'm betting he knows the way back to my town. I just know that. I felt my hope shrink every second. My heart started beating loudly in my chest. Left in the mountains, alone, in the darkness. I could only imagine how terrified my family must be. I grimaced harshly and bit my lip. "Please." 

Something lightened up in front of my face and sparkled wildly. I raised my head and backed away a little as I saw what happened. "Mr. Fireball?" I asked quietly. The floating fireball swiftly swirled around everywhere in the room and gave out big bits of sparkles as it did. Some sparkles landed on me, whom weirdly enough didn't hurt. The boy's expression changed and he stared in shock at Mr. Fireball. In the end, Mr. Fireball ended his little show with stopping just in front of me and the boy. It did spinned around in small circles. 

The boy just gaped at me and Mr. Fireball. "You're a wizard?" For a second there, his voice sounded sore and nervous. I could see that he winced but he still held his confindent face. I felt a little bit puzzled and suspicious. What made him think that? Because of Mr. Fireball? Hm, what would happen if I told him that I were? Would he help me or would he be willing to kick me out even more? Depeneding on his expression, I'm guessing on the last one. But, who said I couldn't try? Though, I'm not that much of an actor, and that kind of made things complex. 

I stood up from the chair and gave a confident smile at him. "Why of course! How else would you think I turned up here? So are you willing to help me now?" 

I don't know if that expression upon his face is readable or not, but I definietly couldn't interpret it. It was mixed between all emotions that's possible. He opened his mouth, but closed it just as fast. "So?" I asked him when he didn't answer. Something clicked in his eyes and just like that he quickly held up the hood from his cap and put it around his head, only leaving the little space around his chin and cheeks visible. I gave him a confused look. What?

"You'll need to prove it. Show me your magic, and I'll believe it." He said in a deep tone, which sounded pretty alike someone else's.  My breath hitched and my left eyebrow twitched. That's it, I've been caught. I've been dragged in to troubles, how am I supposed to prove that I'm a wizard? I can't, since I'm not. I could outright tell him the truth, that couldn't hurt right? Maybe Mr. Fireball could do something? Nah, then that won't be me who proves it. Nope, I'm stuck.

He must have noticed my doubt and raised one of his eyebrows. "Can't do it? Fine, maybe you're just a beginner then. What about making that chair lift a little bit? Beginners nowadays knows how to do that." He said and sighed. I nodded, maybe a little too quick. 

I turned my expression to the chair and swallowed deeply. Please let a huge forceful wind blew through the windows and lift the chair now... I raised my uptight shoulders as well my arms. I opened my fingers who've been curled up into fists. I shut my eyes tightly and did some movements with my hands, trying to imitate all those moves wizards are said to do. I bit my lip and grimaced. Come on, let something happen! I need to get back home!

Like on a cue, I felt something flicker in the tips of my fingers. A shiver went up my spine and I stepped back. No wind came, but another thing took it's place. I stared at my fingers in a trance and the boy walked up to stand beside me. He tilted his head. "Huh? you can do that?" He asked and pointed at my fingers. I nodded slowly, not even close to comprehend whatever happened. 

The thing we both stared at right now was my fingers. They were surrounded by a spinning and swirling fire. It wasn't close to Mr. Fireball, but it sure seems like I created it. I'm stunned. I blinked with my eyes. Did this mean that I'm a wizard? 

I broke my concentration from my hands and with that the fire disappeared in to thin air. I shook my head and turned to the taller boy. He scratched his short orange colored hair. "D-Does this prove it?" I asked in a hesitating voice. He nodded and backed away. 

"Since you in fact are a wizard, I must ask you, who sended you? Was it Suliman? Or was it the king?" He said on his guard and I frowned. "I'm not from anyone! I want to go back to my family! I thought you would have helped my if I proved that I'm a wizard, and I didn't even know I was one! This strange mist and Mr. Fireball made me turn up here for some reason, and I'm as far away from my home as I can get! I just want help, because I don't know how I'll get home again..." I said and voiced out all of my thoughts. 

"Wait, so you didn't know? You just came here without knowing?" He asked. 

I nodded as fast as I could. 

He sighed in relief and took of his hood. "Good, then there's no worry in that area. But still, you can't be here. You need to go." 

I shut my eyes and took a deep breath. Seems like there was no point in it all, I'm back to square one. 

"But I'll help you, I promise." He said and smiled a wide smile. I froze. I know that smile. I've seen it plenty of times before. Even his face now that I think about it again looks-

I didn't even have time to gather up my thoughts, because he grabbed my hand in a flash and we rushed upstairs. I tried to ask why, but he held his hand over my mouth to silenece me. 

Down in the kitchen, I heared a loud sound from the door opening. "Markl!!" 

My eyes widened and I turned to the boy. Markl? His name was Markl? I tried to get away his hand from my face but he shushed me. "Quiet, we need to get you out of here before they see you. If you are seen, then that's bye bye to your sweet little family." 

I opened my eyes wide in shock and shook my head. Who's down there and what's so dangerous? I better do what he says though. He started crawling away to one of the doors, without making a sound at all. I crawled after him and we turned up to be at the last door in the corridor. He stood up again and I mimicked his movements. "So, if you go through this door, it'll take you exactly where you want, you just have to be a firm grip of where you want to go. If you have two places you want to go to, I can't guarantee that you'll turn up anywhere." He whispered and gave me a pat on the shoulder. I nodded. He nodded back and walked away to the stairs, trying to get all the focus that's possible on only him. I thanked him mentally from helping me after all the trouble. 

I turned to the doorknob and smiled. "I want to go home."

With that I opened the door and together with Mr. Fireball I walked inside it.