Fallen Stars [Howl's Moving Castle Fanfiction]

Chapter Seven - Escaping Reality

Chapter Seven - Escaping Reality

Both me and Mrs. Darwin stared with curious eyes at the wizards in the corner of the room. They, in return, took small bites of their breads with expressionless faces. We both gave a glance at each other when the clock ticked in the room as a reminder. It was soon time, only a few minutes left until my parents would wake up. Mrs Darwin pocked my shoulder with a slight suspicious facial expression. "To think that they eat bread much slower than a ninety year old woman with bad teeth just amazes me..." 

I nodded at her. "I agree, it's been like half an hour already and they've barely even eaten half of the bread..." I said and glanced at the ticking clock quickly before turning my gaze back at the wizards. If they wouldn't have been so strange, like most of the wizards working under Madame Suliman and the king, I might just have been a tad bit more considerate. I might even have asked them about the whole "magic" that happened to me before. But since it is like this, it's nothing much to do but to wait. I'm actually not really sure if I'm so glad with waiting either, since I have a feeling it's not just a light matter those wizards want to talk about. Well, I could be wrong but the pit of my stomach usually isn’t. Whatever they want to talk about, I sure won't let them talk to my parents alone with it. 

As on a cue, my focus was suddenly back to Mrs. Darwin, who waved a hand in front of my face. "I have a feeling you should wake up your parents before the time runs out. I may not be the wisest elderly person around here, but I sure know that it'd be the best if you talked to them before these fancy-looking stoic wizards will."

I stared at her distantly and then let my eyes land at the old wooden clock on the wall. The clock seconds went by in a flash and close to that came the minutes, which reminded me that I had only a few minutes left to decide what to do. I turned my gaze back to Mrs. Darwin with confident eyes. "I'll hurry before they'll throw away that bread." I said.

"Very good, I'll do my best with a maneuver so you'll make it here in time." the old woman said as she flashed a smile and turned around to the expressionless wizards. I nodded at her and headed to the upstairs in rapid speed. I have no clue of what tricks Mrs. Darwin has up in her sleeve, but since she is herself, I'm not doubting she can keep them distracted for quiet some while. When I reached the upstairs a quickly rushed through the corridor and to my parents room nearby. I didn't even bother to knock, which I'd usually do. 

I barged inside the room. "Mom! Dad! I need to talk to you for a short moment!" 

I froze and stared at the empty room. No one was in the room at all, it was just a empty bed and a lamp upon the nightstand flickering wildly. I was mouth a gape as I looked everywhere in the room, but there was no sign of my parents. "But what?" I whispered quietly and ran out from the room to search in the other rooms upstairs. It turned out to be to no avail, since every room had the same results. Empty from my parents. I scratched the back of my head nervously. "How is this even possible?" 

Sudden voices were heard from downstairs, some really familiar voices. My eyes widened and I instantly ran down the stairs without thinking. Those voices were my parents' but how did they turn up there if they weren't up here from the beginning? What is this?

When I came back in to the bakery, I noticed that it was indeed my parents' voices that I heard. They came in from the front door of the bakery and seemed to have noticed both the wizards and Mrs. Darwin doing one of her tricks. I couldn't help but give a short smile at Mrs. Darwin in the serious situation. She did one of her famous card tricks, like always. The wizard only stared at the cards with empty eyes, but something seemed to flicker deep inside them. They didn't notice my parents at this instant and I took my chance to talk to them.