Chapter 17: In Which the Inevitable Happens
Just gonna say this, you knew this was gonna happen.
I'm so ANGRY AT HIM I COULD SCREAM MAN!
After storming out of the house, and away from Howl, I made my way back to Market Chipping and towards my usual place. Guitar in hand, of course.
Lottie, surprisingly, was shocked at my entrance as the next person, but didn't cheer like the others did when I sat down and placed my hands on the neck of the instrument.
I didn't feel like playing a real song today, instead, I improvised melodies by simple chords.
Some people passed and curtly nodded their heads to me as they tossed some coins into my guitar case.
Some guys who are regulars to Lottie's shift at Market Chipping took a seat next to me and sang what they believed was the words to the song- which were totally wrong. LOL.
"Where have you been?!" She shrieked like an angry banshee, I had to plug my ears with my fingers. "You could be hurt out here!! Salazar can hurt you or-"
"At this moment, Howl's hurt me more than Salazar has." I puffed the sentence out of my mouth with a hot breath. How can I not be upset? Howl has always been a glutton for vanity and praise. He makes me want to rip my own head off and use it as a bowling ball!
"What has he done now?" She sighed before looking away to fix her frizzing hair.
She was so unlike me, I realized. She walked with confidence in every move she made, even if her mind wasn't sure what the outcome would be.
"...HEY! Amelia! Snap out of it! If you don't wanna talk about it, it's fine." She took my shoulders during my space out and began to shake like I was a maraca.
"Yeah, I'd rather not." I sighed. "It's just.....GOD MOTHER APE ASS!" I whisper-cursed, to Lottie's shock.
"Listen, I know that Howl's rough around the edges-" She cut herself off and chuckled as she corrected herself. "-well, really rough around the edges and on the inside, but he's got a heart of gold."
I listened, but didn't speak as I absentmindedly strummed my guitar and looked out at the bustling street.
Pots of plants were on every corner of the square; on the building as they soaked up the afternoon sunlight. The clacking of feet on cobblestone and voices making conversations of my own.
"Perhaps you should sing the real lyrics." Lottie pointed over to where these men were singing about believing in Steve. Now that's something to laugh at, and it made me feel a bit better. So I nodded and gave her a hug before standing up.
"Birds flyin' high, you know how I feel..and sun, in the sky, and you know how I feel.... Breeze driftin' on by...and you know how I feel. It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life.......
For me....." I let the words leave my mouth, and I watched as a woman with blonde bob cut stop walking next to her friends to look my way. Soon enough, her friends stopped and joined her.
"And I'm feelin' good!!
And I'm feelin' good.
And fish in the sea, you know how I feel, rivers runnin' free and you know how I feel." I slapped the guitar in my hands for emphasis on the notes.
"Blossom on the tree, and you know how I feel. It's a new dawn, it's a new day, and it's a new life, for me...."
More people crowded around and swooned slightly to the beat of the music. Lottie even stopped bustling about and smiled a content smile.
"And I'm feelin' good! And I'm feelin' good.. Dragon flies out in the sun, and you know how I feel. Butterflies all having fun, oh you know what I mean yeah!"
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something- someone, I think. The men and women weaving in and out of others on the crowded streets. Horns blaring off now and then from old model automobiles, and
"Sleep in peace when the day is done. That's what I mean, and this old world, it's a new world, and it's a bold world....
....for me!!
And I'm feelin' good!
And I'm feelin' so good....."
The man had a top hat in hand as he took a hand to pull through his hair. Yet his face was kept down; as if ashamed of something. Probably dumped by his GF.
Typical.
"And stars when you shine, I know what I feel. And scent of the pine oh I know how I feel and no freedom is mine. And I know how I feel...
It's a new dawn, to a new day, it's a new life,"
The man slid his way through the crowd facing MOI. I have a bad feeling about this...
"It's a new dawn, to a new day, it's a new life,"
Closer,
"It's a new dawn, to a new day, it's a new life,"
Even closer now. He was in the front and I could see now who it was.
"For me!
And I'm feelin' good!!!"
I finished the last of the lyrics and watched as the crowd clapped, but it wasn't long before an explosion from across the street sent everyone into a panic. I stood frozen as Salazar placed his top hat back on his head and laughed.
"Hello Amelia dearest! How are you?" He casually asked as people ran for their life. I took no time to drop my instrument and grab Lottie's hand and ran.
~*~
Amelia raced around a corner with Lottie in tow right on her ass. Once turning a corner on a specific dusty red-bricked house, they paused to catch their breath.
"Dear Pewdiepie, why the hell does Howl have to be right?!" Amelia groaned at herself. How could she be so blinded by emotions as to go where she could be put in danger?
Downsides of being a woman.
"Oh Amelia! Why do you always hide from me? I'm not going to hurt you." Salazar called out, though, he knew exactly where she was.
Amelia's breath hitched as she silently urged Lottie away.
Following once checking the coast was clear.
Howl stayed sitting in his chair for quite a long time after Amelia's exit from the house.
Thoughts swirling inside his brain; was she alright? Where would she go? Why didn't he stop her?
"She needs you, Howl." Calcifer tried to reason with the wizard. "If you're feeling the way I think you are, then you won't let that bastard touch her."
"She's not her though." Howl mumbled sadly through his lips.
Now, wether he was just fed up with Howl, or the fact that he could not reach over enough to slap him, Calcifer took the nearest hot coals near his log and threw them up and out towards Howl.
"That's enough!" Calcifer spit out smoke from his red fiery lips and looked the wizard in the eye. "I hate to break it to ya, but Sophie's been dead for quite sometime. She loved you Howl, I can understand, but you've got to move on! Would you want her to act this way if you died?"
"No. I'd tell her to move on." Howl realized how much like a hypocrite he sounded, and buried his head harder into his hands. "God. I really am an idiot."
"You've got that right." Calcifer spat; satisfied that he was victorious. "Now get dressed into something appropriate and save that girl's ass.
Howl couldn't help but smirk as he bounded up the stairs two at a time and raced into his hurricane-trashed room to find suitable clothes. Finally deciding on boots and black leggings with a navy button-up shirt. He heard a cry from downstairs just as he grabbed the patchwork coat.
"Michael?!" Howl called downstairs. No one answered, and Howl ran a hand anxiously through his raven hair.
"Howl... You may wanna look at this..." Michael's voice seemed a devoid of life; monotonous and frightened.
Howl raced down the stairs to his apprentice.
Howl stood shocked at the wall.
Then, Howl raced from the castle; a fearful look in his eyes as he slammed the door closed.
Because on the wall, scrolled in chilling red blood, were the words:
I've won again, Howl!
I've got your Amelia Starr!
Ha...heh...don't look at me like that!! You knew this was gonna happen sooner or later!! XC so Calcifer kept getting auto-corrected to Calciferol.
And hey, my FMA fanfics are now in a contest, so I'd be cool if you to go and vote for my stories~
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~ Saturnthehero
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