Authoress: Hello! I've finally done this chappy! Whew…sorry for the long wait, to compensate that, I've made this chappy longer. Haha, hope you like it! And I just wanna say thanx to all of you for your support, and for those of you who reviewed, Arigatou! I appreciate it lots!
Chapter 5
Sophie paraded in front of her friend-Naomi, clad in a simple yellow sundress and a straw hat.
"Hmm…a little too childish I think…" Naomi quipped. Digging around in her bag, Naomi tossed Sophie a short black mini skirt and a red tube, "Try this."
"This skirt is too damn short; I don't think I can sit down in this." Sophie said, as she tugged at the mini skirt uncomfortably.
"I agree. You look like a slut in that, not the impression you want to give the Prince…go change into this." Naomi said, as she tossed yet another outfit at Sophie.
Sophie sighed in frustration. "What's the big deal with clothes anyway?"
"What's the big deal you say! Girl! You have a date with the Prince, not some Tom, Dick or Harry on the streets; it's a date with the Prince!" Naomi cried, accentuating her point with wide gestures whenever she said the word prince.
"So?" Sophie replied with a shrug. "Big deal."
"It is a big deal! He's royalty, you have definitely got to dress to impress!" Naomi said it in a 'isn't it obvious tone.'
"Like I care." Sophie retorted.
"What? How can you not care? Any girl who is half sane would care!"
Sophie merely shrugged.
"Now, go change! I must find the perfect outfit for you even if it kills me!" Naomi said; a determined gleam in her eyes.
'Boy do I hate that look. Now I'm DOOMED!' Sophie thought miserably.
Finally, after grueling hours of torture under the fashion slave-driver, a.k.a Naomi; Sophie had her 'perfect outfit.' Not that she's complaining, in fact she quite like it. Her outfit consisted of a cool pink jacket and light blue jeans both of which were adorned with silver buckles and zippers.
'Naomi did find me a great outfit; even though she took hours to get it right…This looks cool! Yup. Cool is definitely the word for it. Plus it has lots of pockets for me to carry my needles in, Heheh…'
The day of the DATE…
"Ding Dong…"
'Must be the Prince, he sure is punctual…' Sophie thought cynically after a glance at her wall clock.
"Lady Sophie, you sure don't disappoint a man…you look stunning in that outfit, not exactly what I had in mind, but great nonetheless." Prince Justin said, before presenting her with a bouquet of roses.
"Erm, thanks…" Sophie said, as she took the bunch and set it on a small coffee table.
"Shall we…" Justin said, as he took a hold of Sophie's hand.
"Whatever…" Sophie replied noncommittally.
And the two head out to the awaiting limo.
"You sure do travel in style now don't you…?" Sophie remarked, as she took in the plush interior of their transport.
"Well…this is not my usual choice of cars, but for a first date with someone as special as you, I'm pulling out all the stops as they call it." Justin said with a wink.
"Oh really…so you mean to say that you don't use this much? As if I'll believe that." Sophie scoffed.
"I prefer to tone things down; after all, if you drive around in a limo, you are bound to catch lots of attention…unwanted attention…" Justin said the last part darkly.
Sophie decided to leave it at that, preferring to meddle with the buttons on the limo to check out the various functions available, such as the mini fridge and built-in theater system.
"We are here…" Justin said, as the chauffeur opened the door.
"Winter Wonderland..." Sophie read off the sign. "This place is not opened yet right? I heard it will be opening soon…I think next week, so why are we here?"
Justin grinned. "You will be the first to see this place, come on, the entrance's this way."
"Huh? What do you mean? Isn't it closed?"
"It is, closed to public that is…but since I own this, it's no problem." Justin said, flashing Sophie a lop-sided grin.
"Cool!" Sophie grinned, following after Justin enthusiastically.
Meanwhile…Howl had been tailing them…in the form of a raven, and is now perched atop a tree branch watching their exchange with narrowed eyes.
'Damn that Prince, and how dare he hold Sophie's hand AGAIN!'
The couple entered the snowy world.
"Put this on," Justin said, as he wrapped a coat around Sophie's shoulders. "It is cold in there, and I don't want to make my date ill, it will reflect badly on me." He said with a smile.
"Thanks." Sophie blushed.
Howl seethed, as he took in the exchange, this time disguised as a common housefly.
"Not bad…not bad at all…" Sophie said.
"Thank you for the compliment." Justin said with a mock bow.
Sophie merely rolled her eyes, getting some-what used to his antics.
"Would my lady like to take on the ice slide, it is pretty high, and if you are scared, you can always cling onto me." Justin wiggled his eyebrows.
"As if. It would take a whole lot more to scare me, 'cause I don't scare easy." Sophie scoffed, as she took the steps up to the top of the slide.
"If you say so, but the offer is still open if you change your mind half-way down the slide." Justin said, as he got on the bubble tube, followed by Sophie.
"Hah! See, I didn't cling onto you at all. Told you I wasn't afraid."
"A pity…but you are scared now aren't you? I heard you yip at the start." Justin teased.
"I was just a little surprised that's all, I'm definitely not scared."
"Whatever you say fair Sophie…"
"Hey! I'm really not scared, and to prove it I'll go on it again; alone."
"No need to get so worked up over it, I was just teasing."
"Fine. But I still want to have another go at it, it's kinda fun!" Sophie grinned.
Justin grinned right back, and the two made their way up the flight of steps again.
Howl growled. 'They seem to be enjoying themselves lots…hmm…let's see how they do with a little interference…' Howl thought mischievously. With that thought, Howl muttered a simple spell and directed it at the Prince.
Alas he missed, and managed to hit Sophie instead.
Sophie lost her footing at the next step, tipping backwards.
'What the...' Sophie thought, preparing herself for the fall.
But the fall never came, as Sophie found herself in the arms of Prince Justin.
"Got you." Justin said with a charming smile.
Sophie blushed, as she tried to right herself, saying a hurried thanks.
"Aww…just a thanks for saving you from your imminent death? I deserve a kiss at the very least."
"In your dreams." Sophie shot back.
"Ah well, I figured it won't be easy getting a kiss from you, but I guess that's what I like about you." Justin said, rubbing the back of his head.
"You got that right." Sophie said.
"Well, couldn't blame a guy for trying."
'Argh…I can't believe my plan backfired. Damn! But I'll put a stop to this date yet…' Howl thought, opting to observe the two for the time being until another opening presents itself, or rather another brilliant plan to hit him.
"Not bad, you even have an ice-skating rink here." Sophie said.
"I take it that the fair lady likes to ice-skate." Justin said with a tilt of his head.
"Ice-skate? Well I guess you can call it that…but I prefer it with a slight twist." Sophie said with a wink, opening up more to the Prince as the time passes.
"Interesting…it will be a great honor for me to witness this form of ice-skating…" Justin said, with a sparkle in his eyes.
"Unfortunately, I couldn't show it to you." Sophie smirked.
Justin raised his eyebrows, "why?"
"The music." Was Sophie's simple reply.
"I see." Justin smirked, and proceeded to say something into the nearby intercom.
Within seconds the slow piano piece has been replaced by an upbeat techno one.
"Is this to your satisfaction dear Sophie?"
"I guess that would do." Sophie said, although she was secretly impressed that the Prince knew what she had wanted without further specifications.
With a tilt of her head, Sophie was out on the ice. She glided easily on ice, her movements graceful yet forceful. She did three consecutive spin offs all of the times landing perfectly, followed closely with back flips. She picked up her tempo then, going into a series of leaps and turns, as you watch, her movements slowly started to form into some sort of dance, a mixture of gymnastic, salsa, jazz, and an occasional dash of tap dance. It was a truly mesmerizing display.
Sophie finished off as the song drew to an end, panting from all her exertions; she skated to the edge of the rink, and started to untie her skates. Completely oblivious to the admiring looks she's receiving; one from the prince, and the other from a certain 'housefly'.
After a while, Prince Justin seemed to have regained his senses and he strode over to Sophie. Sensing his presence over her, Sophie stood up.
Justin looked at Sophie, he smiled.
He still smiled.
The smile never faded.
Sophie is getting ticked.
Silence…
He smiled.
Her eyebrows twitched.
Finally, Sophie burst out. "What's up with that stupid smile of yours!"
"I believe you've dropped something" Justin said.
"What?" Sophie asked, looking about the ground.
"My jaw." Justin smirked.
Sophie slapped a hand to her forehead and rolled her eyes.
"Hehe…I've wanted to say that for so long, now I finally get to do it." Justin grinned.
"Whatever." Sophie said, as she went off ahead.
'This is the Prince…now; I'm starting to worry for the county's future…' Sophie thought
'With due reason indeed my sweet.'
'What the hell?'
'Miss me much?'
'Yea, as much as an ingrown toenail…'
'Ouch. You have such 'sharp' thoughts, hurt me real bad there.'
'Oh really…too bad those don't translate to real physical pain.'
'You are biased, my sweet.'
'And you are out of point Howl.'
'I'm not 'out of point' I just feel you treat HIM better than me.'
'Well…too bad! Who asked you to be so damn insufferable all the time.'
'Really?'
'Woo hoo…you finally get the point.'
'Which part of me is insufferable my sweet?'
'Hmm…let's see… how about all!'
'That bad?'
'You always keep invading my mind as and when you feel like it, and you are a sadist!'
'Ahh…but I do believe you like that.'
'I seriously am beginning to think that a single celled amoeba has more brains than you…'
Before Howl could reply to that, the prince went over to Sophie and started to drag her towards the ice-sculptures.
'The prince again! I must end this date real soon! Ahh…why didn't I think of this earlier…' Howl thought to himself.
"I'm terribly sorry Sophie; I'll make it up to you tomorrow I promise." Justin said, as he escorted her to her door.
"It's ok, I was getting tired anyway. Besides it's not your fault." Sophie said, 'It's all Howl's doing if anything…' Sophie thought.
"But I insist, and do dress up for the date tomorrow; I'll pick you up at six." Justin said, placing a soft kiss on Sophie's hand.
Once the Prince left, Sophie spoke aloud. "I know you are here Howl, so why don't you show yourself."
"Why my sweet, how did you know?" Howl asked, slightly surprised, as he morphed back to human form.
"And I also know you are the one who cut off the electricity." Sophie stated.
"I'm appalled that you think so poorly of me my sweet…"
"Cut the act."
"You know the wires could have tripped you know."
"Yea, but I doubt that."
"Why's that?" Howl asked oh-so-innocently.
"Let's just call it women's intuition."
"Still, I'm not going to admit to that." Howl smirked.
"I figured as much…well then, I'm tired; see you…or not…" Sophie said, as she strode into her bedroom.
"I love you too." Howl called back with a smirk.
The next DATE…
Sophie sat across from the prince, this time dressed in a simple black sleeveless evening gown. They are currently having dinner at a fancy French restaurant.
"Is it just me or is this place deserted?" Sophie commented, looking around the empty restaurant.
"Well, that is to be expected since I booked the entire place for the evening." Justin replied.
"Why?" Sophie asked with raised eyebrows.
"For various reasons." Justin said vaguely.
"I see…" Sophie said, sensing his reluctance to go into detail.
"So, what do you like to do in your free time?" Justin asked, while they ate.
"Me? Half the time I'm out on missions, and the other half I'll be sleeping…and whatever time that remains, I'll probably be at the hat shop keeping up my cover."
"You sure are busy Sophie."
"You are one to talk, as the future heir to the country, I'm sure you are plenty busy."
"At times…yes. But, I do get breaks." Justin smiled.
"Yea, self-proclaimed ones." Sophie said sarcastically.
"Well, you know what they say, all work and no play make Justin a dull prince…"
"Yea, yea, whatever to ease your guilt."
"Why, I have no need for guilt dear Sophie."
"You feel no guilt…now that's worst."
"Are you teasing me now..."
Sophie merely smiled, and looked to the side.
Justin shook his head good-naturedly.
Sophie happens to be looking out of the glass windows.
Justin is cutting up his steak.
Sophie squinted at something outside the window.
Justin looked from his food at Sophie.
Sophie squinted some more.
Justin turned to look at what caught Sophie attention.
"Oh My God!" Justin exclaimed, eyes widening in horror.
"What's wrong?" Sophie asked.
"This is bad, very bad…" Justin muttered gravely.
"What is?" Sophie asked, getting more and more confused.
"That." Justin said, looking purposefully at the crowd of females gathered outside the restaurant.
"Are they your ex-girlfriends and wives?" Sophie joked.
"No. Worst…they are my fan club…"
"Fan club?" Sophie echoed.
"Exactly, and they are horrible… We got to leave quickly before more of them arrive." Justin said urgently, as he pulled Sophie out of the chair.
"Hmm…I never knew you had a fan club, besides how bad could they be." Sophie said.
"You do not want to know that." Justin said seriously, as he dragged Sophie to the back door of the restaurant.
Pushing open the small humble-looking back door, the pair was greeted by a chorus of screams.
"Oh no…" Justin muttered dismayed.
"I thought Banshees are part of myths and legends; didn't think I'll meet them in real life…" Sophie said sarcastically, as she rubbed at her abused ears.
"Ahhh! Justin! I love you!" A blue eyed blonde haired fan girl cried.
"Marry me Justin!" A redhead screamed.
Followed by more and more screams and shrieks along those lines…
Sophie sweat dropped.
Justin was…
"Are you alright? You look kinda scared there." Sophie asked.
"M-me? I'm not scared, just very very awake all of a sudden…" Justin said lamely.
Just then, the horde of girls seemed to surge forward, a weird glint in their eyes, and mad smiles all over.
"Oh no…those girls are going to suffocate me, tear me apart, and gnaw on my bones…good lord save me!" Justin cried.
"Go join the theatres." Sophie remarked.
"You know what, I was just about to do that; I think theatrics is my calling." Justin said, starry-eyed.
"Yea, yea, go right ahead and do that…if you survive this that is." Sophie said, nodding purposefully at the nearing crowd of fan girls.
"Heavens! They ARE nearing. Think! I need to think of a plan, a really good plan…any suggestions Sophie?"
"I would say run, but it seems that we are cornered…"
"Ah yes, like mice we are cornered, hunted by the ferocious cats…hmm…that don't sound quite right, maybe it would sound better if I said…"
Sophie interrupted his babbling with a rough tug of his shirt, "Hell! We are in the middle of a crisis here Shakespeare! So, stop blabbering pointless things!"
"Good point Sophie, I think I have a plan, but I'll need your help."
Sophie nodded.
"Good evening lovely ladies, so good to see you all here!" Justin beamed.
The fan club sighed blissfully.
"I have an announcement to make…I'm engaged! And this beautiful lady here beside me is my fiancée." Justin said smoothly, wrapping an arm around Sophie's waist.
"What the hell! Are you crazy?" Sophie whispered urgently to Justin.
"Trust me on this one, and do smile." Justin whispered back, his smile never faltering.
"They look like they are ready to kill me!" Sophie said through her smile.
The fan girls glared at Sophie with murderous intent.
'If looks could kill, I'll be ten feet under…' Sophie thought cryptically.
"We don't believe you! How could an ugly bitch like her be your fiancée." The girls cried.
"What? You do not believe?" Justin asked.
The fan girls nodded.
"Kiss her if she's really your fiancée!" One of the girls chimed.
This was immediately followed by shouts of "Prove it! Kiss her!"
"I oblige." Justin smirked, turning to Sophie.
"What the hell do you think you are doing?" Sophie gritted out.
"You heard what the crowd wants didn't you?" Justin smirked.
"You can't be serious." Sophie deadpanned.
"Please? It's the only way to convince them after all." Justin said with puppy eyes and a slight pout.
'Damn! Talk about a tight spot…What the hell am I going to do? I don't want to get mobbed by those crazy fan girls…but only kissing Justin would convince them to leave us alone…damn! Should I?' Sophie thought desperately.
'Of course not!' a shout echoed in her mind out of the blue.
'What…Howl!'
'You are definitely not going to kiss him!'
'Then what do you suggest I do Einstein?'
'Leave it to me; I'll get you out of there.'
'You can do that?' Sophie thought relieved.
'Of course, what sort of knight I'll be if I can't save the damsel in distress?'
'I don't like the damsel in distress part, but I ain't going to complain, since you are helping…'
In a gush of wind, Sophie was lifted up into the sky and floated over to the park a distance away from the commotion.
"Hi there, my sweet." Howl smiled charmingly.
"Where's Justin?" Sophie asked.
"Back there." Howl replied, tilting his head at the crowd of girls.
"Why didn't you transport him out of there?" Sophie cried.
"Now, why would I transport my love rival out?" Howl deadpanned.
"B-but, you said you would." Sophie uttered.
"Ah…I said I'll get YOU out of there, didn't mention him now, did I?" Howl replied smugly.
"You…you…" Sophie sighed in frustration.
Howl smirked.
"Howl, please get him out. He is the prince after all." Sophie reasoned.
"I don't care." Howl replied nonchalantly.
"Damn! I would do it myself…if only I brought my needles…but, I guess I'll have to do it without them…" Sophie said, as she started towards the crowd of fan girls.
"You can't seriously be thinking of going back there my sweet." Howl said, grabbing a hold of Sophie's hand.
"You leave me with no choice, I can't leave Justin there." Sophie said firmly.
Howl sighed, "I guess you leave me no choice but to get HIM out."
In another gush of wind, Justin was floated over and away from the fan girls…
"Oh! Sophie! I was wondering where you were kidnapped to." Justin cried when he saw Sophie.
"Ahem! Kidnapped! For your information I just saved you." Howl interrupted.
"Really?" Justin asked slightly bewildered.
Sophie nodded emphatically.
"Oh! Why, thank you my good man and you are…?" Justin trailed off.
"Master sorcerer Howl." Howl said curtly.
"Oh, glad to be of your acquaintance Howl and thank you for your help earlier." Justin smiled and shook Howl's hand.
"It's nothing." Howl replied.
"I am still grateful; you don't know how scary those girls can be…you have just saved me from Hell itself." Justin said smiling widely.
"A pity…" Howl muttered.
"Did you say something?" Justin asked.
"Nothing of importance." Howl waved off.
"Nonetheless, I'll have to thank you properly." Justin said.
"I'll be thankful enough if you'll leave Sophie alone." Howl muttered, and was promptly elbowed in the ribs by Sophie.
"Ouch!" Howl cried.
"What happened?" Justin asked concerned.
"Ah…I just stub my toe on the ground…" Howl supplied lamely.
However, the prince seems to have bought it, and continued rambling on about the kinds of 'suitable rewards' for Howl.
'You are going out with a rambling fool my sweet…'
'You never stop invading my mind now, do you? And don't be rude Howl.'
'Just stating the facts my sweet...'
'Whatever…'
'By the way, you look stunning in that evening gown.'
'Yea right…'
'I mean it.'
'Whatever…'
'That's the second time you said that word you know.'
'Picking on my words again? Don't you have better things to do Howl?'
'Just a comment, my sweet, just a comment.'
'Whatever…'
'Ah…and that is the third time.'
'You are terribly, terribly, irritating Howl!'
'I am?'
'You are!'
'You sure?'
'Hell yes!'
'A 100 sure?'
'You are hopeless Howl.'
'How so?'
'I'm beginning to think that you are doing this on purpose.'
'You think?'
'Arrgh! That's it; get out of my mind Howl!'
'You look cute when you're mad.'
Howl smirked at Sophie.
Sophie glowered at Howl.
Justin still rambles on.
"Ahem! Prince Justin, you really don't have to get those expansive gifts you listed, all I ask for is for you to treat me to a meal, say sometime tomorrow?" Howl suggested.
"Well…I…sort of have plans arranged for tomorrow…" Justin trailed off.
"Ah…If that is the case it's ok, after all it's not necessary that you thank me, I merely saved your life…" Howl said, effectively, sending Justin on a guilt trip.
"No, I must thank you properly, it is only right. And tomorrow is fine, I'll just rearrange my plans." Justin stated.
"You don't have to if you can't." Howl said faking an understanding smile.
"It's perfectly alright. No worries." Justin said reassuringly.
"If you are certain…is lunch alright with you?" Howl asked.
"Y-yes it is." Justin said, nodding his head.
"See you then." Howl said.
"Yea, see you." Justin replied.
With that Howl disappeared.
Justin sent Sophie back, taking a long detour to throw the fan girls off.
"Terribly sorry my lady, I had to cut our date short again, and I might not get to see you tomorrow…but, I'll try." Justin apologized.
"Its fine, I understand." Sophie smiled, waving goodbye to the prince.
The next day, the prince and Howl met for lunch as planned, and Howl purposely took his time and even convinced the prince to visit the museum with him just to be sure that the prince would not have time left to go out on another date with Sophie. And so, Day 3 of the dating week ended. The dateless day.
The next day…
Ring, ring, ring…
"Nmm…hmpmmm…" Sophie mumbled incoherently.
"Good morning…" A deep baritone drifted from the receiver.
"Hmm…? Huh?" Sophie mumbled back in her half-asleep state.
"You sound really sexy in the morning, very sexy indeed, my sweet…"
Sophie blinked awake instantly, "You! Why the hell did you call me so early for Howl."
"Why, to hear that very Very sexy voice of yours my sweet…"
Sophie slammed the phone down.
Ring, ring, ring…
"Hello?" Sophie said into the phone.
"Ah…music to my ears my sweet…" Howl began, but was cut off mid-way when Sophie slammed down the receiver yet again.
Ring, ring, ring…
"Yes?" Sophie spoke warily into the phone.
"My swe…"
Bam! Down went the receiver again…
Ring, ring, ring…
Sophie ignored it.
Ring, ring, ring…
Sophie ignored it some more.
Ring, ring, ring…
"Arrgh! What the hell do you want Howl! You sure are hell bent on ruining my day! Not that it hasn't been ruined yet…"
"Well…I thought you would like to know about the latest developments in the murder cases…" Howl trailed off.
"The murder cases! Why didn't you say so earlier?" Sophie said.
"Ah…But you were too busy slamming the phone to listen to me now, weren't you?"
"You have the cheek to say that, when you are the one talking gibberish in the first place." Sophie shot back.
"It's just a compliment, my sweet…"
"No thank you. And what do you know about the murder cases?"
"You sure are straight to the point my sweet…"
"Yea, so stop wasting my time and tell me what you know!"
"Ok, there has been another victim…"
"…"
"You still there Sophie?"
Sophie nodded, but realized that Howl can't see her nod, and said a quick yes into the receiver.
"Meet me at the café near your house, and we can drive down to the crime scene from there." Howl said.
"Ok." Sophie replied.
After which Sophie proceeded to phone Justin to cancel their date this afternoon.
"Justin?"
"Yea?"
"Umm…Sophie here…"
"Oh! Sorry about yesterday, I hope you are not mad or anything, but I promise I'll make it up to you later, when we…"
But he was interrupted by a fit of coughs.
"Are you ok Sophie?" Justin asked, concerned.
"Erm…well…you see, I'm not really feeling very well, so…"
"Oh my…You better get some rest; I'll hold the plans back until you are feeling better, so don't worry about it."
"Thanks Justin; and I'm really sorry…" Sophie said sincerely, feeling guilty about her fake illness.
When Sophie got off the phone with Justin, she grabbed her coat and keys, and was out the door, speeding down the road to the café where she is to meet Howl.
"Welcome." The waitress greeted Sophie cheerily, "A table for one?"
"Umm…no, I'm meeting someone." Sophie replied, scanning the café for Howl.
Howl looked up then, and their eyes met for a moment, Sophie nodded once, and made her way over.
"Care for some toast?" Howl offered.
"I can't believe you can eat at a time like this…" Sophie said disparagingly.
"I need all the energy I can get." Howl replied simply.
"Yea and you are quite the hypocrite. The last time, you were so damn stuck on me not eating my fish and chips, and now here you are…and right before going to the crime scene too…"
"Ah…but I wasn't against you eating, just not that much." Howl pointed out.
"…" Sophie sat, miffed.
"Besides, I have a stronger stomach than you in any case…" Howl trailed of smugly.
"Why you…I ought to…"
Howl raised an eyebrow nonchalantly. "You'll what my sweet?"
"I'll…I'll…do something really really terrible to you." Sophie threatened.
"Ah…An apt threat it is indeed; you need to work on that." Howl said sarcastically.
"Well, I'll think of something later…and are you done with it yet?" Sophie asked impatiently, tapping her feet against the linoleum floors of the café.
"In a second my sweet…by the way, you need to work on your patience too…"
"I AM very patient as it is; you are just too damn freaking slow Howl!"
"I done." Howl smiled.
"Finally…" Sophie cried, as they made their way out of the café and towards Sophie's jeep.
After a two hour drive, they had arrived at Heks Dorp; meaning Witch Village, a name that had stuck through the centuries, and an apt name indeed, as the first inhabitants of the piece of land are witches.
The place reeks of magic, a constant tingle to one's senses; an ever-lasting aura, one that never wanes through time.
"Officer Brooks." Howl said, nodding his acknowledgement.
"Howl. Sophie." Brooks said, nodding to each in turn.
Sophie returned the favor with a smile upward twitch of her lips.
"Have a seat." Brooks said, waving them over to a small make-shift wooden table and a few haphazardly placed plastic foldable chairs, in the tent.
"Thanks." Sophie said, taking a seat.
"Coffee anyone?" Officer Brooks asked.
"No thanks, I'd very much prefer to go see the body instead." Sophie said.
"Body?" Brooks asked.
"Yea." Sophie affirmed.
"Didn't Howl tell you, there's no body; the victim had been sent to the hospital."
"She didn't die?" Sophie questioned.
Brooks nodded.
"Thank God…" Sophie whispered, and then something hit her… 'Grrr…that Howl, how dare he lie to me. There is no gruesome dead body to view; the victim lived, though I'm grateful for that, but that bastard made me skip breakfast! Breakfast! The most important meal of the day too!' Sophie thought darkly.
'Ah…you are mistaken my sweet, I did not lie to you, not at all.'
'You Liar!'
'No, I'm not.'
'Yes you are! You made me skip breakfast! You Jerk!'
'Hmm…but I didn't say that we are viewing any body, all I said was that there was another victim.'
'…'
'You assumed that there was a body my sweet…so I didn't lie.'
'Well…but you mad it sound like a dead body over the phone. You didn't have to sound so grim if the victim is alive!'
'However she is in critical condition, so it's not confirmed that she'll live.'
"She's in critical condition?" Sophie cried.
"Why yes, miss Sophie." Officer Brooks said; turning around from the side table he was carrying the thermos of coffee to.
"What are her chances of surviving?" Sophie asked.
"Nothing is certain as of yet…the doctors are doing their best, we can only hope and pray that she survives…" Books said
"Oh…" Sophie trailed.
"Yea, and of course if she survives, she'll be able to provide us with the valuable information and hopefully help us catch the one responsible." Brooks added.
"Well then, shall we proceed to the crime scene?" Howl suggested.
"Yes, this way." Brooks said, ushering them out the tent towards the forest.
They trudged deeper into the thicket, their footwear making squelching sounds as they make their way through the muddy soils of the forest. As they neared their destination, the trees seemed to have thinned out, or more accurately, ripped out by some massive creature of some sort. Men in blue milled around the place, looking for clues, all of them seemingly to be avoiding the area at the opposite end of the clearing.
From her distance, Sophie could see that that particular area was…messy, for lack of a better word to describe what she had just witnessed. It was blood-splattered, and makes one wonder at how anyone could have survived such an attack to their person. And there were trails of black threads all over the place, which upon closer inspection, proved to be writings similar to those found on the previous victims body.
Howl took the lead then, moving ahead of his two companions to the bloody scene.
"Stay back Miss Sophie, Howl needs to check the place for any magical traps and spells before we could enter." Brooks said.
Sophie watched as Howl started to mutter some foreign words and the clearing seemingly glowed, and the air grew thick, as a blanket of black mist started to rise up to the heavens.
'Ugh…can't breathe very well here, better move to some higher ground…' Sophie thought, sidestepping, as the black mist grew in intensity.
"Aaaaahhhh!" Sophie shrieked.
Authoress: Ok, people, chappy 5 finally done! I wasn't sure if it is a good chap, but I'd tried, just hope it doesn't disappoint. And I'm trying to end off this story soon, so till next time. And pls. make this author happy; push that purple button and REVIEW! Thanx! -