So I know I said this would be the last chapter but a new idea sparked and I re-wrote most of this chapter before posting it so there might be another or five more, who knows with me? I'm not aiming for a double figure chapter story though so deep breath of relief!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything as you all know by now :)

xxx

Silhouette now shadow of the past?

Howard recovered from his shock quickly and bit back the anger he felt bubbling inside him, checking the shop door was locked he quickly scooped his best friend up in his arms and carried him up the stairs. He lay him down on the carpet and flung back the duvet cover on the sofa only to reveal a bunch of cushions innocently imitating Vince's body. Howard shut his eyes and rubbed them vigourously then hauled the cushions onto the floor, straightened the duvet back out on the sofa and pulled Vince onto it putting one of the cushions under his head.

He flicked the light on in the flat and went to quickly retrieve the black bag he had seen along with the frying pan. He took a few moments to examine the shop and the things on sale in the shelves, half of it he didn't recognise. He stuffed a torch and bottle he had found into the bag and plunged the shop into darkness.

With the bag hidden and Vince comfortable on the sofa, he sat and waited for him to come round while keeping an eye on the time.

-

Colours and shapes swirled in the darkness in front of him, his eyes felt a little sore and his head was thumping painfully. A sudden dizziness washed over him as he touched a hand to his temple then quickly snatched it away, he opened his eyes a little and found himself starring up at a ceiling blinded by the bright lights. He looked around and didn't recognise his surroundings. He sat up gently trying to avoid more dizzy nausea and glanced around the room he was in, he was lay on a sofa in a flat and on the coffee table in front of him was an empty mug and a wrist watch.

A kettle boiled behind him and the sound of another mug being slammed onto a counter rung in his ears, he swallowed hard and felt his heart rate quicken. His sweating fingers subconsciously gripped the duvet cover he was lying on creating creases in the fabric. He didn't dare turn round and peer over the sofa, instead he kept his breathing shallow trying not to panic and let his head flop back down onto the lumpy cushion. He listened carefully to the noises coming from the kitchen and winced every time something was slammed or dropped.

The tinkling of a teaspoon against a full mug of what smelt like coffee signalled he was no longer safe from whoever was behind him. He swallowed hard and took a deep breath holding it in as someone approached the coffee table and sat down heavily upon it letting the beverage slosh over the sides as it was slammed onto the wood.

Vince eyed the man who sat down opposite him, he seemed to glare at him with such anger and hurt which made Vince back away as much as he could into the sofa. He swallowed hard trying to clear his dry throat then spoke, "Uhm...Wh-"

"Don't even begin to apologise!" The man began cutting him short, shocking him a little "What the hell were you doing down there in the shop?"

"What shop?"

"Don't play dumb with me! I caught you in the shop stealing money!"

"What are you talking about? Who the hell are you?" Vince's voice quivered as it rose in volume, the man looked taken aback.

"What do you mean who am I?"

"It's a simple enough question isn't it? Who are you? And where am I?" The man didn't reply, instead a slam of a door below broke the silence making him jump suddenly and get up off the table as though he had had a shock.

"Just stay there." The man backed away and hurried down the stairs where a conversation broke out, Vince sat propped up on his elbows and listened but he didn't recognise the voices. He glanced about the room he was in but none of it seemed familiar, he dropped his head back down onto the cushion as he heard footsteps on the stairs. His fingers gripped at the duvet again scrunching the fabric up into balls in his sweating palms.

"He says he can't remember a thing." The first man finished as he reached the top of the stairs with a small man dressed in colourful robes and a gorilla behind them. Vince's eyes widened at the large animal that seemed completely normal to the other two men.

"What the hell?" He muttered without releasing his vice like grip on the duvet.

"Alright Vince?" The small man asked not moving from his place at the stairs.

"How do you know my name?" The man's brow creased as he approached and sat on the coffee table, he starred at Vince with hawk like eyes "Who are you?"

"My name's Naboo. This is Howard, " He motioned to the first man "And this is Bollo." And to the gorrila.

"You can't keep a gorilla in a house."

"I can." Naboo replied still starring at him, "Lift your head up a second." Vince obeyed and steadily lifted his painful thumping head to reveal the purple bruise formed on his temple "Ouch, you're a psycho with the frying pan Howard."

"What?" Vince sat upright from the sofa and glared at the man they called Howard "You smashed me on the head with a frying pan? When? What the hell for? And where am I?" He cried leaping to his feet but Naboo was faster and pushed him back down with ease.

"Shut up Vince, you're in the flat you live in you ball bag. You're lucky I'm not gonna fire you for stealin' from the shop and the other places."

"Lucky?" Howard cut in before Vince had a chance.

"Yeah, Howard he was cursed by something. I don't know what but there's definitely a trace of a curse in him and when you smashed him over the head you broke the curse."

"Why can't he remember anything then?"

"Because you broke the curse in the wrong way you jerk off. You handled it violently, you're supposed to lift them gently with spells. A blow to the head works just as well but has bad consequences."

"Yeah, I can see that Naboo. Can you fix his memory?"

"I'll see what I can do, but first..." Naboo leant towards Vince and lay his fingers on his temples careful not to put pressure on the bruise.

"What the hell are you doing? Get off me! I don't even know who you are! Let me go, why did you kidnap-" Vince's eyes closed and his head fell limp into Naboo's hands who lay him down on the cushion gently.

"What did you do?" Howard asked quickly while sorting his best friend's legs out by placing them onto the sofa.

"He's asleep."

"Why did you do that?"

"Because he was doin' my head in." Naboo shrugged and ordered Bollo to follow him into their room.

"Well hang on, what are you gonna do? What should I do?"

"Make sure he doesn't wake up and if he does keep him clam. Don't let him leave the house, I'll probably be finished by the time he wakes up anyway. I have to find a cure for amnesia now." The bedroom of the Shaman shut quickly leaving Howard in the silence of the flat, he sighed and grabbed his empty mug to make another coffee.