One Question: How the Heck did I get into the World of Howl's Moving Castle?
Chapter 2
A/N: Hey guys! Second chapter finally! I actually finished writing this a wile ago but my computer was being a jerk so I couldn't publish it until now. And also, thanks so much for the reviews! I really appreciate them. And a special thanks to my friends Heze-chan, Ketsu-chan, and Jaxi-chan for everything. Love you guys! Ok. You poor people have heard me babble enough! On with the story!
I groaned. The swimming sensation in my head was almost unbearable. I rolled over and felt rough wooden floorboards under my palm and cheek. That probably should have struck me as odd considering my room was carpeted but I was still only half conscious at the time. It took me about five more minutes until my head actually cleared up enough for me to process this. Finally becoming aware of the difference in my surroundings my eyes snapped open in shock and I jolted into sitting position. I sat there, frozen for a long moment as my mind raced through my sudden awareness.
After realizing I was no longer in my home, and dismissing the idea that I was dreaming, (my dreams are always extremely vivid but I always know somewhere in the back of my conscious that I'm asleep), my first thought was kidnapped. At that possibility I once again froze and felt my mind reel. Then, very slowly and silently I stood up and looked around. The room seemed oddly furnished for a hostage room. It was simple, with only a small carved and painted table, two matching chairs, and a few shelves laden with oddly shaped glass jars holding who-knows-what. Quite different from the cold basement I would have imagined. Although there was quite a number of cobwebs and plenty of dust. Also, there was a window. The curtains made of some light fabric were closed hiding whatever it viewed. That's defiantly weird. I'd read enough books (book worm that I am) to wonder at why the captor would put his hostage in a room with an escape rout. Where was I? I tentatively pushed the curtain aside but saw only shutters blocking my line of sight. Frowning, I closed them and slowly walked over to the door. I stared at it questioningly. Surely it was locked. I pushed lightly and despite its appearance of heavy oaken wood, it swung open easily. By now the theory of kidnapping was becoming pretty unlikely. Besides, I thought as I passed through the doorway, I would have noticed someone in my room.
I had been in my room for almost an hour before… well honestly that was the question. Before what exactly? I doubt I was snuck up on and hit on the head because for one thing there was no bump or bruise anywhere. Only the now faint remains of a headache. And two, the door to my room had been closed and it always creaked annoyingly when opened. I shut my eyes against the pang of being lost. No time for that.
I opened my eyes and saw that I was in a very short whitewashed hallway with a domed ceiling. At my left was a skinny brown-grey door which looked like a broom closet. I lifted the latch of it and felt the coolness of the metal press into my skin. I peered inside and felt the tickle of dust in my nose. Nothing much in there. A few old looking coats or cloak or whatever hung on wooden pegs on the wall, a broom, a bucket, some cracked leather boots (who would wear those things) and some other indistinguishable items in a corner. I quickly shut the door before the onslaught of dust made me sneeze.
Continuing on, a little braver, I came into the next room and stopped short. Right in front of me was a large picture window. Unlike the window in the room I had awoken in, its curtains were drawn back and the window thrown open so that the breeze flew in freely, along with the sweet smell of field grass, the sound of clanking and metallic scraping slammed into me with force enough to knock the breath out of me as the realization of where I was finally came at the same instance the mechanical castle stepped out of the fog, blowing up puffs of steam and smoke as it hobbled along. If I had known, would I still have drawn that picture?
A/N: Yay! Done with the 2nd chapter! PLEASE review people! And if you have any comments about or for the story send me a PM or leave it in a review. Thanks for reading!