2 We Need Your Face

I felt uneasy as this stranger pulled me out of the subway station and we're back to see the main road once again.

My eyes would shift on his hand, then on his broad back facing me now, then back to his hand again. I am still holding my trolley bag in my other hand.

What is actually happening around here? What does he need from me anyway? Could it be that he's a member of that famous syndicate who sells girls abroad? Or is he a part of a black organization and would want me to be a part of their sketchy group?

There is no freaking way I would involve myself in those kinds of illegal activities.

Gathering all my courage and willpower altogether, I suddenly decided to bite his hand which caused him to let go of me easily and waved it off.

"Why did you do that for--- hey! Come back here!"

I heard him scream from behind as soon as I started running away from him with this stupid heavy trolley bag right behind me. Knowing that he still chases after me, I ran as fast as I can until I reached the marketplace of Citadel.

Tears started rolling down my cheeks as I was thinking of all the unfortunate things that happened to me this day. First I was unable to find a cheap place to rent, then I got robbed, and then this?

Could this day get even worse?!

Geez, I know I shouldn't have stolen my mom's savings and ran away! All of the things happening to me right now are a product of karma!

I unconsciously turned my head to my right and found a dark alley with wooden boxes piled together and where there are no people lurking.

As soon as I made sure that the guy is nowhere to be found, I went for a right turn and swiftly ran my way towards this dark alley. Just to make sure, I've hidden behind these wooden boxes.

Beads of sweat started to emerge from my forehead but I managed to wipe it off with my free hand. I took my time to catch my breath first before heaving out a sigh that I've been holding on to for hours now.

"There you are!"

What the--?!

I suddenly let out a shriek when I saw that same stranger earlier now standing in front of me... like he just magically appeared out of nowhere.

Is he a wizard too?

Well, okay enough of that stupid thought. I need to think of a way to outrun this suspicious stranger.

"Do you really think you could run away from me?" I heard him say.

What to do... what to do...what to do--

AHA!

I tried to concentrate and tried to remember the very first and only spell that I've learned from my father's wizard book, which I stole by the way and is placed now inside my backpack.

If I could just succeed with this spell, I could get out of this mess and be teleported to whatever place just to be away from here.

And now... I shut my eyes and tried to concentrate while I chant the said spell.

"Transportium Nextorbitorium!"

The moment I opened my eyes once again, I saw the stranger was now gone from my sight. My eyes went round and my hands flew over to my mouth as I jumped up and down like a retarded kid.

"Oh my gosh, I did it! I lost him! Haha!"

I was still jumping up and down as I uttered these words like a seven-year-old kid would do.

"Says who?"

My forehead wrinkled as I heard that familiar husky voice of the stranger right behind me. And that's when I realized that I just teleported a few inches away from him, but I'm still in this same dark alley which I chose to hide earlier.

I let out a frustrating sigh while my right hand voluntarily smacked my forehead when realization dawned upon me

Oof, time to escape now.

I was just about to run away from him again when I heard him chant a spell.

"Prohibere Obstupefacio!"

In an instant, I felt my body froze all of a sudden. I tried to move even just my right hand, but I can't.

What the heck, is this a freezing spell he used on me? Why you little son---

"Geez. I'm all tired of that running you made me do earlier, so might as well freeze you to your place," he says before I could feel his strong arms scooping me from my place and carrying me just like how you carry a sack of rice!

I wanted to shout for help so that other people around this market would be aware that I am now being kidnapped by this stranger. Yet even if I wanted to, my mouth was frozen as well, thus preventing me from talking.

Where does he think he would be taking me to?!

In the end, I can't do anything else but accept my defeat. I mentally heaved out a sigh and said my farewell in advance.

Mom... dad... sorry if I failed you and didn't become a wizard-like I was hoping to become.

I'm sorry mom for stealing your savings, I'm sorry brother for stealing your home-made melon bread earlier.

I'm sorry family... for running away from home.

See you soon, dad... I guess... but I hope not too soon.

"We're here."

While I was busy uttering my farewells to each of my family, I heard again that same voice of my kidnapper. Only my eyeballs could move after he struck me with his freezing spell earlier, so when I looked up to know where that 'here' he's referring to, I was quite stunned to see a beautiful castle standing majestically in front of us.

Holy cow! I was actually imagining earlier to be brought in an abandoned building, or something like that. But what are we freaking doing in a castle right now?!

"You're heavy, from someone who's small as you." I heard him comment before walking once again.

That's because of my bags, you idiot! If I can just only move now, I would love to swing this trolley bag right at your face!

As soon as the guards opened up the enormous doors of the castle, this kidnapper of mine hurriedly went inside it. After that, the doors were closed once again.

I marveled in awe to see the expensive-looking furniture placed at the grand lobby of the castle, with a luxurious-looking chandelier made of silver with several branches stretching forth from its body which holds several bulbs in it, giving light to the whole room.

However, I wasn't able to completely scrutinize the whole place when this guy quickly passed through it and brought me into a spacious room where a long, rectangular wooden table stood in the middle of the room, with several chairs placed on the sides.

At last, this stranger placed me back on my feet and cast a spell to let me move once again.

As soon as I was able to move, I accusingly pointed my right index finger at him and shouted at the top of my lungs.

"Why did you kidnap me for? My family is not that rich to pay you the ransom you'll be asking, nor they even know that I am here! I'm supposed to be finding a place to stay before school starts tomorrow. And what are we doing in a CASTLE by the way?!" I shouted in one breath.

"You're annoying. Would you like to be frozen once again?"

This guy arched one eyebrow as he looked at me.

"Why you--"

I was about to curse this moron when we heard the loud creaking of the door behind us, which caused our heads to automatically turn around to see who it was. My forehead instantly creased upon seeing two unfamiliar personas entering this room.

One is a tall looking lad as well with long wavy hair dyed in a yellowish-gold color but has manly features in his face and body and captivating aqua blue almond-shaped eyes. Judging by his looks, I think he's in his twenties or thirties. I'm not sure though.

The other one is also a teenage boy that I think is about my age, who's also quite tall, has curly undercut ebony black hair with a round face, strong and well-defined jaw, hooded hazel brown eyes, and red lips which are now pressed together.

"Alex! What's with all this fuss going around here?" I heard the tall guy with long wavy hair speak for the very first time.

"And I thought you've already gone for your meeting with the chief of Citrus Town?" The other teenage boy added.

"Well, as you can see, I've run into something... unexpected." the kidnapper said and scratched the back of his neck.

That's the time that both of these new faces looked at me at the same time. The moment they laid their eyes on me, I've seen both of their reactions turned into a bewildered one, just like what I saw from my kidnapper earlier.

"Alex... where did you find this girl?" asked the long wavy-haired guy in awe.

"Down on the subway station." he immediately replied.

I blankly stared at them when I noticed all three of them started to speak in hushed voices.

Well, hello? I'm still here! And I still don't have any single clue as to why I'm here in the first place!

Later on, the long wavy-haired guy turned to me once again with a smile plastered on his face, emitting some friendly aura within him.

"Forgive us for what our friend here may have done to you. I am Lancelot, the archbishop of Citadel," he said.

Then I saw his hands pointing at the guy who brought me here.

"Then this is Alex, the captain of the magic army... and this is Lucas, one of the royal high counselors."

And finally, his hands pointed at this curly guy in front of me who waved at me in return.

W-w-wait, aren't these guys the same age as mine? Or maybe one to two years older than me? How come they have such high responsibilities... for their age?

"The whole country of Gilead is experiencing a crisis right now upon the disappearance of our prince and master wizard Prince Arthur Spellman. I'm afraid that without his presence in the country, our enemies would take that opportunity to invade Gilead."

My hands flew over to my mouth upon hearing his words. I just got here for heaven's sake! I can't afford to let the whole country fall into its enemies' hands!

"Thus we will be asking for your help, miss...?"

The guy paused for a moment and waited for me to introduce myself.

"Krisella," I replied.

"Miss Krisella, we will be asking for your help in order for us to solve this crisis... by pretending to be Gilead's prince and master wizard." the guy continued.

I gave them a questioning look. What the heck did I just hear?

"Wait, what? What are you all saying?! I can't pretend to be someone I'm not!" I said in disbelief.

"In other words to what Lancelot here is saying..." that curly-haired guy named Lucas decided to chime in.

His hooded eyes stared at me for a split second before he continued.

"...we will need your face."