Zelda (2009)
5 - Terrorists"Holy Bejeebus." They had touched down behind one of the first houses; in its shadow Hilda had shrunk their brooms and now they walked into the main street. Walking was difficult, as the former asphalt road had apparently been turned upside down. "I dare say that Zelda's been here," Hilda remarked about the obvious. In places, remains of cars showed in the debris. Most streetlights lay on the ground, as if a giant hand had snapped them like matches. The street was silent in a way that was different from the normal night silence. Usually, William knew, there would be the occasional sound of a car driving, a radio or tv blaring. But now there was nothing but silence. "I think you're right," William said as they tried to make their way over the large lumps of road. "William, this is not going to work. We need our brooms, or we'll spend all night getting through this street." Now this was slightly exaggerated, but William had to agree that their progress now was minimal. He reached in his pocket, when somewhere a window on a higher floor of a house opened. "Hey," a voice said in a loud whisper, "are you two crazy? Get the hell off the street before she comes back." The window, in which there was no light, closed again quickly. Hilda reached in William's pocket, took out the small brooms and returned them to their original shape. Before William could act, she hopped on hers, flew up to the window and knocked on it. "Oh God," William groaned. The window opened only a slit. "Hey. Who are you talking about?", Hilda asked the invisible person in the house. "Dark haired woman, long hair, black lips, overdone necklace and a wide black dress on a broom?" "Yes. Do you know her?" The person inside the house did not seem to notice Hilda's mode of transport. "Yes, I do. Thanks. Any idea where she is?" The person inside the house noticed Hilda's mode of transport. "Fuck, you're one of them?" The window was slammed shut, but Hilda already had her wand in hand and kept the window open. "Calm down. We're the good ones." William had lifted up to the window also. "Yes, really. We're the good guys, believe us." A thud came from inside the room. "Sounds like someone fainted," William remarked. "I suggest we go inside and wait for whoever it is to wake up and tell us some more. No good in flying about without a clue." "Sometimes you say the most sensible things, William," Hilda grinned. She pushed the window open and they slipped into the room. There they found a man, a bed and a few chairs on the floor. -=-=- Charlie woke up. His first thoughts were of the strange vision he'd seen just before the lights went out. Two people on brooms, hanging outside his window. People like the raving mad woman who had torn up the city. He reached for his head, which still was in place. Somewhat of a reassurance. He did not recall getting onto his bed, but he was there. Opening his eyes, a curse escaped him. The two people he had seen were inside his bedroom! "Oh, he's awake," said Hilda. "That's good." Charlie wondered how that would be good, with the two so closeby. "Good morning, young man," said William. "Nice of you to join us." "How did you get in?", Charlie wanted to know. "Through the window," William pointed. "And now, if you can answer a few simple questions, we'll leave through that again and you'll have your peace again." "But-" Charlie gave up. "Who are you?" "We're the people who will try to get rid of the witch," William explained. "I'm a witch and he's wizard, and we want to get a move on," Hilda explained in her own way. "So tell us where the witch is who created all that havoc and we're off." The man on the bed had by then found a comfortable position in the corner where his bed touched the wall. He held his pillow in front of him, as a defense against this strange couple. "I know nothing. I don't know who you are talking about, I don't know where she is, and I did not see her yesterday either!" "Right," said Hilda. "So you know who we are talking about, you're scared out of your mind, and she's been here longer than one day. You're really helpful already." The wicked witch got to her feet and stood close to the bed, Charlie trying to cower into his corner even more. The concrete wall did not work with him. "Now just tell us what you know and we'll go. It is in everyone's interest." "She came here three days ago," Charlie blurted out, his eyes almost glued to the wand that had somehow appeared in the hand of the grey-haired woman. "No one knows her, she flew through the streets on a broom. Everyone thought it was a gimmick for a movie or so, until she screamed that she was going to take over this town. And there was no camera-crew. Day before yesterday she plowed over all the streets, as there were people following her in cars and on bikes. I tell you, she's crazy. And that is what I know. Can you go away now, please?" "We'll go. Do you have any idea where she usually is when she's not out?", William asked the man. "I'm not sure, but try O'Malley's pub," Charlie said. As he spoke, a loud noise from far away sounded through the still open window. Hilda looked at William. "That's her." They jumped on their brooms and chased out of the window, leaving Charlie shaking on his bed. "Why can't I just be drunk, like regular people," the man muttered. As Charlie lamented his situation, the witch and the wizard were already gaining altitude and looking around. From several places in the town large plumes of smoke billowed upwards to the clear sky. Zelda was not taking half measures to establish her presence. "We need to go up some more, William," Hilda said, "we're too low here." As they climbed even higher, a roaring noise caught William's attention. He looked around beneath them and saw a lonely tank plow through the beat-up street. "What kind of monster is that?", Hilda asked. She already had her wand in hand. "It is a military vehicle. They're hunting Zelda, no doubt," William said. "That? Against a witch? They're mad, like everyone here," the witch snorted. "Let's go tell them that." The sound of an explosion changed her mind. "Suck an elf! What was that? Zelda, no doubt," she answered her own question. "Sounds like it was over there," William pointed. A new pillar of smoke confirmed his feelings, so they set course for the latest place of havoc. William recognised the area where the explosion had been as they came closer. He knew this town fairly well. "Shopping centre," he said, as he took the lead. They arrived at a smoldering car-wreck. Smoke came from the burning tires. The magical couple landed their brooms on a piece of the road that was not completely upset and they had their wands in hand, scanning for the presence of the witch they were after. There was no sign of Zelda. There was, however, a sign that others were near. "Drop your weapons and put your hands over your heads!", an amplified voice boomed through the street. "Oh. Fabulous. Just what we need," William said as he threw protection around himself and his witch. At the end of the street was a kind of police car looking like a Land Rover. The voice came from a big loudspeaker mounted on the top. Hilda looked at the car and pointed her wand. "No, wait, let me try to talk sense into them," William warned her. "Useless," Hilda decided, but lowered her hand anyway. William enhanced his voice. "We're not the bad guys, we're here to capture the one who does this." "Drop your weapons and put your hands over your heads!", the amplified voice boomed through the street once again. "Hilda? You're right. There's just no respect for magical people." A short burst of gunfire, clearly warning shots, underlined his words. "Crappedy crap, you stop that," Hilda said, flicking her wand at the police vehicle. The gunfire stopped after a few seconds. "Come on, we have to talk sense into them." She extinguished the fire of the burning car and then flew off to the police car, William behind her. There were two policemen in the car. One of them was doing all he could to open the window. He had his weapon in his hand, William saw. The wizard cast a spell to the gun, which became too hot to handle. The police officer dropped it, his scream was even heard outside the car. Hilda and William got off their brooms. William opened the door, using magic as it was locked. "Gentlemen," he said, "I think we need a word." Two pairs of eyes stared at the magical couple. The policemen could not think of a word that could express their need. "There is a witch on the loose," Hilda said, not minding the stunned expression of the two men in the car. "We're here to try and grab her. It would be very convenient if you mind your own business and let us do what we're better equipped for. You'll just be in our way." "Now wait a minute, lady," the man not behind the wheel said. "Who do you think you are?" "I am Grimhilda, the wicked witch. And this is William, my wizard. Lady is okay for once, but usually people address me as honourable witch." "Honourable witch?" The man behind the wheel almost fell out of the car in surprise. "Yes, very good. Now be on your way and let us deal with Zelda." The driver of the police Land Rover got out of the car and looked down at the witchy woman. "Miss Grimhilda, or whatever your name is, my name is Constable Barker. And I think we should take you and your friend for a drive down to the station and ask you some questions." "Uhm, officer, I don't think this is-", William tried. "I'm sorry, sir, but this is necessary. There is a group of terrorists out there and we do not want innocent citizens like you to get hurt." William shook his head and held up his broom. "You probably did not see this, did you? We came flying towards you." "More people have reported a person flying on a broom, sir. We are convinced that the terrorists have released some hallucinogenic gas that makes people see things." "Well, in that case we don't need to go around in these clothes, Hilda." William popped up his wand and changed his clothes to the regular blue and silver robes he had gotten used to. Hilda popped up her wand and changed her clothes to the red dress and the black cape with fringes. "Yeah. Much better, sweet man. Now let's find that witch." "But you can't do that!", the police officer complained, "and how did you do that?" "We didn't," said William as they mounted their brooms, "you just said we can't. Goodbye, officer." They flew off, upwards, hoping they'd be able to find a trace of Zelda. Constable Barker slowly closed his mouth and turned to his partner. "Not a word. Not one word. I don't want to be locked away and neither do you. Do you hear me? This was an effect from the gas. It got to us both." The man in the car nodded silently.
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