A/N I do not own Labyrinth and I write just for the fun of a story. Do not let poor grammar distract you. Also, I will be finishing all other stories once inspiration strikes.
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Chapter 1
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The sky had turned a dull grey as thunder clouds began to form. Pulling her hand from the pocket of her thin coat she counted the last few remaining coins. With a sigh and an audible growl of protest from her stomach she pushed open the door and entered the small shop. It was nothing spectacular and had served the community for many years. Each isle was lined with various products from cleaning supplies to tins of soup. It wasn't the greatest of places but the prices were cheaper than most.
As she walked she surveyed the people within, people watching had become quite a sport of late mainly because it was free and it let her blend away into the world of her own imagination. No one paid here any attention these days other than an occasionally curious glance. She watched the elderly couple as they argued over which brand of dog food they would buy and the mother trying desperately not to lose her patience with the screaming child. No matter how boring their lives seemed she would swap for hers in a blink.
Another growl from her stomach brought her back from her thoughts and as she approached the counter she made the decision. All though food would be ideal right now it did nothing to numb the pain of existence, so placing the money onto the counter she asked for Vodka instead. After a few minutes of hesitation and a glance at her I.D. the shop keeper handed over the requested substance.
Within minutes of her purchase she was back out in the street trying desperately to keep the bitter wind out by wrapping the paper-thin coat around herself. She knew it was a useless act but it gave her something to focus on. The heavens opened and the rain began to slowly pour drenching the girl through within seconds. She no longer cared, giving up the fight with the thin material she hurried the last few blocks to her apartment building. It was the sort of place no one would willing want to live but for her it was a dry room.
Slipping the key into the lock she entered the dark hall, standing on the many brown envelopes that still littered the floor their angry red writing starring up at her. She flicked on the small lamp and its light cast a yellowish glow over the almost bare room. Anything that was remotely important had been boxed and labelled accordingly, ready to be despatched to their destination.
Heading into the small bathroom, she removed her wet clothing and dropped them onto the floor before towel drying her damp hair and body. She wanted to just slip into her comfy warm pyjamas but redressed in some white blouse and black trousers., after all she should at least make the effort to look nice just one last time. The clothes that had been purchased only two months earlier now hung lose on her figure.
Finally, she re-entered the small living space, pulling the bottle of vodka from the bag and pouring a large amount into a plastic cup, before she sank down onto the thread bare couch. Tipping her head back she quickly swallowed an amount of the liquid. The heat of it burnt a trail down her throat and she gasped and coughed, waiting a few moments before taking another sip.
This was not how she had expected her life to turn out, not that she expected to be rich or famous, those types of dreams she had left behind in her childhood. Her head was beginning to throb now but the pain only made her more determined. Sitting there nursing her drink she tried to think what it would be like tomorrow. What sort of reaction would it bring?
Toby would be slightly upset, yes if he remembered her even and Karen, well she would no doubt be relieved. The two letters sat on the table next to the vodka, it had not been easy to write but she decided she did owe them an explanation of sorts after all.
Those letters held all the ifs, buts and maybes. If she hadn't have stayed behind that day at college drama class and arrived home on time, maybe she could have saved him but she hadn't and it was her fault. Karen was right. If she had been home she could have called for help at least. Leaning further back into the couch she closed her eyes remembering that awful night eighteen months ago. A small sob escaped her lips.
"O daddy"
She had known instantly something was wrong, the house was far too quiet for that time of evening and as she had walked past the kitchen she had seen him lay there on the floor. She had stood frozen to the spot for a few minutes before sheer panic had overtaken her. When she had touched his face, she knew he had gone, he had felt so cold.
The ambulance arrived amazing fast but confirmed what she already knew. Karen had blamed her and she had been right, it was her fault.
Wiping the tears from her cheeks she glanced over to the clock, she realised that it was almost midnight and there was one thing she had left to do. She had been putting it off for a while but it was the only thing now left. Standing a little unsteadily she made her way to the large mirror. Not even knowing if it would work, it had been such a long time since she had spoken to any of them. With a shaky breath, she opened her mouth to speak before promptly closing it once more. She grasped the plastic cup and emptied the rest of its contents, she needed the extra courage.
Finally, once more she gazed at the mirror and with a deep inhale of breath closed her eyes and said the words she had never thought she would ever say.
"I wish Jareth the Goblin King was her to talk to me right now"
Time ticked by slowly and Sarah opened her eyes once more, she looked at her reflection in the mirror, everything was just as it had been before. There was no flash of lightening or crack of thunder, no angry owl beating against the window. She shrugged and lowered her gaze.
"Well, I tried" Sarah mumbled to herself
"Indeed you are very trying" came the clipped English accent she remembered belonged to him.
As she raised her eyes from the floor and back to the mirror she could see his reflection behind her. He wore black boots; dark grey pants, a white poet's shirt and a deep burgundy Jacket. His blond hair as wild as ever. He had not changed one bit over the years, he was exactly as she remembered him to be. Very slowly Sarah turned around to face Jareth who stood with his fists clenched and resting on his hips. He fixed her with a piercing glare and the temperature in the room seemed to drop by ten degrees but Sarah did not care.
"Well. Girl what do you want" he said in a menacing tone that showed his annoyance
"I was not sure you would come"
"It seemed I had little choice after that scab of a dwarf has told you my name and you used it to summon me".
Jareth crossed his arms and lent back against the wall. He was annoyed beyond measure at being ordered to appear before this girl who had destroyed half his Kingdom in only a few hours. His gaze travelled over her, she was a lot thinner than he remembered and her tangled hair needed attending to. He could see that the childish looks had matured to a sharper more pronounced one. She had matured beautifully for a human girl, curved in all the right places. He pushed himself away from the wall and stepped forward.
"Well, girl, get on with it" he growled
Sarah watched him step towards her and resisted the overwhelmingly strong urge to retreat backwards. Sarah took another deep breath trying to steady her nerves.
"I just wanted to say I'm sorry" she blurted out.
Jareth raised a rather surprised eyebrow at her.
"Excuse me"
"I am sorry for being the brat I was, for blaming you for taking my brother, after all I asked for it to be done" her speech was now slightly slurred
"Yes you did"
"And for being rude and insulting the Labyrinth, it was not a piece of cake. Sorry for causing damage to the city and castle and everything else. I hope you can forgive me in time"
Jareth stood there in stunned silence, on answering the summons he expected maybe a demand for something but not this. He watched her closely, her slurred speech had not gone un noticed and there was something not quite right here.
His eyes swept over her once more, the clothes while presentable where to big, her hair was dull and tangled, her face a lot paler than he remembered and as he finally locked his eyes to hers he noticed how dull they seemed. This woman before him was nothing like the spirited fifteen-year-old who had torn through his Labyrinth.
The conversation he had a few weeks previously floated into his mind. That little traitorous scab Higgle had stormed into his throne room demanding his attention. Muttering on something about the girl not being herself and bestowing gifts upon them. What exactly was wrong with that he had no idea. Not that it was any concern to him. He had immediately sent the annoying scab to the dungeon. He had to agree with the dwarf though this was strange behaviour indeed
Bringing his attention back to Sarah he watched as she seemed to sway slightly and steady herself against the far door frame. Just to his left he spotted the vodka bottle on the table, obviously, the girl had been drinking and could not hold her liquor as the bottle was still relatively half full.
"Well it was nice to see you again but I am rather tired now and am going to bed" she slurred to him
He was stunned by her sudden dismissal of him, how dare she. As she stumbled through the doorway Sarah glanced back at the King stood in the centre of her small room.
"Jareth"
His eyes shot back to her at hearing his name.
"Goodbye and thank you"
As the door closed behind her a small smile graced his lips, silly girl did no one ever tell you never to say thank you to a fae. Jareth waited a few minutes and surveyed the room, it was plainly obvious the girl did not possess much and from the boxes was obviously in the process of vacating this place. Turning on his heals towards the window his foot met something on the floor and he bent down to retrieve it.
Picking up a small brown bottle Jareth turned it over in his hand ready to place it on the table next to the vodka. He stopped suddenly as he read the label.
Prescription drug
Miss Sarah Williams
30 Tablets
Take one per evening before bed
WARNING extremely strong sedative do not drive or consume with alcohol.
The date on the bottle was the previous day and it was empty. Jareth's eyes shot to the door Sarah had passed through only ten minutes before. Alarm bells rang within his head and he quickly entered the room to find her slumped on the floor.
"You foolish girl, what have you done" he hissed
He crouched down and placed his hand against her wrist feeling for a pulse before he scooped the unconscious girl into his arms and vanished from the room.
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A/N So what do you think shall we continue
