Author's Notes: Inspired by the Talk is Cheap challenge (#1) from the Labyfic LiveJournal community. Ended up being way less dialog than setting. Challenge failed.


"Sawah! Les try dis way!" Toby ran off between the stalks of corn, his half-sister loping behind him.

"Admit it," she laughed, "you've gotten us lost in here." It had taken Toby nearly a half an hour to convince her to even enter the corn maze, though she was finally able to smother her apprehension for his sake. Even after two years, she still had rather vivid dreams about wandering lost through shifting stone walkways and goblin-patrolled hedgework. The one featuring the brick corridor that went on and on was the worst, and the tea-addled talking worm never seemed to speak up to show her the way. Now they'd been wandering around inside the maze for another half-hour. The sign claimed it was the largest corn maze in the state, and she certainly believed it now. "Toby? Is something wrong?"

The little boy had stopped rather suddenly in front of her. He was looking at the paths before him, as if trying to decide which he wanted. "I fowht dis wazza corn maze."

The boy's confused declaration sent shivers up Sarah's spine. She felt like she was looking up in slow motion. For a brief moment, she could swear the fork before them was wrought in sandstone to the right and hedges to the left. Then she blinked, and looked again. It was only corn, as it should be, but there was a sign on the left fork that read Haunted House and one on the right that read Exit. "It's alright, Toby. 'I know a way out of the whole Labyrinth from here.'"

Her brother laughed as she quoted a line from his favorite bedtime story. "No castle in gobby city?"

She took his hand and shook her head. "You're a bit young for the Haunted House, kiddo." She lead him toward the right. "Another time perhaps."

Somewhere in the distance, Sarah could swear she heard a barn owl chirrup.