Re-doing a story I had thought out long ago.

Edited so not so many word typos x.x;

What said, is said

New rules, Old game

This was a city person's hell. The town in which Sarah grew up in was the typical suburbs on the east coast. Forest like parts that seemed to make the prefect park, old houses that looked ready to grumble at some points, old pebbled roads, and finally everyone knew everyone and were friendly. Yes this was a city person's nightmare. That is if they even liked the city.

Sarah stood with her duffle bag and watched the towns people move about on their slow Sunday afternoon. Here places were closed on Sunday, and when she meant places, she meant all of them were closed. If you were opened on Sunday it better have to be a damn good reason. She scanned the faces then shifting her duffle bag again, then headed towards her home.

Memories came one by one as she passed the clock tower, the park, and an old bookstore. Each of these places held a special place in her heart. First was the park where her dreams came true and had form. There was almost something magical about that park that Sarah couldn't put her finger on. Maybe it was just her childhood dreams and wishes that seemed to unwind like the golden thread in Greek lore.

Next was the clock tower in which she could never seem to be right by. That clock appeared to be against her. It was the reason she was late, and then knew it after the fact. Now if she told Karen that, it would be a quick ride to you know where. Clocks didn't make people late, they make them early. Yeah, right.

Now the bookstore was a place of true wonder, and where she found that accursed little red book. Long ago when she was just a child her mother took her there. Books, she said were windows to other worlds, places far, far away you could never imagine going to, but through a book you can. Now a normal person would just you know imagine the world in their head, not dare to think it would come true. Yet for Sarah Williams who dared to mutter a cretin phrase that lesson in reading things was a different experience all together.

While her adventure in the underground was fun, dangerous, but fun, she did learn a few lessons.

1) nothing is as it seems

2) Always go left

3) listen to strange worms, but think before doing what they say
4) never trust two people saying that the other lies
5) Don't eat strange food from a different place even if it looks normal, and never drink the water in Mexico

6) if you see a rock say hello
7) Life isn't fair, fair is what you make it
8) don't talk back to people more powerful then you

9) don't say things you don't mean

10) never, never think something won't come true when it will and has

All of these expect for 8, 2, and 3 Sarah always follows. Well you can't always follow what you learn all of the time right?

After taking a quick short cut Sarah's feet found themselves at their old home. It still looked the same from the Victorian style porch to the windows and the doors. Heck, even her little sisters toys along with Toby's lined the front yard.

Oh yes, it seems Karen wasn't done with just Toby, seven years after their golden haired child another one made its debut in the Williams family. It went as followed, Sarah 26, Toby 12, and Abby 5.

Toby was in Sarah's judgmental eye, the best little big brother their family could wish for. Even if he did get angry at his younger sister, he always seemed to make it up to her. He never said words he didn't mean and lying was beyond his abilities. However, the little terror did know how to twist his words to a point to where he didn't lie but never said the full truth.

And Sarah wondered where he got that from.

It wasn't two steps on the porch when Toby body slammed her.

"SARAH! Dad! Mom! Abby! Sarah is back!" The now pre-teen Toby screamed and yelled for the rest of the family.

"Hey calm down kid! Geez!" The writer ruffled the boy's hair playfully smiling to herself. She noticed, He was becoming vain because this hair was better then her own. Someone spent a little to much time in the bathroom.

"Stop that! I spent hours making it prefect!" He hissed and eyed around.

"What are you looking for? Or who?"

A blush spread across pale cheeks. "Shut up!"

"Now that is no way a man talk to a lady son." Mr. Williams smiled at the two and Abby trialing behind him.

"Dad." Sarah smiled and walked the rest of the way into the house, Toby latched onto her arm.

"how is my traveling artist?" The man of the house grinned and took his daughter into a friendly but loving hug.

"She is fine, looking forward for a home like place to crash." Like a good daughter she returned the hug.

"So how is the new book coming?" Karen who now appeared from out of the kitchen smiled at her stepdaughter. It was a long and bumpy road for the two, but they made it. It took Sarah a lot of growing up to do, but when she did, the two now women understood the other.

"It is about half way done, my publisher is giving herself a heart attack but that's why I am here to finish it. The city just wasn't doing it." The writer's eyes scanned the two other Williams children. "I think with some help I can finish this book on time."

A nervous laugh broke through Karen's lips, " well they are a hand full." That was code for, you better keep an eye on them and do your writing second.

"I am sure you two will have a lovely trip and don't worry about them. I am sure that we can take care of whatever pops up, right Williams!" Now commander Sarah turned to the two little runts.

"Right!" Toby mock saluted along with little Abby who looked a bit confused but mimicked her older brother.

"Nothing to worry about, you two better hurry. I know I am late but you can't be. Remember? Plane to catch?" Sarah smiled as light sprung into the married couples eyes. This was their vacation, treat to themselves for having raised three children. A two month travel around Europe. Sara now old enough and deemed reasonable one was left here to play Nanna and take care of the kids.

After a quick goodbye and hurried kisses the two real adults left for an adventure of a life time. It wasn't until much later in the Williams Adventure did they wish their parents hadn't left

Time flew by, dinner came and went, the normal TV hour finished and now it was time for bed for the kiddies. Flipping opening her laptop Sarah stared at the last finished page.

"She should be more…more…GUH! More what! Damn it… why did I make you this way? Uh? Marie! Answer me!" A grumble and a snort at the screen the annoyed write leaned back and glared. "Go jump into your pond and drowned yourself, the end."

After five minutes of glaring at the screen Sarah paused to listen upstairs, Yelling? It echoed down like you would expect from inside a cave. So faint and light you would never think it started just a few feet above her. Slowly and carefully Sarah forgot about the laptop, the book, and the most annoying heroine Marie and stalked upstairs.

"Just…just shut up!"

A sound of a child crying played like a jewelry box's music.

"fine I'll tell you a story!"

No

Not this

"There once was a boy who got so annoyed at his sister! That he wished her away! Guh! Why am I doing this! I told you not to touch that!" His voice thundered like a train within a tunnel.

Sarah crept closer to her old room, now Toby and Abby's.

"t-t-t-boy…I am..s-s-s-sorry! I didn't…mean it!"

"You didn't mean it! What done is done! Now look it is ruined! Dang it! This was Sarah's gift! You know what! I wish the Goblins would come and take you away! Right now!" With that final phrase Toby opened the door and slammed it shut behind him faintly remembering what he just had done. Blue eyes met his sister's dark ones in horror. She could tell he hadn't meant it, that it was an accident, or maybe some unknown force that now engulfed their home.

Sarah Couldn't move, those words, most of them echoed in her head, distant yet she knew them. "Toby… what have you done…."

The siblings shared a look and slowly the middle child opened the door. The lights were out, as if the after shock of the slam caused it to short on itself. Within the darkness the two could make out the bunk bed that Abby and himself shared. The room was clean in an ordered mess only the two would understand. The only thing that seemed truly out of place; there was no Abby.

"What have I done….Sarah…I didn't think…wh-" Toby's horror stricken eyes scanned the room over and over again. It wasn't possible for her to disappear like that. It just wasn't rationally possible.

"I think you know what you have done boy." A smug figure in the shadows answered. "It seems you William children will never learn will you?"

"We want her back!" Sarah snapped and shoved Toby behind her.

"Now now, Sarah that isn't for you, this is for the boy to choose. He said the words not you. Tsk, Tsk" In the shadows they could see a black gloved finger move back and forth.

"What do I have to do?" Toby peered into the darkness unsure of what answers wait there.

"Do what your sister had done, find your way to the center and win the child back…if you can." Sarah winced as his voice cut through her better then any knife. It was smooth calm, but razor sharp; meant to cut you no matter what was said.

"Or" Mismatch blue eyes shone brightly in the moon light. "I can be…convinced into a trade"

"A trade?" Toby asked unsure of his intentions.

"Yes, you for your sister."

At these words Sarah felt her world crumble, but it wasn't until Toby said, "alright, I will take my sister's place." that it truly fell and crashed to earth like a baby bird forgetting how to fly and meeting the same fate.