UPDATE: I ask that you do NOT read this story, and instead read Labyrinth: Ashes to Ashes which is the remastered version. You can find it on my profile. Its basically the same story but 100 times better. Thanks a lot - RotK :)
The sky was dismal shade of melancholy grey. All that lay ahead was a thick foggy haze which seemed to lead into the sunken ambience of depression. The young woman's footsteps echoed along the abandoned streets. No light radiated her bare ashen skin as the clouds secreted the desolate sun. She dressed in a morose black frock which wafted in the light wind. A matching black bonnet covered the sorrow of her eyes so that her pale porcelain face could barely be distinguished. She continued to hurry down the streets frantically as if she was heading to a place that she would rather not go. The pace of her stride kept in perfect rapidity until she finally stopped and stood at a large black gate.
"Sarah?" said a mans voice.
The girl looked up, she looked neither happy nor sad to see the man who also wore black. She nodded her head slightly.
"I…I'm sorry" he hesitated as he put his hand in her shoulder.
After a brief moment they both walked through he large gate where they joined a number of others who lingered outside of the local church. Many of them stared at Sarah like they had never seen her before. She was aware of this and kept her head bowed down at all times. It was like she did not want to be noticed, or spoken to.
Throughout the service she acted with grace and dignity. She did not cry or weep, not even when watched the coffin disappear behind the curtains but sat there with a cheerless expression. When the vicar said his last words the crowd of mourners slowly paced out of the church. They watched as Sarah walked away without saying a word to any of them. They did not know what she was really feeling. Was she upset? Was she angry? Was she confused? They did not know. But they knew that she was fragile and did not want to disturb the girl. Sarah walked back down the streets, retracing her steps with the exact same pace and posture as before.
Meanwhile, Karen Williams sat nervously in the living room chair. Her worried expression was evident as she chewed on her fingernails. Behind her anxiety one could see that there was a stern, assertive woman, but her confidence was overridden by her troubled eyes and fidgety stance. A breeze swept across the room as the front door opened. Karen leapt up out of her seat and quickly walked over to the door where she saw Sarah standing there, still with no expression. Karen stood there for what seemed like minutes, not knowing what to say. She showed pity in her face as she gently touched her shoulder.
"How was it?" she asked sympathetically.
Sarah looked up at her. It was clear that she did not want to speak but also did not want to appear discourteous.
"I'd rather not talk about it." she spoke softly.
"Oh dear you look dismayed, you should have let me come with you. No girl should have to attend their mothers funeral alone" said Karen.
"No, it's fine, I wanted to go alone. Besides I hardly knew my mother anyway" said Sarah as she took off her hat and walked into the living room slouching on the couch as Karen followed.
"But still, it's not a nice thing to have to go through. She paused for a second, "was he there?" she asked.
Sarah nodded her head and Karen sighed.
"I'll go and make you a nice hot tea alright." said Karen as she walked off into the kitchen.
Sarah huffed. She wiped her sleepy eyes with her hands. She did not look like girl who had just been to her mothers funeral as her expression seemed to be rather careless and impassive, almost worryingly so. Her eyes darted around the room looking for something to do or read. She pulled out a couple of books that were in reach from the nearby shelf. Carelessly flicking through the pages of Virginia Andrews and Chicken Soup for the Soul she was about to give up on the books until something seemed to capture her attention. Her hands slowly reached for the remaining book that lay on her lap as she caressed the leather bindings. She looked fascinated by it as if she had never seen the book before. The title read 'The Truth In Mythology' and was stitched into the leather with gold embroidery. She opened the book which revealed thin pages that looked old and discoloured. As she flicked through the she saw many hand-drawn pictures of different kinds of mythical beasts; centaurs, unicorns, dragons, mermaids, the list goes on. She stopped when she got to a particular page, a page which had a large drawing of a labyrinth on it. Her eyes lit up at the sight of the myth that she had fought and conquered, her fingers traced over the long and complex trails that the image displayed as if she was once again demonstrating the simplicity of it all. Her fingers stopped tracing once she had reached what looked like a large bull. Her face looked confused by this. She read the footnote at the side. 'As in the great myth of Theseus; one must penetrate to the heart of the Labyrinth in search of the great beast, the Minotaur, if they wish to succeed.'Sarah looked in disappointment at the book, as if to say that it didn't have a clue, for she had succeeded the Labyrinth without engaging with the Minotaur.
"What's that you're reading, anything good?" said Karen, which startled Sarah causing her to slam the book shut and put it quickly back in the bookshelf. "Obviously not" said Karen.
Sarah took the tea out of her stepmothers hand.
"Thank you" she said quietly, took a small sip and placed it on the coffee table.
Karen sat down in the nearby chair. She looked at Sarah intensely. Her eyes pierced through Sarah's as if to say that she wanted to have a serious conversation.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" said Sarah.
"I'm worried about you" she said.
"Well don't okay" Sarah snapped, "I'm fine, honestly" she said, yet she did not sound very convincing.
"Now Sarah I know that's not true. You've just been to your mothers funeral, of course you're not fine. You've been quiet all week…I know it's hard, but if you don't share your feelings then they have no chance of going away."
Sarah's face still showed no expression. If anything, it looked like she was trying hard to fight back her emotions. Karen stood up and moved over to the couch where Sarah was sitting. She sat down beside her and looked at her sympathetically. Sarah looked a little annoyed, like she just wanted to be left alone.
"I know that its difficult with your father being away, and I'm probably the last person you want to speak to but…I want you to understand that you can tell me, Sarah. I want to help you, nothing more…and…"
"Am I interrupting something" said a young man who had walked into the living room. He had an innocent complexion and a rather friendly face. He looked around twenty years of age but had a kind of Little-House-On-The-Prairie boy-next-door look with short blonde hair that would be curly if he had not smeared gel all over it. His eyes were young but wise and his smile was warm and trustworthy.
"No Lysander" sighed Karen, "come on in."
"Thanks" he said, "but I was kind of wondering if I could talk to Sarah…alone" he tried to say without offending Karen.
Karen sighed while Sarah gleefully walked up to the young man. Her funeral-face was suddenly forgotten when Lysander had arrived, like she he knew that he would cheer her up no matter what.
They went upstairs to Sarah's room which looked a little different than before. She still had a few ornaments and posters, but most of her old toys and stuffed animals were out of sight. She only had one bear; Lancelot which sat on her bed. She checked herself out in the mirror looking pretty dissatisfied with the way she looked. Then she stopped to look at a picture on her dresser. Her face turned to a pallid ashen colour once more as she stared at her mothers beautiful face. After a brief moment she turned the photo frame around until it could no longer be seen. Lysander noticed this and he patted on her bed indicating for her to come and sit next to him. She walked over, sat by him and smiled.
"Do you want me to show you my new cassette player" she said happily. "Remember when I told you about it the other day."
"No" he said softly. He had a look in his eyes that said he knew Sarah too well, and he knew that behind her pleasant exterior she was hiding her real feelings.
Sarah lowered her eyes. She knew that he was not going to act as if nothing had happened.
"So how did it go" he asked.
"It was fine" she said dimly.
"Sarah"
"Look it was fine!" she snapped as she angrily stood up and walked over to her bookshelf where she pulled out a random book and tersely flipped through the pages. Lysander hand reached for her shoulder.
"I thought we were friends Sarah, you know you can tell me anything. I know I don't know much about losing a mother, since I've never had one, but I do know that you can't pretend you're not upset. Don't pretend Sarah. My shoulders aren't there just for holding my arms in place you know, they're here for crying on too."
At that moment Sarah burst into a flame of uncontrollable tears. She turned around to place her head on Lysander's shoulder and he stroked her russet brown hair as she wept.
"I…I…never said goodbye, she…(snivel), she didn't even get to see, she just…"
"I know I know…don't worry, she can see you now, she can see you anytime she wants, and she'll be very proud of you." Sarah felt comforted by his words. "Time is a great healer, you'll see, everything will seem just a little but brighter tomorrow, okay, and if it doesn't, then I owe you a coke." Sarah let out a slight giggle, but still looked unsure of his words. Would everything seem brighter tomorrow?
This story has almost been completed but I will be only adding a new chapter every few days (even sooner if you write a review) ha ha, I can be cruel!
Chill ya later - RebelKat