Happy birthday Sarah! my friends cheer. We drink from plastic cups, cuddled up in the old armchairs of the Thinkin Corner, a little unused room adjoining our school's library. Nobody seems to know of this place, it must have been the librarian s study once, or maybe a private reading room, we never discovered that. We enter throught a door hidden in a corner of the library, locked for everyone but for us. After the Prescott twins found the keys who know where, it became our refuge, of the Bookworms , five students of the Prescott Boarding School who love books, stories and everything that s intriguing and usual. I take a sip this is not a cheap sparkling wine. I immediatly give a look at Natalie. This champagne is really good! Where did you get it? Oh, don t worry about that! You become a legal adult only once in your life! Charlie quips back happily.
What do you mean with this? I became suspicious, Natalie and Charlie could be two little criminals when they wanted to. The two siblings smirk, two identical blonde imps.
Don t tell me you ve stolen it! Amy exclaims, worried.
I won t say stolen it s just a loan from our grandfather s wine cellar. We are sure he ll be very understanding when You mean if, Charlie points out.
If we ll tell him! Natalie finishes with a huge smile.
Amy sighs, defeated, and I too am astonished; but also moved. The four guys in front of me are the best friends I have ever had (on this world at least). When I arrived at the Prescott I would never have imagined I would have liked it so much.
My stepmother Karen suggested it few months after my adventure in the Labyrinth. At first I didn t even want to think about it, but then I started to reflect on my situation. At home things had improved a lot, I didn t see my relationship with Karen as a continuous battle anymore; and, even if I hated to admit it, she was right at least on one thing: my life was too lonely. I had to stop to keep by myself so much, fantasizing about fairytales adventures that would probably never experience again. I had to grow up and open myself up to the world and, distancing myself from my old life, could help me.
Sarah, are you ok? Nat touches my shoulder.
Oh, sorry, I was lost in thoughts, I respond and I reinsert myself in the conversation.
The evening flows pleasantly, we never get bored when we are together.
Damn! Danny exclaims all of a sudden, It s past midnight! We have to return to our rooms! I nod,even if we are pretty good at not getting caught when we sneak around the school, we can t take any risk in this particular case. At 1 a.m. the keeper would come and lock the door of the library and, if we weren t careful, we would get stuck inside until morning.
We clean up a little and then we get out from the Thinkin Corner. We enter in a large hall, illuminated only by the moonlight. The old library is a really fascinating place with high stone vaults and lucid oak shelves, full of rows after rows of books.I can say without any doubt that it's my favourite place in the entire school.
In the entrance hall we split to reach our respective dorm rooms. I enter in mine with bright eyes and a pleasanlty fuzzed head; maybe it s because I'm pretty tired, but most probably it s because of all the champagne I drank.
I get ready for the night without even switching on the light.
Happy birthday Sara I hear a voice out of thin air, it's just a whisper but I freeze. My gaze immediately goes to the nightstand s drawer. Inside there s it, the book. I brought it with me, I couldn t help it. I often find myself taking it, caressing its cover, but I never got the courage to open it.
Nevertheless, as soon as I hear that voice, I recognize it immediately. My stomach closes in a knot, but it isn t unpleasant. I get under the blankets with my heart beating wildly. I perfectly know what will happen, he will appear and will make me dance until morning.
This time is different, though. I find myself surrounded by fog, a gray and suffocating wall of humidity. I shiver. Invisible hands caress the bare skin of my arms, light and enticing touches, they warm me up and I get lost in that sensation, smiling. Soon the touches become stronger, demanding, lecherous. They touch my breasts, they rise on my thighs, lifting up the light dress I wear. They push me on the ground rudely.
I m terrified, tears blur my vision. I can think of only one thing, only one person. The only one who can help me. Without even realizing it from my lips a whisper escapes. Jareth, help me! The fog is wiped out by a golden light spreading everywhere.
I wake up with a start and I find myself staring at the ceiling. It s dawn by now, I curl up in my bed, trembling, waiting for the alarm to ring.