A/N- I'm a little excited for this story, I'm trying to explore different characterizations of Sarah and Jareth. If you've read my previous stories, this one will be quite different. Also, I know I haven't finished The Love That Mends And Tears. I will, I just really wanted to start this. I have some ideas, and I hope you all like it. Please, let me know what you think. =)
Chapter 1, No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
Sarah was sprawled on her couch, flipping through the channels on the TV. Finally, she'd found the time to sit down and relax, and as usual, there was absolutely nothing on.
Why the hell is there never anything on at night? God, I'm so bored. She groaned to herself, looking back over her shoulder towards the clock that was hanging on the wall. 2:37 am. Jesus! It's already two-thirty in the morning! She rolled her head back towards the flashing lights of the screen.
Lazily, she punched the power button on the remote, turning off the television. I think it's time for bed...so much for a nice night of relaxing Me time. She grumbled, sulking all the way to her bedroom.
Just as she was about to shuck her clothes the phone rang, the ear piercing sound tearing through the silence.
"Who the hell is calling me?" She growled aloud. Practically stomping to the kitchen, she picked up the phone with deadly irritation. "Hello?" She spat.
"Heh-hah hah! Sarah? S-Sarah, is that you?" Came a light bouncing feminine voice.
"Kara? Kara, what are you doing?" Sarah demanded. She could hear riotous giggling in the background.
"Heh-Sarah, it's Kara. I- can you give me a ride?" The woman chuckled. Sarah's irritation softened slightly, but she was stone.
"Where are you? Have you been drinking again? Don't you remember what happened last time?" She lectured to the voice in the phone.
"Oh, relax. I'm not drunk- I mean, I'm not too drunk. I'm at Gregger's Bar. I just need a ride, and...maybe a place to crash?" She asked oh-so-innocently. Sarah let out a deep sigh.
"And why would you need a place to crash? You have an apartment." She tried to keep her voice level.
"Heh, um...well, I lost my keys- I think. Come on, pleeeeaasseee. I'll pay you back, you know it." She begged. Sarah pinched the bridge of her nose for a moment.
"Alright, I'll be there in ten. Try to behave until then." She said, losing whatever fight she had tried to muster.
"Thanks girl! I make it up to you, I swear!" Kara cheered.
"Don't worry about it. I'd rather you be safe." Sarah said.
"Yes, mom." Kara replied with heavy sarcasm. Sarah hung up right after, grabbed her coat and headed down the stairs of her apartment building.
She drove in silence, contemplating the lecture she'd give Kara the following morning.
Kara had been one of Sarah's closest friends since their freshman year in college. She was a short, slender girl, with vibrant black hair and dark glowing skin. She was as cute as a button, and knew it. She was also the wild one in the group, always running off with one random guy after another, turning up at unfamiliar parties and not knowing how she got there. Sarah on the other hand, was the complete opposite. She was the one who took charge, the one who would always come to the rescue. They were twenty six now, and Sarah was still playing the roll of mommy. She felt her grip tighten around the wheel as her thoughts rambled. God damn it Kara! When are you going to grow up? I can't keep scrapping you off the floor like this...one day I won't get to my phone in time. She let out a frustrated sigh, as she pulled into the parking lot at Gregger's Bar, the local tavern.
Sarah stormed through the bar, making sure everyone knew she wasn't there to mess around. She spotted Kara leaning against the bar. She couldn't tell if she was trying to be sexy, or just needed the extra support. There was a cluster of ragged men poking and prodding at her.
"Kara, I'm here, let's go." Sarah said, grabbing Kara's arm and pulling her from the crowd.
"Oh! Sorry boys, I think it's passed my bedtime!" She exclaimed with an exaggerated flail of her arm. Sarah waited until they were outside before releasing her.
"Didn't drink too much, my ass!" Sarah shouted, but didn't stop walking towards the car.
"Sarah, Sarah, Sarah, Sarah. You need to relax little lady." Kara drawled, stumbling her way across the pavement.
"Just get in." She stated. Kara fumbled her way into the passengers seat. Once firmly locked into place, she looked up at Sarah with a childish pouting lower lip.
"Why are you so angry?" Kara's attention span had diminished to all of twenty seconds, Sarah didn't bother trying to have a coherent conversation with her.
"Nothing, just a mood. You going to be sick?" She asked, staring out the windshield at the black void of the night.
"No, no I'm not that bad. Don't worry, I won't make your nice and spiffy house all smelly." She said in a playful manner. Sarah's mood lightened after a moment, there was no reason to be angry. She had been smart enough to call for help after all. You're lucky I'm so nice. She said to herself. "What?" Kara asked.
"Hmm?" Sarah quirked an eyebrow in her direction.
"I thought you said something, never mind." She turned her gaze out the window, watches all the flashing lights zip by.
They were quiet the rest of the car ride. Sarah had to help Kara up the stairs to her apartment. After some tricky maneuvering through the door, Kara plopped on the couch as Sarah went to fetch some sheets and blankets. Kara, being as impatient and impulsive as she was, decided to do some exploring.
She made her way to a small bookcase. Scanning over the labels, her eye finally landed on something familiar. Sarah reentered the room then, hidden by a cluster of pillows and blankets. She peered around the mountain of fabric to find Kara standing with her back to her.
"Sarah..." Kara said, turning around slowly. She was holding something. "Is this that old book you used to read all the time in college?" She asked. Sarah looked down to what she was holding. It was a small, red leather bound, book. Sarah's eyes widened a bit.
"Kara put that back, right now." She demanded. Like a spoiled child, Kara willingly disobeyed.
"Why? You used to love this thing. What was that guys name again? Jared or something?" She asked rhetorically, flipping through the worn pages.
Sarah was nearly frantic, the urge to jump her best friend nearly consuming her. She hadn't thought about the Labyrinth, or the Underground in years. She'd forced herself to pretend it was just a dream from her childhood, to forget it ever happened. But deep down, she knew she would remember every detail for the rest of her life. Fuck Kara, you have no idea what you're messing with! She screamed inside.
"What no one knew was that the King of the goblins had fallen in love with the girl, and he had granted her certain powers...ooh, kinky." Kara teased, continuing to flip through the pages.
Sarah was on the verge of a full out panic attack. She needed to get that book away from Kara, before she said something they would all regret. Fuck Fuck Fuck Fuck!
"Kara, it's very old. Please, put it back so you don't rip it. You're drunk, you don't have fully functioning motor skills." Sarah tried to reason with her.
Kara seemed to take offense to this, and stuck her tongue out at her, curling the book into a secure embrace.
"Ya know, your being kind of bitchy Sarah. Maybe I'll just wish you away to the Goblins." She threatened.
"Kara...Please. Don't" Sarah pleaded. Even if she could get the book, all Kara had to do was say the words.
"You're not my mother. You need to get that pole out of your ass and loosen up a bit, geez." Kara was angry now. But Sarah was enraged.
"You drunk skank! I pick you up off the floor, let you into my house, hold your hair while you vomit the night away. How many times has it been? And you dare talk to me that way? Fuck you!" She couldn't hold it in any longer. Kara let out a serious huff, and stuck her nose into the book.
"What is it I'm supposed to say? Oh, here it is. I wish the Goblins would come and take you away, right now!" She screamed.
Sarah's face turned pale, as if all the life had left her, and her eyes were immediately drained of all emotion but fear and anguish.
"Kara, you fucking idiot." She whispered.
Before Kara could respond, Sarah was gone. Kara was alone, staring at the vacant spot where her friend had once been. She was angry, confused, and quite a bit tipsy. She staggered around the room a bit, trying to figure out what had just happened.