Chapter 2
A Rude Awakening
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but my messed up ideas :)
Sarah jolted upward as her alarm rang out next to her bed. She took a moment to steady her breathing after her dream. Why was it haunting her still? It had been two years since the day she had been forced to leave her family by Jake. She looked over at him laying on the other side of the bed and couldn't help feeling ashamed of herself. Pushing those thoughts away she got up stumbling into the bathroom her hip and side still bruised from when he had kicked and grabbed her. Her eyes met her reflection and she sighed. A bruise marred her cheek and her eye was already slightly blackening. She pulled out some make-up and began trying to hide the bruises to the best of her ability. Half way through she looked into the mirror and whispered sadly,
"I wonder what you would say Hoggle, if you could see how far I have fallen." she turned her back to the mirror not noticing as it flashed slightly before turning back and finishing the make-up. Satisfied with that she went to grab her cloths for the day not noticing as the mirror flashed again as she walked out. Walking over to one of the dressers and grabbing her uniform she pulled it on. She wasn't allowed to do much, Jake said she had to be home most of the time, but she had pleaded to be allowed to do something. So he had said she could work at the dinner down town. It wasn't much but it was something to do while he was at work. Pulling up her hair into a short pony tail she walked over and shook Jake slightly awake. He opened his eyes slightly and narrowed them,
"What?" he growled, most likely still mad about last night. Sadly she didn't even remember what she did to anger him.
"I'm going to work I just thought I would tell you." He glared sitting up and pushing her roughly away.
"Watch how you talk to me." he said angrily. She nodded mutely before picking up her bag and heading out the door of their apartment. As she walked down the street to the dinner she heard two identical trills and looked up to see two beautiful doves fly over head. A small smile tugged at her lips. She would love to be free, able to go where she liked. Her eyes became downcast and she looked away from the doves and kept walking. She didn't deserve freedom. She didn't deserve anything. After all Jake made it clear that she was useless. Good for nothing but sex. Still, part of her, a tiny part of her, didn't agree with that. A tiny part that wanted nothing more then to wish herself away and see if the Goblin King would take her away and extend that old offer. His words echoed in her head: Love me, fear me, do as I say and I will be your slave. She shook her head clearing her thoughts, he didn't mean it. Why would some one like him want some one like her. Plain old, useless Sarah. She pushed him out of her thoughts sadly knowing it was useless to think about such things. If she remembered one thing from her time in the Labyrinth it was that life isn't fair. Besides, she deserved getting beaten. Why else would Jake treat her like that? Obviously she deserved it, but dreaming of those mismatched eyes staring at her with all the love in the world was like a sick joke. Like the world was taunting her, showing her what she couldn't have. For once she allowed herself to utter those powerful words,
"I wish I was dead sometimes." She whispered and then hurried toward the dinner before she was late. Not even noticing the small alarmed hoot from a near by as a lone barn owl took flight.
-line break-
A world away three friends were meeting to figure out what all the chaos was about.
"Perhaps its a runner." Sir Didyums chirped up from his place on Ambroisois, his loyal dog. Hoggle scowled slightly. He still hadn't told either Didyums or Ludo what he saw this morning was debating if he even should.
"Sawah?" Both Didyums and Hoggle looked at Ludo wondering why he suddenly said Sarah's names when a said voice rang out across the Labyrinth, one they immediately recognized,
"I wish I was dead sometimes."
The Labyrinth it's self seemed to stop living for a moment, and then the chaos increased ten fold. Shouting could be heard from all over while the three friends just stood there shell shocked. Hoggle's mind was on over load, Sarah knew how dangerous it was to make a wish but to wish herself dead, was terrifying. He had planed on telling Jareth what he had seen. Of Sarah's bruised face and broken expression but now he didn't have to, the damn slime ball would know. He might hate the guy but Jareth was most likely the only one who could help Sarah. Didyums looked over at him with a fearful expression, they both knew this wouldn't end well. Ludo let out a loud cry of sadness. Hoggle turned to both of them and said flatly,
"He is going to pissed beyond measure." Didyums didn't even need to ask and nodded,
"Ay, the King will not be pleased." He too was worried about Lady Sarah. Something just wasn't right, he could tell by the look of anger and sadness in Hoggle's eyes.
"Sir Hoggle..." He was cut off when Hoggle shut his eyes and spoke quietly,
"I saw her this morning. I don't think she meant to summon me, she just asked what my opinion would be on something ya know? Then I saw her face, damn it Didyums, it was all bruised. Like she had just gotten out of a brawl." He didn't respond right away,
"Could she be being-" once again he was cut off by Hoggle,
"Sarah ain't someone to get into a brawl Didyums. There is no other option besides that." again the fox remained quite for a few moments,
"Do you think the King knows?" Hoggle was about to answer when the Labyrinth shook before going still a second later,
"Ya, I think he knows." Hoggle muttered. Sir Didyums walked over to Ludo to try and comfort his brother while Hoggle turned to look at the castle,
"Please don't grant that wish Jareth, help her instead." he muttered.
-line break-
Jareth stood in his private chambers fists clenched. He wasn't one to get angry, he normally had a calm head but there was one person who could totally mess with his calm head.
Sarah.
That girl, woman now, was the only one who could truly bring out his emotions. Be it anger, love or sadness, she had that power over him. He had taken to watching her from a far once in a while. Every once or twice a year, just to see if she was doing well. Up until today things seemed fine. Now he knew better. That wish brought to light how much pain she must be in. He shut his eyes taken a calming breath. The Labyrinth herself had rejected that horrid wish. If she was stepping in things were bad, and that was putting it mildly. He summoned one of his crystals and looked into it, willing it to show Sarah. When it did he saw her balancing several trays of food walking from table to table. He frowned slightly, this wasn't a job Sarah should be in. She was much smarter and more talented. Things weren't adding up, what could cause Sarah to wish herself dead? A man approached her asking her something to which she nodded quickly delivering the trays of food and heading over to him. The man had a concerned look on his face and he heard him talking,
"Sarah, what are you still doing working here? You could be doing so much more and you and I both know it." Jareth perked slightly, maybe he would get some answers,
"Sal, please, don't get involved." she whispered not meeting the mans eyes. Jareth narrowed his eyes, he had seen this behavior some where but could place his finger on it. The man, Sal, looked at her closer,
"Sarah, I know what he does to you." he said softly. Sarah stiffened and Jareth raised an eyebrow,
"Sal don't-" Sal continued,
"What I don't get is why a girl like you puts up with a scum bag like him." Sarah winced as Sal reached a had out rubbed his thumb across her cheek and Jareth's eyes widened when he saw the bruised skin,
"Do you really think your the first girl that's come through here that has an abusive jack ass as a boyfriend?" Jareth lost all control at that, he threw the crystal against the wall shattering it. The Labyrinth shook violently for a moment before he reigned in his emotions. Damn it! His eyes were alight with furry as he began to pace. Abused, Sarah was being abused. He had to do something but couldn't until she made a wish that didn't involve her dying. He summoned another crystal and it showed Sal hugging Sarah,
"Sarah, do yourself a favor and leave." She shook her head,
"I can't Sal, he would most likely kill me first. Besides I deserve what he does to me." she whispered. Sal looked put off and Jareth's face became murderous. Oh when he got his hands on the bastard who made his Sarah feel like this. He paused slightly,
His Sarah.
He was being a moron thinking about that. If she got out of this mess she would most likely swear off men. He pushed those thoughts to the back of his head and turned his attention back to the crystal,
"Sarah, that's bull shit. Look, take this," he handed her a slip of paper with a number on it, "That's my cell, if he attacks you again get out of there, call me and I'll come get you. Sarah you deserve better, don't throw your life away because of a guy who claims he loves you and then turns around and beats you. If he loved he wouldn't do that." With that Sal walked away and Sarah stood there staring at the sheet of paper for a moment before slipping it into her pants pocket. Jareth dismissed the crystal and collapsed on his bed running a hand through his hair. Her eyes were haunting him now, and not in the way they used to. Her eyes used to be so full of fire and passion and now they were lifeless and empty. Like there was no hope left in the world. He growled hating feeling so useless, but until Sarah made a wish, things were out of his control. He just hoped this Sal person knew what he was doing and that Sarah ran when she got the chance.
-line break-
Sarah walked home after her shift deep in thought. Sal had said she didn't deserve what Jake was doing to her but Sarah wasn't so sure. A part of her was screaming in agreement, that she didn't deserve the abuse. The other part, the larger part was afraid of Jake coming after her if she tried to leave. She stopped out side the house. Did she have what it takes to leave? To turn and run to save herself? She felt tears running down her face as her feet backed up on there own accord. Sal was offering her a chance at the freedom she wanted so badly. Why waste such an opportunity? He could help her, protect her even. Without thinking she turned her back and ran away from the house to the nearest pay phone and dialed the number Sal gave her,
"Hello?" came his voice,
"Sal, can you come get me?" she asked through tears, without so much as a pause Sal answered,
"Where are you?"
She told him and she hung up when he said he would be there in a few minutes. She sat on the curb and waited. Then she noticed Jake's car coming up the street and jumped behind some bushes and hid. If he caught her any chance at freedom would be blown out the window and she would end up with broken bones. When the car passed she stumbled out of the bush and a car stopped and Sal got out of the car and helped her into the passengers seat,
"How you feeling?" he asked softly. She looked at him with a tear stained face and a small almost invisible smile,
"Free." she whispered, before shutting her eyes and dozing off not realizing how exhausted she truly was.
Well that's the end of chapter 2. Things are going to get messy next chapter.
Preview of next chapter:
An angry Jake. Jareth prays for a wish, Sarah tries to help herself stand up on her own two feet again. Sal plans a suprise for Sarah and much more.
PS: I'm having an issue with my dunge- errr closet. Jareth escaped along with a few others. In his place we have Ludo who helped me make cookies! So who ever reviews gets a Ludo hug and a cookie! So hit that button.