Well, hello dear readers ! This is my first fanfic in english, so be nice with me, I'm not english...
I like to hear music when I write, and this chapter was inspired by the song "Shattered" by Trading Yesterday.
I hope you will enjoy this first chapter, please write me a little something once you've read it *^*

Disclaimer : No copyright infringement intended. I own my brain and my computer. "Labyrinth" and it's characters are the property of Jim Henson, everyone else is miiiiine ! Muahaha !

Chapter 1

"And I've lost who I am"

"I was wrong! It didn't work! Do something!"

"Don't you dare talking to me this way!"

"Please…You have to, she's going to…"

"And why should I care?"

"It's coming! Do it now!"

Black skirt, white shirt, black jacket…
How about a tie? Well, all of her colleagues will be wearing one, so let's stick with it.

I hate ties… Can't I just wear my poet shirt?

The woman shrugged. If this night's party was made for her, then at least she should be able to wear what she wanted to. But no, it was a professional party, one of those where everyone brags about themselves and judges people by their clothes.
So there she was, in her small room, facing the mirror, seeing the face of "a victorious young lawyer who just solved the most important case of the year", as it was written in the newspapers.

And, that's all?

Outside, it was raining. But it didn't matter.
When was the last time she looked up at the sky?
It was probably that day, when her young self disappeared. When "Sarah" disappeared.
Another shrug. She tied her brown hair in a sophisticated bun then looked at her mirror.
Ms. Williams was standing there, in that black and white outfit, sighing in resignation. Even her vivid green eyes seemed to have faded by the years.

Well hello, monochromatic doll.

She stared at the mirror, as if something was hidden beyond it.

But they never came.

She had tried it several times.

They never came.

She even said the words, in her little bedroom, crying out loud and yelling, when life was particularly unfair, when Toby…

Never.

Sarah shivered.

" Bad memories won't be remembered tonight, Sarah" she whispered to herself.

And then Ms. Williams' mask was back in place.
After putting a bit of makeup on, she grabbed her purse, put on her shoes, then got out of her apartment.
Closing her door, she murmured:

"And there I go, to a party in the lions' den. It's going to be…fun."

"Ah! Ms. Williams! At last you're here!" Mr. Barrett said, inviting the young woman to enter a giant modern building.

"I'm sorry Mr. Barrett, I just decided I would come a couple of hours ago…" Sarah said.

"Oh don't be like that, there are plenty of lawmen in here who are eager to hear more about you! Come in!" the man said, opening the massive glass door.

They would eat me alive if they could…

Mr. Barrett was an old lawyer who owned the "Barrett and Associates" law firm. He also was a friend of Sarah's father and she was glad to have met him, because he was a great and faithful support to her. Sarah was convinced Barrett was the only being in this place who could give her a true smile, without any other intentions hidden behind it than a warm greeting. The others were here to congratulate her, faking smiles and admiration, in order to know her weakness, because she was the new young prosecutor who recently got famous, and she was a new player in that little popularity game.

As Sarah entered the place, she was stunned by how richly the room was decorated. There were white tablecloths embroidered in blue on each table, white marble columns on each wall, and a light wooden floor where thirty elegantly dressed persons stood, chatting and skillfully faking laughs.

Beautiful, but it's nothing compared to that ballroom.

The thought made Sarah wince. She still remembered her time in the Labyrinth, but every night she silently wished she would forget it by the next morning. Bitterness had won, and her precious memories looked like a shameful fantasy to her. If things have been different, would she still love it? Would she miss her time in the Labyrinth?

That's all it is, Sarah. What-ifs. Toby wouldn't like you to be nostalgic. And don't you dare thinking about him!

Just when she was going to give the proper "I'm NOT!" answer to her treacherous brain, three men and two women greeted her, wearing their best fake smiles. So much effort for me, I'm touched.

"If it isn't Ms. Williams! Congratulations! Your trial was a success! We heard you just sent a true monster to jail, that must have been tough!" The short, brown-haired woman said.

"Thank you" Sarah answered politely. "I only regret that Jake Craff was able to kill five kids before we caught him." She continued bitterly.

The other glanced at her with a surprised look.

"Well, it can't be helped. At least you managed to imprison him. That's a success." The older man said with an awkward voice.

Behind her back, Sarah could hear people whispering "You know…She didn't say a thing when he was sentenced…She didn't even react…So that's why they call her "The Ice Queen"! Really…"

Sarah didn't care. Who cares about bad nicknames and rumors? She just did her job, why would she feel happy when Craff already had the time to steal five young lives? Ignoring their comment, she tried to focus on the little group that seemed decided to spend at least fifteen minutes questioning her.

"And what made you choose that job? Why becoming a prosecutor? And why did you specialize in criminal affairs?" The second woman, a tall brunette, asked.

Sarah couldn't answer. Her mental armor firmly blocked her memories, not allowing a single word to come out. Just when she was about to invent a good lie, someone behind her back put a warm hand on her shoulder.

"My my, isn't it quite an inquisition?"

Sarah turned back, and was stunned. An absolutely gorgeous blond woman stood here, her crystal blue eyes staring at her with so much warmth that it made the young prosecutor's armor slightly crack.

"Could you leave us please? I believe this young lady might need some fresh air."

While the little group was throwing mental daggers to her for interrupting them, she invited the young woman to follow her to a little balcony. She stood here, facing the street, the lights of the night reflecting on her perfect face, while she smelled the sweet scent of the rain.

"It's been so long since I last came. It changed. So much." She murmured.

"Uh" Sarah kicked herself mentally for having nothing more elaborated to say "I'm sorry but…Did we meet before?" Good job Sarah! Now you look like a young high school guy trying to ask out his first girlfriend!

The woman, as if she knew exactly what Sarah was thinking, giggled. It sounded like a delicate bell tinkling, it was enchanting, and a small voice in Sarah's mind poked her brain "Hellooo? There IS something wrong here! Wake up you stupid fairy lover!" Before she could notice the warning, the woman waved her blond hair and grabbed Sarah's hand. She took a sharp breath and released her hand, shaking it in an awkward way.

"You're Sarah Williams." she said, tilting her head in an all too familiar way. And she hurriedly added a very formal "aren't you?" while her eyes were sparkling like she just found an inestimable treasure.

Sarah blinked.

It's been 5 years since someone other than her family called her by her first name. No one else knows it now.

Something was wrong. The small voice in her head wasn't poking her brain anymore. Well now, it was using a hammer. A chill at the base of her neck, goosebumps on her arms, all the cells of Sarah's body were screaming a desperate "Warning!"

"How…How do you know my name?"

"I'm sorry" the strange woman said, a worried look creeping across her pale face "It seems I won't have enough time to be gentle and to reassure you. But be sure it is a real pleasure to meet you, Champion."

Sarah's eyes widened. That's it. That's why I can't take my eyes off of her. She's from Here. Oh crap! How will I get out of here? I can't escape! Think Sarah! Hurry up!

"Don't be afraid, I mean you no harm. On the contrary, I'm here to warn you."

Another blink, then Sarah shrugged, and Ms. Williams' unbreakable mental armor was back in place.

"Oh, really? Then thank you, but I think it's quite ironic, as my worst enemies seem to be the people of your kind and the place where you live, isn't it?" She hissed, throwing her best glare. "Excuse me. I've got to go now."

The woman's eyes narrowed and she desperately grabbed Sarah's wrist.

"No! Don't go, please. I'm not used to begging, you know. Listen, it won't cost you a thing!"

The young prosecutor sighed. "If it's just listening to you, I think I can do it. Speak, be quick, then just go away." She answered, coldly.

"No matter what happens tonight, don't go out in the streets alone. Take a cab, just go home."

"And…That's it? That's why you came?"

"Yes."

"I thought it was…More important."

"You still take too much things for granted, Sarah." She raised an eyebrow and winced. "Not now. It's too soon!"
She made another wince. "I'm sorry Sarah, I can't stay here any longer. Until we meet again, take care of yourself, Champion." the woman said, bowing very slightly.

"What? Wait! Who are you ? Wait!"

But as soon as she turned her back, the blond Fae disappeared, leaving Sarah alone in the crowd.

The rest of the party was very boring. Sarah vaguely answered a million questions about her career, her point of view concerning previous affairs, while she kept thinking about the Fae woman. Why, after all those years, did the Underground come back in her life ? Who was this woman ? Was Sarah in danger ?

Wait, she said to herself. You're the only one who seems to have noticed that girl. That's it. You're tired. You haven't slept in, what, two days ? It was just your imagination.

Mr. Barrett was chatting a few feets away, and as Sarah approached, he gave her a worried look.

"Ms. Williams, you look confused. Maybe you should go home, don't you think ?"

"You're right, sir. Well, I will see you on Monday, I have a few things to discuss with Judge Marden. Have a nice evening." Sarah said, shaking his hand.

"Take care of yourself, you really don't look very well."

Sarah went out of the building, feeling the wind on her neck. She shivered. It was much colder than when she was on that balcony.

And you were here alone, Sarah. Don't be stupid.

An empty cab was waiting in front of her. She remembered her hallucination's words.

It's ridiculous, I live a few blocks away. Plus, this is a very calm area. I don't risk anything.
Turning her back to the cab with a "Hmpf!", she walked down the street, a determined look on her face.

But almost five minutes later, something alarmed her.
A strange noise.
She haven't noticed it until now, because of the rain, but as she was in that little street, it reverberated on the walls.
Footsteps.
Someone was following her.

"She didn't listen to me ! I still see it ! Do something !"

"If it's her fate, then let it be."

"Don't be stupid ! You don't want that to happen ! Help her ! If it's not for her, do it for me !"

It was a man. She could hear his footsteps getting faster.
Without thinking twice, Sarah ran.
The man was following closely, so she turned in the first intersection she saw.

Aw, crap. Wrong choice Sarah.

Dead end.

"Good. You surrender. You sure can run fast." the man said, smirking.

Panic ran through Sarah's body. Her back on the wall, she was trapped here. She looked up and shivered. She saw that face somewhere.
Then it rushed in her head. The trial, the murderer, his smirk, his glance when he was sentenced to death...Who was he looking for?

"You..."

"Oh you don't remember? Think a bit more, Ms. Prosecutor." he grinned, stepping forward.

"You're his brother. You're Ian Craff."

"Well done! And you, you killed my brother, you bitch!" he spat, caging her violently between his arms.
She tried to push him with all her strength, screamed, and she was almost sure she hit his face.

And then she finally felt it.

That warmth on her stomach. That sticky feeling.
Blood.
He had stabbed her. And she was dying here, on that cold ground, in her beautifully boring lawyer outfit.

Ian Craff lifted her head and whispered in her slowly deafening ears.
"You know, I first wanted it to be slower. But I will just leave you here. I like the poetry of that scene, almost as much as I liked it when I discovered that you were absolutely persuaded that Jake was the only murderer." he said, laughing.
"You...too...How..." Sarah hardly coughed.
"Well, I'm more discreet. My brother was a stupid show-off. Now stop talking, love, otherwise you will die way too fast, and that would be boring."

Sarah's vision went blurry. She could hear Craff's footsteps echoing as he turned his back to her and started to leave, a content smile on his face.

Her breathing slowed. She slowly closed her eyes.
And smiled faintly.

Toby, I'm coming...

Soooo ? How was it ? Do I continue ? I'm not very good with beginnings, so I take any advice you can give me !
Thanks for reading and see you in chapter two !