Chapter One: Home Again

Sarah Williams was finally back. She was home. And she was exhausted. It took a thirteen-hour car trip to get here from her apartment in New York, not to mention all the traffic getting out of the city. All Sarah wanted to do right then was curl up on her old bed. She sighed as she lugged her heavy suitcase up the porch steps. It was about seven o'clock in the evening, and it was starting to rain. When she thought about it, it was actually a lot like the night she had wished her younger brother, Toby, away all those years ago. She still, to this day, has never told a soul about her adventure. Not even Toby himself. She had even hidden the little red book, The Labyrinth, from him so she'd never have to explain it to anyone. In fact, the book was currently up in her old bedroom, under a loose floorboard. She didn't even bother to take it with her. That part of her life was over. No more making stupid wishes to Goblin Kings anymore. No, she had other things- grown up things- that she dealt with now. Like how she was going to pay the rent this month. There's a big issue. You can't just run through a Labyrinth filled with dangers to solve that one. Sara sighed. She was twenty-five years old, and she still hadn't found a stable, high paying job. Originally, she had wanted to be an actress, just like her mother. But as she went through high school, she realized she wanted to be an author. She loved making up stories and magical tales. But even while she had the most magical job a woman in her twenties could get, she still faced a harsh reality. No being whisked away on to the Underground on this one. Being an author wasn't exactly what she had planned on. It was hard enough to actually get someone to buy her books, and while she was currently looking for another job so she could earn more, nobody wanted to hire her. After all, what do you do with a B.A. in English?

The door suddenly was thrown open, and Sarah realized she was staring off into space. "Sarah!" A little boy in a transformers t-shirt screeched as her flung himself onto her. "I've been waiting for you forever!" he cried. "Toby! It's so great to see you again, buddy!" Sarah's stepmother, Karen, suddenly appeared, wearing a smile on her face. "Hello, Sarah. How was the drive?" Karen hadn't changed much in the ten years Sarah had been back in the Aboveground. Sure, she had aged, but it wasn't that noticeable, since she died her hair to get rid of any grays, and had hardly any new wrinkles. "Fine, thanks." Sarah smiled back. They hadn't developed a mother-daughter relationship, but they got along much better after Sarah's adventure. Sarah lugged her suitcase in the house and up the stairs, all during which Toby was chattering about his life since the last time he'd seen her. "-and then I ended up getting an A in math, science, and English!" Sarah smiled at her little brother. He had grown so much in the last her since she had seen him. "That's great, Toby! And guess what good little boys who do well in school get?" Toby's eyes widened in expectation. "A present! You got me a present, Sarah?" Sarah smiled and pulled out a wrapped box. Toby happily tore off the wrapping paper. "An Optimus Prime? I wanted one of these so bad! Thanks, Sarah!" Toby ran up and hugged her, then proceeded to excitedly unwrap his new action figure. Sarah smiled, and then tiredly walked into the kitchen. "Sarah! You finally made it here! Toby's been on edge for hours waiting for you to arrive!" A middle-aged man grinned while sitting at the kitchen table, drinking a beer. Sarah smiled. "Hey, dad. I finally made it. I am tired, though, so I'm going to hit the hay. Okay?" She asked. Her dad smiled. "Fine with me, sweetheart. I'll see you in the morning." Sarah turned and headed up stairs. On the way to her room, she stopped by Toby's. "Hey Toby, I'm going to get some rest. Do you want a story? Or are you to old for those anymore?" She teased. She knew he would never turn down a good bedtime story. "No way! I'll never be to old, Sarah!" Toby grinned and grabbed her hand and led her over to his bed. "Okay, Okay! So, what do you want to hear today?" Toby smiled. "How about this one?" he said as he pulled out a little red book. "Where," she whispered. "did you find that?" He smiled. "Under one of the floor boards in your old room. I was exploring it when I accidently tripped on the loose boards, and found it. Have you ever read it?" Sarah shook her head slowly. "I don't think we should read that one. How about I tell you the story of the Princess Bride? You always loved that one." She desperately tried to change the subject. Toby frowned. "I've heard that one a bagillion times! I want a new one! Why won't you read this one to me? I really want to hear it." He cocked one of his eye brows at her. Sarah swallowed. "Alright. I'll… I'll read this one." She slowly picked up the book and opened it to the first page. "Once upon a time…" She began her story. Toby slowly began to fall asleep as she read him the story of the Labyrinth, and by the time she had finished, he was sound asleep. She leaned down and kissed his forehead. She was about to leave the room when she noticed the window was open, and letting in some rain. That's weird. She thought. I could have sworn that was closed. She walked over and closed it. But just before she closed the curtains, she caught a glimpse of a pair of two white wings fluttering away.

So, this is my second story. Hope you love it. But if you do, you have to review. Just a warning, because if I don't get some reviews, I may not finish this one. Ps, It all belongs to the people who made the Labyrinth. PPs, Avenue Q song title there. Couldn't resist. Love you, Livvy