"Just two more isles, Toby," Sarah replied.
"Come on, Sarah!"
"Fine, we can skip the candy isle," she replied slyly.
"Ok just two more isles."
Sarah chuckled as they turned into the next isle: fruit. She bought some apples and oranges. She cringed as she passed the peaches - she hadn't so much as touched a peach since the incident six years ago. Suddenly, a man pushed passed her roughly, knocking her into the peach stand. Her elbow cut into one of the peaches and she heard a haunting voice in her ear.
THERES SUCH A SAD LOVE DEEP IN YOUR EYES A KIND OF PALE JEWEL OPE-
"No!" she screamed, the voice fading. 'No not again' she thought. The man that pushed her wore a trench coat and a hat that hid the top of his face in the shadows.
"Sorry," he mumbled, not sounding sorry at all; rather disappointed and the little of his face that was visible looked disappointed as well. He picked up the crushed peach and walked away.
"That was rude!" Toby shouted indignantly.
"Sh, Toby! It was an accident!" she said, although inside she couldn't agree more.
"Can we get the candy now," he whined.
"Sure, Toby," she replied, her thoughts still on the mysterious man.
XxXxXx
They arrived at Sarah's apartment and put the groceries away and Toby went to play in the guest room where he was staying while his parents were in Las Vegas.
"Toby!" Sarah called. "What do you want for dinner?"
"Donuts!" Toby called back.
"No."
"Why not?" he whined, joining her in the kitchen.
"Because they're not good for growing boys"
"They are for goblin boys."
"No they're not."
"Are too!"
"Are not!"
"Are too!"
"Are no-" deep breaths, Sarah thought, deep breaths. "Toby, even if they are, you are not a goblin."
"I wish I was."
"NO!" Sarah lost it completely. "DON'T YOU EVER SAY THAT AGAIN! I RISKED MY LIFE SO THAT YOU WOULDN'T BE ONE! DON'T YOU EVER WISH FOR THAT OR ANYTHING YOU DON'T REALLY MEAN!"
"SOMETIMES I WISH YOU HADN'T!"
"WHAT DID I JUST TELL YOU!" her patience was gone. "YOU DON'T MEAN THAT! DON'T EVER SAY THAT AGAIN!"
"FINE! YOU KNOW WHAT! I WISH THE GOBLINS WOULD COME AND TAKE YOU AWAY, RIGHT NOW!"
"No." Sarah's voice now full of terror, her anger had vanished and was now replaced with fear. "No, you did not just say that."
"Oh, but he did." said a smooth voice behind her.
Sarah froze. This was NOT happening. She grabbed Toby's hand and ran for the door only to find her path blocked by the Goblin King who had appeared in a spurt of glitter.
"You can't run Sarah," he said. Suddenly, he grabbed her by the hair violently, as she tried to run for the fire escape. He was nearly lifting her off her feet by her hair. Tears began to form in her eyes. He saw this and his grip slackened. Seeing her last chance for escape, she ran for the fire escape, only to find the Goblin King towering over her.
"I have waited many years for this, Sarah," he said dangerously. Sarah couldn't help but cower - he looked ready to hit her. "YOU ARE GOING TO THE UNDERGROUND WITH ME WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT!
"No! He didn't mean it! Did you Toby?" Her voice rising hysterically.
"N-no, I didn't mean it," Toby stuttered, the Goblin King glaring down at him.
"What's said is said" Jareth replied. "However, young Toby, I am obligated to give you a chance to get her back. You have thirteen hours in which to solve my Labyrinth or your sister will be mine forever. Although, that is the usual obligation given the fact that your age is still in the single digits, and I have full confidence that you cannot solve my Labyrinth you have thirteen days in which to solve it. Do not worry I have frozen time in your world so when you fail no time will have passed."
"No! He is too young! Let me run it for him!" Sarah pleaded, tears running down her face, although she was standing again.
"What, and let you win again? You must be mad Sarah! No he will run it himself." Jareth replied, still looking prepared to throw her against a stone wall.
"But-" Sarah started, but Jareth cut her off.
"No buts - it's over." he replied. He dropped a crystal and she collapsed against him in a deep sleep. "That's much better," he said, scooping her up. "Thirteen days," Jareth added, backing up and disappearing as he revealed the Labyrinth that had replaced the fire escape.