Playing With Fire
Chapter One
Sarah blinked the rain out of her eyes as she waited for the green hand to come up. She was tired. Bone tired. A full day of school didn't help, either. Struggling along the city streets in the rain seemed like the hardest thing she had ever done. Almost the hardest thing. Her trip to the labyrinth was never far from her mind, even after two years. She wished she could go back. She missed Hoggle, Ludo, and Sir Didimous. She especially missed…. "No!" Sarah corrected herself. "I do not miss him, and if I had never met him I wouldn't care!" She reached her apartment building and got on the elevator, shaking out her raincoat as she argued with herself out loud.
"He was arrogant and rude and insulting! He put me through hell and then still tried to make me stay with his little 'just fear me, love me!' crap."
Sarah searched through her pockets for her keys, letting herself in to the small living room.
"He didn't play by the rules! It wasn't fair!"
"You say that so often. I wonder what your basis for comparison is."
After a not-too-appetizing meal of cheeseburgers and watered-down soda, Sarah started to get ready for bed. As she was brushing her hair, the phone rang. Cradling it between her shoulder and ear, Sarah answered it.
"Hello?"
"Hey babe."
Sarah's face broke into a smile. It was James, her boyfriend. "Hey, you."
"You ok? You sound awful, hon."
"I'm ok, James. Just tired."
"Join the club. So I guess your not coming with the gang to catch a flick?"
"You guessed right."
"Alright hon. Get some sleep, ok?"
"I will."
"Ok. Bye."
"Bye."
As the phone clicked off, Sarah suddenly felt a little remorseful. She hadn't seen James for over a week, except for five-minute meetings here and there. Oh, well. She would've probably fallen asleep in the middle anyway. Sarah changed into a white nightgown and crawled into bed. She picked up the first book she saw on her bed table. Turning to the last chapter, she read it aloud, even though she knew it by heart.
"Through dangers untold, and hardships unnumbered, I fought my way here to the castle, beyond the goblin city; take back the child that you have stolen! For my will is as strong as yours and my kingdom as great…."
"Stop! Wait. Look Sarah, look what I'm offering you. Your dreams."
Sarah stopped. She could never remember that last line! "My kingdom as great….My kingdom as great….."
"I ask for so little. Just let me rule you, and you can have everything you want!"
"What?" Sarah's head shot up from the little book. "Is someone there?" She got up and walked behind the Chinese screen she had put up as a divider. "Hello?" No one was in the small apartment, but Sarah could have sworn she heard someone! "Imagination." She mumbled to herself as she crawled back into bed. Turning off the light, she rolled over and tried to sleep.
"Imagination? Was it, pretty Sarah?"
Chapter 2 coming soon….