The Goblin Train

Claire Desiree stood in front of the train stop and smiled as the wind blew though her short, uneven red hair. She was thankful she had worn her shawl. As she waited for the train, she fingered the artificial leaves that were sewn to the hem.

She made the daily commute from Bluegrass to Laurence and back Monday through Friday to teach a twelfth-grade English class at Caliber High. She loved her students and wouldn't give them up for the world. For once she thought she had found one who understood exactly what she was trying to teach. She was trying to teach that things aren't always what they seem. Sometimes over thinking is required.

Only a few more minutes until her train arrived. Claire threw her head back and sighed. Her messenger bag was already heavy with books and lesson plans. She put her hands on her hips and smiled. Today was a good day.

Claire glanced down at her watch. 5:15. The trains would be pulling in any second now. Even as she thought it, she heard the tell tale sound of the train. She stepped towards the door as it opened and boarded the train. She was on her way to Bluegrass. There was no doubt that that little town had let her down. She had wanted to be a college professor, but she had only been able to get her Masters Degree .

Taking a seat, Claire deposited her book bag beside her and went digging through it. Soon she had found what she was looking for. It was a hardback, leather-bound book that her student Sarah had handed given her that afternoon before the end of school. On the front in small, peeling gold letters were printed the words The Labyrinth. If Sarah had recommended it, then no doubt it would be an interesting read.

Claire remembered the discussion with Sarah well. After the bell had rung Claire had watched as her students scrambled to get out of their last class. Sarah had stayed though. It wasn't surprising to Claire. Sarah would stay whenever she got the chance so that she could receive critique on her writing from the English teacher. Claire was happy to oblige, finding it a good opportunity to teach Sarah how cultivate her skill and see the world differently. Today, however, Sarah had left her with this book and left having to look after her little brother Toby. Before she had left she had told Claire that it had been a real eye opener for her.

At six o'clock, Claire found herself stepping off of the train and onto that familiar station that was home. She left the station and found herself getting into her worn old Volkswagen bug. She then cranked the key and sped off into the familiar and uniform.

Before long, Claire found herself turning the key in her door and stepping into her living room. She walked towards the kitchen and set a kettle on to boil water. As she placed the French Vanilla tea bag in the cup, she caught the fragrant smells of her favorite tea. Just as Claire finished adding her sugar, the kettle begun to whistle. She turned the stove off and poured the scalding hot water into her little tea cup. Grabbing the cup by the handle, she ascended the steps to the upstairs level of her house.

Claire decided to go to the balcony and read the book that Sarah had given her. She hopped up on the safety railing and perched precariously but comfortably on the rail. She opened the book and began the story, taking sips of her tea as she read.

The sun had long since set when Claire finally closed the book and sighed. She leaned her head against the wall and laid the book on the cast iron patio table beside her.

"I wish the goblins would come and take me away right now," Claire muttered under her breath.

Suddenly, Claire felt a strange sensation of falling. Her first thought was Oh god, I've fallen from my balcony and now I'm going to die. But to her surprise, she hit cold stone with much less force then she had expected. Her hands and cheek stung and she was struggling to regain her breath. She heard voices around her. Then someone poked her with what she believed was a stick. Lifting herself to her hands and knees, she opened her eyes and came face to face with a wrinkly little goblin.

Claire's breath caught in her lungs as she stared into it's eyes.

"Perddy lady have big fall," the goblin chuckled.

"You're not kidding," She said breathlessly.

Come on. Get up and dust yourself off. You need to find out where you are. Claire thought getting to her feet. Clearly you have suffered some major trauma.

"You are something of a novelty aren't you?" a voice behind her asked.

"That's what my students tell me," Claire replied turned around to see who possibly could be invading her dream now.

Claire studied the man and made a mental note of his curiously strange appearance. He wore a black shirt with black pants and a cape with a collar that stood up to frame his exotically angled face and wild blond hair. His upturned eyebrows made her arch her own in interest. His eyelids were dark and his thin lips were curled into a smile. Claire found herself blushing as she realized she found this man slightly attractive.

"What's your name, dove?"

"Claire Desiree."
"Congratulations, Claire," the man said sarcastically. "Welcome to the Labyrinth. You're mine now, dove."

"Now, I'm sorry but I don't believe I caught you name Mr. Master," Claire said defiantly, crossing her arms.

"I am Jareth. I am the Goblin King and ruler of this labyrinth."

Claire smirled and replied, "I'll have you know I'm not one to be owned."

"You wished yourself here knowing the full implications but you still refuse?" Jareth asked sighing. "There's no one to run the labyrinth for you, you know?"

"I know, but I have an Idea. Can anyone run the labyrinth for me?" Claire asked sneakily.

"Yes," Jareth confirmed uncertainly.

"Well, then I want to run for myself," Claire said grinning.

Jareth laughed and walked to the window. Claire hung back, but when he beckoned her with a gesture of his hand she walk to the window and gazed out. She gasped at the enormity of the labyrinth. The twist turns seemed to writhe and slither like snakes.

"Is it... alive?" she asked tentatively.

"Very alive, Dove. It changes constantly and within it lie horrible monsters that have a hunger for human flesh. Are you still sure you want to run the Labyrinth?"

"Of course! I can't be tied down here for too long," Claire chuckled. This was all part of her dream, right?

"You sure are a cheeky little human," Jareth said raising an eyebrow.

"Well if you're going be me you have to be," Claire said.

Before she had even finished the sentence she found herself in a strange place. To her left there was a high stone wall and anywhere else she looked was barren wasteland. She looked around for a sign of someone, anyone.

"There's no one out here," a voice behind her said calmly.

Claire turned around to face him. "Then how am I supposed to find my way through this thing?"

"You have thirteen hours to figure that out," Jareth replied an evil smile stretching across his face.

Claire sighed and turned towards the wall. "Can you at least tell me how to get in?"

She was answered with nothing but the buzzing of pixie's wings.