I stand and face the window. The rain is pelting the glass, making a wonderful noise in the silence of the night. The occasional crash of thunder is shocking and the flashes of lightening are surprising and leave me feeling electrified. There's an eerie feel to the house - stepmother and Father left with Toby for a day. They should be on their way home from Philadelphia, where they took him to some sort of speech therapist. They didn't even ask if I wanted to go.

I turn my attention to the window. There is nothing to see outside but the faint outlines of the trees that sit outside. They are too far away to be making any noise upon the glass, and I am confused. Where is that mysterious tapping coming from?

I have decided it wasn't from outside, at least not outside my window, when there is a sudden flash of white. I whip around just in time to see it - a snowy owl, one I have drawn many times. Often, it sits upon the shoulder of Jareth, who pets it lovingly.

I peer at the owl, confused at it's appearance. Why would it be out on such a stormy night? I popped open the window, soaking the front of my shirt. My hands slide on the wet sill, and I cling on to the white-painted wood, leaning out. "Why are you here? Isn't it hard to fly on such a crazy night?" I ask it, as if it would answer.

I had come to the conclusion that it was, in fact, just an ordinary owl with no connection to my delusional state of mind when it flew over my head and into my room. I gasp, putting my hands up to protect myself and practically falling out of the open window.

There is a tug at the back of my shirt and an arm wraps around my waist, pulling me back in. I was in no real danger, but it was nice to be saved by...

I whip around, ripping out of the grasp and facing the stranger. I sucked in a breath to scream when I realized who it was.

Hair wet and face ashen, I almost did not recognize him. "J-Jareth?" I gasped, mouth open in an 'o'.

"Say the right words, Sarah." he whispered, eyes flickering around the room nervously. I could see some sort of fear in his eyes, so unfamiliar for his character. "Say the words!" He hissed, more urgently.

I bit my lower lip, my forehead creasing in concern. "What words? I don't want you to take Toby!" I spluttered.

"You have to say the right words, Sarah." he murmured, taking a step towards the window.

I backed against the sill, hands gripping the wooden surface, the edge biting into my lower back.

He took another step and swept me aside easily. He sat upon the sill, one foot out of the window, the other on the wood. He looked at me for a moment, then raised a hand, producing the bubble once more.

"You know the words, Sarah." His feet did not slide at all on the slick surface as he put his other leg out the window and looked at me once more. "You just have to say them."

He tossed the bubble in my direction and jumped.

I grabbed the clear sphere as it came towards me, clenching it in my still wet hands. I could hardly make sense of what had just happened, but through my confusion I made it to the window, just in time to see the owl fade into the night sky.