Disclaimer: I do not own the characters Shido or Jareth. But all the other characters are mine.
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Chapter 2: "The Tree"
The stranger's hand was now just above me. I looked up and took it graciously. This hand was warm and soft, which was surprising to me considering the weather. But anyway, I put my hand on its hand and stood up. I could not see the face of the figure but something told me that I was going to be okay. Suddenly the figure pulled its hood back and exposed its face. It was woman; a very beautiful one in fact. She had long brown hair, and purple eyes. I also noticed that her ears were pointed at the top. Which indicated to me, that she was an elf.
"Hello" I tried to say, but her index finger went to the front of my mouth which told me to stop talking. Then she looked around herself and signaled me to follow her. She would not speak the entire time that we were walking. She led me to the forest at the right side of the Labyrinth. Walking in, chills went down my spine. Not because it was cold, but because I was frightened; thinking about what was to happen. As we got deeper into the woods, it became darker and darker; till I could no longer see her. I felt a hand on my shoulder. It startled me. A lantern was lit and the woman was now in front of me. She was pointing to a tree that was in the distance. But the tree had a door carved out of the trunk. I asked her if she wanted me to go in. She motioned 'yes'. I asked her if she was going to come too. So finally she spoke.
"Yes I am coming too. You must stick by me, and never look behind you once you are inside the tree." She told in a stern but beautiful voice. I nodded my head and I once again began to follow her. She walked in and was trailing down the halls, and passage ways. I would never find my way around alone. Finally she stopped in front of another door. She knocked on the door and then blew the candle out. I was going to ask her why she did that but the door opened, and there stood a second figure. She and the second figure were speaking elfish so I could not understand what they were saying. The figure in the door way moved over and allowed the woman and I to enter. I never found out her name, during all that time. I was not allowed to speak inside the tree, therefore not allowed to ask her, her name.
The room that we entered was very dark as well. There were no candles lit. I had to allow my eyes to adjust to the darkness. The figure that had greeted us at the door was now seated at a large chair. And the woman was standing next to it. I said nothing to either of them. Then the seated figure spoke.
"You are Nicolle correct?" The figure asked.
"Why yes I am. How did you know?"
"Because I know these things."
"I see." I gathered by the sound of its voice that it was a man. But I still did not know who he was. My eyes had not fully adjusted yet. And from what I could see I saw the woman lifting her hand a lot, as though she was stoking his hair.
"Nicolle I must tell you something." There is a man, a man that watches you every day. He sits down by the window and watches. Every move that you make is watched by him. You are never a lone." He sounded concerned. I gasped at the thought of this. And I tried to figure out who it was.
"This not some one that you have met Nicolle." The woman said. I was frightened and confused, how could she have known my thoughts? Finally I was able to make out the man. He had purple hair, long past his shoulders; eyes of a cat, their color, yellow. I could also see that two of his teeth were sharp and pointy. But his expression was simple and calm. Very welcoming. This was the man that I had seen a few days back. He looked up to the woman and said her name.
"This woman here, is Steph. She will be helping you, when it is needed."
"What are you talking about?"
"You are to avoid this man. Because once you see him, he will lure you closer to him. There will be no stopping him. He is an evil man. Not to be trusted."
"What is his name?"
"I can not tell you that."
"Then how shall I know that this is the man I should watch out for?"
"That you are to figure out."
"But that is not fair!" I cried.
"Well there is nothing that I can do."
"They why am I here?"
"Never mind that, all will reveal itself in due course."
"You are not making sense to me."
"You will figure it out sooner or later." He stood up looking at me. "You must go now, you have been away too long." He said walking over to me, and pushing towards the door.
"But how do I get back, to the street? I do not know my way around this tree." But when he pushed me through the doorway I was back in front of the bakery. I jumped when I heard someone call me. Turning around I saw Jake closing up the bakery.
"Oh, hello Jake."
"Nicolle what are you still doing here?"
"Oh I ah…I ah…I'm not sure."
"You are crazy to still be out here. Is there anything that I can help you with?"
"No I am fine thank you."
"Well go home before you catch your death. And your bread is getting cold." He said picking it up off the ground where it was left when I fell. He brushed it off and handed it to me.
"Thank you." I said.
"You're welcome now get home." He replied walking away. I watched him leave. He turned around and waved to me. I smiled to him but I did not wave back. I was thinking, 'what if it is him' but then remembered that the man said that it was not someone that I have met. Still watching him, I saw that he disappeared into the snow. Only the imprints of his boots remained. I turned back around and began to walk home.
