Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Labyrinth's original characters(Sarah, Jareth, Goblins, Labyrinth creatures, etc.), except the ones that I made up(Butterfly, Mrs. Dixon, Carl, Trystan, etc.) for this story, which I also own. So no copying (at least not without my permission)! Thank you

Chapter 2: Creeping Surprise

"Dear Diary," The slightly crinkled pages read. Indeed, she had been keeping this diary for a long time. "I've recently realized that no one in this entire world understands me. At least, not like he did. Mistakes have become a big part of who I am. But why did it have to be Trystan who turned me down? I mean, he is so unique and exciting, and Carl is so boring, and goofy! I guess I just don't care much for what is considered normal these days… I need someone wild and exciting, even if he is a bit cruel."

Just as Sarah felt herself drifting off to another place and time altogether, her thoughts were forced to an abrupt stop. A bell was ringing loudly in the distance…. But wait, it wasn't a bell. It was a phone! And it was not in the distance, it was right beside her on the nightstand next to her rather child-like canopy bed. She looked at her watch; it was a quarter past six.

"You've got to stop spacing out like that," She scolded herself out loud, before picking up the phone in mid-ring. "Hello?"

"Sarah! How's my favorite girl in the whole wide world doing?"

She sighed. "Hi Carl." It was hopeless.

"I thought you were going out with Trystan tonight. Did you come home early? And why did Mrs. Dixon ask to talk to you after drama class? You aren't in trouble, are you?"

"One question at a time," She replied, pushing her long silky chestnut colored hair behind her ears. "Trystan treated me like I'm nobody. Again. And no, I'm not in trouble. Mrs. Dixon just wanted to have another girl-talk, like always."

He paused for a moment, as if carefully considering her words, before he began to speak. "Sarah, you know Trystan is just bad news. He'll only get you in trouble, and you know it. He would love you if he knew you like I know you."

Although Sarah couldn't see him, she was sure Carl was grinning now. She could almost see him, with his shiny metal braces, and thick glasses. And probably blushing to top it all off. At least he didn't have acne. Carl wasn't unattractive, just a little nerdy. She shook her head at the thought.

"I know rejection is a hard thing to deal with," He continued. "But after a while, at some point, you just have to accept it. Just like I do."

Sarah didn't know what to say. A vague movement caught her eye from the window. The barn owl just perched there, preening his elegant down feathers methodically. They were the soft color of sand and snow; he was truly a beautiful creature. The owl must have somehow sensed he was being watched, as he stopped and blinked at her.

"Click." Dazed, she hung up the phone and stared blankly at the owl. It was as if she were trying to remember something from long ago, although she couldn't entirely place it. The fluffy bird stared back at her, while ruffling his feathers and watching her menacingly. It was as if he mocked her.

"Sarah, are you alright?" Karen screeched as she threw open the door, and entered the room, uninvited.

"I'm fine," Sarah said, finding herself near the window. She jumped slightly, as she saw the owl spread his wings, and take flight. He must have been frightened, as he quickly took off into the cold, harsh night. The rain hadn't stopped.

"You were supposed to do the dishes. Why are they still not done? It's six thirty. And you have to put Toby to bed at eight."

"Why can't you put him to bed, like always?"

"Because I have a date, and I'm leaving soon! Honestly, Sarah. Why do I bother to tell you these things in advance if you're never going to listen? I did a good thing throwing all those distractions out."

"A date?!" Sarah ignored the last comment; it was no use arguing with Karen anyway. She had mentioned something about having business to handle, nothing about a date.

"Yes, Sarah. A date. As if it's any of your business. It's been almost a year since your father died. Did you honestly think that I would never move on? I think it's been long enough. Now, unless you have any more questions, I have to go now."

Before even waiting for an answer, Karen left Sarah's room. She didn't even have a chance to reply to her stepmother's harsh words. Almost a year?! Sarah's father had a heart attack, and Karen couldn't even wait a whole year before moving on to her next victim. 'At least Dad had a heart,' she thought.

Sarah threw herself on the bed and picked up the phone. "Hello, Carl?" her voice sounded annoyed, yet eager.

"Why did you hang up on me?"

"I didn't," Her mind somehow floated back to the owl incident. "Karen took the phone from me, and told me I have to do the dishes tonight. She's going on a date."

"Doesn't waste much time, does she?"

"My thoughts exactly… Hey Carl, do you still have that book I gave you to hide for me? Karen threw all my 'kid' stuff out months ago. Everything from my childhood is gone."

"The book you didn't want Karen to find?" He asked. "Sure. It's safe. I actually started reading it a few days ago. I'm almost finished. Does the girl ever make it out of the Labyrinth?"

"Um, yeah. She does," A sad look crossed Sarah's features. "Look, I'm going to need you to hide that for me for a little while longer. Karen still goes through my stuff."

"Sure, no problem, Sarah. It's so mean of her to keep doing that to you. Your book is safe with me, I promise."
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Carl was sitting alone in the darkened cave that was his room. His heart felt so empty, now that he wasn't talking to Sarah anymore. How could she be so cruel as to reject him like that? He wished he could make her understand…

But deep down, he had to be realistic. Sarah would never accept him as he was. While he wasn't the worst looking guy in the world, he certainly couldn't compare to the exotic charm of Sarah's crush. He had to face the facts, even if he didn't really want to. She would never want to be with a guy like him, and she'd never seen him as more than her geeky friend. In the midst of his agony, a splash of crimson caught his eye. The book.

If only the elaborate world of the Labyrinth were real. It couldn't be, could it? Carl picked up the small, ragged red book. It smelled faintly like Sarah. As his mind flickered past visions of the twisted maze, and it's strange inhabitants, he found himself wondering who the author was. As he picked it up, and opened it, there was no sign of the author anywhere. A book couldn't really have no author, could it?

"I wish…" He began. The words came tumbling out from his mouth before he even realized that he had spoken them.
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Toby was wobbling around the kitchen in his walker. Still a beginner, he looked a little lost. Sarah stood, still in her billowy black "borrowed" shirt, at the sink, scrubbing away. Her hands were becoming soggier by the minute. Karen had left long ago, leaving the two to fend for themselves, as best they could.

Although she couldn't explain why, Sarah felt very self-conscious. Tap, tap, tap. The raindrops had slowed to a steady rhythm. It was no longer pouring outside. "CRASH!" A flash of lightning right outside the window, which hovered directly above the sink, made her jump slightly.

"Why does Karen keep doing this to us?" She asked Toby, glancing at him as he wandered aimlessly about. "It's not fair!"

That was when she noticed a shadow, creeping up behind her. Sarah thought she sensed the presence of another person in the room with her. And she noticed a reflection in the gloomy window. She saw a face. His face. The face that haunted her throughout her dreams, even her daydreams and nightmares. His twisted smile seemed to mock her.

"You say that so often…." He said.
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Author's Note:
I think this story is getting to the good part now. Lol. Let's hope it keep getting better, though.
Gee, I wonder who it could possibly be that said that last line... Hmmm... (::shrugs::) Well, we'll see.
Sorry to leave everyone on a sort of cliffhanger here. Please review, and let me know what you think.
And as always, thanks,

-Kaline Reine