Chapter 2: Variety is the Spice of Life
Sarah sighed to herself as she tossed aside the letter from Alice onto her coffee table. Alice had invited her to spend a few weeks, 'if she happened to be in the area', in her new apartment in England. Her childhood friend having recently moved there because starting in the fall she would be continuing her studies in psychology at the graduate level. Having a friend abroad did mean there was always a couch available to her if she ever so needed it, but it also meant facing a certain degree of jealously. Especially when you were the one trapped at the same university you had been attending for the past several years. It did not matter that some of the best professors in the country were presiding over your graduate program. It would have been nice to just be away from it all and open a new chapter in your life. Not to mention by staying within one's home country it meant the difference between going on 'research' trips every summer or having to press departments and professors for research grants in order to travel. Shrugging to herself, she decided perhaps staying where she was, in the end, was the better option. Besides when one is pursuing further studies in journalism & creative writing with a minor in Celtic Studies, one will eventually end up traveling at some point and will begin to long for the familiarity of home.
Sarah, just like all good college students who have recently finished up their undergraduate studies, decided the best way to spend her summer before returning to her corner of the library was to travel. With a handful of friends in various locations in Europe, did she plan out her holiday for the summer. It had taken a fair amount of time to coordinate with people in order to inform them of where she would be and when, so if they happened to choose to meet up, they could. She didn't expect to meet up with half of the people she had spoken with, but at least she would meet up with Alice and that at least would be fun. Once her final list had been compiled, with additions given in case plans changed depending on arrangements with friends, did she finally drop it off at her father's home.
It was not until after she had left the list in the hands of her father did she immediately start to regret visiting her family on a weekend. She could have made a much easier, and more to the point, earlier escape if she had decided to go during the day at some point during the week. The source of her troubles during the visit was a small pipsqueaked terror named Toby.
Toby was of that age, which begins at five and slowly changes into something else at around eight, where he now knows the world doesn't revolve around just him, but still manages to believe he is indestructible from everything in it. This coupled with some stage fighting moves, which he learned from his now regretful sister, makes him the bane of existence to all the adults in his life. Not to misunderstand him, he could be the sweetest kid when he wanted to be, but that's the point, when he wanted to be. Being kind and sweet was more about when it was a convenience to him and his situation. It was only a matter of time before this would all change and he would settle into being a generally good, albeit it, mischievous kid. However for Sarah, it meant having a small child who adored her, but one who also liked to cause problems for her as all good little brothers do.
During her last visit to drop off the list she had encountered a particularly hyper Toby. As soon as she had stepped through the door was she immediately dragged off in the direction of the park to play not only on the swings and jungle gym, but also to play catch and soccer. Thankfully it had started to rain a few hours later, so they had to head back home. Upon arriving home, she wished she was still at the park dealing with Toby. She had barely made it into the foyer before her parents began and she did not think it was possible for parents to ask that many questions in such a short amount of time without taking more breaths. After calmly suggesting they let her take a seat on a couch or chair before they continue with their interrogation of more details with respect to her trip, did she finally receive five seconds peace before the mayhem began again.
It had been a number of years since Sarah had actually considered her stepmother to be all that 'evil and wicked'. Now Karen was more of a partial maternal figure who, when she needed it, could be a good resource of information for Sarah. The change between them had occurred gradually, but it had pleased her father immensely to see the two women getting along. If they were getting along, it meant he no longer had to be the middle party trying to keep order and peace between the two sides. The major contributing factor to the changes was when both sides started to show some gratitude towards one another. Karen slowly began to notice and thank Sarah for what she was doing for the family and in return Sarah also noticed how Karen was also helping. Of course one must understand, that they still aren't quite two peas in a pod, but there was enough mutual respect and care for things to work; at times even perhaps share in some mother-daughter-like moments. The best example for this is when Sarah received from Karen on her eighteenth birthday a book about social observations and practical etiquette. Sarah had laughed at this gift and the underlying hint to it; 'perhaps if you were in more proper social situations you would find a proper boyfriend you could bring home to your parents'. It wasn't like she didn't have the occasional boyfriend, but parents will be parents and will always look out for your best interest, especially when one is on their own in the world.
After adding details to her already detailed itinerary, did Sarah finally manage to escape the clutches of her parents' home. This was not without wishing them all a fond farewell and receiving a nice sum to help her pay her way through her travels. Her father had told her it was a graduation present, but Sarah knew it wasn't that alone. In many ways a thank-you for everything she had done with respect to the family. Also, perhaps it was a bit of a bribe to remember to not forget about them and to bring them all back something nice from her travels.
Hooking her keys onto their proper hook next to the kitchen light, and then grabbing a bottle of water from her fridge, she finally settled down into her overstuffed couch. Staring from her seat on the couch she perused her bookcase for anything she might want to bring along with her. Half an hour later she found two books which she would bring along and if she finished those, then there was always the option of buying another one during her travels if she needed to. Picking up the books she headed through the apartment to her bedroom.
Sighing she entered the room. She had forgotten the state which she had left in before leaving. There were clothes of all shapes and sizes piled on every available surface. Oh how she wished faeries wouldn't have just come and done all this needless packing for her, but of course she knew they wouldn't. Faeries were often little vicious, biting little things that cared only for their own kind. Looking around Sarah, but now with a faint smirk, decided she may as well start at one end of the room if she ever hoped to finish packing before she planned to go to bed. Realistically, it shouldn't take too long, but these things always managed to take longer than what one expected them to.
After working for a few solid hours she finally managed to get everything in order and packed into a few suitcases. Now, all that was left was to take whatever clothes she decided not to bring and put them back in their proper place. When she was setting a few of her unwanted cosmetics into her dressing table did her fingers brush against something. Taking out the object a few newspaper clippings dropped out from between the leaves. Ah, it was her copy of the Labyrinth. She had nearly forgotten she still kept in there. Occasionally now and then she would take it out to look through it and remind herself of that fateful night, but most of the time it lived within her drawer; having been placed there not long after her return from the Labyrinth. Smiling down at it, she traced the golden letters with her fingers. Had it really been about six, almost seven years since she had gone through the Labyrinth? It seemed like it had been much longer than that, but Toby's age attested to this truth.
The Labyrinth, something Sarah only let herself occasionally think about. She knew if she let herself start to think about everything which happened during those thirteen hours, then she would lose a whole weekend at least to it. Her memories of the time she spent in the Labyrinth were always very fond memories. It had been a time in which she had grown up rapidly and realized many truths about herself; most of them being obvious, but to her. During her time she realized she would in fact give up her dreams and hopes of finding someone who understood her for another. From this she learned all responsibilities did not need to be bad ones. She also learned she did not wish to be an island cast alone at sea, that doing things for another where you did not have an invested interest at stake could be rewarding. Also to love someone, like she did her brother, and be loved in returned was better than being on that island alone and you could reach more things by having such a support system.
Her support system during her time of the Labyrinth had given her the special gift of allowing her to call upon them whenever she needed them. She had called upon Hoggle, Ludo and Sir Didymus over the years, but recently she just did not have a need to. It was not like she was making a conscious effort to stop calling them, but she had no reason. It had just ended up being an unspoken agreement between them. Oh, she would always keep their time together next to her heart, but she saw them now as presence which was always there but not necessarily always physically present. And perhaps one of the last lessons the Labyrinth had tried to teach her was right. Sometimes to need is to let go. This however, brought up a whole new set of issues.
To need is to let go was an almost silent promise between her and the Goblin King. At first Sarah did not realize completely what he had offered to her. Of course she had found him handsome, dangerous and all that, but what bothered her was just how it ended. She understood, as best someone at the age of fifteen could, what he was offering her. There had just been such a great power struggle in those last few moments of her time in the Underground. Would she have taken back what she did and said? No, of course not. Of course, now her being older and having time to let all of her thoughts stew she realized a few things. Most of what she realized made a nice knot in her stomach because she knew just to what extent what sort of, what she could only call, friend she gave up. They really were alike in more ways than she cared to admit to, but she still gave it all up in the end. Even thinking now about what occurred in those final few moments brought back the tears she had shed just after leaving the Underground.
Shaking her head a few times, she quickly stuffed the red book back in its home before making her way to her balcony. She did not need to think about any of this right now. There was no point in getting upset over something which has already passed, especially when she was supposed to be leaving early the following afternoon for a much deserved holiday. Staring out over the city before her, she watched as the sun began to set over the tops of the buildings. Something about the colour of the sky brought back memories of when she was first in the… No, no, no! She would not think of that now. With a sigh and while rubbing her necklace absently, she continued to watch the sun set reflecting its light against the mirrored glass of the buildings before her.
Yes, it was almost time, the shadowed figure thought to himself. Only a few more moments and he would be free to capture the girl and complete his mission. It really would not be all that difficult considering the girl lived on her own. No, it would be quite simple, but one must not become too sure of one's self because that is a sure route to failure.
Leaning against the pillar he crossed his arms, strumming his fingers against his upper arm. Yes, only a few more moments now to go.
Sarah watched as finally the fun dipped below the horizon and continued to watch for a few moments longer. After deciding she still had much to do before heading off to bed she began to push herself away from the balcony's rail, that is when she bumped into something, or rather, someone.
Before she could turn around and catch a glimpse of whomever it was, or wonder if she really had forgotten to lock her door, but perhaps somewhere in between thinking about how someone could get into a secure building with a security desk and contemplating screaming, did they quickly grab her and at the same put a hand over her mouth. She did not even have the opportunity to try and free herself when the world suddenly when black.
There, it was done.
MQ: Another chapter done, but I may have to go into hiding soon. My prof unfortunately found the hole I was hiding in and promptly dragged me out of it during the middle of writing this. I managed to sneak back in for a few hours in order to finish it and post it. [And yes, literally actually dragged.
I must thank all my friends for possibly stealing from their lives at certain parts of this story. Not to mention using all the children I coach as inspiration. If it weren't for those little devils… I don't know what I'd do.
There is actually a very amusing book on Social Observances, which is a really cute read. I believe it was contributed to "Au Fait", but you have to like reading books published in 1896.
Also, I would also like to thank those of you who have already started to review. You guys rock.
Now as for the story: I do plan, hopefully, to continue on with this story on. It's just a matter of outsmarting a professor. Just so it's clear, timeline wise this is pre-first chapter. I wholeheartedly believe at time that sometimes the way forward is the way back.
And also I hope I haven't messed too much up in this chapter w.r.t. splicing between the movie and what I remember from the novel. [It's been many moons since I've read it.
Disclaimer: No, the labyrinth, in all its glory, belongs to all those creative people such as Jim Henson. [And the novel version, to A.C.H. Smith I only borrow it for my own creative amusement.