Chapter 1

"...And what about your love life, Sarah! Tell us more!" An enthusiastic voice boomed above the rest of the reporters and dozens cameras flashed in agreement. Sarah Williams exhaled with a reluctant smile before her agent chimed in.

"Miss Williams is a very busy woman at the current moment – her biography is due in March and filming has just begun for her lead in The City's Girl, I am almost certain that Miss Williams has very little time for companionship at the current moment." Julia, Sarah's agent, spoke with eloquence and shot a dignified look to the paparazzi. The cameras flashed incessantly and the young actress attempted to avoid blindness from their glare.

More hands shot up from the persistent crowd, and Sarah chose one at random.

"Daily Mail – Sarah, do you miss the Labyrinth?"

"W-What?" The brunette actress's eyes widened as she stammered.

The reporter looked around for a moment, perplexed before repeating his question.

"Do you miss the United States? We know you have not been in the United Kingdom for long but I am sure you will settle in. There's a huge fan base in the UK!" The reporter grinned, holding his portable microphone upwards.

Dumbfounded, Sarah stumbled upon her words again. "Y-Yes, well... The States are my home but... Huge fan base in the UK, yes..."

The cameras flashed again and the Daily Mail reporter lifted his brow before jotting something down on his notepad. Julia placed a hand upon Sarah's shoulder and took over.

"Sarah is thrilled to be stationed in the UK for the filming of The City's Girl, but everyone gets a little homesick." The actress's agent smiled and lifted a hand, motioning a halt. "No further questions at this time, thank you."

As the eager crowd dispersed, Sarah allowed herself to relax. Julia was floating between a number of different representatives, flashing a set of brilliant white teeth and exerting a presence nothing short of perfect. Julia knew exactly what to do and what to say – she could turn a determined paparazzi crowd around in moments. Julia's nickname was, 'the whip'.

Sighing, Sarah removed her microphone and set it gently on the table. An empty Styrofoam cup taunted her, reminding Sarah just how thirsty she was. The young actress had a habit of throwing back numerous cups of water during press conferences, it's what she did when she was nervous. Not only was she thirsty, but she now needed to have a bathroom break – part and parcel of her nervous habit.

"Julia," Sarah called out, "I'm just going to the bathroom, and it's down the corridor, on the left?" Julia turned and motioned for a security guard to step forward. "Of course, Andrew will accomp-", Sarah interjected with a wave of her hand, "No, no. I'd like to go alone. Andrew can just see to it that I find the restroom." Julia huffed but obliged and Andrew gently pulled Sarah's chair out and began to lead the way.

"Tough crowd, Sarah? You choked a bit in there." Andrew smiled warmly, looking down at the actress beside him. Andrew was at least 6'2 and was always sporting an infectious grin. "Yeah, something like that. I suppose I'm just feeling a little off." Sarah returned the gesture before slipping into the restroom and locking the door behind her. Once secured, the brunette woman slumped back into the threshold.

Labyrinth? Sarah thought, how could I have possibly thought the Daily Mail was asking me about the Labyrinth? Those sleeping pills make me drowsy, but goodness… The fluorescent lights in there must have been playing with me. Labyrinth? Jesus, how could anyone even know about-.

"Sarah?" came a soft, almost hushed voice.

"Sarah, are you there?"

The young woman froze, her eyes fixated on the panel of mirrors above the bathroom faucets. She was imagining things again, she was sure of it. It couldn't, it just couldn't be…

"My Sarah, don't you remember?"

"Hoggle!" Sarah almost yelped and ran towards the mirrors, placing both hands on the porcelain sinks to steady herself. It was Hoggle, the dwarf. Hoggle, one of Sarah's most trusted companions. A companion she had not laid eyes on in seven years.

"Sarah," Hoggle began, his eyes looking tired and vacant, "Sarah you must help us. The Labyrinth cannot continue, it is furious! Furious with Jareth, he is not fulfilling his Kingly duties. These past years, he has not fulfilled anything! When the Labyrinth is furious, it does things… Horrible things! You must help us, please, Sarah!" Hoggle was breathless, panting his frustration towards the glass separating them.

"What do you mean, 'not fulfilling his duties'? Hoggle, what has happened to Jareth?" Sarah questioned, folding her arms. The last thing she needed to think about was Jareth, horrible – vindictive Jareth.

Hoggle looked down, solemnly. He whispered towards the glass, "Sarah, it is heartbreak."

Heartbreak? Sarah thought. How could such a man be even capable of love, let alone heartbreak! Sarah had, very sufficiently, suppressed feelings of the Labyrinth and even of her friends who belonged there.

A loud knock came upon the restroom door and Andrew called out, wondering how long Sarah was going to take. Sarah shouted back that she was just fixing her makeup, she wouldn't take long.

"Hoggle, I have to go… I can't-"

"Please, Sarah. When you wish to travel here, remember – say your right words!"

The dwarf's image began to fade, leaving only Sarah's reflection mirroring back at her. Sarah pleaded for him to come back, but his mirage had faded into nothingness. The young woman dawdled, for a time, brooding over what had just happened. Her thoughts were only interrupted by Andrew's knocks of concern, to which Sarah complied with as she reluctantly left the restroom.