Chapter 2
Sarah was now 18 years old and had just graduated from high school. She was excited and nervous at the same time. The last two years seemed to drag on forever. There was no career she was particularly interested in. Acting had always been something she wanted to do. That's what her mother did, but after her first trip through the Labyrinth, reality seemed to be everything. She no longer felt the passion for acting as she once did, but she decided that acting was the only thing that really suited her. So that's what she was going to college to study. Her heart ached. She hadn't heard from Jareth since he had returned her home with his necklace two years ago. She wore it everyday, all the time.
Sarah sat in her room thinking about Jareth and what had happened to them the last time they were together. Suddenly a strong breeze blew through her window. Jareth? she wondered. No, Sarah don't get your hopes up, she told herself. Yet if he was going to come anytime soon, now would be the time. A white owl swooped into her bedroom. It shifted form until a man stood before her. He didn't say anything and Sarah just stood there stunned for a moment. "Oh, Jareth." She ran and collapsed in his arms. "I've missed you so much."
"Shhh," he said. "I know. It's alright."
"I knew you would come. Oh. Here." She took off his necklace and put it over his head.
"Sarah, you know why I'm here."
"I know and I'm ready."
"Are you sure you still want to do this?" he asked her.
"Of course." She looked into his eyes. "There isn't anything I want more than to spend the rest of my life with you."
"Where are your parents?"
He knew. She didn't know how, but somehow he knew. "They've gone down south. My stepmother's sister died in a car crash. They've gone to her funeral and took Toby with them. I couldn't go because I had exams to write. They won't be back for a few weeks. But how can I leave? When they get back and see that I'm not here they'll wonder where I am. I can't tell them where I'm going."
"There are ways . . ." he said, then began to sing to her with that voice she longed to hear again.
"Sometimes you get so lonely
Sometimes you get nowhere
I've lived in that Underground
I've lived there all my life
Please be mine
Share my life
Stay with me
Be my wife
Sometimes you get so lonely
Sometimes you get nowhere
I've lived in that Underground
I've lived there all my life
Please be mine
Share my life
Stay with me
Be my wife
Sometimes you get so lonely."
She took his hands and pulled him over to the bed. They sat down. "I always pictured my wedding in a church with all my friends and family, but I guess the only family I have is my father, stepmother, and brother and I don't have any friends."
"You should consider yourself lucky. That's more than I have."
"I'm sorry, Jareth. I know you don't like talking about it, but . . ."
"It's alright. You can ask me anything."
"How many years ago was it when you were wished away? Do you know?"
"It would be almost 40 years by your time but in the Labyrinth it would be many more."
"Then your parents are probably still alive."
Jareth got excited. He had never thought of the possibility of meeting them.
"We must find them, then."
"Oh, I'm sorry Jareth. I don't know why I brought that up."
"I must find out why they wished me away. Perhaps they didn't mean it, like you.
Maybe they regret saying the words."
"But how will we find them? Do you know their names?"
"No."
"Wait. There must be records kept in the Labyrinth. Maybe they might tell us
about them."
"We did have a bookkeeper who kept records but I saw no use for him and
banished him from the castle –" He turned away, ashamed by what he had done in the past and for reminding her of what he had been like."
"It's okay Jareth. I know what you were like and what you did, but I don't care. I know what you're like now and that's all that matters. Now let's go back to the Labyrinth and try to find that bookkeeper."