Chapter 3: Wherever You May Be

Sarah had said, screamed out loud and written down just how much she needed her friends from The Labyrinth so many times she had lost count. Hoggle, or perhaps all of her friends, were her way to gain entry. At least that's what she had thought. Despite their promises to be there for her the last time she had seen them, they didn't seem to be listening.

Being a lover of the arts, Sarah was also a keen drawer as well as actress though she had never chased drawing professionally. She had sketched so many pictures of Hoggle hoping that through them she could somehow reach him. If anyone could help her to get back into the Labyrinth it would be him, but of course there was a cyclical problem: to find Hoggle she would probably have to enter the Labyrinth.

She was midway through another doodle of Hoggle when her stepmother had knocked at her door asking if she could have Toby for the night as her father had a sudden business dinner.

"Nothing changes," Sarah muttered, barely audible. Of course she now loved taking care of her little brother and having him stay, but she couldn't help but wish her father and stepmother would spend a little more time caring for Toby rather than worrying about money and work. Sarah may have only had a small job, barely making ends meet, but through that she had learnt that money wasn't the be all and end all. She prided herself on how she had changed over the past eight years. She had been naive, stubborn and somewhat self-centred as a child. Although these characteristics hadn't left her completely, she felt she had grown into a rather compassionate, caring young woman. A lot of that she owed to her Labyrinth adventure.

Toby had only stayed with Sarah a few times since she moved into her apartment one month earlier but already he felt at home in her spare bedroom. She had let him decorate it, knowing that he would probably spend a significant amount of time with her. Being a typical boy of his age he had plastered it with posters of his favourite television shows and book covers which at first Sarah had protested. If she had any other guests to stay she felt that children's posters covering the walls may seem inappropriate, but she gave in to Toby's desires because she wanted him to feel comfortable when he stayed over.

Reading was a pastime that both Sarah and Toby had in common. Toby had a reading ability beyond his years. Although he showed no interest in acting or drawing, both of them loved to read and Toby still enjoyed to read plays even if he didn't want to act them out. He was shy unlike his sister who on most occasions could be quite forthright. Nevertheless, he enjoyed watching his sister act and adored the voices she imitated for various characters whenever she read to him.

When it turned nine o'clock, Sarah heaved herself up from the chair where she had been watching the television to tell Toby is was time to turn his lights out and go to sleep. An hour previous he had asked if he could go and read before bed. Sarah admired her brothers love of reading, reminding herself of when she was a young girl.

As she neared his room she suddenly felt a chill in the air. It was the first time she had felt at all uneasy in her new apartment. She felt like someone was watching her but she turned around only to confirm that she was alone.

"Toby," she said as she reached the door. "It's time to go to sleep now."

"Just let me finish this page," replied Toby, completely engrossed in the text. He was mesmerized by the plot of his new book.

Sarah meandered towards the bed slowly before perching on the edge next to her brother. Intrigued by what was holding his attention she glanced over his shoulder, squinting at the small words that filled the page.

Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered...

Gasping for air she snatched the book from Toby's grasp and leapt off of the bed, staring at the words. She knew them. Closing the book she checked the front cover just to make sure, and sure enough, it was The Labyrinth.

"Sarah...give it..." Toby whined.

"Where did you get this?" Interrupted Sarah, flicking through the pages almost in disbelief that the text had materialised.

"I found it," Toby commented. When Sarah looked at him asking for more detail he added, "It was in your room. At our house. Mum and Dad store lots of things in there now."

Hardly believing her ears Sarah didn't know what to say. She was astonished that her father had even kept the book in the house. She had always suspected he had burnt it until there was nothing left, or at the very least she thought he would have taken it to a second hand book store. Had the book she had been searching for been so close all that time? Knowing her dad well it hadn't even crossed her mind to search their house. She had been convinced that it would be gone forever.

"It's set in that place we went to isn't it? That goblin you always draw lives there?" Toby asked curiously.

"Yes," Sarah responded truthfully. "I'm sorry I haven't spoke of it before Toby but it was such a long time ago. I never thought you would remember."

"I don't," he mumbled back. "Not really. Just little things. The things in that play just seem familiar. Like the Goblins. I remember lots and lots of Goblins. Can we go back there Sarah? I want to remember clearly."

Putting her arm around her brother she hugged him close. " I know that it was real that place, but I can't find it anymore. Besides, you're probably better off not remembering it too well."

"Why, was it scary?"

Sarah began to explain things about The Labyrinth to Toby starting from how they ended up there in the first place all the way until she reached the castle and defeated the Goblin King. Entranced by his sisters story, he gasped at certain moments but never interrupted her words. Although parts of the tale sounded scary such as when Sarah encountered the Fireys and they tried to take off her head, most of the tale sounded magical to Toby, making him want to return to that world more than ever. He wanted to be able to have clear memories of his own.

"We need to go back Sarah," Toby added when his sister finished talking. "I want to meet the friends you made. I want magical friends."

"Toby, you're only nine years old," Sarah exclaimed.

"I'm almost ten," Toby said defiantly. "Nearly double figures."

Sarah laughed before she responded. "Oh Toby, I know. I can't find it anyhow, I've tried. I just wanted to confirm it is real. But you remember. That will be enough." She was lying now, knowing that she still wanted to find a way back but she didn't want her brother to go with her. It would worry her too much. Now she felt reassured that The Labyrinth existed, she realised her main desire to return was so that she would belong. Never before or since her first adventure to the maze had she had friends like Hoggle, Sir Didymus and Ludo. She really did need them; she didn't want to remain lonely.

"There's a way!" Shouted Toby, excited. Grabbing the book out of Sarah's hand, he began searching through the pages while Sarah watched her little brother curiously. After listening intently to his older sister's story he just knew how they could get back, if only he could find that part of the play.

"Here," he exclaimed when he found what he was looking for. "I can bear it no longer. Goblin King, Goblin King, wherever you..."

"Stop!" Yelled Sarah, taking the book back and shutting it firmly. "Don't say those words."

"Why not? It will work Sarah. I know it will," He said with childlike enthusiasm. "Just ask them to take me again."

"I can't! I mustn't. I mustn't say it. It's dangerous Toby. If it works then we'll be back in the game. I might not win this time. I can't lose you."

"I know you can do it. I know you can. You and you're friends can save me again. Please Sarah. I want to go there. Please!"

Despite Sarah's protestations, Toby continued to plead with his sister. Sarah realised just how little he may remember to be that enthusiastic about reliving what they once went through. She kept trying to say no, but Toby was determined and the more he used his imagination against her, even Sarah thought his idea might be her only way back. She really didn't want to be selfish this time. She didn't want rid of her brother now. Would the Goblin King even fall for it? Could it work?

"Please!" Toby begged again. By now he was jumping up and down on his bed, and nothing his sister could do could silence him.

"Toby stop it!" Sarah shouted but he wouldn't. She began to grow tired of fighting with her brother. The fifteen year old girl, still a part of her, wanted to go ahead and say the words just so that her brother would be quiet. Her more mature consciousness tried to fight off her younger self's desires, but she was struggling to keep her younger self in check.

Opening the play on the correct page she stared at the words for a few seconds whilst her brother continued to shout in the background. Her hands trembled with desire and she tried to keep her lips shut tight. Eventually she could not help herself and screamed, "I can bear it no longer. Goblin King, Goblin King, wherever you may be, take this child of mine far away from me."

With that, the lights turned out.