Chapter 3: Phobetor's Revenge

by: Ismira Daugene

Sarah twisted around, searching desperately for a way to get to Toby. Her heart, already beating a million miles an hour, kicked up another notch as she saw him move towards a large hole in the floor. "No!" she shouted before leaping into thin air. However everything slowed down all of a sudden. The room broke into a thousand pieces, spinning through the air. She gently landed on a narrow stone walkway with a darkened arch at the end. She stared at the arch as the Goblin King cautiously stalked through, a frown on his face.

He started to speak, but Sarah paid no attention. She knew this part of the story. She knew what to say, what to do. All she had to do was remember. He moved toward her, circling her, all the while spouting the dialogue she knew he had to say. The words to convince her to stay. But she couldn't… not with Toby alone and lost somewhere. The final words where on the tip of her tongue. Remember! Remember!

He sent one more plea to her...one last desperate attempt to win the game. But she was prepared. She could do this. "You have no power over me," she said.

He looked surprised at first, but his lips slowly stretched into an evil smile. His eyes narrowed and his eyebrows furrowed slightly. "Oh but I do. You gave it to me the moment you entered my Labyrinth, Dear Sarah." He stepped closer, his next words nearly a whisper. "And I intend to hold it over you until your last breath."

With that he started to laugh, a high bone chilling sound. Sarah stepped back, her eyes sweeping the area for an exit, but found none. She turned back to the Goblin Monarch to see him still chuckling. However his eye-teeth were elongating slowly into points. He crouched slightly for a moment before springing forward! His sharp teeth aimed at Sarah's throat. She screamed and held her arms in front of her face.

"Sarah!" a loud masculine yell jerked her awake. "Sarah! Are you alright?!" Miguel asked.

Sarah opened her eyes to see her friend standing in the doorway in his boxers, his service weapon held in a tight grip near his left shoulder. However he was already lowering it upon seeing no one in the room but his friend. "Bad dream?" he asked, his voice back to normal and out of his lower police officer tone. Sarah nodded, still not quite able to talk as she tried to catch her breath. Miguel relaxed out of his stance and walked the short distance to her bed, sitting at the foot. "Wanna talk about it?"

Sarah sat up and scootched closer to Miguel who reached out and wrapped an arm around her to pull her into his side. "It was an old dream," Sarah started.

"Sounded more like a nightmare to me," Miguel replied.

She nodded her head against his shoulder. "I don't think I ever told you about when I was a kid and my brother was taken?"

Miguel's eyes widened and he leaned back to see her face. "What?! No! When did this happen?"

"It was when I was fifteen. I was left at home to babysit my brother. Toby was only about a year old at the time." Sarah took a deep breath and let it back out again before continuing. "This… man came into the house and threatened to take Toby. I… I had to fight him to get Toby back."

"Oh my god, Sarah! How have I never heard this? We knew each other when we were fifteen!"

"Yeah, but we didn't really run in the same circles at the time."

Miguel nodded. They'd known of each other, but had different groups of friends back then. "So what happened?"

"I… I won. The guy disappeared and Toby and I were left alone in the house. I know it sounds crazy…"

"No, Sarah..." Miguel reassured. "I mean, well yeah it kind of does, but I'm in law enforcement. I've seen crazier. People are nuts. So did you ever find the guy? Did he pay for what he did? I mean by my count that's breaking and entering, attempted abduction, and assault. OH! Did he hurt you?!" His eyes scanned her as though to see any injuries.

Sarah shook her head. "No, he… he prefered verbal sparring. It was like he was trying to get me to give up Toby. And there were a few times he almost won. And no, they never found the guy."

"Jesus… that has to be a bit terrifying for you!"

She nodded. "Hence the nightmares."

Miguel rubbed his hand up and down her arm, comforting her. "You're safe here. And your parents would call if there was anything wrong with Toby. What is he, eleven now?"

Sarah nodded. "And just starting middle school."

Miguel chuckled. "Poor kid."

Sarah smiled. "Yeah, but he's a good kid. He'll survive it."

The two sat in the quiet (as quiet as could be in the middle of Manhattan) for a while until Sarah's eyelids started to droop. "Ready to go back to sleep?" Miguel asked quietly.

"Mm hmm," Sarah murmured.

"Sweet dreams. And thanks again for letting me crash here tonight," he said as she moved back up the bed to lay on the pillow.

"Of course," she replied. "Any time."

Miguel exited her bedroom, leaving the door slightly ajar, and headed back to the couch. He lay down again and pulled the quilt up to his chin before closing his eyes. Neither he nor Sarah saw the shadow of an owl pass by the apartment. Nor did they hear the quiet whispering of many small goblin voices.

Author's Note: Phobetor is the Greek god of nightmares…. In case any of you were wondering. Also, sorry for the short update. This week got busy, but I wanted to give you all something to read on schedule.