Interestingly enough I wrote part of this chapter before I wrote the park scene from the sixth chapter. Poor Jared/Jareth what is he going to do?
He wandered around not paying attention to where he was going.
"You idiot!" he kept mumbling to himself.
You think saying those things to her is going to make her love you as you love her?
He couldn't deny his feelings for Sarah anymore. He loved her and he wasn't sure why. He only had known her for three weeks. He was even dating Debbie, well sort of dating. He needed to call Debbie that he wasn't going to go to the costume party in a few days, only because Sarah would be there.
Jared finally looked around at where he was. It was some nice neighborhood not far away from where Sarah lived. He asked her about it when they were driving she mumbled something along the lines of parents and lived there.
The sky was getting dark and there was the smell of rain in the air. A big storm was on its way. Jared needed to go back to Sarah's but he couldn't. Not after what had happened on the bridge.
He looked at the house now in front of him. It was large with a huge tree in front. Something about it seemed familiar. He could tell no one lived there even though it was well kept. He walked right up to it and put his hand to the doorknob. The metal that should have been cold in his palm was warm. Jared looked around to see if anyone was around and then tried to open the door.
To his surprise it was unlocked. He entered the house slowly and closed the door. The hallway he had entered was empty. Though somewhere in his mind he knew there used to be a clock by the door and a tan rug that ran down the hall. Jared made his way up the stairs not knowing what force was pulling him.
He saw two doors, one on his right and the other on his left. He went to the left door. He expected the room to be empty like the hallway but it wasn't. There was a small bed in the corner that looked that it hadn't been slept in. Next to the bed was a small nightstand with a drawer. The window faced the huge tree outside. There was even a window seat.
He went up to the window. Something about the branch sparked something in his hazy mind. He opened the door and looked at it. There were claw marks on the branch. Jared reached carefully out to touch them.
His mind flashed to a scene long ago. He was sitting watching what it seemed to be some sort of costume party. The thing that caught his attention the most was the girl in the center of the room. She was tall, slender and wearing jeans and a present shirt with a flower vest. Her eyes were green and she was smiling happily at the sight of her friends in the room.
The creatures in the room were familiar looking. He looked at the fox-type creature who had said something about Scrabble. He knew him but from where. Jared felt sad like he knew he wasn't going to be invited in so flew away.
Jared shook the vision out of his head. Flew.
How can I fly?
He closed the window and finished looking around the room. There was a small mirror on the back of the bedroom door. At the far end of the room was a table with some objects on them. He approached it. They were random. Some claw like medallion and a crystal. He took the crystal and started juggling it. It was easier than the paper weights. He gently put it down and picked up the medallion. It looked familiar and felt warm in his hands even though it was metal. He put it down not trying to force a memory from them.
He turned. This room had a certain familiarity but he couldn't figure out why. He saw the closet. He realized he didn't know if a man or woman lived in this room. He opened it. In there was male clothes similar to what he had on. His hands went over them feeling the material hoping that some memory might come from them. His hand passed a shirt that felt more worn than the rest of the clothes.
He pulled it out it was a white poet shirt. On the hanger was also by the looks of it would be some tight pants. He briefly could smell cinnamon and peaches. Nothing came from it so he put it back into the closet. His eyes caught a jewel jacket that was in the back. He could tell it was blue. His hand went around the coat sleeve. This jacket was similar if not the same to the vision he had when he danced with the girl.
He felt sadness and closed the closet. He sighed. Things weren't making sense. He looked at the nightstand. He went over to it and opened the drawer. In there was a wallet and a picture. He picked up the picture. It was the same girl from his visions. He looked at her. Her image wasn't as hazy as his visions were. There was no denying that this was indeed Sarah. She had to be about fifteen.
"She does know you!" anger consumed him. He dropped the picture on top of the nightstand. He grabbed the wallet. It had a lot of money in it. He saw the ID. It read Jareth King. Jared's eyes darted to the picture. It was of a man with messy blonde hair and blue eyes that were slightly mismatched. He dropped the wallet in shock. It was him. This was his room!
Jared let out a groan of frustration, "I wish I knew what was going on!"
The wind suddenly picked up and there was a bit of lightning. He didn't realize he had closed his eyes so when he opened them he realized he wasn't alone anymore.
The man that just appeared had extremely light blonde hair, piercing blue eyes; he was tall but not as tall as Jared. Jared looked at the clothes the guy was wearing. They were like from Shakespeare's times.
The man smiled at him and did a slight bow, "It's good to see you cousin."
"Who the heck are you!" Jared kept eyeing the strange man.
The man laughed it wasn't a mean laugh but a kind of I told you so, "Ah, I figured you overlooked that when we did that spell, you wouldn't have your memories! I'm your cousin, Colin. And you oh fearful one, are Jareth the Goblin King who is on a quest to win a fair maiden's hand. That maiden's hand by the way is of Miss Sarah Marie Williams."
"What the hell are you talking about!" This was too much for him to process.
"Sarah," Colin glided towards Jared and picked up the picture of the girl, "This girl, well woman now. You must win her, dear cousin. I believe it shan't be too hard."
It was Jared's turned to laugh, "If I am indeed this Jareth that you speak of. I've seen drawings of him and there are certain similarities. Sarah hates me. She believes I killed her parents."
"Ah I forgot about that. She called you wanting, wishing you could save them."
As if he knew the rest of the story, "But I couldn't because it would change fate."
Colin smiled. "You remember some but on the 31st you will remember all. You must make a choice then. Live as the mortal you are before me or return to the Underground as Jareth and wait your fate."
"I doubt Sarah will speak to me before then." Picturing the scene on the bridge and how her face was.
"Go to the dance. Wear that jewel jacket you were admiring in that closet. And try. This after all is your game."
"How do you know I was admiring it?"
"I am watching over you, dear cousin. You are my favorite cousin!"
Jared laughed, "I'm your only cousin, you tard!"
"Ah Jareth, you are somewhere in that puny mortal form!" and with that he disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
"That wasn't a good entrance or exit!" he yelled after the man. For some reason he believed that glitter was a much more appropriate use.
He was tired. He made his way to the bed and fell asleep. Not caring that he should probably call Sarah to tell her he wouldn't be coming back.
xxxxx
Jared got up not realizing where he was at first. Then he remembered last night's events. How that weird man came into his room. Jared kept wondering if that was real or just a dream. He realized he sound like Sarah wondering if things were real or not.
He grabbed the wallet and looked at the ID it was him no question about that. So was he really Jareth? Was he really a Goblin King?
It would explain the weird visions of memories. He was surrounded by weird creatures. Maybe they weren't just dreams but actually memories.
He slowly got up from the bed and noticed a note.
Jareth or Jared (I don't know which you prefer now),
I figured if I left a note to you saying that I wasn't some figment of your imagination or just a dream might help you realize who you are.
You must decide your choice on October 31st at midnight. I'll be in your castle to greet you if you come alone or with Sarah.
If you choice to remain where you are, I will come to you the next day to take your magic away forever. That crystal on the table is your magic. It won't do you any good now because you are a mortal with mortal memories (as of present). As soon as the 31st comes you will know what to do.
So I wish you luck in your game.
Your cousin,
Colin
Jared read it over and over again, "I'm going to be like Cinderella."
He just had to believe that he was Jareth the Goblin King. He sighed. He was hungry.
"I wonder if there is food in this place."
He made his way toward the kitchen. He didn't know how he knew where it was but he did. There was a refrigerator. He reached for the handle. If this was his house everything in it should be expired. He held his breath and opened the door. He saw that is was completely full with food, which was surprisingly not expired.
He grabbed something for breakfast and sat at the small table in the kitchen. There was a phone. He needed to call a few people.
He dialed the first number.
A woman answered.
"Hey, Debbie, it's Jaret—ed. Sorry that I haven't called in a while."
"Oh my where are you? Sarah called me she sounded so scared that something might have happened to you!" He felt a little better that Sarah was nervous about him. Maybe it wouldn't be as hard.
"I'm fine. I found my house. I was so tired that I didn't get a chance to call her."
"You remember everything!"
"No not really but I found my ID."
"Wow Jared that's amazing!"
"Yeah. I guess."
There was a slight pause.
"I was wondering if I was still invited to come to that costume party with you."
"Oh Jared, I invited someone else but I sure I can sneak you in!"
"Oh okay thanks…I guess."
"Call Sarah she is nervous about you. Bye."
Jared stood there trying to figure out how the next phone call would go.
"Hello Williams' residence, Toby Williams speaking."
"Hey Toby. It's Jared."
"Where are you? Sarah has been looking everywhere for you!"
"I'm so sorry. I found my house." He didn't know what else to say. I found my house, I found out that I'm that Goblin King we talk about, I found out that I am in love with your sister but am an ass because I'm scared that she will reject me again.
"Oh. So you know who you are now, Jareth?"
Jared froze on the other end. Toby had called him Jareth. "You know who I am Toby?"
Jared could picture that Toby shrugged, "I've guessed it for a while now."
"I don't remember everything."
"You are in love with my sister. You know that much."
Jared froze again this boy knew much about him, "I am. But I don't think I can win her." He told him some of the events of last night.
"I see. Well go to that party." Toby's voice went quite, "Just tell her. She had a dream last night. She dreamt that you were dying."
"Can I talk to Sarah?"
Jared heard Toby yell Sarah's name. There was a long pause and then in a horse female voice was Sarah.
"Hello. This is Sarah." Toby didn't tell her who was on the phone.
"Hey. It's Jared." Before she could interrupt him he continued, "I'm so sorry for not calling. I found my house. I must not have been here for long but I found my wallet too. I can pay you for taking care of me." He paused slightly.
Sarah didn't say anything, it sounded like she might be crying a bit, "Sarah I'm really sorry for what I said to you at the park. It was rude. I'm sorry about your parents."
He waited.
He thought she must have hung up on him.
There was just silence.
Then Sarah said, "I should be the one who apologizes. I'm stubborn at times."
Jared chuckled and he heard Sarah sigh, "Okay I'm stubborn a lot of the time."
"Oh precious thing," Jared wanted to hold her close to him.
"So are you going to come over?" She said it so silently like that she was afraid that he was going to refuse her, the one who captured his heart.
