You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger
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Chapter 8 – M, Isn't That a Letter?
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It all started out as a joke. A joke that went horribly, horribly wrong...
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...then I fell backwards off the wall and everything went black.
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It was dark – so dark. I was blind. Whether I was in a room or not I didn't know only that it was pitch black. My first reaction was yelling.
"Helloooo!" My voice bounced back and I covered my ears wincing. There was no answer so I tried again.
"Anyone there?" I stopped shouting and started listening really hard and at last I heard something. It sounded like someone shuffling their feet.
"Oi will ya stop that shoutin'? Are ya tryin' to make me deaf?" I let out a breath of relief. I knew that voice and sure enough when a light flickered nearby I saw his face.
"Hoggle!" I shouted happily and ran to him.
"Thanks for finding me." I hugged him and he nearly dropped the light.
"Didn't I say ya should stop shoutin'?" But I saw his cheeks turning pink in the dim light and smiled.
"Have you come to help me Hoggle? Please say yes." I heard him muttering something about remembering his name before he at last turned his attention to me.
"Do ya even know where ya are?" He grumbled. I looked around as much as I could in the dark and shook my head.
"This is an oubliette. Labyrinth's are full of them."
"Oh right." I said and looked around again. If I squinted I could just make out the walls and realized that the oubliette was quite small. Hoggle claimed my attention again when he grumbled again.
"Don't try to sound so smart. Ya don't even know what an oubliette is!"
"Of course I do."
"No ya don't." He started shuffling along the wall while he mumbled to himself. Annoyed I turned to examine the other wall.
"It's a place you put people to forget about them." I watched him stop out of the corner of my eye and smiled.
"So should I get ya outta here or what?" I still smirked as I turned to him.
"Yes please." He turned to the wall again and searched near the floor. I moved closer trying to see what he was doing. He reached for a small stone and part of the wall slit open. My mouth dropped open.
"Wow Hoggle that was seriously cool." He looked flattered.
"Naah that was nothin'."
"Yes it was. Thank you." His face lit up as I smiled at him.
"Will you help me get to the castle?" Suddenly he looked uncomfortable.
"Mmh... Well... You see... I'm a coward and Jareth scares me." I crouched in front of him.
"That's alright. I'll protect you." I took his hand but he withdrew it looking sceptical.
"Ya can't... Are ya not afraid of him?"
"Nope." He looked at me as if I'd grown a third eye or maybe that was just his thinking expression. If so it looked as if he was thinking hard perhaps picturing the different outcomes should he choose to help me.
"Urgh fine I'll help ya."
"Yay! Let's go." I stood and went to crawl through the hole. I came out in a semi lit corridor. After looking down both ways I turned back hands on my hips.
"Now which way should we go?" He never had time to respond before the wall slit shut in front of him.
"Hoggle!" I fell to my knees and banged on the wall willing it to open. When it didn't work I flattened my palms and laid my ear against it.
"Hoggle?" And I heard him. His voice was muffled but he sounded fine.
"Just keep goin'. The wall's sealed. I'll try to find another way."
"Be careful." I straightened and glared at the ceiling.
"Don't pretend you're not there. I know that was you. Show yourself you coward!"
"Coward? Hardly." The deep masculine voice came from behind me and I swirled around. I really must try to control my temper. Some day it's going to get me in serious trouble...
"I don't have time for this. Open... the... wall..." His gaze was unnerving as he slowly circled me. I narrowed my eyes.
"The wall you say hmm? And why would I do that?" He smirked.
"I... Because..."
"Yes?"
"Urgh never mind!" I stomped past him but his gloved hand closed around my wrist and spun me towards him. He towered over me with a gleam in his eyes.
"You insult me and are apparently under the delusion that you can give me orders. Do you really believe that I'm just going to let you turn your back on me after that." I glared at him.
"Let me go." He smirked.
"No."
"I mean it Jareth!"
"Mmmh..." This was getting me nowhere and my temper was slowly rising... Again.
"What?" I snapped.
"My name coming from those luscious lips is delicious." He purred leaning in.
"Oh shut up!" I managed to pry his fingers loose, though I think he let me do it, and stepped back.
"If you're not careful I might have to do something about that tongue of yours precious." I managed to keep my expression indifferent, okay maybe just blank, but my insides were a mess. I cursed his seductive voice. Hell he can make "Pass me the sugar" sound suggestive!
"What are you going to do, make me mute?" He chuckled at that his eyes glinting dangerously.
"Oh I had something far more pleasurable in mind." He smirked at my obvious discomfort.
"I don't think so."
"If you want me to get Higwart out of there..."
"Hoggle" I bit my lip suddenly more nervous than before.
"Yes, and it's going to cost you."
"What?" I asked suspiciously dreading the answer.
"A kiss for the wicked Goblin King." He looked hungrily at me as he advanced. I panicked.
"I don't think so!" I said quickly dodging him and spinning around so as not to have my back to him. I didn't trust him as far as I could throw him.
"Let me remind you why you're doing this..."
"If you think I do this for myself you are seriously wrong. No way! I can't stand that little monster and I'm pretty sure he hates me."
"Then why are you doing this I wonder."
"Because of Em of course. She would kill me if she thought I'd done anything to Hugo." He looked slightly puzzled.
"M?"
"Yeah my sister..." too late I realized my mistake his smiled had turned predatory. I paled.
"What?" I asked. He chuckled.
"I feel as if you aren't motivated enough. You said yourself that you don't care for the animal." He smiled.
"I wouldn't want to be accused of cheating because my runner wasn't motivated. Perhaps I should do something about it." My face felt drained of blood.
"If you touch her..!" I raised a threatening finger and pointed it at him. He tilted his head and smirked.
"You're not very frightening you know." I tensed scowling at him.
"I'll show you frightening." I growled before launching at him. He avoided my strike but I turned quickly and my fist impacted with his jaw. I didn't have time for a second hit because he then grabbed my wrist quick as a snake and spun me around so my back was against his chest. He held me there by holding my left wrist with his right hand and my right with his left in a bizarre embrace that prevented me from moving. I panted as if I'd been running for miles but my breath hitched as I felt his mouth close to my right ear.
"Did you know that for quite a long time the sentence for striking a king was death?" He growled. Not in a threatening way but with a voice that made my stomach clench. I gulped.
"Oh stop being so dramatic! I'm pretty sure I didn't hurt you anyway." I added grudgingly. My fist on the other hand throbbed slightly from the impact.
"Mmh that's beside the point. I think I'll have to come up with a suitable punishment for you."
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I've rewritten this chapter a couple of times (hence the wait) but I think I'm satisfied with it now..
Since I'm off to France tomorrow and not bringing my computer I'm considering writing the next chapter the old-fashioned way.. By hand ;)
But I can't upload it until I get back. I would love to hear what you think of this chapter though..
You know the drill: R&R
