Labyrinth
Chapter 14
Toby got ready for his book signing, it had been days since he had entered the Labyrinth with his sister at his side. They had hardly entered the first piece before she just vanished without a sound. Like she'd been erased from existence. Hours he had spent searching, never once finding a sign of what had happened to her. Then without hearing anything something had snuck up behind him, felt a blow to the side of his head Toby went down fast as it followed with several more blows.
Next thing he knew he woke back in his bed at home, but Sarah was gone. She hadn't traveled back yet, was still stuck in the labyrinth somewhere. He had no way of getting to her or even knowing if she was okay or not. He didn't have her key, so he couldn't locate the entrance. He had tried over and over again, revisiting every single location he had ever stumbled into the lands from. Pretty sure that the water mirror trick had only worked because of her own magic, if he tried alone he would drown.
Toby even checked back through Sarah's old diaries and his own manga's searching for answers. Regretfully as yet he had found nothing to help him. Guilt lay heavily on his heart for abandoning his sister to a fate that could be anything. He hoped in his heart that she was back with Jareth and finally happy. Somehow he doubted it given the state of the realms there. It would take a lot for Sarah to redeem her dark lord, a long time and a great deal of effort. Yet Toby knew that she could do it if anyone could. She could kick the ass of any living creature when she got into it. Even so he longed to find her again just to see for himself she was safe.
He tried to spruce himself a little before he met his public. Gel his hair kinda, paint his eye make up just right. How he was expected to look, no matter how he felt. Strutting out to the audience blowing kisses, shaking hands, talking excitedly about the new book. Giving out a few choice spoilers, tempting people with hints about the following storylines along with hints about a film being made of his very first story. The tale of how Sarah and Jareth first met, Henson had expressed an interest in converting it to the big screen. Toby was super excited in love with the idea, if anyone could breathe life into the labyrinth it would be that epic creature workshop. He could already picture the puppets of his creations as he described it all to the fawning crowd. Hyperly painting the surroundings for them, drawing them further into the goblin fever.
After the talk came signing, endless signings, hundreds of people coming and going all the time. It was hard work, a constant blur of faces crossing in front of him, a million names to sign. His hand cramping from all the writing. Toby was so glad when it was finally over and the last person had left. Folding up the banner and packing the books away, he couldn't wait for a good meal. A nice long bubble bath and some chocolate cake.
"May I have a moment?" a male voice asked.
"The signing is over, but if I can help you I will do." Toby said as he turned around. He went white. "Jareth?" he stammered. No though the man in front of him was dressed in normal clothes. Jeans, tee shirt, denim jacket, just an average person. No make up, short well shaven head of hair. The man didn't have the attitude nor the stance of the king, yet it was still him, there was no doubt about that little fact.
"My name is David Bowie, I take it that you know me even though I do not know you. I have questions about your books and about myself. I draw these every night, pieces of my memory are absent, I can't sleep, eat, rest. I don't know who I am anymore, but I'm looking for Sarah. Please tell me that you can help me? I'm desperate, I can pay you. Just hear me out I'm begging." He asked.
Shoving the stack of drawings into Toby's hands, the pencil drawing of Sarah right on top of the pile. The likeness was uncanny, the picture so life like. He leafed through seeing drawings of a thousand things he remembered. There was even a sketch of his mum's bedroom, Sarah stood there with a barn owl over her head. "Do you honestly not remember who you are?" he asked quietly.
"Please just help me, I feel like I'm going out of my mind here. I don't know what I'm thinking or feeling anymore." David sighed.
"Did you read any of the stories yet? He asked.
The other man shook his head, "They frighten me honestly, like I need to run and hide."
"How did you become this David Bowie?" Toby asked, "What's the last thing that you remember? Or should I saw the first?"
David searched his memory, "Busking on the streets a few months before an agent picked me up. Maybe six months ago at the very most."
Toby stared at him blankly, "You only remember six months of your life? How do you function?"
"Barely." He muttered.
"Come for a nice coffee and I will try to help." He promised, wondering how he was gonna break this news without cracking the guys mind like an egg. I mean how do you turn around to a guy and tell him that he is the king of another world? This wasn't going to be easy even with the books as a guideline. Suddenly he wished that Sarah was here to guide him, feeling every bit of his only 17 years of age.