I think this is my favorite chapter so far. Tell me what you think! And to all of you who want Blake to come back, he might make a return in the next few chapters or so. :)

Chapter 14

Jareth grabbed me by the forearm and started dragging me out of the room.

"What the hell are you doing? Let me go," I commanded, struggling to get out of his grip.

"No, Misery. I've had enough of your misbehaving. It's time for you to learn your lesson," he said. Now we were out in a long hallway, like the one in Blake's house. However, just like Jareth's bedroom, everything was decorated in a gold and white color scheme. Portraits of people (who all looked to be in their early 30's at the latest) lined the hallway, the frames golden in color. There were also dark brown tables with crystal vases full of yellow flowers sitting on them.

"Where the hell are you taking me?" I asked.

"The basement," he replied.

"The fucking basement?" I questioned.

Jareth jerked on my arm harder in response. "Why do you keep cussing? That's exactly why I'm punishing you along with the fact that you have a terrible attitude."

"I cuss because I'm angry. I have a terrible attitude because I hate you," I shot back. We were now standing in front of a door at the end of the hall. He opened the door and dragged me down the steps of the metal staircase into the darkness below.

When we reached the bottom of a dank and terrible smelling room, Jareth let go of my arm and flicked on a light. We stood in the center of a torture chamber. There were chains hanging from ceiling, whips of all different types were laying in racks on the wall, a couple of long metal beds and chairs, tons of knives with wicked-looking blades resting on a rusty table, and chains and ropes strewn all over the floor.

My heart dropped to my stomach, and my eyes widened at the sight of the terrible room. "What the hell are you going to do to me?" I whispered.

"I'm just going to leave you down here for a while. Just like a time-out," Jareth said and walked towards me. He grabbed my arm again and drug me over to one of the metal chairs. I made no move to struggle, to shocked to do anything. He plopped me down in the chair, and grabbed one of the ropes lying on the floor.

I snapped out of my trance when I realized what Jareth was doing. "You're going to tie me up?" I asked, astonished.

"Yes. I don't want you roaming around and hurting yourself," he explained.

"I'm not two years old," I defended, but I stayed where I was, not wanting to anger him into torturing me.

"I know, but humans are fragile. You might manage getting hurt somehow."

"How long are you going to leave me down here?"

"As long as it takes for you to realize that you need to stop misbehaving," he said while wrapping the rope around my wrists and the arms of the chair, and tying them into complicated looking knots.

"Are you going to feed me? How am I supposed to go to the bathroom?" I asked, worried.

"I'll let you out every six hours or so to let you use the restroom and to possibly feed you."

"Possibly!?" I repeated.

"Misery, you need to learn how to behave. So if that means slightly starving you, then so be it. I'll see you in six hours," Jareth said, turning of the light, plunging the room into darkness.

"No! Don't just leave me here!" I yelled after him.

He ignored me and didn't say anything. I heard him climb up the stairs and shut the door. I did not, however, hear the click of a lock.

I began trying to wriggle my wrists out of the extremely tight ropes. I didn't make any progress besides rubbing my wrists raw. Then it dawned on me: I have to get the damn ropes untied before I try to get my wrists out of them. I leaned my head down and picked at the rope with my teeth.

After about an hour of blindly trying to untie the rope with my teeth, I succeed in getting the knot undone on my right hand. Now I jerked my right arm up to get the rope looser. After about two minutes of doing that, the ropes around my right hand fell away.

"Yes!" I exclaimed quietly. I began working on untying my left hand. This time, I didn't have to use my teeth, and the process went along faster. Finally, after forty-five minutes, I got my left hand free. I jumped to my feet and silently ascended the stairs. I slowly opened the door when I reached the top. I peeked my head out of the door frame and made sure the coast was clear.

I tiptoed out into the hallway when I didn't see anybody, and quickly (but quietly) dashed down the hallway. I made my way to a staircase and crouched down. I listened for a few moments, and didn't hear anything. I looked over the top of the banister and saw a spiraling staircase leading into another hallway.

I descended the stairs, and walked down the hallway. When I came to the end of it, it forked into two directions. I looked down both ways. They appeared exactly alike. I went with my gut and went left. I followed the curving passage and came into a large kitchen with an opening so you could see into the dining room.

I looked into the dining room and my heart dropped. There, in the dining room, was Jareth reading a newspaper, facing me with an empty plate in front of him and a coffee mug.

I dropped to my knees behind the isle and tried to control my heavy, nervous breathing. Once I had slightly calmed down, I scanned the kitchen and my eyes found two doors. I prayed that they didn't lead into the room Jareth was in.

I crawled over to the farthest from the little window, and nudged it open with my head. I glanced into the room and saw and grand foyer, not unlike Blake's. In the center of the room was a set of enormous oak doors.

I thought about what I was going to do. If I ran out there, I would be a sitting duck. And there was always the possibility that they were locked. I decided to risk it, anyway.

I got up and noiselessly dashed to the doors. I looked behind me, and saw no one. I quickly threw open a door (Thank God, they were unlocked) and sprinted out of the house. I heard it slam behind me, and I pumped my legs as fast as I could into the forest of trees surrounding Jareth's house.

I ran, and ran, and ran until my legs went numb. I finally slowed to a walk, and realized how bad of a situation I was in. I had no idea where I was going, or how big of a forest I was in, I had no food or water, and the chances of me finding a road or trail to walk on was slim.

However, I tried not to think about those things. I focused on the happiness of finally being able to get away from Jareth, and the possibility of being able to return home. No matter how much I disliked my life prior to me getting kidnapped (the first time), I would be overjoyed to return to normality.

I hacked my way through the forest for at least four hours. If Jareth hadn't noticed I've escaped yet, he will soon. It's been almost six hours (if I kept track of time correctly) since he left me alone in that torture chamber. I shuddered at the thought of it. I loved al things dark and morbid, but that was too dark and morbid.

Another hour of walking passes, and I'm about to give up when I break through the trees and find a road. I stood shocked at the edge of the forest for a moment, and then a huge grin spread over my face. Finally!

I walked along the side of the road, a newfound pep in my step. I heard the roar of a car engine, and looked behind me. I saw a white Porsche and stuck my thumb out like a hitch-hiker. The car rolled up beside my and its tinted windows rolled down.

My heart stopped beating when I saw Jareth's angry face.

..