Disclaimer: I do not own the Labyrinth or any character belonging to the Labyrinth. I do; however, claim all original characters in this story as my own.
Chapter 25 – No More Games
Jareth watched Sarah sleep. Her face was so serene and peaceful. He thought of the stark contrast between the angelic face before him which was now vibrant with life and the death mask that she had previously displayed. He picked up her hand and tenderly kissed the back of her fingers, "my beloved," he whispered.
Sarah was in a deep sleep while Jareth's magic healed her. She had very little memory of what had happened. She recalled falling down a deep, seemingly bottomless abyss and then waking up in what she knew was the Labyrinth; despite that she had never been in that part of it before. The pain she felt was agonizing and her body felt as though it had been severed in half. The ache was everywhere and nowhere. Jareth's magic was coursing through her and she could feel her body mending itself together.
Sarah woke up to find herself back in her apartment. Her eyes darted about the room looking for Jareth but he was nowhere to be found. Sarah lifted herself from her bed, strangely feeling as though she had been lying on a stone altar rather than her comfortable bed. "Jareth," she called out, hoping he would be there – nothing. She felt desperation fill her as she realized he had left her.
Sarah sank back into the bed, it was as she had always thought, he could not love her, not after what Collin had done and the others she had been with after him. Jareth wanted nothing to do with her, just as she had known all along. Tears poured from her eyes as she mentally berated herself for being fooled into thinking that Jareth could have ever had feelings for her.
When her tears finally cleared, Sarah tried to regain her composure. She was filled with a despair that was unlike any she had ever known, the empty feeling inside her chest was intense and she longed for escape. She lifted herself out of bed again and headed for the bathroom. She searched through the cabinets for any cleaner or fluid that might give her the escape she sought, but the cabinets were empty.
Sarah checked the kitchen as well as the guest bathroom – all empty. In desperation she went back to the kitchen to find the cutlery, it would be painful and bloody, but it would be final and that was all she cared about. She opened her knife drawer to find it empty as well. Sarah cursed under her breath as she slammed the knife drawer shut.
"Such language," a voice said behind her. Sarah spun around quickly and as she did, the room shifted. The walls dissolved into the air and Sarah was once again standing at the hill facing the entrance of the Labyrinth.
"Who are you," Sarah asked as the woman came into view. She was beautiful; her hair was black as a starless night and her skin a golden brown as if blessed by the sun. She wore strange clothing, even for the underground, it seemed more tribal and very ancient. Her hair blew in the wind; each strand danced sensuously through the air and gave the woman a look of supernatural beauty.
"I believe you already know the answer to your question, Sarah," the woman said, her voice gentle yet commanding, befitting royalty.
"Navarra," Sarah breathed.
"Very good Sarah," Navarra smiled, "Now, you must end this dream and try again."
"Try again?" Sarah asked in confusion.
"Yes, Sari, try again," Navarra vanished leaving Sarah alone. She looked around, her environment had shifted again and she was now standing in the heart of the Labyrinth. She watched as Jareth stood over someone. Sarah stepped closer to see what had happened and who it was that had Jareth's attention. She halted her approach when she saw her own face.
Sarah had very strange dreams but she never dreamt of watching herself dream. The oddity of the situation was very disconcerting. Jareth touched Sarah's hand lifting it to his lips and kissing it gently, "my beloved," he whispered. Sarah's hand trembled; she felt his kiss and his breath as he spoke to her. She moved closer to Jareth and placed her hand on his shoulder. He turned around to face her but as he did his body shrunk leaving behind a child.
Sarah stared at the girl who was standing where Jareth had just been a moment before. "It's time," the child spoke, "we have to finish our game." When the child's last word was uttered, the dream ended and what had remained of Sarah's conscious state drifted away leaving only the little girl.
Jareth lowered Sarah's hand and laid it gently by her side. He could not tear his eyes from her, he was sure she would be strong enough to awaken soon. The magic he had given her to heal was powerful; he feared he may have given her too much but he had wanted to be sure she would heal – he would not take any chances with his Sarah.
As soon as he lowered her hand, he saw her eyes shoot open and before he could react, her other hand reached out and latched onto his face, "it's time," Sarah said in a child's voice, "we have to finish our game." Jareth felt his essence being drawn into Sarah through her hands and he knew exactly where she was taking him.
Jareth had been overcome with nausea and he had a pounding headache. It took a moment for the pain to subside before he could take in his new environment. When he finally did look around, he saw that he was back in Collin's bedroom. He had been seated at the small table and was sitting directly across from Sari. She was handing him a paper with a maze on it, "Play with me," she said and she wiggled the paper to emphasize it.
"How did you bring me here?" Jareth said, ignoring the maze she held.
"Play with me," Sari said again.
Jareth was frustrated to say the least. Apparently Sarah's unconscious mind had taken it upon itself to bring him; that, in itself, should have been impossible. Jareth was not ready to face Sarah again, not after what happened last time. Although, he was relieved to see that Sari had both hands and she appeared as if nothing had happened before. "I have to find her," Jareth said, still ignoring Sari's insistence on playing. Jareth feared Collin's return as he knew he would not be able to harm the man for harming him meant harming Sari and Sarah.
"No," the child said, demanding Jareth to play, "play!"
Jareth did not have time to argue with a five year old version of Sarah. He stood from the table and walked to the door. When he touched it he found it was locked. Jareth examined the knob; there was no locking mechanism present and no place for a key. He tried it again but the door was definitely locked.
"You cannot leave without the key," Sari said matter-of-factly.
"Well, where is the key," Jareth said beginning to become very annoyed.
"I am not telling until you play a game with me," Sari replied.
"Child, I need to find her now!" Jareth had obviously lost his temper as he stormed closer to the child, although he was careful not to speak her name in fear of an encore of his last visit. He knelt to one knee and looked directly into Sari's beautiful green eyes, "give me the key." Jareth did not intend his voice to be riddled with such contempt; however, he made no effort to correct himself.
Sari was unaffected by Jareth's temperament. She simply stared at him, "play first!" she demanded.
Jareth lost his control and emitted a low guttural growl toward the child. He lifted Sari by the arm and dragged her to face the door. He shook her arm angrily, "give me the key!" he yelled as he released her arm. Sari lost balance and she steadied herself using the door. As soon as her hand touched it, the door unlocked.
Jareth stared at the open door in disbelief. He was about to step through when Sari stepped in front of him, "No, please don't go," she pleaded, "play with me!"
"I am through playing games," the Goblin King shouted back as he walked towards the red door in the floor that would lead to Sarah.
Sari reluctantly followed him but she kept her distance. When he arrived at the door he was dismayed to find that it, too, was locked. "I suppose it needs a key as well," he said sternly. Sari simply nodded but before she could so much as blink, Jareth had grabbed her hand and forced it onto the door. It unlocked immediately.
Jareth looked down a steep flight of stairs and was virtually unfazed when he heard Sari's tiny sobs begging him not to go. Jareth had already begun his descent when his conscience stopped him. He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly; turning back towards the door he looked at Sari's child-like silhouette in the entranceway, still in tears. Jareth walked back to Sari and lifted her in his arms.
"I am sorry sweetie," he said in the most compassionate tone he could, "I have to find Sarah and I have to get her out. I promise we will play later, okay."
Sari slowly wiped her tears away and nodded but it was apparent she was not satisfied with his words. Nonetheless, she had no choice. Jareth tried to set her down again, not wanting to bring the innocent child into danger, but Sari struggled in his arms refusing to be released. Jareth finally conceded and once again embarked upon his descent down the steep staircase into whatever Sarah's unconsciousness had designed to keep her powers locked away.
When Jareth and Sari finally reached the bottom of the stairs he set the child down. He looked around the room, it was dark and dusty. It reminded him of an oubliette but it had a musky scent which was unlike any of his forgetful entrapments. The lighting was very dim but Jareth could still see well enough to notice a movement in the back of the massive room.
He walked into the room and towards the back. He saw a foul creature that had been chained to the floor. The creature had greenish-gray skin that was wrinkled and hanged off of its limbs. It's face was hollow, expressionless and the eyes were devoid of life. The creature's hair fell in ragged wisps, having fallen out and leaving a majority of it's scalp exposed.
Jareth had never felt such pity for anything as he did in that moment. The sight was grotesque and he finally turned his head away not being able to look upon its morbid features any longer. He looked back at Sari but she did not seem to have the same reaction as he did. Instead she approached the being and laid her hand gently on its back, "there, there," she whispered as she lowered to kiss its forehead.
"Sari, get back here," Jareth whispered, fearing for the child's safety.
Sari obliged, "play time?" She asked hopefully.
"No, I still have to find Sarah," Jareth responded.
Sari looked at him in confusion, "she is right there," she said pointing at the creature.
Jareth looked more discerning towards the creature. He stepped forward to allow the light to shine upon the hideous features as he noticed what he had failed to see before. The eyes, though devoid of life, were still the alluring shade of green; the lips, though chapped and split, were the same that he had kissed so many times before; and the body, though wrinkled and distorted, still bore a small resemblance to the body his own had ached for during the past ten years. Indeed, the creature was Sarah.
"What happened to her?" Jareth asked Sari, his voice could not conceal his emotions as they ranged from sorrow to anger to pity.
Before Sari could respond, Collin emerged from the shadows, "I did," he responded. Collin walked up to face Jareth. He stood directly in his face and laughed, "I happened, again and again and again," Collin said through his laughter. He shifted his gaze to Sari and smiled briefly at her before turning back to Sarah.
He circled Sarah, letting his hand run across her shoulder blades as he moved behind her. He tilted her face and he licked her wrinkled cheek, staring at Jareth. "This whore is mine," he said as he cupped her sagging breast in his left hand and began to kiss her neck. His movements were quick and aggressive. Jareth would have expected Sarah to fight back or at least wince from the way Collin had been grabbing her. Even from where Jareth was standing, he could see the pain Collin was inflicting. However, Sarah did nothing.
Collin moved to stand in front of her. He undid his pants and lifted her off the ground effortlessly. He forcefully pried open her legs and lifted her body into the air. He grabbed himself and with one quick movement, he rammed himself into her. Collin had stood so Jareth could have a clear view of Sarah's face as he raped her. Her eyes were devoid of feeling; there was no emotion in anything that was happening around her. She did not wince, she did not struggle, she only accepted and submitted.
Jareth could not move, his body had been frozen in place. He turned his attention to Sari who watched the vile display as though it were absolutely normal. Jareth tried to move again, this time more successfully but Sari put her hand on his, "don't," she said speaking with a tone beyond that of a five year old, "you cannot stop this and if you harm him you will also harm her."
Jareth looked at Sari's hand remembering all too well what had happened the last time he tried to harm Collin. He knew that Sari was right, he could do nothing. He looked back towards Collin and Sarah. He was pumping himself furiously into her and Jareth felt his body fill with rage. He wanted blood and he would not be satisfied until Collin was dead.
Jareth disregarded Sari's warning and tried to move towards them again but there was a strong resistance opposing him. He did manage to move closer but as he did, Collin seemed to become more and more violent in his thrusting. Jareth stopped in his slow approach, afraid he was causing her more pain and not knowing what he could do to stop Collin that would not harm Sarah as well.
Collin's wild thrusting ended with a final massive thrust and a loud guttural groan indicating that he had climaxed. Jareth watched the display considering violently removing Collin's manhood, Sarah did not have one so maybe it would not harm her. Before he could reach Collin, he turned around, smiled in Jareth's face and then disappeared, dropping Sarah to the ground.
Jareth held the deformed and ragged Sarah gently in his arms. She looked at him and he saw a tear fall from her eye, "go away," she said.
Jareth stroked what was left of her hair, "my love," he said, "I will never leave you."
"Go Away!" Sarah said louder and then all went black.
Jareth awoke in the center of the Labyrinth, still standing over Sarah. He looked at her, sleeping so peacefully. He wondered if she would know of anything that had happened in her unconscious mind. His question would soon be answered as her eyes shifted and then slowly opened.
"What happened?" She asked hoarsely.
Jareth took a moment to explain what the Labyrinth had done. She listened carefully as he explained how he had defeated the curse on the Labyrinth and that it helped him reunite her body with her soul. A process that is very painful and not always successful. When he finished speaking, Sarah sat up, "I think I had a dream," she said.
Jareth's heart dropped, "What did you dream?"
"I was at my apartment aboveground, I thought you left me and I wanted to die but I couldn't find anything to kill myself with. Then I was in front of the Labyrinth with Navarra, she told me to stop dreaming and that is all I remember." Sarah said, feeling there was something more but it was lost to the deepest recesses of her mind.
Jareth breathed a sigh of relief, "Sarah you should know that I tried to unlock your powers again while you were unconscious."
"You did? Did it work?" Sarah felt silly for asking, she figured if it had worked, she would have felt it.
"No, my love, it did not," Jareth sighed again, "I am sorry."
"It's ok, Jareth, we can try again later," Sarah said, trying to reassure him.
Jareth shuddered, he did not want to try again ever but he knew that despite Sarah's outward appearances, her unconsciousness was living a caged existence of eternal torment at the hands of Collin. It was no wonder she unknowingly desired death - all the actions of the cursed Labyrinth, the events of her own peach dream and what she had just told him of her dream. She was unconsciously punishing herself and her subconscious mind saw death as the only escape.
He could not leave her to that fate, even if she was unaware of it. Even now, looking at her pristine beauty, he was haunted by the vision of the battered and deformed Sarah that lived within her. A thought brought Jareth out of his reverie, "Sarah," she acknowledged him, "about your dream, I hope you know that I will never leave you."
Sarah smiled a sad smile and then stood up from the stone table she had been lying on for so long. Her body ached from its roughness. Jareth waved a hand over her and soothed all the aches away. "And I would never take my own life no matter how sad I was," she said.
Jareth nodded as he grabbed her hand and kissed it tenderly. Despite her pain, her conscious mind would always fight; she would never take the easy way out no matter how she desired it. Even in the most dreadful of circumstances, she would be defiant to the end. Jareth could not help but admire her bravery, but he still feared for her safety, now more than ever. After all, she had technically died today and was resurrected. Jareth had felt the pain of her death and it shook his very soul, he would not take any more risks, "I will take you to Hoggle now."
"What," Sarah exclaimed.
"Love, I nearly lost you. You are in no shape to face the witch and we are no closer to unlocking your power," Jareth said sternly.
Sarah simply glared at him, "Jareth this is not some game. I am the key to all of this, Brenneth said so himself, if you are to succeed you will need me. I know you will figure out what to do to unlock it, just remember that when you are in my head, you have to play by my rules – whatever they may be." Sarah was not quite sure what she meant by that, her words flew out of her mouth before she could consider them.
Jareth conceded, Sarah had a point and there was something about her words that made him question everything he had seen in her psyche, maybe there was something he was missing and maybe he would see it next time. At the very least, he had his powers back so he felt confident that he could protect her from any more attacks against her. "As you wish, my Sarah," was all he said as he dropped a crystal at their feet and they disappeared.