Disclaimer: The Labyrinth isn't mine :(

Chapter Thirty-four

I've got a feeling.

Things I know to be true, Sarah thought, preparing her mind for a mental examination. She sighed briefly into the cool dungeon, regarding her cell mates and her surroundings. She had to be clear headed, she thought, shaking her head as if to sort out her jumbled thoughts. I have to think fast. But the self imposed urgency made her thoughts even more confused. Somehow Sarah would have to produce clarity from her tangled mind. Calm down, She told herself. Think clearly. There is a solution here. Think. Think! But Sarah's neck hurt, her head throbbed and her heart ached. She felt exhausted and weak. She was powerless. Her eyes bulged, as she tried to swallow another incredulous lump in the back of her throat. She could still feel the heat of her mother's invisible grip emanating from her neck. How could she? she thought, as the hot tears welled despite her angry objections. She wiped furiously at her tired eyes, pushing back her defiant feelings.

"Let it out, sweetheart. Let all the ugliness wash away," Willibee's voice cooed from the adjacent cell.

Sarah's breath became labored as she fought against the building emotions. "I can't… I can't start… I won't stop," she managed between gasps.

"You can't keep it all inside. Look at you, doll. Your body is telling you to get it out."

"I don't have time to get it out!" Sarah insisted, trying desperately to regain her composure.

"Sarah," Jeminy chimed, "I know you want to save your mother and step mother, but after what you have been through you have the right to grieve."

"Just breathe, honey."

Sarah looked imploringly between Jeminy and Willibee. She had hoped to find in their countenances the strength she needed to regain her senses. But they looked on her with such genuine pity that she could only see how utterly sad her own story had become. Their compassionate faces were too much for her to bear. If only they didn't look at her at her with such concern, Sarah could have buried the hurt and she could have mustered the courage to continue fighting. But now she knew it was too late. The pain in her friends' eyes broke her. There would be no going back now. Sarah could feel the potent wave of sobs mounting up from the pit of her stomach, she had to let go. She had to release the hurt and the anger. She had to do it now. Her father's death, her mother's reappearance, her mother's betrayal, her abduction, her step-mother's fragile state…losing Jareth and Toby…

Sarah collapsed in a flood of burning tears.

"That's it, honey. Let it out."

Sarah heaved on the cold concrete, her body emptying all the suffering she felt. The tears fell like rain in an unrelenting storm. She hadn't known it was possible to cry like this and she feared it would never end. Ever since her mother's disappearance she felt she had to be strong. And then Toby came along and she had become a pillar for him too. Sarah had always had to be responsible. Always the backbone. She could never be weak because no one would be there to pick up the pieces if she broke. She couldn't remember the last time she was allowed to break down... It must have been before her mother had gone away. Yes, there was a time when Sarah could be fragile. She remembered a time when her mother's kind embrace comforted her in a childhood crisis. Sarah longed for that comfort again. She remembered how it felt to be reassured so tenderly by her mother taking her in her arms, wrapping her in a blanket of warmth. Sarah concentrated on that long lost feeling and she suddenly felt the rush of sweet security sweep over her, releasing her of the desperate anxiety. Her mother's calming presence felt as real as it had always been. She breathed it in, grateful for the peaceful sanctuary.

"I…want…" Sarah mustered between ebbing sobs, "to get you all out of here. This is all my fault."

"You cannot control the actions of your mother," Jeminy said.

"No, I can't," Sarah conceded. She felt a numbness coming over her. "I can't control her." She said aloud, pulling herself up from the wet floor. But I can control more than she knows. Clarity, Sarah thought, wiping at her swollen eye lids. These are the things I know to be true…

I can make here.

I can call for help, mentally.

I can wake a dreamer.

Sarah approached the adjacent cell, her tired expression giving way to a new light twinkling in her eyes. I wonder, Sarah thought, looking between Jeminy and Willibee, with a determined air. Can you hear me? Sarah fixed her friends with pure resolve.

Sarah? Jeminy voice's resonated in her mind.

Well, I'll be damned. You sure are full of surprises, Willibee thought, impressed. Wait, can you hear me?

I can.

Willibee winced. Well, considering our little predicament, I suppose I can overlook the mental intrusion.

Sarah, what an amazing gift you have. How do you do it?

I don't know, Sarah thought, responding to an amazed Jeminy. But, she continued, I think I figured out something. Something vital. You were right, Jeminy, I cannot control my mother… but I can control her world. She would be surprised to learn what I can do.

Sarah watched a slight smile spread over Jeminy's weather beaten face. And we should never underestimate the element of surprise.

Indeed, Willibee thought, Now, Sarah, what's our plan?

/:/:/:/:/:/

That pestilent girl, Olina thought, looking at her reflection before her. Olina stood before a large mirror in her dark chamber, a red glow emanated from small rectangular window a few meters to her right. The sun was setting on her Speck of Dust and in less than thirteen hours Sarah and the others would be initiated into the Brotherhood. Olina looked vacantly at the mirrored heart shaped face before her. Her daughter was there in the curve of her lips, the arch of her brow; it was curious to see her grown up after all these years. She had known meeting her would be interesting. She scowled crossly as she remembered their encounter. This was not good. Olina swallowed a bitter lump, vexed by the memory. She had offered Sarah freedom from emotions, but Sarah had looked upon her with disdain. That's the way it should be, Olina reminded herself. She knew that for a human, anger facilitated the modification. It was her sole purpose in risking the introduction with Ilene: to generate fury in Sarah's fragile human psyche. It was one of the most primal human emotions, and one that served as a bridge of sorts. It was the bridge that made it possible for Olina to reach the switch that would inevitably bring Sarah to the Brotherhood. And with Sarah in the Brotherhood, Olina could manipulate her into bringing an end of the tyranny of Maker's Law. Yes, everything is as it should be, but still, Olina thought with frustration, something is off. I AM agitated. Somehow Sarah had managed to make her angry. Olina shuttered, trying to forget the surge of emotion she had felt. I felt something.

Nevermind, it's such a trifling affair. I will just keep my distance from that sniveling brat until the ceremony. Honestly, Olina thought, what could be the worst case scenario? She makes me angry, fine, so be it. Besides, anger is a far cry from love. There are so many useless states between hate and love….

"How did it go?"

"Isis, I didn't hear you come in."

"That is very unusual, considering nothing gets by you," a tall man with coal black eyes said. He walked over to a mahogany bar, pulling out two small glasses from behind its doors. "Will you?" he said, gesturing to the empty glasses.

"No, I don't think I will."

"Fine, but as I cannot make, perhaps you could fill mine."

"Very well," Olina said, perturbed. She waved her hand towards the man's empty glass.

"Olina, is that agitation I sense?"

"Don't be ridiculous, Isis."

"I should hope not," the man said, regarding her.

"I'm simply impatient."

"Perhaps bored?" he asked more eagerly.

"No."

"Fine." He took a sip of amber colored liquid. "It's not your finest."

"Is that all, Isis? I would like to be left alone."

"Like that, I'm asked to leave? This is all you are to give to me? If I cannot please you, at least indulge me."

"Isis you forget yourself."

The man smirked, posing himself against the bar. "Dear Olina, I only meant talk to me. What was it like being reunited with your long lost daughter?"

"It was as to be expected; productive. I got a rise from her." Olina turned back to her looking glass.

"I see…and that is all I am to get from you? Olina, darling, please don't deprive me of one of the few enjoyments I have on your speck of dust."

"What else is there to tell? She looks like me, in a sad, frumpy kind of way. And she is willful like me," Olina said, studying her reflection.

"Olina, now the enjoyment I am referring to is not your daughter," the man said sauntering up behind her. He grasped at her shoulders hungrily.

"Oh, very well," Olina said turning to face him. "I am bored, and we do have 13 hours to kill."

/:/:/:/:/:/

And we have a plan, Sarah smiled to her prison mates. Jeminy, Willabee, and Ichabad were running through the preparations in their heads. Even Rokana from the Filcher clan and Marion from Aschcombe had snapped out of their scared solitude from their secluded cell. Rokana paced the floor while Marion drummed her fingers impatiently. Remember you two, Sarah sent her thoughts down the prison hall, you have to act natural.

How do I act natural in a prison? Rokana thought, her pacing coming to a dead halt.

Yes, how is a captive supposed to behave? Marion inquired mentally.

Just behave as you were before. You weren't pacing or drumming your fingers, you both were paralyzed with fear. Jeminy said you hadn't even touched your food in days. Sarah intercepted.

Right, yes. I can do that. Rokana sat down on the cold floor her head tucked into her body

Oh yes! They could be watching. Marion thought, panic seizing her. Act natural. And with that thought, Marion dramatically thrust herself into the corner of her cell releasing a fitful of loud theatrical sobs.

Marion! That might be a little too…exhausting… to keep up for the next few hours, Sarah thought to her. Save your energy.

Oh, don't worry about me, Miss Sarah. I am a thespian. I could go on for hours.

You don't say? You are very good. It's just they may suspect something is amiss if your behavior was so suddenly… altered. Why don't you sit down with you head in your hands.

Marion stopped, squinting into Sarah's direction. I could sit paralyzed…in silence. Excellent idea, I will be so overwhelmed with emotion that I'm stunned into an utter catatonic state of being, incapable of making a sound, incapable of batting an eye. I won't let you down, Miss Sarah.

Okay, yes. That could work, Sarah thought to Marion, hoping she couldn't hear her internal laughter too.

Sarah turned her attention to her other prison mates. Willibee and Jeminy were seated on their individual bunks watching their hands. But Ichabad was grinning ear to ear at Marion. The goofy grin on the boy's face reminded Sarah of Toby. She felt her heart sink, thinking of her brother. She blinked away her brother's face from her minds' eye and focused on Ichy.

Ichy, we are expecting the guards with the dinner platters at any moment. You can't be smiling like that now.

Hmm? Ichy thought, surprised by Sarah's interruption.

Ichy…

Oh, right. I'm a pitiful prisoner without any hope of escape. Gotcha'. Sarah, where do you think Jareth is right now?

Sarah winced inwardly at the mention of his name. She didn't know how to organize an escape and rescue mission whilst thinking about the fact that she may never see Jareth or Toby again.

I was just wondering, he continued. He knows about Tetris. I thought maybe he would know about Donkey Kong. My father brought me back a couple of human games. But I'm stuck in Donkey Kong.

My brother loves those old games, Sarah thought, thankful for the boy's simple distraction. Maybe he could help you when we get out of here and find them. Sarah hoped her words would reassure Ichy, even if they were weightless to her. The truth was that Sarah was not sure about anything -their plan, her abilities, if they could succeed. But she didn't have a choice, no matter the outcome. Sarah would make her way as far out of here as she could, with her friends and with her step mother in tote. As far as her own mother went, she had no idea how she could save her now.

Are they in Jorg? Ichy asked.

Oh God, I hope so. Or at least as far away from here as possible.

But they'd come after you wouldn't they?

They wouldn't know how, Ichy. I'm here and they are safe, and that is all that matters.

But if you were them, you would find a way to save Jareth or your brother…wouldn't you?

I would stop at nothing, Sarah thought to herself. Oh God, please don't let him be as foolish as I am. Sarah's breath caught in her throat, as the realization hit her. He's going to try to save me. He can't! I don't know if this will work or not this far away, but I have to try. Jareth, my love. I'm okay. I'm going to be okay. Jareth? Sarah waited in silence for a reply that didn't come. I don't know if you can hear me, but please if you can listen to me, do not come after me. Do not bring Toby here. Please, take him far away from here. Take him home! He wanted to go home. I love you, and I'll get out of here for you. You'll see. Jareth?

But Jareth didn't respond. The only thing she could hear was silence, and then the breaking of silence. Outside the dungeon door she heard the rattling of keys.

A/N:

Hope you enjoyed! A new chapter will come soon... As always a special thanks to HEW for her BETA abilities.