Disclaimer: Still don't own the Labyrinth.
Chapter 35
I Capture the Castle.
Take Toby home? Jareth could still hear Sarah's words resonating clearly in his mind. Out of the question, Jareth thought looking sideways at Toby through the black abyss. Sarah? He was so relieved to have heard her, to know that no harm had come to her…yet. Sarah? He tried again. But the voice had disappeared as abruptly as it came. Jareth sighed, rubbing his temples, his head was throbbing. He was tired, and his stomach was churning. The loud grumbling was swallowed by the Black Hole. They had been walking in silence for hours, and Sarah's sudden plea had startled him. Her plea. Take Toby Home. It was a conundrum. What should he do? He knew what she wanted was right. But how could he? He couldn't leave Sarah there. And Toby was as adamant about finding Sarah as he was. Jareth knew he was capable of getting Toby home, even if he had to resort to force, or trickery. But taking such a detour, now, when they were so close? Sarah will never forgive me if something happens to Toby.
"Toby," Jareth began, unsure of what to say. "You know your sister wouldn't want you to try to be a hero."
"So?" Toby replied, curtly.
"She would want me to keep you safe."
Toby stopped, staring blankly at Jareth. "I know what you are getting at…but the answer is no. I am not going home without Sarah."
Jareth continued forward, abandoning the hopeless feat. Pick your battles, he thought to himself.
"What are we going to do when we get there?" Toby asked.
"Depends on where there is."
"But we know where there is. Well, we know the direction." Toby added, pointing at Terajh who was a few feet ahead of them.
"Yes, but what kind of Speck of Dust we will be walking into, we don't know," Aris explained, grimly. "Surely, Terajh, you must know something."
"It's been many years since I was back there."
"You need to tell us everything you know. You owe us that much," Jareth said, icily.
"The more we know, the better prepared we will be. We can get out of there more quickly and safely," Aris pleaded.
"I will tell you everything I know. Unfortunately, it isn't much. I was there once, when I met Olina. When I was…initiated into the Brotherhood," he hesitated, looking between his father and his brother.
"Go on, what was it like, son?" Mavius said, with a forgiving air.
"It was overwhelming. The world was all stainless steel and sharp angles. The buildings looked like thick daggers protruding from a red earth. The winding streets between the structures were overrun by men and women drunk and shameless. The streets smelled of vomit, urine, and sex."
"And this is the group of people you chose to align yourself with?!"
"Jareth, let him continue," Mavius said, trying to calm his eldest son.
"It was a celebration. They were carefree, and at the time I would have given anything to feel carefree. I walked through the streets of Olina's world and I felt liberated watching the other makers who had shed all restraint."
"What was the celebration for?"
"It was the pre-party for a Memory Modification Ceremony." Terajh replied.
"You witnessed a memory modification?" Aris asked.
"Yes, it was part of our initiation. That way, if we wanted to participate, we could."
"What do you mean?"
Terajh released a burdened sigh, before continuing with a more determined air. "The members of the Brotherhood can choose to go through memory modification."
"You didn't, did you?" Jareth asked.
"No, no. I wanted to remember."
"Why would anyone choose that?!" Toby exclaimed.
Terajh looked down at the young man and said, "There are some memories that can make us weak."
"I don't believe that," Aris said, passionately, "Memories make us strong. We learn from our experiences, we are strengthened from our experiences. And what are our memories if not our experiences? It was nothing but propaganda she was selling you. It makes me so angry."
"Exactly," Jareth affirmed. "It is easier to control an army without a past, an army that will follow orders blindly without question."
"But you chose to keep your memories." Mavius said, reassuringly.
"Yes, though Olina had encouraged me to erase you and Jareth. She said family makes us feeble."
"I don't understand," Azela said, breaking her troubled silence. "I didn't raise her to be like this, even with memory modification. She was a good girl. She had such a sweet nature." Azela shook her head returning to her quiet discontent.
Aris rubbed Azela's shoulders in reassurance. "We will try and save her, Azela."
"If we only knew how," Jareth thought aloud, shaking his head.
"Well, thank God you didn't erase your memory," Aris said, redirecting her attention to Terajh.
"Granted, if he had erased his memory he wouldn't have been in a place to have Sarah abducted." Jareth said, tersely.
"Nor would we have been able to reach him to bring him back to his senses," his father said, placing a firm hand on Jareth's stiff shoulders.
The lines in Terajh's face were drawn tight in regret, "There's more, something that could explain it, Azela." Terajh said to the heartbroken woman. "Olina gave us the option to erase…our feelings."
"What?" Azela's mouth drew tight in horror.
"Olina, I think she had more than her memory erased."
"Is that even possible?"
"Yes, Olina can do it," Terjah said, responding to Aris. "I don't know how she learned or who did it to her. But it would explain it all."
"That is messed up! That is why they want Sarah! They will do the same to her!" Toby cried out.
"Certainly, but it is very ritualistic. Olina, will announce the event 13 hours prior. Tonight there will be the celebration, like the one I witnessed."
"And tomorrow?" Jareth asked.
"Tomorrow they will bring all the participants to the City Center; everyone in Olina's Speck of Dust will assemble there."
"So we need to get to her before the ceremony," Aris concluded.
"Where do they keep the prisoners?"
"I don't know, Jareth." Terajh said, regretfully. "I only know how to get to the City Center."
"Think, Terajh. It's important. There is no way we can fight through a mob of the Brotherhood…but we could outsmart a few guards."
"I don't know," Terajh said, imploringly. "Somewhere in Olina's fortress, I imagine."
"Do you know the way there?"
"It is impossible to miss, Jareth. It is the malefic, jagged building reigning over the town. Conveniently just above the City Center."
"Do you know where the entrance is?" Aris asked, eagerly.
"Yes, but of course, it is guarded."
"I wouldn't expect anything less." Jareth said, his mind racing. He needed a plan. And he hoped that one would come to him fast. Sarah, he thought, trying to force his thoughts out into the abyss before him. We are coming for you. Aris, Azela, Mavius, Terajh, Toby and I are on our way. We are six against the Brotherhood. Let's hope they aren't expecting us.
/:/:/:/:/:/
Steady, Steady. Sarah thought warningly into the dungeon. Act natural. She watched as the hefty guard pushed a cart with half a dozen plastic trays. He stopped before Marion and Rokana's cell, slipping two square trays through service flap.
"Ladies," he said, through a toothy grin. "I'd eat up. You will need your strength for tomorrow's big event." Sarah watched the girls as they remained still as the grave. "Suit yourself, just don't die on my watch. I hate the cleanup." The man pushed up on his sleeves pivoting towards Ichy, with a smirk. "It's my dear friend, Ichy," the man said pulling out a new tray. He observed Ichy, who seemed to be now sweating profusely. "Are you nervous about tomorrow? I wouldn't be. It feels like your insides are being ripped out through your ears, but the agony only lasts a few hours. The rest of the day is mild torture. But look at me, I survived and only needed a few weeks of recuperation. Of course, I only had a few memories extracted. Your entire existence is scheduled to be erased. On second thought, you will be lucky to survive. Here," the man said holding the tray out before him, "you will need all the strength you can muster. Maybe tonight you can grow a backbone." The guard began to insert the tray through the tiny opening, before pulling it back abruptly. He smiled wickedly at Ichy, and added, "Oh, I forgot the best part." He leaned over Ichy's tray and scrunched his mouth with a swishing motion. "Extra courage," he said, letting a wad of spit drape the grey mush in the middle of the platter, before thrusting the tray through the opening. He grinned wildly and turned cockily towards Sarah.
"What's on the menu, poison?" Sarah asked flatly.
"Oh, she speaks! The man said, "I love it when they talk, makes my work that much more entertaining." He stopped, taking in Sarah's disheveled appearance. "Look at you. I could eat you for dinner. Dark hair, full defiant lips," the man stopped, his eyes fixed on Sarah's lower lip. I bet you're a biter. Oh, and I do I like it when they resist. He smiled approaching the prison bars. His face was inches from hers. "But Olina said hands off of the new one. Such a shame. Well, I can't touch you, but I can imagine you out of those tattered clothes and into something…well into nothing." Sarah looked at the man horrified.
"You wouldn't dare. And you couldn't, you can't make here."
"I don't need to make to imagine what's underneath," the man said, slipping her the tray. "Enjoy your food."
Sarah seethed in her cell. Try to remain calm, she thought, eying the man as he turned his back to her. There! Her eyes caught sight of the round key chain attached the man's buckle. She could clearly see them, she knew she could imagine them into her hands, but she would have to wait until he had served her friends and left the dungeon.
She watched as the guard turned towards Willibee with a titillated regard. Sarah could feel the anger emanating from Willibee as she swallowed every impulse to lash out at the perverted man. His antagonizing continued, and Sarah watched as Willibee's cheeks turned from chocolate to burgundy. Mental obscenities hovered above her like a storm cloud ready to break. Remain calm, Sarah thought to her sassy friend, it will be over soon.
I would like to rip him from limb to limb. That smug piece of dung wouldn't stand a chance if I wasn't behind these bloody bars.
Unfortunately, he is our way out, and we need to get out discreetly! So do not make a scene! Sarah reminded her.
He has no idea how bloody lucky he is. Willibee stared vacantly before her trying to endure the guards mounting attempts to provoke her. It's fine, she thought after the man commended her on her choice of making herself "black", the world has a way of correcting injustices all of its own.
Finally, the guard turned away from Willibee and on to the "Crusty Old Man." Sarah admired Jeminy's unaltered state at the verbal assault. She could almost see the verbal darts bouncing off of Jeminy's cool physique. Dissatisfied, the guard begrudgingly stopped and looked from cell to cell.
"You guys are no fun tonight. I thought at least one of you would have pissed yourself by now." When no on responded he yanked out his metal stick and began to beat the prison bars as he passed by. He hovered over Ichabad's cell violently thrashing metal to metal until Ichabad curled up into a ball in the corner of his unit. The guard grinned, finally satisfied. "That's better," he said pushing the food cart at last toward the exit.
Now! Sarah thought as the guard was just at the door. Her eyes were clearly set on the keys. She concentrated with all her might. Her heart was racing as she imagined the weight of the keys in the palm of her hand. To her dismay, she watched as the keys unlatched from the guard's belt and began floating down to her direction. She had hoped to create a duplicate! But here the actual keys were drifting towards her. Pray he doesn't notice the change in the weight on his belt, she thought as her trembling hands grasped the keys inches in front of her. Please don't make a sound, she thought through labored breathing. Don't look at me! Don't look over here! The guard exited the dungeon, and she sighed relieved. Quick! she thought, before he realizes the keys are gone!
Sarah rifled clumsily through the keys. Which one?! She closed her eyes hoping that some internal intuition would guide her to the right key. This one, she thought determinedly. She twisted her arm around the cell bar and inserted the key into the keyhole. It fit! Sarah catapulted out of the cell with as much speed and agility as she could gather. She freed her friends one after another. Shhh… she reminded them mentally as they tried to calm their surmounting excitement and relief.
Sarah sighed cautiously just before the solid dungeon door. She could not see through the other side. They had no idea what awaited them. What to do? Was their best option speed - like ripping off a band aid? Or caution - trying to peek at what was the beyond the door. Sarah opted for a combination of the two. After I say, we all move as quickly and quietly as possible beyond this door. Sarah placed her hand flat on the wood door, the side of her face plastered to the edge in preparation of the sight beyond their dungeon. She began to push. At that moment, the force she placed on the wooden door was countered by a stronger force on the other side. The door swung in forcing Sarah and the rest of the group to the floor like dominos.
Sarah, looked up to find the guard had returned. He hovered over them with a menacing, angry face. She watched him open his mouth. He was going to cry out for help. Sarah looked at the man in panic, wanting desperately to silence him. She imagined the only thing she could; stuffing his big mouth with a smelly rag. Her imagination was rewarded, as the guard began to muffle cries and a rag appeared forcibly in his mouth. The guard's eyes were huge as he understood the meaning of what was happening. He began to reach for the rags and Sarah instinctively thought of a tight, thick yellow rope that would bind his hands and feet. The man fell to the ground with a thud. Tape, thick electrical tape, she thought. To her satisfaction, in her hands was delivered the tape. Willibee, jumped up greedily taking the tape and rapping it around the man's mouth to hold in the rag. He wriggled and fought to no avail. Willibee smiled down at him complacently.
Into the cell, Sarah thought to the group. The group assembled around the man pulling his massive body to Ichabad's cell. Sarah locked the cell door and paused, looking at the guard. She almost felt guilty. She looked into the man's angry eyes, and to her disgust they were still filled with utter smugness, and something else...what was it? Lust! What had he said before? I like it when they resist. I can imagine what's underneath. Before Sarah could stop herself she was imagining his harry self left there in only a speedo. A pink one, with white polka-dots. The group around her was in snickers before she even realized she had made again. The guard was to be left there in his underwear tied up like that. As the man's arrogant demeanor melted into humility, Sarah looked over victoriously at her friends that he had assaulted. A little revenge can't hurt, she thought, and she turned toward the dungeon door, satisfied.
A/N: Thank you again to my BETA. And thank you readers! I hope you enjoyed!