At this point Sarah didn't care that her face was buried in Jareth's chest. He had one arm hugging her into him as they fell headfirst towards the blistering lava pit. Sarah closed her eyes. Jareth repositioned himself and his cane sprung to his free hand. The heat blasting in her face turned cool. Sarah squinted her eyes open. A huge bubble had formed around them, and they had turned right side up. Water vapor pounded on the glass and raced upwards, the orange steam around them was so thick Sarah couldn't see anything else. Suddenly the steam was gone, and they were gently floating down to the labyrinth floor. The moment their feet touched the ground the bubble popped.

Sarah was disoriented. She shook her head to clear her vision and took a deep breath of natural air. They had fallen toward the center of the earth but ended up above where they started? She looked up into the sky, she swore the cloud above them didn't look right. Were those vents? "That was fun." Jareth said, his breath brushed across Sarah's ear.

That's when she noticed how close they still were. Their chests were touching, and she would have been standing on his feet except for the fact that Jareth was supporting all her weight with his arm that cupped her back. Jareth didn't seem to notice this, he was staring off into the labyrinth, his free hand, still clutching his staff, was shielding the sun from his eyes.

Sarah's stomach started to twist; she felt her heart quicken. He had saved her, again. At the beginning Jareth had specifically said the labyrinth was made to test her, so she wasn't supposed to receive any help. But… Jareth had helped her, twice now. He played this mean character, setting up impossible tasks and kidnapping her, taunting her, being generally annoying, but he did have good qualities. Qualities that she admired; he was extremely confident, he did keep his word (even if it was a little twisted), and she saw a side of him just barely playing that game. He seemed to be having fun and acting almost like a normal person. Maybe he wasn't so bad, maybe there was a good reason she was oddly attracted to him, maybe if she got to know him better…

Confusion flashed across Jareth's face, like he saw something he wasn't expecting. He glanced down at Sarah, "What were you just thinking?" his question jostled her into reality. Mortified Sarah realized she had been leaning into him more, their faces were inches apart.

"I was just…" She faltered, why wasn't her voice working? Sarah bit her lip self-consciously, her lightheadedness had to be because Jareth was holding her too tight, right?

Her silence confirmed Jareth's suspicion, she had been thinking about being with him, there was no other reason for the labyrinth to open a path straight to the castle. He doubt she had seen that though. It was so soon too, he had indeed hoped Sarah would fall for him, but he hadn't expected it this early. She must have thought about him back in the human world, there was no other explanation. Excitement bubbled up inside him, his dream, it could really happen.

Jareth hoped she could feel his heartbeat rush under her fingertips, he wanted to say something, but it still wasn't the right time. He had made promises to himself before this day happened, and he had already broken the don't help her under any circumstances rule in the clock room. But he had also screwed up the plan for the game room, his pendant had got him caught and the drunk goblins were too preoccupied with the game to remember the role they had been given. Them being deeper in the labyrinth was actually his fault, not Sarah's. However, Sarah's thoughts were opening the maze up quickly, but he doubt she understood what she was doing, but it pleased him immensely.

How he wanted to close the small gap between them, Sarah's breath was quickening, and he felt his willpower leaving. Acting cautiously like she was a wild rabbit he wanted to tame, Jareth slowly brought his free hand down to her cheek, gently caressing her with the back of his fingertips. Sarah's breath caught, but she didn't pull away. She stared up at Jareth with those large, brown, fluttering eyes. She was just as cautious as he was. He glanced at her pink lips, then back into her eyes. Sarah noticed; her lips trembled but they parted slightly inviting him closer. Jareth gave in to the temptation and tilted his head towards hers when he stopped suddenly.

"Sarah. How are you feeling?" Jareth's voice was tight, and urgent.

Sarah blinked, then felt extremely embarrassed. Jareth was looking at her with concern and hardness, had she imagined the soft look he had just given her? Oh gosh, she had misread him, he didn't want to kiss her at all. She must have breathed in too many fumes. Her stomach churned with a nasty, sick feeling. Sarah quickly pushed away from him feeling her face blush scarlet. He must think I'm an idiot. "I'm fine, it was just the heat." Sarah squeaked out turning away from him.

"Your time is running out." Jareth stated coolly. His voice was back to his normal, rigid self, not the relaxed tone he had had just moments ago.

How would he know that? Sarah turned her attention to her arm; the tattoo had become so thick the vines were three dimensional and had turned her arm into a grotesque, misshapen lump. The queasiness in her stomach quadrupled, she felt hot bile rise in her throat. It took extreme willpower to hold back the urge to puke. Sarah's good hand covered her mouth, and the deformed goblin arm clutched her stomach. Never mind, he is cruel. She thought vehemently. I won't be an idiot anymore; I can't let him manipulate me into liking him.

After the urge passed, Sarah mustered the courage to peek down her blouse to see where else the curse was spreading. A branch had grown across her sternum and was on its way down her other arm. Other sprouts were appearing across her stomach, but her shoulder was covered. Horrified she touched her neck, bumps. She traced the bumps up, oh gosh, they were on her cheek. She had to calm down, no more distractions. Straightening her back she turned to the Goblin King.

"How much longer do I have?" Sarah demanded. Jareth looked disinterested and appeared to be studying to horizon. But with a wave of his hand a grandfather clock appeared by his side, its curled hand pointed to the six.

"That's impossible, it hasn't been that long has it?" Sarah whined. "Where even are we?" She jumped up on a boulder and scanned the horizon. "No! Why are we further away?" She moaned. A guttural scream escaped her as she stamped the rock.

Jareth waited silently in the background, watching her every move out of the corner of his eye. He kept his arms folded and back straight. The goblin prick was spreading quicker than normal, he wasn't sure why. He cursed himself mentally, the goblin prick wasn't part of the original plan, but Sarah had forced him to do something rash and it was all he could think of. He regretted it now but being a king, he had to uphold his word. The other goblins had been listening, if he let her off the hook early, he would have a riot on his hands. If she couldn't complete the labyrinth, Sarah would become a goblin. He was a fool. Jareth cursed himself. At this point he didn't even care about her answer, he just wanted her to finish the labyrinth, whatever it takes.

"Are we going to sit here all night?" He asked off-handedly. "I'd prefer if you finish sooner, my bed is more comfortable than the dirt. Or you could give up, and I can welcome you into our goblin family now."

Sarah glared back at him defiantly, but she didn't have a retort. Her eyes stung with forming tears. Not only was she turning into a monster, for a moment there she actually believed she liked Jareth, and, stupidly, she thought he might like her! But it was clearer than ever now he didn't. This was just a game, a game rigged to make her lose. She wouldn't fall for anymore of his tricks. With a humph, Sarah twisted toward the castle, her braid swinging around, and stalked off.