A.n.-I am sooo sorry for takeing so long on giveing ya'all the next chapter! My computer broke down for the longest time, and my dade swiped it so the chapter I had that was almost done, I might add, was gone. Highschool has taken up much of my time giveing me little, if any, time to write. BUT, at least its a long chapter right? **laughs nervously**
Dedication-Demi Seeking Serenity, rhiannan, Kate, Dawn, Silver Space, SilvrDragon, and Ash. I'm glad you all liked the last chapter, sorry for makeing you all wait so long! By the way, SilvrDragon^_^I'll admitt the idea of pairing Sarah with someone eles has been floating through my mind but most likely....this will be a J/S fic...but I may change my mind ya never know ^_~. And Seeking Serenity, as for the questions you asked in your review you'll jus' have to wait learn their answers^_~
Liz Parker chewed her bottem lip nervously as she paced back and forth. They'd taken up temperary fort in Max's work place. Around her floated dozens of Alien balloons, pictures of sopposed U.F.O's hung duitifuly on the stone walls. She'd nearly laughed as she saw the irony of their hideout. They were in a place for Alien manics, hideing from Aliens with human/alien hybrids.
But it wasn't really the time for laughing.
Sarah, her rather-strange cusion, had just been kidnapped by those Alien's out to get them. Closeing her eyes Liz let her head fall downward. In her mind she could still hear Sarah's cry of pain as she had fallen, hit by one of Nicolose's shots. How she'd wanted to race to her side, to try and save her from them.
But Max and Micheal had held her back, they'd made her leave saying they couldn't help her now. They'd come back for her. That it wouldn't due Sarah any good to have them all captured. They were right, she knew, but that didn't make the guilt go away.
Liz jumped with a start as she heard a sharp 'boom' to her left. Max apparently had lost his temper and punched a hole in the wall. Liz swallowed hard. His eyes were wide with anger, more anger then she'd seen in a long time.
"I should have helped her. I can't belive I let her get captured by-by-by _them_."Max ran a hand deafly through his black locks,"Who knows what they'll do to her..."
Micheal frowned, annoyence shifting across his features,"Their was no way we could help her, and if I do recall she told you she could take care of herself. I don't think Nicolose will do much to her. After all, she dosen't know anything."
Max turned to face him, his eyes narrowed in anger though whether it was more at himself or at Micheals words was beyound any within the room,"Still, its becouse of us she was captured. We have to get her back."
"And just how do you plan to that? Run around the town tryin' to find her? We don't even now where to start."Micheal responded heatly, dark eyes wide with anger at their own helplessness. It wasn't a feeling he relished.
"I've got it!"Maria said softly, her bright emereild eyes wideing in excitment, in hope perhapes,"Isabel, you can dream-walk Sarah!"
Isabel shifted her weight uncomfertbley,"I don't know...I mean.....she has to be alseep...for it to work....and I need a picture of her anyway..."
Liz smiled slightly, a kindle of hope liteing in her soul,"I've one. When she first got here, Maria and I toke some pictures with Sarah by some of the 'main attractions' in Rosswell. There all ready developed and everything...but there in her bag...which is in my room..."
"I'll go then."Max said quickly, giveing none of the others a chance to vollenteer.
He was the leader, he was the one they all looked to as a piller of strength and confidense. He was the one who was responsible out of all of them, and a blind man would have been able to see tha the capture of Sarah had hit way too close to home for comfert. He wouldn't risk another who knew the secret.
"Then I'm comeing with you."Liz said, her voice firm. But then, not a man nor Alien on the planet could stop Liz from helping those she cared for. Noone.
"No. I can't be responsible-"
"What!"Liz snapped, her anger riseing,"Sarah is my friend and whether you like it or not i'm comeing. She's my cusion, I know where the pictures are and I can handle myself fine."Liz paused for a secoud then added with a biteingly cold tone"And I am my own responsiblty, Max."Turning on her heel she walked toward the stairs,"Are you comeing or not?"
Max's shoulders slumped, his resolve draining away. He'd have a better chance winning a fight with a tree then with Liz when she set her mind on something.
"Fine."he muttered.
If she was going, she sure as hell wasn't going alone. Which he knew that if he outright told her no and my some mircle got her to stay while he left she'd most likely find some way to follow him.
"Be careful, Max. Nicolose and the other Skin's could be anywhere."Tess said, her hands wraping around his bicep posseively.
Liz turned away, tears burning her eyes at the sight. He didn't know she still loved him, that seeing Tess and him together was like a thousand spears strikeing her. But then, he had no reason to belive that she still loved him. He belived she'd slept with Kyle, that she had betrayed him. That she hadn't saved herself for him. She had, she'd only done what she did to save him. To protect the future.
Blinking back her tears she waited till she felt Max walking toward her before half running up the stairs. Once they made it out into the bright sunlight they each crouched down behind a car, senses going beserk as they did so. It was like a war, when a sniper was hideing about waiting to take you out the momment your defense slipped.
As they made there way through the roads, Liz alloud herself to revel in being with Max alone. Aloud the memories of heartfelt kisses and of every touch they'd shared to rise hard in her mind. In her heart. Her back stiffed she rembered that night. The night when the Max from the future had come.
He'd told her that she and present Max would elope in Veges, that they would live many years together. But also that Tess would give up on her 'choosen mate', him, and leave Rosswell. But since they were so much weaker without Tess when the Aliens came years later they couldn't fight. That many died and it could all be changed if only they did not marry, that they didn't fall in love....If she broke his heart...
Liz bowed her head slightly, allowing raven locks to fall over her face, mayhapes to hide the shame that boiled within. So she'd done it. To save everyone she broke his heart. Pretended to sleep with Kyle. Pretened to have not saved herself for him, pretended that she didn't care for him anymore. Lie after lie she told, all to protect a future she felt she may never see. And if she did, was it truely worth it without the one she loved at her side?
Slowly Liz glanced up as she saw the Crashdown slipping into veiw. Shrugging back her hair she forced her tears to resead. Swallowing hard she dared a glance at the dark haired hybrid alien before her. Raven wing hair fell lightly over his forehead, bringing out those eyes of eternal dark. Closeing her eyes slightly, Liz alloud herself to reviel in just being in his precence once more. So close so, so near. But never touching. Never feeling those strong arms wraping around her agine...Blinking rapidly she disspeal tears that barely began to fom she hurried toward the diner, Max hot on her heels.
Silently the opened the door and entered. The diner was bare. Half eaten food layed on plates, some chairs were at a disary but the rest of the room seemed in one peice. But it wasn't the lack of locals or visiters that made the Crash seem so out of place.
It was the silence.
The utter deafing silence that smoothered every crevece of the room. Swallowing nervously, they quickly made there way into the back of the diner and up the stairs to Liz and Sarah's room. Max shifted uncomfertbly as he walked in. His eyes falling on the bed with a firey anger that was barely covered.
"Lets just find the picture and get out of here."Liz whispered, reaching out to touch his arm before letting it drop to her side before it even made it. She'd no right to touch him. Not any more.
"Yea."he muttered walking over to the small makeshift bed they had made to the right of the room. It was a mdeiom sized 'pop up' bed that folded in. Warm covers and a soft pillow layed on the neat bed. Slowly Liz began to dig through Sarah's purse.
Max looked around untill his eyes fell on her small suitcase. Curiousty peaked he slowly opened it. Shirts and jeans lay inside. Carefuly he shifted through them untill his hand bumped into a small book. Frowning he pulled it out. It was a small red book, bold, gold letters spelled 'Labyrinth' on the front. Slowly he fliped through it. Skimming over the pages he read about some Goblin King who stole a baby from a young girl who wished him away...The heroin in the book was named...Sarah? He frowned slightly. That was strange. But then, it was probbly just a coincendense.
'yeah...'he thought, shifting the book in his hands,'just a coincednese...'
"Found it!"Liz hissed, leaning over to shut Sarah's suitcase Max had been going through as she did so."Lets get back to the others."
"Lets go through the fire escape, safer that way."Max responded, his voice slightly colder then intended.
"Alright."Liz muttered going past him quickly, being so close to him made her want to tell him the truth more then ever.
But she couldn't.
As Max turned to follow, he couldn't keep his eyes from the book. Something about it. Something about it just...just struck a cord that screamed 'Danger'. Unable to leave it he jerked it up off the floor and jamed the small book into his back pocket. Hurrying over to Liz's window he climbed out. When they got Sarah back he would ask her about it. And get some other answers that had been plauging his mind since he'd meet her...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sarah fell back instently as the bounds that had held her to the poll vanished without a trace. Quickly she scrambled to her feet, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure the alien could hear it. Slowly he steped toward her.
But fate choose to smile on her as one of Nicolose's commrades entered,"Sir, we've found her. She's weak, and her husk in failing but we've found her. We're pretty sure she knows where the Granolith is."
Nicolose scowled as he turned,"Fine. I'll be right there."he turned to Sarah, the scowl diminishing and a cruel smile takeing its place,"I'll be back, we will finnish our conversation then."
Sarah swallowed hard as she watched him leave the room. The instent she was sure he was gone, her legs buckled out from benith her. The hard scraping as her knees struck the rubber floor barely registered as she felt tears make there way down her cheeks. Her head hurt so much, so did the memories. God how she had tried to hide from them, to bury them forever.
All to have them rear their ugly head once more. Gulping back her sobs she forcebly steaded her breathing. She had to be strong. She couldn't buckle benieth Nicolose, no matter the cost. Be it her sanity or not. There was one upside to it, be it grim or not. Whatever torture Nicolose had in store for her atleast wouldn't be less agonizeing as Jareth's. Jareth prefered battles of the mind and spirt...this one merely liked seeing the pain in his victems eyes.
Carefully Sarah forced herself to her feet and crawled over to a corner that was filled with shadows. In the shadows she was safe. In the shadows she could hide. In the shadows tears could fall an none would see. Closeing her eyes she leaned agenst the wall and aloud the firm grasp of sleep to fill her. She would need her strength when Nicolose returned. Of that she was certine.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Darkness.
The room was filled with an echoing darkness that seeped through every crevice. Lightly she wraped her arms around herself.
He was there.
She could feel his precence, she could feel his mocking gaze upon her.
"Don't you tire of these games, Jareth? I know your there."
Silence greated her in return. Her words echoed loudly around her.
"Coward!"Sarah hissed,"You hide in the shadows from me, your 'arrogentness' if your going to drag me here show your face!"
"You call me a coward?"A baritone laugh ran out all around her. Where was he!?"You who prefer the shadows to hide in? But when the shadows are gone..."
Suddenly the room flooded with light, blinding pristine light. Wraping her arms insecurely around her, Sarah turned around in a small circle. She was in the Escher room agine. Its twisting ways marvoloed her even now.
"Then you can not hide."He finnished, appeareing suddenly in front of her.
Sarah steeled herself and forced back the impulse to step away.
"Why do you make things so diffcult, My Sarah, why can't you just give in? It would make things so much easier."
"You'd like that, wouldn't you Jareth? Well, why don't you just leave me alone. I'm not yours. I'm not a possion you can own. I belong to noone, its time you figured that out."
He scowled,"Sarah, you played the game. Noone forced you. Rather you could have simply toke your dreams instead of going on your fruitless quest to reclaim that which you called on me to take. The sooner you relize that you are mine by default along with your brother the better things will be."
Sarah snarled,"I am not yours. I may have lost Toby to you, Jareth, but I swear you will never have me. I will live on here and away from you for him."
He smirked,"Is that so? Do you think I can not see how unhappy this world is for you, Sarah? This world you cling to will never be real for you."He moved closer, his warm breath tickling her cheek,"You've seen your dream, and you can't let go."
Sarah lifted her chin, her eyes glared up at him in a firey blaze,"I don't know what your talking about."
He frowned, his expression falling from benine amusement to a scowl of annoyance,"Play your games Sarah, as you always have. But eventualy, that defense will fail you."
"Perhapes, but you'll never know will you Jareth? Your plan has failed. I am free of you. So you can stop this-this-this dream thing you keep doing. Becouse despite all your threats, you will never have me under your thumb."
Jareth smiled slightly,"Getting bored so soon, Sarah? Wanting the game to end so soon? But we've only just begun."
Sarah snarled as she made a half circle around Jareth,"Everything is a game to you, isn't it?"
Jareth laughed lightly, barreing sharp white teeth"Life is a game, my Sarah, its time you learned that."
Sarah crossed her arms slowly,"Perhapes, but I won't lose this time Jareth. You said youself, you can not take me to the Labyrinth unless someone wishes me away. And I don't belive that will be happening any time soon."
"You underestimate me, my Sarah, I'll be seeing you in the Aboveground soon...and then I will bring you back to where you belong...the Underground."
With that Sarah watched as Jareth faded away and the room became as black as pitch once more. It was then Sarah felt the precence of another. Like a six sense she could feel another in the room. Only it wasn't Jareth...no this precence....it was different...
"Whos there?"Sarah called out, curseing the tremble that ran through her voice.
"Sarah...Its me Isabel....I've dreamwalked you...what was that? It wasn't like anyone eles dream i've ever seen!"
Sarah wirled around, the darkness lifting slightly as she saw Isabel standing there. Isabel's features appeared strained, pained even.
Sarah bowed her head slightly,"Maybe..maybe some other time i'll tell you."
"Where is Nicolose holding you?"
"It dosen't matter. I can handle him."Sarah lied smoothly, funny how easy it had become.
That pain...Shakeing her head inwardly Sarah foisted up a frosty courages look. She couldn't let them endanger themselves for her. That was just what Nicolose wanted. Besides, after loseing her brother to the Goblin King, Sarah didn't even feel worthy of such a rescue.
Isabel grabbed her shoulders roughly,"Where are you! Tell me now."
Sarah shrugged her hands off, her dark eyes flashing anger,"He wants you to come for me. I can't let you endanger yourself for me!"
Isabel crossed her arms, her experssion becomeing more tired as the secouds wore on,"We can't run forever, Sarah, its better that when the showdown comes its sooner not later."
Sarah turned away, her head lowering,"I don't want you all to get hurt."
"We'll be fine. We've all 'gifts' rember?"
"The school Gym. There keeping me in the school Gymnasiom."
"We'll be there soon."Isabel promised.
"....Be careful."Sarah warned as the blackness around her began to shift.
"We wi--"
Isabel had no chance to finnish her sentence as Sarah felt herself regaining counsisness. Chocolate brown eyes shot open as she jumped to her feet
At the far end of the Gym stood Nicolose. His stance was cockly confident, a smirk marreing his features.
"Miss me?"he questioned, dark humer danceing behind his words.
"Few miss the smell of garbage, Nicolose."Sarah shot back.
He frowned,"I am saddened you compare me to such a foul thing, Sarah correct? Yes, well I belive it is time to comence with what we started earlier."
"I won't let you."Sarah said firmly, scrapping together her defince to mask the trembleing fear within.
"You don't have a say in the matter."he said calmly as he wlked toward her.
Sarah braced herself, pulling up her arms in a defensive postion as she did so. Her entire stance screamed preditor as she thew back her head and put her mouth into a grim line. Being a preditor is something that one is born with. In the world there has always been two kinds of people: the preditors and the prey. One can not help being a prey or the preditor. Its simply a faction of life.
But her attempt to look somehat threating merely made a laugh escape the Alien's lips. His eyes take an maliciouse glow as he stalked toward her. Forceing herself not to run, knowing she would not escape, Sarah held her head high, her shoulder's held back in pride.
As he reached her, he flicked his hand toward her and a large pole apeared agine and she was tied to it. Fear filled her chest as she struggled uselessly agenst the bounds. Her confidense gone she shrunk back agenst the pole as Nicolose reached her.
A smirk curveing his lips he put his hand firmly on top of Sarah's midnight hair. White hot pain thrusted through her mind, burning all in its path. Agony swept through her as she squirmed benith his hold. Images flew past her minds eye. She saw her mother once more, on stage before her adoreing fans. As memories of Jareth offering her, her dreams slipped into focose she fought vicously agenst the current that swept through her memories, violateing thoughts only she knew. The pain that laced through her seemed to last an eternity, and more.
"SARAH! Nicolose, let her go!"
The shout barely broke through the intense pain that had become her world...and then, abruptly, it stopped. Breathing heavly she felt beads of sweat make their way down her face as she saw Max, Isabel, Tess, and Micheal stood before her.
Idly she wondered where the others were.
"Ah, the Royal Four....and delivered right into my hands, and all for a simple -human- girl. Heh, if i'd of known it was this easy to get you i'd of tried it a long time ago."Nicolose said, dark joy laced in his words.
"Let her go, she's nothing to do with this."
His smirk widened at Max's words,"I don't know about that..she's rather amuseing."Nicolose raised his hand just above Sarah's head as he saw Micheal lift his hand slightly,"Don't even think of it, unless...."He clamped his hand down agine on Sarah's head she cried out instently as pain twice as worse shot through her skull.
"Thats my prey your toying with."
The baritone voice shoocked Nicolose enough to life his hand from Sarah, much to her relife, but no matter of self control could keep a terrifed whimper from falling from her lips.
"Jareth.."she whispered, her voice cackling like that of a dieing flam.
A.n.-And we stop there today:)I hope this chapter wasn't too dull, and I will try to get them out much sooner in the future. Also this one i've put up has -not- been edited yet. It will be soon, but I really wanted to put it up now.
Dedication-Demi Seeking Serenity, rhiannan, Kate, Dawn, Silver Space, SilvrDragon, and Ash. I'm glad you all liked the last chapter, sorry for makeing you all wait so long! By the way, SilvrDragon^_^I'll admitt the idea of pairing Sarah with someone eles has been floating through my mind but most likely....this will be a J/S fic...but I may change my mind ya never know ^_~. And Seeking Serenity, as for the questions you asked in your review you'll jus' have to wait learn their answers^_~
Liz Parker chewed her bottem lip nervously as she paced back and forth. They'd taken up temperary fort in Max's work place. Around her floated dozens of Alien balloons, pictures of sopposed U.F.O's hung duitifuly on the stone walls. She'd nearly laughed as she saw the irony of their hideout. They were in a place for Alien manics, hideing from Aliens with human/alien hybrids.
But it wasn't really the time for laughing.
Sarah, her rather-strange cusion, had just been kidnapped by those Alien's out to get them. Closeing her eyes Liz let her head fall downward. In her mind she could still hear Sarah's cry of pain as she had fallen, hit by one of Nicolose's shots. How she'd wanted to race to her side, to try and save her from them.
But Max and Micheal had held her back, they'd made her leave saying they couldn't help her now. They'd come back for her. That it wouldn't due Sarah any good to have them all captured. They were right, she knew, but that didn't make the guilt go away.
Liz jumped with a start as she heard a sharp 'boom' to her left. Max apparently had lost his temper and punched a hole in the wall. Liz swallowed hard. His eyes were wide with anger, more anger then she'd seen in a long time.
"I should have helped her. I can't belive I let her get captured by-by-by _them_."Max ran a hand deafly through his black locks,"Who knows what they'll do to her..."
Micheal frowned, annoyence shifting across his features,"Their was no way we could help her, and if I do recall she told you she could take care of herself. I don't think Nicolose will do much to her. After all, she dosen't know anything."
Max turned to face him, his eyes narrowed in anger though whether it was more at himself or at Micheals words was beyound any within the room,"Still, its becouse of us she was captured. We have to get her back."
"And just how do you plan to that? Run around the town tryin' to find her? We don't even now where to start."Micheal responded heatly, dark eyes wide with anger at their own helplessness. It wasn't a feeling he relished.
"I've got it!"Maria said softly, her bright emereild eyes wideing in excitment, in hope perhapes,"Isabel, you can dream-walk Sarah!"
Isabel shifted her weight uncomfertbley,"I don't know...I mean.....she has to be alseep...for it to work....and I need a picture of her anyway..."
Liz smiled slightly, a kindle of hope liteing in her soul,"I've one. When she first got here, Maria and I toke some pictures with Sarah by some of the 'main attractions' in Rosswell. There all ready developed and everything...but there in her bag...which is in my room..."
"I'll go then."Max said quickly, giveing none of the others a chance to vollenteer.
He was the leader, he was the one they all looked to as a piller of strength and confidense. He was the one who was responsible out of all of them, and a blind man would have been able to see tha the capture of Sarah had hit way too close to home for comfert. He wouldn't risk another who knew the secret.
"Then I'm comeing with you."Liz said, her voice firm. But then, not a man nor Alien on the planet could stop Liz from helping those she cared for. Noone.
"No. I can't be responsible-"
"What!"Liz snapped, her anger riseing,"Sarah is my friend and whether you like it or not i'm comeing. She's my cusion, I know where the pictures are and I can handle myself fine."Liz paused for a secoud then added with a biteingly cold tone"And I am my own responsiblty, Max."Turning on her heel she walked toward the stairs,"Are you comeing or not?"
Max's shoulders slumped, his resolve draining away. He'd have a better chance winning a fight with a tree then with Liz when she set her mind on something.
"Fine."he muttered.
If she was going, she sure as hell wasn't going alone. Which he knew that if he outright told her no and my some mircle got her to stay while he left she'd most likely find some way to follow him.
"Be careful, Max. Nicolose and the other Skin's could be anywhere."Tess said, her hands wraping around his bicep posseively.
Liz turned away, tears burning her eyes at the sight. He didn't know she still loved him, that seeing Tess and him together was like a thousand spears strikeing her. But then, he had no reason to belive that she still loved him. He belived she'd slept with Kyle, that she had betrayed him. That she hadn't saved herself for him. She had, she'd only done what she did to save him. To protect the future.
Blinking back her tears she waited till she felt Max walking toward her before half running up the stairs. Once they made it out into the bright sunlight they each crouched down behind a car, senses going beserk as they did so. It was like a war, when a sniper was hideing about waiting to take you out the momment your defense slipped.
As they made there way through the roads, Liz alloud herself to revel in being with Max alone. Aloud the memories of heartfelt kisses and of every touch they'd shared to rise hard in her mind. In her heart. Her back stiffed she rembered that night. The night when the Max from the future had come.
He'd told her that she and present Max would elope in Veges, that they would live many years together. But also that Tess would give up on her 'choosen mate', him, and leave Rosswell. But since they were so much weaker without Tess when the Aliens came years later they couldn't fight. That many died and it could all be changed if only they did not marry, that they didn't fall in love....If she broke his heart...
Liz bowed her head slightly, allowing raven locks to fall over her face, mayhapes to hide the shame that boiled within. So she'd done it. To save everyone she broke his heart. Pretended to sleep with Kyle. Pretened to have not saved herself for him, pretended that she didn't care for him anymore. Lie after lie she told, all to protect a future she felt she may never see. And if she did, was it truely worth it without the one she loved at her side?
Slowly Liz glanced up as she saw the Crashdown slipping into veiw. Shrugging back her hair she forced her tears to resead. Swallowing hard she dared a glance at the dark haired hybrid alien before her. Raven wing hair fell lightly over his forehead, bringing out those eyes of eternal dark. Closeing her eyes slightly, Liz alloud herself to reviel in just being in his precence once more. So close so, so near. But never touching. Never feeling those strong arms wraping around her agine...Blinking rapidly she disspeal tears that barely began to fom she hurried toward the diner, Max hot on her heels.
Silently the opened the door and entered. The diner was bare. Half eaten food layed on plates, some chairs were at a disary but the rest of the room seemed in one peice. But it wasn't the lack of locals or visiters that made the Crash seem so out of place.
It was the silence.
The utter deafing silence that smoothered every crevece of the room. Swallowing nervously, they quickly made there way into the back of the diner and up the stairs to Liz and Sarah's room. Max shifted uncomfertbly as he walked in. His eyes falling on the bed with a firey anger that was barely covered.
"Lets just find the picture and get out of here."Liz whispered, reaching out to touch his arm before letting it drop to her side before it even made it. She'd no right to touch him. Not any more.
"Yea."he muttered walking over to the small makeshift bed they had made to the right of the room. It was a mdeiom sized 'pop up' bed that folded in. Warm covers and a soft pillow layed on the neat bed. Slowly Liz began to dig through Sarah's purse.
Max looked around untill his eyes fell on her small suitcase. Curiousty peaked he slowly opened it. Shirts and jeans lay inside. Carefuly he shifted through them untill his hand bumped into a small book. Frowning he pulled it out. It was a small red book, bold, gold letters spelled 'Labyrinth' on the front. Slowly he fliped through it. Skimming over the pages he read about some Goblin King who stole a baby from a young girl who wished him away...The heroin in the book was named...Sarah? He frowned slightly. That was strange. But then, it was probbly just a coincendense.
'yeah...'he thought, shifting the book in his hands,'just a coincednese...'
"Found it!"Liz hissed, leaning over to shut Sarah's suitcase Max had been going through as she did so."Lets get back to the others."
"Lets go through the fire escape, safer that way."Max responded, his voice slightly colder then intended.
"Alright."Liz muttered going past him quickly, being so close to him made her want to tell him the truth more then ever.
But she couldn't.
As Max turned to follow, he couldn't keep his eyes from the book. Something about it. Something about it just...just struck a cord that screamed 'Danger'. Unable to leave it he jerked it up off the floor and jamed the small book into his back pocket. Hurrying over to Liz's window he climbed out. When they got Sarah back he would ask her about it. And get some other answers that had been plauging his mind since he'd meet her...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sarah fell back instently as the bounds that had held her to the poll vanished without a trace. Quickly she scrambled to her feet, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure the alien could hear it. Slowly he steped toward her.
But fate choose to smile on her as one of Nicolose's commrades entered,"Sir, we've found her. She's weak, and her husk in failing but we've found her. We're pretty sure she knows where the Granolith is."
Nicolose scowled as he turned,"Fine. I'll be right there."he turned to Sarah, the scowl diminishing and a cruel smile takeing its place,"I'll be back, we will finnish our conversation then."
Sarah swallowed hard as she watched him leave the room. The instent she was sure he was gone, her legs buckled out from benith her. The hard scraping as her knees struck the rubber floor barely registered as she felt tears make there way down her cheeks. Her head hurt so much, so did the memories. God how she had tried to hide from them, to bury them forever.
All to have them rear their ugly head once more. Gulping back her sobs she forcebly steaded her breathing. She had to be strong. She couldn't buckle benieth Nicolose, no matter the cost. Be it her sanity or not. There was one upside to it, be it grim or not. Whatever torture Nicolose had in store for her atleast wouldn't be less agonizeing as Jareth's. Jareth prefered battles of the mind and spirt...this one merely liked seeing the pain in his victems eyes.
Carefully Sarah forced herself to her feet and crawled over to a corner that was filled with shadows. In the shadows she was safe. In the shadows she could hide. In the shadows tears could fall an none would see. Closeing her eyes she leaned agenst the wall and aloud the firm grasp of sleep to fill her. She would need her strength when Nicolose returned. Of that she was certine.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Darkness.
The room was filled with an echoing darkness that seeped through every crevice. Lightly she wraped her arms around herself.
He was there.
She could feel his precence, she could feel his mocking gaze upon her.
"Don't you tire of these games, Jareth? I know your there."
Silence greated her in return. Her words echoed loudly around her.
"Coward!"Sarah hissed,"You hide in the shadows from me, your 'arrogentness' if your going to drag me here show your face!"
"You call me a coward?"A baritone laugh ran out all around her. Where was he!?"You who prefer the shadows to hide in? But when the shadows are gone..."
Suddenly the room flooded with light, blinding pristine light. Wraping her arms insecurely around her, Sarah turned around in a small circle. She was in the Escher room agine. Its twisting ways marvoloed her even now.
"Then you can not hide."He finnished, appeareing suddenly in front of her.
Sarah steeled herself and forced back the impulse to step away.
"Why do you make things so diffcult, My Sarah, why can't you just give in? It would make things so much easier."
"You'd like that, wouldn't you Jareth? Well, why don't you just leave me alone. I'm not yours. I'm not a possion you can own. I belong to noone, its time you figured that out."
He scowled,"Sarah, you played the game. Noone forced you. Rather you could have simply toke your dreams instead of going on your fruitless quest to reclaim that which you called on me to take. The sooner you relize that you are mine by default along with your brother the better things will be."
Sarah snarled,"I am not yours. I may have lost Toby to you, Jareth, but I swear you will never have me. I will live on here and away from you for him."
He smirked,"Is that so? Do you think I can not see how unhappy this world is for you, Sarah? This world you cling to will never be real for you."He moved closer, his warm breath tickling her cheek,"You've seen your dream, and you can't let go."
Sarah lifted her chin, her eyes glared up at him in a firey blaze,"I don't know what your talking about."
He frowned, his expression falling from benine amusement to a scowl of annoyance,"Play your games Sarah, as you always have. But eventualy, that defense will fail you."
"Perhapes, but you'll never know will you Jareth? Your plan has failed. I am free of you. So you can stop this-this-this dream thing you keep doing. Becouse despite all your threats, you will never have me under your thumb."
Jareth smiled slightly,"Getting bored so soon, Sarah? Wanting the game to end so soon? But we've only just begun."
Sarah snarled as she made a half circle around Jareth,"Everything is a game to you, isn't it?"
Jareth laughed lightly, barreing sharp white teeth"Life is a game, my Sarah, its time you learned that."
Sarah crossed her arms slowly,"Perhapes, but I won't lose this time Jareth. You said youself, you can not take me to the Labyrinth unless someone wishes me away. And I don't belive that will be happening any time soon."
"You underestimate me, my Sarah, I'll be seeing you in the Aboveground soon...and then I will bring you back to where you belong...the Underground."
With that Sarah watched as Jareth faded away and the room became as black as pitch once more. It was then Sarah felt the precence of another. Like a six sense she could feel another in the room. Only it wasn't Jareth...no this precence....it was different...
"Whos there?"Sarah called out, curseing the tremble that ran through her voice.
"Sarah...Its me Isabel....I've dreamwalked you...what was that? It wasn't like anyone eles dream i've ever seen!"
Sarah wirled around, the darkness lifting slightly as she saw Isabel standing there. Isabel's features appeared strained, pained even.
Sarah bowed her head slightly,"Maybe..maybe some other time i'll tell you."
"Where is Nicolose holding you?"
"It dosen't matter. I can handle him."Sarah lied smoothly, funny how easy it had become.
That pain...Shakeing her head inwardly Sarah foisted up a frosty courages look. She couldn't let them endanger themselves for her. That was just what Nicolose wanted. Besides, after loseing her brother to the Goblin King, Sarah didn't even feel worthy of such a rescue.
Isabel grabbed her shoulders roughly,"Where are you! Tell me now."
Sarah shrugged her hands off, her dark eyes flashing anger,"He wants you to come for me. I can't let you endanger yourself for me!"
Isabel crossed her arms, her experssion becomeing more tired as the secouds wore on,"We can't run forever, Sarah, its better that when the showdown comes its sooner not later."
Sarah turned away, her head lowering,"I don't want you all to get hurt."
"We'll be fine. We've all 'gifts' rember?"
"The school Gym. There keeping me in the school Gymnasiom."
"We'll be there soon."Isabel promised.
"....Be careful."Sarah warned as the blackness around her began to shift.
"We wi--"
Isabel had no chance to finnish her sentence as Sarah felt herself regaining counsisness. Chocolate brown eyes shot open as she jumped to her feet
At the far end of the Gym stood Nicolose. His stance was cockly confident, a smirk marreing his features.
"Miss me?"he questioned, dark humer danceing behind his words.
"Few miss the smell of garbage, Nicolose."Sarah shot back.
He frowned,"I am saddened you compare me to such a foul thing, Sarah correct? Yes, well I belive it is time to comence with what we started earlier."
"I won't let you."Sarah said firmly, scrapping together her defince to mask the trembleing fear within.
"You don't have a say in the matter."he said calmly as he wlked toward her.
Sarah braced herself, pulling up her arms in a defensive postion as she did so. Her entire stance screamed preditor as she thew back her head and put her mouth into a grim line. Being a preditor is something that one is born with. In the world there has always been two kinds of people: the preditors and the prey. One can not help being a prey or the preditor. Its simply a faction of life.
But her attempt to look somehat threating merely made a laugh escape the Alien's lips. His eyes take an maliciouse glow as he stalked toward her. Forceing herself not to run, knowing she would not escape, Sarah held her head high, her shoulder's held back in pride.
As he reached her, he flicked his hand toward her and a large pole apeared agine and she was tied to it. Fear filled her chest as she struggled uselessly agenst the bounds. Her confidense gone she shrunk back agenst the pole as Nicolose reached her.
A smirk curveing his lips he put his hand firmly on top of Sarah's midnight hair. White hot pain thrusted through her mind, burning all in its path. Agony swept through her as she squirmed benith his hold. Images flew past her minds eye. She saw her mother once more, on stage before her adoreing fans. As memories of Jareth offering her, her dreams slipped into focose she fought vicously agenst the current that swept through her memories, violateing thoughts only she knew. The pain that laced through her seemed to last an eternity, and more.
"SARAH! Nicolose, let her go!"
The shout barely broke through the intense pain that had become her world...and then, abruptly, it stopped. Breathing heavly she felt beads of sweat make their way down her face as she saw Max, Isabel, Tess, and Micheal stood before her.
Idly she wondered where the others were.
"Ah, the Royal Four....and delivered right into my hands, and all for a simple -human- girl. Heh, if i'd of known it was this easy to get you i'd of tried it a long time ago."Nicolose said, dark joy laced in his words.
"Let her go, she's nothing to do with this."
His smirk widened at Max's words,"I don't know about that..she's rather amuseing."Nicolose raised his hand just above Sarah's head as he saw Micheal lift his hand slightly,"Don't even think of it, unless...."He clamped his hand down agine on Sarah's head she cried out instently as pain twice as worse shot through her skull.
"Thats my prey your toying with."
The baritone voice shoocked Nicolose enough to life his hand from Sarah, much to her relife, but no matter of self control could keep a terrifed whimper from falling from her lips.
"Jareth.."she whispered, her voice cackling like that of a dieing flam.
A.n.-And we stop there today:)I hope this chapter wasn't too dull, and I will try to get them out much sooner in the future. Also this one i've put up has -not- been edited yet. It will be soon, but I really wanted to put it up now.