Chapter 3/10
"It's not fair!"

Eric drove Sarah to her dad's house and ran with her to the door. Her stepmother was in
tears. She began to pour the whole story out, stumbling over some of her words.

"Right after you left, Toby went upstairs to his bedroom. I was in the kitchen cleaning
when I...I h...heard him yell. When I went into his room...he was...he was gone."

Sarah didn't want to hear anymore. She told her dad to call her if anything came up, but
she knew nothing would. Eric watched her on the drive back to her apartment. "What are you
thinking about?" he finally asked when his curiosity got the better of him.

Sarah hesitated with her answer. "Eric, you know that story I wrote last year, the one
that I've been trying to get published. Of course you know it, you did the illustrations. It...
it's true."

"True?" He raised an eyebrow in question. "How true?"

"Very. I know you probably won't believe it, but it is. The Goblin King came and took
Toby away when I wished for it. Then, I solved his labyrinth and defeated him. I know it sounds
nuts, but..."

"I believe you." Eric's interruption caused her go into shock. He continued, "In fact,
I already knew it was true. You know that nephew I told you about?"

Sarah nodded. "You said that was why you came to America. Because you didn't want to be
in the way of your brother's new family and you didn't get along with his wife."

"Well, his son had been born about six months before I left. I was babysitting him and
not enjoying it. I used to be really close to my brother and I felt that this kid and his mom
had come between us. So, I wished that anything would come and take my nephew away, even if
it was something mythical like a goblin. At least, something I thought was mythical."

Sarah straightened up in her seat, twisting her body so she was facing the driver. "Did
you solve the labyrinth?"

"Yes and no. I solved it, but I didn't defeat Jareth until it was too late. My thirteen
hours were up when I made it to the castle. That's one reason why I left. It wasn't fair."

"I'm sorry," she said sympathetically.

Eric gave her a weak smile then his eyes went back to the road ahead of him. Some David
Bowie song was on the radio, but neither one noticed it. Suddenly, he pulled over to the side of
the road.

"Eric, what..."

"We're going to get Toby back," Eric said with new found determination, "We are going to
stop Jareth." He turned off the engine and got out of the car. Sarah followed. He took both
of her hands in his and said in an almost whisper, "Close your eyes." She did as directed. "I
want you to picture the Labyrinth in your head. Every detail of it that you can remember. Every
dead end, every stone, every creature. Okay, now open your eyes."

Sarah's eyes opened and she was surprised to be standing at the gates of the Labyrinth.
It was all a little different then it had been the last time. The outside walls weren't
swarming with faeries. She couldn't help smiling at the thought of Hoggle spraying each one and
laughing in triumph.

Then, a gasp came from behind her. Sarah spun around and saw Hoggle standing there with
his eyebrows raised and his mouth hanging open. He was standing in the doorway of a small
cottage and hadn't moved.

Sarah ran towards him shouting, "Hoggle!" She wrapped her arms around the dwarf and
held him tightly.

A giant brown beast came around from the back of the house and saw her. "Sarah!" He
joined in the hug as he repeatedly said, "Sarah back!"

A white dog dressed in knight's apparel came from the house. "I say, what is all the
racket?" He saw Sarah and said, "My lady! What art thou doing here?"

Sarah pulled him into her embrace as she acknowledged them all. "Ludo! Sir Didymus!
It's so good to see you." She separated from the hug to explain. "Jareth kidnapped Toby
again."

Hoggle glanced behind Sarah. "What is he doing here?!" he demanded to know as he pointed
an angry finger at Eric.

Sir Didymus saw the young man and ran at him with his lance. "Do not worry, my lady, I
will protect thee." He growled at Eric, "Surrender now and I will be merciful!"

Ludo joined their attack of Eric, grabbing him by the ankle and holding him upside down.
"Not friend!"

"Stop it!" Sarah yelled, "Ludo put him down. He's my friend. He's here to help."

Reluctantly, Ludo dropped Eric. He groaned as Sarah helped him up. "This must be the
welcoming committee. Hi, Sir Didymus, Ludo, Hedgewort."

"Hoggle!" everyone corrected.

"Right, I meant Hoggle," he said apologetically.

Hoggle frowned and turned to Sarah. "Why are you friends with this rat?"