Authors note. Okay this is my first ever fan-fic be gentle. I don't own the Labyrinth, or any of the characters and it's probably not the most original fic you're ever going to read. But hopefully it won't be the worst.

Chapter One

"…but as she felt the music of his voice wash over her, the girl remembered the words she had forgotten. 'You have no power over me." At first she spoke them quietly as the realisation hit her, then louder and more forcefully until the illusion holding her shattered. It was then that the girl saw, with the faint disbelief of dreamers, that she was back in her own room. The Goblin king and his labyrinth had vanished. Suddenly she remembered the child she had sought, and rushed into the other room. He was back. The girl blinked back tears of relief as she saw how peacefully he slept. Her nightmare was over. She had won."

Sarah leaned back and let out a yawn as she stretched her tired shoulders. Beside her a young voice piped up.

"And then what happened?"

Sarah blinked and turned back to the small form tucked up in the bed. Brown eyes stared ruefully up at her, almost hidden behind a thick fringe of blonde hair. The thirst of an eight-year-old boy for a good story had not been completely satisfied.

"And then the girl and her baby brother lived happily ever after. The end." Sarah replied, aware that the clock next to the bed was getting dangerously close to ten. "Now go to sleep, otherwise we'll both get in trouble when your parents get home."

The little boy sighed loudly, but complied, snuggling down beneath the thick duvet. His muffled protests rose up. "But what happens to the Goblin King? And Sir Didymus? And Ludo and Hoggle?"

Sarah frowned as she smoothed down the duvet. "They remained in the Labyrinth. In the underground." Glancing again at the clock she rose and walked to the door. "Now sleep."

When no further protests met her ears, Sarah smiled and flicked off the lights. Carefully she closed the door and made her way downstairs to where her college essay was waiting for her. As much as she loved her Theatre course the workload was such that she seemed to spend most of her time either learning lines or interpreting them. Still, if she could earn some extra money babysitting while she studied it was no bad thing. It might even mean she could hold onto her small apartment a little longer. At least then she wouldn't have to go begging for cash from her dad and Karen.

Sarah shook her head, trying to rid herself of her gloomy thoughts. Study was what she needed right now. Opening her books and arranging them on the coffee table Sarah became aware of a growing sense of unease inside her. She frowned, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in her stomach.

"It's just a story," she muttered to herself as she picked up a pen and began to scan through the columns of text in front of her. "…just a story."

Sarah quickly became engrossed in her analysis of John Webbers, 'Duchess of Malfi', so much so that she was startled to hear the sound of a key turning in the door. Turning round she saw Mr and Mrs Tomlinson creeping in through the doorway, so as not to wake Chris should he be sleeping upstairs. They were a good-looking couple. Both in their early thirties. She was small and slim with Chris's blonde hair, while he was tall with brown eyes that showed where Chris got his sense of mischief.

"Sarah, sorry we're late." Mrs Tomlinson half-whispered as she waved her over. "Is he asleep?"

Sarah smiled and helped Mrs Tomlinson off with her heavy cream coat. "He was. He went out like a light after I told him a story."

She heard a deep chuckle behind her as Mr Tomlinson walked up. "How do you do it Sarah? I swear it's like you work some kind of magic over the kid."

Sarah felt her smile slip slightly as the ominous feeling from earlier returned.

 "No magic, Mr Tomlinson. I think he just gets so bored he drops off." She smiled at her joke, as she tried to ignore the bells jangling at the back of her mind.

Mr Tomlinson laughed, a deep rumbling sound and pulled out a few notes from his wallet.

"Well whatever it is, you've definitely earned this."

Sarah smiled and returned to the living room to gather up her things. Once she had everything together she rose and walked to the front door where Mrs Tomlinson was waiting.

"Take care Sarah. Thanks for looking after him at such short notice."

Sarah returned Mrs Tomlinson's warm smile with one of her own. "No problem. It wasn't like I had plans or anything. Besides it was good to get a chance to study someplace quiet. Goodnight."

Sarah stepped out into the chill autumn night and pulled her coat closer around her. A breeze caused the nearby trees to sway and a shower of leaves fell to the ground, illumined in the yellow streetlight so they glistened like coloured glass. Sarah followed their dance with her eyes and froze. For a moment she thought she saw a figure, clothed in shadow, standing on the opposite side of the road. Watching her. A blink and it was gone, but the image remained seared in her mind. Nervously Sarah's eyes drifted up to the bedroom window behind her. A dim light indicated the Tomlinson's were checking in on their son. No cry rang out.

Sarah shook her head, trying to rid herself of the ominous feeling of dread that were plaguing her.

"I should never have told that story." She muttered to herself as she began her short walk home. She hadn't meant to. It had been six years since she had last read that book. Six years since…

A flash of light brought Sarah out of her revelry. The car drove by and the night came and enclosed her again. Sarah shivered but not from the cold. She suddenly wished that she didn't live alone. Any company, even that of Karen her stepmother seemed tempting at that moment. But their relationship had deteriorated even further; meaning Sarah barely saw her family anymore. For one moment the thought of seeing Toby was enough to make her decide to go and stay over, but then memories and guilt rose up and she quickly dismissed the idea.

 "I don't see why I'm so worried anyway." She murmured. "It's not like I said his name."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Sarah!"

Sarah smiled as Chris bounded up to her and threw his arms around her. "Tell me a story!"

"Now, now Chris." His mum cautioned with a smile playing on her lips. "Don't pester the poor girl. At least get in bed first."

Chris turned his mournful eyes on his mother before giving and exaggerated sigh and climbing the stairs to his bedroom. Mrs Tomlinson picked up her purse from the sideboard and turned to Sarah.

"It is good of you to look after him two nights in a row. Are you sure there's not something or someone else?"

Sarah blushed and looked down at the ground. "No Mrs Tomlinson. It's nice to have a change of studying venue from the library or my apartment. Besides I really don't mind."

Mrs Tomlinson sighed then walked to the door to join her husband in the car. "Well far be it for me to talk you out of it. I just can't help but think that a pretty girl like yourself should be … well never mind."

Sarah smiled and closed the door. As she turned round she caught sight of a small face peeping out from between the banisters. "Okay mister. Off to bed, and then I'll tell you a story."

The face disappeared and Sarah heard the sound of running feet across the landing. She shook her head and started to climb the stairs. When she reached Chris's room she was pleased to see he was tucked up in bed and waiting. A smile played across her lips as she sat down on the corner of the bed facing him.

"A deal's a deal. What story do you want?"

Chris beamed. "I want the one about Jareth…the one you told me last night."

Sarah felt the smile fade at Chris's words. The ominous feeling returned.

"How did you know that name?" she whispered, her stomach twisting painfully as though pulled by icy fingers. "I never mentioned that name."

Chris cocked his head and looked at her, aware that something was wrong but unsure as to what. "He was in my dreams last night. He said that if I wished I could go and see him."

Sarah felt the blood drain from her face. She opened her mouth but before any sound could come a crash rang out from below, making them both jump. Sarah's head whipped round as she stared at the door, almost expecting something…or someone if she was being honest to be standing there. No-one. She turned back slowly to Chris and saw his wide eyes.

"Stay here." She murmured, painfully aware of how loudly her heart was racing in her chest. "I'm going to go downstairs and see what the noise was."

Slowly she rose and walked to the door.

"Awww, what about my story?" came Chris's plaintive cry.

Sarah shook her head. "Not now."

Nervously she opened the bedroom door and stepped out into the hallway. The silence loomed up to meet her. It was almost tangible, like a thick liquid, filling up all the available space. With halting steps Sarah made her way down the hallway and onto the landing. From her vantage point at the top of the stairs she could see shards of glass coming from a source just out of view.

Please just be a vase, Sarah thought as she felt herself drawn nearer. just a vase or an ornament…

She rounded the corner and all thoughts flew out of her head at the sight before her. One of the tall French windows at the end of the entrance hall had shattered. Inwards. Sarah found her eyes irresistibly drawn over the shards until she spotted the feathers, snow white, nestled in as well. Her head swam and darkness threatened to overtake her. Sarah clutched desperately at the wall, her eyes screwed up tight as though she could somehow take away the sight before her.

"Whoa. What happened?"

Chris's voice jolted her back. Turning round she saw him standing on the bottom step, his eyes wide as he took in the destruction.

"Chris! What are you doing down here? Go back to bed!"

Chris pouted as he looked up at Sarah, puzzlement at her scared expression mingling with the fiery interest of an eight year old in his eyes.

"awww, no fair! That's not…"

"Now!" Sarah snapped, somewhat harsher than she had intended. She almost apologised as she saw Chris flinch, but then he turned and ran back up the stairs. Sarah let out a breath she didn't even realise she was holding as she heard him slam his bedroom door. At least now he was out of harms way…

Sarah froze. Something had slipped past her when she had come downstairs. She had been so drawn by the broken window she hadn't noticed the new objects that had been placed on the sideboard. Fear tightened its grip on Sarah's heart as she stepped closer and saw what had been left for her. A single rose, pure white and barely opened lay across the table; its thorns almost piercing the flesh of the ripe peach nestled against it. But it was the letter underneath, written in an ornate hand that scared her the most. The envelope simply said…

Lady Sarah,

Blind panic filled Sarah's head as she turned and ran back up the stairs. Her breath was burning in her lungs, her heart beating so loud that she almost didn't hear the sulky voice coming from behind the closed door of Chris's bedroom.

"Yell at me. Won't tell me stories. Might as well go and see the goblins…yeah, and that Jareth guy. I wish the Goblins would…"

Sarah started screaming at that point, but time seemed to slow down around her. She dimly remembered throwing open the door and covering Chris's mouth with her hand, tears streaming down her cheeks, trying to stop the words from leaving his mouth. But it had been too late. The darkness swept in trying to tear them apart, but she kept a tight grip on Chris.

It was then that she heard the laughter. It seemed to be coming from all around them, many voices. Ten? Twenty? No more. One hundred? Maybe. They seemed to reach right inside of Sarah. And something brushed past her. Slimy, cold, repulsive. She'd drawn back out of instinct. And that was when she had let go. Without meaning to she'd let go of Chris. The sound of scampering footsteps echoed around the dark room and Sarah had fallen into the waiting void.

Bright lights awakened her. Squinting Sarah opened her eyes to see the ashen faces of Mr and Mrs Tomlinson standing before her. No further sound came from Chris's room. With a gasp Sarah flung herself upwards searching for Chris, but there was no sign of the eight year old.

"What happened Sarah?" came Mrs Tomlinson's voice, dangerously close to breaking. "Where's our son?"

Sarah stared helplessly up into their faces and felt the tears start to pour out from behind her eyes.

 "…but I didn't say…I never told him the words…no-one said the words" her voice began to shake uncontrollably as the room swayed in and out of focus. "I never said the words! He can't take him!" Tears began to roll down Sarah's face as the silence around her grew.

"I never said the words…"