*Yawn* It's 11:36 PM right now and I promised myself I'd get this chapter done today so I better hurry. Basically, if you don't like it blame it on my procrastination and lack of sleep.

Disclaimers: Labyrinth doesn't belong to me so don't sue me!

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Chapter 11

Piece of Cake

The cool morning air met her skin as she woke to early dawn's rays. Rolling over to hide in the warmth of the Goblin King's arms she found only a pillow and a single owl feather. Thinking to her self, "Cute. I think I should start a collection of these things! Damn you Jareth!" Sarah was soon to hop out of bed and dress in her normal clothing ready to face what the day was to bring.

Promptly an hour after she had risen there came a tap upon the door. Adding the final touches to her bun she opened the heavy door to be dragged out by a swarm of pixies already pushing her onward.

Thrusted and tugged along the path her feet began to ache from the previous nights dancing causing her to lag. Practically tripping over her self they continued to drag her off to a faceless end. As she was pulled and pushed along she began to notice how the Labyrinth had flourished practically over night.

Lost in its details she barely noticed when the pixies stopped. What brought her crashing back to earth was the burning sensation coming from her scars as if they were again raw and tender. Collapsing under the tremendous torture she found herself at the water's edge. Her suffering could be heard for miles carried by her screeching cries.

Startled by the swirling ripples of the lake she struggled to focus under the pain on an image that had begun to appear. As soon as her emerald stare made out the scene her pain was out on the back burner. Orange flames were engulfing a house, a home that was all too familiar.

She could hear the voices now as though they were coming back to her through the whirling winds.

"How many are in the house miss?" How that voice had scratched against her all these years that pompous voice she didn't want to hear as she watched her home burn down with her family in it.

"Three. Why haven't you gotten them? Where are they?!?" Helplessly she watched herself pacing and racked with screams through the anguish.

"Calm down miss. We have found two adults and we will continue to look for the third."

All she could see was panic across her own face as she almost collapsed under the weight of the tragedy, "He's just a little boy! Please! Dear god please!" It was all unraveling before her in the ripples. Unable to move or even turn her head she bore through the nightmare once more.

 "I'm not sure if there was anything we could do for them." It had come from somewhere behind her where they were carrying two gurneys into an ambulance with, to her horror, white sheets over them. Running to the ambulance the police had to hold her back from ripping the sheets off in disbelief that they were actually gone. Then it came. The shout that echoed her mind and nightmares. So helpless from it all she could see her panicked image breaking from the officers grips and running right into the flames.

Expecting for it to end as it always did right there. She shouted with heartache as the images continued to unfold before her. She could see them haul her away from the flames, away from her brother, away from reality. It didn't end there, dear god why couldn't it have ended there? Here eyes took in a firefighter emerging from the flames with a body limp in his arms. Blackened and bloodied he handed it over to the paramedic who almost flinched at the grotesque horror that was in his arms. She could see the body, that withering corpse that resembled charcoal more than it did her own brother. Panicked and dead inside Sarah fought the image with all the tears and all the furry that had welled up inside her for so long. Pushing her self to rise and leave the awfulness reflected in front of her, all the underground could hear her cry. 

Shaking her head free of the image Sarah ran forgetting the ache letting go of the soreness in her feet. She simply ran from it all but that cruel laugh from those mismatched eyes still ripped at her; playing over and over again "You're still that little girl."

Leaving the waters in the background she could hear the pixies cry out, "goodbye Sarah". Each falling from the air to the earth that was turning blood red under Sarah's running pace. Pushing forward she continued her panicked pace not knowing where she was going just as long as it was away. The wind seemed to be pushing her back as it swirled about her cutting her pale flesh. Nothing would hold her though.

*Yawn* I'm almost done with this fan fiction and I'm sure all you true JS fans will love the ending I have in store for these two! There might be a sequel. I'm not sure though. Definitely no happy endings promised if there is one however.

~Clover