Chapter 23: Goblin city

Sarah walked in a trail of mud. She lifted her train so that it would not get all muddy. She looked around and tried to decide in which direction to go. She had pulled to hood of her cloak on over her head practically covered her face. Walking around, she watched the goblin folk, living out their daily lives. There were goblins trying to sell things to other goblins. Poor street livers, that got their warmth from trash cans. There were little children goblins that were playing in the muddy streets chasing each other around.

She was out there for a good hour, walking around. And she wanted to get back to the castle because she was now getting cold. And when she turned around to go back she could not remember which way she had to go. The castle was now out of sight. She was frightened, turning around in circles. She bumped into a man who was also wearing a cloak.

            "Oh excuse me please." Sarah said.

            "Are you lost miss?"

            "Oh no, I think I am all set thanks."

            "Really? You look lost to me."

            "What makes you think so?"
            "I have watched you turn around in circles the past four times."

            "Oh." Sarah said embarrassed because he knew that she was lost and knew that she was trying to cover it up.

            "Can I help you find your way back to where ever you are headed?"

            "Umm…okay, that would be great. Thank you."

            "Okay. Well I am going to need to know where you are trying to go." He said leaning in. Sarah stepped back.

            "Umm…the castle." She said strongly.

            "Oh, right the castle." He laughed.

            "What you don't believe me?" Sarah stated in shock.

            "Nope."

            "Why not?"

            "Because any beautiful girl who tries to go to the castle is a fool!"

            "Excuse me? Why do you say that?"

            "Oh no reason." He said turning around to walk away.

            "No why did you say that?" Sarah demanded.

            "Okay. Well because the king of the castle is crazy!"

            "Why do you say that?
            "Well he has a history of taking advantage of young women, much like yourself. First he reels them in, and then butters you up, to make a girl between King and bed sandwich."

            "What!"

            "He rapes them!"

            "No! That's a lie! Get away from me! Get away!" Sarah screamed and began running in the opposite direction. She ran into another man wearing a cloak. Screaming more she turned around and there were three men standing behind her, including the one that she was talking to!

            "Let me go!" She cried.

Suddenly she felt a, serge of pain go through the back of her neck.

Back at the castle: Jareth had worked for a good two hours and was ready for some dinner. He got up and went to Sarah's bed chamber to ask her if she would join him for dinner. But when he got there she was nowhere to be seen. He ran into his room and found no sign of her there as well. But he did find a letter sitting on the edge of his bed. It read,

           

            Dear king of the Underground, this is Rapture. Brother to King Locket.

            My brother's and I believe we have something of yours. She smells so sweet.

            We found her walking alone inside the Goblin city. I am surprised that you let

             this beautiful creature leave the castle without you escorting you. Did you at

             least warn her? Anyways, we have captured her because if you do not allow one

             of us to be the king of the Half-ground you can kiss this beauty good- bye. Considering

            she is a mortal and she can very well die. You are to come up with your decision in

             twenty-four hour. If we do not hear from you in that time, then she will be gone forever!

            Sweet dreams!

                                                ~Sincerely Rapture and brothers

            "Damn it Sarah! I warned you! Why could you not have listened to me?" He screamed. He ran to the balcony and screamed her name. He could not eat, he could not sleep. He stayed up all night trying to think of a plan to save her and still not have one of the brother's become the new king of the Half-ground.

Meanwhile in King Locket's castle, the place was all too familiar to Sarah. In fact she was even in the same tower that she was in the last time she was there. This time with rain coming in through the window Sarah was even more, cold. She had nothing to protect her. And Rapture took her cloak away from her. She was left there to sit on the cold wet floor. She sat there as flash backs ran through her mind.

            "Jareth where are you?"