Okay, peeps, are you proud of me or what? Yup, it's an update! Do the happy dance!
So, not that you really care about my life that much, but I finally made it to college. Yes, I can hardly believe it either. Recently, though, one of my close acquaintances was killed for his car. It's hard to believe that this person I went to school with most of my life is now dead. I'm speechless. Why is this world so fucked up? He finally got out of high school only to have his life destroyed for a stupid car! He was too young! Finally about to start life and it's gone now. He's gone. He'll never get a job, go to college, get married, be a father.
Okay, sorry, I'm getting all emotional and stuff. You really want to read a story written be me, right? Guys, am I right? (hears crickets) Oh, um, anyway.
This chapter was not beta-ed, so bear with me! I really felt a need to put something up or go crazy. There will be some cursing, kind of heavy in some parts, but that's just the way the characters flowed. They have a mind of their own and who am I to tell them no? And before anyone decides to bite off my head about the drinking comment, no, I don't drink. I think you should wait until it's legal for you to do that stuff, but like I said before, the characters are alive.
And now, I dedicate this chapter to my dear departed buddy. I wish you the best in the great beyond. I'll miss you…
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"My God, Elise, what have you done?!" Sarah gasped in horror. She hoped against hope that it wasn't true, that it was all just a horrible dream. Wake up, Sarah, just wake up. You're dreaming; this can't be real.
"What? It's just a book. Nothing bad ever came or reading part of a book aloud," Elise stated as she jumped up. "Besides, I could say it's your fault for taking too much time getting ready." Then she noticed the banging at the windows, the sudden lack of the ever-present florescent lighting. Scratching, scurrying, whispers in the dark. "What's going on? Sarah? Sarah, what's happening?!"
"Well, well, well. Sarah, you should know better than to leave such 'dangerous' items available to prying eyes," the Goblin King in all of his ethereal splendor admonished. "However, this does work to my advantage. Though I must say, I am surprised that you called so soon after our last tete-a-tete."
Slowly, Jareth began to take in the sight before him. Sarah was as perfect as in his crystals. However, her manner of dress was one he had never seen. Her long dark tresses were in banana curls. Her legs were encased in knee high black leather boots with a flaring mid-thigh plaid skirt. Her ruby red corseted top emphasized her figure, while blood red lipstick and kohl smudged eyes completed her appearance.
"Just who the hell are you? And what the fuck are you doing in our dorm room?!" Elise began to shout. "Furthermore, stop looking at my roommate like that. Jesus, it's bad enough out in IV, but in the privacy of our room?" She put her hands on her hips, cocked her head to the side, and took a deep breath, readying the next part of her tirade.
"Silence. It was you who called upon me. I am not making a mere social call," Jareth simply stated at the irate child. Elise closed her open mouth when she saw the anger flashing through his eyes. Jareth was impressed that she could even speak after seeing him. "Her outfit, however, reflects her attitude," he thought. Her hair was styled into short spikes that fell carelessly around her face and head (AN: think like the anime styled). She wore a black tank top under electric blue fishnet and patent black leather pants with matching wrist cuffs. The one item that fell in discord with the image she presented was her white/blue shoes, Sketchers he believed. As for makeup, he could see none save a little lip-gloss.
"So what exactly is it you want? You aren't welcomed here." The little spitfire refused to be silenced for long. "Back me up on this, Sar," she whispered. "We can make him leave." Unconsciously, Elise moved closer to Sarah, finding solace in her proximity.
"Ah, but you did call me, little one. I do believe your words were, and I quote, 'I wish the goblins would come and take Sarah and me away right now.' I am here to do precisely that." Jareth smirked as he began to weave a transportation spell.
"Please, Jareth. Just leave us alone! Please! We have our whole lives ahead of us. Dreams for the future, a party with friends," Sarah chimed in. "It was a mistake; she didn't know."
"However, you did, sweet Sarah. Your friend has wished you both to the Underground. Your future is in the Labyrinth now." Jareth finished the spell, containing it in one of his infamous crystal orbs. All the scurrying abruptly halted. The quiet was that before the dawn of creation. Only the shallow breathing of the two women could be heard, loud in this utter stillness.
"It is time to leave." Elise grabbed Sarah's hand and squeezed, searching for comfort in her friend's grip. She turned her pale face to that of her friend's and mouthed 'I'm so sorry' before their world went black.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Disappearance Baffles Police"
On the night of October 31, two girls were mysteriously abducted from their dorm room on campus. Sarah Williams, 18, and her roommate Elise Zimmerman, also 18, were both first year students majoring in law and society. The police found evidence of possibly a brief struggle, but the kidnappers left no ransom demands. "Both Sarah and Elise were really sweet. Everybody loved them. They didn't have any enemies. I can't understand why something like this would happen," a friend, Melissa Deutsche remarked.
The parents of both families are offering a handsome reward for any information anyone might have on the whereabouts of these two young women. "We just want both our girls back. Please, please, help us find them!" a distraught Mrs. Claudia Zimmerman exclaimed. The school is very concerned over this incident. "We have never had something like this happen at our university," Chancellor Yang commented. "Security will be increased and we will help the police in their efforts to find these two young ladies. We will also begin offering more self defense classes."
A candlelight vigil will be held next Tuesday to pray for the safe return of these two students.
-News editor Jim Steward wishes the families the best of luck finding their daughters
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sarah remembered this room all too well. However, it was empty the last time she saw it, racing in those last precious moments to save Toby. The throne loomed ominously, its ruler draping himself masterfully over it. The goblins played their frivolous games drunkenly, chasing chickens and beating each other. A chill hung in the night air, similar to that of home. "Home. I'll never see my room again," Sarah forlornly thought. "I'm trapped. Trapped here with the Goblin King. Well, I guess I should be glad Elise is here, even if it is partially her fault. Speaking of which, where is she?"
Sarah's other senses slowly came back to her and she felt the pressure of another hand in hers. Elise stood in the center pit with Sarah. Her eyes drinking in the sight, wide with disbelief. "Sarah, where are we?"
"You, my dear, are in my castle beyond the Goblin City in the heart of the Labyrinth. Surely you know who I am." The last statement was not a question in the least. Jareth allowed himself a small, amused smile. "Welcome to your new home, Sarah. Belise."
That did it. No longer was Elise content to stare in wide-eyed disbelief. No one messed up her name. "The name, Mr. High and Mighty, is Elise. Not Belise. Belise is a sex crazed old maid from Moliere's Learned Ladies. She is totally obsessed with sex as in, I quote, 'I rather like his atoms. But in between a vacuum and a field of subtle matter, I find it easier to accept the latter.'" Elise huffed. "I am soooo not interested, Captain Spandex, so don't mess with the name. Got that, sweetheart?" She minced the last word.
"Elise, shut up. Don't piss him off!" Sarah violently whispered, digging her nails into Elise's skin. At that moment, Jareth let out a hardy laugh. Both girls jumped at the sound.
"Sarah, Sarah. What amusing friends you gather into your arms. You should teach her some manners, or I might feel the need to drop her into an oubliette." Jareth shook his wild mane. "As amusing as this is, it is too late to discuss this matter further. Perhaps after you have both rested, we will discuss your new roles in my kingdom. If you would follow me?" He got up from his elegant slouch and began walking out of the room, pausing at the doorway to ensure that they were following.
"All I wanted to do was get drunk off my ass. I wanted to party with you, and now we're stuck in a totally new world. I'm so sorry, Sar. Please, forgive me, forgive me." Elise begged in a strangled, hushed voice as they climbed out and began following His Majesty.
"Hush, Elise. It's okay. I forgive you. Don't fall apart on me now. I need you." Sarah steadied herself on her friend. "We'll make it through; we'll get out…somehow." Jareth took them down many winding corridors and finally stopped at a heavy looking oak door.
"This is your room, Sarah. Your friend will be down the hall should you need her…"
"No fucking way in hell am I leaving Sarah! I'm staying with her!"
"That will be permissible until you are settled," Jareth continued. "I will see you both in the morning. And furthermore, watch your tongue, child. I will only permit civilized creatures into this wing of the castle. Otherwise, you might find your new living quarters with the goblins." With a clipped bow, he left the two girls staring after him.
"Let's go in, Elise. It's better than standing in the hall." Sarah pressured. "We'll figure out everything in the morning. It'll be okay, you'll see." Sarah opened the door and gasped when she saw the accommodations. They were nothing like she pictured the cruel Goblin King would leave to two unwanted guests. A large queen-sized bed with dark cherry wood and sky blue sheet lay against the far wall right next to a walk-in closet. A large fireplace complete with blaze was on another wall and was surrounded by a nice collection of books. A vanity with a large mirror graced the wall opposite the fire, though slightly off to the side. A closed door was to the left.
Curiosity got the better of Sarah, and she let go of Elise's hand to go open the door. Yup, just as she expected. A really, really super nice bathing area. Though the plumbing could use a little work, she thought. God, why couldn't the Underground have Aboveground toilets, just why the hell not? "I guess it's a tradeoff. Great plumbing or magic. I wonder which one this place chose?" Sarah thought rhetorically.
Elise, on the other hand, was mutely standing in the doorframe, stroking her left leather bound wrist. She took measured steps, walking to the center. "He certainly has everything prepared."
"Huh? Oh, um, yeah. This is probably just a guestroom. I'm sure there are more. Hey, I bet that's what you were going to be staying in also." Sarah tried to look optimistic, though the pit of her stomach kept dropping.
"We're never going to see our families and friends again, are we? And it's all my fault! I destroyed everything. I ruined everything!" Elise sunk forlornly to the floor, holding her wrist, letting tears fall quietly.
"Honey, it's okay. We'll survive. Just be strong. We're in it together. I won't ever leave you! Come on, Elise, I know you're stronger than this!" Sarah tucked her skirt under as much as possible and put her arms around Elise. "Let's just get some sleep, okay?"
"Um, Sarah?" Elise wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "What are we going to sleep in?" In response, Sarah got up went to the closet and looked in. Nothing, not even cobwebs or dust. Definitely no clothes whatsoever. "I guess he wasn't really ready for us after all," she thought.
"Well, I don't know about you, but I definitely don't want to ruin my nice clothes, so I say we wash up and then just sleep in our lingerie. That okay with you?" Elise nodded her head in the affirmative. A few minutes later, after the necessary washing up, the two girls climbed into the bed with its beautiful silk sheets and downy comforter seeking sisterly comfort in each other's embrace.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Jareth quickly went back to his private chambers to think. He still could not believe that Sarah, his sweet Sarah, was here in the Labyrinth. Thanking all his fortunate stars, he summoned a glass of magic-laced wine.
"Elise is something of an unknown," he thought. "Why, I hadn't even finished devising a way of getting Sarah back, and this girl wishes them both into my custody. Oh, well. It is better to have won this victory ahead of schedule than to miss such a ripe opportunity to retrieve her." Jareth finished the wine and decided to turn in himself. After all, what excitement the next day would hold. He smirked in anticipation while settling into his bed.
Tomorrow would indeed be interesting. Oh, yes. Most definitely.
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Okay, I'm hoping you enjoyed this. It took a while to think up, and I'm sorry if it is choppy in some areas, but it's just that way until I revise it, if ever.
Shout out to those who reviewed the last time, and hopefully will review again!
dawn: Huh? I don't know what you're talking about. *pretends to be innocent. Yes, we all have our flaws. What's Elise's? I guess you'll have to stick around! ^_^
Darkmaster2: Definitely love him enough to adopt him permanently into my life! I also love that "Raziel" means "angel of mysteries." I know, I know. I have a bit of an ego! Thanks for the encouragement! I'll try my best!
Moon Goddess: You are such a sweetheart! Thanks. I always loved the flawed one. Tangent, but have you ever read Antigone or Medea? Flawed females, but incredibly powerful in the writing.
Labyris: I hope there's more too! Seriously, though, thank you very much. My brain does shut off from time to time, but I hope something with this one. You have no idea of how many half-finished ideas I have floating around. Actually, you probably do! Have fun and stuff!
Scattered Logic: You are one in a million and I hope you can beta me again later! I really valued your input and love your stories to death!
Now, I've been dropping hints about where my college is through these chappies sorta. So, feel free to play along and figure out my home sweet university! Who knows, I might give out brownie points! (Notice: brownie points are just happy, good job points. I am a broke college students, which means I have negative money) Until next time!
trying not to be just another average anybody,
little-raziel