Title: Spoils of the Hunt
Author: Arianne
Summary: Things go from bad to worse for Sarah Williams. Late at night, deserted road, broken down car, and now she is being chased by the Hunt, led by the last person she ever thought to see.
Rating: R
Standard Disclaimers Apply: Yep, you got it someone else owns Labyrinth, and I own nothing.
Chapter One: It Begins (revised)
It was late; very late, as a very annoyed Sarah Williams sped down the deserted back road that she had been told was a short cut.
However, this "short cut" had proven to be anything but. To make matters worse, she was starving, not having had the time or the money to stop for a decent meal. Three chocolate bars were not making up for a missed dinner as her stomach decided to voice it's displeasure. The final indignity to the perfect evening was a persistent leak from the sunroof of her ancient Mustang, which unerringly kept hitting her directly on the top of the head. The "leaky old boat" was most definitely living up to its name.
"I HATE you! Don't care what dad says; classic or not, you are history!" Sarah said as she smacked the steering wheel for the umpteenth time that night.
Not that she had anyone to blame but herself for her current predicament, after all, no one twisted her arm to try out for the college production of Arsenic and Old Lace. Sarah knew that the director was notorious for holding late rehearsals. Of course she had not expected it to run this late! 'Maybe he has a thing for me' she mused. Oh, and there was the lovely scenic route. "Note to self; find out how arsenic really works on Marie, in payment for her lovely "short cut".
A sudden flash of white in headlights.screeching brakes..
"What the -HELL- was that?" a rather startled Sarah declared. As she got out of the car to assess any damage, Sarah reached into her coat pockets to get out her gloves. "Oh this is great, just peachy, not only is the tire blown out, I lost my damned glove" she mumbled while looking over the remains of the front tire. Sarah got out her cell phone and tried calling her Dad. No luck; the phone was dead. "This is most definitely not fair!" she yelled, throwing the offending phone back into the car. She stormed around to the back of the car and flung the trunk open. The deflated spare did nothing to improve her already foul mood. In a huff she looked around, surveying the wooded areas on either side of the road.
'Well at least I'm near the park, if I start walking now I should be home in about an hour or two'.
Sarah grabbed her backpack off the back seat and started walking. If not for the rain, she might have enjoyed this impromptu stroll in the woods. However, it was chilly and she was getting soaked. Sighing in frustration she started off down one of the many muddy paths through the woods.
"What a great way to start off winter break!"
As she walked Sarah was relieved when the rain stopped and the full moon came out. She thought how the moon made the leaves glitter with magic.."No stop that, do not think of "that" place." Shaking unwanted thoughts from her head, Sarah picked up her pace, and focused on the path ahead of her.
Sarah had been walking now for quite a while and knew it was around midnight. 'I hope Dad is up, and not Karen when I get home.' Suddenly, there was a flash of white and Sarah could hear the faint call of an owl. This brought her back to attention, and with that she quickened her pace. "Just an owl, a common owl, nothing more" she murmured.
Just then, as the words left her mouth, there was a crunching in the leaves behind her. Sarah had had enough, "Alright who's there!" she shouted into the darkness that surrounded her.
Her only answer was that of a lonely owl calling in the night. She had the distinct impression that that damned owl was following her "I must be tired, yes, that's it."
Suddenly, the world around Sarah erupted with the sound of horns and the baying of hounds. What came crashing out of the woods at her was a sight more horrific than anything Sarah had faced in the Labyrinth. Fear gripped her heart and the primal instinct to flee kicked in as numerous black hounds with glowing red eyes came at her. Behind them a phalanx of black steeds with flaming hooves and glowing eyes followed.
Sarah ran as fast as she could, but still the furious beasts gained on her. Sarah felt as if her lungs were going to explode as she stumbled into a clearing in the woods.
The sounds of the demonic hunt were deafening. Around her the very night seemed to be on fire with the shapes of the dark riders and their hounds.
Sarah could run no more and collapsed to her knees gasping for air while holding her stomach. Red eyes surrounded her. She could feel the rancid breath of the hounds on her neck and closed her eyes. 'Oh god, just let it be fast'.
As suddenly as they were there, the hounds backed off a little. Opening her eyes Sarah could make out numerous horses with dark riders. One of the riders, who appeared to be the leader, rode forward and gracefully dismounted. He strode forward, dark cape billowing from his armored shoulders.
Sarah could feel his eyes burning holes into her from the elaborately antlered helm that covered the figures head and face.
The hunt's leader stalked around the trembling form of the frightened girl. He circled her like a predator sizing up its prey before going in for the kill. The dark figure stopped, and stood in front of her. "Look. At. Me. CHILD." he said in a voice that commanded obedience.
Frightened beyond words, Sarah looked up at the imposing figure before her.
Moonlight glistened off of the black armor and leather that encased the slender form. Sarah was frightened before, but now she was truly terrified.
Her head dropped, she could not look, and she was too terrified. Sarah screwed her eyes shut, 'this has to be a dream, any minute I will wake up. This can't be real'
The figure chuckled from under the helm, he knew she was terrified, and would be more so by the time he was finished. "Look at me. Little girl." His leather-clad finger lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. Then, he raised his hands, and removed the helm.
Sarah's eyes widened in recognition. The shock of golden hair, mismatched eyes, and the mocking half smile could only be one person-no, not person- fae. Standing before Sarah was her worst nightmare and darkest desire. Jareth. The Goblin King.
"Hello, Sarah" was all she heard before the world was swallowed in blackness.
Author: Arianne
Summary: Things go from bad to worse for Sarah Williams. Late at night, deserted road, broken down car, and now she is being chased by the Hunt, led by the last person she ever thought to see.
Rating: R
Standard Disclaimers Apply: Yep, you got it someone else owns Labyrinth, and I own nothing.
Chapter One: It Begins (revised)
It was late; very late, as a very annoyed Sarah Williams sped down the deserted back road that she had been told was a short cut.
However, this "short cut" had proven to be anything but. To make matters worse, she was starving, not having had the time or the money to stop for a decent meal. Three chocolate bars were not making up for a missed dinner as her stomach decided to voice it's displeasure. The final indignity to the perfect evening was a persistent leak from the sunroof of her ancient Mustang, which unerringly kept hitting her directly on the top of the head. The "leaky old boat" was most definitely living up to its name.
"I HATE you! Don't care what dad says; classic or not, you are history!" Sarah said as she smacked the steering wheel for the umpteenth time that night.
Not that she had anyone to blame but herself for her current predicament, after all, no one twisted her arm to try out for the college production of Arsenic and Old Lace. Sarah knew that the director was notorious for holding late rehearsals. Of course she had not expected it to run this late! 'Maybe he has a thing for me' she mused. Oh, and there was the lovely scenic route. "Note to self; find out how arsenic really works on Marie, in payment for her lovely "short cut".
A sudden flash of white in headlights.screeching brakes..
"What the -HELL- was that?" a rather startled Sarah declared. As she got out of the car to assess any damage, Sarah reached into her coat pockets to get out her gloves. "Oh this is great, just peachy, not only is the tire blown out, I lost my damned glove" she mumbled while looking over the remains of the front tire. Sarah got out her cell phone and tried calling her Dad. No luck; the phone was dead. "This is most definitely not fair!" she yelled, throwing the offending phone back into the car. She stormed around to the back of the car and flung the trunk open. The deflated spare did nothing to improve her already foul mood. In a huff she looked around, surveying the wooded areas on either side of the road.
'Well at least I'm near the park, if I start walking now I should be home in about an hour or two'.
Sarah grabbed her backpack off the back seat and started walking. If not for the rain, she might have enjoyed this impromptu stroll in the woods. However, it was chilly and she was getting soaked. Sighing in frustration she started off down one of the many muddy paths through the woods.
"What a great way to start off winter break!"
As she walked Sarah was relieved when the rain stopped and the full moon came out. She thought how the moon made the leaves glitter with magic.."No stop that, do not think of "that" place." Shaking unwanted thoughts from her head, Sarah picked up her pace, and focused on the path ahead of her.
Sarah had been walking now for quite a while and knew it was around midnight. 'I hope Dad is up, and not Karen when I get home.' Suddenly, there was a flash of white and Sarah could hear the faint call of an owl. This brought her back to attention, and with that she quickened her pace. "Just an owl, a common owl, nothing more" she murmured.
Just then, as the words left her mouth, there was a crunching in the leaves behind her. Sarah had had enough, "Alright who's there!" she shouted into the darkness that surrounded her.
Her only answer was that of a lonely owl calling in the night. She had the distinct impression that that damned owl was following her "I must be tired, yes, that's it."
Suddenly, the world around Sarah erupted with the sound of horns and the baying of hounds. What came crashing out of the woods at her was a sight more horrific than anything Sarah had faced in the Labyrinth. Fear gripped her heart and the primal instinct to flee kicked in as numerous black hounds with glowing red eyes came at her. Behind them a phalanx of black steeds with flaming hooves and glowing eyes followed.
Sarah ran as fast as she could, but still the furious beasts gained on her. Sarah felt as if her lungs were going to explode as she stumbled into a clearing in the woods.
The sounds of the demonic hunt were deafening. Around her the very night seemed to be on fire with the shapes of the dark riders and their hounds.
Sarah could run no more and collapsed to her knees gasping for air while holding her stomach. Red eyes surrounded her. She could feel the rancid breath of the hounds on her neck and closed her eyes. 'Oh god, just let it be fast'.
As suddenly as they were there, the hounds backed off a little. Opening her eyes Sarah could make out numerous horses with dark riders. One of the riders, who appeared to be the leader, rode forward and gracefully dismounted. He strode forward, dark cape billowing from his armored shoulders.
Sarah could feel his eyes burning holes into her from the elaborately antlered helm that covered the figures head and face.
The hunt's leader stalked around the trembling form of the frightened girl. He circled her like a predator sizing up its prey before going in for the kill. The dark figure stopped, and stood in front of her. "Look. At. Me. CHILD." he said in a voice that commanded obedience.
Frightened beyond words, Sarah looked up at the imposing figure before her.
Moonlight glistened off of the black armor and leather that encased the slender form. Sarah was frightened before, but now she was truly terrified.
Her head dropped, she could not look, and she was too terrified. Sarah screwed her eyes shut, 'this has to be a dream, any minute I will wake up. This can't be real'
The figure chuckled from under the helm, he knew she was terrified, and would be more so by the time he was finished. "Look at me. Little girl." His leather-clad finger lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. Then, he raised his hands, and removed the helm.
Sarah's eyes widened in recognition. The shock of golden hair, mismatched eyes, and the mocking half smile could only be one person-no, not person- fae. Standing before Sarah was her worst nightmare and darkest desire. Jareth. The Goblin King.
"Hello, Sarah" was all she heard before the world was swallowed in blackness.