The group walked down the corridor until it suddenly came to an end.
"What now?" Stephanie asked looking at the dead end. The brick wall was covered in vines that twisted all over the place.
Chantal narrowed her eyes. "How come a shortcut through creepy, touchy hands would end in a dead end?"
"Ah well, who cares. Let's just turn around," Bianca suggested.
Chantal walked up to the wall and stared at it. She moved some of the vines away and noticed something. "Hey! There is a door under here!"
"Wicked!" Stephanie said as she neared Chantal.
"Help me move these vines out of the way Steph," Chantal told her friend as she grabbed some of the vines and pushed them aside. Stephanie said mimicking her friend's movement. As the vines were pushed away, a large wooden door is revealed. There was no door handle, only a decorative doorknocker in the center of the door.
Bianca approached and stared at the doorknocker. "There are no doorknobs," she pointed out.
"You're right," Chantal replied looking at it more closely.
"That's it?" Stephanie said, pushing her way between Chantal and Bianca.
Chantal stumbled out of the way. "Ack! Careful Steph!" Stephanie gave an apologetic look. Chantal looked back at Jareth and rolled her eyes.
"Maybe you should try using the knocker," Bianca suggested. Stephanie smiled at Bianca and turned back to the door. She reached out for the ring. She knocked three times. The knock echoed throughout the door.
Stephanie tried knocking on the door again. No avail.
"Doesn't look like that is working," Chantal commented.
"How are we supposed to get through?" Stephanie frowned, her comment directed to Jareth. He seemed to figuring out a new direction to take. She continued to look around the door frame, trying to find any clues.
The sound of snoring seeped through the ledges of the door. Stephanie burst out laughing, it was so unexpected. Jareth gave her a strange look.
Chantal raised an eyebrow. 'What were they getting themselves into this time?', she wondered.
"Hello?" She said aloud to the door. The snoring stopped. When Stephanie called again, a small opening in the door frame slid back. One large eye stared back at Chantal.
"What do you want?" this door guard said.
"We want to go through the door." Chantal replied staring back.
"Well I can't let you pass," the gruff voice becoming muffled as it started to slide the eye hole shut.
"Why not?" Chantal said glaring at it, starting to grow impatient.
"We knocked like we're supposed to." Stephanie said. "Those are the rules.
"I was told by the Goblin King, not to let anyone pass," it snorted, his eyesight moving to Stephanie.
"Well we are in the company of the Goblin King, and you don't want to get him mad now do you?" Chantal asked as she stepped aside to reveal the Goblin King behind her. Jareth became away of his introduction and started to walk over.
"Oh, um, no," it stammered as Jareth stared at it. A click of a lock was heard and the door slowly swung open.
"Thank you," Chantal smiled as she walked through the door.
Jareth followed Stephanie and Chantal to the doorway leaving Bianca behind with her dog. As he held the door, he stared at the guard and smiled. 'At least some of the creatures here were still loyal,' he thought. The door guard,who actually turned out to be a goblin, did a quick bow.
"Come on Bianca," Stephanie called out. Bianca snapped out of a daze and turned towards Stephanie.
"Coming!" she said as she headed towards the open door.
The goblin grabbed a tall narrow tent that was used as an outpost and moved it easily through the doorway. After setting it up to one side, he gathered a few more items. Jareth stood in the doorway, until all were passed through, before he continuing through the door himself. Once on the other side, the door closed solidly behind the group, locking with a click. There was a doorknocker on this side of the door, placed exactly like the other.
Chantal twirled around to take in their new surroundings. She couldn't believe the change in scenery. They were now in a forest, the light was dimer and the air damp. A well worn path lead through the forest, with tall leafy green trees on either side.
"Wow..." Stephanie breathed.
Chantal silently looked around. Serek scrambled on her shoulder and climbed up on her head to get a better view. Having a new scenery brighten their mood. Until two bright furry red and orange creatures jumped out in front of them. Bianca, who was right behind Chantal and Stephanie, took a step back, holding on tightly to Bebe's leash.
"Fireys!" Stephanie gasped.
"A new player has entered the game!" one of the creatures laughed.
The Fireys began to move around the three girls. Serek climbed back down to Chantal's shoulder and watched the creatures cautiously. Two more Fireys jumped out of the bushes, in front of the girls and begin to dance. They all began grabbing and poking at them. Chantal pulled away from the Fireys, while Serek hissed at the creatures from her shoulder. Bianca held Bebe back so chasing the Fireys would happen. The dog barked and growled at they passed by. Stephanie had slowly backed away, she was fascinated even when they popped off their heads and started throwing them back and forth amongst each other. Catching, dropping and throwing. Stephanie caught one of the Firey heads and grinned.
"Enough!" Jareth cleared his throat loudly.
All the Fireys grabbed a head and stuck it on their bodies, then looked up to where the voice had come from. Stephanie turned the head in her hands to the location, almost comically. Jareth stepped out of the shadows and glared at the red and orange fox-like creatures. Their eyes grew wide either by recognition or because he was frightening; and suddenly they were gone, the headless one of them roughly grabbed the head that Stephanie held and jumped into the bushes.
Chantal turned on a dime and looked at Jareth. "Woah, they sure seem to be scared of you," Chantal giggled.
Jareth didn't reply, only smirked. "They were an annoyance, and they were wasting our time." Jareth said. Jareth quickly looked around and spotted Bianca, who looked very uncomfortable and still holding her dog. "I think your friend might want to go home," Jareth said changing the subject.
"You thought of this now?" Stephanie snapped, but turned to look at Bianca.
Bianca stood there, the expression on her face showed that she was a bit frightened. She kept shifting her weight from foot to foot looking in Stephanie's direction. "Bianca, are you all right?" Stephanie asked, worried.
"Um, yeah...I-I'm fine," she replied.
Chantal looked over to Bianca. "You don't look all that well. Maybe we should get you home." Chantal turned to and looked at Jareth. "Is it possible? Can we do that and not lose ground?"
Jareth looked at the frightened girl. "If my magic still works."
"That's right. You said that you had trouble with entering the castle so that means...it's worth a try." Stephanie said trailing off.
Chantal began playing with her necklace as she thought. "I wonder if you use us as a kind of anchor, maybe you can return right to this spot. If that makes any sense to you at all," Chantal suggested, looking up at Jareth.
"We won't know until we try," Jareth replied.
"Well what are you waiting for?" Chantal said, her hands on her hips.
"I can't just go and drop her off anywhere, now can I?" Jareth countered. "Especially not in the middle of a busy street. People might wonder."
Chantal turned to Bianca. "Where were you when Bebe got away from you?" she asked.
"Um, I was at a park, it's close to my house. The park is sort of secluded." Bianca said looking at the Goblin King.
Jareth nodded. "Good enough." He walked over to Bianca extended his hand to her. Bianca eyed him shyly, not sure whether she should take it or not. She extended her hand and Jareth took it. Bianca blushed furiously. Jareth then turned to the girls. "I'll return in a few minutes." Suddenly they were gone.
Chantal looked over to Stephanie. "And now we wait and hope he can make it back."
"Yeah, who knows what is happening in this place." Stephanie said.
"Yeah! And it seems like almost anything can happen in this place," Chantal replied, looking up at the trees. There was no way to see the castle from this place, or any other part of the huge maze.
Serek jumped off of Chantal's shoulder and glided over to where Stephanie was standing, landing on her shoulder. He squeaked in her ear. "Hmm? What is it?" Stephanie said, looking at Serek and petting his head. Serek rubbed his head against Stephanie's hand, trying to get more attention.
Chantal looked down at her watch. "Gods, I keep forgetting time flows differently here." Stephanie laughed. Chantal stuck her tongue out at her friend, laughed, then sighed. "Where is that guy?"
Stephanie shrugged. "I don't know. Do you think he couldn't return?"
"I don't know, but if he uses us as an anchor, or even a beacon, he might be able to get to us. From what I understand, the closer to the castle you get, the stronger the magic force. We aren't that close yet."
"No, we're not close enough," Stephanie sighed. "Well, if he doesn't get here soon, we might have to continue without him."
Suddenly they heard rustling in the bushes behind them. Both girls spun around, but the noise stopped.
"Oh no! Not them again! I don't think I could put up with more head popping," Chantal said, rolling her eyes. "Jareth better get here soon."
"Oh, so you missed me, eh?" Jareth said from behind her.
"Ack!" Chantal spun around quickly. "Well maybe not that much."
Stephanie smiled. "I'm glad it worked."
"Indeed it did," Jareth said with a half smile.