It's been 2 years since Sarah set foot into the Labyrinth, even more so, seen her friends. It wasn't that she wanted to lock them out for the rest of her life, it was just that with school stressing her, and her life turning into a nightmare, being pressured to always 'grow up', she just didn't have any time to retreat to her sanctuary of imagination.
Sarah's room had drastically changed over the course of time as well. It no longer basked in the bright colors of rainbows and was now reduced to dull colors. Essays on past reports laid scattered on the floor and Sarah's collection of stuffed animals were now gone. Her stepmother pushed her to throw away her dear Lancelot, a bear she had owned for many years as a child, given to her by her mother. Sarah's stepmother had completely taken her mother's place in her father's eyes. Sarah was sure she had to be a witch of somekind, but would always come back to the conclusion: Witches aren't real. Or were they?
And today was the start of a new day. As Sarah awakened from her long- night's sleep she gave a yawn, stretched, then got out of her bed. She walked over to her vanity and gave a quick look over herself in the mirror then continued on her way downstairs.
"Dad?" Sarah said as she looked into the kitchen on her way down the stairs.
"Dad!" She wondered where he could be. Suddenly she looked over to the counter next to the fruit bowl and saw a white piece of paper with writing. So she trusted her instincts and read it:
"Sarah, Bill is at the office and I've gone shopping with Toby. There should be some cereal left in the cubbard and milk in the fridge. Be home shortly. -Mom
P.S. I wish you'd grow up and get rid of those pictures I keep finding everywhere. You must understand growing up is being able to let go."
Of course there was no "Dear Sarah" or "Love, Mom" And what did she mean? Throw those pictures away? Those were the only thing she was allowed to keep of her real mother. Sarah was angry and threw the note in the trash and mumbled obscenities under her breath. Some mother she was. Or should she say "Sorry excuse"? Sarah wondered things to herself. She couldn't take anymore.
"Ugh!" She yelled as she stomped up stairs. Not even 12:00 and ALREADY her day was ruined. She ran to her room and picked out a pink poet's shirt with the baggiest sleeves she could find in her closet and got her jeans.
"Throw away my mother's pictures?! Does that witch have any compassion?!" She said threw clenched teeth speaking outloud to nobody. She suddenly felt a longing to hold her beloved Lancelot. I wish my stuffed animals were back." Sarah sighed, knowing that would happen only when pigs flied. She lifted her leg and used her fingers to put her loafers on in place.
"I wish..." She was so angry tears rolled down her face as she approached the door ,
"I just just wish the goblin king would take me away!" She sighed as she saw a moment later that nothing had happened. She exhaled and turned the door knob, maybe she should go for a quick run to get over things.
When she opened the door, the street was no longer there. She looked around to find a familiar bare place with orange sands that glowed in the sunset. A familiar maze was ahead, the castle in the center was unmistakeable.
She was in the Labyrinth again.