Chapter Nine

Mom said she was still lying on my bed staring at the ceiling, when she heard a noise at the foot of the bed on the floor. She went to the edge of the bed, saw me, and squealed. The first thing I knew, mom grabbing me and hugging me tightly. It took me a second to realize what was going on. When I figured it out, I hugged her back. Neither of us said anything at first. Then mom pulled back. She had tears in her eyes, as did I.

"You made it! I was so worried. Jareth can be so tricky." She started to ramble.

"No," I stopped her. "Jareth let me out. I wasn't going to make it out in time."

"Why?" Mom raised an eyebrow.

I explained everything to her leaving out the details about the cave. When I finished my story, something occurred to me.

"I left the others. They don't know where I am" I told mom, worried.

"They never came back to visit me. I thought they had forgotten." Mom said getting a faraway look in her eyes. "Come here."

She helped me up and we went to my bedroom mirror. We looked in it and I saw Hoggle, Ludo, Sir Didymus, and Ambrosius behind me. Mom smiled and we turned around. They were there and we all had a group hug. Mom and the others talked about all the things they had missed. After a while, my mind wandered. I began to think of Jareth. He really did love me. And he finally learned how to show it.

After they left, mom and I ate lunch. She told me I could rest and she would keep Hilary out of my hair when she came home. I thanked her. She gave me the red "Labyrinth" book. I took it into my bedroom and read it as I lay on my bed. I kept looking at the computer screen but hetraJKG never came on. I couldn't understand what I was feeling. Jareth had basically kidnapped me, and now here I was worrying about him. I couldn't get my mind off of him. He had tried so hard and he finally learned how to show his love the right way. But if he really loved me that much, he must be really hurting now, with me gone.

I waited for hours, but hetraJKG never came back into the chat room. I heard Hilary come home, but I stayed in my room with the door closed. I looked into my mirror and called for Hoggle. He appeared and I turned around.

"Hoggle, how's Jareth?" I asked him.

"Why do you care?" he asked me confused.

"I...I was just wondering. I never thanked him for bringing me home."

"You don't need to thank him. Not after all he's done."

"But still, how is he?"

Hoggle gave me a funny look.

"I don't really know." Hoggle shrugged. "No one's heard from him for awhile."

I frowned. That wasn't the answer I was looking for.

"I know this is a strange question, but how can I see him?" I asked.

Hoggle put a hand on my leg.

"You've had a rough time. You're confused. You need to rest." He told me.

"I'm not confused. I just want to know how to see him."

"No one ever wants to see him. So, I don't know a way. He's always the one who finds the ones he wants to see."

"You are absolutely no help at all" I fussed at him.

"Well, don't blame me. I think you're acting crazy." And Hoggle left.

I sighed. I looked at the red book on my bed. Well, I didn't have a baby brother to send away and Hilary was too old. How was I going to get Jareth's attention? I put my shoes and jacket back on and left my room. I told mom I was going out to get fresh air, and after a long "be careful" speech, I left.