She lay crumbled on the floor, her knees brought to her chest. Make it stop, she thought in agony, good God make it stop. The tranquilizer was kicking in and soon it would take her into a nightmarish sleep only to have her waking days later in some other location. Tears had been spilt, over and over again, and now she was lacking the hydration to even cry anymore. Now it was merely a dry sob, a weak choke at the most, it was the only noise that could be heard among the crazed babble that echoed throughout the asylum.
Dead, she though, I'm better off dead. I'd do it to, if I could stand up that is. Her ankle had been shattered a while back, trying to fight off one of the workers, she supposed they thought she'd never stop kicking, that is until she was thrown against the wall. Everything hazed a moment and she gagged, when was the last time she ate something? She slowly shook her head, hell like she could remember.
"I'm insane," she muttered a loud letting her words bounce off the padded walls "alright, I said it, can I go home now?" She should've never told Karen about the Labyrinth, she knew she wouldn't believe her but, this was a little much. She was seventeen now, her long dark hair matted over her shoulders and she let out an agonized sob. "Make it stop," she begged aloud and somehow tears made there way to her eyes. The shaking started again, twisting and turning her body, tying her stomach in knots. If Hell was anything this was it, everything hurt, her body, her mind, her soul. It ached to the point that she had to grab her sides, for it felt so much like physical pain. Maybe it was, she was too sedated to know anymore. The door opened slightly and a woman in kakis and a white button up shirt waltzed in. She knew this woman well.
"Hello Sarah," Karen bent down on the soft padded floor "and how are you today?" She managed to hold her pain in a moment and rolled her eyes dryly.
"Oh just peachy," she grumbled and the pain let loose again.
"Sarah," Karen breathed "the nice doctors think they know why you made up those stories…" Sarah's mouth went dry, she'd heard this before. "You just felt like you needed some adventure in your pathetic mundane little life hun. But you have to realize, your nothing, your just another person on this pitiful little planet. If you can understand that, we can let you go be a normal person." Sarah struggled to keep her eyes open but she managed a sly smile and shook her head disapprovingly.
"Karen," Sarah sighed simply "fuck off." Karen's smile quickly vanished and she let out a humph before she stormed out of the room. She sighed and noticed how nauseated she felt, it seemed to come all the way from inside of her, she could feel it even in her feet.
"Why must you defy everyone that comes within a five foot radius of you?" his voice was thick and amused, though she seemed to hint a bit of annoyance. She closed her eyes and ignored it. "Sarah? I know you can hear me Sarah…"
"Now is not the time," she muttered and turned to one side. She clutched both her sides with her hands and brought her knees to her chest.
"How the mighty have fallen," he murmured in her ear, though she shook it off as the meds kicking in. "Poor sweet Sarah, if you had only accepted my offer you wouldn't have this problem." She gritted her teeth together trying not to scream. "Such a pity."
"I don't regret it," she forced the lump that'd formed in her throat back down. "I had to save him, no matter the cost."
"Why Sarah," he seemed taken aback, though his tone was dripping with sarcasm "I thought it was merely personal." She shook her head in defeat.
"Are you here to gloat or something?" her voice cracked halfway throughout the sentence and she tried to clear it but it stayed. He didn't speak anymore, and gradually she felt his presents slip away. She closed her eyes for a very long time and fell in and out of slumber continuously. His voice whispered throughout her dreams, calling her name and jeering at her endlessly. Go away, she murmured in her tired mind don't you think I've been tortured enough? He didn't answer though she felt him around her. If you're so generous why won't you make yourself useful and put me out of my misery? Or is it just too much fun tormenting me?
BANG BANG BANG
"It doesn't end," she muttered coming out of her sleeping state and looked around her cell. Someone was pounding on her door.
"OPEN UP!" someone shouted "hurry up and open the door!!!" Sarah raised an eyebrow, how the hell was she supposed to open the door? She was locked in for God's sake! Suddenly the door unlocked and two police officers opened the door. They looked at her blankly. "Are you Sarah Williams?" Slowly she nodded. "Ma'am, Shady Groves Mental Hospital is under investigation. Someone tipped us off that you were indeed, sane of mind." A large smile formed on her lips and she nodded.
"I've been here for six months," she breathed "I thought I was about to go insane for real."
"Well," one man replied "you've been released, and we've notified your mother, was it?" He didn't let her answer. "Anyways, she said you had a place of your own so, I suggest you get back home young lady." Both men left and Sarah tried to stand up.
"Alright," she muttered to herself "one thing at a time. First, get out of this god damn building, then go from there." She managed to get into the hallway but quickly lost her balance and fell backward. "Oh," she quickly pulled herself out of the arms of whoever caught her "sorry, I'm uh-" Turning to see him her jaw literally dropped as the well dressed young man smirked back at her. His platinum blond hair was pulled into a ponytail, his makeup removed and he wore a nice polo shirt with jeans.
"You, uh?" he mocked and pushed her mouth closed with a flick of his wrist. She blinked a few times and shook her head.
"Sorry, um, I… I" she stuttered. Form words you dimwit, she shouted at herself. "Kinda traumatized." She could've laughed at her moronicness, but she gripped hold of the wall and attempted to make her way down the hall with her shattered ankle.
"What's wrong with your leg?" he asked following her and she shrugged. "Oh come on, you know what happened."
"Funny," she said and gave Jareth a hard look "you can fall into holes, trip over every imaginable object and the first time someone slams you against the wall, you ankle breaks." She shrugged "go figure." She went back to ignoring him and limped on down the hall. She finally made her way out of the building and sat on the lawn. Tears would've formed if she could cry, but she still hadn't drank anything in God knows how long. She laid back on the grass and looked up at the now dazing sky, it was sunset, good timing too but she didn't care much now, as long as she was out of that terrible place. An owl cried out somewhere in the background and she moaned, she was growing tired of him. She was getting very tired, meds still probably in her system and she had no were to go.
"You stuck?" she turned around and sighed as she looked upon Jareth as he came out of the building.
"Always," she muttered. He knelt down next to her and gave an understanding look. She shook her head "what do you want?"
"I'd think you'd be a little more grateful," he said strictly "getting you out of that place like I did."
"Excuse me while I do a cartwheel," she muttered and he gave a dry look. "Ok, ok." She paused a moment and he extended his hand impatiently, waiting for her to go on. "Why the hell do you bother?" she spat. Alright, so she didn't mean for it to come out that way but now that she'd said it she felt a lot better.
"I was thinking more along the lines of thank you," he muttered.
"Just let me ask this first," she said shaking her head and he tilted his head slightly. Crossing his arms and resting him on his knees he leaned down closer to her.
"I bother," he spat "because you were lying there begging to be saved. What do you EXPECT me to do?"
"Let me rot like everybody else," she muttered dryly and fell back onto the grass. He sat on the grass, his jeans getting stained on his knees but he didn't seem to care much.
"Why would I do that?" he asked "do you think me so cruel? Actually, don't answer that, I don't need to know."
"Well no," she whispered and he looked at her, a little surprised. "What? I mean, your no Darth Vader, I've never heard of you killing anyone, or torturing them or locking them in some nut house, though no offence, it reminded me a great deal of an oubliette. So I can't say you're any worse than Karen. Then again, I could possibly say your better than anyone else I know since I don't see anyone ELSE here asking me if I'm ok." He paused a moment and let what she said register. He wasn't sure if he should take what she said as a complement or throw her into the Bog.
"Was…" he gave a cocky grin "that a thank you hidden in all those words?"
"Sure," she shrugged "let's go with that theory." He tapped his foot impatiently and gave an annoyed glare. "Alright, geez, get all touchy about it." She paused and thought about it a moment. "Wow…"
"Is it THAT hard?" he snapped "just TWO god damn words Sarah, its not-" she shook her head and he paused. "Then what?"
"Its too small," she said numbly "just two words. I mean, I know all you gotta do is use some magick and ta da, I'm out and everything… but, it's a big deal to me." Jareth's mouth was slightly ajar, though his mouth was curved in a wonderfully amused smile.
"Your welcome," he breathed and she merely nodded as she stood up. "Where in the Underground do you think you are going?"
"Preferably somewhere I can sleep," she muttered "I mean I DO have god knows what in my system and I'm tired. Maybe if I'm lucky I'll be able to get to a hospital tomorrow, get my leg fixed up some, though I must admit, my luck's never been too good." She hobbled down the sidewalk for a while though stopped when she heard footsteps on the pavement behind her. Before she could utter a word she was in the arms of her arch nemesis. "What the hell do you think your doing?!" she snapped.
"I swear Sarah," he sighed "you're the most ungrateful girl I've ever seen. Nonetheless, I'm helping you."
"I can walk," she growled and he stopped and gave her the firmest look she'd ever seen. "Sorta."
"Thought so," he nodded firmly and came to a white Dodge Ram and opened the door. "Please stay seated at ALL times," he mocked "keep your hands and feet in the vehicle at ALL times. Please do NOT argue with the driver about him saving your ungrateful ass, nor distract him from driving or he will be forced to take the matters into his own hands. Thank you!" With that he mockingly shut the door and went around to the other side. Sarah just looked at him and he smirked.
"Can I ask where I'm going?" she yawned and he nodded. He didn't say anything for a long time and started the car. She sighed, why'd he have to be so difficult? "Where am I going?"
"Preferably a place," he nodded.
"Please," she pleaded "don't be difficult, my head hurts and I'm not functioning properly. Can you please tell me where I happen to be going?"
"To a place I happen to live," he said blankly and she shook her head and closed her eyes. They couldn't drive to Underground, this she knew, Jareth must've been slipped a couple of those pills she'd been given because he was asking as strange as she was. But then, she had heard that tough times and bad situations tended to change people's personalities for the time being. Somehow, she'd dozed off and Jareth had slipped the radio on to some rock station because she heard him humming along with it. Her sleep became deepened and she slept sounder than she ever had at Shady Groves, and that was saying something since she was sedated most of the time. She smiled at the thought.
"Sarah?" he whispered and she turned over. A low chuckle escaped his lips and she shook her head.
"Five more minutes," she muttered and he moved to the other side of the bed.
"Sarah," he said gently "you need to drink something." She shook her head and he forced her to sit up "come on Sarah, I may be able to do a lot but I can't make you drink." He put the glass to her lips and she moved away. He dipped his fingers in the water and flicked it on her.
"That's cold," she moaned and opened an annoyed eye. He just laughed though and put the glass to her lips again. She tried to lift her arm but it was so heavy, it felt like a hundred pound weight.
"You can't do it yourself," he whispered and tilted the glass some. She struggled to move away but he held her gaze and set the water down. "Sarah," he sighed but she shook her head stubbornly. "Just humor me," he implored "please. Just…" he paused "just drink SOME." Tiredly, she nodded and he tried again. Putting the glass to her lips he tilted it gently back. The first mouthful burnt as it went down, but then she hadn't drunk anything in…days maybe. He waited for her to swallow the next mouthful and eyed her closely. "Ready?" she nodded again and he tilted the glass back. In the end, she ended up drinking a little more than half when she shook her head for no more. "You're sure now?"
"No I'm lying," she whispered tiredly and he forced her to sit up more. "Leave me alone," she moaned "I'm tired."
"You need to eat something," he breathed and sat cross legged on the bed. She closed her eyes, she REALLY didn't want to be fed, especially by Jareth. "Just a little," he gave a mocking smile "tiny almost nothing bit?" She shut her eyes tighter in annoyance but nodded shortly. "There's my girl," he whispered. "Say AH." She did and in went a piece of fruit. Oh lucky her, it was peach. She nearly gagged but Jareth covered her mouth with his hand.
You think that'll keep it in? she thought in an annoyed tone but he kept her gaze trapped in his.
"Chew," he ordered and she shook her head. "Sarah…" he growled keeping his hand firmly over her mouth.
I have a DEEP personal problem with peaches, she pleaded in her mind don't make me eat this. Sarah watched as his eyes grew soft and he sighed.
"Spit it out," he growled and held his hand out. She paused a moment, if he was going to hurt her again, he wouldn't so willingly allowed her to spit it back out. Slowly but surely she started chewing the peach slice in her mouth. Jareth sat back with his arms crossed, eyebrow cocked at a peculiar angle and an amused smile on his face. She swallowed. "You are the most stubborn, hard headed, thick skulled, defiant…" she shook his head "annoyingly amazing woman I have ever come across."
"I try," she managed and let the oncoming smile come over her face. "Can I sleep now?"
"You didn't eat much," he chastised and she rolled her eyes.
"What are you?" she asked "my mother?" He held up another piece in front of her mouth. "You said a tiny almost-" she didn't finish though because he put it into her open mouth. "You know what?" she growled chewing it "if I wasn't stuck in this bed… unable to...move, aw geez…"
"Seems you're in no position to be chastising me," he pointed out with a slight smirk. He held up another piece and she closed her mouth tight. "Sarah," he growled "I may not be able to make you drink, but eating is a whole other story. Now open." She gave a 'I could care less' smile and he sighed and shook his head. "Last chance." She actually considered it for a moment, but she was curious and she actually wanted to annoy him. Without any warning he pinned her to the bed (which wasn't hard) and munched on the slice in his hand. She looked a little shocked, but besides that she didn't seem afraid or anything. She quickly took notice how he did everything, how he pinned her enough to get her down but not enough to leave even the faintest mark. His legs were on either side of her body, him gently sitting on her stomach and him leaning over her.
"Now," he said "you are going to be a good girl and open your mouth and EAT something. Or I will feed you in the most annoying and embarrassing fashion that I can think of. Which are quiet a few."
Author's note: I know, I know ANOTHER story. But I got inspired and I can't help it. SO here's my first chapter which I stayed up till one in the morning writing, so I'm really hoping I'll get some reviews ::yawns:: I know, I stopped at an odd place but I didn't want some huge climatic cliffie since everyone else keeps telling me I need to stop with them. So I stopped here for that AND the fact that I was unbelievably tired. But you see, I can't not stay up till all hours of the night, or I don't sleep, so in fact, I get more sleep when I don't get more sleep rather when I do sleep… or something. Anyways, dedications for good and/or humorous reviews.