I have nothing against wolves ok, they are actually my favourite animals, however I couldn't think of anything better to use. I haveedited the previous chapters. Nothing vital but you may want to glance through. Thankyou to my two reviewers.
Chapter 3: Peach

The wolves proceeded towards them.

"What on earth is his problem?" Nick complained, eyeing the wolves warily.

Mel glared at him, "He loves her you idiot!"

"He'd just given us free passage through the Labyrinth. I guess he must be feeling pretty betrayed," Lauren went silent.

Nick gazed sightlessly at the advancing wolves then seemed to make up his mind.

"When I say run get out of here as fast as possible."

"What?" Lauren looked at him confused.

"Look I got you into this mess the least I can do is get you out of it."

"What are you talking about?" Lauren cried with a sinking feeling that she knew exactly what he was talking about.

"RUN!" Nick yelled and threw himself at the wolves. Lauren watched horrified as he disappeared under the snarling mass.

"Come on," cried Mel, grabbing her arm and dragging her away

"No!" Lauren fought her friend but Mel's grip was too strong. Mel only let her go once they were out of the forest.

"There was nothing we could have done to save him. We would have just got hurt then what he did would have been wasted." Mel said as an explanation.

"I'm going back for him,"

"Lauren, don't be foolish. Lauren!"

Too late Lauren had already plunged back into the forest. It felt thicker than before. Twigs scratched her arms and branches lashed her face so she couldn't see very far. Unexpectedly she pitched forward into an open space. Looking up she saw Mel standing in front of her.

"What the…?"

She was back where she'd started.

"I think that must be Jareth's way of telling you not to go back." Mel gave her a sad smile.

There was a growl in the bushes behind Lauren and a wolf head appeared with blood staining its mouth.

"And I think that's telling you to keep going!" cried Mel, backing away and pulling Lauren to her feet.

They ran into the next section of the maze, which were ordinary rock walls and a flag stone floor. Lauren was almost crying from the guilt that was consuming her about Nick's death. It was all her fault. She should have just surrendered to Jareth. Yet when she voiced these thoughts to Mel she was reprimanded.

"I will not have you thinking such things." Mel barked at her, "Nick knew what he was doing. He wouldn't want you to be kicking yourself about it. Besides, if its anyone's fault its my own. I should have known what he was about to do and stopped him."

Lauren quickly reassured her friend that it wasn't her fault but she couldn't decide whether Mel was talking about Nick's decision to distract the wolves, or the kiss.

Jareth smiled into the crystal but it lacked enthusiasm. He felt he'd punished Lauren but he also knew it had hurt her. That took away any satisfaction he could have drawn from it. Yet to punish her he had had to hurt her otherwise what punishment would it be? Frustrated he threw the crystal at the wall and it shattered. "Curse it all!" he shouted. There were also feelings deep down that Jareth did not like to admit he had. Jealousy and betrayal, betrayal because that would mean she had hurt him and he refused to think that she had, jealousy because it meant he had admitted to himself that she had chosen someone else over him, and that hurt. That really hurt.

Mimi was standing at a sort of crossroads. Five different paths converged in this one place. For one of her timid nature it was one of the worst places to be. Wherever she stood, her back was to a doorway. She kept jumping and spinning round if she heard the slightest noise behind her.

"Hello again Mimi,"

Mimi shivered violently, she'd prayed he wouldn't come back but he had.

"Having a nice time are we?"

She trembled.

"Scared? Oh dear, never mind, your friends are almost here."

Mimi looked up hopefully.

"And when they arrive I want you to give this to Lauren." He tossed her a round object. She caught it shakily. A peach.

"What is it?" she asked.

"A present from Jareth," she looked bewildered, "That's me, if you didn't know, but don't tell her until after she's eaten it ok."

"Why can't you give it to her?" Mimi stared at him, "If it's going to hurt her I won't do it."

Jareth gave her a malevolent smile, "I promise it won't hurt her, but if you don't give it to her I might hurt Mel instead."

Mimi looked horrified.

"We don't want me to have to hurt your twin now, do we." Saying that he vanished with a chuckle. He never planned to hurt Mel but Mimi didn't know that.

Lauren spotted Mimi standing tensely ahead.

"Hey Mimi," she called out. Mimi jumped almost guiltily.

"What have you got there?" Lauren asked as they came up to the third and final person in their search.

"Peach," mumbled Mimi, "It's for you."

"Thanks Mimi, I'm starving. Do you want to share it Mel?"

"No I'm ok thanks."

"Mimi? It is yours,"

"No its yours," she whispered back.

Lauren just decided this meant Mimi wasn't hungry. She took it from her friend's hand and bit deeply.

"Where'd you get it Mimi?" Mel inquired,

"It's a present from Jareth," Mimi dropped her eyes. Mel glanced horrified at Lauren who had frozen. She dropped the peach on the floor.

"Oh heck!" Mel cried.

"Too late, I've swallowed it," groaned Lauren, "I feel strange."

She dropped to the floor on her hands and knees as a dizziness swept through her. Slowing she felt her memory fading.