Chapter 2

There was a bump as Sarah landed on the ground, she could still feel the vice like grip round her arm but not for long, Jareth let go of her and she fell to the hard stone floor.

"Get up!" Jareth barked as he circled her.

Sarah stood up obediently and looked around. She was outside somewhere, in a stone courtyard, it looked like some sort of medieval castle and Sarah had no idea how she had got there but she expected it was something to do with the man who was now walking round her.

Sarah plucked up the courage to speak, "Who are you?" She asked.

Jareth stopped circling and walked right up to Sarah who was now shivering with a mixture of fright and cold. "That hurts my feelings you know Sarah." He said as he began to rub her arms which were limp at her side. "How could you forget me after such a short time?"

Sarah felt a warmth spread first through her arms and then over the rest of her body. "How do you know my name?" she asked.

Jareth walked back from her again and turned to face her as he pulled the bottom of his gloves so they were tight over his hands. "I know they tried to rid you of me, with they're pills and injections. But I'm still there Sarah in the back of your mind, you just have to look for me."

Sarah tried to think, but it was difficult with the strange man staring so intently at her so she closed her eyes. Images came to her mind, she was running through a maze, searching for something but she couldn't remember what it was she was looking for. Sarah opened her eyes, the man was still staring. It didn't bother her too much, she was used to people staring at her, pitying her. Nurses, doctors her parents, all pitying the poor girl who had lost her marbles and was mutilating herself. She absent mindedly rubbed her arms and was confused to feel they were smooth, no lumps or bumps any more. She looked down at them and was shocked to see all her scars were gone.

She looked up to see the man smiling, "What did you do?" She asked.

"I thought they really didn't do much for you, so I got rid of them." Jareth said still smiling.

"Are you a wizard?" Sarah asked looking confused.

Jareth sighed and approached her again, "You still don't remember then." He said sighing as he raised his hands and placed them either side of Sarah's head. "This will help you remember." He said as he stared deeply into her eyes. Sarah tried to look away, but she couldn't, she stared back at him, deep into his eyes, one dark ocean blue the other light grey.

Jareth brought her closer resting his forehead against hers.

Sarah closed her eyes, as she did images, memories flashed through her mind. This man standing in her parents room, taking her brother away. The labyrinth she had to solve, Hoggle, Ludo, Sir Didimus. A ballroom in a bubble, dancing with him, looking deep into his eyes just as she had just done a moment ago. The stairs that defied gravity, Toby sitting precariously close to the edge, trying to reach him, jumping for him. Then this man, offering her everything, her dreams and she refusing him.

Sarah opened her eyes suddenly and pushed him away. "Jareth?" She whispered.

Jareth took a step backwards from Sarah, smiling as he looked her up and down. My how she'd grown, grown into a beautiful young woman. It didn't seem so long ago she had been cowering before him, begging him to return her brother which she had so carelessly wished away. His smile soon faded as he remembered how she had refused his generous offer. He had bared his heart and soul to this girl and she had thrown it back into his face, he shook his head, she had been too young back then, too young to understand what he had been offering her.

"That is correct." Jareth said as he stood back and put his hands on his hips.

"The labyrinth ruined my life, you ruined my life and now you've brought me back, why?" Sarah shouted.

"I saved you Sarah, I couldn't stand back and let that man rape you, what kind of person do you think I am." Jareth said trying to remain calm.

"I've had these dreams ever since I came here last time, these horrible dreams. But they're not like dreams at all, they're real but no one believes me." Sarah moaned.

Jareth sighed, "The demons Sarah, you are correct, they are real."

"How did you know about them?" Sarah shouted she lifted her finger up and pointed it at Jareth. "Did you send them after me?" She accused.

Jareth walked towards her and pinned both her hands to her side, Sarah gasped.

"Don't point your finger like that at me again," he said dangerously. "It's very rude. I did not send those demons into your dreams, the Labyrinth did." He continued, letting go of her and taking a step back

"What?" Sarah said looking confused.

"You were never supposed to leave Sarah." He said still staring at her. "The labyrinth had never been defeated before you came along, you were its equal you were chosen. But you were too young, I had to let you leave."

"I won fair and square, you had to send me back." Sarah said.

Jareth smiled. "The deal was for your brother to be safely returned, I never said you could leave." He said

Even if you get to the centre, you'll never get out again.

"And what do you mean, I was chosen, chosen for what?" Sarah said suspiciously.

"You are to bring balance to this realm, you are to be my wife." He said, smiling.

"No way, I'm not marrying you!" Sarah shouted horrified.

Jareth frowned. "I'm afraid you don't have much choice Sarah, if you don't marry me the labyrinth will be destroyed and I can't let that happen." He said. "And besides, you go back to your own world, your labeled insane and accused of attacking your doctor."

"Yeah no thanks to you." Sarah shouted. "I'm out of here."

Jareth watched as she ran towards one of the doors.

Sarah opened one of the doors and was surprised to so Jareth standing behind it.

"Your not going anywhere my dear." He said as he grabbed her by the upper arm and dragged her through the door.

Sarah started pummeling his hand as hard as she could. "Let me go you bastard!" She screamed as Jareth dragged her through the dark stone corridors.

After a couple of minutes they reached a wooden door, Jareth pulled out a large, rusty key and unlocked it then threw Sarah inside.

"I'll see you later." He said and slammed the door shut, locking it.

Sarah stood up, quickly ran to the door and started banging on it. "Let me out!" she shouted. "Let me out you fucking bastard, you can't keep me here!"

She kept screaming and shouting until her voice was hoarse. Then she turned round and slid down the door until she was sitting on the ground. She looked around the room. The walls were made of stone, the floor was made of stone and the ceiling was made of stone. In the corner was a single bed with some moldy looking blankets on it and there was a window on the opposite wall.

Sarah shivered on the stone floor, she was still only wearing her thin nighty, so she slowly hoisted herself back up and headed over to the bed. She sat on the edge of the bed and wrapped the blankets round her as she lay down and began sobbing quietly.