Disclaimer: I do not own the Labyrinth. This story is only a reflection of my love for the movie and its characters.
Title: Rising From Ashes
A lark cried in the distance. It was a loud plaintive sound that at first startled then haunted, its echo slowly ebbing just as the sun was setting. A cool breeze rustled the black knobby fingers of dead trees. Sighs and ominous creaks filled the darkened sky.
Hoggle shivered. He tried to ignore everything save the narrow dirt strip he walked upon, its path obscured by dead roots and dry shrubbery. Not many walked this way, toward the garbage heap. As far as he knew, none had traveled back there, only forward, toward the castle. It felt different, like walking backwards. You knew you could physically do it but it required extra caution.
Another breeze blew through his path, only this time it came directly from his intended destination. The smell of dust, mold, and stale childhood dreams caused his nose to wrinkle. He was close. Possibly near the border.
For the hundredth time Hoggle fingered the plastic bracelet around his wrist. It was an unconscious gesture that mildly soothed his raw nerves. He liked the feel of the smooth beads, perfect like glass but much lighter. The beads were his favorite bauble and it always reminded him of Sarah.
It was for Sarah that he came this far. Past the safety of his home and the reassuring gate of the Labyrinth, into a mysterious land he was uncomfortable to be out in past dusk. If something were to attack him now, where could he run? A twig snapped under his foot and the sound brought his mind to the task at hand. Just a little further… Hoggle cautiously stepped around and weaved between large stone boulders before his path.
The ground dropped in an angular slope, that gave him a clear view of the huge chasm filled in with old toys, books, clothing, trinkets, and other childish knick knacks. Sad curls of smoke drifted from numerous mounds over the yard, homes made from haphazard stacks of the same material that littered its misshapen ground. These people lived here. Humans like Sarah, who had forgotten what it was to be human.
He recalled Sarah's reference to this land as the "Trash Heap." But the name was not quite as appropriate as its real given name, the area of space his people called "The Land of Forgotten Sorrow." Ever since he could remember, it was a place where humans could find comfort in the childhood treasures that mysteriously appeared right under their feet. Memories of why they were running the labyrinth disappeared as well as memories of their life before running the maze. It was sad and it was creepy.
He started to slide down the slope, its clumpy dirt surprisingly dry and brittle, as he cautiously climbed down. It was getting dark now but the large crescent moon and the fact that there were no clouds allowed him to see by starlight the small swaying mounds slowly making their way through the rubble. These were the inhabitants, encumbered by their treasures. Singing a song that was simple and in its own way mournful as they wove between piles searching, never finding enough belongings.
"We are the children that time has forgot - leave us as be, remember us naught. We treasure all things that sparkle and gleams - watch where you tread, for you stand on our dreams."
It made Hoggle's hair stand on end. He glanced at one of the residents, gleefully turning on and off a bright yellow flashlight into her face. Her face was round, gray, and mushy. She had lost her humanity many years ago; slowly transformed by the lands magic into…he wasn't quite sure what they were, but something bordering on goblin.
"Excuse me," Hoggle ventured, unsure. "Can youz tell me where the Gray Witch is?"
The girl continued to play with the flashlight, shining it through the thin flesh between her stretched thumb and index finger. Its light fascinated her.
Hoggle sighed and grabbed a rattle at his feet. He shook it and the sound immediately got her attention. She grabbed for it, still holding her precious flashlight.
"Uh uh. Tell me where the Gray Witch is and I'll gives you the rattle."
The ugly girl made a pout, her brows furrowed in irritation. She jerked her arm out and pointed hastily to her right. Any further movement was hampered by the weight of her treasures strapped to her back.
"That way, huh? How far?"
The girl pointed again in the same direction with a harsh motion, but added an angry stomp of her foot.
"Okay – okay. Here you go." The girl snatched the rattle from him and stuck the flashlight into her mouth as she held the rattle with one hand and delicately touched its smooth surface with her amazed fingers.
He noticed her teeth were gone when she stuck the flashlight in, obviously from eating nothing but her favorite candies that were found in bright colored tins.
Remorse touched him. He inwardly cursed himself but still pulled out the small tissue wrapped bundle from inside his shirt. He opened it a little at the side, careful to not drop it, and broke a portion of bread off for her. He laid it close to her feet, rewrapped his dinner and turned in the direction she had earlier pointed.
He knew it would just lie there, eventually becoming moldy and useless, but a part of him liked to believe that maybe, just maybe, she would become curious. That maybe she would pick it up and smell it; maybe take the flashlight out of her mouth and bite into bread, something substantial, and something natural. Maybe the taste and texture would remind her of a life where bread was not uncommon. Served at a table…surrounded by family…
He knew how unlikely it was…but he liked to hope.
Hoggle walked carefully in what he hoped was the right direction. Another walking pile hastily pointed the way when he got turned around by the large mounds and its respective dark alleys. Soon he came to a door. A door standing with no support whatsoever, with nothing before it and nothing behind it but air. He grasped the doorknob and found that the door was locked.
There was only one thing to do with locked doors in the labyrinth. Knock.
His hand, fisted and ready to rap on the pale wood, stops in hesitation. Fear. Fear of what he was doing, of what resided behind the door, of what his actions could result in, made his throat dry and his hand tremble.
The plastic enclosed around his wrist refocused his mind. Sarah. This was about Sarah…his friend. She could not help herself. He, with his knowledge limited to the labyrinth's layout and to various insecticides, could not help her. And surprisingly, Jareth, the Goblin King, with all his power and stubborn will, could not help her.
The Gray Witch was a being rumored to possess knowledge of old magic. Magic that could help Sarah, remind her to desire life over death.
Emboldened Hoggle soundly knocked on the door. A minute passed before an audible click was heard. Then the door soundlessly pulled in, revealing a staircase spiraling down into inky blackness.
"In fer a penny, in fer a pound," he murmured as he stepped beyond the doorframe and into completely unknown territory.
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A/N: I'm sorry for the delay everyone. I will endeavor to write more but right now I can barely keep my eyes open. Thank you for reading. (Falls asleep on the keyboard and dreams of the labyrinth) Zzzzzzzzzz.