Sarah woke up to a wet nose nudging her cheek gently. Samson whimper as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Realizing that he probably need to go out, she climbed from beneath the blankets and slipped into her jacket. A glance at the clock told her what she had already figured - it wasn't quite morning yet.
Easing the door open as softly as she could, she lead the way to the back door. She was caught by a gust of cold air as soon as she opened the door. Samson rushed past her, eager to relieve himself. Standing on the back porch, she kept her eye on him as he roamed the yard searching for the perfect spot.
At least it isn't raining anymore. She thought thankfully. Her mind slowly drifted back to the dream and she wondered what her subconscious mind had been trying to tell her. As she recalled the conversation she'd had with the Goblin King, she suddenly realized that it seemed unlike the conversation in the book.
Samson came to her, hair raised slightly while he growled under his breath. Glancing around, she caught sight of a lone figure on the outskirts of their backyard. As the figure came closer she recognized the strange man from the night before...and the Goblin King from her dream. Her cheeks heated and she was grateful that it was so early in the morning.
"Hello again, my dear." The man said quietly. "Are you always up at this hour?"
"No, Samson woke me up. He needed to come outside." She felt a blush creeping up her neck as he studied her with those ever inquisitive eyes. "Are you always up this early?" She asked quickly as a way to fill the silence and to distract herself for his questioning eyes.
"No, I couldn't sleep and I thought the night air would do me good." He glanced at the moon for a moment before scrutinizing her face again. "You look worried, is anything the matter?"
Sarah absent-mindedly patted Samson, who was no longer growling but still had raised hair. "I...I'm not really sure." She stated carefully."I just had a scare last night and then I was having really bad dreams, which is unusual for me." The man's eyebrows knit in concern. "Well, that doesn't sound good. Maybe you'll get better sleep now after clearing your head." He suggested. "I better be off and let you get your rest. I'll see you again soon."
A chilly breeze passed as the man started back the way he had come. Sarah watched until she could no longer see him before heading back into the house. As she passed the front room, she glanced in and saw Labyrinth illuminated by the moonlight streaming in the window. Scooping it up, she followed Samson up the stairs.
Closing the door tightly behind her, she slipped out of her jacket and hung it over the vanity chair. Setting the book on the vanity, she settled into bed, Samson snuggling up next to her. She attempted to relax and fall asleep but curiosity got the better of her. She sat up and set her pillows against the wall, leaning back as she reached for the book.
Thumbing through to the page where she left off, she began reading. "For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom is as great..." Once again, she was captivated by the story and read quickly, knowing that there were only a few pages left. As she turned the page, she stared in shock. The last few pages had been ripped out!
Who would do something like that? She wondered as her fingers gingerly touched the torn edges. And why didn't I notice that before? Disappointment flood her as she placed the book back on the vanity and replaced her pillows. Sarah watched the filtered moonlight dance through the curtains. I wonder what did happen between that girl and the Goblin King...did she ever get her brother back? Yawning, she rolled over closer to Samson, running her fingers through his dark, soft fur. "One thing I know for sure, I'd never wish Michael away and if I did, I'd get him back." She whispered to the sleeping dog.