The day had passed slowly, dragging by until night fell. Sarah lay on the bed, mentally exhausted but unable to sleep. She got up, wandering downstairs.

Samson followed after her, whining quietly. "You need to go outside, boy?" She scratched his ear as she opened the door. Samson ran out, barking. Sarah rushed after him, grabbing for his collar. "Samson!" She hissed.

The dog stopped, standing still as he barked. She grabbed his collar, pulling him to the house when she heard a faint voice. "Sarah...Sarah!"

She pushed Samson inside and closed the door, turning around. There, in the pale moonlight, she could barely make out the form of a man. She stepped forward, trying to get a better look. "Jareth?"

Suddenly, he was gone. Shivering, she stepped forward to see where he'd gone and then she was standing in the middle of the castle. A started goblin shrieked and took off running. What on earth? How did I get back here?

Sarah looked around, studying the familiar maze of hallways. Which one was the right way back to the study? Shrugging, she chose the closest one and began walking.

She hoped that something would look familiar but nothing did. She came across a few goblins and they had all run away, never letting her get anywhere close to them.

Great, a dead end. She paused to look around - the smooth stone all looked exactly alike so she decided that going back would be her best option.

As she turned, she felt herself being grabbed and she froze. Jareth's arms held her tightly to his chest, his face nuzzled against her cheek. Sarah stood stock-still, unsure of how she should react.

"How did you get back?" His breath tickled her cheek. "I was so worried."

"I...I don't know." She stammered, unable to think. Jareth must have sensed her discomfort and released her, stepping away.

His eyes looked pained but before she could say anything, coldness settled over him. He turned away, dismissal coloring his voice. "Well, there is someone who-"

"Hoggle!" Sarah cried, rushing to grab the dwarf in a tight hug as soon as she saw him. He squirmed under Jareth's gaze, eyes widening as she kissed his cheek and squeezed him again.

Jareth narrowed his eyes as he watched her fuss over the dwarf excitedly, irritated at the clear display of affection. The dwarf cowered, pushing Sarah back. "It's good to see you, Sarah but, uh, I'm not sure how much time we have."

"You're right!" She exclaimed, standing up. "We need to figure out what's going on."

"Well, if you would tell us where you were, then maybe I might have an idea." Jareth stared at her pointedly.

"I was home." Those three simple words were like a stab to his heart but Sarah just continued, not even looking at him. "I was back in my room just as the sun was rising. And then tonight..."

Her nose crinkled slightly as she paused, trying to remember what the clock had said. "I think it was around midnight? But I could be wrong." She looked up at Jareth. His eyes were looking past her, thinking.

After a few moments, she looked to Hoggle who just shrugged. "Jareth?" She said quietly. His eyes turned back to her and he smiled slightly.

"One mystery solved, though I don't know if you're going to like the answer. It would seem that somehow you've gotten stuck in this curse too." He began to explain.

"Yes, I kinda figured that with the whole Sarah thing." She interrupted, irritated that he thought she didn't realize it.

"No, my sweet, not that curse. Or at least, not that part of the curse. You already defeated that." He clarified before continuing. "I'm talking about my curse, the one that prevents me from finding my perfect Sarah. It would seem that for the time being, every time the clock strikes midnight in your world, you will be transported to mine."

"But why? And how is that possible? I spent a whole day here and I was home before the night in my world was over?" Sarah looked at Hoggle, hoping that maybe he could shed some light but again, he shrugged.

"I know it's hard to understand but there is a book that might explain it better than I could." Jareth reached for her. "It's back in my study."

"No, I'm not going back there! I don't want to mess with anymore magic. I just want to go home." Tears gathered in her eyes as she backed away from him.

"That's precisely what I'm trying to do." He spoke softly, moving closer to her. "But I don't know exactly how to - not yet."

"You're lying! That's all you do! I can't believe I..." She turned around and started to walk away. Jareth followed her and she spun around, glaring at him. "I need to be alone right now, to think without you hovering around me."

He couldn't help but flinch at the tone of her voice and turned away from her. "Go." His voice was quiet and hollow but the flashing in his eyes caused Hoggle to cower further, wishing the walls would swallow him up.

Sarah hesitated for a moment, unsure. She looked at Jareth but he refused to acknowledge her so she continued on her way down the hall.

Hoggle himself was unsure what to do, standing in his corner - completely aware of Jareth but fully pretending that he wasn't. He was startled by Jareth's sudden movements as he whirled around and followed Sarah.

"Wait! I don't think -" But he had already disappeared from view. "Oh, damn. Why doesn't anyone ever listen to me???" He lamented as he jogged after them.

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Sarah stopped as she realized that she was now in the forest beyond the Goblin City. Now what have I done? Why did I panic and snap at Jareth like that? Guilt flooded her heart and she sank into the grass beside the pathway.

Calm reasoning had never been her best characteristic - if it was even one that she possessed. She scooted over, leaning back against one of the trees. It's not his fault, at least not entirely. He may have cast the curse but I chose to follow him back here.

She watched the sunlight filter through the trees, lighting up the dust specks and making them look like dancing sprites. She yawned involuntarily and her eyes grew heavy. I'm just so tired... And then she was asleep.

Two beady eyes peered from the trees, followed by another, then another until six pairs of eyes stood watching her. "Well, what do we do with her?" asked a very small goblin. He looked expectantly at the largest in their group, who simply smiled. "We take her."