Oh my gosh, Oh my gosh, Oh my gosh you guys! THANK YOU FOR THE REVIEWS! OnePercent, your comments made my day. Seriously, thank you for reviewing every single chapter, lol! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! And, honestly, you're the reason I worked to get this chapter out. I usually like to wait to post a chapter after getting 5 reviews. Basically 5 reviews per chapter. But this time I thought "to heck with it" and I posted two chapters in a row and then you gave me 9 reviews! mayfire21 gave me the 10th, so I got the desired reviews! This one's for you kid ;) And thank you mayfire21! I'm glad you liked it, and I'm glad you reviewed!

Ok, is everyone on their toes yet? On with the show! Don't forget to let me know what you think about where the story's headed.

disclaimer: Not mine. We've been over this.

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Chapter 10: What's in a Name?

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Sarah slouched in her seat nervously, arms folded. She and the whole high school were gathered in the semi-dark auditorium, listening to an emergency assembly that was called the next afternoon. Stacey's mom, Mayor Green, had set it up to answer any questions or rumors about what had happened to Dan. The mayor was speaking behind a lectern on the stage. Her grey suit was professional and contrasted against the deep red of the theater curtains that were hanging as the backdrop. Her blonde hair, cut in a 'round bob' style, framed her face nicely but her normally award-winning 'Mayor' smile was absent as she gazed at all the students in concern.

"...And I want to assure everyone that the doctors and staff at Westchester Medical are watching over Mr. Pierce." She said, frowning slightly, "But just as important as his well-being is all of yours. So I want you all to know that whatever you're feeling right now is normal, and it's ok."

I highly doubt that. Sarah sighed tiredly, sinking even further into the burgundy-red auditorium seats. There was nothing "normal" about what she'd been going through...what ANY of her friends have been going through. This is out of our league... she thought, somewhat in despair.

Sarah could hear Cody and Jocelyn snicker from the row behind her. "What if I feel bored and hungry?" Cody complained.

"That is normal and it's ok." Jocelyn giggled back.

Sarah ignored them. All she could think about was what happened last night. Over and over, her mind was pulled back to the image of a moon shining brightly above a clearing with a strange tree stump in the center. Dan's steel grip was on her shirt, holding her face to his, whispering, "You shouldn't have come...now he can leave!"

Sarah shuddered. Dan. Poor Dan. What else could I have done? Sarah crossed her legs and began tapping her foot anxiously.

She sighed again, rubbing her tired eyes...wanting to sleep more than anything else. When she opened them, she was shocked to notice words carved into the arm of her chair.

...'Dan was here'...?

Suddenly, a memory shook loose. She thought back to another assembly about a year or so ago...

She remembered Dan sitting in the very seat she was sitting in, fidgeting with his car keys while the two of them talked.

"Dan," Sarah had said, looking worriedly over at him "Have you been thinking about...what happened? Back when we were kids?"

"What? No.", He looked over at her, surprised and...fearful? Then he glanced away, and backtracked slightly, "I-I mean, I think about it sometimes, not like all the time or anything but..." he looked back at Sarah, "...why? Do you?"

She remembered him lifting up a single car key to the chair arm. Silver teeth biting into the red paint…

Sarah came back to the present assembly, and shook her head, sadly. Some friend I am. I guess that was the last time he and I really talked.

Mayor Green was still talking about Dan and safety procedures so Sarah leaned back and rested her eyes, thinking back through the whole conversation and trying to pick up any clues. Why did he go into the woods?

...

It was November, a little before Thanksgiving break, at an optional assembly on performing community service. Sarah had showed up early just to see what was up. Most of the seats were empty but...there was only one seat she wanted...

"Hey Dan." She smiled at him.

He looked up at Sarah in surprise, "Sarah? What are you doing here?"

"Oh, you know...just doing my 'civic duty'." She winked at him and then sat down.

"Ha. You sound like Luke." He nodded towards Luke's head on the front row, who was listening with rapt attention.

Sarah snorted in amusement and shrugged, "Ok, you caught me. Drama club is taking place right after and some of the freshmen wanted tips, so why not you know?"

He nodded understandingly.

"So what about you? Why are you here?" Sarah looked at him. He looked like always; like he was about to go to the gym and lift weights for football or gym. He had a messy fringe hairstyle, and was sporting his normal blue hoodie with a white shirt peeking up underneath. Baggy gym shorts and Nike shoes to finish.

"Oh, uh, my dad said I should check it out. He said community service looks good on college applications. Or whatever."

He looked super nervous for some reason, looking at Sarah then glancing away. He fidgeted with his car keys.

He looks bothered by something. Sarah tried to put him at ease. "So, how's football?"

"Yeah, I mean, football is...whatever." He focused really hard on his keys.

"Not good?" She worried.

"Huh? No, it's fine. I mean, it's a lot of pressure sometimes, and maybe I'm not crazy about that..."

"But...?" She tried to figure out what was wrong. He is acting different...

"But what?" He looked surprised at Sarah.

"But you do LIKE it don't you?" She asked, a little exasperated if she was being honest.

"Oh, uh, yeah. Right. Of course."

Well, THAT'S reassuring. She was this close to ordering him to tell her what was on his mind. Dan flipped his car keys. He raised one to the red wooden arm of the chair and began scratching at the paint. Sarah blinked at the apparent vandalism, wanting to stop him but not saying anything as she stared at him.

"Is everything ok?" She asked gently.

"What? Oh yeah. I'm good. I just, um...kinda tired I guess. Today. And lately."

"Well, good thing Thanksgiving break is coming up, Huh?" She grinned at him and that seemed to do the trick.

"Oof, tell me about it!" His scoffed and his face transformed into a relieved smile. Hmmm, better keep on this topic then...

"Got any plans?" she asked.

"Yeah, my family's going out to my uncle's cabin out in the sticks."

"A cabin out in the middle of nowhere? That sounds.." Creepy? "...Fun! You'll have a blast!" She said, excited for him.

He smiled brightly again, "Yeah, totally. It's fun every now and then. I can get away from people and just...be by myself. Though it can get a little weird sometimes..." Dan said, trailing off. Dan and Sarah both shared a love for the woods but Sarah didn't go into them anymore...she couldn't risk it.

"How do you mean?" She was curious to hear what he'd say. Could we both be thinking about...?

"Well, all those trees and shadows and all that. Sometimes they remind me of..."

He trailed off. Sarah realized what he was trying to say. Yup. Same page here.

Dan coughed, trying to ease the tension that had come over both his and Sarah's bodies.

"...uh, you know. Stuff." He said.

"Yeah. Stuff." Sarah agreed simply. She guessed this wasn't the best topic after all.

Dan held her gaze for a moment before his eyes flitted away. He refocused his effort into carving his key in the chair's arm. Sarah realized that he was carving his name.

Sarah wasn't like Emily or Stacey when it came to interrogating with "finesse". She'd never really been a patient person. She was afraid of being afraid, you could say. She ran onto the metaphoric battlefield with her sword drawn out, waving it wildly like a maniac. She faced her trials head on like a bull, somehow believing that if she faced them for the most part; they would be more afraid of her than she of them. She needed to work on that though, as she well knew. It was a good thing in many cases, but other times you needed to be cautious and more intuitive. But it was her nature, so she decided to just come right out and say it, hoping to help.

"Dan, have you been thinking about...what happened with Jess? Back when we were kids?"

"What? No.", He looked over at her, surprised and...fearful? Then he glanced away, and backtracked slightly, "I-I mean, I think about it sometimes, not like all the time or anything but..." he looked back at Sarah, "...why? Do you?"

Sarah sighed. What should she say? That at least 2 minutes of everyday she thought of Jessica? In a way she was always with her, like a bad habit.

"I...I try not to." Sarah said, sadly, "It's not healthy to dwell."

Dan nodded sadly. "I know what you mean. But it's hard not to sometimes, you know?" He continued, "It's like this...cloud that follows you around. "

She bit her lip and nodded. Yes, I do know.

"Uh, do you remember...", Dan's face turned hard and he scratched deeper into the wood the word 'was'. "Do you remember that thing we made up? In the woods? The... the Goblin King?"

The breath caught in her throat. She didn't feel like being a bull anymore. She felt like being a timid, scared rabbit.

"S-sort of..."

"Let me ask you something." Dan's question came out fast and fully-formed, like a question he'd been holding in a long time. "Do you, um, do you remember how we came up with that? 'Cause it's really weird and specific for a bunch of kids, right? Like, did we take it from a movie or something?"

There was a glint of something in Dan's eyes. Something hopeful. Terrified. Desperate.

"The name 'Goblin King'? Uhhh.. ..." Sarah scrambled. "...I think we made it up Dan. I think Jess and I saw it written somewhere." Sarah shifted uncomfortably, not liking to hide the truth. But not willing to risk anything either.

The Goblin King was Jareth's 'title'. Not his name. And it was the name he had asked the girls to introduce him to their friends. He had said that his personal name was for Jess and Sarah's use only and that it held great power. At that time, it made Jess and her feel special to have a secret between just them three.

And now? Now, it was Sarah's burden to bear alone.

Dan breathed a sigh of what seemed like relief...or was it disappointment?

The silence between the two of them hung heavy.

"Dan, you know if you ever want to talk..." Sarah placed her hand lovingly on his arm, wanting to be close to him.

He jerked away as if burned. He gave a nervous laugh and looked a little upset, "Wow, hey, I'm not- I don't want you to think I'm some sort of-I'm fine!"

"Ok." Sarah drew her hand back to her, feeling a little rejected.

"Seriously." He reaffirmed.

"Okay, Dan. I'm sorry." She said again, embarrassed, wishing she could take it back. She didn't want to make him feel weak. She just wanted...

Dan fidgeted in his seat, clearly uncomfortable.

"I, uh...y'know, I think maybe this whole community service thing isn't for me after all. I'm just gonna go."

Sarah didn't trust herself to speak, so she didn't say anything. She stared straight ahead and he rose to leave...then hesitated.

"But, um..."

Sarah glanced up at him, curious.

"Thanks Sarah, I appreciate it." He nodded sincerely. Sarah felt...hurt...and angry. Selfish. But she nodded at him and did her best to smile back. If Dan just wanted to be friends...they could just be friends, right? No problem...

Dan walked up the aisle and out the auditorium doors...leaving nothing but words in the paint….

'Dan was here'...

Sarah flinched as she felt a wet wad of paper hit the back of her neck, bringing her out of the memory and back to the present. She turned and glared behind her at Cody who was just grinning unrepentant at her. Idiot. I wish he'd... She shook her head in anger and turned back to face the front. Sarah sighed, thinking of Dan and their conversation again. I did all I could. Dan just wouldn't let me in.

Mayor Green was starting to wrap up and soon they would all go home. Except Sarah wasn't ready to go home. Maybe she could crash at MJ's again tonight? After what had happened in the woods with Dan, there had been no way in hell or heaven that she was going to stay at her house ALONE. So MJ had asked her Dad who, while upset that it was a school night, miraculously said yes.

"…and now we'll turn things over to your school president, Luke Thomas, with a very important message on wildlife safety." Mayor Green wrapped up. She turned and smiled at Luke who was standing off to the side of the stage in the shadows, a notebook in his hand.

"Psst. Sarah! Over here!"

Sarah looked around confused, and she sat up to see who was calling her. She turned her head and spotted Taylor nearby sitting with Emily, MJ, and Stacey. They waved her over as Luke took the stage.

"What's up Westchester High?" He flashed a charming smile over the podium, causing a few girls to twitter to themselves, "Ok, we'll make this quick. The Sheriff's office have received some reports of bear sightings in town over the last few days! So today we're going to talk about a few bear essential steps you can take to avoid a grizzly surprise!"

Sarah inwardly rolled her eyes at his bear puns as she stood up and crept across the semi-dark auditorium to join the others.

"I don't know guys, this sounds important. Maybe we should listen." Emily's whisper reached Sarah's ears as she sat herself in the empty chair next to them.

"Emily, c'mon, we've heard this speech every year since first grade." Stacey rolled her eyes.

"Besides, we have more important stuff to talk about. Like what when down last night." Taylor agreed. Looked like he and Stacey weren't at each other's throats anymore. Probably because Taylor had been right and they HAD found Dan.

"Ugh, last night was a blur. I barely remember even getting home." MJ groaned, rubbing her eyes. She was as tired as Sarah. They had both stayed up, sleeping on the living room floor in sleeping bags and hadn't slept at all. Whispering worriedly to each other until the sun rose, chasing the shadows away.

"What did you tell the cops?" Taylor asked her.

"Just enough. They wouldn't have believed the full story anyways. " MJ shrugged, playing with a silver ring in one of her maroon dreads.

"Yeah, me too. They seemed super suspicious but let it go. " He sighed and put his head into his hands, his signature beanie never fell off, "I barely slept after I got home. And I had nightmares all night about fuzzy red body parts and being lost in the woods for hours. What happened out there was...freakin' scary man."

Sarah nodded tiredly but tried to cheer him up. "Hey, we handled it like pros." She gave him a light punch on the shoulder, grinning jokingly.

"Yeah, maybe you did. I was scared out of my mind!" Taylor gave a grim smile.

"Could have fooled me." Sarah muttered, thinking back to how brave Taylor and Sean and MJ were the other night.

He scoffed at that, but seemed cheered up, "Well, anyways, we filled these guys in on what happened." He nodded towards Emily and Stacey.

"I still can't believe those creepy firey things." MJ shook her head.

"They sound horrible..." Emily murmured, hugging herself.

MJ looked taken aback, " What? No, they were awesome! Besides trying to rip our faces off."

Sarah rolled her eyes at MJ. Technically they hadn't even tried. Sarah asked the group, " What about Luke?"

"Sean texted him. He knows." Taylor nodded.

"I still can't believe you guys were actually right." Stacey toyed nervously with her blonde hair, looking ashamed of herself for yesterday,.

"Hang on, we need to get that on tape." MJ grinned widely at Stacey's chagrin.

"So…what happens now?" Emily timidly spoke up, looking around at us curiously.

"What do you mean?" Stacey looked worriedly down at Emily, "They found Dan, so…everything's over now. Right?"

"Those Firey that we encountered…they work for the Goblin King. They're like his puppets." Sarah mused, thinking about the way they had acted. Herding them and toying with them.

Stacey became distressed. "What? He couldn't kill Dan on his own? He had to send his pets to do it?"

Sarah leaned into the comfy seat and pondered out loud, "I don't think they were trying to kill Dan. At least not mainly…"

Taylor spoke up, "How do you figure that?"

"Well, think about it….Dan was helpless out there. They could have killed him easily, and he went missing the night BEFORE we went looking for him. They had plenty of time. But it was more like they wanted to…take him somewhere. Or….to use him as bait." Sarah swallowed at that last part.

MJ and Taylor looked at each other worriedly. Sarah had indeed told them what Dan had said. Right before they were all pulled aside by the police and questioned individually about what happened. Sarah remembered the flashing red and blue lights coloring the trees and bushes as the police cars and ambulance had shown up after MJ had made the call to her dad. They had had to carry Dan's body out of the forest to the nearest road. Sarah was surprised that the Goblin King hadn't shown up to stop them. They had made it out of the woods with barely a scratch. She hadn't felt any safer though. Throughout the police's questioning she had been trembling as she constantly glanced at the woods. Searching for any sign of Jareth coming to cart her away.

"Bait?! For us?" Emily asked, tearful.

Darn it. Shouldn't have said anything.

"Don't worry Emily, don't worry, they stopped the Goblin King from getting Dan." Stacey soothed Emily, rubbing her back.

I hate to pour salt on the wound buuuuuuut… "Which means he'll be back guys." Sarah grimaced. She let it sink in, "Whatever the Goblin King wants….I think he was just getting warmed up."

Emily let out a moan and put her hands on her face. Stacey bit her lip and looked down. Taylor's gaze turned forlorn and MJ looked away from the group to stare at the wall.

Sarah thought back to her conversation with Dan, looking for a clue as to why he would seek Jareth out.

"Hey…can I ask you guys something? When was the last time each of you talked to Dan?" Sarah called the group's attention back to her.

It was MJ's turn to look chagrined, "Oh jeez…years. "

"I don't know." Emily murmured sadly, shaking her head.

"A couple years, maybe?" Taylor also looked embarrassed.

"The last day of school. Just before summer vacation." Stacey stated proudly.

Now we're getting somewhere! Sarah turned to Stacey, "Did he seem…distracted? Did he bring up what happened when we were kids? Did he ask you about the Goblin King?"

Stacey thought hard, "I don't remember…. I think we mostly talked about our plans for the summer." Suddenly she gasped, "But now that you mention it, he did seem kind of…evasive?"

"Sarah? Why are you bringing this up?" Taylor asked.

"I've just been thinking about a conversation that he and I had about a year ago..." Sarah's eyebrows furrowed together, "I'm wondering if maybe he was stuck on what happened when we were kids. Trying to make sense of it. And maybe..."

"...he went back into the woods by choice." Taylor's lips pressed into a thinner line than usual.

Sarah nodded soberly.

MJ spoke up, "Well, there's only one way we'll find out for sure."

"What?" Stacey asked, curious.

MJ looked at the group like they were stupid, "Uh, we go to the hospital and ask him? Duh?"

The group nodded in agreement.

The three o'clock bell rang as Luke finished up his bear speech, "So remember...'be beary careful!'"

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So! Large chapter huh? I hope you enjoyed it! Questions? Comments? Leave a review! 5 more reviews and the next chapter is yours! Toodles!