Chapter 2 ladies and gents. Still no mature themes but they are coming, I promise.
Reviews are welcomed and encouraged. Please be polite and constructive in your criticisms, I appreciate the support I get from my readers and from the reviews.
Another short chapter but no worrying, the story is not to be rushed.
Thank you again, NovaNights xx
USUAL DISCLAIMER; BLAH BLAH LABYRINTH ISN'T MINE AND I DO NOT BENEFIT OR PROFIT FROM CREATING THIS.
Chapter 2; Sweet Dreams are Made of This
Sarah was dreaming of being back down by the lake near her childhood home, she had not visited the lake since before her visit to the Underground, and even though she was aware this was all a dream she felt peace and tranquillity here. "A time before him?" she laughed, was there ever really such a time? She remembered how she would run circles around the fields in silk costume dresses, adorned with plastic tiaras and flower crowns where she would mutter 'You have no power over me' a thousand times wishing it were real. "Pathetic really" she told herself as she yearned for that innocence back.
She sat atop the hill watching the water atop the lake ripple as swans landed, a pair, and as swans do they were mated for life. Sarah ached for that type of commitment, not that it had ever come and nor would she believe It could.
"I could stay here forever. Lord knows that I wish I could." She sighed, her longing for this peace to be eternal was evident in her tone.
"Didn't anyone ever tell you to be careful what you wish for?" Came a voice from beyond, Sarah couldn't help but shriek, her peace taken from her. Turning she saw no one, only a small barn owl perched upon a mosey stone, it regarded her with wonder.
"You're a pretty little owl aren't you? I must be mad shrieking at my own conscious" She laughed, shrugging the voice off as her own creation, scolding her in her sleep. There was something familiar about that voice, something so thrilling. She just didn't know what.
"Apparently little owl, my mind can no longer fragment the things it used to" Pointing out towards the town, Sarah continued "I used to stay here for hours until the street lamps lit up and enact out wonderful stories. I was a brave princess, ensnared by a cunning evil king, enforced to run his Labyrinth for the freedom of me and mine. And with a few words I would always be victorious" She smiled to herself, watching as the sunset just as it used to.
"And now the brave princess refuses to accept an invitation to see the same cunning evil king she defeated? Ironic isn't it, my little Victor?"
Sarah froze. That voice. There was no mistaking it, it most certainly could not have been her own imagination twice. Turning slowly Sarah faced the man she feared most, the man who she had long told herself was just a fairy-tale.
There he was, Jareth the Goblin King, looking as fearsome and as magnificent as he had all those years ago. She was stunned, he had not changed. No wrinkles, no signs of age or wear marred his beautiful face. His clothing still intimidating and flared – as well as absurdly tight.
"You're not here. You're not real." Was all she could say, raising her hand to her opposing arm she pinched herself in the hopes she might wake up. It was to no avail, for whatever reason she had to assume she wanted to confront him, why else would she fabricate him to visit her in her safe place? Perhaps to show she was not scared? Perhaps to show she had moved past the labyrinth? As she questioned the betrayal of her subconscious, Jareth watched her with the same curiosity that owl had.
"You were the owl?!" She blurted. Nice one Sarah she chastised herself knowing that it was her dream and that's not a question he could really answer when she imagined it. His eyebrow quirked as Jareth watched her face processing its emotions. He could tell she was struggling to differentiate between this and what reality might be, it was a common reaction he experienced from those whose dreams he visited.
"Say something" Sarah demanded, she could feel her tension rising, her safe place was now tainted and she wanted answers, Jareth straightened up obviously amused by her frustration, but he made no effort to follow her orders. "Are you mute or deaf? This is my dream, I created you and I don't understand why" Jareth was shocked by her answer, not that he dare show it. He presumed she was frustrated because he had flustered her. But this could work to his advantage, playing as her conscious meant he could easily influence her attendance to his ball, he only had to act carefully.
"You have lost hope" Was all he spoke. It was all he needed to say for Sarah to shrivel, the lake became dark as her mood shifted affecting her dream state. The last thing Jareth needed was to be caught in a nightmare.
"You're right. I have. My influence for all my writing came from The Labyrinth, my time Underground touched my soul, it breathed new life into me. Thanks to The Labyrinth my imagination was fuelled and I was able to write about such wonderful and beautiful creatures. And for the past five years I've milked my imagination dry desperately trying to sustain my success since I published 'Touched by Magic'. But that doesn't explain you, it doesn't explain why I would need nor want your help."
"Because I am your salvation. I can take you back to the Labyrinth, where you can be inspired. All you need to do is accept the invitation" Jareth remained calm despite feeling his excitement grow, she was listening to him, vulnerable to accept what he said was true. After all, in her mind, Jareth was her own creation.
"I have no choice, do I? My home, My Career, and everything I have built hangs in the balance here." Sarah tore her eyes away from Jareth's turning back to look at the lake, Jareth took the opportunity to walk behind her, maintaining a small distance so not to alert her suspicions. In his head he was somersaulting, she was admitting her defeat.
"There is always a choice, Sarah. What could possibly be stopping you from facing me in real life?"
The silence between the two foes stretched for what felt like a lifetime before Sarah gave her answer, Jareth was anticipating his fiery opponent to catch on, for her to realise it was really him, he waiting with baited breath, and then came a reply he could never have prepared for, an omission darker than Sarah knew.
"I fear you... Jareth".