I know things are getting a little bizarre, just work with me here.
Enjoy.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o
It is around 2 a.m. The long and narrow halls of this quiet hospital echos in vocal whispers and beeps of machinery. Sarah paces these hallowed halls as she struggles to maintain her composure. She is being driven mad by the disappearance of Jareth and Francesca. Is she injured? Is she alive? Is he okay? Sarah knows that they just have to be here somewhere.
He has to be.
Keeping a low profile, she believes that she is now being watched by various employees due to her erratic behavior on Toby's room. She doesn't want to draw any more attention to herself, so she stays calm and collected, yet vigorously determined to find out what the hell is going on. Keeping quiet, she slowly and respectfully opens one patient door after another to try to find Francesca and her uncle. About two thirds of the room had patients in them, and all of the visitors take notice of the odd woman randomly peeking through their private doors. A couple of visitors even shooed her out and used ugly words in the process to get her to stay out. She loses count of how many times she recycles her apology.
It takes her some time, but after about half an hour, she had opened every hospital room on Toby's floor. Much to her dismay, all she has found is more trouble for herself. But she refuses to give up, and makes her way to the nurses station at the center of this floor. They notice who she is right away, and immediately warns her. They tell her that if she bothers one more patient, they will be forced to tell security to remove her from the premises.
This warning sinks in. Standing there, she looks down to see her hands shaking. Blinking, she feels almost as if she is just waking up from a frantic sleepwalk, but she has been awake this whole time. Did she really just go through every room to look for Francesca and Jareth? It was as if she had lost complete control, like her mind was acting out of her own volition. She shakes her head, not knowing all of what is going on within her head as she tries to choke back her tears due to her ridiculous behavior. She apologizes immensely and says she is on her way back to her brothers room. But before she goes she asks, very politely, if there is a way that we can gather the police report of her brothers wreck.
The nurses are now a little weary of this visitor and her digging for information. They do not answer her and instead pages Toby's doctor to come at her earliest convenience. Sarah insists that, that is not necessary, and they tell her that they recommend that she return to her room. She wonders why she can't see what the police had to say about Toby's wreck, and they simply reply saying that it could take days or even weeks for a police report to be finalized for the public, and that includes family. She will not be able to see a police report for a while, much less tonight.
Absolutely defeated, Sarah officially gives up, walks back towards her little brother's room, and starts to cry, be it out of stress or desperation, she doesn't really know.
"Sarah?" a man's voice suddenly calls from the end of the hall.
Sarah's eyes pop open as she twirls to see her father and her stepmother run to her with a big hug. She lets a much needed breath out, as if she had been holding it in all night. Her tears do not subside as she hugs her stepmother as tightly as she can. Holding both parents, she escorts them both to the room, expecting to see the doctor soon, so they can get the correct information that consists of the happenings of their son.
Walking into the room, it takes no time for Karen to release her tears as both she and Robert run to the aid of their youngest unconscious child. Karen brushes his cheek as Robert keeps a protective hand on the boy's stomach. They ask Sarah what the doctor said, and she can only reply with the part that she knows is true- he's in a coma.
That causes Karen to cry uncontrollably as she hugs her baby's face. Sarah tells them that there is more, but she would prefer to wait until the doctor returns to tell them in full.
After some time of sad silence, Karen sits on Robert's lap as they share the one chair that is is offered in the room and Sarah can be found sitting on the floor next to her best friend. Looking up to her parents, she asks a question that has been plaguing her mind since they arrived.
"Karen?"
"Hm."
Sarah looks down at her hands, one bandaged, the other dirty. She twiddles them together, "Last night... as Toby and I were leaving for the prom... Do you remember who he and I... went with?" Sarah's voice barely speaks above a whisper.
Karen sighs a heavy sigh, "I don't know honey." She sounds irritated with the question, "That's not really at the forefront of my thinking right now."
Refusing to look up, Sarah drops the subject.
"But..." Karen suddenly continues, "I don't remember seeing you in a dress." She slowly adds. "You don't really wear dresses, do you?"
Sarah looks up at her stepmother with tears in her eyes. "For special occasions I do," she tries to smile, "pantsuits and suitcases kind of get boring after a while."
"I'm sorry if I overlooked it, dear." Karen looks down. Sarah's brow furrow at the comment. Karen didn't overlook the dress. She praised Sarah for it earlier in the evening. She even made fun of her love of pantsuits in the process. "I suppose there is a lot that I overlook."
"What do you mean?" Sarah asks.
Karen's reply is weary upon question. "If I took time... If I listened... If I paid more attention, I... I would know that there is something wrong with Toby-"
"Huh?" Sarah becomes confused.
"Why else would he drive his car into a tree?" Karen asks, tears billowing. "Why else would he try to-to..." She can't bear to finish.
"Wait-Karen no! There was nothing wrong with him. He didn't try to... He-it-"
"Sarah," Karen looks to her stepdaughter, "am I a bad mother?" Karen's tears fall and fall.
"Karen." Robert's voice drops low as he pulls her close.
"Absolutely not. How dare you think that about yourself." Sarah, still on her knees, shuffles to Karen's lap. She looks up to the woman who has raised her for over half of her lifetime as she squeezes her hand tightly. "You are a wonderful mother. You did nothing wrong, do you hear me?" Sarah looks into Karen's eyes to make sure she understands. "You did nothing wrong." She strokes her stepmother's hand. "It was an accident. There is another reason for what happened here tonight." Sarah stands up. "And I plan to find out what it was." Sarah tries to let go to Karen's hand.
But Karen keeps a firm hold of Sarah.
"Sarah," Karen looks down to the hand she holds, "what happened to your hand?" She points her gaze to the hand wrapped in bandages.
Sarah makes a note of this. Hadn't Sarah already explained the incident to Karen as she was getting ready for prom? Did she? Sarah is sure that she did. Did Karen forget? Karen never forgets anything. Shakes her head in dismissal. "It was just a little accident at the pub."
'Wait.'
"Oh, you know that I hate it when you go there." Karen tisks at her stepdaughter, "You need to be more careful. Did you sanitize it correctly? Did you use alcohol and clean gauze? I don't trust any kind of medical equipment from some bar-"
"Hello?" The door suddenly opens.
Everyone grows silent as they see Dr. Harpor enter into the room. Robert and Karen stand with respect, ready to shake hands and say their hello's.
"Are you Dr. Harpor?" Robert asks shaking her hand.
"You must be Toby's parents." She complies with a strong handshake of her own. "I'm am sorry for all that has happened with your son."
"Sarah only gave us little information. She said you could fill in the blanks."
"Yes, but before I can get to that," she says turning to Sarah, "I must ask your daughter to leave for the night."
"Why?" Karen becomes protective of her stepdaughter.
"I didn't do anything-"
"Ms. Sarah, due to your behavior of barging in on numerous patient rooms uninvited, and lashing out on my nurses, it is clear that you are not of sound mind, and rightfully so. I must ask that you leave and go get some proper rest."
"I'm fine."
"I agree with the doctor, Sar." Sheena cuts in.
"So do we." Karen says staying close to her husband.
"You have been here for a long time. We can take things from here, honey." Robert adds. "You need sleep."
Sheena suddenly grabs her friend's hand. "Come on Sarah. I'll take you home."
"No, I can't leave Toby." Sarah pulls away from Sheena. "I refuse to leave him. He is my responsibility."
"Please do not force my hand, Ms. Sarah." Dr. Harpor says as she puts a caring hand on the girl. "After some much needed sleep, you may return. Tomorrow, I will allow you in with but one warning to behave yourself." she smiles, regardless of her actions. She knows that Sarah is just very concerned and doesn't hold this against her. "Go home."
"Go home, honey."
Sarah looks to her parents with an obvious look of not wanting to go anywhere. She looks to Sheena to try to get her to back her up on this, but Sarah has run out of luck.
"Let's go back to your house and we can have a glass of wine to calm your nerves. I think we could both use a drink." Sheena says trying to smile for her sad friend.
'A drink?'
Sarah takes a deep breath and releases with a loud sigh and a nod. "Okay, okay. I agree. I need to get out of here."
"Good. I'm glad we have that settled. I will go ahead and supply some blankets and pillows for Mr. and Mrs. Williams. And when I return, I will tell you everything you need to know about Toby." Dr. Harpor politely bows before leaving the room.
Sarah knows what she has to do. She knows where she needs to go. Not knowing on how long it will take for her to return, she lunges at her parents in a hug. "I love you guys, and I'm sorry."
"Don't you worry about a thing." Karen says hugging her back.
"I will call you if something happens. You have my word." Robert adds as he holds his daughter's cheek. They eventually friends finish their goodbyes before the girls walk out into the hall and into the elevator to leave for the night.
"Do you want me to stay over tonight? I would be more than happy to keep you company. I wouldn't want you being alone." Sheena asks as they exit the elevators and into the entrance of the hospital.
"Before I go home, can we go to Al's?"
"Wine just won't cut it tonight, huh?" Sheena asks with a chuckle.
Sarah manages to smile for the first time this morning. "I would just like to catch him up on what is going on. I want all my friend's in the loop."
"I don't want you turning into some drunk looking for answers at the bottom of a pint glass. I mean... it's already 2:30 in the morning."
"The quicker we get there, the quicker you get me home. He doesn't close until 4." Sarah doesn't want to argue.
"O-kay," Sheena warily agrees. "To Al's we go."
O.o
The bell that hangs on the door of the bar rings for everyone in the pub to know that someone has arrived. The few people that sit around in various areas stare blankly towards the door for a moment before going back to whatever they had been doing. Sarah scans around for their friend Al to be around, but he isn't to be seen anywhere in the room. The ladies make their way to the bar to sit and order a drink, but the person behind the bar isn't Al. There is another man with dark skin and a lovely smile as he turns to see the lovely ladies sitting within his vision.
"Hello ladies, how can I help you on this lovely morning?" He leans up against the bar to hear their order.
"I would like to have a gin and tonic." Sheena is quick to answer the handsome man.
"I would like to see Al please." Sarah's request is just as quick.
The make-shift bartender pauses in his movements at Al's name. "A gin and tonic I can do, but Al isn't available right now, my dear. I'm sorry." He says as he starts to make Sheena's drink. "Is there something I can make for you instead? I can make anything... and more." He finishes with a friendly smile.
"Thank you but I'd rather wait." Sarah's friendly smile is equally matched. "I can be patient. Do you know when he will be available?"
The gentleman's smile falters a bit. "I- I'm not really sure. He has been dealing with some personal matters. I have seen very little of him this evening." He whips up the gin and tonic in a mere few moments.
"Oh that's sad to hear." Sarah's smile lowers at the news. "I am going through something, as well, and I was hoping to talk to him about it. I really need to see him. Maybe he and I could help each other."
"Yeah, it's kind of something he should know." Sheena nods in agreement as she feels the condensation on her glass.
"I'm sorry to hear that," the gentleman's eyes are sympathetic. "but I can't guarantee that he will be out tonight. I am more than happy to make you a drink though, free of charge."
"That's very kind of you. I'll have a rum and coke." She smiles respectfully, not wanting to start anything with a stranger.
"Oh good," Sarah sees a new smile on his face. She sees just a hint of something in his aura, but only for a split second. It is the ever so slight look and feel of something sinister... Almost... impish...
He makes her drink up in only a few seconds and slides it to her. She smiles gratefully, but she feels a little off about this gentleman in her head.
"Please tell me what you think. I am eager to hear your thoughts." He sits and looks to her for approval, waiting for her to drink it.
An alarm immediately goes off in her head.
Looking to Sheena, Sarah sees that she is about to drink her gin. She slaps a hand next to her friend upon the bar, making Sheena jump a bit. "Sheena I have to go to the restroom."
Sheena slowly looks to Sarah with eyes bulging out of her head. Sarah gives her a knowing look wanting her to follow. Sheena's face isn't impressed with her sudden urge to leave. "Oh, I'll go with you." anyone can hear her lack of desire in her voice.
"Will you please watch our drinks for a moment, sir?" Sarah asks the bartender.
"Certainly. I'll make sure no one tampers with it." His smile is cheeky as the girls hastily walk away.
The girls dance around the bar stools and tables to get to the hall that sits another cart full of dirty dishes. Sarah almost bumps into the cart right before seeing it on the side of her vision. "Oh honestly..." Sarah rolls her eyes as she avoids the cart this time around and slides both her and Sheena though the bathroom door.
"Okay, what's wrong now?" Sheena pulls her hand away as they both enter in the ladies room.
"We need to see Al." Sarah replies as she starts to pace the room.
"You heard the man, Al is going through his own thing right now. Why not come back tomorrow or something?"
"I have a feeling that he might not be here tomorrow... I'm not even sure if he is here right now." Sarah looks into the mirror before punching the sink counter. "Damn it, Alister. You know something."
"Can we just drink our drinks so we can leave?" Sheena asks with an exhausted sigh. "I am tired, and I know you must be beyond exhausted."
"We can't drink those!" Sarah looks to her with a look of the obvious. "He did something to our drinks."
"Sarah what the hell are you talking about?"
"I think he is trying to keep me quiet."
"Keep you-?" something clicks inside Sheena's head. "Oh, don't tell me that this is about these people you wouldn't stop going on about." she hold's her head for an upcoming headache.
"I know I must sound crazy to you, Sheena. But you sound just as crazy to me."
"You know that this is one hell of an accusation to make on someone that we literally saw make our drinks right in front of us." Sheena crosses her arms in upcoming anger.
"I can't explain it, Sheena. There is just something very wrong here, and the only way to get to the bottom of it is to talk to Alister."
"Alister? I thought Al was short for Allen..." Sheena trails off.
Looking in the familiar restroom, Sarah looks at how rough she looks in the mirror. She sees the bags under her eyelids, blood veins shooting from the corners of her eyes, her hair in a messy bun, and a dirty dress that makes her look as if she had been trampled by a horse. She really does need to just go home and get some shut-eye.
Sighing, she shakes her head at her groggy state. Her head lingers low as she slowly paces the room to try to think. None of this can be her imagination. What all that has happened... How does everything just... disappear? How come no one remembers? Where did Jareth and Francesca go? Back to their home, maybe? Then why doesn't anyone remember?
She just can't wrap her exhausted head around it anymore. She deeply sighs as her eyes wander the room for one last scan before she leaves.
"Okay... Let's-" Just as she is about to open the door, something catches her eye.
In the trash can next to the door is a little bunch of broken glass of some kind. It's all in big chunks hinting to be some sort of china like a plate or a bowl. This clicks in her head like clockwork. She looks down at her bandaged hand, and a plan suddenly comes to her. She storms right on out into the hallway that houses the bathroom doors as well as the entrances of the other rooms in the building.
Sarah believes that this is the perfect place to make lots of noise.
Eyeballing the cart full of dishes, Sarah grows an evil smile as she slowly approaches the cart of dishes.
Sheena watches her, "Sarah-Sarah what are you doing?" Sarah rams into the cart. "Sarah no!"
Her brute force instantly knocks it over for the world to hear the ear-tingling shatter of all of the plates and cups. Sheena shields her ears as Sarah relishes in the sound as she eagerly awaits for the owner of the bar to show up for this masterful mess.
"Bloody hell!" The thick and familiar Irish voice is heard all throughout the bar. "Where the fuck do my shit employees escape from, the Central Park Zoo?!" more noises are heard as the angry voice makes their way to Sarah. "I swear to the Seven Gods above that if I hear this one more time the poison veins in my head are going to explode and destroy the lot 'a ya-"
"Al," Sarah says locking her eyes with him as soon as he steps in the hallway. He instantly freezes upon seeing her.
"Sarah?" His voice cracks in the slightest upon seeing her.
"It's good to see you." Sarah's smile says it all to him.
It takes him a moment to reply. "Sarah?" Al's eyes grow, almost in terror. "I didn't know you were here-"
"Oh you didn't?" She asks crossing her arms in disbelief.
"Are you alright?" he asks as he points to the mess on the floor.
"Oh, just peachy." She smiles. "I hear you're going through some stuff. I'm going through something too. Maybe we can help each other out."
He looks around at the people that surround the situation. "Of course, dearie. Let me just.. get this mess cleaned up and-"
"Now, Alister." Her voice grows dark. His heart drops at the sound of his name.
"Sarah, please."
"Alister, please."
He takes in a large breath before turning away his gaze from her. "Someone get his mess cleaned up." he turns, around. "I'll be in my office if you need me. So, don't need me." he walks away for Sarah to follow.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o
God, I hate filler chapters. But the story has to further itself somehow... So much is going on here. Things are bound to get more interesting.
See you soon!
I.L.C.