So, here's the next chapter. Up pretty quickly, so that's good. Right? I don't know about you, but after reading through it again, I feel like it moves pretty fast. But, I won't be changing anything except spelling and grammar issues. The story is how it is, and I like it that way.
... Not much else to say at the moment. If you came this far, then I guess you liked the first chapter. Or you're hoping the second one is better. Either way, hope you like it!
I don't own Labyrinth or any other copyrighted things involved. -Disclaimers-
In the morning, neither he nor the creatures were anywhere in sight. Had it all been a dream? Just in like every new day, I questioned whether those creatures had ever existed to begin with. But, there was an indentation at the foot of my bed, with the comforter pulled back from the bed frame down below in just the space needed for one to rest their foot there comfortably.
I smiled and for the first time since before I could remember, I faced the new day with a full night's rest.
"How did you sleep, sweetheart?" Irene asked, and I looked up in surprise. But she was looking to Toby, who was bouncing up and down in his chair.
"Good! Good!" Toby waved a hand, and was quickly rewarded with cut-up waffle bits. I smiled to myself and looked down at my own plate.
"Sarah." Irene greeted me for the morning, setting down a glass of milk by my self-prepared plate. I smiled silently and looked back down at my plate. Dad was already at work when I woke, and Irene has never really liked me.
I wonder what she's scared of?
After breakfast, I gathered my backpack and went out to the bus stop; time to start another day in third grade.
As I prepared for bed, a familiar fear began to settle in my stomach. I turned the light out with a shaky hand, and looked around the floors for any sign of the creatures. I didn't linger too long, however. My eyes were already wet, clutched tightly shut as I made a sprint towards the bed. Arms stretched out so I knew when I was there, I flew across the floor...
...and into unfamiliar arms. The arms snaked around me, under my arms, before I could even think about resisting or calling for help. I was hoisted upwards, and then dropped back down onto the bed. I looked up quickly, fearfully, to meet the eyes of that same man. He nodded to me before looking towards the floor. Those creatures had returned, just starting to fill the floor.
"You are safe." He assured me, before standing and walking leisurely towards the foot of my bed once more. I didn't move, watching as he took his post there. I looked towards the creatures, who dared not to come too close, before allowing myself to relax.
"Are you going to be here every night?" I asked, no longer afraid of this man. He looked back to me, nodding silently. "Why?"
"To keep them," He gestured to the hissing creatures, "from bothering you. You made the wish, you should know best."
I bit my lip and slid under the covers. Dad always talked about stranger danger, but, there was definitely something different about this man. For instance, he wasn't there before I turned the lights out. He didn't come in through the door, because that's where I was standing when I turned the lights out. He wouldn't fit in the window. He doesn't seem concerned about anything here except just sitting there, keeping the creatures at bay. And... I just realized. He has pointy ears.
"What are you?" I asked tiredly, when I'd meant to say something more along the lines of, 'Why did you answer my wish'?
He chuckled again and reached over to pat the lump that was my foot under the covers.
"Call me Jareth, Precious One."
"Jareth?" I mused, then rolled over. "Are you my friend?"
"Of course. Now sleep, Sarah."
I had another question I'd meant to ask, but without the terror, I was exhausted. I fell right to sleep without ever asking how he knew my name.
The next day went much the same. But during lunch, at school, I asked permission to go to the library. This was what I did, going to the library to read instead of eating sometimes. By now, Mrs. Grager doesn't waver on her decision on letting me go. I love to read.
Hours later, when Dad had sent Toby and I to bed, I stood shakily in the doorway, fingers on the light switch. He said he'd be here, but, will he really come? Why does he care? Doesn't he have better things to do than to sit here all night, keeping these creatures from attacking me? He doesn't even know me!
I flicked out the lights and hesitated, looking up. From the shadows of the corner of the room, behind my closet, Jareth stepped out. From the same darkness that these terrifying creatures come from. He stared at me curiously, before taking his perch at the end of the bed.
Something brushed my leg and I nearly screamed, running forward to the bed. I launched myself upwards, onto the bed.
"Do you fear me, Precious?" He asked me curiously. I stared, not sure of my answer. Everything I've learned these past eight years tells me I should be. I'm cautious of him, that's for sure. But... I didn't really fear him.
"No..."
"Why not?" He didn't look or sound threatening at all. I blinked, pulling the covers up over to my waist. Why not? Well... that's easy.
"Because you're here to protect me, right?" I started to question this, then shook my head. Yes. He is. "And... you don't ignore me..."
He stared at me for a minute, making me nervous. Am I just crazy? Is this really just some creepy guy that your parents warn you about?
Then he smiled. "Rest well, Sarah."
I smiled back and laid down. No. He isn't even human- I know it. There's no way he's human, so there's no point in worrying so much. I've read about inhuman creatures that look human, and some of them are so evil... But not Jareth. He's nice. I like him.
He came every night for a week, and four nights after that, before I was used to the entire situation. I didn't think twice about turning the light out and running to the bed, and talking with my new friend. Then, I'd get a better night's sleep than I was used to.
My friend- the one who was scared of frogs -her birthday was the next day. I told Jareth about this, that he won't need to come the next night because I won't be there; Christia was having a sleep over. It was just us two, plus three of her other friends. I knew them, we were acquaintances, but we never really talked.
But he seemed disturbed when I told him about the sleep over. I assured him, I will be back the next night, but he only turned away and sat guard at the end of my bed.
I hesitated, wondering what was bothering him, before going to sleep.
"Are you excited?" Christia asked me as we waited for her mother to come pick us up from school. I smiled and nodded.
"I can't wait."
"Oh! Christia!" Her other friends were running towards us, and the shorter girl tackled her. They dragged her several feet away and swept her up in excited conversation. I closed my mouth and sighed, looking away. That's what usually happens; they're just too emotional and outgoing to pay me any attention. So I just sat down on the ledge and watched them.
Four hours and several girlie activities later, we all set up our sleeping bags with freshly dried nail polish and pop songs stuck in our heads. I burrowed deep into my blankets, relaxing far easier than ever before. I was getting far too used to being safe at night. Even when the moon hid behind the clouds, I didn't freak out.
No, that started when the last of the others fell asleep. I was nearly asleep myself, and barely noticed when my sleeping bag shifted. I roused and rolled over, blinking sleepily before closing my eyes again. The sleeping bag shifted again, then something sharp stabbed through the sheets, climbing my leg...
I gasped, unable to scream upon seeing those terrible, horrible creatures there. All over the room, avoiding the other girls, and creeping towards me hungrily.
"J-" I couldn't find my voice, freezing up. "J-" they were coming closer. I squeeked and ducked down, covering my head when the nearest one jumped at me.
There was the sound of flesh hitting flesh, and I heard the creature land several feet away. I continued to tremble, waiting, fearing, until I realized nothing was going to happen. Peeking my eyes open, I looked around.
"Jareth." My eyes were wet when I saw the strained, serious face of my new friend. He sat at-ease in the largest empty place near me; near my pillow. He looked to me from the scampering creature. I started to say something else, but stopped when I remembered the other girls strewn over the ground.
He didn't look happy at all. But nevertheless, I grinned widely at him. I lowered my voice back down to a whisper.
"Why are they here? This isn't my house- this isn't my room."
"They do not haunt your room, Precious." He leaned back on his fist. He didn't say anything more, but I realized something then. Something that changed me for the rest of my life.
These creatures were haunting me, and only me. They ignored all the other girls, only to situate themselves as close as they dared to hiss and claw at me. They would be there, in any room where I am the only conscious human, where there is darkness for them to hide in. I can never let my guard down. For some reason, they will always be here to scare me. For some reason, perhaps the same reason, Jareth will always be here to protect me. I don't know why any of them care to pay me any attention when no human does, but this is the way that it is.
"I want to go home." I whined, pulling my legs up to my chest. Only then did his face soften from whatever malicious thoughts that was plaguing him. He reached out to put a hand on my shoulder, and I trembled. "Please, Jareth, I want to go home."
"I'll take care of it." he assured, and glanced around. "But no one can remember you were here, if you are to disappear in the middle of the night."
"I don't care, I just want to go home..."
He reached forward to pull me onto his lap, and I buried my face in his shoulder. Why is all of this happening to me?
"I will alter their memories, but to do this, I cannot be with you in your room quite yet. It will only take a minute, Precious. But will you sit with some friends of mine? No creature will hurt you there."
"Where?" I blinked, pulling away to look up at him. He smiled.
"At my home. But only for a moment. I'll have to ask, don't go wandering around." He insisted. I nodded trustingly.
"I promise."
"Good girl." He hugged me again. Then his arms left me. I was sitting in a funny looking chair in a dark room. The room was made of rock, and it was terribly messy. There were a few chickens clucking around, and noises coming from corners and messes. I trembled, pushing myself as far back into the chair as possible. Jareth? Why would you send me here?
All of the sudden, a chicken went crazy and ran straight across the room. Three small creatures, looking nothing like the ones that have haunted me for years, ran after it.
"Chicken!" One of them cried, jumping forward and missing the bird by inches. The other two tripped over the first, punching the ground in frustration as the chicken went to safer distances.
I was giggling despite myself. This caught their attention, and they stared. I immediately stopped; what are they? Are they evil, like the other creatures? They were wearing clothes and looked like little, ugly people. That one's nose was almost as big as his head!
"Girlie?" One of them croaked, confused. They climbed to their feet, and started towards me. I whimpered, unsure, and scooted farther away.
Then Jareth appeared out of nowhere, and waved a hand at these creatures. They all scampered off quickly, laughing and falling over themselves. He turned towards me and offered a hand.
"Everything is taken care of, Precious. Are you ready to go back to your house?"
I jumped forward with a grin, taking his hand. He magically poofed us into my bedroom. I let go, jumping up and down.
"Jareth! What were those? Why do you have chickens?"
He chuckled, but had a rather serious face. "Quiet down, Sarah. I altered their memories, but your parents may still wake and come."
"Oh." I covered my mouth with my hands. He pat the bed and nodded towards the corner of the room, where the evil creatures were starting to come back. I ran forwards, climbing in.
"Goblins." He answered. "What you saw back there were goblins."
"Ohhh." I blinked, and shot a nervous glance to the evil creatures. They won't leave me alone. They'll never leave me be... I trembled and looked back to him. "What are those?"
He smiled sadly and pulled the blankets back. "It's time to rest, Sarah. You can't stay up all night."
"But you didn't answer my question." I whined, crawling in.
"I've already answered too many. You need to sleep."
"It's not fair. The only time I get to spend with you is at night, while I have to sleep." I whined, refusing to lay down. "Why did you answer my wish? And how did you even know I made one?"
He chuckled, tapping the side of his head. "Perhaps another day. I don't want you staying up late, and it's already the witching hour. Goodnight, Precious."
I sighed exaggeratedly and laid down in a huff. "Goodnight, Jareth."
I felt the bed shift as he turned down to the end of the bed, watching the evil creatures and insuring they don't come any closer. You know, why doesn't he just banish them from the room, if he's got so much magic? Then he wouldn't have to be here all night.
"Sar-ah." I moaned and rolled over. "Sar-ah." A sing-songy voice roused me from sleep. "Wake up, birthday girl."
I shot up straight out of bed, gasping. It's been two months since I've started getting full nights' sleep, and I don't like waking from it. Except on my birthday!
"Happy birthday, Sarah!" Irene called out to me. I stared over at her with wide eyes. She's wishing me happy birthday? I thought she hated me! "Hurry up and get dressed."
"Where are we going?" I asked excitedly, slipping out of the bed in a rush. My nightgown got tangled in my legs and I fell before I could stand.
"All in due time." she smiled at me. I stopped a moment, just long enough to distrust her, before ignoring it and convincing myself that it was my birthday after all. She can't be mean on my birthday.
"Sarah!" Toby hugged me. "Happy birthday."
"Thanks, bud." I hugged him back. "You're sure up early."
"Oh, yes." Dad winked at me. "We're having a man's day, so you two ladies can spend the day together."
I paled. "What?"
"Oh, yes. Manicures, pedicures, facials... The whole ten-nine-yards." Irene nodded to me. "But why don't you go have some breakfast first?"
I blinked, looking around. Dad and Toby were going to the water park, I saw the brocure clutched in my half-brother's fist. Irene was going to have the whole day to torture me- now wonder she was so happy.
"O-okay." I stuttered, putting on a fake smile. "I'll just go make some breakfast."
"We'll see you two ladies at four." Dad called as they walked out the door. "Have fun!"
"Oh, we'll have plenty of fun, Roger." Irene waved them out. I sighed, mixing the batter in the kitchen by myself. She doesn't really torture me; she just likes to make things harder on me than they have to be. And a whole day together, I had no doubt that we were going to do what she wanted, whether I enjoyed myself or not.
Sure enough, we sat in the nail salon while she was pampered and I sat in the chair for three hours straight, waiting. I sighed, looking out the window behind me to the rest of the mall. Well Happy Birthday to me.
"Come on, Sarah." Irene closed her purse and ushered me out the door. "We're going to the bakery now."
"Are we getting my birthday cake?" I asked, jumping up. The only reason I got one last year was because Toby wanted to help make one.
"Of course not. You don't need the calories." she scoffed. "We're getting my whole wheat bagels." She walked along, and I sighed. Calories? What?
"I'm nine now." I objected, stomping forward. "Can't we at least go to the candy store?" I pointed to a passing window shop full of bright colors. She pulled me along.
"You don't need those either, sweet heart." She answered cooly. I moaned and looked back. You know, I don't even like all that manicure sort of stuff. I didn't like it at that sleep over, and I don't like sitting for hours in a place where that's all they do.
"How about that book store?" I pointed to another door.
"Nobody reads these days." She denied.
"I do. I like to read."
"Then read your own books."
"I only have three." I complained, reaching for the store. "It can be my birthday present."
She yanked on my arm and pulled me farther away.
I huffed and kicked my feet. It sucks to be nine.
That's not the end of her birthday, but this is where I stop. So there. ;) Irene is annoying, her dad just has no idea, and Toby's ignorantly cute. That's where we are.
R&R