A/N: I wish I owned labyrinth... right now! (Waits for Jareth to show up with ownership papers)... DAMN IT ALL!! Fine then. I own nothing.

Haunted

Sarah trudged home from school that day, feeling exhausted. She was sure that she had done well on her finals, but the stress had definately taken its toll on her. And of course that rather unpleasant dream last night hadn't done anything to help her nerves. She shuddered at the memory of his rough, possesive touch. Even though she knew that it had been just a nightmare, she still felt rather uneasy.

She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice that she had passed her house. She was nearly to the end of the street when a voice called out, "Hey! I think you went a bit too far, Shelia."

Snapping back to attention, she whirled around to see Nigel, standing in his front yard, waving her down. She felt her face grow hot as she realized that he was quite right. She walked back towards her house, trying to avoid his gaze.

" Rough day?" he asked as she passed his house. She nodded, still avoiding his eyes. She heard him chuckle warmly. "Thats too bad. School troubles?"

"No, not exactly," she said, pulling out her key as she climbed the front steps.

"Well, see you later, Shelia."

She turned around slowly to face the handsome boy. "Sarah." she squeaked.

"Sorry?" he asked, looking puzzled.

"My name is Sarah."

"Really? Then why on earth haven't you corrected me in the past week?"

"I don't know..." she said, taking a sudden interest in her shoes.

He laughed again. "See you then. Sarah."

She quickly opened the door, and rushed inside. Her heart was going full throttle, his warm laugh reverberating in her head. She sighed dreamily as she slipped off her shoes. She was so glad to have a distraction from the Goblin King, who seemed to sneak into her thoughts every day, despite her best efforts to convince herself that he did not exist; that he was just a figure in several terrifying dreams.

She slumped into the living room, and collapsed on the sofa. She looked around the empty living room. She loved this time of the day the best, the hour or so before Karen returned home from work and picking Toby up from daycare. The silence was a rare treat when you had a little brother, and Sarah relished every moment of it. She lay back, settling herself down on the cushions. She closed her eyes, deciding to take a small catnap before her stepmother and brother returned.

She heard a soft rumble, similar to the sound a bowling ball makes as it rolls down the lane. Curious, she looked down and saw a small crystal ball rolling across the hardwood floor. She felt her heart stop. Was this another dream, or was this really happening? Should she simply ignore it?

As she pondered, another crystal rolled by. Despite her better judgement, she got off the couch and followed the small cyrystal down the hall, as it bounced up the stairs, down the upstairs hallway and, to her horror, into her parent's bedroom through a slight crack in the door.

She took a deep breath, and pushed the door open the rest of the way. There, sitting on the bed, was the goblin king in all his glory, bouncing Toby on his lap. The goblin king looked up at her, giving her a warm, inviting smile. "Hello Sarah."

"Get the hell away from my brother, you rat bastard!" she yelled forcefully. The wicked king just smirked and cradled the baby in his arms.

"You know Sarah, I think he likes me. Since you refuse to give me what I want, maybe I'll just keep him instead."

"What do you want from me?" she demanded, taking a step towards him.

"An heir, Sarah. I want you to bear me an heir."

"Hell no!" she screeched, drawing back from him a bit, but never taking her eyes off the smiley baby in his arms. She just had to find a way to save him. Maybe he would let her run the labyrinth again.

As if reading her mind, Jareth shook his head. "No my sweet. This time, the child is mine. Unless, of course, you agree to come in his place."

"I hate you!"

"I know, my darling. But I also know that you fear me. And that given the proper incentive, you will do as I say. We can work on love..."

"Screw you! Give me back my brother! You can't just screw around with people's lives like this!"

Toby's big blue eyes turned onto his big sister, and he smiled at her in his oh so adorable way. Jareth lifted the boy up, dangling him in front of his sister. He babbled happily and reached out for her. Sarah let out a little sob and reached for her baby brother.

"Say goodbye to your big sister, little Jareth." he said, giving Sarah a sly grin. Surely she would crack soon. "Do you like the name I've given him, Sarah? Very regal, very suiting for the new prince of the goblins, wouldn't you agree?"

"No! I won't let you take him! What on earth would my parents say?"

"Oh don't worry about them. Your father won't remember a thing, and your stepmother... well just take a look behind you..."

Sarah turned around. What she saw made her stomach plummet.

Karen was lying behind the door, blood pooling around her, her dark blue eyes blank and staring into nothingness.

Sarah did the only thing she could think of. She screamed. She screamed the most awful, bloodcurdling scream she could muster. She heard Jareth laughing behind her, and she felt herself being shaken.

"SARAH! Wake up!"

She sat up, realizing that she was still sprawled out on the couch. Karen was standing above her, looking concerned.

"Karen, you're not dead!"

"Thank you? You were thrashing around, I was worried."

"Just a nightmare. Wait, were's Toby?"

Karen looked puzzled. "He's on the floor, right there." She pointed and Sarah looked. There he was, inching along the couch, grinning proudly at her. She scooped him up and held him close.

"Don't worry, Toby. I won't ever let him get you again."

"That must have been some nightmare," Karen said, patting her on the head.

'If she only knew...' Sarah thought, tears falling into Toby's soft blonde curls.

A/N: not the best chapter, I admit, but it does start to reveal the main plot a bit, whether you see it or not.

REVIEW please. And thanks to all who have so far. I love you all.