Kate glanced at her wrist-watch, wondering how long exactly she had

been in the Underground. It seemed about an hour, and she suspected

that back home, everyone would be asleep by now, not having any idea

what she was going through. But as she peered down at the hands of

the watch, she was surprised to find they had stopped. Is that what

happened here? Did time stop? Or wasn't her watch working because it

had 12 hours instead of 13? Shrugging, she began her steady pace down

the dark corridor. The strange thought entered her mind that maybe

this hallway was endless...maybe it stretched on forever and ever. It

felt like a kind of limbo she was in, because she had been walking

down it for a long time now and hadn't seen any sign of an exit.

At that exact moment she spotted a closed door on the left side of

the hall. She walked over to it and opened it quickly. It didn't

occur to her what might be on the other side of it, that in the

Labyrinth it was oftentimes dangerous and foolhardy to go about

opening doors without any thought. As it turned out, nothing remotely

terrible waited on the other side. At least, that's what she hoped as

she entered the dark room...

It was a chamber of sorts, not as dingy and sparse as the others in

the castle. Rich red carpeting covered the floor, and an immense

black marble fireplace stood on the opposite wall. Gold candelabras

sat on either side of the mantle, though it appeared as if they

hadn't been used in some time.

Turning, Kate spied a bed nearby; it was tall and had looming four-

posters, and black satin covered the mattress. She quickly realized

this wasn't just any other room...this was for someone very

important. A chill went down her spine as she wondered if this was

the Goblin King's bedchamber. If it was, it was just possibly the

most dangerous place to be in the entire Underground.

She knew she would leave right this minute, but something made her

pause. Curiosity got the better of her and she lingered for a moment,

her gaze traveling slowly around the room, trying to take it all in

and brand it into memory.

It was then that it caught her eye, hanging over the fireplace. It

was a wonder she hadn't seen it before. Hanging in the center of the

wall was a giant portrait of her Aunt Sarah. Or was it Kate herself?

The young woman stared back at her with chocolate eyes, eyes that

looked sad yet fascinated at the same time. She had long, dark hair

that was draped about her shoulders, and she was wearing a down of

the strangest color Kate had ever seen. In one light it appeared

white, in the next, red. Magic, she thought, even as she stepped

closer.

"Psst! Miss! Miss!"

Kate spun around towards the sound of the voice, but saw no one.

"Over here, in the web."

Kate looked at the small spider's web hanging like a piece of

delicate lace on the corner of the gold frame. She let out a gasp of

surprise as she saw a small black spider with blue eyes staring at her

and nodding it's head. It was wearing a vest coat of shiny purple

material, and on it's head sat a top hat.

"Did you just...talk to me?" She asked in a hushed whisper.

The spider nodded. "I did. What's the matter with you, anyway?

Haven't you ever seen a talking spider before?"

The creature seemed slightly offended. "Honestly, no," Kate told

it. "In my world, this would be impossible."

"Your world, eh? Well then, what world do you come from?"

"Uh...earth."

The spider sighed loudly. "That explains everything. So, you're a

human. I thought you were a ghost. A much more likely possibility,

I'll tell you."

Kate frowned. "And why is that?"

"Because there hasn't been any humans in the Labyrinth for a very

very long time. Not since she - " it turned and gestured to the

portrait.

"Did you know her?" Kate asked quickly, wondering if her aunt had

ever encountered talking spiders. She didn't remember ever hearing of

such a thing. "She was my aunt," she added softly.

"I didn't know her," the spider muttered grumpily. "But I do know one

thing. She's the reason for what's happened here. It's all HER fault."

By now, Kate was clearly puzzled. "What was her fault? I..I don't

understand."

"Of course you don't, Human. She didn't understand anything either."

Kate took a step back, feeling angry at this tiny little bug who was

being awfully nasty. "Look here, are you going to give me a straight

answer or not?"

"No."

"Fine then." Kate clenched her fists and stalked out of the room,

wishing with all her might that she had a rolled up newspaper handy.

She had no idea where she was going, and now after seeing the picture

and talking to that horrid little spider, she was more confused than

ever. She had always dreamed of an adventure happening to her, but

now that it was she felt more like Miss Muffet than anything

romantic.

She hadn't walked five minutes when she came to a set of very

familiar doors. The doors that led into the Throne Room! Feeling

bold, Kate swung them open.

Jareth, who had been standing at the window, spun around when she

entered. His face was a mixture of surprise and horror, which quickly

turned to anger. Dark anger. A deep scowl spread over his handsome

face.

"What in the bloody Underground are you doing here?"

Kate swallowed hard and all thoughts left her mind.

"I ordered you to leave," he went on, striding toward her with those

long legs. "Get out. Right this blasted minute!"

Mustering courage she didn't know she had, Kate held her ground. "Not

until I get some answers," she told him firmly.

Jareth laughed bitterly, throwing his hands up in the air. "Amazing!

I couldn't get your aunt to stay and I can't get you to leave!"

Kate felt her face turn pink, but ignored it.

"You are playing a very dangerous game," he hissed as he came

closer. "You do not defy me."

Sarah did, Kate thought suddenly, but didn't dare say it aloud.

"You can't just lock me up in that room without explaining anything

to me," Kate argued. "I mean, what in the world is going on here?"

Jareth narrowed his cat-like eyes. "Whatever do you mean?"

"It's obvious something is going on," Kate stated loudly. "Nothing is

like what I imagined it to be."

"Look here," Jareth started, but then stopped short. His face turned

ashen and he gripped his side, grimacing as another wave of pain

coursed through him. He stumbled - actually stumbled! The Goblin King

never stumbled. He hated himself at that moment.

Just as suddenly as it had come, it was gone. He straightened, and

when he looked back at her, his cold mask had slipped back into place.

But Kate was frowning, and her eyes looked worried. For him? But that

was mad.

"What is wrong with you?" She asked in a gentle, calm voice. "You're

sick, aren't you?"

Jareth inhaled sharply, and for once it seemed useless to

pretend. "I'm not sick, Kate," he murmured. "I'm dying."