Throughout the rest of the night Sarah tossed and turned in her sleep filled with thoughts about what dangers she could bring to people and what other spells she could be put under. She felt guilty about wishing to go to the Labyrinth again. Now everyone knew her and they wanted to harm her and even worse, wanted to harm her family and friends, who were oblivious the whole situation.
She woke up at quarter past eight, went downstairs and made herself some breakfast. She sat at the table lost in thought twiddling with her locket. She didn't even realise that Karen was already in the room looking at her concernedly. Sarah jumped when she saw her stepmother, but did not say anything. What could she say - 'Oh I'm sorry about the party but it wasn't my fault I was under a spell by a woman disguised as an immortal from another world!'
Karen walked up to the breakfast table and sat down beside Sarah.
"I'm sorry" Karen said which surprised Sarah. "I shouldn't have made you go to the party, it was too soon after all that's happened…seeing you behave like that made me realise that well, you're obviously not your full self and…you just need more time to recover."
Sarah didn't know what to say. So she did not respond. A simple appreciative smile was enough for Karen to leave Sarah to sit at the table alone while her she went back upstairs to wake up Toby.
Sarah must have been sitting at the table for over half an hour. Her breakfast had been consumed many minutes ago and her tea had gone cold. She just sat there lost in her own thoughts while Karen and Toby played games in the living room.
A few minutes later and the phone rang. Karen went into the hallway to answer. After eavesdropping on her conversation Sarah knew that whoever was calling had made Karen sound disappointed as her tone of voice was snappy and frustrated. After hanging up she walked over to Sarah.
"That was work…they said they needed me to go in for a few hours" she said.
"So what's the matter?" Sarah asked.
"Well it means that you'll have to watch Toby. I know you don't like it when I ask you to baby-sit but I really have no choice and…"
"No no it's fine" said Sarah, "It's the least I can do after I practically destroyed your work party yesterday."
"Sarah I told you, don't keep thinking about that, you weren't in the right state of mind" Karen snapped. "But if you're okay with looking after Toby then it'll be a big help. Besides I'll only be gone for a few hours" Karen said as she gathered her coat and shoes together ready to leave the house.
But Sarah suddenly looked worried. Karen had just reminded her that Sarah wasn't in a fit state of mind…and there was nothing she could do about it! And now she was going to be alone with Toby, her dearly beloved little brother!
"Actually…" Sarah said to Karen just as she was leaving, "I've just remembered…me and Lysander have plans so, you might have to ask someone else" Sarah said cautiously.
"Well I'm leaving now. Besides I'm sure Lysander would love to come round here and help you baby-sit. Okay, I see you in a few hours" Karen said. "Goodbye Toby!" she shouted into the living room. Toby did not answer, he was to busy playing with his train set. Karen shut the door leaving Sarah alone with her fate.
"Okay" Sarah muttered to herself as she went and sat in the living room chair, "if I just sit here for three hours then nothing can go wrong" she said smiling at her brother.
The first hour went by without any problems. She watched Toby play with his trains, but then he crashed them all so he transferred to his reading books. Sarah read him a couple of stories during the next hour but as the third hour approached Sarah realised that nature was calling. She didn't want to have to leave Toby but unless she wanted Karen to come back home to a watery chair then Sarah had no choice.
"Toby I'm just going to the bathroom I won't be long" she said as she quickly walked of the room.
"Okay" said Toby, "I'm going to pretend that I'm superman" he said as he started running around with his arms stretched out, jumping on the chairs and knocking over ornaments.
Sarah slowly walked back into the living room and gazed at her accident-prone little brother.
"On second thoughts, I think you should follow me" Sarah said as she grabbed hold Toby's hand and made him follow her upstairs. She tried to ignore his several attempts to bite and smack her hand for she knew that if she left him some crazy immortal from another world would probably come and bit and smack him while she was in the bathroom.
"Get off" screamed Toby, "I don't wanna go poo poo with you!"
When they reached the top of the stairs Sarah ordered Toby to stand outside of the door.
"Now, while I'm in there I want you to keep singing me your favourite song okay" she said.
"Okay!" Toby said giddily.
Sarah walked into the bathroom as Toby sat outside and began to sing.
"Sarah is a stupid head, she's too scared to go to bed" he sang. She's too scared to go poo poo, so she makes me sing, la la la la la…"
Sarah giggled as she flushed the chain and washed her hands. "Keep singing okay Toby."
"Silly little Sarah has a stupid face, she hasn't got any friends…" Sarah knew he was just a little boy but she was a little offended by the words of a boy she once rescued from a Goblin King, but still it was better than him being struck by her curse, so she listened some more.
"She's got googly eyes and a big…aghhhhh!" he screamed.
Sarah panicked as she heard a loud bang outside the door.
"Toby!" she shouted as she ran out of the door.
Toby was no longer on the hallway where she asked him to wait. She quickly approached the top of the staircase and looked down in horror.
"Oh no! Toby!" she shrieked.
The little boy was lying at the bottom of the stairs, he must have fell while he was dancing to the song, the song Sarah asked him to sing! She thudded down the stairs and knelt by him.
"Owww" he cried, "it hurts!". Sarah was thankful that he was not unconscious.
"Where does it hurt" she asked.
"My head!" he cried.
"It's okay Toby, you'll be okay" she said as she ran to the phone and dialled 911.
"Hello…I need an ambulance quickly…my little brother has fallen down the stairs…he's conscious but I think he's bumped his head…okay thank you" she said as she put down the phone and ran back to Toby.
"Don't worry someone's coming" she said as she stroked his head. She couldn't see any blood, but she noticed a large bump where he must have banged it. "You be brave" she kept saying to him.
An ambulance came within minutes of the phonecall. They walked through the door where they found Sarah and Toby at the bottom of the stairs. Seeing them act so speedily with their fluorescent uniforms made Sarah's heart race within her doomed soul. They quickly carried him outside and into the back of the ambulance where they headed off to the hospital. Sarah hated herself for leaving him, just for a few minutes in the bathroom. The guilt was too much to handle that she began to cry while she was in the ambulance. One of the paramedics put his hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry" he said, "it was only a nasty bump, you're brother should be fine. All kids fall down the stairs once in their lives. Just be thankful that his is out of the way now" he laughed.
She smiled unconvincingly. If only he knew the real reason for why Toby fell.
A quarter of an hour later Karen arrived at the City Hospital. She hurriedly walked into the children's ward. Her middle-class attire stood out from all the poverty of the large crowded room. She self-importantly looked around until she spotted Sarah sitting beside a bed. A doctor was there checking Toby's heartbeat with a stethoscope, Toby, now looking as right as rain, giggled every time the cold medical instrument touched his chest.
"Thank goodness" Karen said as she prudently rushed up to her son. "What happened Sarah, all I heard from your phone call was that I needed to come to the hospital quickly…I didn't know what to think" she said in a tearful voice.
"I'm sorry I had no time to explain" said Sarah.
"Well what happened!" Karen shouted now looking at the doctor who was joking around with Toby.
He embarrassedly straightened himself up.
"Erm…your son fell down the stairs, but luckily enough he has not suffered from any major injuries. He has a slight bump on the head but he should be able to go home after he's been fully checked over, now if you'll please excuse me I just have to go and check on those children over there" the doctor said as he walked off. Karen shook her head as she watched him run to a child and pick her up to swing her around. She turned to face Sarah.
"Sarah what was he doing messing around at the top of the stairs!" she snapped.
"I…I'm sorry I…" she said.
"It wasn't Sarah's fault" said Toby, "She went to have a poo poo and she told me to stay downstairs…but I didn't…and I fell over when I was dancing on the stairs. Sarah helped me get better."
Sarah stared in shock and revelation. She couldn't believe that he lied for her. She almost had tears in her eyes from pride of her little brother. It could be told by her face that she felt more glad than ever that she rescued him six years ago.
"Really" said Karen, "oh well I'm sorry Sarah." She looked at her son. "Just as long as you're alright." she said smiling at him while he sticked out his tongue.
They all laughed and for a moment Sarah seemed like she was actually happy again.
This is supposed to be a JS story right? So I know what you're all thinking. Where the hell has Jareth gone?? Don't worry folks, if you'd care to wait for chapter 13 which will be along sooner than you know it, he might just turn up again xxx
Keep on keep on keep on keep on reviewing all thorugh the night. You gotta keep on keep on keep on doing it righhht! - Where's this from?
P.S. Did y'all know that in the US and Canada they are releasing a new special Labyrinth DVD with never before seen footage and interviews - bitches, I live in the UK!