Chapter 2

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Sarah inhaled for the tenth time and started to flip the page. She felt disappointed when she was not able to find anything related to the goblin king or his kingdom. She barely slept the last two days. Sarah looked at the clock on top of her vanity and released the air she had been holding. She only had 260 hours left and she still had no clue where the labyrinth was. Before she had the chance to read the page she was currently in, she heard the police car pull back in their yard. She got up and looked at them from the window.

"Sir, we have no trace." The police man said, Sarah knew they were working hard to find her sister, she smiled sardonically. 'Of course you wouldn't have.' Sarah thought. She sat on her window sill, looking at her father and the three policemen.

"It's been two days." Robert tried his best not to snap at the police, he was tired from lack of sleep and trying to keep his wife from having a massive heart attack and mental breakdown not to mention he was also worried sick for his little girl. What type of twisted monsters would take a defenseless baby away from her family? Robert could never comprehend to that. He rubbed his temples, feeling the toll of the stress. "I am ready to pay any amount. Just.. please. Return my daughter."

"We will Sir… but…" the police paused, his eyes darting from his colleague to the tired man in front of him. "Let's not keep our hopes too high…"

"George!" His colleague hissed and elbowed him hard. George narrowed his eyes at his colleague but maintained enough composure to finish his sentence.

"In usual cases… It's hard to find lost children especially babies… since they are sold by traffickers outside the country…" George's dark eyes locked unto Robert's. Robert remained still, he knew that possibility very well. He heard enough of that during the evening news and read enough through the morning paper. It was happening everywhere but he never thought it could happen to his own.

"Just find my daughter." Robert nodded at the men in front of him and went inside his home. He felt his eyes flutter out of the need for sleep but he knew he couldn't, he still had to work. Although his boss gave him the week off, he knew he needed more money to fund the search and build ransom money. He pressed his hands to his temples to soothe them.

"Dad." Sarah said from the stairs.

"Sarah, it's…." Robert winced at his own words. He went over to his oldest daughter and patted her back. "Let's not lose hope."

"We won't Daddy." Sarah promised. She smiled at her father and Robert forced a small smile.

"How's Karen?" They both knew the answer to that question. Sarah looked at the master bedroom's door, just a few meters away from the stairs. Karen was growing more and more irreconcilable by the minute, crying nonstop for the past days and nights leaving Robert alone to face the police who were light years away from finding the lost baby and the culprit. Robert was red in the face when he saw his eldest daughter all bruised up around the wrists and feet but he paled considerably when Sarah said Sammy was missing. The only thing that consoled him was the fact that nothing bad had happened to Toby, who just seemed a little spooked.

After Jareth vanished, Sarah laid in the balcony, her hair tangled and legs sprawled. Seeing him was the biggest shock of her life. After sevengoblin and magic free years he showed up again. Thoughts and questions raced through her mind, what would happen to Sammy?How would she explain this to her dad and stepmother? Is there a way to get through the labyrinth? The questions flooded her brain and she felt her head throb painfully. She tried to stand up, when she found out she no longer had enough strength, she was thankful when strong familiar arms helped her up.

'Dad.' She whispered thankfully.

'Karen and I heard you yelling.' He helped Sarah to the nearby chair then removed his dark wool coat and placed it around his daughter's cold shoulder. He took in Sarah's mangled appearance. Around her wrists were rope-like bruises and when he glanced at her feet he saw more bruises. Her mouth was also swollen like she had been gagged. Sarah saw his face redden. 'What happened?'

Sarah remained still, gazing at her father and thinking about the labyrinth and Sammy.

'I'll kill him.'

'Nothing happened to me.' He'll kill you. Her head shot up at the offer but she knew that was far from possible. She absentmindedly traced the bruise on her left arm and concluded goblin fingers resembled ropes. They held her tightly after all. Her bare feet suddenly felt the cold shuddering she put it up a nearby table.

'…Do you want to go to the hospital?' Her father had thought the worst. When Sarah shook her head no, her father sighed with relief. She offered him the most comforting smile she could muster before breaking the news that Sammy was gone. Karen, who was beside Robert shrieked and wailed while Robert thought it best to call the police.

Robert hugged Karen as she sobbed begging him to find their baby while Toby stayed in the corner of the room, a little disoriented at what happened. Sarah raked her mind on what to tell the police. She knew they would think her a lunatic if she told them an underground king took her sister and if they did, it would be impossible for them to find her.

'Toby.' Sarah softly said. Toby was crying silent tears and he pretended he didn't hear Sarah. He was too guilty on what had happened. On what he did. Sarah understanding what he felt called for him a second time though this time Toby did not hesitate and run towards her.

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"I'm sorry…" Toby called from the door frame. It was the first time he said something about the incident. Toby stood clutching lancelot near his chest. Sarah dropped the book she was reading and motioned for Toby to sit next to her. Toby did without waiting to be told a second time.

"It's not your fault Toby." Sarah patted him. Drawing comforting circles down his back, she smiled. She knew from the very bottom of her heart, if Toby could return the wish for a chance to retrieve the baby he would. Sarah looked at his blue eyes and saw the guilt that filled his innocence. "Don't worry Toby, I'll find a way to bring her back."

She said those words more to reassure herself than Toby, inhaling the air when she saw a ghost like Karen looking at them from the doorframe.

"What if you don't?" Toby wailed. Sarah hugged him as he buried his face in her sleeve. This time Sarah said nothing. For the past fifty-two hours that thought hunted her, the possibility of that happening is far greater than the opposite. From the corner of her eye, she saw Karen who did not move an inch, sobered herself from crying.

"Toby, could I have a minute from Sarah?" said Karen. She was composed but her hands were trembling while she clutched the front of her lilac skirt, holding them tightly for comfort. When Toby did not move an inch, Karen softly added, "Uncle Poppy is waiting for you."

Toby left the bed, hugging Karen as he passed her by then he closed the door with a soft thud. Both women looked at each other for a long time. Gone were the days when Sarah hated Karen's guts, hair, personality and clothes and it seemed like Karen's futile attempts at taming Sarah to be the lady she wanted her to be were also gone. Karen placed a disheveled hair at the back of her ear, accepting the fact that Sarah is Sarah's own person, never tamed and owned. Some women are like that.

From the first time Karen met her new stepdaughter she realized the uncanny similarity with her favorite great grandmother Ingrid. Both ladies have wills stronger than twenty or more people combined.

"Karen, I…" Sarah wanted to tell her the truth. Sarah knew Karen deserved nothing less, but Karen may not understand. She did not finish her sentence when Karen spoke.

"Sarah, I know we've had a very rough start." Karen looked at Sarah in the eye before sitting down in front of her. This was the first time, Sarah thought, Karen looked so haggard. Her shiny blonde hair that always looked so luscious and soft was tied in an ugly bun some of her hair escaped the haywire and were poking out of the sorry excuse of a hairstyle; the once red painted lips were cracked from lack of moisture while Karen's eyes were dark, red, puffy and swollen. Karen reached for Sarah's hand and squeezed it lightly. "But, please. Please. I'm begging you. Tell me what really happened."

"I told you before…" Sarah bit her lip, Karen looked at her with pleading eyes. Sarah didn't know what to say to comfort her. It would crush the very bottom of Karen's heart if she found out they only had less than thirteen days now ten to retrieve the baby and it was impossible from the lack of knowledge of the labyrinth's whereabouts.

"No… no… No…" Karen controlled herself, she stopped and sniffed a bit. Sarah offered her a tissue she gladly took. Karen wiped her eyes before she eyed the book beside Sarah, the one she was reading before Toby joined her, "I want the truth."

"…It's far more complicated than you think." Sarah didn't know what possessed her to say those words, she tried to soften her voice in fear Karen might have a mental breakdown. She barely added, "Besides.. You wouldn't believe me, even if I did."

Karen looked at her with sad longing eyes before she fingered the small green pendant she wore around her neck. She contemplated a bit before removing it and holding it out to Sarah, "My Great grandmother Ingrid gave this to me when I turned thirteen."

Sarah held the green pendant feeling it through her palm. She felt the importance of the necklace.

"You might think I'm saying this because I may seem disillusioned from…" Karen did not say the words but Sarah understood what she meant. Sarah nodded, wanting to comfort her stepmother in any way that she can. The past years have been good to their relationship and although Sarah may never admit it, Karen became the mother figure in her life. Ever since Linda and Jeremy had their own bundle of joy, Sarah became an old ragged doll worn out and thrown at the corner. "My Babooshka loved to tell stories."

"…Babooshka?" Sarah asked.

"My great grandmother is Russian, she and I are very close." Karen smiled fondly while recalling all the memories she had. She stood up and laid beside Sarah. Karen opened Sarah's palm and traced the delicate green diamond pendant. It was the first time Sarah realized, the pendant her stepmother owned was worth more than three times the price of their house plus all the furniture inside. "Babooshka was a goner for beauties like this."

"It's stunning!" Immediately Sarah gave back the diamond, afraid she might do something to spoil it of its glory. Karen smiled at Sarah and placed the pendant around Sarah's neck. Sarah tried to remove it but Karen held her hands firmly.

"I want you to have it." Karen smiled at her. "You remind me too much of my Babooshka…"

"Thank you, Mum."A lot of practice have helped Sarah call the woman as such. She continued to trace the outline of the pendant finding some familiar feautures. Sarah was curious with the big stone the fact it had somehow reminded her of a same one she can't place where. Perhaps knowing something about the pendant would help jog her memory. "Where did she get this diamond?"

"She told me thousands of wonderful stories and how she got this diamond was one of the only two stories that I never believed but somehow right now, I think I owe my Babooshka an apology." Karen said lightly. Sarah was fingering the cool diamond, enjoying the cool temperature it emitted. Karen faced her, this time there was something in Karen's eyes that she could not describe. "Desperation really does bring out this...this side of you you didn't know about."

Sarah patted Karen's back she knew that feeling too. She faced countless challenges and dangers untold she thought she couldn't just for Toby.

"Sarah don't think my Babooshka has loose screws when I tell you this. Promise me, please."

"I promise." Karen was shaking and Sarah held Karen's shoulders to steady her.

"She once said she had an infant sister named Heidi. Heidi cried day and night then when Babooshka got fed up, she wished Heidi away and got this pendant in exchange." Karen's finger poked the stone on Sarah's chest to emphasize her point. She thought Sarah would laugh at her story, brushing her off as trying to be scary. Just like what Robert did when she told him about Babooshka. Karen got a very different reaction from Sarah though. Sarah was teary eyed as her hand was clasp the diamond. She now knew why the pendant was so familiar, it was like the twin of the Goblin King's pendant. Karen was startled that Sarah was upset. "…Sarah, did I say something wrong?"

Sarah nodded her head no and finally told Karen the truth, from the time she wished Toby away, her adventures in the labyrinth and the events of two days ago. By the time she finished Karen was crying fresh new tears. This time instead of worry it was of lament, because from Babooshka's story she never got back the infant Heidi.

"Oh, Sarah! We have to get her back!" Karen wailed. "I...I don't know what I'll do.. Please.. I want... I want my baby back."

"I've read almost everything but…." Sarah sat up from the bed and continued flipping the poor book. "Nothing helps."

Karen got the nearest book entitled The MYTHS and started flipping through it. She could not understand half the terms used while the description seemed impossible to her. "Sarah.. Can't we wish her back?"

"We can't." Sarah softly said. She remembered her own experience and the Goblin King's refusal to them. Jareth would never allow himself to be cheated of his right to keep the baby. "The only chance we've got is to beat the Goblin King in his own game."

"That's impossible." Karen huffed. From what Sarah told her about her time in the labyrinth, it was out of sheer dumb luck and strong will Sarah was able to get Toby back and a second time seemed more impossible especially when you don't know where the damned labyrinth was. Then she realized how she sounded to Sarah then looked apologetically at her not intending to snap.

The pair continued to rake through the books, searching in vain. Karen for most of her part stopped crying and started to eat again. She needed strength if she wanted to get Sammy again. Although Robert knew nothing of the real situation he was more than relieved to see his wife almost back to her normal self. Both Karen and Sarah were able to talk him into sleeping, promising to wake him up when there was some development in the case. After about five hours both Karen and Sarah were surprised to find Robert awake.

"Karen..." Robert gave a long yawn, it was a obvious he still wanted to sleep. " A woman said you need to call her back."

Both Karen and Sarah exchanged looks. "Who could it be?"

Robert gave another sleepy yawn before answering. " Great Grandmother Ingrid said it was very important."


A/n

Sorry for the long wait. I went out of town and finding internet connection was pretty hard. But thank you everybody for reading! But in this chapter, I have struggled a lot. huhu :(( and Jareth does not make an appearance... BUt hopefully in the next chapter he will! :D:D

Special thanks to the following :D:D:D

Kaytori- Yes, that's the agreement. :D Thank you for the review! :D

Unique Fantasiser- Thank you! :D I thought too that their relationship is like that, I hope I'm able to deliver that in this story.:D:D

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m- glad I made you lol. :D

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