So I'm a little disappointed that I only got two reviews the other day (sniffle)... Well... I guess that's what happens when you don't post for a month or two... (le sigh)... So here is another chapter... hopefully you guys will like me more because I'm updating a lot this week (smiles) ... SO PLEAASE R&R!

Disclaimer: I don't own it... if I did... well... damn... you'd all be screwed.

Chapter 5

"Fuck loneliness"

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After Sarah had gotten dressed, she decided to get a head start on the writing. Sarah walked over to her vanity and sat down. She reluctantly opened the right drawer and reached in to pull out a notebook. Without looking, she pulled out the first thin book she felt and placed in on the painted wood. She was concentrating on the finding a good pencil when she finally saw what her hand had retrieved from the right drawer. A small red, leather bound book sat on her vanity. Sarah could feel the blood rush from her face as she reached down to graze the ornate golden letters. Her index finger carefully traced the words "The Great Labyrinth," as if it would disappear before her very eyes. A chill ran down her spine and she closed her eyes willing the book to vanish.

When she opened them again, the book was still there. Her vision fuzzed slightly and she gripped her head in her hand. She looked at herself in the mirror and gasped. A graceful owl sat perched behind her.

She whirled her head around to find that no owl was perched anywhere in her room. Turning slowly back to the mirror, she looked again. No owl. And no book. Where the blood red novel once was, a innocent-looking black college rule book sat.

Standing up, Sarah slowly backed away from her vanity.

So? She was just hallucinating. It was normal. Right? She was just nervous about her "baby" and how it would change.

'Oh great,' she thought, 'Now, I'm starting to sound like Jim.'

Sarah was still backing up, with her eyes fixed on the simple school notebook. She gave a small, startled gasp when her back collided with her bedroom door. Reaching with her left hand, she fumbled the doorknob and hastily exited her bedroom.

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When she entered Toby's room, Sarah immediately stubbed her toe. Hopping on one foot, she inspected what she had run into. It was a small wooden box that normally held all of Toby's cars. The box had been turned upside down and was now being used as a starting ramp for a rather impressive looking hot wheels track. The entire room was decked out in small roads. Toby was busy setting up one that ran from the edge of his bed to the top of his dresser. He was concentrating so hard that he hadn't noticed his sister's clumsy entrance.

Sarah regained her composure and asked Toby, "Do you want to head out to the park?"

Barely acknowledging his sister's arrival, he said, "Not now, Sawah. I'm doin' hot wheels."

"Oh, okay Toby." she said reluctantly, "Some other time then."

Sarah headed out on her own instead.

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The walk wasn't going well. That damned book kept appearing in her mind. At least the lovely snow covered landscape of the park gave her some inspiration. Why had she agreed to that stupid sequel?

She was fresh out of ideas.

"Fuck loneliness..." she mumbled.

She sighed and pulled the collar of her jacket toward her cheeks. She was watching her feet trying to think of a good starting point for this "Labyrinth 2." Then she nearly tripped over it.

A small black box was tied up with a thin red silk ribbon. An old parchment tag that was tied to the ribbon fluttered in the cold winter wind.

"What the-" she muttered. 'Did someone drop this or something?'

It certainly didn't look as if it had been dropped. Sarah crouched down and inspected it. She flipped the tag over and read "To Sarah Williams." She did a double take.

'Maybe it's a coincidence.' she thought, 'Don't be dumb Sarah, no one else is named Sarah Williams around here.'

She sighed.

'But should I open it?.' A vision of a snowy owl perched on her bed flashed through her memory.

"Oh, consequences be damned!" She said as she ripped the ribbon from the small package.

A/N:

OH NO! WHATS IN TEH BOX?!

God... I'm evil... (snicker) thats because I love cliffies so much! 3

And yes... I hope you all enjoyed this early update... I just want to get this chapter out...

So as always... please review!

Much love,

S'S