DISCLAIMER. I own nothing. only the story that popped into my head one day. Labyrinth belongs to Jim Henson.

Hope everyone had a good Christmas! thanks for all the reviews! I was so pleased when I saw you guys are starting to let me know what you think and that's brilliant so thanks! So anyways, On with the show! hope you like this chapter. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Just a little warning that there is some strong language in this chapter, if this offends you, you probably shouldn't read on. Just a warning

Chapter 4
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Sarah opened her eyes slowly, and groan, putting a hand over her eyes as the sun blinded her. She sat up, and realized she was laying on her living room floor. her back ached and she felt chilled. Probably because she hadn't even got dressed last night she thought as she noticed the robe she still wore on her thin body.

"What the fuck happened?" she asked herself. every memory from last night had completely gone, all she remembered was crying about Jon while she was bathing, but how she had gotten onto her living room floor was beyond her knowledge. Sarah stood up, her knees felt weak and she was surprised at how much her head hurt. Maybe she needed to knock off the vodka for a while. even thinking of having a break from drink made her feel depressed and she sighed sadly. Look at what she had done to herself.

"Sarah!" Toby shouted happily as he ran into his sisters arms, hugging her tightly. Sarah smiled widely and hugged the boy back just as tightly as he hugged her.

"I missed you" she whispered and kissed his head gently.

Toby smiled and wriggled out of Sarah's arms, and looked around. then he frowned. "Where's Jon?"

Sarah lowered her head at the mention of him. "He's...he's gone Toby... and he's not coming back." Toby's eyes lit up and a big smile took over his face.

"Yippee! I'm glad he's gone Sarah, he was mean to me, I'm glad he's gone."

Sarah looked surprised. Jon always used to take Toby to school and sometimes he would take him out to the mall and buy him cookies or candy, and she thought Toby would have been very upset to know that the only man in his life was now gone.

"I thought you liked Jon?"

Toby shrugged his shoulders. "Nah, he was nothing but a big old meanie." he said taking Sarah's hand and they both started walking down the street.

Sarah felt somewhat confused and she looked down at Toby. "But Jon always used to take you places, and buy you things... didn't you like that?" she asked, pulling

her coat around her tighter, it was bitter cold.

"He used too at first, but he changed recently...he shouted at me when i got into the car the other day, and he hit my leg." He said kicking a stone that was on the path, and it rolled onto the road.

Sarah felt rage and anger fill her heart and she stopped walking and bent down to Toby's level.

"HE WHAT?" she shouted any feelings of love she felt for Jon starting to fall out of her heart.

Toby felt a little afraid and he kept quiet for a moment and bit his lip. Sarah saw his expression and tears filled her eyes. Jon hadn't only hurt her, but he'd hurt Toby too.

"Oh Toby...I'm so sorry." she said pulling him into her arms and cried quietly into his little shoulder. "I promise you'll never have to put up with another man hurting you ever again. Ever again. from now on Tobes, its just me and you. just us kid."
she said and pulled away slowly looking at him right in the eyes.

Toby smiled and took her hand again. "I would like that." he said, steam leaving his mouth as he talked. it was getting colder.

Sarah stood up again and they both walked silently for a while until Sarah noticed the big gates that lead into the park.

"Hey, wanna have a quick stroll in the park?" she asked him.

Toby's face lit up. "Yeah! and then we can see Merlin!" he said letting go on her hand and running into the park before Sarah could change her mind.

Sarah's heart felt heavy and she wished she's never suggested the park to her little brother. She had temporarily forgotten that Merlin had been buried in the park by a huge tree. How could she have forgotten that?

"C'on Sarah!" Toby shouted to his sister when he turned and saw she was still standing outside the gates.

Sarah sighed. she had no choice, she couldn't cope with upsetting Toby anymore then she already had, and so she took a deep shuddering breath and walked into the park.

Toby's smile widened and she run ahead.

"Goodnight Toby." she said quietly as she kissed the boys head. Toby opened one eye and sat up quickly before she could turn out the light.

"Sarah... Story time?" he smiled at her and grabbed his bear Lancelot. Sarah smiled and walked over to the book shelf.

"What book do you want me to read you?" she asked him.

He giggled. "The Labyrinth!" he said kicking his legs excitedly in the bed.

Sarah felt her breath catch in her throat and she gulped "L-labyrinth?...are you sure?" she said soundly slightly scared, like if she was to read the labyrinth book again then she would end up back there, or worse, Toby back there. She wasn't a child anymore, but since her journey in the Labyrinth, she had been afraid even to think about it. She didn't want to lose Toby again... he was all she had left. that's why she had hidden the book away. she had no idea how Toby had got it. She bit her lip softly.

"Pleasssee!" Toby pleaded.

Sarah sighed and ran her finger over the gold letters. What harm could it do after all? nothing would happen, she had won. HE had no power over her.

"Okay Toby, but maybe only half the book, because I'm pretty tired after our walk today." she grinned at him and he smiled back at her and took a sip of his hot milk.

Sarah crept quietly out of Toby's bedroom and closed the door behind her. Of course she had ended up reading the whole book to him. Sarah sighed and walked into her lounge, sitting herself down onto the red couch. She didn't feel well, and she was too tired for words, but somehow she couldn't bring herself to get into bed. She looked around the room at the various things scattered around her living room, such as family photos, books, flowers, candles ect. It all seemed so strange to her. her life. Her Mother leaving her when she had only been at the tender age of 8, her Father and Stepmothers sudden death, Marlins death, her journey in the Labyrinth... Definitely not your average 21 years olds life. After what felt like hours later, Sarah decided she needed a bath, just to clean away all the thoughts of her life.

Sarah sighed as the hot water relaxed her body. She tried to focus on the sound of her breathing, trying not to think of anything that would depress her. She opened the small cupboard and pulled out a bottle of whiskey. okay, yes she had said she wasn't going to drink for a while, but she couldn't just give up like that. She opened the bottle and swigged some of the contents to the back of her throat, she loved how it burned her and she sighed with relief. She drank some more and more, and she drank it quickly, like you would a glass of water. Her head started to throb as the strong whiskey started working its magic on her. And she enjoyed that numb feeling that crept up around her. Sarah put down the bottle after drinking half of it, and she sighed and lowered her body deeper into the water. As she lay there she began to feel quiet relaxed... quiet content. Sarah closed her eyes and for a moment all was peaceful.

Dark clouds passed over her eyes, and she could hear ghostly singing, or was it crying? she couldn't tell, but for some reason she couldn't open her eyes. she tried too, but they wouldn't open. it was like they had been sealed shut. The ghostly sounds became louder, and the dark clouds parted, and a scene was put into her mind. Her mother. her real mother. on stage, dancing, her hair up in a bun, her lips were painted red and her skin white. Black tears pouring down her face as she stands there, the audience are cheering, and its obvious she is loved by them, and yet...she is so sad.

the scene is slowly replaced, to her Mother laying in the bath, tears still on her face. she picks up a small green bottle and opens it, pouring some pills from it into her mouth, she swallows them down with some sort of alcohol. The black clouds fill the room and the ghostly screams fill her ears again and Sarah started trembling. the clouds clear over just enough for Sarah to see her Mother laying with her head in the water, her eyes closed. she was dead.

Darkness falls again, such darkness and so many screams, and then a voice, a deep voice, calling her name. 'Sarah... you're turn.' 'Sarah...'

Sarah gasped for breath, but her lungs began to fill with water. she tried to open her eyes, but they were so tightly closed. Panic filled her heart and she screamed, not knowing what else she could do. more water began to fill her lungs, and tears started to fall from her eyes. She desperately tried to sit up, but she couldn't move. she struggled and struggled trying to fight whatever was taking her, but suddenly feeling rather peaceful, and her body became limp and heavy, she felt herself drifting out of consciousness, and she stopped struggling. Pictures of her life flashed into her brain, her mother, her father and step mother, her old friends, her life, her happy days and sad days, then Toby, and then the Labyrinth, and the goblin king. Sarah chocked out the last air bubble from her lungs, and passed out.

Two hands suddenly gripped the body of Sarah Williams, pulling her from the deep bath, and pulled her limp heavy body into his arms, hugging her against his chest. "Oh, you precious thing..." He lay her lifeless body on the floor and pulled a towel around her, then pulled her back into his arms and rocked her gently, patting her back repeatedly.

"Come on precious, bring it up, don't let it take you too..."

Somewhere in the distance Sarah could hear a familiar voice calling her name... she she couldn't remember who the voice belong too. She noticed the voice was emotional, and filled with concern and worry, whoever it was, obviously cared about her quiet a lot.
She suddenly leaned forward, coughed and spluttered, bringing up some of the water she had consumed.

The voice gave a cry of relif. "Oh Sarah, thank god. I thought I'd lost you, you precious thing."

Sarah's throat hurt so bad, her heart was beating so fast and hard in her chest, and her whole body ached like she had been beaten up.

She felt her body being pressed against a warm body, she could hear his echo voice in the back of her mind, but she still didn't know who it belonged too, and she still couldn't open her eyes. "My poor Sarah..." the soft velvet voice said. Suddenly Sarah began to chock, the pain was excruciating and she let out a sob, tears made there way down her face.

"Sarah, precious, its alright... I've got you."
she felt a gloved hand wipe away the tears from her face and for the first time in her life she found herself able to let go. Sarah sobbed, terrified. What she had seen that has happened her Mother had scared her emotionally, and to think, the same thing could of happened to her. She cried out the pain of losing her mother, she cried out the pain of losing her father and stepmother, she cried out the pain of losing Merlin, and she cried out the physical pain she now felt burn inside her. Without any words said, and without any idea of who this person was, she felt genuinely safe. and comforted.

She moaned as the pain got worse and she found herself unable to breath.

"Hurts..." she managed to squeeze out, even as tears fell down her face.

"I'll make the pain go away precious... I promise." the voice became more quiet and Sarah found herself falling into a deep sleep.

AN: Wow I'm knackered been working on this for a good 3 hours if not more! and I'm far to tired to edit, so if there are any mistakes please forgive me. So people, be sure to review and let me know what you think of this chapter! I hope its good enough for you all. Happy New Year all!