There was a flurry of glitter, feathers, and black cloth, when suddenly , the Goblin King himself stood before us.

"Jareth . . ." I squeaked, not knowing what to say. Laura took that moment to snap into action.

"Who are you?" she demanded. "What have you done to my sister?" Jareth was looking at me, but now turned a cold stare to my friend.

"I've granted your wish," he stated simply. He stepped towards her and pulled out a crystal ball, expertly twisting it in his hands. "I'll make you a deal. I keep the girl, and you take this." He tossed the ball and she caught it, looking into it.

"W-what is this?"

"It's a crystal. If you look into it, it will show you your dreams," he drawled seductively.

"No, Laura! Don't take it!" I shouted. Jareth glared at me.

"You stay out of this. You've had your chance; the decision must be hers." But Laura made me proud by tossing the ball back to him.

"I'm sorry, but it's of no use to me. All I want is my sister." I smiled at her encouragingly, but Jareth just smirked, turned toward the window, and gestured for her to follow. She looked at me uncertainly, and I put a hand on her shoulder and guided her to the window.

"Your sister," he said, pointing across the dull, yellowish terrain, "is there, in my castle."

"What is that? Is that a maze?" she asked.

"A 'maze' is for children with crayons. This is a Labyrinth." I suppressed a giggle at how indignant he looked at his beloved Labyrinth being called a 'maze'.

A faint crying could be heard from the direction of the castle. "If you want her back, you have merely to solve my Labyrinth and reach my castle. You have thirteen hours in which to do so, or I keep the child. But don't worry," he suddenly turned to me, and I noticed we were no longer in the bedroom. Jareth stalked closer, gaze never wavering, and I held my ground as he grew uncomfortably close. "You have the one girl who has ever completed the Labyrinth on your side."

Laura looked back and forth between us, utterly befuddled. Jareth now addressed me.

"Sarah, it really has been too long."

"What do you mean, 'on her side?'" I asked suspiciously, putting nothing past him.

"Clever Sarah. I was so pleased to be able to visit you again. I can let no friend of yours go through this alone, now, can I?" He stroked my hair and smiled at me playfully.

"I never thought I'd be here again," I said, once again looking over the landscape.

"Aren't you going to thank me for allowing you to assist your friend?"

"Speaking of, why are you letting me do this?" He smirked at me, getting close again and leaning to whisper in my ear.

"Perhaps I was hoping you'd reconsider my offer." I was about to reply, but he put a finger to my lips. "Not now, love. We'll talk again; but for now, time is ticking." He disappeared, leaving behind a golden ornate clock that went to 13 instead of 12. I grabbed Laura's hand and pulled her down the path, silently noting that it was somewhat more trodden on than when I was last here.

"Wait, Sarah, please, tell me what's going on!"

"We don't have time! I barely managed to scrape by last time, and no doubt Jareth has enhanced the security in this place since then." Laura suddenly stopped in her tracks.

"I'm not budging an inch until you tell me what the hell's going on!" I sighed impatiently.

"Fine, then listen and listen good, because every second counts. Three years ago, I wished the goblins would take Toby away, and they did. I had 13 hours to find him at the center of this Labyrinth and I did. I'm the only one in history to do it. The same thing is happening to you. Now, we've got to go! I don't know what he'll do to her if we fail!"

"This is ridiculous! . . . That's it, I must be dreaming!"

"You're not dreaming, you're just stupid!" I said, trying to shove her toward the pond where I first met Hoggle.

"This is insane. I'm not—I mean, this can't be real."

"Put it this way," I huffed, getting nowhere with the slightly larger girl. "In case you're not dreaming, you'd better buck up and help your sister!"

"You're-you're right, I've got to help her!"

"Good, now come on!"

She finally started running until we came around some brush and found Hoggle, busily spraying rogue fairies. "HOGGLE!" I yelled in elation, running up to him. I fell on my knees and hugged him tight.

"Sarah, what are you doing here?" he asked incredulously.

"My friend Laura has to get to the castle, will you help us?"

"Well, you know I'll go with you, but I'm not strictly allowed to help you."

"But, you helped me, didn't you?"

"Sort of, you see, I can't tell you which way to go or anything like that. I'm okay for getting out of sticky situations, but not much else."

"That's okay, we'll just go the same way I went last time . . . or try to, at least."

"I don't think you can tell her which way to go, either."

"What?! What are we supposed to do, then?"

"Hey," Laura interjected. "I'm not totally useless! . . . and, who's this?" I looked at the dwarf and back at her. He was still wearing my plastic bracelet, I noticed.

"This is Hoggle, he helped me when I was here." Laura smiled sweetly and held out her hand.

"It's nice to meet you, Higgle," she said, and I giggled.

"Uh, it's Hoggle . . . anyway, what are we doing standing around here? Let's get going!" I grinned and he led us into the door. I looked back and forth down the long, seemingly unending corridors.

"Wow . . . déjà vu." Laura took off running in the same direction I had years ago, and Hoggle and I followed.

"Easy, I've got short legs!" Hoggle huffed.

"It goes on forever, there aren't any turns!" She started slowing down, looking hopeless. We walked for a while, and I realized that when I tried to tell her about the secret openings, no sound would come out.

"You're right, Hoggle, I can't tell her which way to go . . . but that worm told me . . . I don't understand!"

"Well, a worm isn't so much subject to the rules. Plus, everything's been really tightened up since you beat this place." I looked at the strange plants on the walls, with eyeballs watching me, and wondered if Jareth was using them to watch us.

"Ay, there's a familiar face!"

Laura stopped and looked around. "Who said that?"

"Ahllo, remember me?" I looked down and saw a small blue and green worm wearing a red scarf.

"Hey, I remember you! How's the wife?"

"Ah, she's a'right. You got time to come meet 'er, 'ave ya?"

"No, sorry, we're in a hurry again."

"S'a'right. Most people come 'round here seem to be. 'Spect it's the moisture. 'Course, I love it!"

"Yeah, anyway, can you help my friend, she's kind of lost."

"Why doncha jus' head on through that 'ole 'cross the way, like ya did last time?"

"Good idea, thank you." Laura kneeled down and smiled at the worm.

"What a sweet little worm! Thank you for the help!" She then walked over to the wall. "It—it's not an opening, though . . ."

"Try walkin' through it, you'll see wah ah mean." He smiled knowingly and I watched Laura mimic my actions until she discovered the way. She thanked the worm again and walked to the right. I remembered the worm telling me to 'never go' the other way, and wondered what was over there, but followed Laura anyway.