Chapter 4: Memories
Mandy's jaw dropped. "Me? How am I special?"
"Your bloodline is the key to end our suffering. When your mother wished away young Tobias, I thought she was it. However, she never found any of the items. By the time she married your father, I knew she wasn't coming back. You found the ring, the very first item to be found. You are the one." Jareth took three steps back, his face was shadowed by his blonde bangs. Mandy sat on the edge of the fountain, holding her head.
"Okay, so you're telling me that because I found this ring, I'm supposed to save the labyrinth?"
"Yes, that is correct." he sat next to her and took her hand in his.
"How am I supposed to be the labyrinth's salvation if I can't even make breakfast without burning the milk and spilling the toast?" a few moments of silence passed before she realized what she just said. She mentally slapped herself. First, she has to get her brother and sister. Now, she has to save a dying civilization? She can't possibly not collapse under this much stress.
"It's hard, I know. I also know that what I'm about to tell you isn't going to help, but you have to find all the enchanted items in the time you are given to run the labyrinth."
"Then what the hay am I still sitting here? I should be scouring the labyrinth!" she shot up so fast, that she tripped over her own foot and fell into the fountain. She let out a high squeak as she fell, causing water to enter her mouth. She tried to spit it all out, but she could still feel some slip down her throat.
"Are you alright?" Jareth asked, offering his hand. She reached to take it and stopped, noticing the water.
"Can you hand me my notebook?" she slowly sat on the edge of the fountain and swung her legs over the carved rock.
"What do you see?" Jareth tried to hide the excitement in his voice.
"There are words written in the ripples." Mandy read aloud as she wrote.
"You have drank from the chalice of wonder,
You now control the Fall's thunder.
Now find the rose of stone,
It's with the first found bone."
"What does that mean, 'the first found bone'?" she cocked a blonde brow.
"Perhaps, it means that we should look where my kingdom first started dying." he guessed.
"Alright, let's check it out. Where do we go?" He hesitated with his answer.
"You may not like it."
"What is it?" she let out a groan.
"The front gates."
"The gates to the labyrinth? Where Hoggle is?" her irritation was obvious. He nodded. She sighed. "Fine." Mandy took one last look at the beautiful sight before her, and they left.
"I can't believe the fountain was the chalice. That was pure luck that we found it." Jareth said, his fingertips rubbing his temples.
"No, luck has nothing to do with it. There are no accidents, everything happens for a reason. The fact that we found the chalice proves I'm the human in the prophecy" she followed Jareth through the maze. He decided to change the subject.
"You mentioned earlier that Sarah was dead. How did she pass?"
"Well, after the twins were born, my parents didn't get a whole lot of time to themselves. They would have me watch the kids the first Wednesday of each month, their date night. They were on their way to the restaurant when it happened. A truck driver didn't stop at a red light, like he was supposed to. Their light was green, so they entered the intersection. The truck hit them head on. They were pronounced dead at the scene." she finished her story with a shaky sigh. He didn't want to continue asking questions, but he was curious.
"What happened to you after that? If I recall correctly, humans can't live alone at that age, especially with two infants."
"You're correct. The twins lived with Uncle Toby, but he didn't have enough income to support all four of us. I moved in with a close friend of mine. I owe that crazy woman a lot. When I turned eighteen, the court allowed me to take back the twins." she almost tripped again, but caught herself.
"What was your friend like?" He kicked a rock from his path, twirling his scepter. Mandy smiled at the memory of her friend.
"Her name is Calah. A beautiful young woman. She and I are the bestest of friends. We share a love for many of the same things; movies, bands, books, characters. We're so close, almost like sisters. She's very talented. Even designed my tattoo." she pointed to her shoulder. "I'd do absolutely anything for her."
"You seem to care about her a great deal."
"How could I not care about someone who served as my second family?" she twisted the ring. Jareth chuckled.
"Touche."