Sarah woke up with a start. She jumped out of the bed and looked around. For a second, she didn't quite know what was happening. Everything was… the same? She was still in her dorm. Everything was exactly as it was. "That couldn't have been a dream, it felt so real." Sarah said to herself. She looked around, scrutinizing everything. She sighed and sat back down on her bed. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, and ran her fingers through her hair. That dream, or whatever it was, had been so vivid. She could've sworn it was real. She racked her brain trying to remember the details. She remembered the little red book, and then the man, but what happened after that? The more she concentrated, the more her thoughts started to disperse. Her mind was grasping at the little details that were left, but it was no use.
She let out a frustrated sigh and stood up rather abruptly. She needed to get out of this room, she needed to go somewhere, anywhere really. The girl walked towards the door that led out to the hall. She reached out to open the door, but something stopped her. There wasn't an overwhelming force stopping her from opening the door, but she did get a strange feeling. She spun around to make sure there was no one else in the room with her. She was very relieved to see that there was no one there. She reached for the door again, and the same uneasy feeling greeted her. She shook it off and opened the door. At first, everything looked the same, but then everything flickered. Sarah thought it was just her mind playing tricks on her, but then it did it again. Everything around her flickered like a television would during a storm.
Sarah ran out into the hall, and her dorm room literally disappeared. She didn't know what to do. She was a tad bit intrigued by what was going on, but at the same time she was scared. What the hell was happening? Merely seconds after the dorm room flickered away, the hallway did too. Now Sarah was left in the middle of a completely different hall. The walls were carved from stone, and sconces lined the walls. The sconces held what looked to be stones. The stones were glowing blue, casting the hall in an odd blue light. There were tapestries that lined the walls about every ten feet or so. The one Sarah currently stood in front of depicted a unicorn wearing armor like horses would during the time of cavalries.
Sarah was confused. Where was she? She looked down both ends of the hall. Either way she went, the hall seemed to stretch on forever. She decided that she would go left. As she walked, she studied each of the tapestries. Each of them portrayed some strange creature or a variation of what she assumed to be a crest. She kept seeing the same symbol over and over again. It was sort of an upside down arrow with a gold circle in the middle. As she studied a particular tapestry, she noticed something moving. She focused on whatever it was and started towards it. When the thing noticed her, it started running. Whatever it was short, probably the stature of a toddler. She ran after it. "Hey, wait!" She called. The thing stopped for a moment, but then it took off running again. Sarah ran after the creature, but somehow she lost track of it.
That was when she saw the same unicorn tapestry she had seen at first. She looked at each of the tapestries as she walked by. They were all the same ones she had passed earlier! How was this happening? There was no way she had gone in a circle or had gotten turned around somehow. She was quickly losing hope of getting out of wherever she was. She wanted to scream or sit down and cry. She started walking down the hall again, but this time she noticed a door down the hall. The door was situated between two very distinct tapestries. Sarah most certainly did not recognize the door. At least she would think she would remember seeing a door. She approached the door cautiously. For all she knew, there could be a rabid monster waiting behind it.
She reached for the latch, and pushed the door open slowly. She was surprised to find what seemed to be a study behind the door. There were shelves that reached nearly to the ceiling, and rows upon rows of books. There also seemed to be several scrolls as well. There was a large wooded desk that occupied the left side of the room. On the right side of the room, there was a large fire place. Green fire flickered in the place. There were several very ornate chairs and a chaise lounge arranged around the fire place as well. Large floor to ceiling windows took up the front side of the room. Sarah turned, and realized that the door had disappeared. She walked over to the windows and looked outside. Sarah's breath caught in her throat again. The view was absolutely beautiful. She could see a village sprawled out below. Just outside the village, there seemed to be a large maze. "The Labyrinth," Sarah said out loud, although she didn't know why.
Right outside the labyrinth, there were mountains and forests. There also looked like there was a river in the distance, and maybe a lake. "Welcome back Sarah," a melodious voice called from behind her. She turned to see the same man from before. He was lounging in the chaise that sat near the fireplace. Instinctively, Sarah backed against the windows. "What have you done?" Sarah questioned. The man stood up lazily from the lounge and sauntered over to her until he was only a few feet away from her. "That's not the right question Sarah." The man stated. "What do you mean?" She asked again. The man in front of her just laughed. "Please, I don't know what's going on." Sarah pleaded. At that moment, a softness touched the man's eyes. "You really don't, do you?" The man questioned, almost to himself. Sarah shook her head.
"Sarah, do you know who I am?" Sarah was about to say no when a picture flashed in the back of her mind. She was watching Toby and the same man was there, in her parents' room. "You're the Goblin King, aren't you?" The man smirked. "I am known by many as the Goblin King, yes." Sarah looked to the window again. "I've been here before?" Sarah shook her head. She tried to remember. She could feel that she had been here before, but much like a dream, her memories were eluding her. The Goblin King walked over to where the girl stood. Sarah couldn't help but to tense up. He stood inches away from her, looking out the window. "Please," Sarah begged, "I just want to go home."
When Sarah said that, she could feel the man tense. "I am quickly tiring of your games girl!" Sarah jumped at the tone of his voice. He seemed angry, but Sarah hadn't done anything to anger him. Had she? Sarah didn't dare move. She was alone somewhere with a strange man. She doubted anyone would help her. "I- I don't understand…" Sarah's voice trailed off. She was on the verge of tears. Seeing this, the king let out a sigh. He led her over to the fireplace and motioned for her to sit. Sarah complied. "If you realize it or not, your words have power Sarah." Sarah looked up at the man. He was seated in the chaise again. "But-" she began. The man glared at her, and Sarah lost her voice. "Do not interrupt me again, Sarah." The man motioned around him. "I brought you here because you asked me to, the same as before. Yet I see you're ever ungrateful."
Sarah wanted to tell the man that she had never asked to come here, but decided against it when he gave her a warning glare. "Everything you've ever asked of me, I have done. It is clear you do not remember your first episode here, so let me make some things clear." He paused, gathering his words. "What's said is said. You wished to be here, so you're here. It's rather simple really." Sarah had so many questions. She wanted, no needed, answers. "I cannot take you back. It is not within my power, so do not even consider asking. Other than that, do you have any questions?" Sarah immediately seized her opportunity to talk. "You said I have been here before, and I think I remember it… but I just can't imagine it." Sarah stopped, and looked at the man. She had expected him to answer, but he wasn't. "Well?" Sarah asked. "Was that a question Sarah? Because that sounded more like a statement." Sarah was starting to get flustered, and the man was obviously enjoying it. "I haven't a clue as to why you don't remember being here. It is a bit curious. It probably has something to do with you being the first champion since my reign of the kingdom." Sarah was a bit surprised. She was a champion? A champion of what? Instead of asking about that, she chose perhaps one of the most trivial questions.
"How long have you reigned?" The man chuckled at the girl's question. "Time is nearly irrelevant here, but I've been in power here far longer than you could comprehend." Sarah crossed her arms. That was clearly an insult. "Well, you don't look that old." The man was clearly amused by her. "Not all is as it seems here in the Underground." Sarah stood up, and turned away from the man. She was becoming more and more confused each time he answered her questions. As she stood up, her stomach rumbled. She couldn't remember the last time she ate, perhaps at breakfast this morning? She didn't realize how hungry she was. The man raised his eyebrow a the noise. "I apologize Sarah. Come, I'll have the kitchen staff prepare dinner." With that, the man stood up and walked towards where the door she had previously entered through once was. Without stopping, he walked towards the spot and through the wall. At first, Sarah was baffled. How was that even possible? Then she remembered what the king had said. Not all is as it seems.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I highly appreciate them. I am new to this sight, so I don't have a beta (or whatever they're called). While I do reread the chapters prior to posting them, I realize I often miss some things. I apologize in advance for any mistakes!