Thirteen hours, Thirteen gifts

Chapter 2 – Bracelet

Winter, Circa 1987

Imagine, for a second, that Peter Pan, the immortal child from the fables was real.

100% real.

Then, imagine he challenged you to find his shadow somewhere in Neverland, his home turf, in exchange for your brothers' lives in less than thirteen hours.

Then, against all the odds, imagine yourself, as Wendy, tying Pan's shadow alongside him, despite all of his efforts and protests, as she triumphantly returned to her homeland alongside her beloved siblings. All before the stroke of midnight by the mighty Big Ben.

Sarah smiled. Whoever said she didn't have imagination?

And the cheating. Don't forget all of that cheating.

To be fair, before she received the gift, she thought that she had imagined all of the events she had experienced in the Labyrinth.

It was like a really good fairy-tale. A misunderstood heroine, going to the rescue of her baby brother in distress, championing against the ruler of all goblins and wicked elements, who kidnapped her brother out of sheer boredom. Alongside her heroic band of misfits...

Never mind that her brother was in distress because of said heroine.

Never mind the heroine not being that different from the so-called villain.

Never mind the villain being… well. What's a word for him? Bombastic? Pompous? Spoilt?

How about opportunistic? Hmm, close.

Self-centred? Vain? Flamboyant? Almost. Insufferable?

Dammit. Too many words to choose from.

Sarah took a deep breath. She raised her hand towards her face. The bracelet was still there. It's shaped like an owl's wing. Only now she noticed that.

There were words inscribed on it. Sed non-in Peppe- pet- urgh. It better not another spell of his. Maybe it would turn her into a frog this time, Sarah mused.

Still... will it be there tomorrow? Or was she still dreaming?

Old Sarah would've dramatically monologued at how confused she was by the Goblin King's mixed signals. Did he want to start everything over, or was he mocking her? To get to Toby? Now, Sarah was just curious. Did he want to be remembered?

Is that it? To not be just a memory?

But then… why not come in per-

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

Three knocks in an uninterrupted row. Must be her father.

"Coming!" Sarah got up from her bed and opened the door.

"'ello pumpkin." Her dad was calling her with her old nickname again. "Happy 16th birthday!"

"Yes- ack, Dad I love you too," Sarah could barely say, as her father quickly gave her a bear hug.

I'm so gonna feel that tomorrow morning. "Thank you for the presents."

Robert gleamed.

"Anything for you sweetheart." Robert said. "I'm glad you liked them! How did the party go- say, what's that you have? Did you receive it from one of your friends?"

Shit! Sarah thought. She kept her bracelet on!

"Umm… Irene gave this to me as a present!" Sarah mumbled. "Isn't it lovely? She said it came from Gh-Ghana. I like it a lot." Don't notice my stuttering, best puppy eyes impression…

It worked.

"Ah, that's wonderful." Robert smiled. "You're finally appreciating each other!"

Sarah sighed. That's her father alright. Always as neutral as the Swiss.

"Now err, about Irene. A-about us." Robert stammered. "We were wondering… we need to tell you about something. Something important." Not quite as diplomatic though.

"Hmm?" Sarah asked. "Well," her father continued. "Can Irene join us?"

Irene wants to be here too? This is serious.

"Of course she can. No need to ask."

Less than a minute after, Irene entered the room. She sat next to her father, who already looked like a deer caught in the headlights. Sarah patiently waited her dad to continue.

"We chose to tell you today because it's your birthday, your special day. This is really important." Robert continued. "And we wanted to tell you this together so then you'll know that we have your future in our top most priority." Ah. She knew what was coming next.

Sarah interrupted him. There was no reason her dad was so nervous unless for the routine request. "Say no more. You have an important business trip and Irene is coming with you."

"Well, yes." Sarah winced, but hid it well. "But this time - you and Toby are coming with us."

Now THAT surprised her. She couldn't hide it. What? Since when?

"Really? Does that mean you finally got the promotion you wanted?"

Robert gleamed, Irene smiled with him.

"That's right sweetie! Your father is now an official employee of Lloyd's Bank! Tomorrow we're going to the airport to book our tickets. Say goodbye to this smelly neighbourhood, because in a month's time, we will all permanently move to the one and only Swinging City, London!" he said theatrically, before Irene stopped him from more of his ramblings.

What was that silence?

Oh right. They were waiting for her response.

Silly girl. Play your part.

"Congratulations daddy!" Sarah rushed to hug him. "I couldn't have been happier!"

"Really? Are you serious?" Robert enquired, "I'm, I'm-" And he burst out crying. Just like that.

As Sarah comforted her father alongside Irene, she pondered about her current situation. There she was, coming from her sweet sixteen birthday party with her close friends, after just discovering an unexpected gift on her desk. Who would've thought, less than a few hours later, she would find out she was going to leave everything she had built all her life behind her.

There was nothing she could do for now. Just smile.

"Better now?" Sarah asked her father. Robert looked up, wiping his tears with the napkin she gave him. They discussed for hours, about her and Toby's education, where the house was going to be located and about their future in general. Afterwards, Robert kissed her goodnight, but not before asking her the question that obviously bugged him the whole night.

"You're really not mad at me?" Sarah shook her head. "Not at all daddy. You go rest now."

Irene looked back. "If you need anything… we're here for you dear."

"Thank you… thank you, the both of you." Sarah meant that.

Robert smiled, like the way he used to all those years ago.

He closed the door behind him. Sarah kept staring at the door.

He did it again. He dumped a big bomb at her feet, then expected her to pick it up.

How was she supposed to feel? Angry? Numb? Amused? And on a birthday, just like the good old days. If she wasn't used to his absent mindedness, she'd think her dad did it on purpose.

In a way though, she understood.

The house must've reminded him of her mother as much as it reminded her. Every wall, every painting, every creak. Everything that was in the house had her mother's touch put into it. It was comforting a long time ago. It had felt like she never left. Now it's just suffocating.

And tiring.

She could her Irene and Robert discuss together downstairs. They sound really happy.

Sarah went back on her bed. There was one way she could cope with this situation. She reached for her bedside table and- wait. Where's the book? Where did her book go?

She got up, looking under her bed. There it was. It must've fallen off the table.

She opened her favourite book, as she always did since that day. The red cover still looked brand new. You would think I bought this yesterday. Sarah mused, with inner pride that only a book lover would appreciate. She opened it. Chapter 1 – The White Owl…

Goddammit. She wasn't supposed to cry. She was supposed to be better than that.

Sarah placed the book on her face, letting the tears flow down. If they had to leave, so be it.

Perhaps she'll find happiness elsewhere. Anywhere but this horrible house…

The bracelet felt tighter around her wrist that night.

Perhaps it was just her childish imagination.

Author's Notes

Hello everyone. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please rate and review.

Thank you for your encouraging review SheyrinalLabyrinthianDragon. Much appreciated!

Many thanks to everyone who read this story.

The next chapter will hopefully be released in a month's time.

Labyrinth belongs to the Henson Family and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.