Broken
Jareth paced furiously, casting malicious glares at the thirteen hour clock which until now had reliably (if not entirely truthfully) counted down Sarah's time.
"Your Majesty?" Hoggle asked fearfully.
"The infernal thing is BROKEN, look!"
He gestured to the stationary golden hands, the time frozen at 9pm.
"Now the girl has all the time in the world to complete the Labyrinth!"
"Oh no, Your Majesty, surely not!"
Hoggle carefully tucked the small handful of golden screws and cogs into his pouch of treasures and backed away from the irate king, a great sense of accomplishment lightening his step.
The idyllic parkland looked perfect, but Sarah, clutching the fresh bouquet, felt numb, convinced imagination would never thrive again.
An owl perched overhead, watching her trace her father's name on the headstone.
It flew closer, observing her unending tears. In a flourish of feathers Jareth stood beside Sarah, placed a hand on her shoulder - it faded straight through.
Sarah never realised she was not alone.
Unable to reach her, Jareth couldn't tell her he would always be there, waiting, until she herself began to mend; he would wait forever.
In owl form he soared overhead, keeping pace with the broken young woman leaving the cemetery.
"He should be talking by now Robert, I don't like it."
"He's still young, just give him time."
Sarah watched the ever-silent Toby, and felt fearful.
She saw the way his eyes rarely focussed on the near-distance, like he was staring off into another world, one far more captivating than anything reality could offer.
Toby would not speak, Sarah knew; he was in the thrall of something beyond understanding, and it was her fault.
I asked for the child he had stolen, but he only gave half of him back, because he KNEW…
Inevitably, Sarah knew she must make another wish.