Hi. I'm sorry for the delay in getting this chapter- my word processor sucks.

As usual this chapter is dedicated to my reviwers-

0n with the show...

Of Drawings And Wishes

"What is it with her?" Ruben muttered.

Sarah Williams; beautiful, talented, popular- the woman was forever beating the men off with a stick; even though she never went to any after-show parties, preferring to spend time with her daughter.

Now it wasn't that he had anything against Jae- no indeed the girl was sweet and polite (and had her mum wrapped around her little finger). Ruben wasn't exactly an expert but it seemed to him that most single mothers would want a father figure for their children.

Suddenly there came a knock on the lighting booth door.

"Ruben?" Sarah entered, Jae balanced on her hip.

"Hey Sarah" he smiled at her, "Can I help you?"

"Yeah, I've got to pop out for a bit, will you watch Jae for me?"

His smile slipped a little, "Sure" he nodded, reaching out for the blonde pixie- he couldn't wait for Monday; she'd be back at school and away from the theatre.

"Be a good girl honey" Sarah pecked her daughter's cheek, "I won't be long"

"Bye Mummy"

"Thanks for this Ruben, see you later"

And so Ruben was left to watch the daughter of the beautiful Miss Williams.

As soon as he put Jae on the floor, Ruben turned his attention to testing the equipment- suddenly,

"Mr Ruben, can I have something to draw on please?" she asked, tugging on his sleeve

He thrust a pad and pencil into her hands, "Here, now, let me get on"

"Kay" she grinned, displaying a set of sharp white teeth, "Thank you"

'The kid's being very quiet' Ruben thought- she hadn't made a sound since he'd given her the paper half an hour ago. Suspiciously he glanced over his shoulder and saw her lying on her front, feet swinging, drawing intently. On the page was a lumpy creature with a squashed face and a pan on its head.

"Now what's that supposed to be?" he asked, smirking

"Goblin" she answered cordially, adding a tail onto the creature, "Mummy says that they come and take away the unwanted things"

"Oh really?"

Sarah didn't seem the type to indulge in fairytales to him.

"Yep, she says that you've got to wish for it to be taken or it won't go away"

Ruben snorted, 'kids', "I wish the goblins would come and take you away right now, kid"

Thunder rolled, the lights in the booth went out and Jae vanished,

"I must say" a smooth voice tutted softly in the darkness, "That wasn't particularly nice of you was it? But, what's said is said"

The lights came on- though somewhat dimmer than before- to reveal a tall blonde man, standing on the very spot that Jae had been on not two seconds earlier,

"Who the hell are you?" he demanded, "And where is she?"

"I am the Goblin King" the blonde announced, "And the child, is in my castle- where you wished her to"

"What're you gonna do to her?" he glared at the so called king who, in response, rolled his eyes- a sneer pulling on his lips

"That's hardly any of your business is it now?" A glass ball appeared in his leather cased hand, "Unless you wish to attempt to win her back, do you?"

Ruben contemplated momentarily, "I've got to, her mum'll skin me if any thing happens to her."

Jareth didn't tell this mortal that the mother would forget her daughter if he lost the Labyrinth, "Very well"

The two men were suddenly stood on a hill overlooking the mighty Labyrinth

"The girl is there, in my castle" the Goblin King pointed to the distant building, "You have thirteen hours to complete the Labyrinth or the child becomes one of us forever; such a pity"

Before Ruben could ask what he meant by 'one of us' the Goblin King vanished.

What do you think?

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