"Sky's Eclipse"
Chapter I
By Aiijuin
*Disclaimer: I don't own anything regarding Jim Henson Companies or the Labyrinth Movie. I am not trying to steal other character names from people's fan fiction, but I cannot think of a better name to use for Jareth's alter ego in my story (His alter ego doesn't appear until a later chapter). This is rated M for some abrasive language and adult situations. (Resubmitted for grammatical reparations: 09/10/2009)
**Please be advised, I am making modifications to the first seven chapters of the story, to repair my terrible grammatical errors and make reading this story more pleasant on the eyes. The premise of the story will continue to remain the same. This is being done progressively. If you see this message at the beginning of the first seven chapters, then I have repaired it and replaced it.
Chapter One: That's right, it's NOT Fair!
Sarah couldn't stop thinking about Jareth lately.
She had finished college and received her degree in theatrics.
However, like most artisan careers, she was unable to break into the highly competitive field of acting. Instead, Sarah decided to take a white-collar job in the Big Apple, working as a corporate office manager and making a fair salary. She settled down into the monotony of cubicle life, which was beginning to lull her into boredom. Her only excitement was listening to the gossip inside of the breakroom. Her supervisor was a married man, who thought it would be fun to dangle Sarah's career over her head with threats. She constantly had to thwart his lewd advances. He managed to blackmail her twice into having drinks with him on Friday night at a nearby club.
This morning, she had a particularly bad day. First, her car had been stolen from the residential parking garage where she had left it every night. Then, she wasn't able to hail a cab.
Typical New York City cab drivers, Sarah thought as she attempted to run in six-inch heels on uneven cement sidewalks.
It figures that the route bus had to break down this morning, Sarah grimaced as she maneuvered past street peddlers, harried businessmen, and lost tourists for the last thirty-two blocks before crossing Central Park.
Suddenly, it began to pour, but Sarah had forgotten her umbrella.
Remember, you couldn't carry one in your over-filled briefcase, or in that impossibly small, designer purse? A voice in Sarah's head reminded her.
She tripped while walking on the uneven, cobblestone sidewalks as she was leaving Central Park, because several bike riders refused to yield to her and she had to step to the side before she got hit. As a result, she twisted her ankle and fell into the mud.
By the time Sarah reached work, she was soaking wet, terribly muddy, and her supervisor was threatening to fire her because she was two hours late. Sarah began thinking back to her youth as a triumphant teen who challenged the great Goblin King and defeated him.
It was so easy then! Sarah thought.
She walked into the bathroom of her office with all of the clerks whispering and snickering behind her.
Why do people hate the office manager so much?
Sarah locked the door behind her, in order to prevent the ladies of the office from interfering in her business. All they wanted to know is the story of what happened, so they could gossip to their co-workers or blog it on FaceBook, while they were supposed to be working.
Typical, Sarah shook her head.
Slowly, she made her way to the mirror. She recalled gazing into her bedroom mirror long ago and seeing Hoggle, Sir Diddymus, and Ludo. She would give anything to feel that young and carefree again.
Sarah heard a bang at the door of the bathroom. It was her supervisor, Mike. He wanted to know where the reports were for the second quarter dating back three years ago. Sarah, being the obedient worker, unlocked the door and peeked out. Mike forced his way in. He closed the door behind them and relocked it. Sarah jumped back in fear. Judging from the leer on his face, Sarah could tell that Mike didn't really give a damn about reports of any kind right now. She could see the hunger in his eyes, as he forced her up against the wall, and pressed his lips hard against her own. His hands were strong and forceful, pushing Sarah's skirt higher and higher until he had his hands on the top of her hosiery. Sarah couldn't think for one minute, but was trying, like hell, to untangle his body and arms from hers. He whispered, "You ought to get dirty and wet more often, Sarah, it turns me on."
When he slipped on a puddle from her dripping clothes, Sarah turned her face and managed to wrestle him free. Sarah retorted loudly, "Mr. Pierce, I'm going to report this as sexual harassment!"
Mike Pierce shook his index finger at her and threatened, "If you tell, then I tell. Remember, I have the upper hand here, Sarah. Don't you recall the little "company incident" you nearly caused last year? You tattle, then, I tattle back. You owe me this!"
Sarah slipped on a patch of mud, and crashed to the floor. She sat up quickly before Mike could jump her. As she anticipated, he had regained his footing and pushed her back down to the ground. He sat atop her, pinning her body under his. His hands continued to fondle her body, and made their way up to her breasts.
Discovery of the company incident be damned, thought Sarah.
She wasn't going to be molested and ravaged by her supervisor anymore. Making her decision, Sarah screamed. The entire floor came running to try and pry open the door.
Mike glared into Sarah's eyes and held her chin, "You'll go down for this, bitch, I promise!"
Several hours later in the Corporate Board Room, Sarah had finished explaining her story. Mike told "his version" and remembered to add the diddy about the "company incident". Mike was written up for misconduct, but allowed to return to his desk. Sarah was promptly fired and escorted from the building.
She stood outside in the pouring rain with her purse and briefcase in her hands. Sarah hated the east coast during the late winter months. It always seemed to rain. The air was bitter cold now, and Sarah was standing outside in it.
She wanted to go home.
Actually, Sarah wanted to go home to her parents' house.
She was tired of the city.
She was tired of the noise.
Sarah was tired of the corporate cruelty of adult-life. She looked up to the clouds overhead.
Without realizing what she said, Sarah made a wish outloud, "I wish the goblins would take me away…. right now."
The taxis passed by, and the horns blared in their continuous drone of typical city life. People walked past on the sidewalk. Pigeons scuffled between the legs of pedestrians and landed on nearby signs while scavenging for food.
Nobody seemed to notice that Sarah Williams had disappeared.
Quintessential New York City inhabitants…
Not that they would have cared anyway…