Disclaimer: Nothing remotely familiar is mine. Not that I don't wish for it...

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Café Escape hardly felt like an escape in Sarah's opinion. Even though the other customers in the cafe seemed to pay their corner table no attention, she couldn't shake the nagging feeling of being watched. Denim clad legs crossed absent-mindedly. I hate Sundays, she mused. Aren't people supposed to be home with their families? She quelled the proceeding urge to laugh. These nightmares are giving me serious paranoia.

"So then he said, 'no, but it wasn't even MY dog! Can you believe it?" Kate nudged her friend forcefully.

The brunette jumped in shock, rattled from her daydreams. She shrugged half-heartedly and returned her thoughts to the previous night. I wish I knew why after five years I'm suddenly plagued by dreams of the Labyrinth. She furrowed her brow in contemplation. It doesn't make any sense. Evan Morrow cautiously eyed her from across the table while she picked apart her sandwich.

"Jeez, Sawah, what did that samwich" he swallowed, "…ever do to you? Are you sure you're feeling ok? Do you want to talk about it?"

Ever thoughtful Evan. Sarah returned his gaze to meet two concerned eyes of the deepest coal, shaded by messy brown bangs. A sickle shaped glob of mustard marred his otherwise flawlessly tanned skin. Why couldn't I dream about him instead? She silently pleaded. Realizing she was still staring, she forced out a response.

"N-oo...I'm alright. Just tired, that's all."

"Nightmares", Kate coughed to the three other lunch guests, pointing an accusatory finger in Sarah's direction.

"Kate!" Sarah elbowed her friend, knocking an unsuspecting glass salt shaker completely off the table in the process. She watched in superstitious horror as it shattered.

Shattered glass, leading to winding paths…

Her lungs clenched as she sat immobile, watching the metal lid roll to her left and land by a large, sneaker clad foot. The sneaker's owner, Anthony, she noted, pushed back his chair and dropped to the floor.

Shadows surfaced as dancers fell to the floor en masse…

Sarah's heart was racing. The room was spinning again. Why was it so warm in the restaurant? She had to get out, right now.

Anthony sighed. Collecting the pieces in his napkin, he too eyed Sarah with concern.

"Nightmares or not, you aren't yourself. Why don't you head home and sleep? Besides, that waiter over there is giving you a dirty look. We better head out before he decides to spit in your drink or something. I'll drive if you want, my car is parked right out back" he offered, shrugging a twenty out of his wallet. After sliding it under a corner of his plate, he pulled his coat off the back of the rod-iron chair and wordlessly offered it to Sarah.

Sarah shook her head but rose from the table, her half-eaten tuna sandwich forgotten. She willed the visions to dissipate as she found the worried eyes of her friends. I am here, she chanted, I am safe. Nothing is out of the ordinary.

"Thanks Anthony, but I brought my car. A little rest may do me good. Kate?"

"Err, well, actually…" she faltered, glancing at Evan and Anthony's friend Ben out of the corner of her eye.

Some friend you are, charmed by a boy you met thirty minutes ago. Nodding once to her companions, Sarah found her bag underneath the table. After pulling a ten from her own wallet, she rushed through the cafe and out the door.

Inside, a pair of mismatched eyes watched her retreat with veiled interest.

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"Is you sure that's what he said?" a suspicious dwarf asked of his companion.

"On my honor, Sir Hoggle, the King demanded it!"

"Hmpf. Well. Hoggle don't like it one bit. Stay in the castle, he says? With him?" his displeasure emphasized by an ensuing snort.

"I am certain His Majesty will do everything in his power to help our fair maiden through her task! Forget not the bravery she possessed not 3 moons ago…" Sir Didymus attempted to reason in vain.

"I's not saying he won't help her. I just don't like her staying with him, is all. It's his fault we's in such a mess to begin with! If he hadn't given her…oh! Hoggle don't like it one bit!"

The knight nodded solemnly. He too feared for his raven-haired friend.

Behind the pair, another tower in the goblin city crumbled to the streets. A sandy cloud ascended, choking the life from the kingdom.

But he feared for the vanishing Underground even more.

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The crisp autumn wind scraped Sarah's face as she stepped down from the city curb in front of the café. Moaning and howling with beastly voracity, it overpowered her senses. Stay calm, it's just the wind. She nervously brushed off the storm of leaves which clung to her hair. Tilting her face downwards, she folded her nose within the warmth of the mock neck and crossed the street. The temperature had shifted with such sudden intensity that Sarah couldn't keep from shivering. It was much colder than it should have been, even for November.

It was barely afternoon, but night was falling fast. Heavy clouds filled with sinister promise captured the horizon. The ornate streetlamps lining the sidewalk burst to life, weak beacons through a dense lidded fog. Sarah stumbled through the mist until she found her car.

Unlocking the driver's side door, she quickly scrambled inside to escape the elements. Seatbelt, mirrors, engine…a white hot flash lit up the sky, blanking her vision momentarily. She leapt in her seat, knocking her head back against the headrest.

Get it together, Sarah! Drive home. Left, Straight, Second Right, Straight. Yes. Almost there... Just keep going.

Sarah turned onto the familiar wooden bridge which led to her apartment complex just as she heard the car sputter a word of protest. Not now. Long accustomed to the ornery disposition of her beat-up ride, she attempted to shrug off the nagging feeling that crept up her spine. But this time something was really wrong. The car cried out a second time, and she pulled it off to the side in frustration.

"Damn it!" she swore.

Kicking open the door in a swift motion, she eyed the hood with disgust. Steady wisps of smoke rose in mocking swirls. Fists clenched, she began the trudge back to her apartment. Her four boots clicked rhythmically along the planks. There better be a garage still open…wait. Four boots?

There were two distinct sets of footsteps. She stopped abruptly in her tracks, whipping her head around in concern. Someone else was on the bridge. The fog was closing in around her and she fought wildly against the familiar feeling of claustrophobia.

"H-ello? Who's there?" she called out blindly.

She didn't expect a response. In fact, she hoped for none. She wished that the fog would lessen up and show her that she was being silly, imagining strangers on the remote bridge behind her.

Sarah suddenly knew the reason why she hated Sunday so much.

"Hello Sarah".