Sarah was sitting in her old family home eating breakfast and watching the news. She had just showered and was attempting to put her life together.
A week had past since she left the Underground. Two weeks had passed since she had gone missing. When she came to, she stumbled around dazed until she found a group of hikers to take her to the nearest hospital. Her parents met her there mortified she had been lost in the woods. She took the opportunity to tell them she wanted to come back home for a while, away from college.
"I need to get my head on straight." She told them. "I'm messed up. Let me take a year off and figure out my priorities. I'll help with Toby and get a job."
Reluctantly, Sarah was able to get them to agree. She dropped out of college without telling her college 'friends.' The first thing she did when she made it back home was search all of her packed away items. She found Sir Launcelot first which made it difficult for her to continue her search. She didn't know what she was looking for, but it was something.
The boxes were still haphazardly thrown around her room.
Sarah's house was empty with her parents at work and Toby at preschool. The news was dull. She picked up the remote and turned it off.
"Hello, Sarah."
Sarah screamed as she turned around. A pair of big brown eyes were staring back at her full of questions.
"Ramla. What the hell are you doing in here. You scared the shit out of me." Sarah jumped off her stool and ran to hug her old friend. She stepped back and eyed the woman. She looked far more adult than the last time Sarah had seen her.
Ramla had ebony skin and heavy lips. She was curvy, but beautiful. Her bun matched her tight pencil skirt and matching blouse. "I heard you were back in town." She smiled. "I've missed you."
Sarah brought Ramla over to her family's couch and patted a cushion. "Sit." She said as Ramla sat her matte purse on the coffee table and straightened her skirt. "You look so grown up." Sarah observed breathless.
"I have to note, you seemed changed as well." Ramla observed as she leaned closer to Sarah. "There is something new in your eyes."
Sarah took a breath. "Tell me what you've been doing."
Ramla explained she received a scholarship shortly after going to college for an editorial piece she wrote about Russia. She was currently working on securing an internship with a newspaper based in New York for two semesters worth of college credit which blew Sarah's mind.
"I won't get paid." Ramla added taking a drink of the tea Sarah had made for both of them. "But it will be a great experience. I'm nervous about the course work I'll miss though." She patted her hair into place.
"Wow, you seem so put together." Sarah flushed and pushed down her jealousy.
"I got lucky. Stupid lucky." Ramla put her tea down. "Lottery lucky. Please don't compare your life to mine." She sighed. "We both know yours has been far more eventful."
Sarah rolled her eyes. "I doubt that." She scoffed. "I finally quit smoking by the way. Cigarettes last year and weed a few weeks ago. Drinking too. I'm not going to do anymore of that for a while." Sarah laid down on the couch shoving her feet on Ramla.
Ramla laughed before pushing her on the floor. "And, what prompted your sudden abstain?"
Sarah grabbed a pillow from the couch and put it behind her head on the floor. "Someone I knew was being very judgy. It was awful."
"I hope you're not talking about me. I stopped trying to get you to quit months ago." She sneered at Sarah.
Sarah laughed. "Yes, I remember that letter well. 'Drugs are for kids Sarah, not women who plan to succeed at college.' I do believe you repeated that line ten times in one paragraph."
"I was hopping it would sink in. I felt a little more than guilty for getting you started." She let a grin touch her eyes. "I'm glad it is in your past, and I hope for good."
"I think so."
"Did you get that tattoo you were talking about." Ramla asked with disapproval lacing her voice.
Sarah blushed and felt her stomach sink. "I may have gotten something. . . ." Her eyes flashed to Ramla who sighed and fell back into the cushions.
Ramla kicked off her slip-on shoes and fell against the sofa in a heap. "Oh, my dear, little Sarah. What ever are we going to do with you."
"Look past my faults and understand I am strange human being."
Ramla sighed. "I suppose, that is all I can do." She sat up and grabbed a marker from her purse before looking at Sarah with mischievous eyes. "Let me solve your labyrinth, Sarah."
Sarah gasped. "You can't be serious. It is unsolvable."
Ramla made a face. "I doubt that. Let me see it, that is, unless it's on your ass. Then forget it."
"NO, judging." Sarah warned sitting up.
"Fine, fine, just show me." Ramla moved down next to Sarah with her marker in hand.
Sarah gave her one more look before pulling up her shirt. She unclipped her bra and slid it off her shoulder so it wouldn't block part of the maze. Then she pulled down her pants a little bit. The labyrinth started just under her hip-bone and worked it's way up her left side and part way under arm and breast. She laid on her side.
Ramla didn't say anything.
Sarah looked at her holding her shirt over her breast. "I said no judging."
"You also said it was small. This is huge." Ramla traced a finger across the length of the tattoo.
"If I didn't know any better I would say you're checking me out." Sarah leered at Ramla.
"Oh, please. You know that kiss during truth or dare junior year will always be on your mind." Ramla smirked. "Where do I start?"
"The bottom."
Sarah closed her eyes as the cold tip of the marker entered the opening of her labyrinth. She imagined Ramla being bitten by a fairy and then running down the long corridor to the right. Bricks, everywhere, as far as the eye could see. She was running with Ramla. They were fifteen again. They were looking for Sarah's brother, like always. Toby, they called out. They found secret passages, spoke with the labyrinth's creatures, and witnessed magical stories unfold before their eyes. Sarah pointed at the castle and Ramla followed her hand. They both smiled before the world flashed again. Sarah felt herself shake and she was alone.
"Hello?" She couldn't see. Everything was dark. "The oubliette?" She said aloud. "Not again."
She felt herself shake again.
And again.
Then sound came rushing around her as she took a breath.
"Sarah?" Ramla stared at her. "You. . ."
Sarah pulled her shirt down and looked at Ramla with bright eyes. "Did I just?"
"You were here and I was drawing on you and then. . ." Ramla's face was calm, but her voice was thoughtful. "You were gone."
"Are you sure?" Sarah pulled her bra strap back on and fixed her shirt. "I was really gone. You're not fucking with me?"
Ramla furrowed her brows and threw the marker at Sarah. "Why the fuck would I make something like this up." Then she smiled. "You were back there, weren't you. In the Underground. It is real."
Sarah mirrored her. "I think I'm figuring that out."
Within minutes they were in Ramla's car driving across town. "I should still have some of those books in my room. Hopefully my mom hasn't tossed them." Ramla absentmindedly mumbled turning into her driveway.
They both shot out of the car and ran into the double wide. Sarah knew this house by heart. She was on Ramla's heels as they burst through the door. They emptied the book cases and poured all the books on the bed.
"Search for something. Now." Ramla stated leaving Sarah in the room. She returned a few moments later with a glass of wine. "For me. You don't get any." She took a big swig and picked up a book out of the pile.
Hours passed as the two poured over the texts. "Shit," said Sarah after a while. "My parents will be home soon."
Ramla sighed. "Well shit. I don't have enough to stay. . . . and we haven't figured this out."
Sarah gave Ramla a confused look. "Enough of what?" But Ramla didn't answer. Instead, she took Sarah's hands. "Ramla, what are you-"
"Shush, Sarah." Ramla closed her eyes. Then reopened them. "You must go back, Sarah. Whatever the costs. Whatever you must do. Go back to the Underground."
Sarah blinked and was back at her kitchen counter. The news was going in the background. Sarah's cereal was crackling its milk. She looked at the clock above the oven. According to it, only ten minutes had passed since she had got up this morning.
Sarah took a deep breath. She slid off the stool and left her cereal. She stepped into her bathroom and checked her eyes. Not bloodshot and not too clear. "What the flying fuck just happened." She asked her reflection.
Suddenly she ripped off her shirt and threw it to the floor. She turned her side toward the mirror and backed away. The marker was still on her skin inside the labyrinth's edges all the way from the beginning tracing the solution end near her heart.
She braced herself against the bathroom counter. She couldn't look in the mirror anymore. With a loud scream, she made her way into her bedroom. On her pillow was a book, The Labyrinth.
She finished it a short time later and looked around her room still confused. So, she had hung out with Ramla all day, right? She widened her eyes taking in her ceiling. Even if she had, going back to the labyrinth by choice? Jareth tried to kill her.
Didn't he?
And, what the fuck was with that flashing and shaking.
I need to get high. She opened her nightstand and reached in the back. She pulled out a jewelery box and yanked a dancing ballerina out of place. The platform lifted and she had her hands on her emergency stash and rolls.
She held the plastic bags in her hand. I don't want this anymore. She let go of a breath she didn't realize she was holding.
She pushed herself off the bed and was about to walk into her parent's bedroom when she heard a door in the house close. She stuffed her weed back in the drawer and hid it under a pile of magazines. She walked down the stairs to see her dad with Toby.
"How was your day, Sarah?" He asked dropping his briefcase on the table. He noticed her bowl of cereal on the counter. "Really, Sarah? Put the damn dishes away."
"Sorry." she murmured cleaning the bowl and putting it in the cabinet. When she was done she went to sit next to her dad on the sofa. He was flipping though the channels on the television without noticing her. Toby played quietly with his cars.
"Did you turn in any job applications today?" Her dad settled on the local news.
"I got sidetracked. My old friend Ramla stopped by."
"Who?" He turned to look at her.
"Ramla? She used to come over all the time."
His face didn't make any registration.
"She was black." Sarah said flatly.
"I don't remember."
She checked her tattoo again to check the mark and it was still there. She gave her father a smile. "I'll head out tomorrow. I promise."
He didn't return the smile. "See that you do."
After dinner, Sarah found herself back up stairs. Toby came into her room shyly. "I miss you, Sarah" he managed to say.
"I know. I miss you too. I love you, Toby." Sarah said climbing to the floor next to him. She gave him a hug.
He glanced anxiously at one of her many unpacked stuffed animals.
"Go ahead" Sarah said. "Take one. Just don't leave it laying around."
Toby smiled and grabbed a bear before trying to run out of the room. Sarah grabbed his sides last minute and pulled him to the ground in a heavy tickle. He laughed furiously screaming Sarah's name. She finally released him, and he fled her room with the stuffed animal.
Sarah could hear Karen calling his name.
Quickly, she pulled a messenger bag out from under her bed and threw the few notebooks that were in it on to the floor. In a haste, she scoured her room for items she thought might be useful. She grabbed a pencil case, some books, makeup, and then she got an idea. She looked at her closet and pulled the doors towards her. She ran her hands down the clothes until she found the items she had missed. Throwing the hangers aside, she grabbed an old cloak. She inhaled the velvet taking in memories she had long ago let die. Lovingly, she put the cloak into her bag with the rest of her items. She grabbed a few more costume pieces before changing into low key sweats.
She took a breath and grabbed her weed. She quietly stepped into the dark hallway. She looked downstairs to see her family sitting in the living room just before bed time. She moved into her parent's bedroom and pulled the door closed behind her. Everything looked pretty much the same from when she was in there all those years ago except Toby's crib had moved to storage. She closed the door and locked it behind her.
Slowly and uneasily she crossed the room to the window she first met Jareth. She turned the handle and pulled the thin glass towards her. She opened the bag and poured the contents out the window.
The spring wind picked up as thunder clashed in the distance. She turned back to the locked door. She second guessed herself for a moment. She was sure she was either about to kill herself or go back to the Underground. And within all of this assuredness, she knew she was leaving her family in a way she wouldn't come back from. She leaned her forehead on the door.
"Sarah, you are either special or just plain stupid."
She walked back over to the window and opened wide before returning once again, to the door. In a dead sprint, she took off from her parents bed and jumped out what had once been a gateway to the labyrinth.