In a frenzied run, the teenagers were almost to Lisa's grandmother's house. Unfortunately, so were the goblins. The creatures were swift, systematic, and unrelenting, moving from house to house, block to block, yard to yard, searching for the teenagers, searching for Sarah. They were even calling her name. It was like a chant, an evil frightening chant. The continual sound send chills right to Sarah's bones.
"Gather the jack o' lanterns," Ryan whispered his shout. He pointed to the unlit carved pumpkins on the different porches they were running past.
"But... But what about the people who own them?" objected Lisa. "They won't be protected."
"Just do it!" Ryan called out in a whisper.
The group could hear people screaming the next street over.
"They don't have the lanterns at their back doors," realized Sarah, stealing another lantern from someone's porch. "The goblins are getting in through the back doors."
All four of them, grabbed as many lanterns as they could. Even Jason was thinking again.
"There," pointed Lisa. "That's my gran's house." She ran up to the porch, and rang the doorbell. It was well past midnight, and she was sure her gran and Uncle Trent would be asleep.
Ryan began distributing the pumpkins around the property, setting a lantern in front of each window and each door. But he didn't have a lighter. Sarah noticed what he was doing, and looked around. There. Across the street was a lit lantern. She bolted over to it, and grabbed the decoration.
The candle was almost out, but she didn't have time to think. The sound of a billion bees humming filled the air. It was the sound of the goblins. The chant, "Find the Sarah," was getting louder.
"Hurry up," Jason begged Lisa as he helped Ryan place the lanterns.
"They're not answering!" she called back, almost in a panic. The blond started looking around the area. She moved the doormat, started lifting decorative rocks, kicked over a pot of soil, and finally checked inside the mailbox.
"Aha!" Lisa lifted the key she was praying she'd find. With shaking hands she slid it into the lock, and opened the door.
"Get more lanterns!" Ryan called out. "We don't have enough!"
Sarah picked up an old newspaper from off the porch, and thanked Heavens she was able to start it on fire before the candle in her lantern burned out. She began moving from lantern to lantern, lighting each one, while the others ran from house to house, stealing more pumpkins.
Ryan snatched the burning newspaper from Sarah's hand. "Get in the house," he told her. "It's you they're after."
Sarah glanced down the street, noticing the first of the goblins stepping out of the shadows. She fled into the house, and began making sure every window was locked, and every blind was drawn. She felt the feeling of deja vu, remembering how Hoggle, Didymus, and Ludo helped her fight off the goblin army from inside one of the goblin dwellings. If Ludo hadn't called the rocks... Sarah shook her head. She couldn't think about that now.
She ran into the front room just as the other three ran in the front door. Jason locked the door
"Hide," whispered Ryan.
"Here." Lisa ran to one of her favorite hiding places from when she was a child...behind the couch.
Seconds later four young humans huddled together behind a floral print couch, holding each other as the sound of a gale force hurricane roared just outside Lisa's gran's home. They held each other in a tight hug. Every one of them trembled. Every one of them prayed. And every one of them knew it wasn't a hurricane on the other side of the wall. It was an army of goblins. And it was looking for them.
xxxx
"It worked," whispered Sarah. "It worked." She was sitting on the floor behind the couch, knees bent, and feet flat on the floor. "Thank goodness it worked."
Jason was shaking and breathing heavy. Lisa was quietly crying. And Ryan was holding her, pretending he wasn't trembling like everyone else.
"It's alright, babe," he cooed. "It's over. You're safe." He rubbed her back. "We're safe." He closed his eyes, not wanting anyone to see how he was trying not to cry himself.
"I have to get home." Sarah spoke in a quiet voice. "I... I think they might be after my brother."
Jason looked at her. "Why are they after you?" he asked. "And why would they want your brother?"
"I think it's time you tell us what's going on," stated Ryan.
Sarah nodded. "It's my fault," she started. "I accidentally used some magic words after reading a magic book." She knew the exact words were never written in the "Labyrinth" book. But the book was where she'd gotten the idea from. And the book was definitely magic.
Still worried about getting home to her brother, Sarah quickly started telling them about her mistake as fast as she could. Sarah told them about her wish, but was careful in how she explained it, spelling out the word "wish" instead of saying it. She called the Goblin King the leader of those monsters instead of his title just in case calling his name might draw his attention. She told them how the goblins stole Toby, and she told them about her trek through the Labyrinth. She explained how overwhelming the Labyrinth was, how scared she was, and how powerless she felt.
Finally, she told them about the last moments before she'd defeated the Goblin King. She told them how he tried to trick her with his final words. "He said, "Fear me, love me, do as I say, and I will be your slave," she told them. "Like I was an idiot. Who would really be the slave? But..." Sarah took in a sharp breath. "I was still tempted." She shook her head. "For just a moment, a half second, until I realized what he'd said, I was tempted." She shook her head. "I think he must have been using magic... like the other goblin who looked like a cop back at the school. Like they ask you to come with them, and it's hard to say "no.""
She looked at the others. Lisa had stopped crying. Ryan had calmed. And Jason was no longer shaking. They were all listening intently to her story. Sarah frowned.
"I almost lost." Her frown deepened. "But then it finally donned on me. He couldn't control me. He couldn't tempt me with anything. He had no power over me. And those are the magic words. "You have no power over me." When I said them, I won." Sarah took a deep breath. "The next thing I knew I was home, and so was Toby." She told them about the impromptu party in her room, and how many of the goblins who'd fought against her had shown up to congratulate her on her victory. "It's like it was all a big game to them," she explained.
"Weren't you afraid the King would be mad and come after you?" asked Lisa.
"Well, yeah," answered Sarah. "Except I think the whole "You have no power over me" thing binds him magically."
"There are other ways of going after people besides magic," said Ryan.
"But he never said a word, never came to visit, never did anything."
"Until now," said Jason. "But why now?"
"Samhain," said Lisa. "The sorcerer-goblin-thing-guy in the school. The one who chained my... The one who..." She swallowed, remembering how terrified she was when the goblin-man magically chained her wrists together. Her hands started trembling. "He said something about Samhain," Lisa finished her thought, "like there was something special about it."
"Does your grandmother have internet?" asked Ryan. He wrapped an arm around her, and kissed her hair. She leaned into him.
"I don't even think she owns a computer," answered Lisa. "But my Uncle Trent might."
"I need to call home," Sarah worried about Toby.
Jason pulled out his cell phone. "Still no signal."
Ryan pulled out his. "Me neither," he said.
"I think gran's got one of those old landline phones in the kitchen." Lisa climbed to her feet, and the others followed suit. "C'mon. We can see if Uncle Trent has a computer in his room."
The boys followed Lisa down the hall.
"Stay quiet," ordered Ryan. "And stay away from the windows just in case."
Sarah went into the kitchen to find the phone.
xxxx
"Sarah, where have you been?" her stepmother chided. "You're over an hour late. Where are you?"
"I'm uh," Sarah tried to think. She just wanted to know if Toby was alright.
"Sarah."
"I couldn't find my ride," Sarah tried to explain. "I think Becky left without me. So, I caught a ride with Lisa over to her grandmother's house."
"Lisa. Lisa who? Where does she live?"
"Um... It's a small blue house surrounded by jack 'o lanterns just off Fuller's Avenue." Sarah was relieved to think Karen might come pick her up. "It's about 1600 west 2400 north."
"Well, I can't come get you," Karen told her. "Toby's asleep and I'm not waking him up."
"Oh."
"You need to find your own ride home. Walk if you have to."
"Walk?!"
"Yes, walk."
"But it's the middle of the night!"
"Sarah, you're turning seventeen tomorrow. Stop being afraid of the dark. It was your responsibility to make sure you met up with your ride. And it was your responsibility to make sure you made it home on time."
"But it's not my fault."
"You know the consequences for being late."
"There was a fire at the school. It's not my fault."
"Sarah, it's late. I'm tired. I'm..."
"Where's Dad?"
"His plane was delayed. He won't be getting home 'till about ten in the morning. So, don't think you're going to get him to come pick you up."
Sarah heard a crash in the background. "What was that?"
Karen moved into the kitchen, noticing the broken glass all over her floor. "It's nothing," she told her stepdaughter. "Just a glass fell off the counter."
Sarah caught her breath. She knew glasses didn't throw themselves onto the floor. Something had to of knocked it over. Sarah only hoped it was one of her friends, and not one of the goblins hunting her. She needed to get home.
"Anyway," Karen cut off Sarah's thoughts. "You know the rules. The later you are, the longer you'll be grounded. Bye, Sarah." The line went dead.
It wasn't fair. Sarah clenched her jaw. "Some times, Karen. Some times..." I'd almost w-i-s-h a certain group of critters would do something I don't even dare to think. Sarah felt guilty for her wayward thought. In reality she'd never wish anyone away, especially someone who meant so much to her father. But some times Karen could sure tempt her.
xxxxx
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" Uhtrix ran into the throne room. "I know where she is," he called out. "I know where to find The Sarah."
The King sent three bright blue magic balls sailing out the window, before turning to face his house goblin.
"Sixteen hundred west 2400 north near Fuller's Avenue." Uhtrix grinned. "In a blue house surrounded by jack o' lanterns."
"Jack o' lanterns?" Jareth cringed. Oh, that was old magic.
"But she won't be there long, mylord," he went on. "Her father's wife has ordered her home."
Jareth didn't hesitate. He summoned a crystal, and smashed it to the floor. "Messenger," he ordered the goblin who had appeared where the crystal had smashed. The King flicked his wrist, and a scroll appeared in his hand. "Take this to commander Ciel as fast as you can. Go!" With any luck his goblins would reach the home before Sarah left.
No one noticed the two foot tall goblin listening in on the information Uhtrix had shouted. And no one noticed the little traitor sneaking out of the throne room. He knew he had to get the information to the rebel alliance before the King's messenger relayed the information to commander Ciel.
xxxxx
"I have to get home," Sarah announced to her new friends. "I just got off the phone with my stepmother, and I think there are goblins in the house."
"What can you do against monsters like that?" objected Jason.
"Jason's right," said Lisa. "You wouldn't have a chance."
"I have some goblin friends. They could help. I just have to get home so I can call them."
Everyone was quiet for several minutes.
"I'd take you home," Ryan piped up.
"But Ryan," objected Lisa. "You can't."
"You and Jason would be safe here. But we'd need a vehicle." He looked at Sarah. "Walking would be tactically wrong."
"If we had a car, I could drive myself," Sarah told them.
Lisa hesitated. She didn't want Ryan to go. She didn't want Sarah to go. It wasn't safe. But this was Sarah's family. Lisa knew how she'd feel, if it was her family in danger. "My uncle has a motor bike in the garage," she offered.
"Do you know how to ride a bike?" asked Ryan.
Sarah shook her head.
"Do you?" Jason asked Ryan.
"Oh, yeah."
"You'd have to make sure you brought it back in perfect condition," stated Lisa. "My uncle LOVES that bike."
"Can do, babe."
xxxxx
Several minutes later Jason and Lisa peaked out the front window as Ryan and Sarah sped away on Lisa's uncle's most prized possession. But it wasn't the bike that had their attention. It was the army of goblins starting through the trees at the other end of the block. The two teens dove behind the couch, suddenly wishing they were the ones who were headed to Sarah's house.
"Sarah," called out the lead goblin. "Sarah Williams, we know you're in there."
Jason put his arm around Lisa.
"Hey, keep it down out there," called out a neighbor. "Some of us are trying to..." The man's shouts were replaced by screams.
Lisa buried her face deeper into Jason's shoulder, knowing the goblins got him.
"Come out, Sarah. Or we're coming in."
"It's ok," whispered Lisa. "They can't get past the Jack o' lanterns, right?"
Just then the front window smashed, broken by a large rock. Instantly, the smell of smoke began to fill the room.
"We have to get out," whispered Lisa.
Jason stayed still, trembling. "But... but they'll eat us."
xxxxx
"Where is she?" shouted Jareth. "How can one mortal woman evade so many of my finest warriors for so long?" he muttered under his breath.
"Why not catch her at her father's house?" asked Uhtrix.
"It's protected," answered the King. "Bound by magic." I have no power over her, he thought to himself. He created a crystal to look at Sarah, but just as it had always been since she'd said those magic words, the crystal was dark. The dark crystal ball popped like a bubble, and Jareth turned his attention back to his war crystals. If Sarah was home, he'd lost. He'd lost to her a second time. "General Frict, secure the caldron rock, and reinforce your flank. Commander Bryn prepare to advance your infantry."
The King sent two more crystals flying through his window, and looked around his throne room. Nearly all his soldiers were gone. The room was still full, busy with goblins of differing types. Chickens squawked, and waddled around. There was even a small brown pig in the corner. But the goblins who remained weren't soldiers. They were gardeners, house goblins, flyers, and tricksters. Jareth knew he needed to replenish his army, but he couldn't. He'd gambled on capturing Sarah instead of capturing new recruits. And his kingdom was about to pay the price