Hello everyone! This is a continuation of the story originally created by Insanity Runs Through My Veins, who is now under the account M1LK T3A. I very much recommend checking out their stories! My apologies for the hiatus this story has taken, but we are back and running. I will be rewriting the first two chapters originally written by Insanity Runs Through My Veins but sticking to their guidelines only because I have had messages confused where to find the story and it's been so much time since I last wrote in this. Please enjoy Missing Love as it is update and continued, and have a wonderful day!
Always,
Usua
"Call upon me, my love
Hear my voice
Listen to the wind
Scream your pain
Let me hear your voice
Call upon me, Precious
Hear my cries
Listen to the rain
Whisper your love
Let it be carried to me in the wind
I hear your pain
I feel your loneliness
I know you feel broken
Let me heal you,
My love"
I blinked into consciousness, confused. The song was bouncing through my head but I couldn't remember who was singing it... It felt so real...
Stretching, I shelved the thought for now and checked my calendar. The boost of serotonin at the blank day staring back at me was exactly what I needed today; I was on the floor this afternoon for reading hour with the kids.
I hummed picking out the outfit for today, a regency era inspired sapphire dress with matching flats. Less authentic than I would have usually gone for but I needed to renew my bus pass and long distances in the 'correct' shoes gave me blisters.
There wasn't enough time to do a full chignon so I braided and bunned my curls, pinning it in place while I looked for my shawl, humming the tune from my dream. It was so beautiful, so lonely, but I couldn't recall his face...
My leather satchel over my shoulder, and my lunch safely tucked inside and my worn leather bound book in my hands, I started the long walk into town. The crisp winter wind felt lovely on my face and I smiled into a particularly harsh gust. The layers of my dress kept me warm, but the cold had rarely bothered me anyway.
I opened my book, devouring the words I had read hundreds of times like it was my first time in the labyrinth. It felt more real than the wind on my cheeks, Jareth's voice playful and sarcastic in my ear. Lonely.
A figure on the bridge brought me back just as the world around me had begun to change, a man swaddled in rags.
"Are you alright sir?" I knelt down in front of him, looking for any apparent injuries.
Heterochromatic eyes blinked at me, exhaustion bruising his pale skin. "I'll be alright. Just needed to rest."
"Where are you headed?" I wondered, glancing around for anyone who might be able to help me and finding the bridge uncharacteristically devoid of life.
"I'm looking for someone." He spoke slowly, like each word was a feat of strength.
"Can I help you find them?"
"Help." He mused, closing his eyes and shaking his head. "No, sweet girl. I just need to rest."
I hesitated, taking out my sandwich and water from my bag and setting it on his lap. He opened his eyes again and stared at me. "Please accept this at least. So you have your strength when you find who you're looking for."
"Thank you, miss." he nodded. He shivered against a strong gust of wind and I pulled off my shawl, wrapping it around him. "You'll freeze. Keep it."
"I don't have far to go." I reassured him, picking up my book again and standing up. "Stay well, sir."
I could feel his eyes burning into my back while I hummed that song again, holding the hem of my skirts to hurry along to the store before I was late. I was too far away to hear his quiet "found you."
My shift was eventful, the kids crowding in as close as they could to sit near me while I read. At any given moment I had at least four children touching me, playing with my dress or my hair, asking me questions about being a princess. I loved every moment of being in character with them and answering questions, but I was never fond of interacting with the parents. People always said children could be mean but no one could pierce your soul like a parent questioning your life decisions or making unnecessary commentary about your appearances.
When reading hour was over I took inventory and wondered about the man on the bridge. I hoped he had made it to a shelter for the night.
"I can lock up if you want to head home." My coworker Maria offered. I jumped, blinking between her and the checklist I hadn't touched in nearly ten minutes.
"It's alright, I have to finish this up before tomorrow."
"Winter, head home." She insisted. "You're exhausted honey. I'll finish what you didn't get to and you can grab my coffee tomorrow."
"Yes ma'am." I smiled, handing her my clipboard. "Thanks, Maria."
I bid her goodnight, grabbed an extra sweatshirt from my locker, and started the walk home. No busses this late and the chill was enough that I would catch pneumonia if I was out too long.
The snow falling in the lamplight was beautiful, like the entire town was set back in time. I hugged my sweater closer and smiled at the sky through my hair, speckled with snowflakes.
"Snowflake kisses, right mom?" I asked, moving out of the way for another late night worker going home and continuing on my way. The man from earlier wasn't in his spot. Hopefully he had made it somewhere safe.
I rubbed the bridge of my nose and shook my head to clear the fatigue, stopping again to try and... I don't know. Stay awake? I rested my hand on the rail to try and physically balance myself and gasped at the piercing crack, my body falling with the metal disconnecting outwards. My hand sliced with the fall and the pain was interrupted by the impact into the thin layer of ice covering the water.
Pain exploded into my lungs, begging for oxygen to cool this burn. I kicked my legs, reaching upwards, but the light shining through the opening above me was getting further away. The numbness spreading through my limbs made my organs ache. How was that possible?
I let out a breath, sinking further, and closed my eyes. I reached for the image of my family smiling down at me, holding it in my mind. If this was how I died, I wanted them to be my last thought.
Pressure on my upper arms felt almost painful but a little pain was worth it to see them again. I released the air in my lungs, succumbing to my fate.
Jareth's POV
She sputtered water onto the snow and I turned her onto her side so she wouldn't choke. Resuscitating the one I had been waiting for was not how I wanted to begin our lives together. She didn't get to die on me so easily.
Picking up her shaking body I waved away her world and entered my castle. She was wheezing but she would live.
Glancing about the room I snapped my fingers, removing our clothing. What little information I had on humans had informed me that skin to skin was the optimal way to regulate their body heat when hypothermia was setting in.
I adjusted the covers, curling her against me and resting my head on top of her hair. She was shivering, pliant in my hands, and I hummed our song to soothe her mind.
"Heal, love. We have the rest of our lives to live." I murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead and settling in.
Feeling helpless was not an emotion I would care to feel again.
