AN: If you're surprised at how frequently this is suddenly getting updated, don't worry, I am too!

Psychometry

Chapter Four

Dangerous Stakes

The world steadied itself eventually. Sarah still struggled to regain her bearings, bewilderment reigning over her fury for the time being. It seemed as if she was in some sort of chamber, most likely the Erlking's bedchamber, if the ostentatious bed was anything to go by. Sarah felt her heartbeat quicken, mortified at the thought of already getting right to the marital duties, as it were.

Looking askance, Sarah kept the Erlking in her sights, watching him like a hawk. She feared that he didn't need much of a distraction to catch her off guard, and she wasn't keen on making the same mistake again.

She couldn't quite tell if she was annoyed or relieved to see that the Erlking appeared largely uninterested in her for the moment. He was busying himself pouring an amber liquid from a crystal decanter into a glass tumbler. Sarah felt a spark of annoyance as he knocked back the drink, as though he had had a hard day.

It must be so taxing, forcing a young woman to marry you and then kidnapping said woman, Sarah's thoughts burned, turning more and more murderous by the second. Part of her thought that she should be the one being proffered the glass, all things considered.

Then again, it probably wasn't wise to drink whatever an immortal kidnapper had to offer.

Sarah was drawn out of her thoughts abruptly when she saw the Erlking move his long fingers over to the buttons of his silk shirt, leisurely undressing. She didn't need a mirror to know her face was flushing.

But then she saw something that made her smile softly to herself. It appeared that even though the wound she had given him just moments ago was already just a trace of a soft white scar, it was still proof that Sarah had drawn blood. It was troubling to see that his skin hardly looked as though a dagger had ever been plunged through it, but it did bring Sarah satisfaction to know that it was by her hand.

Given that the Erlking had still failed to acknowledge her, Sarah settled on snark, the only weapon at her disposal.

"I won't make the same mistake twice," she stated, turning fully to face him. Her green eyes flashed with challenge. As soon as she spoke the words, she knew they were a vow.

He paused, fingers stilling at the remaining buttons of his shirt as he finally turned to look.

Sarah squared her shoulders back, holding her head high, daring him to do something. It wasn't like he would hurt her for real…would he? Sarah wasn't too sure about taking that bet, but he clearly didn't intend to outright harm her. Otherwise, why go through all this trouble? That thought alone gave Sarah a grim satisfaction. He couldn't actually do anything…why, she wasn't quite sure, but she figured that didn't matter for the timebeing.

"I don't doubt that for a moment," he retorted wryly, resuming his actions as though he were simply getting ready for bed and hadn't just caused complete and utter chaos to Sarah's life.

He then began to approach her, causing Sarah to tense up until she realized he was only moving toward what she saw was the bathing chamber behind her.

Irritation swelled in her chest, unsure if she should be relieved that he seemed completely uninterested in her or furious that he went through all this trouble - put her through all this trouble - just to disregard her. Before she could talk herself out of it, Sarah marched after him, letting her heels click exceptionally loud to announce her arrival.

"What am I expected to do here?" She snapped. "Please, tell me, oh wise Erlking."

He stopped to look at her, a cloth raised to his face as he was in the process of patting it dry. Sarah pointedly ignored the fact that he was traipsing around half-naked while she was still stuck in her farce of a wedding gown.

Sarah knew one of these days her mouth was quite literally going to be the death of her, but she was beyond caring. She was trapped with some immortal maniac who seemed to both obsess over and utterly ignore her at the drop of a hat. She figured that she had earned the right to be as mouthy as she liked. Sarah mustered the most imperious look she could, attempting to signal to him that she would not be cowed.

She didn't miss the way his eyes narrowed, as if he were finally, truly seeing her. Sarah absently wondered what he saw when he gazed upon her. She wanted to feel like a fierce woman, proverbial claws out and ready to strike, but she had the sinking feeling that all he saw was a bewildered, wide-eyed brat.

"First order of business is that I would much rather you stop calling me 'Erlking.' I would think as husband and wife, we could be on a first name basis." He gave a smug smile upon hearing the strained noise erupting from Sarah's throat. "Jareth will do."

Sarah frowned, not sure what she was expecting.

"Jareth…" She said his name slowly, as if sounding it out and trying to determine if she liked the way it fit on her lips. She hated to admit it was better than Erlking. "That's all well and good," she sniped, "but forgive me if I'm not exactly interested in trying to get to know you. I want to go back home! I don't know what my parents told you or what kind of deal you made with them, and quite frankly, I don't know that I would trust anything you say. But none of it matters because I just want to be out of here!"

"I'm afraid that isn't happening," he stated, resuming his off-puttingly mundane actions. He moved past her to exit the bathing chamber. He strode over to an armoire and grabbed a black shirt, thrusting one arm through a sleeve and then the other before buttoning it up. He then drew on another pair of leather gloves.

"Where are you going?"

"That," he said curtly, "does not concern you." And then, as an afterthought, "you may rest. It's been a long day."

Sarah felt her anger bloom again, this parody of everyday marital interaction prickling against her. "I'm not interested in resting."

Jareth turned to look at her, that smug smile gracing his lips again. "Well, I suppose I won't say no to other nightly activities."

Sarah felt her skin heat, from her chest to her scalp, completely scandalized by the way he spoke so familiarly and…and as if he had the right!

"I'm afraid that isn't happening," she stated, throwing his previous words back at him. "Now, tell me what's going on! I know you didn't go through all this trouble just to abandon me here." Growing more confident, Sarah stared him down. "You need me, don't you?" It was a gamble, but Sarah felt like it had to be true, to a point at least.

It was barely there, but Sarah didn't mistake his body going taut. She struck a nerve, and she found she wanted to keep pushing, whether or not it was a wise choice.

Jareth stepped closer to her, unnerving Sarah with how much he truly towered over her, feeling small and insignificant with how he looked down his nose at her.

"Should I congratulate you for stating the obvious?"

Sarah wasn't a normally murderous girl, but she found her fingers itching for the hilt of a dagger again. Deciding for once to reign in her temper since being stuck with him, Sarah inhaled sharply, attempting to calm her nerves and restrain some of her ire.

"I suppose not." Her tone was clipped. "But the question is why you need me. Surely it's more than some supposed debt my parents had to pay." Which Sarah still didn't understand, but she figured that she could work that out later. One problem to solve at a time. Perhaps if she could prove useful to him, fulfill whatever purpose he needed her for, then she could go? Sarah wanted to laugh, and maybe cry, at how she was already trying to bargain her way out of this mess.

"Perhaps I simply wanted you. A life of immortality does have its drawbacks, you know," he drawled, giving an elegant shrug.

Somehow, Sarah highly doubted that was the reason.

No, she would have to change tactics. She needed to figure out what he wanted, because she feared that if she didn't, her life would be reduced to this - simpering to this immortal wretch who would kidnap her from her home, all after terrorizing her for months, killing off one potential suitor after another and ruining any chances she had at having a normal life.

Adopting a softer tone, letting the hard edges leech away, Sarah stepped closer, and asked, "Then at least tell me why you saved me? I suppose I should be grateful but…"

It was Jareth's turn to look skeptical. "Docility doesn't suit you, pet."

Sarah internally scowled but pretended his words didn't bother her. She was a duck, his words water off her back.

"I think it's only fair," she retorted gently. "Besides…maybe I could help?" Her tone lilted, a mockery of sincerity.

He let out a bark of laughter. "Forgive me if I don't believe your intentions being anything but duplicity. Perhaps for now you can help by warming my bed, but that may be the extent of it."

His words felt like a slap. But Sarah knew she was needling, pushing closer to something he didn't want to share. And like a dog with a favorite toy in its mouth, Sarah had clamped down hard, unwilling to let him leave without explaining himself.

"You don't have to be so crude," she returned, trailing after him as he fastened on a cape of midnight blues and stardust.

Jareth gave another shrug before reaching over to open one of the double doors. "You will stay put."

Sarah didn't know why, but she had the sudden fear that if he walked out those doors, she wouldn't get a chance to leave. She'd be trapped, and Sarah refused to be caged. All her life she always felt like she was the tide, pushing and pulling, trying to manage the expectations of her parents, her kingdom, while also trying to appease her own desires.

The idea of being put into what she could think of as only a literal cage sent her hackles up.

"No." Her voice came out firm, commanding. She felt as though it was her mother's voice using Sarah as a vessel. "No," she repeated, smoothing down her skirts. "I won't let you just walk out of here without any sort of explanation." Before she could even think about the potential repercussions, Sarah grasped his hand. "Please," she added softly. "I think I'm owed that much."

Jareth froze, his body still as a strung bow, and Sarah wondered if perhaps he hadn't been expecting her to reach for him. But now that she saw the effect her touch had on him, she decided it was time to be bold, despite the nausea roiling through her. Her hand was placed atop his own, and she hesitantly laced her fingers through his. In this moment, she was grateful he was wearing the gloves, because she had to be sweating torrents.

"Would you like to know what happened the last time people thought they were owed something?" His voice was deathly quiet, sending pinpricks of fear along Sarah's skin.

But she held his gaze, refusing to look away from his mismatched eyes. She couldn't be too sure that she could even look away if she tried.

"Well, your current situation is the answer." Jareth's smile was humorless. "People often think they are owed something, but everything has a price. Your parents, fools that they are, didn't think these rules applied to them. And well…here you are."

"Why do I feel like there's more to it than that?" She breathed. "What do you have to gain from leaving me in the dark?"

"All the wrong questions."

Sarah swallowed, considering the options she had left - which didn't seem like many.

Gently removing her hand from his, Sarah backed away, her fists balled at her sides.

"Then I refuse."

He turned to look at her, amusement on his face. "Refuse what, pray tell?"

"I won't be here. I won't play-act as your wife. And I'll spend whatever time I have here with you making your life miserable," she spat, deciding that Jareth was right about one thing - being docile did not suit her.

Jareth's attention was now fully on her, his arms folded across his chest as he silently regarded her. He then looked down as though in thought, idly tapping a finger to his chin.

"You know, Sarah dear…you're only able to stand here before me, stepping over line after line that I draw, because of what I offered you. Were it not for me - my magic - you wouldn't have made it past your first year of life."

Sarah gave him a bemused look, unsure if he was expecting her to curtsy in endless gratitude.

"I am patient, Sarah - don't give me that reproachful look," he interjected calmly. "Your theatrics are hardly endearing, but I've been lenient all things considered. But be careful, my generosity isn't limitless. It would be nothing for me to take back that which I gave so long ago."

Sarah felt her blood rushing through her, roaring in her ears. He was threatening her. The flimsy armor she had erected around herself began to crumble, her mind working desperately to figure out her next move. She had assumed that he needed her, but perhaps that had been a miscalculation if he was quick enough to resort to threats. She also didn't want to even think about what it meant that he had used his magic on her.

"Ah, and now all the false bravado fades away."

Sarah shook off her fear, deciding to instead wear her fury and bravery as a mantle. She wouldn't let him deter her so easily.

"So you'll resort to threatening me to get what you want?"

"If it will keep you in line," he stated simply.

"And if I truly refuse you? What then?"

Jareth flashed a smile that made her recoil. "That's a door you don't want to open."

Sarah could hardly disagree with that, but she needed to show him she wouldn't back down. The moment she conceded to him, Jareth would know she could be easily frightened, easily controlled. And she was frightened, God only knew she was, but it wouldn't help her now to show it.

"Maybe." She licked her lips, trying to choose her next words carefully. "But maybe that's what you want me to believe. Threats, fear…easy ways to manipulate, to be sure. However, I think you're bluffing." Sarah spoke the last words in a rush, fearful that saying them aloud would unleash hell.

Instead, Jareth's expression turned calculating. It was in the way his eyes narrowed while his hands stayed idly clasped behind his back. He tilted his head, considering her, and then his lips quirked into a slow smile. Sarah felt a shudder run up and down her spine. Anything that made Jareth grin was most likely bad news for her.

He slowly approached her, a hungry glint in his eye. Sarah didn't step back, fighting the urge with every fiber of her being.

"It seems you're just full of surprises, wife." His tone had a mocking edge. "Since you are hellbent on being anything but easy, why don't we up the stakes?"

The small voice in Sarah's head was screaming at her to not listen to him, to not trust a damn word coming out of his mouth. But she also didn't know that there was really a choice here. Jareth didn't exactly seem like the type to take into consideration what she wanted. The faint silver tattoo glinted in the candlelight of the room, as if to serve as a cheeky reminder of just how little Jareth cared about Sarah's priorities.

"I somehow strongly doubt I have any real choice," Sarah grit out.

Jareth laughed at this. "If you have any value for your life."

Sarah didn't trust him to have any morals or ethics. "You could be lying," she remarked peevishly.

"Perhaps, but is that a risk you're willing to take?"

No, Sarah had to accept that it truly wasn't. The urge to maim returned with a vengeance.

When she didn't supply a response, Jareth smiled. "I will give you one week to find your way out of here. One. And if you manage to succeed, then consider the price of your parents' debt and our marriage all voided."

It sounded too good to be true. It probably was.

Sarah had the sinking feeling that he was offering her such a high reward simply because he didn't think she could actually win. But that was where he was wrong. Sarah had always had a sort of steadfastness bordering on neurotic. She wouldn't give up just because others told her to or the obstacles felt too high to surmount.

Jareth had already made the first mistake in assuming she wouldn't rise to the challenge.

"And if I don't find my way out?"

His forefinger and thumb gently gripped her chin. Sarah fought to suppress her body's involuntary shiver. It was distressing to be touched by him, and much to her displeasure, she couldn't tell if the distress was due to fear or the way she secretly itched for just a little bit more. She didn't know where the thought came from. As easily as it had popped into her head, Sarah banished it away.

"Then you will serve your purpose."

Sarah's brows knitted together, trying to parse out what he meant. Purpose? She couldn't even begin to fathom what that would be.

But she still couldn't understand why he would threaten to end her life too if he neeed her so badly.

Extricating herself from his grip, she stepped back, putting a healthy amount of space between them.

Sarah didn't know what she was dealing with, but she didn't see another choice either. She hardly knew Jareth well enough at all to even consider calling his bluff. He seemed capricious anyway - threaten to kill her one minute, claim her usefulness the next.

But he didn't know what he was dealing with either, Sarah thought grimly.

She was going to find a way out of this mess, one way or another.

And if there was any dying to be had, it certainly wasn't going to be her.

"Fine, I accept."

Her parents had always wavered more on the side of pessimism, especially in the recent months, what with Sarah's suitors all dying, the very cause of that standing right before her. But Sarah had always felt the pull to counteract it, to brandish optimism like a sword, one that she could hold out and banish any feelings of hopelessness with. She didn't want to live a life resigned to hoping for the mediocre, settling for the worst.

So she chose to view this as simply another challenge. Another thing in life that Sarah was fighting against. And she would win.

Sarah's thoughts were interrupted when she saw Jareth resume his steps back to the grand double doors of the bed chamber, as if he hadn't just struck this deal with her.

"Wait…where are you going?" She asked lamely, feeling acutely foolish standing all alone in her dress in the middle of the room, like a bride left at the altar. If only he had, Sarah thought darkly.

"Do you require something of me?" He asked, faux politeness dripping from his tone.

"I mean, isn't there supposed to be something done to…mark the start of the deal?" She finished lamely, feeling more and more like a dunce with each passing moment. The placid look he gave her only punctuated how embarrassing this all suddenly felt.

"I believe the deal is that you have one week to find your way out of here. And if you choose to spend the first day standing still like a statue, then by all means, go ahead. Easy victories are nice every now and again," he smiled with a predatory edge, purposely grating on Sarah's nerves.

"So that's it? Just like that?" Sarah grasped for something that actually made sense, that could help her. Because she didn't even know where 'here' was!

"Just like that," he drawled. "We've struck our deal. The rest is up to you. You will receive no help from me, nor will you receive any other interference on my end." He paused for a beat, as if considering one final thing to say. "Do your best to stay alive. The labyrinth is a cruel teacher."

And with a flick of his midnight cape, he vanished from the doors.

Sarah stood there in center of his bed chamber - our bed chamber? No, not important! - and realized with a mixture of growing dread and relief that the Erlking didn't appear to be coming back.

Drawing in a quiet breath of air, Sarah willed herself to not give into panic. She had a week. One whole week. Jareth may not have believed in her ability to escape, but she had time to figure this out. And the only rules were that he would not help and he would not interfere.

It then occurred to Sarah that she had nearly unlimited possibilities of where to start and what to do. And what did mean by the labyrinth? Sarah's head swam as she tried to center herself.

The first order of business, however, was to get out of this ridiculous dress. It was an awful reminder of the Erlking, and simply put, it wasn't practical. She briefly considered raiding Jareth's closets, but the idea of letting his clothes touch her bare skin made her itch. It felt far too intimate.

Deciding against that idea, Sarah moved forward, walking out of the double doors Jareth had exited from earlier and took in her surroundings.

The castle was beautiful, she had to admit, but a pallor seemed to hang over it. She couldn't quite explain it, but the halls seemed ghostly, entirely pristine but completely void of life, as if it had been forgotten. Dust coated the gilded frames of paintings on the walls and some of the statues lining the way looked as though they had been slowly eroding over time.

Sarah could've easily imagined that the dull tapestries hanging up had once been vivid and rich, but as she trailed her fingers across the fabric, it had an almost brittle-like quality to it. She felt a wave of sadness overtake her but did her best to shake it off. Sarah wouldn't herself be yet another thing that lost its shine here in the bowels of this starving castle.

Sarah meandered through the halls, idly pushing against old doors and peering inside the rooms, not finding anything of particular interest, some of them entirely empty. As she continued walking through the hallways, she imagined what the palace was like before, assuming there was a before. She imagined grand balls, exquisite decor. Rooms lit with cheery hearths and inviting chairs. Her thoughts slowly morphed to that of her own home, and she felt a pang of loneliness hit her.

She felt so utterly alone and helpless, two feelings that she didn't think would arrest her the way they did.

Pushing the thoughts away, Sarah found another room that appeared to be a bedroom. It was sparsely furnished - merely a bed, an ornate chair, and an armoire. Sarah marched over to the armoire, surprised but glad all the same, to find a random assortment of clothing.

Swiftly changing out of the dress, Sarah found a pair of black breeches and a long white shirt. It wasn't the best - still clearly made for a man - but it would have to do. Casting a cursory look at the now crumpled white gown, Sarah tossed it into the armoire. There was no point in trying to preserve it.

Sarah quickly tied off her hair in a messy braid, briefly wishing Tanya were by her side as it was always her that tended to her needs. She didn't let herself dwell on Tanya or home any further, fearing that if she did, she would simply give up and weep. And Sarah hated feeling that sort of vulnerability.

She then found a pair of old leather boots and shoved her feet into them, once again bemoaning the fact that they seemed just a touch too big.

But she was ready to get out.

Walking out of the room, Sarah found that her stride began to become more purposeful. She still felt entirely uneasy being in the Erlking's domain, as she didn't really know where she was or what this place was capable of, his words haunting her like a mantra. She couldn't shake the feeling that this place was somehow alive. Goosebumps prickled her skin, and Sarah urged herself to press onwards.

She just needed an exit. So far, none of the doors she had come across led to any. She realized much too late that she had already taken several turns around the winding halls, and looking over her shoulder, she knew that she had already forgotten which way it was she had come walking down. In her haste to get out, to find a door of consequence, she had been careless.

Just find an exit, any exit, Sarah urged herself. No matter that even if she did find one, it wouldn't guarantee that she knew where she'd be or where to go next.

Sarah eventually stumbled onto a stairwell and nearly cried with relief. She eagerly raced toward the stairs and quickly descended. The view from some of the windows had told her that going up would ensure she would only be able to tumble to her death, unless she magically sprouted wings and flew.

As she navigated down the stairs, Sarah felt a draft of cold air. It was chilling, especially given the lack of sufficient clothing, but it also sparked hope. The draft had to be coming from somewhere, namely an exit that Sarah could use. Or at least one step closer to an exit.

She allowed her feet to carry her where they did, letting instinct take over as she felt the air grow colder. Her heart kicked up into a furious beat as her legs moved faster. She saw a door ajar at the end of the hall, bright light limning the crack, and she felt delirious with excitement.

She was going to get out! It was that easy!

She couldn't believe how full of it Jareth had been. Perhaps he really had been trying to scare her into compliance.

As she drew closer to the door, confusion began to slowly replace the elation she had been experiencing up until this moment. The walls seemed to twist and morph, so slowly and subtly that it appeared to be some sort of trick of the eye. Sarah skidded to a halt as her palms slapped furiously against the now empty wall where the door had definitely been.

Her eyes grew wide with shock. That shock slowly eroded to anger and despair.

She knew there had been a door!

But the draft of air had slowly dissipated and the wall stood cheerily empty, devoid of any door.

Sarah continued to furiously slap her palms against the wall, as if that could somehow force what she had seen back into existence.

"Damn it! Damn it!" She punctuated each slap with a pained curse, and much to her embarrassment, felt hot wet beads of tears begin to steam down her cheeks. Perhaps she had been foolish to think it would be so easy, but deep down, Sarah knew it was also the panic sitting uncomfortably in the pit of her stomach, threatening to unseat itself at the slightest provocation.

"You aren't the first to have this place play tricks on you, and I assure you you won't be the last," a voice drawled from what seemed to be farther down the hall which she had just run down.

Sarah stilled, having not heard anyone follow her and feeling a little sheepish to have been caught like this.

"I could help you, you know." The voice lilted, a pleasant tone.

Sarah turned, starting a bit when she didn't see anyone. It was bad enough she was trapped here, but now she was hearing things too? Sarah started to seriously consider that a week may be just enough time for her to slowly lose her tenuous grip on reality.

"I know you're wondering where my voice is coming from, but you're not even looking in the right direction." A pause, and then an exasperated sigh. "Look down."

Sarah slowly followed the instructions, and…

Was looking at a cat?

Sarah felt like her brain was short-circuitng, perhaps finally succumbing to all the events that led up to this moment. Because surely a cat would not be talking to her. Could not be talking to her. That was ridiculous.

But then she remembered that this was the Erlking's realm, wherever it was, and he had claimed to possess magic. So it wasn't entirely out of the question for other strange oddities to exist.

She felt utterly ridiculous, but she knelt down in front of the cat, studying its features.

It looked like any normal cat, with black fur that shined like ink in the candlelight and bright green-yellow eyes that seemed to be studying her in a way that felt far too human.

"I'm sorry but…are you really talking?" She lowered her voice at the end, almost conspiratorially, feeling silly for even asking it aloud. But she needed to know she wasn't entirely losing her mind.

"Of course I am." Its tail flicked.

"Oh."

Sarah wasn't sure what to say next, but then she remembered what the cat had said when she first heard its voice. "So what did you mean about this place playing tricks on people?"

One of the cat's ears flicked, as if mildly annoyed at having to explain anything at all. "I meant exactly what I said. This place is suited to the whims of that old devil, Jareth."

Sarah instantly recalled Jareth claiming he would not interfere, and she already had the suspicion that that was hardly the case. Not that she was suddenly keen on trusting a talking cat, but it seemed, judging by its tone, that it had no love lost for Jareth either. And well, something-something, 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' and all that.

"Then what's your story?" Sarah retorted, scanning the area again, secretly hoping another door would show itself with a way out.

"This is a result of Jareth himself. I wasn't always a cat, you know. And here I am, stuck parading around as a four-legged beast." She swore she heard the cat scoff before acting like said four-legged beast and licking its paw.

Sarah wondered what odd situation they had landed in that resulted in Jareth turning this person into a cat. Either it had to be something rather bad or maybe for Jareth, this was just a regular day as the Erlking. She didn't even know Jareth had the ability to transform people. She certainly didn't want to find out for herself if she could help it.

The cat's ears suddenly perked as it raised itself up on its haunches, eyes keyed onto her left hand, particularly where the silver ring tattoo glimmered.

"So you really married him then!" The cat seemed hardly unsurprised by the idea of her marrying Jareth, but rather more surprised that she had followed through with it at all. Not that she had much of a choice in the matter.

Sarah snatched her hand out of view, a touch defensive. "I didn't intend to! And believe me, I'm trying to get out of here. He actually struck a deal with me you know." Sarah was more than a little concerned how easy it was becoming for her to talk to a talking cat. "If I can get out of here in a week, then I'll be free of him. And I intend to make sure that I do."

If cats could grin, Sarah could've sworn that it did so just now.

"Well, Sarah," the cat said, leaping into the air to land easily on her shoulders, tail tickling her neck. "I intend to help you see this deal through."

Sarah felt an odd weight settle in her stomach, both relieved to have a potential ally but apprehensive too at how readily the cat wanted to help. Perhaps Jareth had more enemies than she realized.

As they walked back down the hall, Sarah idly wondered how the cat had come to know her name and why it seemed as if it had been expecting her.

She supposed that only time would tell if she was making another mistake.

AN: As always, I appreciate everyone who takes the time to read this silly little story!