Breaking Barriers (Chapter 28 up)

A/N @ kookookitty~ Thanks so much for the suggestion and reviews :D I will definitely do that from now on. And yes, you are right. Jareth is much too proud to ask Sarah this outright... if he did where would the story be? lol, thanks :)

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Sarah went outside to survey the balcony. Once again she stepped out into the bright sunlight. It really was quite beautiful here, but Sarah knew that she couldn't stay. Sarah grasped the balcony's wrought iron bars as she looked down to the ground. It really wasn't that far of a drop, but it was much too far for her to simply jump- acquiring an injury at this point was exactly what she didn't need. She knew she would need something to aid her escape, but what? Sarah went back inside and looked about. Almost immediately she spotted her bed. Sarah strode forward and grasped the silken top covers. With a grim expression she tore apart the bed and pulled off the two top layers of sheets, the undersheet and the pillowcase.

It was one of the oldest tricks in the book. In fact, she had used this method back home as a young girl. It was the perfect strategy when one was in need of getting away for awhile.

Sarah deftly tied the sheets together making sure as she did so that there was no possible way the knots could slip. When finished she had an almost 20 foot long chain in her possession. Sarah went back out onto the balcony and tied the rope securely around one of the bars. Again, Sarah looked down. There was still a bit of a drop to the ground from the end of her rope, but it wasn't anything she couldn't handle. Sarah hopped over onto the other side of the balcony without too much difficulty. Then, slowly, Sarah climbed down the hand made rope. Finally, Sarah landed softly on the ground. She wished there was something she could do with the evidence, but what did it matter anyhow? Obviously she would have needed to use something for her escape, and there was really no harm in the Goblin King finding out- after she was gone.

But now what? Sarah stopped to think. In her hurry to escape the room she hadn't realized that she still did not know how to return to her home.

For now, just focus on hiding, a logical voice said in her head. Sarah looked about and noticed that to the right of her an imposing mountain stood not too far away. She needed to get there fast. Target in sight, Sarah began running alongside the beautiful garden she had noted earlier. As she passed by the large hedges, she prayed that she did not come upon the Labyrinth. She was afraid if she ever entered it again she would get lost and all hope of returning home would also. After she passed the garden she came upon a clearing. Small birds tittered and wild flowers brushed against her legs, but she took no notice. She only had eyes for the mountain. Once through the clearing Sarah rushed into a small valley full of thick green mud and dark twisted trees. Now and then her foot would catch in the muck or her long hair would get stuck in the brittle branches, but it was not enough to deter her. Finally, after a full fifteen minutes of running, Sarah arrived at the mountain and upon seeing a large crevice in the rock, slipped inside.

It was very cold and very dark inside, but she was pretty that no one would be able to find her here. But, just to be sure, Sarah crept deeper into the mountain. All about her, Sarah could hear the soft drips of condensation landing on the ground she walked on. It was dank and musty in here, worse than an old basement. And it was as dark and empty as the hole Sarah felt forming deep in the pit of her stomach. After a minute or so, Sarah finally allowed herself time to rest and think. She sat upon a small boulder and rested her elbows on her knees. When her eyes finally adjusted to the darkness she could see her breath coming out in short, quick puffs.

How was she going to get back home? She had no idea where to even begin. Last time she had simply said some fancy words from a script. Sarah suddenly felt embarrassed- it hadn't seemed so simple at the time. But how had she gotten home before? Sarah had never really thought about it. How had that simple phrase gotten her home, really?

It must have been Jareth, Sarah concluded. When he realized that nothing was going to sway her from her decision of saving Toby, he must have sent her back. After all, Sarah thought to herself, Jareth possessed magic- she didn't.

But if Jareth was the only one who could bring her back then Sarah knew she would probably never see her home again. There was no way she would willingly go back the castle to find out if he could send her back and even if he could she would never be able to convince him to help her. No, she couldn't return, Sarah thought, crossing her arms. If she did she would only be back where she started: caught in Jareth's trap.

Was there anyone else with the ability to bring her back home? She couldn't remember from her last experience with the Labyrinth whether there had been other creatures who had possessed actual magical abilities. Ludo had been able to call the rocks, but as far as Sarah understood that wasn't magic. Ludo and the rocks were simply friends. Besides, Sarah didn't think calling for the help of rocks would be such a good idea. Sarah suddenly envisioned the entire mountain collapsing on top of her. She shuddered. No, that definitely wouldn't work. Sarah let out a sigh of exasperation. In the chill air, Sarah shivered again. It sure was creepy in here.

Suddenly Sarah shrieked as she felt something crawl across her shoulder. With a tremulous hand, she quickly brushed it away. When it was gone, Sarah looked about frantically, trying to find what it had been, but she couldn't see anything. Shaking profoundly, Sarah stood up, hoping that now there would be enough of a barrier between her and the wall to keep whatever that thing had been off of her. She wanted to leave this place, but she hadn't yet figured out a plan of action. She paced in thoughtful silence for a few minutes.

Maybe Hoggle could help. After all, he was the one who had helped her navigate through most of the Labyrinth before.Sarah doubted he could simply magick her away, but maybe he could help her, even if it was in just a small way. Sarah remembered perfectly what her companions had told her all those years ago:


"...But," said Sir Didymus with a waver in his voice, "should you need us..."
"Yeah," offered Hoggle, "should you need us..."
"I'll call," finished Sarah.


Sarah wondered if their words would still be true today. Taking in a deep breath, Sarah readied herself. There would be only one way to find out. Sarah spoke in a loud, clear voice:

"I need you, Hoggle."

But just as she said these words, Sarah felt that thing crawling on her arm again. She quickly brushed it off, but as soon as it was gone Sarah felt another along her back. And another on the opposite shoulder and still more crawling up her leg. Sarah let out a shriek and began to flail about wildly, but they continued to crawl all over her body. Before she knew it they were everywhere. Their tiny claws dug into her exposed skin. Little pinches occasionally accompanied this crawling. They were coating her, smothering her.

Blindly, Sarah ran back out of the crevice. When she finally made it outside, she saw what was crawling on her.

There were tiny white scorpion-type parasites all over her body. They looked slimy and disgusting and looked up at her with blind eyes. Sarah almost fainted at the sight. In a panic, she began to run again. But only a few seconds had passed by before she stopped. Her foot was stuck. It took a moment for Sarah to realize that she was back in the valley. It was almost impossible to do anything about the creatures when she was knee deep in muck. As she trudged her way through the valley branches clawed at her face and eyes- she could hardly see anything. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she struggled out of the mud and onto solid ground. Then, not knowing what else to do, she flung her body to the ground and rolled in the grass and dirt. She had hoped that this would crush the parasites, but their shells protected them from the impact, so most managed to cling on with their tiny ferocity. In the back of her mind, Sarah wondered what would happen if she could not get rid of them. Were they poisonous? Would the scars she would undoubtedly receive forever haunt her memory? Would she be chewed to pieces, never to be seen on the face of the planet again?

Finally, Sarah rolled into the clearing she had passed through earlier. In less than a second, all of the parasites released their grasp and scurried back to the cave emitting a shrill whine and leaving a thin, bloody trail.

Sarah stood shakily and inspected her wounds. Tiny scratches and bites covered her skin. She was bleeding from every portion of her body, and her roll in the grass had ground dirt into the wounds. She was definitely worse for the wear.

Sarah then looked about her to find what had put an end to her torture.
There‚ in the clearing stood Hoggle exactly as he had appeared four years ago... well, with the exception of an extremely astonished look on his face.

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Nothing could console Toby. For three days straight he had been moping about the house, constantly sighing or sobbing. A few minutes ago, Toby had seen his mother notice him in Sarah's bedroom. He had been clinging to her beloved teddy bear, Lancelot, and quietly sobbing to himself. Ordinarily, Toby would have been embarrassed about his mother discovering him doing such a thing, but not today. He was heartbroken and nothing but Sarah's return could alleviate his grief.

At moments he was furious at her. How dare she leave without taking him with her! His sister had always been selfish and had never trusted him with anything! At other times, and it was at most times, Toby felt guilty. He was not sure why, but somehow he thought that he was responsible for Sarah's disappearance. He wasn't sure what to believe. Had she left on purpose, or had someone stolen her away? When he thought of the second thing, he again grew furious, but this time at whoever had taken her away from him.

His parents didn't know what to do with him, but he hardly took any notice. Why weren't they worried about Sarah? Didn't they care about her?

At dinner that night, Toby decided to ask them just that.

"Dad," Toby spoke, shoving his plate aside, "Why haven't you been out searching for Sarah? Maybe she's in trouble."

His father looked at him with pitying eyes. It was a look that made Toby angry.

"Toby," began his father patiently, "Sarah is a grown woman. We don't give her permission to leave the house anymore."

"Sarah probably just left for a while to clear her head, and I agree with it. She had not been acting herself before she left," his mother said in what she thought was a helpful manner.

Toby clenched his fork and looked at his plate.

"Sarah wouldn't just leave without telling me. Something must be wrong."

Toby's mother reached over and patted him on the head.

"Darling, Sarah's world does not revolve around you," she said, smiling.

Toby glared at her, then struggled out of his chair. He ran up the stairs and into Sarah's bedroom. Once inside, he slammed the door shut and threw himself on top of her bed. There was no way she would have left without telling him. Sarah told him everything. He had tried talking to his parents, but they had practically laughed at him. That left only one option.

He would have to go look for her himself.

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A/N Clever, Sarah, very clever... You've once again escaped the wrath of Jareth.

Or so you think. XD

And it appears Toby is going to put himself in the perfect position to be kidnapped again. Tsk tsk.

Sorry this chapter's a little short. I promise the next one will be longer :D So until tomorrow, thanks for reading ~TheArtist