Your Eyes Can Be So Cruel

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Muahahahahaah!!! CHAPTER 8! Sorry, I am proud of this one.

Thanks Kit and my readers!

Enjoy!

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“Toi…let….fluuuuuuuuuuush…”

Toby rolled over in his bed, his sheet tangling around him.

“Stop running away toilet….I need to flush you!” Toby mumbled and tossed over again before sitting up quickly, his eyes flying open. “Potty! I got to go potty!”

The boy leaped from the bed and ran down the hall barely his feet skidding and slipping. Toby was in the attempt of removing his clothes while running and now he knew why big people didn’t wear footy pajamas. It was too hard to get the zipper down when you had to go real bad. He slid into the bathroom just in time. The door slammed behind him as he skidded into the tiled room.
The two goblins had fallen asleep during their long watch and the smallest one now jerked awake at the loud bang.

“What was that?” It hissed, its small beady eyes shifted back and forth searching the room for the noise.

The older goblin let out a three part snore that ended in a whistle, but didn’t move nor wake at the others concern. Shrugging the smallest jumped off the bed and decided to look around. Maybe have a bit of fun stealing things and hiding them in places. Oh! Or maybe even track mud in. He loved mud. The goblin wobbled down the hardwood floors. His feet making little patpat scrape noises as he did. He noticed that the door at the very end of the hall was glowing. He looked from side to side, his little snout sniffing. No one was watching though. He could just take a quick look and then go back. He slowly inched his way up to the door and it started to open slowly as he got closer. He was right next to the door and then it was the most horrifying thing he had ever seen!

Toby opened the bathroom door to find himself face to face with a goblin. A real life goblin. It was all leathery and as small as him. With stringing hair and small eyes high on its wide snout of mottled brown, and it was staring at him

The blue eyed, blonde haired boy screamed. It was a high shrill scream that pierced the otherwise quiet night.
The goblin screamed back

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Sarah was starting to believe that the whole farther than you think thing was quickly becoming true. Every time she took a turn that she thought would bring her closer to that damn castle, she would get turned around and wind up farther away than she had been a few minutes before. How delusional she had been at that tender age of 15 to think that she had beaten this twisted path of frustration and hell. If it hadn’t been for her friends she would have never have gotten through in time in order to save Toby.

Without Hoggle, Ludo, and Sir Didymus, she was nothing in this Labyrinth. She was just a little mouse lost in a maze trying to find the cheese. Just a toy he kept playing with. A source of amusement. She wasn’t quite sure why, but Sarah had the urge to just break down at that moment and cry. She had no sense of direction, no sense of time. All alone she was nothing but a girl playing with her dolls and toys in a land of dreams and make believe.

Sarah screamed and hit the closest stone wall with the flat of her palm. The stinging pulled her senses away from the tears that wanted to fall. She wouldn’t give in to him.

She wasn’t a toy.

“Fallen in love with the girl my ass!” She yelled at nothing in particular.

Dittle in his usual manner was playing with whatever he found. In this instance those creepy plants with the eyes that followed you every where you moved.

Sarah gave the wall another good smack before pulling herself together and stalking down the stone pathway littered with glitter and leaves. Why does everything have to sparkle here she thought angrily. Dittle made one last puff in the directions of the eyes that quickly snapped back away from the protruding fur, and then he was bouncing happily after her.

She stopped quickly, her little ball of fur popping into the back of her heel before tumbling over himself several times.

“Sometimes the way forward, is the way back.” She mumbled looking around she found the castle once again. Sitting pretty at the very top surrounded by the constant state of dusk or dawn.

She sprinted to the other side of the wall, her back to the castle, running her hands backwards and forwards within the space of a few feet until she found one. She found one finally. Smiling to herself she took the path that led farther away from castle. Dittle continued to bounce after her with a pulsing pink glow.

She kept mumbling to herself. To the point that she knew if anyone had actually been listening to her they may think she was crazy, but for the first time this damn place was making sense. She had thought all the things she had been told before were just random ramblings of the goblins and fey that lived here, but they weren’t. The Labyrinth isn’t straightforward. It never will be. Logical process doesn’t work here. Dreams and fanciful ideas do. It’s not meant to make sense, so the most irrational thought or idea should bring her closer right.

“Yup…going crazy.” She said quietly, but for the first time since she returned she had a bit of hope.

Without realizing it Sarah started running. Her hands skimming along the walls. Once in a while she would look back to make sure the castle was still behind her. Behind her and she could swear it was getting closer.


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Jareth turned the crystal this way and that. His eyes almost sad and his lips set tight in thought. He stood from his usual perch and walked over to a large black table that rose and fell in a wave of hands and claws from legs up to the smooth glossy top. On that surface sat a blue velvet box lined with white satin, which is where he set the crystal. He tapped the table a few times. Losing himself in the drum of his fingers.

“What do you know of love Sarah?” He stared at the stone wall that always looked perfect, but also in a constant state of decay with its cracks and texture. The vines that live a die over and over across its skin. His hand swept up suddenly from the table, and slammed the lid of the box closed. “Let’s test that shall we.” He smirked.

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Toby and goblin had stayed in their spot for several moments once their screams had died, mouths hanging open, still gaping at the other.

When the boy finally came to his senses he couldn’t help but do what first came to his mind. This was of course to pinch himself very hard on his arm.

“Owe!” He yelped and then proceeded to pinch the goblin, who also yelped in pain. Both goblin and boy then reached for the other pulling at their faces. “Oshmygawd…” Toby slurred with one cheek pulled out tight by the goblin that he had in a similar hold. Ssssssssaraaaaaaaaaahh!” He yelled pulling free of the goblin and running for his older sister’s room.

The boy’s feet thudded down the hall as he barreled for what he thought was safety only to find another goblin sleeping in the bed where Sarah was supposed to be.

“INVASION!” Toby screamed turning to run to his own room in order to hide under the covers. If he couldn’t see them, they couldn’t see him!

The boy stop in the doorway his mouth once again hanging open in shock. He was really glad he went potty before all this otherwise his mom would be mad he made a mess in the hall. Sitting on his bed holding Lancelot and look at his bear with a funny face was only what Toby though could be the goblin king.

“Hello Toby.” Jareth smiled at him setting the bear back down on the boy’s bed.

He stood and walked over to him, kneeling down so that he was closer to eye level with the little boy. Normally he liked the whole looming over others and making them feel small, but he needed the boy. And if he was honest with himself he had a small tender spot for him as well. He had been fun to play with while Sarah had been lost in his Labyrinth.

“You’re-You’re-You’re…” Toby stuttered his blue eyes wide in amazement. “Hey! Why are your eyes different colors?” Toby’s nose scrunched up as he touched the mans cheek.

Children really had no fear once they were curious. Jareth found it all the more amusing as the boy studied him, gently moving his face to the side between his small hands.

“It’s magic.” He whispered and the boy made a face with a soft oh in acknowledgement. “Toby…would you like to come to the Labyrinth?”

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Hoggle was at the breaking point.

He had searched all over this damn Labyrinth. Ever nook and cranny he could think of, which was a lot considering how many damn years he’d been there, and still he couldn’t find Sarah. His stomach had been in knots ever since that Jareth had left. How he wished he could just….just…well kicking him would be nice. Or maybe push him into the bog of eternal stench. But he wouldn’t be so smug then if he smelled horrible for they rest of his life.

He had just started hobbling down another pathway when he saw something he wished he didn’t.

“Hello Hoggle.” The fey in black leather was leaning against one of the walls, his arms crossed and his eyes laughing.

“Why is it only the ones I dun want rememberin my name are the ones that do?” He mumbled in a gruff voice trying to get past the man, but he easily pushed from the wall and stepped in front of him.

Marek smiled down at the dwarf. “Come now Hoggle, when have I ever treated you badly?”

Hoggle huffed, trying once again to get past him. “I have no time for you Marek. Go back where ya came from.” He shoved past the leg in his way and picked up a bit more speed when the fey wasn’t following him.

“I only wanted to help you find Sarah.”

Hoggle stopped dead in his tracks before turning around with a snarl. “Why can’t both of ya just leave her alone?” The dwarf shouted advancing on Marek. Hoggle really didn’t fear this fey at all. He was much more of an annoyance than deadly in the sense that Jareth was. Hoggle poked viciously at his legs making the man stumble backwards. “Ya got no right botherin her!” He glared up at him.

Marek held his hands up in a sign of peace, his mismatched eyes still dancing with mirth.

“I’m not wanting to bother her at all.” He took a few quick steps back so that the fuming dwarf could no longer attack his legs. He just stood there heaving, his face turning bright red and purple. “Maybe I just want to make sure Jareth isn’t bothering her. Haven’t you thought of that?”

Hoggle looked at him dubiously before turning his back on the fey and walking down the path once again.

“You’re up to no good Marek. I know you too well.” Hoggle rubbed his hands in front of him as he tried to put more distance between him though still talking to the other man. “You just want what your brother wants.” He spat.

With his back turned Hoggle could not see the deadly looked that passed over Marek’s once soft features. Or the tightening of his fists as the leather creaked around his hands.

“You’ll never be Jareth.” Hoggle muttered and turned down one of the numerous twists he’d have to take in order to start his search over again, or was it continue it?

He thought that it was a very good thing Marek would never be able to live up to Jareth. Two of them running around in the Underground would just be too much. Though the rest of the Underground was lucky that Jareth was content staying in his Labyrinth and not making a bigger fuss in the Fey Circle. Hoggle snorted at his own line of thoughts. Good for nothing lot of Feys runnin that circus as it was. Maybe they did need Jareth, if it weren’t for the fact that he still had his head wrapped around Sarah. Why couldn’t he just leave her be? The girl…no woman, wasn’t going to fall in love with her childhood fairytale. There are no real happy endings in her world.

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Sarah sat down heavily on one of the stone benches that forma circle in this small courtyard it would seem. She had been relentless to herself, pushing as hard as she could to get to the castle, but her legs had finally won. She decided a small break couldn’t hurt when her left leg started cramping along with the fact that she found herself here. Where ever here happened to be.

Where she had been going led here to this small circular area. There were four other ways to get back out of it not including the spot she had come from, and from the looks of this place people normally sat here for a bit trying to figure out which way to go. What with the five stone benches and the fountain with a goblin pouring water from a jug. Who wouldn’t want to just sit here for a while and get lost in the soothing sound, the peacefulness of the off white stone that for once didn’t sparkle with whatever magic or other substance.

Sarah sighed letting her senses dull for just the briefest of moments. Why was she running? If she was honest with herself why was she trying so hard to get back out? What was for her back home besides Toby? She had no direction for her life. She had no joy except for the moments she would steal way in her different worlds of fantasy that she just couldn’t get rid of completely. She always put on the brave face for her family. She was being responsible, grown up even by going through school to get her degrees in business, but she hated it. She relished in the one or two classes she sneak in every semester for theater or art. She loved not having to deal with the real world.
So was she running to try and get out of the Labyrinth…or was it to try and get away from him?

There was a soft splash and several mewling noises that pulled Sarah from her reverie.
“Dittle…” She smiled at the little ball of fluff as she rested her head against her shoulder, her hair falling to the side. Her smile faded though as a blur of white a red went through one of the doorways. “Toby?”

Sarah’s heart plummeted into her stomach. It’s not possible. Toby couldn’t be in the Labyrinth. He was safe at home, probably asleep in his bed, not even aware of her missing. Then she heard that giggle. She couldn’t lie to herself and say it wasn’t his. She had heard so often when they would play.

She jumped from the bench and started running again. She was always running here. Away from things, following things. There was never a moments rest for her.

“Toby!” She called after him again when she caught another glimpse of his pajamas streaking through another part of the Labyrinth.

Maybe it was just another trick. Another bit of fancy in order to get her even more lost than she was in this stupid place, but she couldn’t risk it. She couldn’t leave Toby all alone here. Sarah slowed down as the corridors of stone once again spilled out into a courtyard, this one she knew all too well though. Somehow she had found her way back to the goblin city. There was no mistaking it with the dirt roads, and cramped houses that were the slightest bit to small for her and always looking as if they would fall over with the slightest push.

“Toby?” She called again a little softer.

The roads were empty just like they had been before and the town was completely quiet. She walked slowly through the houses picking her way up to the castle. There was a fountain at the bottom of the stairs that she had never noticed before and she couldn’t help but laugh at the tiny figures of Hoggle peeing into the basin. It looked rather familiar, and she had to wonder if perhaps the Goblin King had some sort of sense of humor after all.

There was a creak above her and she saw the large doors at that top of the stairs slowly swing open and a small boy with a splash of bleach blond curly hair slip through them.

All amusement lost Sarah once again ran up the stairs, chasing the boy through the doors. She had forgotten all about Dittle who had made the best attempts to keeps up with her even though his fur was still soaked from the water. It lay in limp tendrils, shaking bits of water everywhere as he pulsed with a light blue and shook with tiny trembles.

Sarah skidded to halt at the sight of her little brother and a little goblin playing in the pit in front of the Goblin King’s throne. Not to mention the fact that they were arguing.

“Nuhuh!” Toby was saying his hands on his hips. “I totally tagged you!”

The goblin shook it’s head, its large ears flapping back and forth.

“Did too!” The boy argued as little spots of pink rose on his cheeks, but then he smiled devilishly and tapped the goblin on the chest. “Fine! Now you’re it!”

The goblin pouted for a moment before both of them dissolved into giggles. Sarah started to walk forward with every intent of snatching her little brother up by his ear if she had too until she actually took noticed that the throne was not empty at all as she had first thought upon coming into the room. Then again all of her attention had been focused on Toby. The Goblin King sat in his place, one leg swung over the side of the chair and his head in his hand watching the boys play. Or at least he was watching until Sarah had noticed him. Then it seemed he decided to notice her. Sarah’s could feel a bit of anxiety, she hoped, start to rise as he watched her. He easily stood from his position and walked down to the pit, his eyes never leaving her as he whispered something into Toby’s ear. She glared at him in turn. Toby smiled and turned his head in order to find her and wave, then he ran off into another room with the goblin in tow.

She took a few quick steps forward with every intention to find her brother and take him home, but there was this annoying thing called a body in her way. Sarah had that wish again that if she glared just hard enough that this damn man would turn into a pile of dust. The smirk that found its way onto those damn lips did not help soothe her thought in any way.

“Why not let them play Sarah?” Jareth asked still smirking at her.

“Play?” Sarah was lost between confused and angry. “That’s all you ever want to do is play.” She snapped forcing him to take a few steps back. “Well I’m tired of playing games with you Ja-”

His smiled only widened when she snapped her mouth shut quickly. It was his turn to advance on her.

“Why won’t you ever say my name Sarah?” He reached out and played with a lock of her hair. “Are you afraid of it?”

Sarah stood firm, her chin held high. “I’m not afraid of you.”

His arm snaked around her waist and pulled her to him. “Then say my name.”

Her eyes hardened. “Send Toby home.”

Jareth chuckled as her hands pushed against his chest. Sarah ignored the fact that her fingers were brushing against his warm skin, and that it was both soft and hard under her touch.

“I didn’t take Toby. He asked to come to my Labyrinth Sarah.” He gave her a more genuine smile his lips coming dangerously close to her own. “Apparently he wanted to have an adventure just like his sister had.”

She wanted to slap him. She wanted to kick him, and damnit she wanted to kiss him, and she hated him for it.

“Send Toby home.” She said again.

“I will Sarah, if only you’ll say my name.” His eyes searched hers. He could see all the emotions running through her mind. Her eyes trying to find the loop hole. “If you say my name Sarah I will send him back. Safe in his bed, and all of this will seem a dream.”

There were a million things running through Sarah’s mind at that moment. All of them screaming that in some way this was just another trick. Another trap or test that he had set for her. As usual though she had to be stronger. She had to have more courage.

“Alright….fine.” Sarah took a deep breath. “Jareth”

It came out in more of a whisper, and not as strong as she wanted, but it seemed as though it didn’t matter. He smiled at her in that wolf way just as a clock struck five times.