Labyrinth II: Return the the Labyrinth (2)

Chapter two,
A new adventure


Ray opened and closed the front door as quietly as she could. Her mother was in the TV room just around the corner and probably was not in the best of moods. She never was at this time of night. With the door down, Ray did hr best to tip-toe to her room at the end of the hall but the squeaky floor-boards gave her away. "Ray!" her mother called. Ray sighed and went to confront her mother.

Ray peeked around the corner and looked at her mother who was on the couch. "Yes, ma?" she asked. "Where were you today, young miss?" her mother asked, not even turning to look at Ray. "I was at Sarah's house. I put a note on the fridge." she said. Ray had put an note on the fridge. It was probably still there. "Alright then. Now off to bed, you've school tomorrow." Ray's mother commanded. Ray sighed and walked to her room.

Ray took out her sketch book and lay on her bed. she had taken her new sketch book to Sarah's house and now most of it was filled with the drawings of all the characters Sarah had told Ray about. "What a fantastic story..." Ray mused, flipping through the pages. The characters had such personalities, such life. Ray wondered how long it had taken Sarah to put all that together.

Ray stopped at her favorite picture of Jareth, the feared Goblin King. His high collar, long cape, and Victorian-style clothes were everything Ray liked. And the King himself was appealing to Ray. From what Sarah had told her, he had a few love-life problems, but was still quite a powerful being.

"Lights out, Ray!" her mother called as she went to bed. Ray turned of her light and hid under the covers with her flashlight. She stared at the picture of the Goblin King and sighed. "If only I could actually ask you to take me away." she whispered. "If only it wasn't just a story." she said, again looking at all the characters. "Just to take a break from reality. Just to see the winding Labyrinth. Just to gaze upon the Goblin King once. It would be amazing...." Ray sighed and book the book and flashlight away. "But it's just a story. No Goblin king, no Labyrinth, no magic, just words and pictures." she said, looking to the window. The full moon shone in making Ray's room glow an eerie blue. "Oh, I wish the goblins could, would, take me away from here. Right now."

The wind began to howl against Ray's window and she could hear strange giggling from the dark corners of her room. A large and beautiful barn owl scratched at her window. Ray looked around her room, trying to find what was giggling. Finally, the window burst open and wind and leaves rushed in and the giggling stopped.

Ray had put her hands up to protect her face from the owls talons when it flew in and she sat there frozen for a moment. This is what happened in Sarah's story! It can't be... But when she turned around to see the owl, the Goblin King stood in its place.

"You're real!" Ray exclaimed but then covered her mouth, hoping her mother hadn't heard anything. The Goblin King raised an eyebrow. He looked even better in person. "Of course I'm real. Who told you otherwise?" he questioned. Hid voice was calm and smooth with a hint of resentment. His eyes were what made Ray hesitate. They were mismatched, one was stunning green and the other a sharp blue and they held Ray in a sort of trance. "S-Sarah. She just told me all about the Labyrinth and you and, and...." Ray stopped. The King's face was suspicious. "Sarah, told you everything?" he asked. Ray nodded. "Just today." The Goblin King leaned back and thought on this. Ray gave him his space.

Oh. My. God! It really is real! Why didn't Sarah tell me? Was she afraid? That would make sense, but still! He's real. The Labyrinth is real. The magic. The escape.... Ray had so many questions, but kept her mouth shut. She didn't dare brake the silence the Goblin King demanded. "Why did you call me?" he asked at last. Ray had to remember to breath. "I..." she paused. He looked down at her, his eyes expectant. "I thought it would be nice to get out of here. To travel the Labyrinth. It sounds so much better than here." she answered. "And whats makes you think I would do that for you? You have nothing that I can take." he said a-matter-of-factly. Ray looked down. "I don't know. You have to remember I didn't know you and you're realm were real until just now. It wasn't like I was really thinking that you'd come." She answered. "But if there is anything I could do to get to you take me to the Labyrinth, I'll try my best." Ray said, hoping that would do it.

Ray really did want to go to the Labyrinth. Even though she had just heard about it, knowing that it was real made it all the more appealing. The Goblin King watched her, thinking. Ray felt her chest tighten and waves of heat went through her body. His eyes bore into hers and Ray almost felt like he was testing her.

"You really want to go the the Labyrinth?" he asked. Ray sat up straiter and nodded. "Very much so. It's not every day one gets to go to another world." she said in excitement. The Goblin King smirked, amused by Ray's enthusiasm. "I'll let you stay in the Labyrinth, if," he paused for effect there. "If, you can solve the Labyrinth, by yourself." he offered. Ray breathed in. By myself? she thought on it a moment. "Alright." Ray said with a smile. "I just need to pack a thing or two, is that alright?"

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