Return to the Labyrinth:
Chapter Two
Confused and dilerious, Fern forced her eyes open and stared at the painted sky that rose above her. Shaking her head, she rolled over onto her side with the intention of going back to sleep. But then she suddenly remembered what had happened and sat straight up.

"Where the heck am I?" she snapped as she quickly rose to her feet. Looking around, her eyes took in the cold stone walls that surrounded her on all sides and concrete floor under her feet. "Okay!" Fern called out. "This isn't funny anymore!"

Only silence greeted her.

Not one to be ignored, she started to walk around in a circle, taking in everything. "Hey! I don't know who you are, but I want you to come out right now! This is soooo not cool!"

The heavy wind blew around her and ran it's icy cold fingers through her hair. "Look! I want to go home and I want to go now-"

But she fell silent when she heard footsteps coming up behind her.
Sarah was standing outside the school, her hair soaked and her body shivering from the cold rain that fell from the Heavens. Wrapping her arms around her trembling body, she looked up to the sky. "Please...please bring Fern back to me safely." A rumble of thunder was the reply she received.

She felt Ms. Timber's hand on her shoulder and she turned. Ms. Timber smiled sympathetically. "Are you sure you don't want to come inside the building and wait? It's so cold and rainy out here."

Sarah shook her head. "I'm sure, thank you. I'd rather stay out here in the cold. Helps me think."

Ms. Timber nodded. "Are you sure there isn't anything I can do? I can call the police if you'd like-"

Sarah's eyes widened. "Oh, no, please don't do that. They wouldn't be able to help anyway. Fern is...well, Fern is in a place that only I can get to. That is if I remember the way...."
Fern spun around in her place and looked at the figure who stood before her. The woman's blue eyes were radiant and her amber air shown brilliantly in the morning sun. Raising the hem of her ivory and gold dress, she took a cautious step forward. Fern retreated back.

"Who...who are you?"

The woman laughed vibrantly, throwing her head back. "Why, my dear, don't you know where you are?" Her voice was soft and gentle, and held a slight accent that Fern recognized as being British.

"I know perfectly well where I am!" Fern snapped. "What I want to know is who you are."

Taking another step forward, the woman smiled and ran a hand through her curls. The diamond ring on her left hand blinded Fern for a second. "If you know where you are, as you apparently do, then you should be able to figure out who I am on your own."

Fern narrowed her eyes. "I'm in the Labyrinth, right? Although I don't see how that's possible, considering my Mom always told me it was always a dream..."

"A dream?" the woman scoffed. "My dear child, the Labyrinth was hardly a dream for your mother. And it's hardly a dream for you right now."

"You mean I'm really here? Like here-here?"

Smiling, the woman nodded. "Yes. And in order to get out and go back home, you must solve the Labyrinth and..."

"And reach the castle at the center," Fern finished for her. The woman nodded. Fern shook her head. "So, let me guess, what's-his-name is probably there waiting for me, right?"

"I presume you mean Jareth," the woman corrected, annoyed, "and yes he is."

"Right," Fern said, crossing her arms over her chest. "And I'm gonna bet that I only have 13 hours to solve this damn maze, too, right?"

"You know the story well."

"Yeah, well, what can I say?"

The woman smiled mysteriously and turned and started to walk away.

"Hey!" Fern said. The woman faced her. "Who are you, anyway?"

"My dear," the woman said, surprised, "hadn't you guessed? Why I'm Joconde - the Queen of the Goblins."
Home: Within Your Eyes
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1