Sarah had not thought that the Labyrinth could look more dreary than it had when she had first visited it, but it did. A pall of gloom hung over the vast maze like a shroud, heavy mist that remained motionless in the breathless air. The woman wandered aimlessly, fingertips just brushing rough brick. Every so often, her lips would part as though she were about to speak, but then shut again without letting through a word. Around her, the very air was oppressive, and yet not so – it did not have the atmosphere of watching her, specifically, but of watching in general – keeping a mournful vigil.

When she arrived at the courtyard area, she paused, her eyes searching the warm stone walls before dropping to the tiles beneath her feet. Pulling out a tube of lipstick with the point rubbed down, she made an arrow on a random tile. Wandering forward, she turned around a corner, walking alongside a short section of wall before returning to the marked tile. Upon seeing the arrow still pointing the direction she'd indicated, she hesitated a moment before meandering forward again. Drifting listlessly about several minutes, she eventually doubled back to the noted flagstone. It was still facing forward. Biting her lip, Sarah looked towards the middle of the Labyrinth. "Something is amiss in the goblin kingdom," she whispered, and set off with more purpose.

It had been fifteen years since she'd woken up in the Labyrinth, with thirtteen hours to find her brother or have him lost forever. Fifteen years of holding her memories close to her heart, missing Hoggle, Ludo, Sir Didymus, and all the rest of her friends. But recently, grown up and busy with her life, she had begun to let them go... and tonight, she had woken here, in the Labyrinth.

Her anxiety grew as she continued, the lack of resistance to her advance only heightening the surrealism. There was no sign of any living being – the Wise Man and his Bird Hat were gone, the doorknockers were silent brass, the paving stones remained in place. Something dreadful had happened in the goblin kingdom, and as her apprehension grew, Sarah broke into a run.

When she reached the Goblin City, unhampered by magical intervention, she saw that it was closed down – the houses shut up tight, no sign of any goblin about. Her footsteps clicked loudly in the empty streets, echoing eerily. At first, Sarah looked about uneasily, but as no dangers materialized the castle drew and chained her attention. Some unknown urgency lent speed to her steps until she was running again.

Dirges from ahead of her caused her to slow again, wending her way cautiously between the trees around the castle. She paused, hovering at the edge of the road, watching a slow, lengthy procession of goblins pass, a large jet casket borne on the shoulders of a dozen liveried servants. Dwarves, Fireys, worms, goblins, and other fantastical creatures followed behind the coffin. Sarah's gaze rested on the shining black sarcophagus, inexplicable tears stinging her eyes. Bowing her head, a piece of soft gauze fell about her ears. Looking up again, she removed the veil, moving forward, out onto the road. The leaders of the procession, seeing her, halted, and the casket-bearers moved forward. Sarah reached out, the veil wafting silkily through the air to settle mistily on the coffin. Stepping back, she stood on the verge as the funeral marched solemnly by, watching until the residents of the Goblin Kingdom were out of sight.

Rest in peace, David Bowie.