Be So Cruel

Copyright 2003

Disclaimer:  The characters you know are from Labyrinth and are the property of the respected owners.  Those characters not related to the movie are naturally mine.  I am making no money off of this, nor do I wish to.  This is simply my release from reality that can be so confining at times.

A/N:  If you have Sarah set in your mind as only the little innocent heroine from the movie, proceed no further, for that perfect image may be permanently damaged.  This story was written specifically to give Sarah a lifestyle no one seems to picture, and hopefully the difference will shock you into reading more.

            Reviews, comments, and flames are not only appreciated, but encouraged.

            Tick.  Tick.  Tick.

            Round and round the thin second hand spun past the numbers of the clock, never slowing, keeping in perfect sync on its circular path.  It was a small clock, simple and moderate, accented only by the thin gold that outlined the black metal case.  Next to the clock rested a photo stand, with a beautiful young girl of 18 holding a little blonde haired boy.  The rest of the picture was blocked by a boot, black in color with a zipper on the side.  Crossed at the ankle by the other foot, the boots were cut off by a pair of dark blue jeans, that were tight but not restricting, around shapely legs.  They stopped at the waist by a black belt, and a black sleeveless shirt was tucked over a flat, toned stomach.  Upon the lap was a folder, opened with various papers and pictures clipped together, and a small hand with slim, strong fingers continued flipping pages, looking for something.  A similar hand ran up to push a stray lock of thick brown hair behind a single pierced ear, and to briefly run through the rest of the shoulder length tresses.  The hand continued to caress the long neck and rub the muscles just at the base, eliciting a slight groan of discomfort.

            A hot bath was most certainly in order.

            But not until she made progress in her research.

            Sarah groaned again as she stretched her back against the office chair, reaching her arms out as far as she could and lengthening herself like a cat after a long nap.  While settling back into the chair, she looked over her feet crisscrossed on her desk and around the dark office.  The desk lamp was the only illumination in the room, casting stray shadows around the filing cabinets and the pictures on the walls.  A few of the frames held awards, others joyful pictures of family and co-workers of the office's owner.  At the moment, she was borrowing the office for her work.  The only thing of hers was the one frame she always carried with her, and her eyes drifted across it again.  Toby and 18 year old Sarah laughed at her, oblivious to the world around them, and when she swiveled the chair a bit to look around her boots, she took in her father and step-mother, both smiling brightly as they held each other.

            Her eyes glazed slightly, the memories overwhelming her enough to pull her from reality, to draw her back into the past, to relive those moments she desperately tried to escape…

            Sarah inhaled sharply, physically jolting herself back to the present.  With a shake of her head, she returned her gaze to the portfolio in her lap.  Everything still looked the same as had seen before, as she had looked at for the past two hours.  Now, the time being well after three in the morning, she found the words and pictures blurring.  When she rubbed her eyes to clear them, the folder fell to the floor, spilling pictures across the wood.

            "Damn," she muttered, and reached down to retrieve her scattered goods.

            Her breath caught. 

            Pushing the other pictures aside, the young woman selected a particular photo and lifted it up in the light.  It was on a sideways angle, the trees behind the brown haired child now pointing down and the lake floating in midair, but she was unaware of this.  All she saw was the shape hanging from the tree, the shape that could be easily mistaken for a shadow or a tree behind another when viewed upright…

            But with the world upside down, she could see the symbol on the man's wood colored jacket.  Frantically she reached for the other photos and was able to spot out in most the same man standing somewhere in the background, only detectable by his jacket, and the same symbol of the line through the mountain.

            Taricon.  The family owned business that ran the phone lines throughout the hills and woods around the Talahackle area.  Only a handful of people worked with Taricon, so only one office was open for business.

            The rest of the folder forgotten, Sarah was already on her feet and racing for her car.

            Tobias placed the tray on the table before unlocking the door and turning on the light.  Fixing his jeans and giving a sudden cough, he placed the tray in his right hand, his left hand at his hip, and walked down into the room.  It was cold, frigidly cold tonight, but he was warm and comfortable in his heavy coat.  A pity it was that he couldn't say the same for his guest. 

            Her crying had stopped, and now she sat on the floor, curled into a shivering ball trying desperately to retain some warmth.  Now that he had returned, had once again turned on the light, she backed herself away while trying to get her eyes to adjust the sudden brightness.  After a few blinks, her gaze settled on him, and she was the perfect resemblance of a deer caught in the head lights.

            When her lip began to tremble, he swiftly knelt before her and pressed his fingers to her lips.  "Hush," he whispered.  "It won't be long now." 

            "I want to go home," she whispered back, brokenly.

            "You will, love," Tobias responded soothingly, gently caressing her blonde hair back, moving his hand to hold her neck, before he seized her hair and pulled hard, causing her to yelp.  She was forced to the floor and he placed his knees on her chest to keep her still.  "As soon as you atone for your sins."

            "Don't hurt me!" she cried out, her tears now free flowing.

            "You are a dirty little girl, and you can't go into paradise unless you are clean."  His other hand reached up to the table and pulled down an object that reflected a sinister glare when pulled into the light.  "I will take the spirits from you, child, and you will feel no more pain.  You will be free." 

            His hand lowered to her face, the jagged edge knife pressing lightly into her left eyelid, making her scream in absolute fear.

            "FREEZE!"

            Tobias went stiff and raised his eyes to find a bright white light blinding him. 

            "PUT DOWN THE KNIFE AND MOVE AWAY FROM THE GIRL!"

            "No, she's in danger!  She must be freed from his grasp!  She's possessed!"

            "DROP THE KNIFE AND STAND UP!  DO IT NOW!"

            "She will be resurrected, and you are powerless to stop it!  She is mine now!"  With a howl of anger, he brandished the knife above the girl's heart, and brought it down in a swift arc.

            The room illuminated three times, accompanied by the deafening cracks of the three rounds bursting from the gun chamber with unbelievable force to embed themselves into the chest of the stunned Tobias.  He staggered on his knees, his one hand smearing the blood across his shirt, and then his eyes rolled up into his head before he pitched backwards, his body thudding to the floor in an ungraceful heap of flesh and blood.  He didn't move again.

            Footsteps came out of the shadows to stop beside the sobbing child, who looked up into the soft green eyes of a beautiful young woman with a tender smile.  "It's ok now, Jessica," the woman whispered.  "You are safe now."  And the woman took her into a warm embrace, smoothing her hair and giving words of comfort before pulling out her phone. 

            "This is Special Agent Sarah Williams, requesting an ambulance to 3795 Northbay Road at the base of Sherry Hill…"

            Hidden in the shadows, a pleased smile spread across his face.  "Very good, Sarah.  Very good."  It would be soon, and he would finally take regain his powers.  And Sarah would be the one to give him everything.  He melded back into the wall and vanished completely.