Chapter One

Someone Save Me

"Great," Sarah sighed out loud as she fumbled in the darkness. She'd been lost for three hours now and no one had come to find her. She was sure, in fact, that no one even noticed her missing. She got up and started walking, farther into the woods. "This is the last time I go on a camping trip with Dad and Karen," she decided. She watched as the warm of her breath escape with the words she'd spoken. Why'd they want to go camping in such cold weather anyways? She meant, ok, yeah they'd gotten a cabin but, like hell she knew where it was.

"I'm cold," she grumbled as she stepped over branches "I'm hungry, I'm tired, and-" a loud howl was heard in the distance. Sarah's eyes shot up, looking around wildly. More howls followed and Sarah's adrenaline kicked in. She rushed off in a good jog, but as the howling got louder she ran faster. Soon, she was running head on, with a small pack of wolves hunting her down. She tripped over branches and went barricading though any brush in her way.

Nothing was going to stop her, that is, until she got her foot caught in the root of a tree. She went crashing down, head first into the frozen ground. She grabbed the nearest stick and scrambled into a sitting position, only because she couldn't get her foot unstuck. She warded the animals off the best she could, swinging the branch violently anytime one would get close to her. Soon, the pack gave up and started off after something less willing to fight back.

Sarah unhooked her foot. She winced, her ankle was twisted. She rolled her sock down and saw that it was already swelling. She screamed in frustration and laid on her back, looking up at the grayish sky. "Great," she screamed and pounded a fist into the ground. Just her luck, snow, silently, gently, started to fall. "Someone save me!" she screamed in anguish and a quiet laugh took hold of her attention. She shot up; looking in the direction the laughter came from.

Jareth stood there, leaning against a tree, looking wonderfully entertained. Sarah's eyes narrowed and she resumed her current position. "Just not you," she finished.

"Why is it that when I do what you ask, you become frustrated with me?" Jareth asked walking over to her.

"Because you manage to find a way to twist it to make it something I hate," she spat, refusing to look at him.

"Just because you're fickle-" he started but she sat up.

"Don't you have children to steal or something?" she fumed.

"Actually," he grinned "I'm taking care of it as we speak."

"I'm not a child," she spat. Jareth froze and began counting silently to himself.

"Seventeen, right?" he asked, squinting his eyes. Sarah nodded. "Then you're a child. You are not yet eighteen so you are not yet, an adult."

"I'm a young adult," she corrected.

"Do you want help or not?" he asked.

"Define help," she grumbled, not trusting him.

"Help: to be of assistance, to aid, to lend a hand, assist, to-" he listed.

"Alright don't be a smart ass," she mumbled.

"Just doing what you asked," he said innocently.

"I didn't ask you for help," she started and he raised his hand.

"Just answer the question," he said "do you need help, or not."

"Not from you," she said again.

"Your being difficult Sarah," he mused.

"Like hell do I care!" she shouted "go away Jareth I don't need YOUR help. I think I'd rather wait here or die, because you know what? I'm so sick of-" Sarah didn't get to finish her sentence because Jareth had picked her up and was now carrying her through the woods. "Put me down!" she screamed.

"As you wish," he grinned and dropped her, point blank. She moaned and grabbed her ankle. With a sigh, Jareth knelt down and took hold her leg. Sarah jolted but he held her still. "Would you relax!" he yelled "I'm not going to hurt you! For the god's sake Sarah, I'm trying to help." Almost shocked at his words Sarah stopped and let Jareth look at her ankle. "Well," he explained "I'll have to carry you anyways, unless I bring you back Underground, though I'm sure your not wanting me to do that."

"Of course I don't," she said quickly "I'd never get home." He gave her a short glance and let out a sigh.

"Alright," he said "there's a cave about half a mile away. I can get you there, get you through the night and in the morning possibly find your parents."

"And what to you want in return?" Sarah asked skeptically.

"Nothing," he said blankly.

"Nothing," she repeated and looked up at him "what are you trying to pull?"

"Sarah I'm hurt," he said batting his eyes sarcastically "how could you think I'd do such a-" he stopped and saw that she was not amused. "Alright," he grumbled "sometime during the night I need to speak with you, without yelling, without you trying to attack me, a mature adult conversation."

"But you said I wasn't an adult," she teased.

"And no sarcasm," he added sternly, but then let out an amused grin.

"And that's all?" she asked.

"You have my word," he swore "Goblin King's honor."

"As feeble as that honor is," Sarah sighed "alright." He scooped her into his arms again and started off. "I really wish you didn't have to carry me though," she complained.

"Don't you ever say anything positive?" he asked. She paused a moment.

"No," she teased.

"Figures," he grumbled and concentrated on walking.

Author's note: That was chapter one! Hope you liked. I thought it was ok. Well, on to chapter two!