I woke up with a start and threw the blankets that I was tangled in onto the floor. I jolted up in the bed and frantically scanned my surroundings. It didn't take long to realize that I was at home in my bedroom. The room was bathed in shadows and only pale moonlight filtered through the window. I looked at the digital alarm clock that resided next to my bed. The large red numbers read 3:37am. I turned on the small lamp that sat next to the alarm clock and looked around my room again. Nothing was out of place, everything was normal. I carefully climbed out of my bed and walked over to the window. The moon was nearly full and illuminated everything in a pale glow.

Stars flickered in the sky and the trees danced in the wind. It was just a dream, I thought. It had felt so real. I warily scanned the trees for any signs of gold and white, but thankfully, I didn't see anything. I sighed out loud and walked over to where my comforter was crumpled up on the floor. I picked up my purple and green comforter and threw it back onto the bed. As I tried to recall the events of my dream, they just kept getting foggier and foggier. Maybe if I stopped thinking about the dream for a bit I would remember it better. I pinched the bridge of my nose and started towards the door. There was no way I was going back to sleep right away.

I made it down the stairs when I heard a loud thump. I couldn't help but to jump and let out a little screech. It sounded as if the noise came from the kitchen. I picked up an umbrella that rested at the bottom of the stairs and walked towards the noise. When I got into the kitchen, I could see someone rummaging through the cabinets. There weren't any lights on, so I could only make out what the moon illuminated. The person obviously hadn't noticed me yet, so at least I had the element of surprise. I tip-toed into the kitchen and flicked on the light.

The person screamed and fell onto the tiled floor.

"Get up!" I shouted. "What are you doing in my house?"

I walked closer to the person and held the umbrella out in front of me. If this person tried anything, they were going to get it.

"Sarah, calm down! It's just me!"

I finally got a look at the person on the floor, and recognized my roommate's brother.

"Oh my gosh Quinn, I am so sorry."

I put the umbrella on the counter and extended my hand to help him up. He took it and was on his feet in seconds. His chocolate colored hair was tousled from his fall and his hazel eyes caught the light from the moon. I also couldn't help but notice he was only wearing a pair of basketball shorts. I blushed and shook my hair so that it covered my face.

"Jeez Sarah, edgy much? What were you going to do? Beat me with an umbrella?"

I shrugged. "I thought you were a robber or something, it seemed like a good idea at the time."

Quinn couldn't help but to laugh. "That's actually hilarious. I could see the headlines now 'Girl Beats Robber to Death with Umbrella'. Likely story, eh?"

I blushed again. At least it was better than nothing.

"What are you doing here anyway? Your sister didn't tell me you were coming over."

"Yeah, well Andrea has an awful habit of forgetting things. I bet you she didn't tell you she was going out of town for a few days with her new boyfriend did she?"

I shook my head. My roommate was a 'free spirit'. She did whatever she wanted, and I usually didn't mind unless it directly affected me.

"No, but it wouldn't surprise me." I replied.

"She doesn't know exactly how long she'll be gone, and she didn't know what your plans were. She wanted me to stick around to feed her cat and watch the house." Quinn paused and smiled.

"I probably would've told her no if I knew I was going to be assaulted while getting a drink of water in the middle of the night." He continued.

I laughed quietly. "Maybe you'll remember to announce your presence next time. I could've been walking around naked or something." Of course I would never walk around naked with Andi's constantly changing boyfriends around. Quinn didn't know that though, and it was his turn to blush.

"I'll be sure to send a letter in advance next time."

Quinn turned around and picked up a glass that was lying on its side off of the counter. He filled the glass up with water and looked at me.

"Well, I've got my water. I think I'm going to go to bed now. Please, refrain from picking up the umbrella." We both laughed and he left to go to the guest room down the hall. Secretly, I loved the small talk and banter that always ensued when Quinn was around. Sometimes, I wished Toby and I was closer in age so that we could kid around like that. When Andrea and I first moved in together, she tried to play matchmaker with her older brother and me. She kept insisting that we should "hook up". I could never take Quinn serious though and, although he was attractive, he was not my type.

I walked over to the cabinet where Quinn just stood and grabbed a glass. I filled it up with the water from the tap and drank it quickly. I leaned against the counter and tried to recall what had happened in my dream. I could remember the owl, and how I got lost in the forest, but what happened after that? I was running, I think, but from what? I closed my eyes. I felt something rub against me leg and I jumped. I opened my eyes to see Andi's cat staring up at me. I picked the cat up and laughed inwardly for being so jumpy. Why was a dream bothering me so much? I was usually never so unnerved, especially when it came to something that wasn't even real. I sighed again and decided that it wouldn't do me any good to stay up all night fretting about a stupid dream. I put the cat back down and put my glass in the sink. There was nothing to do now but go to sleep, so I started back to my room.

On my way back, I ran into Quinn in the hall. He was standing in the middle of the hall with his back facing me. I stood there a few moments and he didn't move.

"Quinn, are you alright?"

I took a step closer when he didn't answer.

"Quinn, what's wrong?"

He jerked his head to the side, as if he just realized I had been talking to him. He turned around and I could tell that something wasn't right. His shaggy hair fell in front of his face, so I wasn't able to read his expression. I reached toward him, and he grabbed onto my hand.

"Quinn let go! You're hurting me." I tried to wrestle my hand free of his grip, but he held onto me like a vice. He jerked his head upward and his hair fell away from his face. His mouth was twisted into an evil smile and his eyes were entirely black. I had to bite my lip in order not to scream.

"Oh Sarah, I really can't believe it was this easy. Some champion you are." His voice was deeper than it was before and he spoke in a condescending tone.

"What are you talking about Quinn?" I was truly frightened now, but I wasn't going to let him know that. I tried to keep my voice as steady as possible.

"I assumed that the champion of the Labyrinth would be harder to find, let alone fool."

I tried to jerk my hand free again, but his grip tightened. A small shriek escaped my lips.

"Quinn let go!" I screamed.

"Now that I've got you, I don't plan on ever letting you out of my sight. The Queen will be delighted to know that I've found you. With you, she'll be able to tap into all of that power Jareth has. She'll be unstoppable."

"You've gone mad! I have no idea what you're talking about!"

Momentarily, Quinn faltered and look of confusion flashed across his features. He recovered quickly though and pulled on my wrist.

"Don't think you can fool me as easily as I've fooled you girl. How could you forget that which happened only a few years ago?"

He pulled on my wrist again and jerked me towards him. I wanted to resist the movement, but each time I moved his grip tightened around my wrist. He turned around and started towards the bathroom. He pulled on my wrist again and I screamed from the pain. I didn't know exactly what was going on, but I knew that something terrible was about to happen. I had to get away from him. If I could only get upstairs, I could lock myself in my room and call for help. As we neared the bathroom, I could see a faint glow coming from behind the door. Quinn opened the door with his free hand and I could see the source of the glow was coming from the large mirror. The entire mirror was glowing like a light.

"Please, Quinn, stop. What are you doing?"

"Sarah, you must know that mirrors can be used as portals. In fact, I know you do. You used to call upon your friends through mirrors." He spat the word 'friends' and acted as if I asked the dumbest question in the world.

I pulled away from him again and was able to hit him with my free hand. I clawed at his face, and tried my best to kick at his legs. He was just too strong and fast. In fact, he seemed inhumanly fast and strong. He grasped my other hand and turned me around so my back was against his chest.

"Try that again," he whispered into my ear, "and you may not make it to the Underground in one piece." His cool breath sent gooseflesh across my neck and my body shuttered from a mixture of him being so close and the fear of what would happen. He let go of one of my hands and turned back towards the mirror. I assumed the worst was about to happen, but out of nowhere Andi's cat came to my rescue. The cat jumped and latched onto his neck. Quinn let go of my hand to grab hold of the cat. I was stunned for the first few seconds of the attack, but I was able to get my bearings quickly. I lunged away from the bathroom and headed for the stairs. I made it halfway up the stairs before Quinn grabbed onto my ankle. I tried to grab hold of the railing, but I missed it and hit my chin off of one of the stairs.

I recovered fast enough and began to kick at my assailant. I felt my feet make contact a few times. Quinn staggered backwards and I got the leverage I needed. I ran as fast as I could up the remaining stairs and raced to my bedroom. I reached the door just a few seconds before Quinn did and was able to lock myself inside. Quinn started banging on the door, and the entire frame shook. I didn't have much time before he burst through. I went over to the nearest dresser and pushed it up against the door. I did the same with every other piece of furniture I was able to move.

"Sarah! Open the door Sarah and I'll be more lenient with your punishment." I didn't dare move. I could only stare at my makeshift barricade and prayed that it kept him out long enough. What was I going to do?

"If you don't come out of there I'm going come in eventually." He banged against the door again and the entire barricade shook.

"The Queen won't be none too happy if I bring you back in pieces, Sarah. She'll get over it though, I assure you!" He continued banging against the door. I could hear it splintering with each hit. I needed to think. I tried to process what he had said earlier. He went on about a place. What was it called? The Underground! Why did that seem so familiar? I closed my eyes and concentrated. It felt like I was trying to grasp at a dream, but the more I tried to remember the more I forgot. [i]I wish I knew what he was talking about![/i]

Suddenly, memories came flooding back:

[i]I was fifteen. Dad and Karen were going out… again. That meant I was stuck babysitting Toby. He wouldn't stop crying, and I made a wish.

"I wish the goblins would come and get you!"[/i] No, that wasn't it. What was it?

[i]"I wish the Goblin King would come and take you away! Right now!" Then, there was a man. He was… the Goblin King! He took Toby away, but I didn't mean it! It wasn't fair![/i]

I opened my eyes before any other memories could come flashing back. I knew what I needed to do. Quinn hit the door again and the entire barricade shifted. I was quickly having second thoughts, but at least my plan was better than sticking around and having Quinn tear me apart. I blinked back tears, and shouted at the top of my lungs.

"I wish the Goblin King would come and take me away!" I paused before adding the second part. "Right now!" It was a few moments before anything happened, and I was afraid it hadn't worked. Then, the windows in my bedroom flew open and the air seemed to shift. The space in front of me erupted in a flurry of sparkles and shimmered. A familiar scent filled the air. It was magic and… peaches. Before my eyes, a man appeared. His wispy blonde hair fell around his face and his black armor reflected the moon. His mismatched eyes meant my green ones, and momentarily, my heart stopped beating. Electricity filled the air, and the man's mouth turned up into a know-it-all smirk. He stepped forward. I wanted to distance myself from him; I knew I should have been afraid.

Instead, I took a step towards him. He extended his hand and I stretched mine to meet his. There was something drawing me towards him. It was like he was the moon, and I was the ocean. When his gloved hand reached mine, the entire room spun and he pulled me into his embrace. He wrapped his arms around my torso and the entire room fell away.

[b]Author's Note: So she remembers! At least some of it anyway. I wanted to make my story different from a lot of the other Labyrinth stories I've read on here. I hope I've accomplished that at least, and I hope you like it so far![/b]