Labyrinth Dancer

Chapter Two: Inara Evans

"Inara?! You had the utter arrogant self serving audacity to choose my best student?!!"
Sarah yelled stalking along the sidewalk, her rage keeping Jareth a few feet behind her.

She came to a sudden halt and spun around glaring at him. Her rage most evident even to his cocky attitude. "I do not see the issue, she isn't at all noticeable to most everyone with you bring the exception honestly."

Sarah glared up at him obviously seething but then to his surprise let out what seemed to be a defeated breath.

"If anything happens to her Jareth, I'll stick you in the bog."

Jareth just stared at her and she quietly continued. "She has a shot of making something of herself, don't ruin her just because you may not like the outcome of this whole endeavor..."

She trailed off even as Jareth stared at her with his jaw open in surprise. He honestly hadn't expected this type of reaction out of Sarah, he had expected to already be pounded into the ground.

"Why are you seemingly alright with my choice of her?" He finally asked as the street lights eased on along the sidewalk.

Sarah looked up at him, her expression rather unreadable and gave only one simple explanation.

"Because she isn't made for this world Jareth. She deserves a life where she can be loved."

***

Being invisible really wasn't bad; it meant nothing happened to you. That was her reality, invisibility in crowds and in class. No one interacted with her unless they had to, and no one paid her any attention. Teachers knew her as quiet, students couldn't recall her.

Sitting in the back corner of the library with her IPod trilling softly in her ears she read over the small book she had found in her room a few days before. The slim Scarlet colored hardback book had silver etchings on the cover, tiny designs flitted around the edges of the covers and in the center where a pretty silver design lay was the name of the book Labyrinth.

She had read through it several times already as it was, it was a book of romantic notions to her; a fantasy and nothing more. But, it was a pleasant escape to a world where perhaps she were part of it, wouldn't feel alone anymore.

Closing the book with a small sigh she tugged out her ear-buds and let her IPod shut off as the bell rang to dismiss classes for the day. She had Theater Rehearsal though tonight, their new production was starting up for the backstage bit anyway and the actual actors would start next week.

Entering the Auditorium she dumped her stuff on the front row and quickly jumped up onto the stage and up towards the ladder up to the cat-walk. The others reporting for duty started on the sets and stuff even as she eased her way down the cat-walk to the light-board to work on some of the top lights, change out the bulbs and start testing the film sheets, cleaning them and such to get ready for the next production.

She was one of the few that actually went up on the cat-walk regularly since she'd been taking care of the lights since freshman year. Now, as a Senior in high school she had already received scholarship offers from a few colleges; none however were enough to actually help her pay for college without her having to take on two or more jobs to make ends meet.

Hearing the soft voices down below and the classical music softly billowing she paused, closing her eyes for a moment in the peacefulness that filled the catwalk. In that peace, she didn't have to worry about college, money, or even her family; it was her moment when heaven seemed to grant her just a moment.

When the door slammed open, her eyes darted open; the voices of the football team and cheerleaders filled the air as they stepped onto the stage; each of them just lounging around on the edge. Naturally, they weren't supposed to be here; they were loud, and of course in the way.

Keeping the other techs from being able to get the stage prepared for the next production. All of them floated out of their sight the best they could, not wanting to drawn attention to themselves.

Sighing she glanced at her watch, the worn out band already frayed still hung on tightly as she took in the time. Professor Sarah wouldn't be arriving for another half hour because of the teacher's meeting taking place in the office.

However, she couldn't just sit by and let the jocks and their girls keep work from getting done. Taking in the site of who had entered she let her brain work out a couple of possible solutions. Her eyes landed on the head cheerleader, the Quarterback's girlfriend; the way her makeup was shaded today told Inara all she needed to know.

Letting the light she had finished go back to its place she headed back down the walk and descended the stairs. She'd spent months watching them walk into the auditorium like they'd owned the place, what none of them knew though was that every time one of them would come in there was a camera trained on every spot they liked to hide out at. Sarah had gotten them installed when props went missing a couple years back.

She could hear the Quarterback taunting the sound guy, Marco who happened to choose to walk through the auditorium at the wrong time.

"Hey, shrimp; put on some good tunes! Not this classical crap!" The others chimed in wholeheartedly for that idea even as the poor guy stammered to explain that the Professor only allowed the classics when prepping the stage.

Inara quietly stepped onto the stage as tense silence fell at the theater techs refusal. Marco's eyes flashed to Inara, his fear plain as day to her. Tilting her head towards the other Theater techs towards the back of the stage she spoke up as he headed for the others.

"You know, I know ya'll have already been reprimanded once for being in here without the Professor's approval."

All of the jocks and their girls turned towards her and the Quarterback smirked in reply his voice dripping with arrogance towards her as he taunted back.

"Oh, wouldn't you know it; witch-girl thinks a reprimand will keep us out. What are you going to do about it witch?"

Inara didn't respond for a moment and then an eerie look crossed her face as her lips curved up in a mocking smile. All of the jocks went from their full on laughter to nervous chuckling at her expression.

"Well, certain people should be careful sneaking in here to make out with girls who aren't their girlfriend. After all, I'm here all the time prepping the lights and happen to have a really nice video camera handy."

The Quarterback went dead silent at her words, even as his girlfriend smirked and gave a laugh before glancing at her boyfriend who still hadn't told Inara off. Her smile faded as Inara's words clicked and she glanced at her squad. A couple of them wouldn't make eye contact with her and the Quarterback finally stepped closer to Inara who crossed her arms across her chest and stared up at him.

"You leak that, and nothing will save you." He threatened under his breath.

Inara smirked up at him sassing him back immediately, "What are you going to do to me? Kick my ass? I've heard you guys get your kicks from beating on girls, let me guess; makes you feel more like a man."

His girlfriend went pale at her words and Inara knew she'd hit the nail right on the head, she'd seen all of the cheerleaders at some point or another trying to cover up bruises. It didn't take much to guess who had hit them.

Narrowing his eyes at her he glared for just a moment before turning to his followers. "Let's go."

As they all headed out he paused back by Inara and leaned in slightly so only she could hear his words. "You will pay for this Witch..."

She didn't respond, she didn't look to watch them all leave. She couldn't, his words were just like the words she heard everyday.

The words, the words her father told her mother before she died...