Persephone: The Sequel to The Labyrinth

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The sun shined down on a lovely day in the park. Families were out enjoying the bright spring day. The park was filled with families. Some played catch while others picniced on the ground. Children ran around, all laughing. It was a lovely scene that anyone would love to be a part of, especially a lone young woman reading a book, who sat on a blanket under a tree.

Sarah Williams looked up from her book at the scene before her. She would never have a family like the ones before her. Sarah was spending her vacation at home, alone. While her family had gone off to Florida. Her father had announced the trip a few months ago, and up to a few weeks ago, she had thought she was going, too.

Sarah sighed. Her life was far from perfect, nor was it a happy one. Except for her books. She had grown up, while using books as her escape. An escape from her family at first, from the hurt of her mother, from the world around her, and now from almost everything except the time she spent with Toby. She no longer read just fairytales, but myths. Well she read both but in a more grown up way. Sarah had discovered that romance novels where myths and fairytales in different formants, but she still read the originals first. Of course she no longer acted any of them out anymore.

Sarah hoped Toby was enjoying himself. He hadn't been happy when he and his parents had left. His parents had not even looked at her as they walked out the door. After what had happened to her three years ago, she could see that either of them really cared for her. Her father was blinded by her stepmother, and her stepmother just saw her as a nuisance. Irene had tried to control since the moment she had come into Sarah's life.

Sarah glanced at the clock tower. Soon she would need to gather her things and return to the house. It wasn't her home, not anymore. As soon as she had turned eighteen, Irene had thrown her out. Now she lived in a tiny studio apartment. She only stayed at her childhood home when they needed a babysitter and/or a house sitter.

Looking down at her book, Sarah marked her place. She placed it in the bag beside her. Sarah stood up and folded up her blanket. After placing it in the bag as well, Sarah placed the bag's shoulder strap over her shoulder. She glanced around her once again as she made her way out of the park.

Sarah sat on the sofa watching the late night news. The current story was about a mother and daughter, but Sarah wasn't paying much attention to it. Sarah hadn't heard from her mother for years and had finally given up on hearing from her. Why should she wait day after day for word, if her mother never thought of her? So she went on with her life and never talked of her. Well she did at times, but she always called her mother "her". She had lost the title that some really did deserve.

Sarah sighed as she turned the T.V. off. Slowly she made her way up to the guest room created in the attic. Her old room was now Toby's. Sarah sat on the edge of the bed. Around her, the house became silent. Now she was really felt alone. She turned on her small radio on the nightstand. As classical music softly began to play, she turned down the covers and climbed into bed. She reached over and turned of the lamp beside her.

Sarah laid looking up above her head. Many things ran around in her head, but one man seemed to dominate her thoughts.