The Heart of the Labyrinth Part 1

Chapter 7 Sacrifice Yourself

Chapter 7 Sacrifice Yourself

               As far as the eye could see was nothing but junk. Piles and piles of dolls, board games, televisions, action figures, even chairs and tables lay everywhere. It was as if someone had taken a city's worth of house hold contents and just dumped it wherever it may fall. There were rolling hills of it, some looking very unstable like they could come crashing down if one thing was moved from its place.

                When Juliet had fallen from wherever above, she had landed on the top of a particularly tall mound and slid all the way down. On her way down she could see that past the vast dump, on the far side was the goblin city and at its center towered the castle. Including time for delays it would be no more than a two hour easy walk.

                She thought back to her dream as she lay at the bottom of the hill, she thought of the time the clock had struck in the daze. With horror she remembered the time. One hour was left. She was on her feet and running towards the walls that surrounded the city faster than she had ever run before. Her ankles rolled off debris more than once in a painful way. The longer she tried to run the more her side ached, her lungs burned and it never appeared to make a difference in how close she was to the end goal.

                Ten minutes later Julie tripped over something and fell on her face. Gasping for air she paused on her knees, coughing a few times when air didn't come fast enough.

                "Oh you poor thing." An elderly female voice spoke to her. Looking over to where the voice came from she saw what appeared to be an old goblin woman, no higher than three feet tall under an immense pile of random stuff that made her appear taller than Juliet. "Why don't you come inside for a few minutes. I'll make you a nice cup of tea; it won't take but a moment." Before the girl could reply the goblin had already started to walk into a nearby tent. Some unseen thing drew Juliet towards the flap of the shelter.

                "I really ought to be going." She breathed, her feet dragging but slowly taking her after the goblin.

                "Nonsense. What you need is a nice refreshing cup of tea." Trying to explain, the teen said gently as she continued to follow.

                "I really haven't had the best experience with tea lately."

                "Juliet!" A piercing voice stopped her. Glancing behind, off several yards away a light hovered by a hill. It darted towards her and said again. "Juliet, don't go in there!" Next thing she knew the goblin pushed her out of the way and walked over to where the light had stopped, trying to shoo it away. It took a flyswatter out from the hump on her back and waved it about, complaining about how annoying the high pitched noise was. Blinking, Julie shook herself from the grip of whatever had been pulling her to follow the goblin. Instead she walked over and caught the elder's hand.

                "Don't harm her." Befuddled, the goblin stared at her and stuttered.

                "It's a pest."

                "She's my friend." Her attention moved from the woman to the fairy, who was currently hiding behind a Frisbee that stood on its side on the wall of things next to her. "You ok in there?" Slowly Nolana poked her head out, glaring at the packrat lady with a look only a fairy could have.

                "Yes I'm fine. No thanks to some people." The fairy's ton changed to concern when her eyes looked to the young girl. "Where have you been? We've been looking everywhere for you."

                "I've been.... I'm not quite sure. I don't really even remember leaving you and Hoggle." Moving to sit at eye level for Julie, Nolana began to explain.