Memory

Chapter 1: Meeting

Shaking, the alarm clock rattled at the table as its sharp tinkling resounds.

"Stupid clock..."

A hand slams it into silence, head peeking from beneath the covers glancing at the time.

'9:00am'

"Stupid time!"

Cursing to the air, she got up and dressed forgetting to comb her hair. Leaving only with mismatched socks and a face caked with uneven makeup, it didn't matter what she looked like. In her mind, the priority is to get to the office in time! Glancing down, she saw her socks but ignored it, hoping no one would notice as her slacks hid them from view.

A steep rush of adrenaline seeps in her body.

And off she goes with a gust of wind.

***

Entering the lobby, she sees an empty elevator open. She bolted inside, clicking with haste the button to her floor.

"17"

With a heave of sigh, she relaxed her shoulders. Truly, agonizing--

"Ms. Williams, I thought we talked about your tardiness over a day ago!"

There was a chill that touched her spine. Sarah sighed and thought quickly an excuse before looking behind.

"Kidding." The voice turned sweet and casual.

Surprised, Sarah glared at the woman with magnificent hair. It was Regine. She was the only college friend that worked at the same company. She was also the only one she confided about the real Labyrinth. Sadly, she never believes past the Hoggle story.

"So did you dream about that King of yours again?"

Sarah had to cough a little. "What brought this up, Reg?" Usually, she was the one to speak about it first.

"Well pale skin and uncombed hair are signs..." And then she got a comb to brush Sarah's hair. "You could at least have brought a brush with you?"

Ever since Sarah moved on getting a job, things have been a little too fast paced for her liking. True that her talent for acting brought her opportunities and her drawing skills are shiny enough to earn money, she can't pinpoint the reason why her design is somehow connected to the Labyrinth—to the Goblin city and its King. Nevertheless, it has brought her abundance. Enough to move out to a humbler apartment three blocks away.

10 years have passed since then...

Yet now, even if she tells anyone about the stories, no one will believe her. And why would they? It's not every day you get transported to a Labyrinth faced by a deadly trickster. If there's anything worthwhile she has learned in there, it's that nothing is free and nothing is fair. That made her paranoid about any opportunities and secure her safety. A lot.

"More things to worry about rather than that silly old King of that damned goblin city." Sarah said dismissively as she exited the elevator.

'You have no power over me, Goblin King and neither would be the kingdom you own. I'm just borrowing the designs for money.' She thought bitterly. With a smug expression she thanked Reg and walked into her office without further interruptions.

***

After work...

Regine waved goodbye, and she was left alone at the sidewalk. Her friend hopping to the bus, and she is walking home. She focused straight ahead, thinking it was safe since it'll only be a few paces and she'll be home. What she disliked about that particular apartment was that its entrance was at the deep alley surrounded by walls without windows. It was unwelcoming to the point of it being similar to the Labyrinth when she first arrived. Cold, putrid, and hostile. Dripping sounds of water from the broken pipes to the broken pavement of the alley... Misty and not at all smoke but the scent reminded her of the greasy bog of eternal stench.