A/N: If you're worried that I am probably going to suddenly completely stop writing for like a month, chill. It won't happen until I run out of ideas, and apparently I'm chalk full of them.

Disclaimer: I don't own Labyrinth.

Chapter One: White Rabbit

Sarah was huddled in her favorite chair, sipping on warm pumpkin pie flavored coffee and re-reading a book. It was a horror story, which she'd later find nauseatingly ironic. Outside the wind was blowing somewhat violently, and during the commercial breaks on the radio- which Sarah had turned to the Halloween station to get into the proper spirit- there were frequent warnings to those outside to get indoors, because there was a big storm on the way. Luckily, it was about thirteen days until Halloween, so there wouldn't be any trick-or-treaters out that night.

Sarah jumped a little at the loud boom of thunder outside, dropping her book. A few feet away Felix, her cat, lifted his head. She'd gotten him when he was a kitten, on the day she moved into her apartment. He was a lovely little thing. A stray kitten of no specific breed. Apparently when the shelter had found him he'd been badly injured. He'd healed up, but the tip of his tail was long gone. As Sarah picked up her book, he meowed pitifully. He didn't like storms either.

"It's alright, Fe. Just a little thunder."

But something about that statement felt like a lie. Sarah shifted uneasily in the chair, glancing around. There was nothing- wait. Sarah turned quickly to stare into the doorway leading into the kitchen. She could swear she saw something small and white dart through the door.

Felix hissed suddenly, springing up and taking off in the opposite direction. Sarah tried not to acknowledge the fact that something had just scared the shit out of her cat. She stood up and walked on tip toe into the kitchen, tensing up when she entered the dark room. It was impossible to see anything other than shapes, but she was fairly certain that there was another human- or something- in the room. Sarah took a deep breath before reaching out and flicking on the lights.

She expected it to be like all the other times she'd done this throughout her life, just pure paranoia. Nothing there. A trick of the eye.

This time there was someone there.

She was tall and so thin that Sarah could see her collarbones and was fairly certain her thumb and pointer finger would meet if she wrapped them around the woman's wrist. Her hair was silky, black, and fell down her back in waves. Her skin was the color of chalk, and looked at smooth and breakable as porcelain. Her lips were aristocratic and set in a pout, her ears pointed, and her slanted eyes, lined with the markings of the fey, were completely black. As Sarah stared, the woman smiled brightly, revealing pointed canines. The air seemed to shimmer darkly around her, and Sarah noted with mild horror that her skin had thin cracks running up any visible skin, a few of them beginning to form on her face.

"Who- who are you?" Sarah gasped, taking a step back.

The terrifying woman stood slowly, and Sarah shuddered as the woman smiled widely, the cracks spreading slightly with a crinch as she did.

"I have many names, Sarah Williams, but you may call me Cady. I'm here to give you a gift."

Sarah stared at the woman, fear and distrust seeping into her bones, chilling her skin. She decided that Cady was far too sweet a name for something so disgustingly creepy and dark.

"What kind of gift?"

The woman paused, running a hand over Sarah's kitchen counter, nails lightly tapping in an odd rhythm.

"Well, it's more like a game. I'm going to give you a chance to win back your... Goblin King. You'll have thirteen days to do it, and you may take your... feline with you."

The way she said it made it sound far too easy, and even though Sarah missed Jareth terribly, she didn't dare think things would be that simple.

"What's the catch?"

Cady's smile faltered a bit, and when she met Sarah's eyes, her own obsidian gaze was like ice.

"You will have to wear a mask, so he will know not who you are. You will not be able to speak with words, and you will not be able to tell him who you are. If he does not admit he loves you by the thirteenth hour of the thirteenth day, you will be mine to do with as I please."

Sarah couldn't help it, she laughed. Not long, not even loud. It was more a terrified little snort.

"No."

Cady looked taken aback, and she tiled her head to the side in an eerie sort of way.

"Excuse me?"

"I said no." Sarah repeated, taking a deep breath and attempting to sound vaguely respectful. "Thank you for the offer, but I don't want to play."

There was a long moment of silence before Cady started laughing. It wasn't a cackle, but it was just as creepy. It was a pretty, childish laugh, but it was cruel and there was something just wrong about it. Just as suddenly as it started, it stopped, and Cady met Sarah's gaze again.

"I apologize for letting you think you had a choice in the matter." She said firmly and meanly. "You don't."

She started walking towards Sarah, and in turn Sarah started backing away.

"You see Sarah, Samhain is near. We faerie folk do enjoy playing tricks during this most lovely of holidays, so I am afraid this is going to happen whether you say yes or not. No, puppet, just relax and this shouldn't hurt."

Cady hurled something black and evil at Sarah, and it hit her, wrapping around her. Sucking her breath away.

Before Sarah could scream, the darkness overwhelmed her.

Don't fret, readers, Sarah isn't dead or anything. Let's just hope she can handle this new challenge.