Chapter 9~ Recovery

"Sarah you’re much stronger." Dr. Riley had checked on Sarah over the next few days, and now he was ready to release her from the hospital. "Just gather your things sign out, and you can go." He left to let Sarah dress, closing the door behind him. Sarah sighed happily. Her parents had done all the paperwork, and said they had a surprise for her at home.

As for Sarah’s ‘things’, family members, friends and a few neighbors sent her flowers and ballons; a picture of Toby smiling in his crib was placed beside her music box. A half-eaten candy bar she’d gotten from the vending machine folded back in its wrapper lay hidden behind a pot of flowers. Sarah took a bite from the chocolate and got into her jeans.

She was all "packed" when she remembered something. Jareth. It wasn’t that she’d completely forgotten him-that was impossible-but he hadn’t shown up since she’d kicked him out of her room a few nights ago. Jareth was probably outside the hospital somewhere, waiting for her to start walking home so he could take her back with him.

I’ll call Chris. Sarah thought quickly. She carried her large, brown box full of all the flowers she was given, Toby’s picture, and her music box, and headed out of her room.

The receptionist smiled as Sarah came out. Sarah returned the smile briefly.

"May I use the phone again before I leave?" She adjusted her hold on the box.

"Of course." The receptionist slid the white phone toward Sarah and continued typing on her computer. Sarah dialed Chris Welden’s number and waited. In two rings, Chris picked up.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Chris! It’s me, Sarah."

"Sarah! You sound better."

"You heard, huh?"

"Who hasn’t?"

"Chris, they released me today. I was wondering if you could give me a ride. My parents could, but they told me they’ve got a surprise planned."

"Sure, Sarah. I’ll be there in five minutes." They both hung up. Then, smiling, she sat in one of the chairs by the main doors.

Chris came about five minutes; he lived just down the road from the hospital. He put Sarah’s box in his trunk and they drove off.

"So you have friends who are actors?" Chris turned the corner, past the park.

"Yes." Sarah glanced out the window at the park, then looked away. Chris waited for more, but she was pretty quiet.

"Care to tell me what they were helping you with?" He stopped at a red light and Sarah sighed.

"You wouldn’t believe me."

"Try me." Sarah drew a deep breath and began talking very fast.

"There’s this guy named Jareth who’s the King of the Goblins and he’s forcing me to marry him and those "actor" friends of mine are really creatures from the Underground and that’s were Jareth lives, but he kidnapped me and then he cut my arm and I fainted and he brought me to the hospital and those creatures were trying to help me." Sarah took another breath and looked at Chris. He stared wide-eyed at her.

"Okay." He responded finally as he passed the post office.

"Okay?" Sarah repeated. "That’s all you have to say to me?"

"What would you like me to say?"

"I’m crazy."

"You are. That’s why I like you." Chris drove up to the Williams’ house and Sarah played with a strand of hair. Then, with another sigh, she got out of the car. Chris got out too, and opened the trunk.

"Thanks for the ride." Sarah took the box from him and Chris closed the trunk.

"You have a great imagination, Sarah," he complimented.

"See? I knew you wouldn’t believe me." She muttered.

"I didn’t say that," protested Chris.

"You didn’t have to," Sarah assured him, crossing the lawn and going up to the porch.

"Bye, Sarah."

"Later, Chris." Sarah smiled faintly, and Chris got in his car and drove off.

Sarah knocked, or rather pounded, on the door, and Karen let her in. She had a cheesy grin on her face.

"Put that on the table," she told Sarah, indicating the box. Sarah obeyed. "Now, close your eyes." She closed them, and her stepmother led her somewhere. Then stopped. "Open them."

No sooner had Sarah opened her eyes than a crowd of her friends and family yelled, "SURPRISE!"

"Dad!" Sarah ran to hug her father.

"How’s my little girl?" Mr. Williams returned his daughter’s hug. Sarah faced him, grinning from ear to ear.

"Feeling much better," she replied. Saraj circled the room with hugs, kisses, and hellos to each and every person. There was music on, and a few of her school friends were dancing. Sarah would have invited Chris, had she known.

After a while, Sarah went back over to her father, who had sat on the couch, and hugged him again.

"You didn’t have to do this," she told him.

"But I did." Mr. Williams put an arm around his daughter.

"And there’s another surprise," Karen informed her. She turned and went to the foot of the stairs. "You can come down now!" She yelled up.

Sarah got up and stood by her stepmother, hearing footsteps from her parents’ bedroom. Her smile quickly faded as she saw whom the surprise was.

"We invited him-" began Mr. Williams. He was interrupted by Sarah’s bone-chilling scream. She backed away from the stairs slowly, her eyes locked on the man before her.

"Hello, Sarah." Jareth walked over to her and squeezed her hand. "Now," he whispered so only Sarah could hear, "you can’t escape."

And Sarah fell to the floor.