44 Drums of War Begin to Sound (2/2)

”Sir, I don't know what's going on but can you help me?” She enquires hopefully.

”Of course but I won't. That's against the rules you know, and I'm the above the board type!”

”Oh,” Laurel mumbles deflating.

”Aren't you a bit too greedy?” the officer asks waggling his finger.

”I don't think so...” she replies pouting.

”Well I mean wasn't your head about to explode from trying to take to much? If I hadn't noticed someone peeping in the past you would have been in big trouble,” He lectures while nodding.

”I can't control it though I have diviner's eyes!”

”I know, but didn't you get enough already to take more is quite greedy and dangerous,” he says while glancing over at the standard-bearer.

”I don't understand why did franklin overlap with him? I don't understand anything! This is too much,” Laurel says as she crumples to the ground crying. She tries so hard but over and over it just gets worst. She doesn't understand, she doesn't know! She'd already taken on more than a ten-year-old should. 'no more!' she cries to herself.

”Crying won't do you any good with me. I've seen it all. You'll understand in time I'm sure. Don't take it so hard,” the officer states while still smiling. He then looks a bit closer at the girl and says ”oh!” He then reaches out and taps the girls head. Suddenly a filing drawer flies out from the void.

Laurel gasps at this magical site. Her hands over her mouth her tears are blown away by the shock. The man ruffles through and quickly produces a sheet of paper. It has a lot of writing on it, but she can't make any of it out.

”Ha, everyone always gives me a hard time about these but they always come in handy. I'm sure they wouldn't have thought that it would be beneficial in the future when they signed such a benign contract,” he says as he smacks the sheet of paper in his hands. Then the sheet lights on fire, and he smiles mischievously.

”What's happening?” Laurel questions.

”You wanted help, right? While now I can give a bit!” the officer says triumphantly.

”Please do something about these eyes!” Laurel quickly requests.

”You think this minor contract will allow me to do something like that? No, I'm afraid not. Though I could shatter this universe its much more fun to gloat over people for getting one up on them without doing anything wrong,” He explains with a giddy smile.

”Well can you at least help me get home?”

”That'll happen anyways. Just take this advice. Ahem,” He clears his voice and gives himself an official air before continuing, ”A promise from the heart to yourself transcends time and space.”

”What?” Laurel asks with a scrunched up face. 'Another cryptic saying!' she laments.

”A promise is like a contract with no binding features. Still, it's very powerful.”

”Bu..” As Laurel is about to question more the world shakes.

Crunch the space itself attacks the officer. The officer doesn't even look over though. An invisible shield seems to stop the space from eating him up. ”You're always late aren't you!” He says laughing.

”Who?” Laurel asks as she looks around fearfully.

”It's not really a person it's the universes defenses. It tries to stop things that aren't supposed to happen or exist. Do you think my advice isn't great now? It brought this guy over just like that!” He says jovially.

”Doesn't that mean I'm in danger? Won't the universe eat me?” She says terrified. Tears begin to stream down her face once more.

”Don't worry it's not such a big thing. It's only so open because we aren't in normal space. Once you return you'll be lost, in the many minor distortions,” he says with confidence. Right at this moment, space tries to eat Laurel but again is repelled. ”It's pointless I did everything above the board! Don't make me rampage to prove my point,” the officer threatens.

The universe's protection seems to give in after this. The officer waves at Laurel and to her surprise she wakes up in her bead. Her mom once again crying over her girl. She'd been convulsing, screaming, and coughing up blood almost all night.

”Honey, please! Don't leave me,” Mellisa cries as she clutches her daughter.

”Mom, I'm fine,” she says as she hugs her moms head.