Laura now found herself chatting with the 12 year old Annette, much to her chagrin. While she was able to come up enough stories from her own childhood to cover it was definitely a chore. After talking for almost an hour and a half Annette finally drifted off to sleep.
Sliding out of the guest bed in Annette's borrowed p.j.s Laura took stock of herself. With the old t shirt and sleep pants she looked every bit the girl she had been reduced to. What would become of her if she couldn't fix this? Would Laura have to go back to seventh grade?
What was worse was knowing that she had no way if watching the dice right now. Age was becoming a precious commodity for her at this point. A single dice could send her tumbling back to kindergarten. Laura shuddered though as she realized that would be her best option. If both dice rolled and landed big it could potentially reduce her to zero. What would happen to her then? Laura had just past her birthday in August. Would she end up a few months old or would the dice simply wipe her out of existence?
Quietly she now began to tip toe out of Annette's room in an effort to find her things. As she crept down the stairs she could hear movement in the kitchen. Peaking in she was surprised to see Hannah sitting at the kitchen table, a cup of coffee in hand.
"Hello sweetie," Hannah smiled. "Guess you couldn't sleep either."
Laura shook her head no causing the old woman to chuckle softly. "I've always been a bit of a night owl myself," she said. "Why dont you have a seat, I'll make you some hot chocolate."
Laura did as she was told, watching as the elderly woman drew her robe around her as she stood. It was at that moment Laura felt her throat tighten. Hannah was holding the box.
"Where did you get that," Laura said, trying to hide the fear in her voice. Hannah looked down at the small box smiling. "Oh it fell out of one of your bags when I was putting your things away. Must be pretty important to be tied up like this."
While thankful that her makeshift box repair had worked, Laura was still fearful of the dice rolling. As she was about to speak an almost serene and angelic voice spoke.
"Hannah McDowell. The spirit of youth has bonded with you. Each cast of the lots shall return to you what you have lost."
Laura was speechless, to petrified by fright to say anything. Hannah, while alarmed, now began curiously gazing around the room. "Did you hear that?"
Laura still said nothing as Hannah now stared at the box in her hand. Strangely she could have sworn the voice came from the box. "Laura what exactly is in here?"
Laura was stuck, her secret was about to be revealed. How she handled it now would determine whether she could fix not only herself, but apparently Hannah as well.