The Clock Was Ringing

Accepted

(Sorry I took so long to put in another chapter, I had a lot of things going on)

"Really?" She looked back at him. ", A bear claw?"

"Don't look at me! He's the one who choose that mark."

Karli put their stupidity aside and decided to just go and tell Jamie what has to be done.

I hope this works out. I wonder if he really does have a crush on me?

She looked at one of Ben's broken mirrors. The parts that were still intact that is. She was beautiful, no one can deny that. Mixed with her red hair she was an exotic creature waiting to be plucked by anyone.

He does look hot-ish. But still handsome, good to look at.

He was a bit above the average Joe in her case. His life is as shitty as her life. And now he's probably going to risk his life for some fiery red head he knew a few years.

"Hey Jamie!" She said. With a smile on her face.

"Yeah Karli? I was just waiting to see if you would come back." His voice was at the end of the emporium. She could hear some faint echos of his voice.

She followed them to him. He was checking on the many artifacts and gadgets that Ben had laying around the place. He seemed very intrigued in all of them. As she walked by most of the objects on the shelves were moved a little from their place. Guess he doesn't have the gentlest touch. What am I saying?

"This friend of your's, Ben, has a really large collection of cool stuff."

He didn't take his eyes off the small wodden doll that he observed. When he put it back he immediately looked at her. Wodden doll. The whole reason I got into this mess.

"Yeah... he sure does."

"What's wrong?" He looked perplexed, and curious as to why she seems distressed about something.

"Here." Its too late now.

"What's this?" He looked at it for a little. Seeing the bear claw covering the seal.

"Just don't open it..." She said as she took it back from him.

"Why?" He looked at her again. This time a little more serious. ", Karli is there something to do with this letter and why you got me here?" He didn't seem angry though. Just confused.

"Ok ok... let me explain." Just do it already!  ", now the task that I want to give you to help me is to... take this letter to some one in the inner district of Jareten city." She let out a cute little frown that hoped would clear his senses. It did nothing.

"Jareten city... the inner district! You mean the same place that has all those criminals lurking about? Its perhaps only filled with criminals and you want me to go there?!"

And I made a mess.

"Now here's the thing..."

"Wait wait wait... Now I know that you and perhaps Ben are good at fighting or what ever you can do but I don't. I can't do things like that. How do you expect me to do any of that? I have no experience with martial arts and I don't only use my salary for myself. I have my family to take care of. How do you expect me to survive in there?" He was pissed of course. There was no doubting that. His face said it all but his eyes were... a little different. He still cares. That's what they said.

"Ok now I know it sounds crazy but here's the plan. Since you aren't well known there you will be seen as a...um..."

"Nobody?"

"Uh yeah... that can work." This is just getting worse. "So you can pass by the place without any need to catch someone's eye. This will help you. Second I will be watching your every move as you walk through the place. Ben will monitor you throught devices or cameras to make sure that you're safe in there."

His facial features were less tense now but not calm enough.

", I know that this seems incredibly dangerous to someone like you and that I'm not a good friend for letting you do it. But here me out on this and I promise I'll pay you back for this one task."

He looked at her now. His tense face back on track. Damn it. He looked at her straight in the eyes and said.

"Ok."

"What? Really? Oh... um..." He looked into his eyes and felt some sort of distrust. But also some sympathy ", but... are you sure?"

"It's the lease I can do. Now I hope that you'll do your part so that I can do mine with out having to worry about getting killed by one of those guys."

"Or girls."

"Or girls"

They let out a small laugh. Karli hugged him deeply for what he did. They stayed like that for a few seconds and retracted. She had her gleaming smile and he had his less so gleaming smile. I can't believe that actually worked.

"But under one condition."

Damn it! I should have known!

", tell me why I'm doing this."

"I thought you would ask that question." She looked around the room but to no avail. This is a serious job he's given and he won't do it unless he knows why. Makes sense.

"Ok... you are doing this so that I can recruit someone to help me out so that I can find my dad." That sounded so cheesy.

"Your dad... You never told me anything about your parents."

"Neither did you."

"I didn't mean it as an insult. But you could have mentioned something about it before."

"I didn't know what you might say."

"Whatever. If its to help find your family again then its alright with me."

She let out another gleaming smile to him. And another hug. Yet a shorter one than before.

"Thank you so much for all of this Jamie!"

"Its not like I have better plans in the break unfortunately. This'll be a nice story to tell to my family. Hope it can lighten the mood and I hope that they can believe me those... Oh yeah that's right! Can I take pictures?"

"Um... well... maybe a few. But no selfies!"

She went back to her serious tone. If he takes a selfie there it would seem like he's a rich tourist or someone who's too annoying for the people around him.

"Ok... ok... I just need a few pictures so that I can prove my bitchy cousins that I did go in there! Ha! This is gonna be so cool!"

"Jamie this is not going to be cool. Remember this isn't..."

", I know Karli. This isn't going to be a movie, a novel, or a video game. But still though, better than cramming myself in with books on how to get some better job and finally get out of my shitty apartment." Jamie said.

"You and me the same." She replied back.