A Wish Granted

Bonus: 3

Ajax was decorating the Christmas tree. A bell here, a small Santa figurine there, a gift toy down on the other side.

"Ajax, your friends are going to arrive soon, it's 3 in the afternoon already." His mom said, while cooking some delicious meal.

"I know! I'm almost done." Ajax replied.

He put the star on top of the tree, and then proceeded to place the gifts he had got for everyone below.

"Okay, that seems complete. I hope the lights Jay will bring fits with this."

Saying so, he hopped over to the sofa and gave a big yawn.

"Mom, can I sleep? I've done everything you asked, decorating the room, tree, placing the tale in its place, and all the others.

"Okay, just make sure you're up and tidied by 5p.m."

"Yep!" Ajax said, sliding off to sleep.

He was in a box.

Trapped, alone in the dark.

"Huh? Where am I?" Ajax whispered, as his voice echoed back.

Sure, he enjoyed listening to his voice echo, sure he enjoyed anything he could hear, but the background just dampened it all.

"Erm..anyone?"

The surface on which he stood lit up, and neon lights flashed.

"Whatever is this!?"

One by one, each of the walls lit up in the same way, and then so did the ceiling. Now he wasn't in the dark, but he couldn't look anywhere either, it was too blinding and disturbing.

His head felt dizzy, as glimpses of the light still crept their way through his closed eyelids.

"STOP!!" Ajax shouted, as his head swirled.

"No. Accept it, no one loves you." A voice, which he did not recognise, spoke, which came from literally all sides.

"Huh? What do you mean? Who are you anyway to tell me that?"

"I'm your conscience, Ajax. I-"

"Don't. Call. Me. By. My. Name."

"Sure. Your arrogance proves that you are believing me."

"Oh? And you are soo sure?"

"Aren't you the one unsure? Isn't it you who thinks that his friends do not care about him at all? Or maybe that it's just you who does anything to benefit your 'friends'?

"Shut up! I know my friends love me just as equally as I love them!"

"But do you really know that? What if it's a mask they wear?"

"And what would you know huh?"

"Come on, don't tell me you hadn't been suspicious." It said, sarcastically. "Didn't it ever bother you, how your friends always managed to shut the bullies up? Did they really shut up.. or did your friends just ask them to save the talk for some time when they were behind your view?"

"I.. uh.."

It was true, Ajax had that period of doubt for a while, when he hadn't mastered his lip-reading. But that hadn't lasted long, when he could do it properly he never noticed his friends talking shit in front of him.

"So you think that? You practically told them you could lip-read like a pro, why would your friends then attempt to test you?"

"H-hey, who gives you the right to talk like t-that huh?"

"You."

"I d-don't!" The colours in Ajax's head flashed brighter and brighter, he felt like giving in.

"Do it Ajax, fall on your knees."

"No! I don't want to believe you!" He shouted, as he grasped his head in pain.

"How long will you resist.. we shall see."

Ajax wanted to give up, but then he just couldn't. All those fun times, the challenges the traveler gave, and then Demears asking for his hearing to recover as his wish. Just thinking of that brought a smile to his face. His conviction to his own point grew more confident, and he could feel his mind lighten. It grew calmer as he believed his friends truly treasured him.

Ajax gave a sigh of relief, and then said, with pure confidence, "I stick to my point, and I know how much I mean to them. You, however you may try, can never convince me otherwise."

He did not receive a response, instead his remaining subconsciousness slipped away he remembered nothing of it thereafter.

"Ajax, wakey wakey!" A familiar voice yelled.

"Hah? 2 min-"

"I said. Get. UP!"

Someone grabbed his arms, and pulled his to a sitting stance. Ajax broke from his dazed state and softly rubbed his eyes.

"Oh it's.." Ajax yawned, "you, Erin. Oh and Demears! No Jay yet?"

"Nope, he's gonna be the one cleaning up I guess. Saves us."

"HEY WHEN DID I AGREE TO ALL THAT!" Jay cried out, as he entered the room.

"Ooh fancy lights. Where's Helen? Ajax asked.

"Couldn't bring her, she's kinda too big nowadays."

"Ow. Well.. we have gifts for her, make sure you give them to her and not forget." Erin said.

"Sure sure. Lemme fix the lights, then we can enjoy to heart's content." Jay said, heading to the other room.

The others followed, and so did Ajax.

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Yosh, full party! Now we can live it up!

Sometimes, I genuinely forget that they're kids. Well whatever.

Help Jay put the lights! Tap the Star! Go go go!

See ya:)!

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