Make a Wish

Chapter 3: The Shock

Dedicated to dabombdigity2003 for replying to the tag! Thank you, you awesome, amazing, sugar-sprinkled person!! Lol. Byeeeee.

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I blink my eyes slowly, my vision a bit hazy.

"Guys! Guys, I'm think she's awake!" An excited but hushed voice.

"Oh my gosh. Is she going to be okay?" A concerned voice.

"I'm sure she will be. It was probably just from the shock." A deep voice.

I move my head to the side, away from the voices. I just want to sleep...

"Miya? Miya, honey, wake up. It's Lila." The concerned voice spoke again, and I managed to pin point it to a memory of a face.

"Lee-la?" My voice is groggy and rough. "Lila. Thirsty."

"Oh! Of course, of course. Here you go." I heard her rustle around in what is most likely my bag, before pulling out my drink bottle. I open my eyes, seeing the three blurry faces around me, as they help me up from the floor (yes, I embarrassingly fell off of my chair) and back into my seat, lifting the bottle to my lips.

I drink greedily, the cool water trickling down my throat. Then Lila pulls it away, and I cough slightly. My groggy vision clears up slightly, and I can make out numerous curious faces.

Memories rush back to me, and I realise why exactly I fell off my seat.

The Wish Ceremony. I was chosen.

Black dots appear in my vision and I blink rapidly to clear them.

I clear my throat and look at Lila.

"How long was I out?" My voice has improved, only slightly scratchy.

"Only an hour!" Lila looks a little hysterical and slightly sarcastic.

Taya pipes in. "Twenty minutes, actually. Lila's just a bit...." She trails off as Lila glares at her. Taya coughs. "...yeah."

Lila flicks her gaze back to me, expression softening. Taya gives me a concerned look as well.

"What I meant to say, was that Lila was just worried about you. We all were."

I smile softly. "Thanks for caring, guys." I turn my head slightly at the clearing of a throat, and see John. "You too, Mr Hays."

"Okay, now we know she hit her head."

"Wait, what?!" Lila, Taya and I all exclaim simultaneously.

I hit my head?

"She called me Mr Hays, not John."

A collective sigh of relief flew from our three mouths, while John started chuckling.

"Everything okay here, Miss Welsh?"

I look up at the extra voice in our conversation, to see none other than the announcer of my now decided fate. "Yes. I believe so, Ms Hughs."

"Please, dear, call me Mary. Makes this elderly one feel less so."

In my muddled brain I take a second to process that sentence.

Oh. She wants to feel less old.

Wow. If I couldn't work that out, I'm going to be abolished in the games. Sheesh.

Lila offers me the water again and I take a few sips, considerably less thirsty than I was before. Mary smiles at me, winking.

"When you feel a bit better, go see Harold over there, and he'll take you to your allocated room for some preparation before I drag you and the other contestants on the stage with me."

I nod. "Thank you, Ms Hu- Mary."

"No problem, my dear. I'll see you soon."

I nodded. After Lila made me drink a bit more water, Taya touched up my face with her magical spare makeup palette which was in her purse (don't ask me how she fit that in there) and John made me laugh, Lila gently pushed me towards where Harold was standing.

"Off you go, fly from the nest, little birdie."

"Uh, you know what? I'd rather not."

"Go on. I'm sure he doesn't bite. Hard."

"Gee, thanks. That helps."

"Come on, Miya. You'll be fine." She gives me a gentle shove.

"Okay, okay. You don't have to shove me."

"Push, Miya. Push. I'm simply giving you a push in the right direction. Now go on."

"But he's scaaaary." I whined.

"Miya. Go." Lila managed to get out between muffled laughs.

"Fine." I turn to her for a hug, then Taya and then Mr Hughs. Lila gives me one last hug before giving me another gentle shove - sorry, push - in the direction of Harold.

I cautiously walk up to where the bodyguard-type stands, and stop meekly in front of him.

"You must be Miya."

I nod at him and he laughs.

"Don't worry, hon, I don't bite." He smiles.

Why does everyone keep saying that?

"They do, do they?" I look up to see him bearing yet another smile.

"Wait, what?" Oh. I said that out loud...

Harold laughs again, a non-threatening look on his face that I didn't even think a bodyguard-type like him could do. In that moment, I made a very important decision.

I like Harold.

In my head I nod firmly. He would be a fun uncle.

Yes, he would.

Okay, why am I having a conversation with myself?

Must be the nerves.

Yeah, that's probably it.....I should stop now.

I look back up at Harold. "So, um, what do I do now?"

"Right, follow me."