THE MID NIGHT WISH

OUT WE GO!!!

Max's P. O. V
He heard some groaning as if she was in pain. It worried him as each groan sounded more painful than the last. He moved to her bedroom door, wondering if it was okay for him to intrude. Fighting against himself , he opened the door.
No sooner had he stepped in, she sat up suddenly, cold sweat collected at her temples. She looked at him, frightened. She looked at him with her frightened eyes and his body pushed him to her, wanting to comfort her.
I sat on the edge of her bed and asked, "Dee are you okay?"
She frantically nodded. She sniffled and then looked down. She was trying to hide it, but I noticed a tear running down, falling onto the sheets.
I moved closer and put my hand on her cheek, gently caressing her with my thumb.
"It'll be okay," I said, hoping it'll make a difference.
Dee looked up at me and smiled falsely. I could see the fright in her eyes.
"You can let go of my hand," she said looking down.
When she pointed out that I was holding her hand, I noticed the warmth of her smooth skin on mine.
I jerked my hands away from her and stood up abruptly. I was not supposed to do that. She was just someone I was to help. I shouldn't have been bothered about what scared her. It was just a nightmare. Nothing else.

Dee's P. O. V
Max excused himself and she took that opportunity to freshen up and dress comfortably for the quest. It was sweet of him to stay and comfort her. But the memory of the statue in her dream is one she could not shake off.
Still she considered it the least of her priorities and pushed it to the back of her mind.
She exited her room and saw Max seated on the sofa, reading, or attempting to read, the latest issue of Vogue. She figured she must have taken long enough for him to get bored.
"Come on let's go," she said, catching Max's attention.
And catch his attention she did. With her knee length summer dress complemented with a pair of converse sneakers, she looked wonderful. He stood gaping for a while, while she grabbed a few things in her bag.
He got over his day dream as she walked towards him and pat his shoulder signalling she was ready to leave.
They walked out the hotel and across the street into the small park. Dee could have sworn that the park was better before all her wishes came true.
Now it was dull. The trees close to dying. Litter all over the park. The few people seemed sad. The children looked happy but they were not as energetic.
"Max, why does it look like everyone wants to die?" Dee asked, hoping no eavesdropped would take offense.
"Well, they do. See, apparently, everything was better before. The park was big and clean and the trees vibrant! Then there was this lady who was good to everyone, giving them what they want. Someone apparently asked for more than she could give, like trying to take advantage of her. So in anger, she decided she would no longer help anyone. She took the happiness of this town with her," Max explained, kicking pebbles as they walked.
"By any chance do you know who it was that upset the lady?"
"We just know she was named after a goddess. A feisty one too."
"Like Idun?"
"Precisely!" Max said, grinning widely.
This was a freaky coincidence or just a story about her. However, Dee was leaning towards coincidence because she never upset any old lady.
Dee looked around her, everyone sullen with their own burdens of worry. It broke her heart that the hope of having wishes come true was what made the place lively before.
She realised that a glimpse of hope can really lift someone up and make them feel better about where they are.
They approached the center of the park where she first met Max. The fountain was small. Like a shallow pool without any appeal to it. The water was dirty. The cement around the fountain was covered in moss and algae. From the fountain of hopes, it looked like the fountain of despair. Dee frowned. This was supposed to be the fountain and now it was just a shallow pool of sewage water.
She walked around the fountain trying to catch a glimpse of anything that may help.
No working plumbing either. The water was still. She looked up, across the fountain to see Max on the other side. He was squatting to reach the height of a small girl wearing a pink dress. She was smiling widely and fiddling about, crushing the leaves under her as she swung side to side. 

Dee smiled at the little child's innocence, so pure, so vibrant. She was content with all she had. Selfless as she handed a small piece of cake which Max denied exaggerating how satisfied he was.

"I got it from Mr. Mason's bakery! It's really tasty!" the little girl insisted.

"Mason?" Dee echoed, interrupting the two.

"YEAH!" the little girl exclaimed.

"Where is his shop?" Dee asked, now squatting next to Max.

"You go out the park, take a right. Keep going and you will see big umbrellas. That's his shop."

Dee stood up and thanked the girl then turned to Max. 

"We have to go!" Dee said.

Before he could reply, she grabbed him by the hand and started leading the way.

They walked on, Max stumbling every now and then because of sudden changes in Dee's speed. It was quite a distance away but hard to miss. From a small homely bakery, there was a big difference. This was no longer small. It was a five star cafe. The sign above had fancy writing "Mason's Bakery" with neon lights.

Dee smiled widely seeing everything had become fancy. Fairy lights decorated the place and a huge mural on one wall. Then from the door at the back, she saw Mason walk out. He looked the same, a slight stubble, a worried look and the same chocolate brown hair, now with a few strands of silver in them.

"Mason?" Dee called.

Mason looked up and scrunched his face.

"Yes?"

"I was looking for you!" Dee explained.

"I'm sorry but do I know you?"