Benevolence

Chapter 10

Like the past few days his slumber had been exhaustingly restless. Last night he had been back in the hospital being held down by Ben and his friends in front of Theo's bed. Theo had this insane look and started laughing hysterically before suddenly going silent. At that point he looked at Will seriously before ripping open his chest and pulling his heart out. After that he was limp but R came in and stuffed the heart in his mouth telling him that he had killed Theo and that it was his fault therefore he needed to preserve Theo's memory with him if he loved Theo as much as he claimed.

He could feel the heart burst in his mouth and the metallic crimson liquid filled his cheeks as tears ran down his face. He was choking on the heart because it was so rubbery and then Olivia was yelling at everyone to wake up because she wanted to open the presents.

Will sat up and grimaced at the sweat he was drenched in. James was still sound asleep when Will got out of the bathroom and jumped back surprised as Olivia came in. She zeroed in on James and pounced on him, tickling him in her determined attempt to wake him up. James eyes popped open and he began laughing good naturedly until the tickling got excessive and he was shrieking. Will hid a smile as he left the room to James wails for her to stop.

He crept into the living room and relaxed into his favourite armchair. Celebrating Christmas felt so good, so routinely. Nothing could ever go wrong during it. It was a long overdue break and respite for him. He wondered if Christmas was celebrated in juvie but then decided he didn't care because it was over for him.

The room was decorated in red and green with sparkling golden balls hung on the silver streamers around the room. Candles of red and green were lit on the mantel piece above their worn out stockings. They'd had the same ones since they were young; when he was nine.

The massive fireplace under the stockings was lit and gave the room a warm toasty feel. He smiled at the red and green blankets littering the sofas before grinning at the pine evergreen Christmas tree stealing the spotlight in the middle of the room. Of course it was his father who had prepared the room because he was always overly eager about this holiday. Coming from an orphanage Christmas wasn't an especially bright time of the year even if the staff tried their hardest to make it so.

That was why his father was determined to celebrate each Christmas with as much festivity as he could; like it was his last. He smiled at the sameness of the celebration and took his time admiring the tree. This was the best one yet as it nearly touched the ceiling. Dad must have gone early and he had almost forgotten the tradition they had of the first entering to turn it on. He clicked it on hastily lest someone came it and gawped awed at the majesty of the tree.

Draped in red tinsel it was glittering with the wide variety of ornaments decorating it. From the clusters of snowflakes hanging from it to the wide red baubles glinting in the firelight, it looked beautiful. He smiled sadly at the peppermint candy canes hung delicately in the tree because the sweet hanging used to be his job yet it lessened as he took in all the framed photographs of their imperfect family wedged onto the tree.

The wedging was a fitting posture for them he realised and quietly placed his gifts under the tree. Looking up once again he stifled a laugh because the star up top must have been the work of James as it was slightly lopsided. Typical really. He wondered why his father put up mistletoe on the tree knowing its symbolism and was insanely curious to find out what trinkets were hidden in the small wrapped boxes hung by the baubles. Each bauble had one and these were accented by the flashing red fairy lights around the tree.

All in all he was excited for a perfect Christmas once again. Sadly the odds were not in his favour.

He wrapped himself in a green blanket on his armchair as James and Olivia ran in. Well Olivia ran in whilst James slouched in falling on the sofa. Olivia was annoyed at their parent's absence as she raced back upstairs coming back ten minutes later with a grouchy mum and a jubilant dad wearing yet another overly enthusiastic Christmas sweater.

Dad was crazy about them which was pretty endearing. Well it should be yet his mum found nothing about his dad endearing which sucked. Everyone thought they were perfect yet if they knew what happened behind the curtains they'd think otherwise but they probably question it now due to his tainted record.

Mum plastered on a smile and sat beside James petting his hair as he smiled drowsily around at them. Will knew mum loved James more than the rest of them for reasons he couldn't fathom. Maybe it was that he was a bit like her.

Dad began by saying this was going to be the best Christmas ever when the doorbell rang. Olivia ran and opened the door to Lou, Tasha, the kids and a bottle of champagne. After everyone got comfy and warm the present opening began. Will was excited because he had given them all a handmade object that he'd made at juvie. The first time the gifts were actually meaningful even if they didn't know it.

He watched Olivia tear through her gifts and rolled his eyes at her exclamation that she had gotten everything she had wanted. Unlike other people her age she still believed in Santa so dad would sneak away her wish list and get everything before giving it back.

That was why she was so ecstatic over the new Pandora charm bracelet she had gotten, two tickets to a One Direction concert and the new iPhone 6 in gold. James and Will hadn't the heart to tell her Santa wasn't real and also Lou said he would kill their children and their children's children by drowning them in the their blood if they ever did.

He went next and smiled at the presents with his name on them. He opened up a smooth rectangular one to find the new k****e fire hd and another to get a waterstones gift card for a year. These were obviously from dad and he grinned his thanks. He then opened up a small round one to find a Calvin Klein cologne – which he already had- but smiled gratefully at him mum anyway who just nodded. So much for the Christmas cheer.....

Lou announced that his gifts would be opened last and then it was James turn. He had gotten a Mac book, a humongous joke set the size of a 50 inch screen- obviously the best one since James's face lit up like a little kid's. Then from mum he had gotten a Wii console with five games. Grinning James saluted dad and kissed mum on the cheek.

Will saw dad frown at the blatant favouritism and the obvious tacky gift that Will got in comparison to Olivia and James but didn't say anything. He had the ‘we will discuss this later’ look on though to mum which she ignored in favour of talking to James about his girlfriend Sara.

Lou got a half prized gift card to the Ferrari car shop in America- which Will didn't think existed, the card not the store- and mum got him a Hawaii week trip for two as well as tickets to Paris and Disney Land for the family.

Lou had gotten James a few epic leather jackets, Olivia a stylish yet decent zebra party dress and himself signed copies of Game of thrones with the author's message to him.

Blinking disbelievingly he stuttered his thanks to Lou who just waved it off and then opened his gifts from Olivia and James. James had gotten him a pair of high tops that resembled the ones Chris brown wore and Olivia had gotten him a guide book on how to get with girls which made him go red with mortification. Olivia just grinned cheekily at his response and James stuck his tongue out at him- which was also very immature.

Then it was his turn finally. He handed out his gifts to the others and waited with anticipation at their responses. To dad he had given a photo frame (his best made one) with a picture of their family, to Lou he had given a mug with Tasha’s name enclosed in a heart (he had craved the name out last night), to mum a lipstick holder which she took with a sniff, to James a wooden cork opener (not that James drank...) and Olivia got a notebook with a wooden cover.

He felt relieved and proud as they thanked him for the gifts and exclaimed how well made they were- the last one was from dad, Lou, Olivia and James but James had a weird way of saying it; slow and meaningfully emphasised.

All in all a perfect Christmas till they came to the stockings. They got the usual sweets, crackers, mince pies but Will went bright red with humiliation and sadness as a few lumps of coal were dredged at the bottom of his sock. Shakily he took them out and crushed them in his hand. The chatter and yelling around him stopped as everyone stared at the coal.

He tried to shrug it off but there was a lump in his throat and his eyes were getting blurry. He felt a warm, gentle yet firm hand steer him to his chair and give him water. He heard murmurs and whispers around him as he calmed himself down. God he was so emotional.

He knew dad would blame mum and he sort of suspected she had that bitterness towards him right now but there was someone else he blamed for the coal. This someone was dead yet had promised to haunt him and it wasn't so hard to believe that he was the one who had worked to ruin his Christmas. Taking a deep breath he swept his eyes in the direction of the door to see James sneaking out through it- most probably to see his girlfriend- and followed him out quietly shutting the door.

Turning left he hurried off to the graveyard. It was an insane theory but he knew it was him. It had to be but then he had his doubts. What if he was getting too obsessed with Theo? What if this was all an elaborate cruel prank made by James or his mum? What if Theo haunting him was all in his mind?

Whatever it was he was already at the graveyard and he had to see it at least once anyway. After discreetly asking a homeless man where the last funeral had been and tipping him for his silence he raced down the countless rows of the deceased before finally spotting the stone that was Theodore’s.

He was about to go sit beside it when he stilled and spotted another person dropping next to the stone. It was hard to distinguish the figure that was clad in a fuzzy long coat, wearing tights and had a woolly hat over her head. It was a ‘her’ because of the tights. Edging around the tree he was behind he moved till he was behind her crouched behind a gravestone of a Miss Miller and froze his heart twisting in pain for the figure was no other than his former best friend R.

Her normally frizzy red hair was tucked messily under the hat and she was talking softly to the headstone. Straining his ears to hear what she was saying he closed his eyes praying he could unhear everything he was hearing.

‘.......he would never suspect it........coal in his socks.......probably crying his eyes out.....all his fault.....I miss you so much baby.....and him too but I know what he's done......nothing makes sense.....help me.’

She mumbled some other incoherent things before hanging mistletoe on the stone and hurrying out into the obscuring flurry of snow.

Staggering out of his hiding place he collapsed by the headstone. Closing his eyes he swore he could hear Theo laughing and whipped his head round crazily before staring intently at the headstone wondering if Theo was messing with him or if it was his own mind playing with him. It sounded so real and eerily close that he just wondered...

Cupping his hands to his mouth he blew on it in a poor attempt to warm himself. He now knew who had upset his Christmas though it didn't make him feel any better and knew all that he ever needed to tell Theo had been said.

He sat staring at the drab grey headstone that was the final memento of Theodore Bond left in this world and kept his head bowed in a minute of respectful silence. It calmed him just sitting by the stone. A calmness that he hadn't had for the last two months.

Maybe Theo was going to let him go and this was the small sorry he was getting for it. He felt his heart beat resonate in the silent yard like a steady beating drum. He exhaled with a smile as he concentrated on his heart beat and stood up slowly as if in a trance.

He needed to discuss what had been on his mind since juvie, in the open now that he was rational.

‘Theo I escaped your plan with nothing more than just wishing it. If I think about the other times I wish things they seem to happen. Even small insignificant things and even the horrible ones. I know how I hurt you now and I am so so sorry yet what I still don't know is why I can't remember it. That part is still very strange. But somehow I have this ability to make my wishes come true and all I gotta do is say I wish. See ill do it now. I wish I had some hot chocolate right now.’

A mug of hot chocolate appeared in his hands instantly scalding him and he dropped it, cursing slightly. Looking back at the stone he whispered, ‘I've been stupid about it but now Theo I know and I promise to make good use of it. I'll start off small and maybe you know go big like world peace and hunger. I swear an oath to you that I'll be good and do exactly what you would do if you were in this situation as best I can. From now on I'm making it up to you and whatever this is I'll fix it.’

Rubbing his hands together he looked back at the stone and wondered what he was waiting for. A response or some approval. Shaking his head slightly at his own stupidity he left the graveyard. Just before he left however he heard a howl echoing behind him which stopped abruptly when he turned around.

Laughing heartily he ran home and tucked into the Christmas dinner joyfully with the family and Tasha in what concluded a weird yet almost perfect Christmas.

Sleeping on his front that night he vowed to keep his oath and laughed again at the ridiculous notion that ran through his mind about the howling response he'd gotten back.

This wasn't some fantasy book; this was real life where the dead didn't haunt you or give you responses to your random promises and oaths.

And with that he slept soundly for the first time in what felt like decades.

.................................................

When he woke up the next day he was a man ready to take action. He now felt like he had purpose and a duty to the world. He knew what he had was dangerously powerful and that he had to be super doper careful with how he handled this responsibility.

James had spent the night at Sara's and Will's spirit curdled bitterly. It was so unfair that James got everything. He was popular, mum and dad both adored him. Even though he kept getting into trouble and hardly studied he somehow passed and everyone loved his bad side whereas no matter how hard Will tried nothing was ever enough.

And then at the same time James was kind and sweet helping people in trouble and looking out for them. Will was like that too but no he just had rotten luck where he could hardly prove it without it backfiring on him and everyone hated him. Sometimes he wished that James would be the one to have the rotten luck for once, with her for instance.

Shit.

He'd wished it.

Oh god he had screwed up James life in a heartbeat. He was the bad guy again. He couldn't pity himself if he could stoop so low as to selfishly make others life as sucky as his.

Maybe now he didn't want it it wouldn't happen. Yeah James was going to walk in with a huge grin on his face and waggle his eyebrows at him suggesting he'd had fun. That was going to happen. It had to.

He perked up as he heard the door open and ran to the banister to look down. James trudged inside and made his way up. His face was drawn making him look years older. His eyes were dull and the angry red that occurs after crying accompanied it. His gait was lethargic and draggish as he walked zombie-like past Will.

Tentatively Will put a hand on his shoulder and asked what was wrong. James gave him a brief look of acknowledgement before muttering that his girlfriend had broken up with him because he was too nice and funny for it to be normal. And that she was sure he was cheating on her with her friend Becca- his co conspirator- though he said they were friends and he was just nice to everyone.

Will wracked his brain for something comforting to say but took too long and faced James's door that slammed hard in his face.

He was so pissed and angry at himself. First Theo and now James. Why was he such a selfish dickhead? Fisting his hand till his nails dug deep into his palm he winced from the pain and counted to ten till he felt calm. He was the shittiest person to have the whole responsibility lark needed with this super power he had.

Now he was going to be ultra careful when he wished. He was about to leave the house to do heroic things to redeem himself because otherwise he would be even more of an arse than he was. As he went down the stairs he heard his mum on the phone telling her friend Kelly that his dad Edward had talked to her last night and she had calmed him down. After he was relaxed enough she had brought up their divorce and he hadn't seemed too keen on it. What was more amazing she said, was that he told her to forget it because he needed her.

Will wanted to puke as he heard her say she had a special way with men, especially those like him. So easy to manipulate and play with she was getting a tad bit bored.

Will couldn't stand her infidelity anymore and was surprised dad would so easily let it go. He could see how much she was messing up dad's life and realised he could make dad happy. If dad left her he could find someone who truly loved him and would never make fun of him or cheat on him like mum did.

Not today however not today. Closing his eyes he wished that dad would find out about her unfaithfulness sometime this week and clearly see that she was never going to care about him.

With the surety that his dad was finally going to be happy in the future he left the house. His spirits and morale rose with each good act he did the next few days though it fell seeing James lying down in bed having to be begged to eat and wash.

He spent the next few days wishing for safe crossing for some clumsy kids, wishing for a blind woman to see again, wishing for homeless men to have skills for a job and wishing a couple would be able to have kids after talking to them on main street.

Simple things like wishing some extra energy for a tired woman carrying bags and some money for a poor kid wanting ice cream really changed their moods. They were happier and that made him feel happy to knowing he was the reason behind their joy.

Yet James still locked himself in his room refusing food and comfort though Will made sure to slip some cereal bars and chocolate under the door. The one terrible thing he had discovered was that when he had wished something he could never unwish it or counter wish it therefore couldn't wish James happy again.

So in order to forget that he went out every day to help the people he could. Once passing by the school he saw a notice saying the mayor would hand out awards to the winning football team captain.

A burning rage ran through him and everything turned red. Mark was the captain and Mark's dad had given him hell. Mark had terrorized Will too long and finally he could get his sweet sweet revenge. Ultimately everything that had happened with Theo and juvie was all Mark's fault so the sucker had to pay and that payment would be to lose what he desired most.

His chance at football. It was the only thing that dung brain was good at so here came Will. Smirking coldly he sauntered into the school and sat at the back with a few parents. He hid in the shadows because he couldn't be recognized.

As Mark was climbing the stairs he grinned savagely as he wished Mark would twist his leg in such a way that he would be lame forever. Closing his eyes in bliss he smiled widely as he heard the blood curdling screams of intense pain from the vocal cords of Mark who lay, a sobbing mess on the floor.

He opened his eyes wide to take it all in and relished in the agony of his former bully. He didn't need Theo to protect him any longer. He decided to leave after he heard the ambulance sirens getting closer. He looked back up at Mark bawling face before smoothly strutting out.

He had never felt happier and would forever cherish the moment. On his way home he resumed making people's lives happier and better. He got home to silence and found his parents sitting in front of each other. Will realised that the grey sheen dad's pallor had taken and his twitching jaw meant he had found out.

Will left them at it and ran upstairs to obviously listen in at the stairs. It seemed someone else had realised something was up because soon he was joined by a stinking James wrapped in a blanket and a curious Olivia hopping from foot to foot. He told them to shush and focused on the dining room.

‘..........Edward it isn't what you think it is. Owen was just telling me something and I suppose he does have a crush on me but his actions startled me and when you saw me I was trying to stop him. Honey I-I love you.’

He heard his dad snort angrily and reply, ‘Yes you did try to stop him when you saw me and as I recall it was in our bedroom and on our bed he was telling you something. Did he have set conditions on telling you or are you going to tell me the truth that you were, in FACT CHEATING ON ME WITH OWEN!!!’

‘......Edward honey, please stop it the children are at home and I...’

‘Perfect we can tell them about our divorce then and I'll get the custody papers. Children, can you please come down? Your mother and I want to talk to you.’

‘Are you sure this is wise Edward a divorce....it’s no small matter and think of the kids....’

The three of them exchanged wary looks and slowly made their way to the dining room. James sat by mum whilst Olivia and Will sat by dad. The tension in the air was so dense they could almost taste it and after a silence of staring their father began, ‘Kids you're old enough I believe, to know that your mother and I haven't been getting along recently and we think it's best if we separate rather than continue living in unrest. You can say we have fallen out of love which does sometimes happen however we still love you three so we're dividing the guardianship of you three between us. I'll have you at the weekends and your mother will take care of you during the weekdays. She'll be here so it's close to school and I'll pick you up on Friday after school.’

Their mother nodded slowly at their fathers words struck mute by the fact that she couldn't influence him anymore and left the table holding herself in her arms. Their father watched her leave with a forlorn look on his face before picking up the papers and walking out of the house.

James had been acting weird the entire time just watching Will from his side of the table and thinking. God he felt like s**t whenever he looked at his once invincible brother and decided he needed to sleep. For some reason he was exhausted yet satisfied that he'd done right by one person he loved.

With so much power it made sense that he would get tired and thinking no more about James's inquiring face- as that was now his regular face- he slept with nothing but sweet pleasant sleep the whole night.

...........................................

Since everyone had forgotten everything he was supposed to go back to school after the winter break and that came sooner than he'd have liked it to. The gossip about Mark had spread like wildfire and it was all people would talk about. Some people still asked him about the trial but not many. He realised how amazing it felt being the centre of attention and decided he needed more of that. If he was left alone with his thoughts they would consume him and make him go crazy.

He felt like Theo was watching over him and hoped his helping people kept him sated. He wished that the popularity and friendliness people had shown Theo would be extended to him if he acted with the same gusto he had.

He kind of got why Theo had duped him that day because having people want to be near you and talk to you and treat you like they were worthy of your time was heavenly. People shared food with him, laughed with him and hung out with him. At the end of the day he realised how much he liked dancing and had flirted with a dozen girls just for the heck of it.

He wasn't as smooth as James but he still had it. The ‘nice’ Bella was now his girlfriend and he found it strange that she still had an angry yet confused look on her face as she showed him exactly what he had missed.

He would rather have had this with Theo but he had finally got him high school experience with his virginity intact.

He felt tense however, even with everyone loving him because he felt eyes boring into his skull but never caught anyone doing so. He felt another presence with him too and wondered why Theo wouldn't leave him alone.

This week was the best week of his life. Through subtle wishing he had gotten R to be his best friend again and took her advice on girls. They visited Theo's grave and he held her as she cried before going together for a coffee, movie and sleepover.

Like the good old days.

He was helping people who needed it and himself.

What pissed him off however was when he got home Olivia was talking to her friends in her room. He listened quietly at the door and face palmed as he heard her telling them how much she adored James and thought he was great but Will was a pathetic boy who cried all the time and read too much making him a bore.

Will sighed and left for his room viciously ripping the head of a happy hippo biscuit and crunching on it musingly as he lay on his bed. He wished Olivia would love and respect him as much as she did James and also look up to him too like she looked up to James.

Realising what he'd done he raced out of his room and put an ear to the keyhole grinning with pure joy at hearing Olivia flatter him as she had James. Finally the respect he deserved and honestly it didn't do anything to her either. She just had more love and compassion in her heart now.

The dull throbbing migraine building up in the back of his head became a fully fledged killer and he groaned at the white spots before his eyes. Where the hell did this come from? He felt an arm grab him and pull him onto something soft and he sighed thanking whatever force had pity on him to give him comfort.

Ten minutes later he sat up to find James staring at him with his lips pursed. Will felt himself choking after taking a breath because James's room smelled like a pigsty.

‘God brother when did you clean this place?’

‘I'll clean it when I'm right about my observations.’