[ WP ] `` You may have one wish granted . '' `` I want all my debts cleared . '' `` How much do you owe ? '' `` You misunderstand . My debts are not monetary . ''

He closed his eyes and felt for the pull. England, suburbia a small house with an unkempt garden just grass and weeds. First floor second door on the right. He opened his eyes. 
 
 The kid was young, seven years tops wearing ninja turtles pyjamas that were too small, thin forearms and legs sticking out. He was on his knees his hands clasped tight in front of him whispering fervently. 
 
 ‘ You ’ re a little young to be talking to me ’ the man said softly, his voice deep and easygoing. Kid jumped up eyes wide and fearful stumbling back a couple of steps. He looked like he was about to cry but he swallowed hard gaze never leaving the figure in front of him. The man was tall and dressed in black. Black shirt, black jeans, black hair pale white skin and eyes that were just a shade off being black. 
 
 ‘ Are … ’ the kid swallowed again ‘ Are y-you… AreyouGod? ’ the words all tumbling out at once as they finally came. He ’ s shivering, must be terrified thought the man but he couldn ’ t help noticing it was colder than it should be in here. 
 
 ‘ No. I ’ m not. I ’ m the … other one. Sometimes when people pray it ’ s me that hears them instead. I don ’ t usually meet many as young as you though. ’ The man half knelt, resting hand on one of his knee. ‘ What is it you need? ’ 
 
 ‘ I want to ’ screwing up his eyes in thought and pronouncing the next words carefully ‘ repay my debt please. ’ 
 
 The man tilted his head to one side ‘ Pretty sure you shouldn ’ t be owing anyone anything at your age. Who do you owe? ’ 
 The kid looked down at the floor hugging his arms around himself and mumbled something. 
 
 ‘ Sorry I didn ’ t quite catch that ’ 
 
 He took half a step forward then moved back still hugging himself. ‘ Daddy says I ’ m a… burden. That he wishes I was never born. He says I cost too much. I just want to repay him so so I ’ m not causing him problems. ’ Tears began to roll down his cheeks but he didn ’ t make a sound, just stood there hugging himself. 
 
 The man sighed. ‘ I don ’ t get on with my dad too good either. ’ A few moments of quiet then the man snapped his fingers. The kids eyes closed and he swayed but the man caught him before he hit the floor, picking him up and carrying him to bed. 
 
 Tucking him under his plain blue duvet the man took a dog eared stuffed cat from the foot of the bed and placed it next to the kid. Looking around the room was telling. Not many toys in here. The posters looked old and too young for a seven year old. The heating wasn ’ t turned on. 
 
 ‘ This ’ ll all just be a dream tomorrow ’ he murmured. The man stood and turned striding through the wall feeling out the other presence here. 
 
 He found him slumped on a bed a few empty beer bottles lying next to him watching TV in an old stained t shirt and jeans. There was no sign of anyone else living here. As he saw the tall man he tried to rise from the bed ‘ Who the fu… ’ his voice turning strangled as he felt a vice like grip around his throat. He found himself rising from the bed, pressed back against the wall unable to move an inch. It was warm in here. The tall man noticed this and tightened his grip. 
 
 ‘ Two things. ’ said the tall man. His voice was even but there was a hint of steel underneath. ‘ First. If a drop of alcohol passes your lips anytime, anytime at all I ’ ll know. Outcome wouldn ’ t be good. You understand? ’ 
 
 Almost black eyes looked into the man ’ s fearful blue ones extracting nod. 
 
 ‘ Second. You look after your son. You care for him and look out for him and love him as best you can. If you have to be a better person to do that then you ’ re going to become a better person. ’ 
 
 The tall man raised a hand a sphere of red light the size of a marble swirling over his fingertips then darting towards the other man ’ s heart disappearing in flash as it touched him a white hot lance of pain exploding through his chest. With the force around his throat all he could do was whimper. 
 ‘ Sleep. ’ The tall man commanded. Blue eyes head slumped forward unconscious as he was lowered to the bed. He might think it was all a dream – till he found the mark on his chest. 
 
 ‘ I ’ ll be back to check up on the kid sometime soon. I won ’ t let you forget your debts. ’ 

