The goblin slowly stood up from inside the wardrobe and walked towards axel, step by step as axel watched it with fear in his eyes, his body was still in pain and he couldn't move properly.
"w-what are you?" said axel as his voice trembled
"I am someone who can grant you a wish" said the goblin with a smile on its face
"a wish?" said axel in confusion
"Yes, you can wish for anything you want, love, money, power or even immortality" said the goblin as it looked directly into axels eyes
"anything…?" said axel
"Yes, anything" said the goblin before its smile slowly became more sinister "but every wish comes with a price"
Axels body tensed up "what price?" he asked
The goblin leaned closer to axel as its red glowing eyes stared deeply into him "your mother and your father"
Axels eyes widened in shock "what…?"
"Their lives" said the goblin calmly
"No… I can't do that" said axel as he shook his head
The goblin sighed and turned around "that's unfortunate, but even if you refuse your mother will die anyway" it said
Axel froze
"She is already in a coma, there is no guarantee that she will ever wake up" said the goblin "and your father will never change, he will continue drinking and ignoring you and one day he might even throw you out of the house"
Axel clenched his fists as his breathing became heavier
"And those boys at school, do you really think they will stop?" said the goblin as it looked back at him
The room went silent as axel looked down, his body shaking
"…so what am I supposed to do?" said axel quietly
The goblin smiled again "I am giving you a way out"
Axel stayed quiet for a moment before speaking again "…if I accept, I can really wish for anything?"
"Yes" said the goblin without hesitation
Axel paused for a few seconds before speaking "…fine, I accept"
The goblins smile widened as it looked at him "good, now make your wish"
Axel slowly looked up, his expression was no longer the same as before "I want power" he said
"What kind of power?" asked the goblin
"I want power that can make me unrivaled in the entire universe" said axel
"be more specific" said the goblin
Axel paused for a moment "…flames, I want flames that are strong enough to destroy galaxies in seconds"
The goblin let out a small laugh "that is quite the wish, but you will not be able to use that level of power immediately, your body is still human so you will have to train and get stronger to handle it"
"…that's fine" said axel
The goblin nodded "then the deal is complete"
And just like that, the goblin disappeared
Everything became quiet
Then suddenly something fell downstairs
Axel quickly forced himself up despite his injuries and made his way downstairs, almost leaping as he ignored the pain in his body
When he got downstairs he saw his stepfather on the ground holding his chest while reaching out to him
"h-help…" said his stepfather weakly
Axel just stood there and looked at him with a cold expression, he didn't move or say anything
Slowly his stepfathers hand dropped to the ground as he died
At the same time in the hospital, the machine next to axels mother made a long sound as a straight line appeared on the screen, the doctors rushed in but it was already too late
Back at the house a small flame appeared around axels body before it started to grow, the fire surrounded him as his wounds slowly started to heal, the bruises disappeared and the blood dried up
"…it worked" said axel as he looked at his hands
A small flame appeared in his palm as he stared at it for a moment before looking at his stepfathers body
"…this might cause problems" he said
Axel then walked to the kitchen and looked at the gas stove, he raised his hand and formed a fireball before shooting it at the stove
BOOM
The explosion spread through the house as fire quickly covered everything, the walls, the ceiling and the furniture all started burning
Outside people started to panic as they saw the fire
"fire!"
"call the firefighters!"
Smoke filled the air as people gathered around the house
From the back of the house axel walked out quietly without looking back
He saw his neighbor hanging clothes outside so he jumped over the fence and grabbed a black hoodie and black jeans, he quickly changed into them before leaving the area
He then started heading towards the hospital
While axel was heading towards the hospital, Lyra was on her way to his house carrying the food she had prepared for him. As she got closer, she noticed a lot of people standing outside and firefighters trying to put out a fire.
She stopped walking "…what?" she said quietly
As she looked properly, she realized that the house that was burning was axels house. The food fell from her hands onto the ground.
Her eyes widened and without thinking she started running towards the house "axel!" she shouted as she tried to run inside, but before she could enter a firefighter grabbed her.
"you can't go in there!" he said
"let me go!" said Lyra as she struggled, this was the first time she showed emotion on her face, she was worried.
"someone is still inside!" she said
Some of the neighbors came closer and tried to calm her down while the firefighters continued putting out the fire.
At the hospital axel finally arrived, he was wearing a black hoodie and black jeans as he walked inside calmly.
He went to the help desk "I'm here to see my mother" said axel.
The nurse looked at him before calling another nurse to take her place "follow me" she said.
Axel nodded and followed her as they walked down the hallway in silence until they reached a room.
The nurse stopped "…I'm sorry, we tried our best" she said.
Axel nodded slightly and walked inside.
His mother's body was laying on the bed covered with a white towel.
Axel walked closer and pulled a chair before sitting next to her.
He looked at her quietly for a moment "…I'm sorry" said axel.
"I chose this… for myself" he continued, his face had no emotion.
"I'll become stronger… I'll make you proud, I'll use this power to change the world and make it a better place…"
He paused for a second "…even if I have to kill everyone who gets in my way"
He said that while staring at her with cold eyes.
Back at the house the fire had already been put out and the police had arrived to investigate. It was getting late as the sun began to set.
One of the neighbors walked up to Lyra "you should go home, we'll let you know if the police find anything" they said.
Lyra stayed quiet for a moment before nodding.
As she was about to leave, she overheard the police talking.
"it looks like there was only one body inside" said one officer
"yeah… an old man" said another
Lyra's eyes widened "…only one…?" she thought
"…does that mean axel is alive?"
But then something didn't make sense.
"…how did he get out…?" she wondered as she remembered how badly injured he was.
Her expression became serious.
Back at the hospital it was around 7pm when axel left.
He walked out slowly with his hoodie on as the sky was getting dark.
He had nowhere to go, no home and no family.
So he kept walking.
Until he reached the woods.
He stopped for a moment before continuing deeper inside.
His red eyes faintly glowed under the hoodie.