Be Careful What You Wish For

Mary lingered outside the Be At One bar, shivering in the cruel cold of the late night. Mary’s quivering fingers peered into the pocket of her cargo pants and she drew out her phone. She began to message her friend, Lucy. 

Mary: Where are you?!

Lucy: Just go in. I’m running late!

Mary: Dude, it’s not gonna be safe for me.

Lucy: Stop talking like your mother and go in!

Mary: Fine but you better be here soon otherwise I’m going to tell everyone you cheated in Secret Hitler in the next games night.

Lucy: No way, I’m gonna kill you if you do that.

Mary: Well, hurry up!

Mary peered inside the bar and swallowed. She felt fear ferociously bubbling up inside her like an out of control chemical reaction. This fear can go to hell, Mary thought, before diving into the darkness of the bar. There were round tables on the left, but no bar yet. She entered the next room, and she saw the bar. She wanted to sit by the bar, in hope that the bartender would be able to protect her from any danger. The bar area was lit more significantly than the previous room and she could see everyone’s faces as clear as day.

“ID please,” the bartender spoke in a deep, monotonous voice.

Mary lunged her hand into the messy depths of her handbag, rummaging through the contents. Her hand came across her wallet and she unzipped it, bringing out her provisional driving licence. She showed the bartender her license. Abruptly, something or someone knocked into her and she dropped her licence.

“Sorry,” Mary muttered in a small, shaking voice. She descended to both her knees to pick up her licence. Quickly, she replaced her licence and stood up in a wobbly, shaking manner. She looked around her rapidly, searching for the person who had knocked into her so she could apologise again. She spotted someone sitting on a bar stool at the bar, looking at her with a piercing gaze. His eyes were sharp, glinting knives. She was paralysed to the spot, not due to fear but due to utter admiration. He had striking dark brown hair and his face was perfectly masculine. His jawline was sharp and his outfit was incredibly stylish. He’s like a model, Mary thought. Or, a devil in disguise.

Hoping to start a conversation with the striking man, she timidly approached him, heat igniting her cheeks as she came closer. It was as though fate was pulling her towards him. She would not have approached the man so soon otherwise. The young man did not break his gaze, his eyes locked with hers as though he was equally captivated by her as she was by him.

“Sorry did I bump into you?” Mary asked in a shaky, shy voice that gave her lack of confidence away in an instant.

“More like I bumped into you,” the man smiled charismatically, and Mary could feel herself falling for this young man.

Mary knew she definitely liked this man. His face was unique in an incredibly handsome way. She doubted she would ever see such a man again in her lifetime. What if this young man could be her boyfriend or a close friend one day? Her heart filled with a powerful energy she had never felt before. An overwhelming sense of joy. There are many fish in the sea. Not this type of fish though. Deciding to act on her feelings, she sat on the bar stool beside the man.

“Can I buy you a drink?” Mary offered the man.

“Didn’t mean to give the wrong impression, but I have a girlfriend.” The man replied briskly, and coldly.

Mary felt her insides tighten. Her breathing quickened. Her heart sunk.

“Just joking, but don’t worry I will buy myself a drink. Also let me buy you a drink. I’m Tom by the way. ” the man introduced himself, his demeanour calm and his voice soft.

“Hey, Ben, would you get this young woman a Margarita, ” Tom asked the bartender and winked at him. May was surprised by this wink but decided to not give it any thought.

“I’m Mary,” Mary responded in a quiet manner, still shaken by the girlfriend comment. This man was going to cause her a real heartbreak one day. Mary sipped on the Margarita while Tom paid for her drink.

“Shall we go on a walk outside, Mary, ” Tom asked tentatively. Mary had fallen for his looks and wanted to follow him to the ends of the world despite her friend being on her way.

“Sure,” Mary responded eagerly, energy rushing through her veins.

Mary followed Tom through the bar to the exit. They were plunged into the crisp coldness of the night. Despite the refreshing breeze, she instantly felt incredibly dizzy and breathless.

“So what are you into?” Tom asked curiously, ignoring the fact Mary appeared to be slightly unwell.

“Well, I love horror movies. ” Mary replied.

“Why?” Tom asked with a charming smile.

“I like being scared and I like the chasing aspect.” Mary responded. She closed her mouth quickly. Why was I spilling out my guts?

“Do you therefore like being dominated?” Tom asked monotonously, not understanding the invasive nature of his words.

“Umm.” Mary was struggling to keep the truth from slipping. “That’s inappropriate.”

“Well some people go to bars and clubs to have one-night stands. Do you call that inappropriate as well?” Tom teased Mary, smirking in a way that made Mary become weak in her knees and caused butterflies in her stomach. Oh god, his face makes me want to tell him anything, Mary thought. Or maybe it’s the alcohol.

“Tell me the truth. Do you like being dominated. I won’t judge. ” Tom asked, desperate to get answers out of petite, innocent Mary.

“Fine. Sure.” Mary replied, unable to stop the truth from slipping once again. This drink must be spiked, Mary thought.

“Is that your wish?” Tom replied, his expression darkening.

“I guess. But that's private,” Mary replied, confused.

“Can I get your number?” Tom asked exuberantly.

“Sure.” Mary took Tom’s phone and put her contact details in.

“I’ll text you.” Tom said with a charismatic wink and left her standing beside Wagamama, which was bustling with customers.

Mary peered down at her phone.

Lucy: Where are you?!

Mary: By Wagamama. I got carried away with this new man I met! !He’s so handsome, Lucy!

Lucy: I should have known.

Mary: It’s late I should probably head home.

Lucy: Fine, but don’t expect me to forgive you for this.

Mary: Lucy, I’m so sorry but let’s catch up tomorrow, ok?

Lucy: Sounds good!

Mary trundled home in the dangerous darkness of the night. She clasped her phone tightly, fear smothering her and sweat seeping through the gaps in her fingers. A few people walked past her in the opposite direction, and Mary started to relax a little.

When she got to the front door of her apartment block, she noticed an envelope with her name on it stuck to the door. Curiosity swelling up inside her, she cautiously opened the envelope and read the contents:

“Be careful what you wish for. I will make your wish come true. Your reality will become a dream or your worst nightmare. You may find yourself begging on your knees to God for me to stop but I am superior to God.”

Mary dropped the envelope in surprise. She was confuddled and bewildered. Something about the message made her heart pound rapidly. The message made Mary felt like she was in a scene in a horror movie. She fumbled for the keys and with sweaty fingers, and with much difficulty, got the key into the keyhole and turned it.