PART 2:

Caleb waited for some sort of explosion, beam of light, flick of the genie’s massive fingers. Instead, the genie crossed his arms and said, “nine minutes remain.”

“Did my father find your lamp?”

“Yes.”

“Was I the only one to find it after him?”

“Yes.”

“Did he wish for fortune?”

“I have already answered this,” the genie grumbled.

“Answer again.”

“He did.”

Caleb took a deep breath. The next question was difficult for him, but he needed to know before he made his final wish. “What was his second wish?”

The Genie smirked. His wispy form suddenly began to change, turning pale and fleshy. His purple limbs deflated and his torso tightened. There was a moment of erupting smoke, then from it emerged Caleb’s father. He hadn’t aged a day since Caleb last saw him. Same grey-green eyes, like his own. Same pale skin, caramel hair, lanky figure.

“Dad?” Caleb exclaimed. He reached for him, but the skin he touched turned to smoke. He took a step back.

His father stared past him. “I wish my family was happy and healthy for as long as I live.”

Again, the form began to change. A dark cloud appeared, and the genie returned to his previous self. “This was his wish.”

“I don’t understand… Why wasn’t it answered?”

“He wished for a happy family. A happy family he received. This was partially achieved by erasing his memory of you.”

“You gave him… a different family?”

“Yes.”

“You tricked him,” Caleb exclaimed. “Like you did to me!”

The genie remained silent.

“You twisted his words, didn’t you? You have to answer my question!”

“True,” the genie rumbled. “I must answer, but how long I take is my choice.”

“Then you will never get my final wish.”

“I twist nothing. I interpret. You humans impress me with your lack of understanding. Three wishes, the world at your fingertips, yet so careless with your words.”

“What was my father’s final wish?”

“There was no third wish. With his second, his memory was erased — and I was allowed my rest. Because of you, he died slowly. His family was happy while he lived, thinking they would inherit his fortune upon his death, until his death, when they realized it was left to his real family… you.”

“You’re no genie,” Caleb said slowly. “You’re the devil.”

“Twenty seconds remain.”

“How did my mother die?”

“Your question is too vague. It cannot be answered in time.”

“Try,” Caleb insisted.

“Work broke her body, depression broke her spirit. Your time is up. I have obeyed your wish.”

Caleb felt a tear glide down his cheek. He brushed it away. “I’m ready for my final wish.”

“Go on.”

“For my final wish… I wish to reset time, before my father found your lamp. But this time I wish to live our life the way it was meant to be, in a world where no one would find your lamp again.”

The genie laughed darkly. “Another mistake. By my count, your wish can be interpreted as two, even three wishes. And since I’m now in command of your words, and able to bend as I see fit, I —“

Suddenly the genie paused, as if considering the wish for the first time. “I — no one would find my lamp again?“

“That’s my wish,” Caleb said.

The ground began to rumble. The chains around the genie’s arms rattled until they broke and fell to the floor, disappearing into a purple mist. A look of relief fell over the genie’s face.

“Your wish is granted.”