Mafia

Introduction

POV: Mr Lindsay

9 years ago

I watch the children circle up and sit down, small faces glowing with excitement. Everyday they get thirty minutes to come outside and play in the small, fenced in field the orphanage offers for them. Completely covered in grass, besides a rectangle patch in the middle, which is just dirt. A small set of bleachers face the dirt patch for combat classes.

But there isn't classes right now, it's free time for the children. Everyday they play the same game.

Mafia.

The rules of the game are simple, there's two mafias, one sheriff, and one doctor. The rest are all townspeople. The mafias are trying to kill everyone without getting caught while everyone else is trying to catch them.

"Mr Lindsay!"

I turn to Karma's smiling face, "yes Karma?"

"Can you pick the roles please?"

I smile gently down at them, "of course, close your eyes."

They close their eyes with small giggles. I walk around the circle, "I'm choosing the two mafias"

I tap Iris's small head, then tap Kian's. Kian lets out a small giggle before being shushed.

"I'm choosing the sheriff." I tap Neve's light blue hair, and continue walking. "I'm choosing the doctor." I tap Li Son's small head. "Alright, open your eyes!"

"Wait!" Iden looks up at me with wide eyes, "we need a narrator!"

"Mr Lindsay?" I turn to Cathrine's freckled face, "can you be the narrator please?"

I nod with a slight smile before settling in the grass with them. They let out cheers before being shushed by Iris.

"Alright, close your eyes."

They all put their hands over their eyes. I watch Iden elbow Kian, who elbows him back. Nelsa kicks Karma in the knee, but he only giggles.

"Behave children." I let out a warning, but they can't see my smile. "Mafias, open your eyes."

Kian and Iris make eye contact, "choose who's going to die."

Iris points at Iden, but Kian shakes his head and points at Nelsa. Iris eventually gives up, and points at Nelsa.

"Alright, close your eyes. Sheriff wake up."

Neve opens her eyes and looks around, before pointing at Karma. I shake my head, he's not a mafia.

She closes her eyes, and I let the doctor open his eyes. Li Son points at Lulu and I nod to show him I saw. He closes his eyes.

"Wake up!"

The children open their eyes with squeals. "Last night.." I pause, the kids all looking at me expectantly, "Nelsa was killed."

Nelsa groans, collapsing into the grass. The kids all laugh.

"Vote on who you think the mafia is."

They all argue, pointing fingers at each other. I flinch, but hide it from them. They still have a while, I have to remind myself. You can still protect them for a while.

Treasure these moments, their smiling faces, their abounding excitement. Enjoy it all, while I can.

I love them like family, but someday they won't believe that. Their minds will be twisted, brainwashed. I'll long for these days, but no one can know. I'm not supposed to get attached, but I can't help it.

I've been with them for six years as their teacher, each of them brought into the orphanage as babies. I've raised them, taught them, cared for them. How was I supposed to not get attached?

They settle on voting Iden, who pouts. "It's not Iden." I say with a grin.

"I'm just a townsperson!" He complains. He runs over to me, and plops himself in my lap, arms crossed.

I hold him closer, maybe if I do that they won't be able to get him. But how can I hold all of them like this? Someday they'll be too big for me to hold.

There's dangers waiting for them that their little minds can't fathom. I wish I could protect them, I really do.

Treasure these moments.

I smile at the children, but I can feel exhaustion creep onto my face. "Go to sleep."