Don't judge a book by it's cover

The soothsayers

I had an old vinyl my mother would play for me when I was younger for Jacob. I had given Jason a small ball for him to play with, both of then in front of me. I was sitting on the couch with a warm cup of tea, enjoying the view of my sons playing together. A knock on the door made me stand up to see who it was.

Jim was on the other side, looking regretful. I was about to tell him to leave until I saw a small boy through the peephole. He looked scared and sad, making me put the grudge I had with Jim aside.

I opened the door quickly, ready to usher both of them in.

"Sit on the couch. Do you want anything? Water, coffee, tea, something for people over 21?" My eyes couldn't leave the little boy's body. He looked so fragile and scared.

Jim smiled at me softly. "Some water would be nice." Once Jason noticed the two guests, he crawled towards Jim, making him put him on his lap.

I ran into the kitchen and fixed them two cups of water. My tea was forgotten on the counter. I gave it to them and sat on the armchair with Jacob in my arms. "Do you want me to take off the music?" The little kid shook his head suddenly.

"Please no. I haven't heard music since the explosions." The mention of the explosions made me hate Jeremiah even more. He had done this. He has ruined this kid's life and many more.

Jim cleared his throat. "This is Will." I smiled at Will.

"My name is Olivia Maroni. Nice to meet you, Will." I took my hand out for him to shake, Jacob babbling carelessly. "These two little monsters are Jacob and Jason. They are my sons." Will shook my hand and smiled at Jacob, who was staring at him intently.

"Olivia, how many rooms do you have free?" I stared at Jim with a sad look.

"For families?" Jim looked down at Jason, who was running his hand over his shaven face.

"Children, only children." I took out the notebook that held the count of free bedrooms.

"I have 36 free bunk beds. 72 beds in total, but different buildings." Jim nodded, making quick math in his head.

"How many of you are there Will?" Jason started moving towards Will's lap.

"We are around 100." I looked at Jim signaling that they were too much. It seemed as if Will had noticed. "But we can share beds. We will do anything to get rid of the soothsayers." I looked at Will with worried eyes.

"The soothsayers?" Will's eyes filled with fear. 

"The people that are making us build the tunnels. They call themselves the soothsayers." I looked at Jim, not knowing what to say. I left Jacob inside a small crib on the side for when I had to cook and had them near.

"Jim, a word?" He also left Jason inside the crib and went into the kitchen with me. "Did Will just say men are making him dig a tunnel with 100 children?" Jim nodded. "I'll give you the rooms. I'm going to move all the families into two buildings that are connected. That way the 100 children, can stay with parents and other children." Jim smiled and hugged me.

"You are a good person Olivia. You are taking this as your responsibility. Don't take this as if you have to do it because of Jeremiah." Tears filled my eyes, wetting Jim's shoulder.

"Oh, but Jim, this is my responsibility. I could've stopped Jeremiah somehow, and I didn't." Jim held me closer.

"There was nothing you could do." He kissed my hairline in a fatherly way. "But you are a good person, so you are doing more than enough."