Chapter Text
After about thirty minutes of waiting, my turn to draw a ticket finally came. There were only 3 tickets left, I reached for the one on the right. I expected anything but what was staring back at me. Maybe Detective, Vigilante, even Jester, anything but this. ''MAFIA", written in thick, crimson-red letters. I couldn’t believe it. I asked if I could draw another ticket, but it wasn't permitted. Once the role is revealed, the decision is final. I dreaded putting my hand on the door knob, knowing what was about to happen. My hand was shaking on it. Through trembling movements I finally opened the door. I was frozen in place for what felt like hours. Stepping inside the room, I was told to choose an ability. I had three options, The first one was Bloodlust, whoever I stabbed would die instantly. The second one was Silencer, my shots would be silent. Lastly, EMP. If I chose EMP I would be given an Electromagnetic Pulse device so I could stop the lights. I chose EMP so I wouldn’t have to kill. I figured Bloodlust and Silencer would be better for killing than my device. I really didn’t wanna kill. I wasn't a killer. I didn't have it in me to kill. I couldn't even harm an ant, let alone stab someone to death. The other 2 abilities were still available so the other 2 tickets were also Mafia. That meant Martin and Adriana will be my teammates. As for the witch... I have no idea who could it be... Then I was given the device a gun and a knife, and, of course, a flashlight. Lastly, I got an earphone so we could talk to one-another during the night.
I put the earphone in my ear. I spoke calmly, trying to mask my feelings and the dread I felt. I was sick to my stomach.
''Hello... My name is Oliver, you must be the witch?''
''Hi, Oliver. Yes, I am the witch. Let me introduce myself. I'm Avery, it's a pleasure to meet you! Do you happen to know who the other mafias are? I’ve been waiting for someone for the past 20 minutes and nobody was talking...''
''Nice to meet you Avery. I actually do know the other 2 mafias. They didn't get their ticket yet but I deduced that Martin and Adriana are as they are the last 2 people and the other 2 abilities were still avalible''
''Oh... that's... nice. I really hoped Madison would be mafia. She actually came in right before you. When I heard you start talking for a second I thought you were her.''
''The blonde girl that was in front of me? Do you know her role?''
''No, unfortunately I don't. But she’s not on our team, unless she’s a bodyguard for one of us, which I doubt.''
Once everyone got their roles we were all lead to the discussion room. The walls had green, vintage tapestry and in the middle there was a long wooden table with exactly 20 chairs. The rules of whatever this is were being explained to us
"As you can see there are 20 of you, there are 13 roles and 3 teams, the good team, the neutral team, and the mafia. For the good team, your goal is to eliminate the mafia. Mafia, your goal is to eliminate the good team without getting caught, once you outnumber the good team, you win. Neutral team works a bit differently. There are 3 roles. Let’s start off with the Saboteur. You can lock doors, lockers and throw bananas. You can either side with the good team or the mafia, it’s up to you. No matter what team wins, as long as you’re still alive, you win. The jester, in order to win you have to get voted off. After you’ve been voted off you can eliminate one player, again you can eliminate the mafia or someone good to help the mafia. Lastly, the bodyguard. Your goal is to keep your protectee alive. If they get eliminated by the mafia, you will die instead of them, same thing if they’re voted off. Your protectee can be a mafia or be someone from the good team. Besides the 3 mafias there is also one witch, who can hex one player a night, not letting them talk for the following voting discussion. The witch might also have other abilities depending on what ability they chose after getting their role.''
I couldn’t help staring at the girl right across from me. She had to be Madison, the girl Avery was talking about. How does Avery even know her? Are they friends? She was refusing to look at me. She was sat between Avery and Martin and was talking to everyone, besides me. Did Avery tell her I’m mafia? No she couldn’t have. It’s against the rules. And she talked to Martin and Adriana just fine. She’s kinda weird... She whispered something to Avery then Avery gave me a pitiful look. If she wasn’t my teammate and I actually planned on killing anyone, I’d make her my first target.
Throughout the whole hour and a half we were presented the game, were answered questions, and just presenting ourselves or chatting. Madison simply acted like I wasn’t there. Avery had to have told her something. I decided to confront her about it. I assume she probably told Madison my role. I waited for Avery at the bar and wanted to walk up to her if she passes by. To my surprise, something else happened, something I did not expect. There she was, long, blonde silky hair and a black dress. She sat on the stool next to me.
"Hi Ol... uhm...''
Ol? I thought to myself. Does she know me? How does she know my name. Avery told her didn’t she?
''uhm.. I’m Madison. What’s your name?''
''Oliver.''
''Hi Oliver. We never really got the chance to talk..''
God I can’t stand her. First she ignores my existence now she comes up to me telling me how she never got the chance to talk to me as if she wasn't trying her hardest to ignore me. She is so odd...
''I just... don’t really know you. You didn’t seem that welcoming at the table so I wanted to present myself privately. Perhaps you were scared one wrong word and the mafia would be out to get you. You only really talked to Cosmo and Martin.''
''Yeah Martin’s an old friend and Cosmo just happened to sit next to me, and he was friendly''
''Makes sense... So Oliver are you scared for tonight? Got any alliance with someone?''
''I'm not really looking for an alliance at the moment with anyone... I don't want one and I don't know the people here that well.''
''Oh yeah that’s... alright I guess. Yeah that’s cool, they could betray you or something. But like, not even with m... Martin?. He’s your friend, you’ve known eachother since you were kids. Won’t you at least consider it?''
How does she know he’s my childhood friend...? I never mentioned it... Maybe she just assumed? I did say he's an old friend, maybe that's why... I don't know
''I mean... maybe? If he initiated it but I really don’t want one right now. Maybe at some point later in the game.''
''That’s fine. I was looking for one but Lily is the only one who doesn’t have one and she is too chaotic. I really don't want one with her. My role is quite important and I don't want her to mess it up. Well.. I’ll go around asking someone else. Good luck Oliver...''
''See you around''
She’s not as bad as I thought. I actually enjoyed talking to her. I have to find Avery now. I still want to talk to her. I still some questions left unanswered.
"So... Avery..."
"Hmm? What is it?"
"Do you know why Madison was ignoring me? Did you tell her something about me...?”
"No I have no idea why she ignored you. Madison and I, we go way back but why would I snitch on my own teammate? All she knows is that I am the witch but she promised total silence until I got accused by someone. Then, she’d either go against me or defend me.”
"What do you mean go against you or defend you? Is she the saboteur?”
"No no her role is pretty useless but she wasn’t really supposed to know my role because I am the witch and she’s from the good team.”
"Useless? She told me it’s important...”
"She lied.”
"Maybe she lied to you because you told her you were the witch.”
"Actually she told me her role first. And she trusts me more than you. She was probably testing if you were mafia and would go after her if she told you that. Now shut up and whatever you do, please don’t get her eliminated, for your own sake.”
"For my own sake? Is she the jester or what...?”
"No not that. Maybe you’ll find out...”
Avery’s strange... I can’t get answers from anyone...
"What is Madison’s role if she’s not Jester, she knows your role and from what I understand I’m doomed if she gets eliminated.”
"Civilian. There, happy?”
"If she’s civilian why is keeping her in the game good for my own sake?”
"Please just let her live and trust me on this one. There are some things you don’t understand yet.”
I went back to the bar only to find Madison there again.
"Huh? Had trouble forming an alliance?”
"No...”
"What’s wrong?”
"Nothing just... just sit down.”
"So you’re gonna tell me what happened?”
"I’d rather not do it now. I saw you talk to Avery though. Be careful around her I wouldn’t trust her if I were you. Also... I find it weird that she never told me her role even though I told her mine...”
They’ve got to be messing with me.
"I don’t know she just told me you’re the only one who knows her role and that you guys are friends.”
"Don’t trust her. What did she say about my role?”
"She said you’re useless and that you’re a civilian.”
„She lied to you. I’m not a civilian nor did I ever tell her I was one. I have no idea what she’s trying to do but she is a liar.”
I honestly didn’t know who to believe anymore. I was torn. Was Madison telling me the truth...? But why would my OWN TEAMMATE lie to me and someone who’s basically a stranger tell me the truth. Yet, I still feel like I should believe her over Avery, though, I still don't know if I should fully trust her. Maybe Avery really told me the truth, or maybe both were lying to my face. I don't know who to believe. Avery seems to have a hidden agenda, her own motives. She seems to be hiding something. While Madison just seems more honest than her.
The first night was about to start. We all gathered at the DJ area of the club. Adriana was at the DJ set playing music when the lights went out. We all turned our flashlights on. I hid somewhere to talk to my teammates.
"So, who’s gonna kill tonight? I have the EMP device so just tell me when to use it.”
"I will snipe someone I have silencer and I am in a pretty remote area.” Martin whispered in his earphone.
"Who do you plan on sniping?”
"Lily. She’s so annoying, everyone finds her annoying. Might as well get her out as soon as possible.”
"Yeah go ahead tell me when to use my EMP”
"Now. She’s right across from me so I won’t accidentally shoot someone if I do it now.”
I took the device out of my pocket. I pressed the button. Everyone’s lights went off. I wait for a few seconds and press it again. I could use it twice per night. Lily was laying on the floor. One of the doctors got there in time to heal her. Callum was a doctor. It’s best we kill him soon. Martin came in the main room, he lied about getting lost in the way to the bathroom. Nobody suspected him for now.
After Lily recovered we went to the meeting room. Avery didn’t want to hex her as she suspected she was jester and would probably blame someone completely innocent.
"I KNOW WHO SHOT ME I KNOW WHO SHOT ME GUYS” Lily was basically screaming.
"Who did you see, Lily?” I asked her
"CALLUM!!! GET HIM OUT NOW!! CALLUM IS A KILLER!!! WE HAVE TO GET RID OF HIM!!! IT’S CALLUM!!! EVERYONE VOTE CALLUM TO SAVE YOUR LIVES!!! TO WIN THIS!!”
"Lily what are you talking about. Didn’t Callum save you? What do you mean he’s a killer? He is not. You’re sabotaging your own team by getting him voted out.” I replied so Callum wouldn’t think of me as suspicious. A role as important as his would be good to have on my side. My teammates played along except for Martin who wasn’t there.
"NO YOU’RE LYING OLIVER. IT’S LITERALLY CALLUM!!! YOU’RE DEFENDING HIM BECAUSE HE IS YOUR TEAMMATE!! EVIL MAFIAS. BOTH OF YOU OUT OF THIS GAME!!!” Lily kept screaming but everyone ignored her. We all saw Callum heal her, he was cleared.
Everyone skipped the vote.
Nobody was eliminated tonight.