Mind Games (FIRST DRAFT)

The group was escorted into a long room with black carpet, with a dark oak dining table in the center of the room. There were 6 chairs; one at the head of the table, 3 on one side, and 2 on the other. The placements were white lace and had a large bouquet of flowers.

Mei rolled Ray to the place without a chair and sat beside them as Mother instructed. Ray sat to Mei’s right, and Michael sat to Mei’s left. Lily sat across from Mei, with Marco to her left and Luca to her right. Mother sat at the head of the table, and smiled warmly.

Mother turned to Mei and grinned. “Are you ready to eat?” she asked. Mei nodded subtly and turned to the suddenly filled plates in front of her and her new colleagues. She felt suspicious of the food but nevertheless, she began to eat what was placed in front of her.

Mason and Michael picked around the piles on their plates, Luca’s eyes darted back and forth as usual as he ate like the food in front of him like it was his last meal. Lily stared at the food as though trying to catch it doing something it shouldn’t. Ray just sat there, arms crossed.

The setting was extremely uncomfortable, and although the food was... ok(?), Mei was revolted by the smell of Mother’s food, which smelled of blood and raw, rotting meat. She tied up her hair and finished her meal in silence. As soon as Mei finished the unrecognizable meat and somewhat soggy salad, Mother clamped her hands together.

“Let’s play a game!” Mother said in an optimistic tone. She grabbed Mei’s hand and pulled her out of the room, into a door she didn’t see was there before. The room stank ten times as bad as Mother’s meal. Mei gagged, and not wanting to offend Mother, she concealed it. “Darling, are you alright?” Mother asked, obviously concerned.

“Yeah, sure..” Mei responded, mind someplace else. Mother contemplated continuing to ask the girl what was wrong, but shook that off.

“Let’s play Hot Potato!”

Luca, Lily, Michael (who told Mei he preferred Mike), and Mason sat in a circle on the ground, while Ray sat near Mother, with an ugly smirk in Mei’s eyes.

Mother sat near an ancient looking cassette player. With a warm smile, she clicked the ‘Play’ button and a gravely mans voice sang, talking about his lost lover.

The 5 youth passed the provided beanbag around, which was soggy, dirty, and smelled of dead rat.

Sacrificed my love for you (wah-wah)

The man sang:

Drownin’ in the sea for you (la-la)

The music stopped suddenly, in Mason’s hand. He sighed silently, then got up slowly and took a seat by Ray, the farthest point from Mother.

Click.

She told me, “Darling boy, take my hand

And follow me to the sea,”

So I took her hand and she lead me away

Then I realized she had no love for me-

Click. Lily’s trembling hands held the slowly deteriorating bag. She crawled to sit by Mason, crying quietly.

Click.

She took my head under the water

As though we were fully in love

But she must’ve seen

Another opportunity

And killed me, sent me up above.

Click.

Mei pinched the bag in her forefinger and thumb. “Oh well.” She said, getting up and sitting on the opposite side of Mason and Lily, closer to Mother. Mother clicked on the music for the two remaining boys, then looked down on Mei and leaned closer, smiling a huge smile.

Mother’s teeth were sharp and yellowed. Her gums were exposed, showing a shockingly bright red, like chewed strawberry gum. A waft of odor came from her mouth, which smelled of the ocean, and rotting fish.

“Better luck next time.”

End of Chapter Two.

Word Count: 628

Character Count: 7