Masters of the syndicate Games

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟚

Just like the officer said, after 10 minutes, a woman in her mid 40's opened the door and entered, her dark hair outlined by some white ones, stopped at her neck. She donned a dark blue suit and a pencil skirt, The creases on her face deepened when she smiled at me. The kind of smile a mother makes, and now that reminded me of my own mother. Alissa Peyton, A quiet woman who answers only when spoken to, her honey-like eyes burned with a small fire that looked as though somebody has doused them with water, but not quite as they are and always burning with hope and strength.  

She is a Café owner who, before opening her Café worked day and night to support her and her baby. I did not know much about her past but I respect her very much and even looked up to her. I did not know any other known family other than my mother,  She never told me, nor did I ever ask. I was fine with not having a father figure around, although it saddened me whenever kids my age played baseball or had a cookout with their dads.

Now that mom died, will I be sent to the orphanage? Am I going to be just thrown into that place? Is there really no one there to take me in? I don't want to go there! I'm scared.

"Hello Vivian, I'm Johanna. Your social service worker. It must have been a big shock for you, how are you feeling now?" She asked as she sat down on a chair next to the bed.

"I'm fine," I say, Like an automatic response when you can't describe the pain you are in.

"No, you are not. Vivian, I can't help you if I don't know how you feel," Johanna says, worry evident in her voice.

"I-I don't want to go to the orphanage," I say, looking directly into Johanna's deep blue eyes.

Johanna smiled again and said "No you won't,"

"Wait what?" I ask, but I have no relatives, so how?

"Well, my team has traced your father who lives in North Florida, and he has agreed to be your guardian," Johanna says whilst wiping a lone tear on my cheek.

"Father?" I ask, wait-wait a damn minute, I thought he was dead or something, and North Florida? 

"The flight leaves at 10, so it's better to get your discharge papers, buy some necessities and go directly to the airport, okay?" She said, leaving me bewildered at this sudden information that she gave me.

Soon as she left, leaving me alone with my thoughts. 

I have a father.

A father.

Holy-  shit

Thi-this is amazing! I don't have to go to the orphanage or anything, god thank you for sending this unknown savior.

Johanna came back in with some papers and said that I can go now. There were some cuts here and there and bandaged arm for the burn. Outside I was met with a lot of sympathetic neighbors, many of who chipped in to give money. Johanna who stayed with me called for the taxi.

While we were waiting outside, I saw a black van far away, hidden well behind the trees. Then I noticed Johanna too, looking towards it. This is weird, are they connected?. No way, you watch too many conspiracy theories, Vivi.

The taxi arrived and took us to a shop, there we bought basic essentials like a toothbrush, a small tube of paste, 3 t-shirts, and other items and stuffed them into a bucket bag. 

The next stop was the airport. This is my first time on a plane so I'm pretty stoked! But then, I saw that black van again, the same number plate and everything. This time it was only 10 yards away, way nearer. I looked away quickly and walked towards the departure gate, I looked back and it was still there. So creepy...

Johanna walked ahead of me and held 1 ticket. wait, what?

"Are you not coming with me?" I asked, how the hell am I supposed to find my father, whose face I don't know?

"Sorry Vivian, but this is as far as I am able to go. I notified your father about the timings, and he said he will come to pick you up, I also sent your photo, so he should be able to recognize you" She said giving me the passport and nudging me forward, towards the security line. Before parting ways she gave me a pen as a gift.

The hell am I supposed to do now? I have never been to an airport, I don't know how it works!

As I stepped inside, there were so many people rushing here and there. I have never liked crowded places, I tend to avoid them as much as possible but now I have no choice but to do the very thing I hated. Glide between the sweaty bodies and reach any airport staff for help! 

After a hellish 10 minutes, I finally reached the airplane. It is soooo huge! 

An air hostess guided me to my seat, next to me is a man wearing a blue suit and tie busy on his phone. Maybe making last-minute messages and stuff. At this point I was totally tired, slumping into my seat I fell asleep in an awkward but comfortable position. It was a 5-hour flight after all.

I woke up again to find that there is only 10 minutes till we land. I gathered my mind, took a deep breath, and intensely stared out of the window cause I slept like a dog for 5 hours and didn't view the majestic clouds.

The minute the flight came to a standstill, I stood up and quickly got off the plane. My back and neck hurt from my bad sleeping posture and I really need a good stretch.

It is 3 am in the morning and I need sleep, lots of it.

As I had nothing but a small bucket bag with me, I walked past the people who waited for their baggage to arrive. I went outside the airport and sat down on a chair, waiting for my father to show up. Won't it be awkward to call him father? I've never heard people saying that,  dad maybe?

Since I had no phone, I played rock-paper-scissors all by myself. My right hand kept winning so yeah...

Soon enough, a man in his early 60s or so walked up to me, a black full suit with a pressed white shirt paired with a tie and hat. No way he can be my father, he is way too old.

"Are you Vivian Peyton?" He asked, the creases on his cheeks deepened with the secrets that lie in his eyes. As if he knew and did things that no one should know about.