Mafiozi's Chessboard: Playing with Classroom Dynamics

Her hand caught the paper ball and claimed it for herself. Luke Forrest froze, and I saw in the hands of the mafia the note that was addressed to me. I wanted to take it back, but she just grinned mischievously.

The girl unfolded the note and scanned the lines, then glanced at Luke. Little devils danced in her brown eyes.

"Wow, I never thought there was a war against one in this class," she teased, sticking out her tongue. "Seems unfair, don't you think? In our mafia, we'd kill someone for this. What's your advantage, Foris?"

"What... do you mean?" stammered the blonde boy. Even I was surprised. The nearly two-meter-tall gorilla was afraid of a girl?

"What do they give you for these threats? Or is it some other form of communication for you?" She said candidly, and the class buzzed with excitement. The mafia girl sat on her desk like a throne, her gaze saying, "Come on! Try it!"

"I never read Luke's notes," Lisa whispered to Karen, but everyone heard it. The class became agitated, and the mafia girl looked pleased.

"'Karner, what the hell? If this affects my grades and I get it from my parents again... you're dead! No one will protect you! I won't show any mercy!" Luke muttered something, and the girl surveyed the class with cold eyes. "So, as I understand it," she continued, "your gorilla is so stupid that he's asking for help from his victims?"

"I'm not asking," the boy retorted.

"Julian is not a victim!" Charlie said loudly. The mafia girl lowered him with a cold glance, and he reluctantly added, "This... this is just a joke."

"Really? I don't think so. I'm not a psychologist, but I see that you're bullying your... uhm... fellow student. I must admit, I kind of like it sometimes," she said with a short chuckle. Her gaze seemed to say, "You don't know how it feels to provoke me."

A moment of silence followed. Everyone was silent, looking at me, then at Luke, then at the mafia girl. Each of us displayed our emotions: surprise in me, nervousness in Foris, and cruel satisfaction in the brunette."