3. Small endings

                                    

                                          
 The bells were ringing. I got  out of my blanket and ran to the dining room. Squeezing through the doors was challenging because all of the kids hurrying through the door-frame at the same time to get breakfast.
                          
I noticed a new face at the table. A boy, about 5 years old. He looked scared but curious. Shortly after his curiosity drowned in a violent food fight and he got even less food than Mouse. I bet he had never fought for food before, typical newbie.
                          
"All praise to Hades!", Mrs. Hopscotch said.
                          
"All praise to Hades!", we echoed in unison. The boy mumbled "All praise to Hades", a few seconds after everyone else.
                          
Mrs. Hopscotch gestured to the boy to get up and stand next to her. "We have been blessed with a new recruit for Hades.", she said melodically, her eyes focused on the kids that were sitting at the table. She did not acknowledge the new boy with any attention. "You should know that his father is Lex. But Hades opens his arms to anyone that is strong enough to embrace him. Even bastards.", she said. I sensed hate in her voice.
                          
She pushed the newbie back towards the table. He stumbled trying to keep his balance as he stepped forward. The kids nearby pushed him again and he fell on the floor. Everybody laughed. Mouse got up to kick him and he tried to grab her leg. I could tell she enjoyed not being the youngest anymore. When the boy finally got up, his lip and nose were bleeding. He tried to push Mouse but the other kids cut him off.
                          
Mrs. Hopscotch watched us with a proud, silent smile.
                          
"Off to your duties.", she finally said.
                          
Everyone got up to read today's chores on the chalkboard. 
                          
"I can't read.", said the new boy. 
                          
Mrs. Hopscotch knelt down for a brief second to face the boy: "You better learn it then.", she said with a devilish smile. 
                          
I saw Cat make her way to the new boy after Mrs. Hopscotch left. Knowing that someone would take care of him, I rushed to the kitchen. Cat would explain today's duties to the new kid.
                          
After a few hours of cleaning I went to get my daily hand slaps. The lunch fight was especially competitive that day. There was not more food than before even though there was an additional mouth at the table. 
                          
After Cat helped me finish chores, we went to poke fun of Mouse while she was still busy scrubbing the bathroom. "Pooh, you stink.", Cat said to her. I laughed sadistically. "You are so small, aren't you scared if you fall in the toilet you'd drown?", I said. Mouse tried to splash toilet water at us. We stepped closer and Cat helped me dunk her head in the toilet until she stopped fighting back. I almost drowned her but Cat stopped me. After that we stood by to comment on the way Mouse smelled like. She barely finished cleaning in time for the play fights.
                          
The atmosphere was tense when the young ones entered the cage. I started wrestling with a nearby boy. Ribbit helped me hold him down until he surrendered. The new kid had it out for Mouse. He pushed her to the floor and put his hands on her throat. When I looked up to see the two I suddenly felt very worried. Mouse had stopped fighting back some time ago, but the new kid was still sitting on top of her body. I nodded to Ribbit and we made our way to the two. Ribbit pushed the new kid off Mouse's body. Her breath was shallow. 
                          
"Let's show him.", I said to Ribbit. Ribbit and I shouted while we slowly walked towards the scared little boy. He tried running away, but we forced him into a corner. Ribbit gave him a few punches while I held his hands. More kids joined in. Suddenly everybody started focusing on the new kid. We were throwing punch after punch, while he was laying on the floor in the same way Mouse had been lying on the floor earlier. Jiraiiya got on top of him, pressing his hands against his throat tightly. We were chanting insults as his grip continued to intensify and the new kid tried desperately to gasp for air. I looked to Mrs.Hopscotch, she was watching us with a creepily satisfied smile. At some point the new kid must have stopped breathing but we did not stop until Mrs. Hopscotch finally interfered. Mouse was sitting in the corner crying. 
                          
"You've all done well today. Come out. It is story time."