My eyes flicker back and forth between Jade and Jae, as the boy runs out of the room. I pull Adrian up, his hands still shaking. "He's right, Jae," I say, placing a hand on the small of her back. "There's no way we're ready to fight in these states. One knife isn't good enough."
I begin packing my stuff, placing the knife in my backpack. I hand Adrian a water bottle. He reluctantly takes it, then murmurs, "What is going on here?"
I bit my lip. I didn't know how to comfort Jae or Adrian and it makes me feel guilty. I take a deep breath and turn to them. "Listen. I don't know what's going on, but we still have a goal. Save Purple, no matter what. Adrian, if you don't want to help, you can move to Red or some other color. But if you want to help us, you got to understand the risks, okay?"
"Cool!" i say, screaming
then we get on the train and go to red.
i yell! bitch. the train guy is like! ayo cunt
I kick my legs on the train seat, nervous. I wondered if Mr. Lenny was aware we were on the train. I wondered if we should go and talk to him. I wondered how he would feel about us leaving Purple the day after we arrived. I wondered if it's actually only been one day.
"Hey, Candy?" I tap her shoulder nervously, my thoughts about to spill out of my mouth along with tears. I was nervous, I was anxious, I was restless. Everything happened so fast and I struggled to keep track of it all, but I knew Candy might be able to comfort me. She's been such a big help so far and I've only known her a few days, but I trust her. I trust Jade, too, but weirdly enough, I don't know how I feel about the girl. She's basically Jade, right? So if I trust Jade, then I trust the girl, right? What's her name?
y a what u watn
i mean
I sit in between Jae and Adrian, gulping down some water. The train had been here at the perfect time, so we didn't have to wait too long. I was too exhausted to say a greeting to the conductor. I realized I had been awake for so long that the bags under my eyes were probably extremely dark - since I could feel them protruding from my face. I began to drift asleep when Jae taps my shoulder.
"Hey, Candy?" she says, a bit shaky.
I rub my face and straighten up. "Yeah, what's up?"
I struggle to hold back tears as the anxieties kick in.
"Did we make a mistake? Getting as far away from Purple as possible? What good will we be in Red?"
I say, shaking and fidgeting my fingers as the train begins it's trip into Blue. I remember the last time we were in Blue, and it didn't end well, so I didn't plan on spending much time outside the train when it stops. Maybe Candy and I could go talk to Mr. Lenny during that stop. I wondered what he'd say, I wondered what he knew. I wondered if he'd understand all we've learned about Purple so far.
I shake my head and place a hand on her knee. "No, we'll come back. Red is great for training anyways, I know a lot of strong people there who could help us. What good will we do in Purple if we just die right away? We have to learn to fight, Jae." I pause, letting her process. "We could also find more people to help us." I murmur.
I stand up suddenly, gripping onto the bar to avoid falling. "Let's go talk to Mr. Lenny now. Then we can rest." I turned to Jae and held out my hand, a sincere smile plastered on my face.
Everything that happened so far, everyone we've met, it was scary. But I wouldn't have changed a thing. I rubbed my arm that was still healing.
Training. Will we have to fight physically? Could we even take them? Even with a team, what if they brainwashed us?
I blink my eyes at Candy's hand.
"Let's go talk to Mr. Lenny now. Then we can rest."
I could feel my muscles relax as I took her hand. We left Adrian in the car and Candy led us to the front. I remember the first time we talked to Mr. Lenny, and it fueled me. Maybe this time will be the same. We knock on the door, causing some various noises followed by footsteps. The door opens, and Mr. Lenny greets us.
"Boy, am I glad to see your faces again. What brought you back?" He began, gesturing us into the room as he pulled up some chairs. I looked at Candy, wondering if I should speak first.
"We know the truth of Purple."
He raised his eyebrows in genuine interest and looked between the two of us.
"Is that so? So you're here to run?"
I shake my head, taking a seat. "Not run - we're going to save Purple."
Mr. Lenny looks at us, bewildered. "That's a new one."
I lean my elbows on my kneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees and begin to inform the conductor and what was going on. I figured he was trustworthy, however I didn't mention Jade or, girl Jade. They had to be kept a secret.
After I finish, Mr. Lenny leans back in the chair and processes everything. It was silent for a moment, but eventually he spoke. "I see. I think you girls can do it. If you figured out how to break the citizens out of the trance that easily, perhaps you can make a difference. Be careful though, these people have been brainwashed for so long, it will be difficult to establish a system for them. Can't have Purple going into chaos either."
I nod my head, understanding that we had to have a better plan. I only hope a plan arises throughout our journey to Red and back. I exchange glances with Jae, wondering if she wants to say anything.
My eyes locked on the floor. The stresses flooded my mind, and I reached the point of zoning out, unable to listen to anything. What will happen to us? What will happen to Jade? What will happen to-
"Jae?"
My heart jumped as I snapped to look at Mr. Lenny, and then Candy.
"Yes, I know we'll do it." I say softly, inhaling sharply beforehand. Tension rose in my muscles as I look at Candy with a reassuring nod.
"I believe in us."
I gently dangle my arm around Jae's shoulder. "It's worth a try! We'll report to you when we can, Mr. Lenny!" The old man smiles at us, confidence glimmering in his ancient eyes.
"You two should get going. You'll need all the rest you can get."
With that, we made our way back to the car we were originally in. It would take a day or two to make it to Red, so I found four adjacent empty seats across from Jae and Adrian and laid down in them, backpack acting as my pillow. Quickly, I whisper to Jae. "We'll be okay, go to sleep."
The bumps of the train lulled me into a deep and dreamless sleep.
I watch Candy calmly as she prepares a place to sleep for herself. She looks at me and whispers, "We'll be okay, go to sleep."
I nod to her as my head falls to look at the floor. The train's steady bumps may keep me up for a bit longer, but once I grow sleepy, I wouldn't be able to stay awake. I look over at Adrian.
"Do you plan on sleeping soon?" He seemed shaken, as if he'd finally processed all that happened.
"I don't know if I can." I blink, realizing how little I actually knew about Adrian.
"Would you rather talk? How'd you get to Purple? Do you remember all that happened when you were under the trance?"
He shrugs, looking softly at me.
"I was actually born here, and yeah, I remember it all. It was almost as if my conscience just, left. I didn't second guess anything. I just did what Ollie told me. He was my boss, so he had unquestionable authority, right?"
I nod, wondering if Adrian has actually done anything wrong, or if he was just in a trance to keep quiet.
adrian
I take in a shaky breath. It feels super unnatural to be able to talk freely, instead of being bound to four words. The girl is majorly interrogating me, but for some reason I didn't mind. I am rather curious about her too.
"You… your name is Jae, right? That's what the crazy knife girl calls you," I ask nervously, wondering if she ever introduced herself. I didn't want to offend her, she did help me get out of the brainwashing. But, it wasn't so bad. I don't understand why these girls are so hostile towards the way Purple was, I mean life wasn't so bad. Right? Was being brainwashed better than having free will? I crackled my knuckles, scared of the thoughts that were bombarding me once again.
The realization dawned on me that I never introduced myself, or Candy for that matter.
"Oh…Yeah, that's my name, and that's Candy." I say, pointing over to Candy. He nodded, still uneasy.
"Anyway, I hope you're still doing okay, despite being forced into this weird situation. In fact, my plan was to just live in Purple, but Candy talked to me on the train and we decided to face the vague ominous warnings against Purple together." I say, rubbing the back of my neck with a sheepish smile.
"Kinda weird, I guess."
I shook my head, "Not at all. I mean, weird things always happen in this world, don't you think?" I gazed out the window, watching as the only world I ever knew was disappearing, and trees started to get blue. I felt special, being the one brainwashed person from Purple to experience the other colors. I pulled a leg up onto the seat.
"So, how long have you known Candy?" I said, attempting to get to know these girls. I still hadn't decided if I wanted to join them, but it wouldn't hurt to learn a few things.
I laugh nervously at his question. Should I lie about only knowing her for a day or two? Would that hinder Adrian's decision to trust us? It really doesn't feel like a few days. I decide to give him a backhanded answer.
"Time flies, I guess, you kinda forget after the third vaguely ominous experience in a weird utopian city."
He nods, squinching at my uneasiness.
"She's a good person, though." I mutter, looking over at Candy, "She's forgiving and laid back, but she knows when someone is being stupidly ignorant, you know?"
I sigh, realizing how late it had become. I suppose sleepiness was creeping up on me, but I wanted to stay up just a little longer to keep Adrian company. Might as well, right?
I gazed over to Candy as Jae talked about her. Her hair was so peculiar. It occurred to me I didn't truly look at either of the girls.
Jae had dark, clear skin, a perfect shade of nougat. Her shiny deep purple hair went to her shoulders, and she had a contagious, sparkling smile. Candy, was the opposite. Pale white skin with cotton candy colored hair, down to her back. Eyes that were a boring gray, but occasionally silver if she looked into the light. They were two sides of the same glossy coin.
I stretched, deciding to be bold and ask Jae more about herself. "What was your life before this train to Purple? What is life like outside of Purple?"
I shrug at Adrian.
"I could only tell you about Yellow, that's where I lived before I got on the train. We were known most for our Agriculture. The grass is practically replaced with wheat, so everything is yellow, I suppose. It's always got this specific smell, I could never quite place it. The people there were nice, I guess, but they kept to themselves mostly. If it didn't involve them, it wasn't their problem. They just didn't get involved. It was nice sometimes, but other times it just," I pause, furrowing my brow. "Many cries for help were ignored." I mutter, looking down and fidgeting my fingers, feeling tense as I realize what I was admitting.
"Anyway, we should sleep, right?" I ask with a chuckle, trying to shake off the nerves.
"Sure. Goodnight, Jae." I could feel her nervousness, but decided she might just need sleep. I curled up into a ball on the train and fell asleep.
sweets
It had been a couple days now, the train finally slowed to a stop at a familiar red city. My eyes relaxed at the sight of a color that wasn't Purple. Jae, Adrian, and I exchanged glances and headed off into Red.
There were rusty red vines and overgrown plants everywhere, but the same green grass laid underneath. The tall, modern buildings were a mixture of maroons and reds and pinks. Looking at my hair, I found a pink strand, smiling. Part of me was Red.
I stretched my arms and legs out, relishing being back in the glorious fire city. I hadn't visited in forever, but I enjoyed my stay while it lasted. I wonder if I would meet anyone I knew.
I swiveled around to Jae. "Where should we start? Hotel room? Dinner? Training?"
I look over at Adrian, who's struggling to take in the color just as much as I am, as Candy asks me where to start.
"Maybe a hotel room. How much money do we have?"
I scan the area for the nearest possibly affordable hotel. It's not like there were any shady hotels or anything, but usually the options are either luxurious or standard.
"We're out of Purple. We're in…another color." Adrian mumbles to himself, eyes glazed over in awe. I look back over at Candy, wondering if she's noticed Adrian about to have an emotional breakdown lmao rip adrain
i slap
Adrian's back, noticing that he was on the verge of freaking out. "It's amazing, right?" I grin, walking towards a hotel I used to live in when I stayed at Red. I'm sure the desk kid will give us a free night. Jae and Adrian exchange glances, and she shrugs, following me anyways.
We arrive at the Cherry Suites. I stepped in and a girl with bright red coiled hair jumped up. Her face lit up when she recognized me. "Hi!" I waved, and started bargaining. "Listen, I need at least one free night, man, we just went on this adventure and we are exhausted and please, I'll pay for any further night. Two queen beds?" The girl rolls her eyes in a joking manner.
"I got your back, girl!" she says, typing whatever into the computer. "Here are the room keys! And you will be on a good floor, best view of the city. Your friends will love it! One night only though, remember."
I nod my head and thank her, then walk to the elevator with Jae and Adrian.
Adrian and I follow Candy up to the floor and I mutter an exasperated "thank you" to the girl. Red. I've never been here, I've only been told that the people at Red are vicious and relentless, seeking self benefit and full of obnoxious energy that seems to be unbelievably destructive. I just didn't realize that every color seemed to be pinned against each other and spread lies about each other. Is that how it is for every color? If I asked someone what they thought of Yellow, what would they say? Would they say we're too blank? Too bleak? Not doing anything as everything crashes and burns around us? Not standing up to authority and silently dealing with our struggles? Or would they say we're patient and long-suffering able to withstand the worst of the worst? How does the outside world view each and every color? As we enter the room I walk up to Candy and heave a sigh of relief.
"Thank you for helping me. I don't think I would have escaped Purple if I arrived there on my own. Adrian would still be in his trance and I'd probably be lost in my own mind as well. So, just, thank you."
I slid the room card into the doorknob, which responded with a click allowing me to open the hotel door. Jae and Adrian followed behind, when the girl approached me. "Thank you for helping me. I don't think I would have escaped Purple if I arrived there on my own. Adrian would still be in his trance and I'd probably be lost in my own mind as well. So, just, thank you."
"Thank… me?" I let out a laugh. "We wouldn't have gotten anywhere without each other. You think I could've done any of that by myself? Nah, I'm powered by people. People like you, Jae." I swiveled around and continued unpacking. I pause to add one more thing. "Plus, you're cool. I like hanging out with you, even if we're on the edge of death and brainwashing all the time."
"I won't ever leave you, I promise!" The words echoed back and forth in my mind, like a broken record, an expression that I was told meant something that repeats over and over again. That's how it was in my head when I sat on my scraped knees in the puddle, left behind by the one person I thought I could trust. The sound of the train horn, not allowed to ring in Yellow, was still heard in the distance once it reached Green. I felt so lost that I even grew dizzy on my way home. On that day, I locked up my heart and told myself never to grow attached to another person again.
Candy's words moved me deeper than I had realized at first, until I caught myself thinking back to that moment. I had completely forgotten the whole reason I initially kept myself from Candy and lied to her about where I was going. I didn't want to make friends, I didn't want to open up my heart to anyone. Candy somehow managed to break through that without me realizing, but now that I'm aware, the anxiety-filled thoughts warm back into my head. In an unexpected silence that grew more unfit for the circumstances, I follow Candy in unpacking as Adrian takes his leave from the room to explore the hotel in its entirety. After we got settled in, I sat down and exhaled a relaxed sigh.
"What's our next move?" I ask Candy, wondering how well she knows Red and how much we'd be able to wander around until we come up with a plan for Purple.
I hug my knees into my chest and let out a nervous laugh. "I was hoping you would have an idea." I knew we needed a hotel, but I never truly thought about how much time we have. I figure Purple will be the same when we come back, which leads me to thinking we might be able to stay in the other colors longer. We need a lot of time to get ready; training alone takes years, but we didn't have years. I wonder if we even need to fight. It would be useful skills nonetheless.
"Jae, how are we going to do this with just the four of us?"
