Uncolored

 

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Prologue

Color is the only way of defining you. The key of what is left for survival. Mostly all of the world is gone. Taken over and destroyed by this group of people. I'm not sure what for, but they're taking control. 


I've been surviving all of this mess but I still have a long way to go through this chaos. People, including everyone I know, are either still hurting, abandoned, taken hostage, tested on or dead by now. 


All I wanted to do is to head out west with my friend Jacqueline. Jac is a bit taller than me and has these dark purple eyes that goes well with her auburn hair. Everybody who knows us or the people that we meet think that she's older than me, but really she's seventeen. 


We head out to California to start our lives. We started in L.A. at first and after a while we met people from here and there that became our friends, and soon, all of us became a group. One day while looking for supplies with our group, Jac heard Aspen mention the mystery group attacking somewhere out east. Then I realized we had to go home..

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1- Heading back

"What do you mean they're attacking somewhere out east?" I asked Jac, grabbing cans of food off from the shelves and shoving them into my bag. 

"Aspen mentioned them but he never really said anything about it," she said as she walked back up to the front of the store. 

"Well why would he mention a thing like that? Did Aspen tell you something about it and not tell me?" I asked, while grabbing the last can of food and shoving it into my bag, hurrying up to the front of the abandoned store. 

"I mean he did tell Bree about it and then Bree told mostly everyone and never told you, so I guess Aspen wouldn't tell you at all and so I'm telling you now," said Jac, leaning on the side of the door, waiting for me to catch up. 

Only me, Jac and Lyila made a run out for food because we were running low. Aspen, Bree, Tate, Rae, Harley, Kao, Ryder, and Kyler all decided to stay back at camp. 

"Of course he will tell Bree about it! She's like the only one who stays at camp and does nothing except guard the damn place and makes these orders to tell us what to do!" I yelled, making my way towards the doors and walking out with Jac following behind me. 

"She's not able to give orders, that's Aspen's job. I mean mostly all of us agreed for him to be team leader obviously," I said, walking ahead of Jac. 

Jac laughed behind me. 

"What's so funny?" I turned around and asked. 

"You're ranting again, which is kinda funny ever since Lyila dropped us off." Jac smiled. 

"I'm not ranting. I'm just sharing my opinion. It's like the only thing to talk about while I'm out doing this." I took a breath. "Okay, I'm sorry. It's just she should do something other than stay there all day while I'm here helping to make sure everybody is alive." I said, lifting my bag over my shoulder. "And thank you for telling me because if you didn't I would probably cut Aspen's head off as soon as we get back." 

"Yeah I understand but I mean it's not like you'll cut off his head now," Jac said. 

"If he still acts this way, eventually, I might have to," I said as we both laughed. 

As we were both walking, a truck pulled in front of us and slowly stopped. The window rolled down and the person we saw was Lyila. 

"Need a lift?" She asked the both of us. 

"I didn't think you would come get us in time," I said, pulling the bag off the ground.

"Same here," Jac said, still holding on to her bag. 

"Well thank god I did because if not, you guys would be stuck out here late at night and the echoes would come. So are you getting in or not?" asked Lyila, as her hands tugged tight on the steering wheel. 

"Duh." I laughed, opening the passenger door and hopping in with Jac on the other side, sitting next to me with the bags between us.

"So did anything new happen while I was gone?" Lyila asked, driving all of us back to the camp.

"No, not much really. It's just that Mare over here.." Jac trailed off, pointing at me. 

I just kept my elbow propped up against the door and leaned my head on the window, closing my eyes. 

"Wants to cut Aspen's head off," she continued, leaning over to Lyila and whispering. 

"Well that's not a first." Lyila laughed. "What did Aspen do this time?" 

I lifted my head up from my hand and looked at both of them. 

"Oh I don't know? Maybe I'm just hearing that Aspen mentioned the mystery group to Bree first and then told everyone but me," I said, while Jac looked at me and Lyila, glancing up every few seconds. 

"I did hear Aspen mention it to Bree this morning," Lyila told us, still driving. 

"This morning? How do you know it was this morning?" Jac asked, surprised.

"I was just making my way down the stairs and then heard Aspen and Bree talking at the bottom. I stopped and listened to their conversation." Lyila laughed softly. 

"And what did you hear??" I asked, lifting myself up from the position I was in.

"All I heard was Aspen saying to Bree that the mystery group was attacking out somewhere east and weren't planning leave," Lyila said.

"'Weren't planning to leave!?' You're kidding right!?" I asked. 

"Nope," Lyila said. 

"Great," I said, turning my face towards the window. I just needed to be back home. I felt like something was wrong. I missed everyone. I haven't seen my friends and my family in a long time. I wonder if they're maybe still alive. Or maybe they're dead.

"We're here," Lyila said, pulling up to the camp. Our camp is mostly just a hotel. Nothing much, just enough to keep us alive and to protect us from the echoes during the night. 

Lyila slowly pulled in and stopped. She turned off the truck and got out. Jac grabbed her bag and slid out as well. I opened the passenger door and slowly followed the others. As I did, I turned around and saw Ryder making his way towards me, waving. I smiled. 

"Hey Mare!" Ryder smiled. 

"Hi Ry," I said. Ryder has been like a brother to me ever since I came to California. I'm the only one that calls him Ry. Ryder has dirty blond hair, blue eyes and is taller than me. He's eighteen. He sometimes calls me M but it's rare for him to say to me. He's the only one that I don't argue with. Whenever I say something, or mention something to him, he'll listen and doesn't care what it's about. He'll be there. He's my best friend besides Jac, and Trevor and Tyler, if they're still alive. 

"You need any help?" he asked, looking over my shoulder at the bag of food in the truck. 

"No, I think I can handle it," I smiled, grabbing the bag and putting it over my shoulder, closing the door. 

"Are you sure?" he asked. 

"Yes, I'm sure. I just had a rough day," I told him. 

"What was wrong? What made you seem like you had a rough day?" he asked, while walking with me to the hotel. 

I looked up at him. "It's just freaking Aspen! He mentioned the mystery group and didn't tell me yet." 

Ryder looked at me. "Yeah. I heard about that. Aspen will tell you eventually. Maybe when you get inside." 

"Yeah, I hope so. I wish he didn't have to be an ass like this sometimes," I said. 

"Yeah I understand. Just get some rest. You look exhausted from the trip. But no matter what, I'll be right by your side," Ryder said, stopping us. 

"Okay.. Promise me though," I said, looking up at him. 

He put his hands on my shoulders and looked down at me. 

"M, I always keep my promises." 

"I know Ry," I smiled. 

"Come on. Let me help you get inside," Ryder said to me, giving me a soft kiss. 

"Okay," I said, giving the bag to Ryder and kissing him back. He put it over his shoulder as we both walked into the hotel.
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2- The Hotel

As me and Ryder made our way into the hotel, I already saw Lyila at the front desk talking with Tate. 


"Hey, I'm going to take this to the cafeteria." He nudged the bag. "You should go get some rest." 


"Okay.. but I just want to see how everyone was doing first," I told Ryder. 


"Okay but when you're finished M, get some rest." He pointed at me. "Promise?" 


"Promise," I smiled. 


"Now go." I laughed. 


Ryder chuckled and made his way to the cafeteria. 


While Ryder did that, I made my way over to Lyila and Tate at the front desk. 


"Hey," I smiled at both of them. 


"Hi," Lyila smiled. 


"Sup!" Tate said. 


"So what are you guys talking about?" I asked them, as I put both of my hands on the desk. 


"Tate was just telling me what we should call the mystery group that Aspen told us about," Lyila said, looking at me and Tate. 


"Hmm..what about the Elite?" I said, leaning against the counter. 


"That's a really good name." Lyila smiled. 


"How did you come up with that so quickly, Mare?" Tate asked.


"I read it in a book once," I pointed out to them. 


Tate nods and Lyila just smiles. 


"Well I better go, Ryder said I needed some rest," I told them as I backed away from the counter. 


"Okay. See you later Mare," Lyila said. 


"Bye," I said as I walked over to Kao and Rae who looked like they were playing some sort of game with each other. 


"Hey, so what are you guys doing?" I asked, while putting up a chair to sit next to Rae. 


"Kao found a board game of checkers and asked me if I wanted to play." Rae smiled as she moved her red piece on the board. 


I looked over at Kao. He looked focused, trying to see where to move his black piece on the board. 


Kao and Rae are siblings. Kao is just eighteen and Rae is sixteen. I became friends with them when me and Jac first moved here. Kao has short brown hair and Rae has long brown hair that matches well with her chocolate colored skin. She's like a little sister to me. Sometimes Rae would ask me if I could french braid her hair because it's so long, I don't mind, it's doesn't bother me. 


"So who's winning?" I smiled at Rae. Rae is like a bundle of joy. No matter how sad everybody gets, she'll think positive and do something happy, even if it makes her look ridiculously childish.


"I am! Kao is letting me win!" She exclaimed.


"I am not!" Kao said, making his move again. 


"Well good luck to whoever wins. I'll see you later." I smiled and got up as Rae waved. 


As I stood, I saw Jac waving at me from the other end of the room with Harley and Kyler. 


I waved and began to walk towards them. 


I sat next to Jac. "So are you making your way around the room to everyone?" Jac asked. 


"I just wanted to see how everyone is doing so far, Even you three." I pointed at Jac, Harley and Kyler. "Anything you guys are doing?" 


"Uh.. nothing much. It's just that everyone has been hearing about the attacks coming out somewhere out east," Kyler said. 


"Yeah I know from Aspen," I said. 


"So what are you going to do?" Harley asked me, sitting right next to Kyler. 


"Well I want to go out there and see if everyone I know is okay. I use to live out east," I pointed out to them. 


"With everyone, like our friends, Trevor and Tyler," Jac cut in, sitting on a bar stool. 


I looked both at Harley and Kyler. I paused and laughed. 


"What are you laughing at?" Jac asked me. 


"Jac, imagine what Trevor and Tyler would be like as girls," I said, nodding my head, pointing at Harley and Kyler. 


Jac laughed. Harley and Kyler made weird faces. 


"You both reminded me and Jac of our best friends, Trevor and Tyler," I said, with Jac agreeing. 


Harley and Kyler remind me so much of Trevor and Tyler that in a way it's kinda cool but also scary. They both look like Trevor and Tyler but girls. It's just Kyler has long brown hair with one strand of hair that is blond on the side like Tyler's, plus having blue eyes and wearing glasses. They even have like the same personality but she's not as mean. Kyler is determined, brave, likes being focused on what she's into and is really friendly. 


Then Harley is like Trevor because she and Trevor have the same color eyes but hers is dark blue and both have black hair but Harley's is long. They also pretty much have the same personality as she's more friendly, very artistic, loves music and is a badass. Harley is terrifying whenever she's fighting, like Trevor when he loses it. So yeah, same age, eighteen, but Harley is older by like 3 months than Kyler, and Harley is a little taller than Kyler. 


"How?" Kyler questioned. 


"Let's just say, one, you both look like them and two, but as girls," I chuckled. 


"Ohhhhh okay! It makes sense now," Harley smiled. 


"No! One day we'll find Trevor and Tyler and both of them meet and then.." I pointed at Harley and Kyler. 


"A Paradox!" Jac and I said at the same time, shockingly. 


Harley and Kyler laughed. 


"Well I better get going to my room," I said, getting up off of the couch. 


"Why?" asked Jac. 


"Ryder wants me to rest," I said, about to walk away. 


"Well before you do, find Aspen!" Jac called out. 


"I think I will," I yawned. 


I slowly found my way out of the main floor and walked into the hallway on my left. My room is 113. First floor, main hallway. All of us have these hotel card keys to get in our rooms with. I found them in a box in the supply closet of the hotel. There was plenty to go around like, 30 card keys at least. Aspen wanted everyone to take two cards for each person just in case but instead I didn't pay that much in mind and I didn't listen.  Whoops! So I took three. Why? In case I lose one, second, there was plenty in the box to take more than two and Aspen wouldn't have noticed if I took three. Besides, his ass is too busy to keep in "charge" of the group. I mean every card is different for each room but I have a few tricks up my sleeve to have all of my cards to be the same. So I kept mine in my left pocket. 


I was about to open my door when I saw Aspen making his way down the hallway. 


"Hey Aspen!" I waved. 


Aspen is the group leader. He kind of took over and everyone rolled with it. I didn't roll with it at first but later on I just didn't care anymore. Aspen is an ass sometimes but he's okay every once in a while. He doesn't show any emotion around other people and the shirts he wears always hugs him snug because of his muscles. Aspen's tall, has dark green eyes, dark brown hair and just one year older than me.


"Hey Mare." Aspen waved back and smiled.


"So how's everything lately?" I asked him. 


"What do you mean?" he asked, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed in front of him. 


"Well I've heard you been saying stuff lately. What's that all about?"


"What kind of stuff?" He was trying to act innocent, but I saw right through it.


"The stuff about the Elite, Aspen." He scoffed.


"What the hell is the Elite?" I crossed my arms and glared at him.


"The group that's been attacking us, duh."


"Wait," he said, laughing. "You gave them a name? How cute."


"Don't play games, Aspen. I'm not here so you can treat me like a little kid."


"Oh, so you think you're fit to be a leader?"


"Actually, I do." I was interrupted by him laughing at me.


"Look, princess, the day you become a leader is the day the echoes go away and rainbows always shine. It's not. Going. To happen."


"Watch me. How many of these people do you think want to live under you? If I was leader, I wouldn't act like everything's fine when it clearly isn't. Face it Aspen. I'm better than you."


"Don't you walk away from me!" he shouted, as I turned my back on him.


"I can walk away from whoever I want."


"Look, Mare," he hissed, putting emphasis on my name, "this isn't a game. I am the leader. That's how it's always been."


"Things change," I said, staring him straight in the face.


"You're just upset because you lost your little boyfriend!" A bubble of rage built up inside me.


"You know nothing about him, and you never will! I don't even know if he's alive! I don't want to hear you talk about him again!"


"What was his name?" Aspen mocked, circling me. "Tyler, wasn't it? I bet he didn't even like you back. I bet he hated you."


"He was my friend, not my boyfriend," I screamed, causing Kyler and Harley to come down the hall.


"Hey, what the hell's going on over here?" Harley asked, stepping in between me and Aspen.


"He-"


"She's being a helpless little bitch, that's what."


"Don't talk to her like that Aspen." Harley stood strong. 


"Or what? You. Can't. Do. Shit."


"Wanna bet? Get the hell out of here before I kick your ass." Harley stared him down until he stormed off, burning with anger. 


"Harley, calm down." Kyler said, right beside her, putting her hand on Harley's shoulder. 


"Har, it's okay. I mean he didn't hurt me, he just stormed off like a little baby," I said, standing by my door. 


"I swear if he makes any move on hurting you, I will kill him," Harley threatened. 


"I know you will," I chuckled. "He'll eventually get over it and forget about it." 


"Just be careful with him," Harley said, pulling me into a hug. 


"I'll definitely be careful with him." I laughed. Harley chuckled and let go.


I yawned.


"I'll see you guys later then?" I asked. 


"Yeah. We'll be down the hall if you need anything." Kyler smiled. 


"Okay thanks." I smiled and nodded back while opening the door. 


Kyler nodded while Harley waved. 


As soon as they both walked away, I quickly opened the door and then quietly closed it behind me.


"Home sweet home," I whispered, walking my way through the room. 


The only home I have for now. I guess it feels like home when I have my stuff everywhere. I mean its messy in some places but I keep it neat. Some of the stuff is things I found while making run outs and the other half is from home. Some of my clothes, books, pictures, CD's and my phone. I mean we do have electricity in L.A but I don't know about back at home.


"I need to lay down," I said to myself. But before I do that I need to take a shower. I feel all sweaty and gross from today. I took off my boots and just grabbed some clean clothes and headed my way towards the bathroom. 


I just got undress, got in the shower and just washed my body and my hair and then just got out. 


While drying myself off I heard loud knocks coming the outside the bathroom. 


"I'm coming!" I yelled and rushed out of the bathroom, just holding the towel around me. 


"Knock! Knock! Knock!" came from the door.


"Hold on!" I yelled, quickly getting dressed into my skinny jeans and a short sleeve shirt.


"Okay.. Now where are my boots? Ah found them." My boots were by the side of my bed. 


I walked over, grabbed them and quickly put those on. 


Done. I grabbed my brush and started to brush my hair while walking my way though the room to the door. 


"Mare?" I heard my name on the other side of the door. It sounded like Jac. 


"Right here," I answered back, setting the brush down and unlocking the door. 


I opened up the door and the person I saw was Jac. "Hey, what's up?" I smiled at her. 


Jac didn't look good. Surprised. She looked at me without a smile upon her face. Something was wrong, I could tell. 


"We have a problem."

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3- A Problem

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