Colortopia

Red

Green and I arrive at a colorful three-story building with enough vibrance to make a song about it. Like the rest of Hueville, it gives off a happy vibe. Before we go inside, Green stops and turns to me.

Green: I should warn you about Red. She can be... quite passionate. Just be yourself and don't let her behavior get to you.

Me: Oh, don't worry, Green. I could use a little passion in my life. 

Green: No, that's not what I meant-

But I ignore Green and enter the place like I own it. He is quick to follow me, but I am way faster. My smile grows wider and wider as I gaze upon this colorful household. The walls... the floors... the furniture... From red all the way to pink, there's not a single gray area in sight. Green catches up to me and places a hand on my shoulder.

Green: Dominic, I'm glad you're excited, but let's remind ourselves that you can't just walk into someone's house like it's your own.

Me: Well, I'm a guest, aren't I?

Green: Yes, but- DOMINIC, DO NOT GO IN THERE.

I don't hear Green, and I find myself in this futuristic bedroom decked out in red... and a heap ton of gym equipment. 

Me: Now this is a room I'd like to live in.

(?): HEY! GET THE HELL OUTTA MY ROOM!

Green: Oh boy.

I jump and turn around to see a girl dressed in red sporty clothes. She twists my arm and pins me against a wall, glaring into my soul.

(?): YOU THINK YOU CAN STEAL FROM ME?! 

Me: What?! No, I'm not a thief! C-can you let me go?

The girl just twists my arm more, making me wince.

(?): Never! I'm sick of dumbasses like you who think they can enter my room whenever they want!

Me: People... enter your room a lot?

She scoffs as she pushes me away.

(?): Yeah, and I'm sick of it! I'm gonna teach you a lesson!

Before she can raise her fist, Green races into the room and holds her back.

Green: Red, calm down, he's not a threat! 

Red pushes Green away.

Red: Then explain why he's in my room!

Green: This is Dominic. He's an alien from Earth.

Red: Pfft, Earth? That's a stupid name. {to me} Makes sense, since YOU'RE just as dumb.

Wow. I can definitely see the passion Green was talking about.

Me: You're not very nice, are you?

Red: I don't need to be nice to a punk like you!

Me: I'm not a punk. I'm just a regular guy.

Red grips me by the shoulders and pins me against the wall again.

Red: I know a punk when I see one! I can smell the rottenness coming off ya! You need to wash yourself!

I look over at Green.

Me: A little help here?

Green: Red, c'mon, we don't have time for this.

Red: There's always time for an ass-kicking!

Me: But I wasn't here to steal anything! I was just curious about your home, that's all! 

Red: That's what a thief would say!

Me: I'm not from here! I came from another planet!

Red: So?!

Me: You don't care?

Red: No! You're still a stranger and a creep! I should just shove a brick up your ass and throw you in the trash where you belong!

I turn to Green once more, who just gives up and leaves the room.

Me: Green!

Green: {from the hallway} I need to tend to my garden anyway. I'm sure you'll survive.

Green is quick to put on his green gloves and leave the house quicker than he entered. Red clutches my collar and gets right in my face.

Red: Now where were we?! Oh yeah! I was about to kick your ass!

I should be afraid of this girl. She has every opportunity to destroy me, and she knows it. But my fight or flight instincts have broken, because I'm NOT afraid. The way she commands authority... the fact that she speaks her mind whenever she wants... I feel a sense of admiration for her. 

Me: Y'know, your aggressive nature is really refreshing.

{PUNCH}

I groan as I drop to the ground.

Red: Shut up! Don't you dare call me refreshing, you idiot!

Me: Ow... You punch harder than most dudes...

She storms away from me and throws open her mini fridge, grabbing a bottle of water.

Red: I ain't like other girls, y'know. I'm tough, I'm hard, I'm the real deal. You push, I punch back with an iron fist.

I try to change the subject and turn to the vast amount of gym equipment scattered across the room.

Me: I see you... like to stay in shape.

Red: {shrugs} I've gotta stay fit if I'm gonna be a badass. You know, you look like you need to hit the gym a little more yourself, with those toothpicks for arms. 

Her honesty is brutal. But I like it.

Me: Toothpicks?

Red: Honestly, dude, you look like a stick figure! What, do you even eat?!

Me: I guess not. What do you think I should do about it?

Red: I think you should get off your ass and get yourself some real meals! None of that processed junk food shit! You need vitamins and minerals for your body to grow, otherwise you'll stay a toothpick for the rest of your life!

Me: Wow. Your advice was aggressive, but it makes a lot of sense. I bet you're a physical trainer, right?

Red: I used to be, but they fired me for being "too aggressive"! Can you believe that shit?!

I smile a little.

Me: I guess it's something you can't control.

Then Red's wristwatch starts beeping.

Red: Well, it's time for my cardio. {she glares at me} You're not gonna stand there and watch me like a creep! Get out!

She shoves me out of her room and slams the door. I'm left standing in the hallway, dumbfounded after that exciting experience with Red. Something tells me I'll get to know her more in the future. That's when I notice a book resting on a desk in the hallway. It's got a rainbow cover on it with a green sticky note attached to it. 

"Here's the book about Colortopia's ancient artifacts. Have fun reading."

I suddenly remember about the disk and sigh in relief as I feel it in my hoodie pocket. I bring both the book and the disk into what I think is the living room, and I make myself comfortable on the couch. I start scanning through the pages, marveling at all the artifacts this world supposedly had. It ranges from weapons to armor to devices too complex for MY world to understand.

Then I find the "D" section. My heart races as I flip through the pages, determined to locate the knowledge on this disk. But then I freeze as I see that one page has been torn out. It's evident due to the massive tear marks left behind.

Strange...

I observe the marks, and I can make out a single word: Disk. I immediately close the book and groan as I set it on the coffee table. Of COURSE my answers wouldn't get solved right away. That would be too easy. I wonder if Green knew about this. I want to go track him down, but since I don't know jack about Hueville, I'm stuck here.

My thoughts get interrupted as I hear the blaring rock music coming from Red's room. Even with the door closed, I can barely hear myself think. It's an amazing feeling. The majority of my life has been spent in silence. Monotony. The only noise I could hope to hear was my mother's constant yelling. But here in Hueville, I can hope to hear a lot more.

{WHOOSH} 

Red's door flies open as she storms out of her room. She emits a ferocious growl as she makes her way towards me. 

Red: YOU!

I look up at her as I place the disk back in my hoodie pocket.

Red: WHERE IS IT?!

Me: Excuse me?

Red: DON'T PLAY WITH ME! 

She grips me by the collar of my hoodie.

Red: I KNOW YOU HAVE MY EARBUDS!

Me: Earbuds? I never took anything like that. See?

I turn all of my pockets inside out, but Red still doesn't seem convinced.

Red: That's because you hid it, you punk! 

Me: Red, I didn't take it! I wouldn't want anything to do with your stuff!

That only seems to offend her more.

Red: Oh, so you think my stuff's not worth stealing, is that it?! 

Me: What?!

Red: No, I get it! I'm a complete idiot who spends money on useless junk!

Me: I don't know how you jumped to that conclusion, but believe me, I didn't touch your stuff.

Red: Then where are they?!

Me: How am I supposed to know?!

Red: Who else was in my room today, idiot?!

Me: I don't know, you tell me! Are there any other colorful friends of yours?

Red turns quiet for a second before she groans loudly.

Red: That four-eyed giggly moron! 

She races away from me and practically FLIES up the stairs. Since Red is the most energetic character I've ever met, I have to follow her and see what she does.

----

Red throws open the door to another room, this time decked in yellow.

Red: Where did she put it?!

Me: She?

Red sees her earbuds laying on the bed and immediately snatches it back.

Red: I swear, one day she's gonna get it!

Me: Well, I don't. Why would your earbuds be here?

Red: Because she's always taking my stuff! Ugh! 

Red storms over to the yellow vanity and SMASHES her fist into the mirror, shattering it.

Red: Take that!

Me: WHOA! 

Red: There! Now we're even!

Me: How is your fist not bleeding?!

Red: Pfft, you think that's my first time punching through glass?

I sigh as I realize what type of person I'm dealing with.

Me: Of course it's not...

Red: Hey, why are your eyes and your hair a different color? Are you some sort of rebel?

She runs her fingers through my hair, making me jolt.

Me: Excuse you?

Red crosses her arms and inspects me like I'm an animal.

Red: You're not from here. 

Me: I literally said that when we first met. I'm an alien from another planet.

Red: Oh, well my brain doesn't remember geeky nerd stuff like that. 

Me: Well, what if I threatened you with my alien superpowers?

Red punches me in the shoulder and I clutch it.

Me: Ow!

Red: You're not threatening. 

She starts to walk out of Yellow's room until she turns back to me.

Red: Hey, punk, come with me to the gym.

Me: The gym? You have one in your room.

Red: It's not the same! Get moving! You could use some sun anyway!

I roll my eyes as Red hops down the stairs without me. As I'm heading down the steps, I can't help but think about how my life came to this point. I went from being a lonely kid who has no friends to being WELL acquainted with the color red. If I ever do manage to find my way back to Earth, I'm going to take up writing. This is too good not to put to words.

----

The second we leave the house; Red is jogging down the street. I regret to admit that my experience with physical activities is limited, so I'm not as fast as her. But the other Colortopians are quick to move out of her way. They seem intimidated to be in the same vicinity as her, and I don't blame them. Unfortunately, my title as her spotter doesn't seem to carry any exit clause, so I am forced to follow. But the Colortopians' eyes seem to shift onto me. The vast number of gasps and stares in my direction leave me feeling small. I attempt to ignore it and manage to catch up with Red as she stops at a crosswalk. I wipe sweat off my brow as I stand next to her.

Me: Tell me you have an off button...

Red: Shut up! It's not my fault you're so weak! 

Me: You know walking is a thing, right?

Red: As a matter of fact, here's what we're gonna do! I'll be your trainer!

Oh shit.

Me: No.

Red: Yes! I'm not gonna let you go through life as a toothpick! I'm your trainer and that's that!

Me: Why me?

Red: Because this is perfect! If I prove I can turn a skinny loser like you into a stud, the gym will HAVE to give me my job back!

Me: Oh wow... How did I not think of that...?

Red: Exactly! Your training starts now! First, take off your hoodie!

I take off my gray hoodie and Red snatches it, throwing it into a nearby trashcan. 

Me: That's mine!

Red: Not anymore! Hoodies are for losers! Now I don't want to see you stop running until we reach the gym! 

Red takes off running and I groan to myself as I jog after her.

----

In the trash can, the disk has fallen out of my hoodie pocket and rests out in the open. A nearby Colortopian sees the disk and has a greedy grin as they take the object out.

Colortopian: You're gonna buy me a new jet ski!

But then the disk flashes a bright light into their eyes, causing them to drop the disk. It rolls along the sidewalk before slotting through a grate that leads deep into the Hueville sewers. The disk continues to glow as it hits the water and gets carried by the current, its destination unknown. For a while it travels until it gets spotted by a male in a pure white cloak, simply treading through the sewers. The male's eyes widen and he reaches into the dirty water, pulling the disk out before it can reach the open ocean. The male wipes the disk with his cloak as he gives it a hopeful smile.

(?): You have returned... 

His pure white eyes glisten against the disk's shiny surface.

(?): This means only one thing... The chosen has arrived... 

----

TO BE CONTINUED