Animator vs Animation: The Dark Web

Chapter 8: The Crimson Effect

Hours had passed since the captives' escape, yet The Color Gang didn't seem to bother. Queen of Hearts, The Dark Lord, and the other Officials had already brushed the problem off, expecting for their return sooner or later–whatever the Queen says, they will trust it. However, strategies of a recapture have been floating around all day, and only a few whispers had made it to the Color Gang. Yet, they couldn't care any less. The hollowheads and this supposed "deceiving" Hunter were their friends, but it almost seemed like their escape wasn't important to them; it wasn't their responsibility.

The four were lounging in one of the cave's high ledges, watching down on the other Codeborn members like they were scattering ants. Red leaned back against the stone wall, watching and drowning out the bickering between Green and Blue–whatever they were even arguing about to begin with. Meanwhile Yellow sat near the ledge's edge, legs dangling over, watching the crowd below with a nervous curiosity.

Red slouched further from the wall, almost wondering about the escape hours ago. He was disinterested, to say the least, but he kept thinking about the captives themselves–The Chosen One, The Second Coming...and Valhalla. Why would any of them take the risk of leaving? What could they even gain by defying the cult? They're traitors. Here from far out.

He shook his head slightly, frustrated by his own curiosity. Red flicked his gaze at his other friends as his head seemed to twitch from the cutting glitch. After all, they should've just accepted their fates—like we did.

A rustling from the vines shifted, catching the four friend's attention. Popping out from the glowing curtain, Driftwood's head looked around the cave as her bow bobbed. When she spotted the Color Gang perched idly, she softened.

But something about Driftwood was...odd.

She didn't have the same spark she had when they first met her. Instead, she looked drained of all her positivity, but she clung onto the last slither of optimism she had left. Red tilted his head as he studied her closely. Ever since Valhalla's escape, she seemed almost—distant, quieter than usual. Was it loneliness? Regret? If so, regret for what?

Driftwood raised her hand up with a tentative wave as she entered the cave, but the Color Gang gave nothing but quick glances at each other and a blank stare back at her, making her slightly uneasy as she dropped her hand. Did they see her as a friend... or another face in the crowd? They couldn't quite tell.

She blinked from the Color Gang's sudden attitudes, but she shook it off. Then, she moved her hand towards the cave's entrance. Driftwood appears to be assigned by one of the Officials to bring them and they'll educate them further about the Codeborn–somewhere private. But even she didn't know why she was being brought along.

But Blue seemed unconvinced. Didn't they already know enough about the Codeborn?

Driftwood gestured to him, assuring them that there was more to learn than just ranks. She explained that they were given the opportunity to see what others in the Codeborn can't–because the Color Gang were different from others. They were special. Blue tilted his head to the side, intrigued yet skeptical; this lesson wasn't optional. He didn't want to go through another lesson. Green nudged Blue's shoulder with force, almost intrigued.

This is annoying. Blue thought to himself, staring at Green with a bothered expression. He crossed his arms at him as his gaze shot back to Driftwood.

This wasn't just going to be a monotonous lecture, Driftwood promised, but it was going to be something more than that. But should he even believe her? He didn't care, and he didn't want to care.

Is this even necessary? Blue thought, continuing to stare at Driftwood as she uneasily waited for a response. This entire thing is pointless. Isn't serving in the Codeborn already enough? That's the only thing that matters now in this cruel world.