69 Short Stories

Part 21: The Colour Of U (4/Ending) 1055 words

The fish tasted horrible. We tried to roast it with our tiny campfire, which will always die out after only a few minutes, except for the time when it almost started a bushfire, of course.

But those problems are barely considered problems now since what we're trying to do is 100 times more bizarre. Yeah, we're heading back to the café.

My leg is still aching slightly from the car crash. But I didn't dare to complain as Zoe and Lit rode their bikes on the highway.

And.....it started raining. The tiny drops at the start became an intense storm as the clouds poured themselves out. Well, that would fit my mood.

Lit and Zoe didn't complain. Instead, they went faster. So fast that I have a feeling we're literally cutting through the puddles like a knife, and getting wet from head to toe.

We stopped at an alleyway near the café. Zoe left her bike there.

"This is our plan," She looked into our eyes with her wet fringe dangling over hers. "I go in and talk to Six. If Madame K finds out, we run, okay?"

I nodded really hard. Zoe's the oldest of us three, she'll know what to do. I looked at Lit as Zoe turned the corner and the familiar café doors jingled.

Lit and I watched from behind the building. I realized as Zoe disappeared from our sight that even though Lit's sitting on her bike, she's still a fair bit taller than me. Is she too tall for a 16-year-old or am I too short for a 14-year-old?

Anyways, I swallowed dryly, holding on to Lit's wet sleeve. 

We can worry about that later.

"Breaking news," Zoe approached in a calm tone. "Change of plan."

Lit and I turned our attention towards her as she took a deep breath.

"Firstly, Six," She shook her head in disbelief while dictating onto her sketchbook. "She looks just like me, might be my long lost sister. Our family claimed that the baby died when she was lost during a tsunami. Apparently, she broke her leg on the way and somehow ended up in Madame K's hands."

"Second, Madame K," Zoe continued as my eyeballs started to hurt from all the staring. "I saw her, I'm sure she acknowledged me as there were very few customers. Uhh, she looks so...tough."

"And most shockingly, I confirmed that," Zoe added, as she continued to scribble on to the sketchbook that's somewhat wet. "The boy, he's Elliot."

"What?! No way!" Lit exclaimed and completely lost it as she read the words. "He has been kidnapped 10 years ago when he was 8! We, we used to play together!"

"I didn't talk to him though," Zoe held her best friend's shoulder. "It's all on you now, Lit."

"Wh-what?" Lit shook her head. "You know Madame K saw me before, she must've known I'm the one who stole her Thirteen!"

"Theta?" Zoe narrowed her eyes and wrote with confusion. I closed my eyes.

"Thirteen's my name," I admitted. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier, I just don't think you'll accept it."

Zoe laughed as Lit slowly caught her breath. "You idiot, do I look like one of those snobby judgmental people?"

"What's our plan?" Lit interrupted. "We must get Elliot out of there. NOW, TODAY. There will be absolutely no other chances if we let this slip out of our hands."

The storm poured down even harder as Zoe and Lit agreed with my plan and approached the café door. Blood oozed out from my bitten lips as I watched their actions through the transparent glass walls.

The plan was taken. Zoe walked in to talk to Six once more and informed her about our plan in a whisper as if she finally made up her mind of what to order.

Like we all expected, Lit successfully caught Madame K's attention whilst Three greeted her. Lit gained Three's trust with her sketchbook and successfully continued to attract Madame K's attention as Three approached the counter to meet Zoe.

That's where the action started. Six pretended as if she can't reach the highest shelf, so Three walked in to help her. I was nervous as I saw the sense of realization in Madame K's eyes.

As Three held up Six to run, Madame K charged at them. Zoe and Lit, out of the plan, threw themselves at the pursuer. I guided Three and Six to the bikes as they crossed the road. But what happened inside wasn't as successful.

Zoe was defeated by Madame K, to be exact, One.

One is Madame K's very own daughter and probably the strongest in the café. Which really gives her a superior spot over the rest of us.

In the meantime, Lit did something shocking. She flipped over the counter and locked the basement door. No one knows what exactly happened in there but it surely led to an aggressive revolt as the rest of them smashed out with cranky fists.

Zoe took the chance and broke free to the other side of the road as the rest was stopped by an upcoming truck. Nine and Twelve were immediately captured by One. Four and her wooden leg collapsed into Lit as Madame K threw herself at them.

"Cross this road, guys!" My throat burns as they recognized me. "Cross this road and you'll be free! FREE!"

Five, Seven, Ten and Eight made a run for it. Lit picked up Four by her shoulder and shot for it, but a fleet of trucks was in their way. With that few seconds of hesitation, Madame K rushed up and attempted to snatch away Four, but of course, Lit wouldn't allow her to do that.

She sprinted onto the concrete while holding Four in her arms and got smashed by a truck bang right in the face.

There was screaming, lots of screaming at the same time. My vision tilted as Lit's body bounced off the concrete, still holding Four in her arms.

As she hit the ground for the third time and stopped rolling, my world went dark.

Seventeen days after I left the surgery room, the nurse removed the bandages on my head.

Zoe stuffed me a note as she steered the wheelchair onto the hospital lawn. It's from Lit. To be exact, Lit's last words.

Dear Thirteen,

I'm proud I was able to help you, Thirteen, it's the best thing I've ever done.

Take them and enjoy, because I want to 'lit' up your world.

P.S. Take care of your mates! They surely had some tough time with you at the café! With all the kindness in my heart, I wish you all a peaceful future!

From: Lit

Lit died the day Madame K was captured, the truck really blew into her head. She donated her organs to the rest of us and left her eyes for me.

I looked up at the sky.

Ah, so this is blue.

And the sun, the warm, bright glow, must be Lit.