Battle of Colours

CHAPTER I

"Wake up lazy-head," Erik smoothly shook Violet's shoulder.

"What time is it?" She grumbled.

"It's five. Alex's already awake. If you don't leave before six, you'll never make it through."

"Oh shit, I almost forgot!" She ran her fingers through her messy curls. "I'm awake," she finally said sitting-up.

     Five in the morning.

     The sun was not even up yet. She could not even take a shower - to reach the nearest town, they had about an hour's drive. Bulldogs usually began their duties between seven and eight, and they had the tendency of randomly picking up on Southern people and spy on them all day. Therefore, they had to get downtown before them and leave after them – it was always a long, long day.

     After getting ready, Violet walked towards her motorcycle – Erik has taken it out of the garage for her – but then she saw Manali admiring it.

"Already up?" Violet smiled at her, Manali looked at her and smiled back. With her black leather clothes, scars, stoned-face, Violet looked stunning compared to Manali — who was little, skinny and she even looked very fragile. "I think you should get some rest," she grabbed her helmet. "Long days are waiting for you."

"Muh-" She shrugged her shoulders. "Farmer time. My parents used to own a small farm. I was the one in charge of feeding the animals in the morning and doing all these things – as regular as clockwork."

     Violet smiled at her, not knowing what to answer. Alex joined them and jumped behind Violet, putting his helmet on.

     She wished Manali a good day and made the engine roar louder than thunder while leaving the barn, a cloud of dust following them.

     As usual, Alex rested his head against Violet's back, his arms around her body. As usual, it triggered the same reaction from her. It smoothed her mood, it released her from her stress, it calmed her. Even if days like these were pretty long and boring, she was always cherishing each second of the travel from the barn to the town. It was just her, Alex, the roaring engine and the rising sun.

     Once in town, Violet had to slow down not to go over the speed limit. It was quite known that if any Southern went to disobey any single rule – even the tiniest speed limit – they would automatically be sent to jail by Bulldogs, just like that. Northern authorities – or should I say, White Men of power – gave them the green light when it came to locking Southern people in jail. Their aim was to actually kill them, but it would have created way too many fear and panic and the spirit of rebellion would have only grown bigger and bigger. Therefore, the more Southern people were locked up in jail, the better it was.

     As usual, she drove downtown and stopped where Jabari – a friend of her family – owned a small grocery store. The shop was right in the middle of the town and its height offered one of the best views over the city and its gangs, without getting caught. Jabari allowed them to stay on the roof, as long as they were keeping the troubles away. She parked her motorcycle in the back and they both hopped out of it.

      He let her go first on the ladder to the roof ; first because he was a gentleman, and second because he could discreetly admire her behind.

     Once up there, they set their little camp. They had already left some plastic chairs and a table and a few covers in a wooden box from the previous times they came. Thankfully, it was rarely raining around there. Alex took out his sniper from his bag, and so did Violet. They were not going to use it, they never did, it was just a precaution. They set the best spot for their binoculars and sat down, waiting for something to happen.