Colour Coded: The Black Bullet

by Katy Jordan

  Bullet looked on as Lab put her arm around Flare and gave her a loving squeeze, while she stretched her other hand across the bed and held Tide’s as Flare leaned her head on Lab’s shoulder.

  Bullet watched the three of them laugh and giggle.

  After everything she had been through in her life, Bullet couldn’t help but feel grateful, and consider how lucky she was to have people like this around her every day.

  She stood up and leaned over Tide to hug Flare.

  “I have to go.”

  “Aw, no, why?” Flare pestered, as she took hold of Bullet’s wrist with her good arm and pulled her down next to her on the bed. “Just stay, we were having such a good time.”

  “And you all still can, but Jack and Gecko are checking in at eight p.m., and it’s ten to. I also have to wake Youth up,” Bullet explained, as she wriggled out of Flare’s grip.

  “Youth tired?” Lab asked.

  “Yeah, he’s been non-stop since Flare was taken, and he’s been kept going all day sorting those earpieces for us and getting Jack geared up for going back to Neon, and then keeping tabs on him and… yadda yadda yadda,” said Bullet, walking to the bottom of the bed. “Jack was exhausted too, so when he went for a nap, I told Youth to do the same.”

  “And Gecko’s okay?” Tide asked.

  “Yeah, he’s there in his disguise. Rocket just got back actually… just thought I’d let you know,” Bullet said, winking at the other two before walking away.

  “Oh, right… umm… thanks,” Tide stuttered nervously.

  Bullet passed the spiral staircase and made her way along the corridor to the Yellow Youth’s room. He was fast asleep upon her arrival, starfished across his bed, on top of the covers, fully clothed.

  Peaceful.

  “I thought it’d be best not to wake him,” The Spectrum’s soft voice broke the silence from behind her as she spun around to face him.

  “Sir, I didn’t even see you sitting there.”

  “So I gathered,” he replied, checking his snazzy gold watch strapped around his wrist. “Nearly check-in time.”

  Bullet joined him and sat down in the seat that Youth occupied earlier that day. “Okay… I think it’s… this one?” Bullet muttered to herself, as she pushed a button to video call Jack on his tablet. It rang for quite a while before a face appeared on the screen.

  “Good morning,” Gecko greeted them through a yawn.

  “It’s not morning, hon. What’re you up to, Gecko? Where’s Jack?”

  “Well, we came back to Jack’s room, and I sat on the floor trying to do a new floor plan to include the bunker. Must’ve dozed off because… you calling is the next thing I remember, and,” he leaned over the top of the tablet and brought back a piece of paper, “I only have five lines drawn on this,” Gecko held the paper up to the camera.

  “Uh-huh, where’s Jack?” Bullet coaxed further.

  “He’s right over there,” Gecko announced, turning the tablet to face Jack curled up on his bed, sound asleep. “He didn’t even stir when this thing started vibrating like a…”

  “Don’t even say it,” Bullet cut him off, knowing exactly where he was going with that sentence. “So, what do we know?”

  “Well, Neon is definitely up to something. That bunker he’s built is fit for him and about two other people, three at a push.”

  “I was informed about the C4 that Neon was bringing in and then shipping out, do you have anything on that?” The Spectrum asked.

  “Nothing yet, sir. But, it’s the first thing on our to-do list for…” he started, another yawn interrupting him, “for tomorrow. That is, if that’s okay with you, sir?”

  “Certainly, get some well-deserved rest,” The Spectrum ordered. “Also, try and position Jack’s other jackets with the cameras attached around the room before you go to bed. It means everyone can be your security while you both sleep.”

  “Will do. Good night, sir. Bullet,” Gecko bid them farewell, and the screen went black.

  Bullet slouched back in the seat, spinning it slightly from side to side.

  “Well… you hoped he’d get some rest,” The Spectrum reminded her.

  “I know. But, I really thought we’d have a lot more to go on by now.”

  “Jack has only been there for a few hours, Bullet, you can’t have it both ways. However, I agree with your feelings you displayed earlier. The boy was extremely tired. He needed to rest. And now he is. So, for now, let him sleep. Maybe you should do the same.”

  “Nah,” Bullet replied in disagreement, “at least not until Youth wakes up.”

  “As you wish,” The Spectrum said as he got up to leave, “but, if you become tired, make sure to wake up the Yellow Youth. We cannot, under any circumstances, leave them hanging in the balance with no one monitoring them, am I understood?”

  “Crystal clear, sir.”

  “Good night, Bullet.”

  “Good night, sir,” The Spectrum left her alone.

  Bullet turned her attention back to the screens in front of her and watched. An hour crawled by.

  And another.

  And another, even slower than the previous one.

  Bullet made herself a cup of coffee with the machine in Youth’s room and went back to her seat in front of the monitors.

  Something happened.

  She put the cup down and leaned into the monitor showing one of Jack’s coats that Gecko placed in the room. She dotted quickly between all four.

  Something moved.

  Nothing was happening now.

  But, something definitely moved.

  And then again.

  The door handle.

  Someone was trying to get in.

  The handle rocked up and down and then stopped. Bullet’s finger hovered over the button ready to call the boys back. She stared so hard she thought her eyeballs might dry up and fall out. Nothing seemed to happen again.

  Bullet let out a sigh.

  “IT WASN’T ME! I DIDN’T!”

  Bullet jumped out of her skin when Youth woke up with a fright. He looked around confused and rested his eyes on Bullet.

  “Did I fall asleep?”

  “Yeah, and then nearly had me shit myself when you woke up. Get over here.”

  Youth rolled out of his bed and shuffled over next to Bullet, slumping into the seat next to her.

  “I need coffee,” Youth moaned.

  Without saying a word, Bullet handed him her freshly made cup.

  “Anything exciting happen?”

  “Someone tried to get into Jack’s room.”

  “Seriously?” Youth perked up and focused on the monitors.

  “Yeah, they’re gone now, I think. It happened just before you woke up.”

  “Neon?”

  “Well, I can’t see through doors unless they’re open, Youth,” Bullet snapped.

  Youth cowered away from her.

  “Sorry, I’m just tired.”

  “You know, you’ve been so focused on everyone else sleeping, but you’re the one that’s been awake the longest. Go to bed, Bullet. I got this.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “I’ve had my hour long power nap. That plus, I’ve been napping here and there whenever I can, whereas you haven’t slept at all. I’m all good. Go, seriously.”

  Bullet ruffled his wavy blond hair and headed for the door.

  “I’ll keep my earpiece in, shout me if you need anything.”

  Bullet walked back along the hall and climbed the spiral staircase, passing by two floors as she made her way right to the top.

  She opened the door to her room, and quietly closed it shut behind her.

  Getting ready for bed, she changed into her black tank top and black shorts, and walked barefoot across the black marble floor and crawled into bed. Bullet fumbled underneath her pillow and pulled out an old crooked photograph.

  Two happy young girls were playing together in the park. She looked at the photograph longingly.

  As she well
ed up, a tear escaped down her cheek. Bullet began to cry and turned to look out the window. The stars all winked at her as they sat like a beautifully clustered orchestra around their conductor.

  “If you’re out there Jenna. I miss you. And I’m sorry,” she whispered, looking back to her photo.

  She tucked it safely back under her pillow and turned on to her side.

  It wasn’t long before her subconscious grabbed her.

  The courtroom was small and cramped, no seat was empty as Bullet sat in the witness stand, an older man in a suit standing in front of her menacingly.

  “What did you see?” the man growled.

  “I didn’t see anything.”

  The walls were closing in.

  “So, not only did you not see my client rape your friend, you didn’t see anyone rape her at all. Yet, you claim it happened?”

  “It happened!”

  “How do you know?”

  “She told me!”

  Bullet could feel the air being stolen from her as the walls, the chairs, the people, the lawyer, all edged closer to her.

  “She told you? And that means it’s fact, does it?”

  “She wouldn’t lie! She committed suicide because of him!”

  “No. She took her own life because she couldn’t face the lies she had told.”

  “Jenna…”

  “She’s a liar, and well you know it, isn’t that right?”

  “Please…”

  “Admit that you know nothing. Can you admit that Jenna Harvey was wrong about who attacked her?”

  “Leave me alone.”

  “Answer the question.”

  “She was my best friend!”

  “That wasn’t the question, Miss Wells.”

  Everywhere Bullet looked, a person sat glaring at her, waiting, wondering.

  Jenna’s memory was hanging in the balance, her reputation being put in the firing line, and the only way to save it was all down to Bullet.

  The world was running out of oxygen, for Bullet was using it all. Her white shirt stuck to her with sweat, her bun was now hanging at the top of her neck instead of the top of her head.

  The world started to swim.

  Bullet was drowsy.

  She toppled off the side of her seat slowly and began to fall. She kept falling. Jenna was falling with her.

  Her surroundings were black, like she was falling into nothing.

  She reached out her hand trying to grab Jenna who was fading away the closer Bullet got.

  She disappeared, but Bullet continued to fall.

  “NO!”

  She sat upright on the concrete floor.

  The room was dark, empty and cold.

  Bullet stood up, spinning around hoping someone would find her. She was wearing blue jeans and a white T-shirt; the same outfit she wore when she met him.

  “Hello, Georgina.”

  Bullet spun around.

  A man with grey hair combed back stood in front of her in a pair of bright red trousers, a white shirt and an orange blazer. He smiled at her ceaselessly.

  “My name is Neon. I’m going to help you find the man that attacked your friend.”

  “I know who attacked her.”

  “Yes, and he walked. He’s a free man.”

  “He shouldn’t be.”

  “I know. That’s why I’m going to help you find him.”

  “It doesn’t matter if we find him or not, he was found not guilty. Everyone thinks he’s innocent.”

  Neon walked towards her and placed his hands gently on her shoulders.

  When he looked into her eyes it was as though he could see into her mind.

  Into her soul.

  As though he knew everything about her.

  “Who said we were going to enforce the law?” he asked with a sinister smile. “We’re going to find him, and enforce justice for Jenna Harvey. Yes?”

  Bullet stared at the bright white ceiling of her room, the moonlight giving it an almost unbearable glare.

  Her bed was not neat like it was when she crawled into it three hours before; a pillow was on the floor, her duvet was damp and strewing all over the mattress, its cover was pulled off of two corners.

  Bullet got up and went over to open the window.

  The cold night’s breeze was much welcomed and wrapped around her like a cool blanket. Her wavy hair hung like rats’ tails as the damp sweat dried in the gentle wind that swirled around her as she looked at the view. The moon’s reflection in Loch Lee doubled the source of light.

  The grounds were beautiful. The castle style building used for Colour Coded had much land surrounding it, decorated with beautiful flowers, and a fountain trickling in the courtyard at the front.

  Bullet found it very calming.

  She left the window open and walked back over to her bed, the wind howling softly around her room. She picked up her tablet from the bedside table and activated it. The screen showed Jack’s jacket camera still facing the door. At eleven p.m., it was no surprise that they were still asleep.

  She swiped left and saw another view of the door. She swiped again to see a view of the boys sleeping, Jack still curled up on the bed, Gecko sprawled out on the floor using Jack’s case as a pillow. She watched for a while, remembering more about Neon.

  How he found her.

  How he understood her.

  Sympathised with her.

  Listened to her.

  How he helped her find Jenna’s attacker.

  And how he helped her kill him.

  Chapter Eight

  Jack and Gecko made their way through the crowds of people to the main room of the warehouse.

  Neon stood at the front signing something for a man wearing a blue cap and a denim shirt, no fresh skin could be seen for the tattoos that covered his arms and neck, and Jack assumed the same could be said for the rest of his body that was covered by clothes.

  Gecko saw men taping boxes shut and went over to join them, blending in effortlessly while Jack continued on.

  He watched the men intently.

  Some were unwrapping packages, while others were repackaging. Some boxes said ‘BB’, some said ‘FF’ and some said ‘SS’. He pretended it didn’t faze him as he clocked Neon watching him.

  The tattooed man walked towards him with the clipboard. Jack noticed the strange signature that Neon provided him with.

  It’s not the one he was used to seeing Neon sign with.

  “Who’s he?”

  “No one. Ready for your mission?” Neon asked.

  “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  “Good. Follow me.”

  Jack followed Neon out of the main hall and entered the bunker.

  “You will go to Colour Coded and hand yourself in. This is another phone number I have; you will memorise it, and then throw this away. You will find out everything you possibly can about their plans. You will call me every evening at nine p.m. with an update. You will spend a week there, maximum, and should they not provide you with the mission I believe they will, you will find a way out. That is the objective of your mission. Understood?”

  “Yep, call you every night at nine p.m. on this number that will only be in my head, find out everything I can, and leave after a week, if not before. Simple enough.”

  “Quite,” said Neon, eyeing him suspiciously. “Close the door on your way out.”

  Jack walked out briskly and made his way back to the main hall. He scanned the room seeking out Gecko, whom he found in the corner looking at a notice board.

  Jack walked up behind him and brushed against him.

  “Oh, sorry, pal,” he said, ushering his head to the corridor and walked out. A few minutes later, Gecko joined him.

  “So, we’re going back?” Gecko said.

  “Yeah.”

  Gecko pressed his finger in his ear ready to get in touch with Colour Coded, but Jack grabbed his arm.

  “Not here.”

  Being as nonchalant as possible, they walked through
the living quarters and went into Jack’s room, closing the door behind them and locking it.

  “Bullet, you there?” Gecko asked.

  “Yeah, we’re here, Gecko. Rocket’s already getting the car primed, he’ll meet you and Jack over the other side of the hill eastbound to the warehouse in three hours,” Bullet responded.

  “Right, about that… just take Jack. I think I should stay here.”

  “Why?” Youth probed.

  “I was taping up boxes this morning, and I found something weird. Neon isn’t doing a thing with C4. Go on, ask me what he’s actually doing.”

  “Okay… I was going to ask that anyway. So, what is he doing?” Bullet humoured him with agitation.

  “He’s getting cocaine shipped in disguised as C4. His team remove it, replace it with ground salt, dress it back up as C4 again, and ship it out.”

  “Do you know why?” Bullet asked.

  “That’s the question I was going to tell you not to ask me… I have no idea.”

  “I don’t know if this is important, but my gut is telling me to inform you that his signature’s changed… I don’t know if that’s helpful or not, but it was really weird to me. It looks nothing like his name,” Jack added. “Also, the boxes that are being packaged have initials on them.”

  “Initials?” Bullet asked, “What did they say?”

  “Some said ‘SS’, some said ‘FF’ and some said ‘BB’. That’s all I saw although, I think there was another one but I couldn’t make it out without being obvious. Sorry guys.”

  “No, that’s good, Jack. I can hopefully work with that,” Youth reassured him. “Hang tight, you’ll be back soon.”

  “Gecko, I don’t feel good about leaving you there. I want to run it by The Spectrum,” Bullet said.

  “Okay. If he wants me back with Jack, then that’ll be the plan. I just think someone should stay on the inside.”

  “I’m with Bullet, man. I don’t think you should stay. He doesn’t know you,” Jack chimed in.

  “All the more reason for me to stay.”

  “Yeah, but, if he doesn’t know you, you’ll never find anything out. That, plus, he’s ruthless. He gets more ruthless with every passing day. You only just got here so you don’t know much about how he runs things… if you put one toe out of line, he will kill you,” Jack pleaded, “so, just come back. I’ll be coming back here anyway; someone will be on the inside.”