Crimson Red, Cerulean Blue

(Violet)

I’d been stumbling along the same corridor for who knows how long, Anton watching me like a hawk. Despite everything, I wasn’t bored out of my mind. My stomach flip-flopped, making me feel hopeful and depressed all at the same time.

When will I get to see Indigo? When will I get to meet another one of the Seven?

Finally, the guy, whose name appeared to be Anton, judging from the thoughts I’d managed to pick out of his head, shoved me hard into another, bigger cell. I landed hard on my knees, tears brimming in my eyes yet again.

Get it together, Violet! Lucas told you not to cry!

Anton walked past me, into the cell, grabbing the hood on my cloak to make sure I didn’t get away. “Yoo-hoo! Hey, Indigo! I brought you a present!”

There was no response. Anton sighed.

“Oh, come on, man. It’s over. Still trying to be all strong and silent? How pathetic.”

He tossed me farther into the cell, and I crash-landed, unable to stop from crying out. A grin appeared on his face.

“That’s right, Indigo! You hear that? That’s your precious kind, there. What was her name? Oh yeah. Violet.”

I bit my lip hard at the sound of my name. The last time I’d heard it was from Lucas, who’d just flashed me a rare smile.

C’mon, Violet! We’re almost there! Just a bit more until we get to freedom, and we can join the fight!

Obviously annoyed at Indigo’s lack of a response, Anton’s grin was replaced with a scowl. “What, you’re not gonna come rescue her? What a coward!”

“Don’t call him that.”

The words were out before I realized they were, but I didn’t take them back. I was running on pure adrenaline as I faced him, my glare defiant.

“Any member of the Seven is a much better person than you’ll ever be.”

He snorted. “Excuse me? What did you just say to me?”

“We’re all way better than you’ll ever be! Traitor!” My voice rang out, echoing against the walls. But Anton just laughed.

“Look at this kid. Sheesh. Totally brainwashed.”

He leaned closer. “See here, kid. I’m not gonna get mad at you – in fact, I can’t get mad at you. I was made for someone else. You, however, are going to get what’s coming to you anyway. Sandelle ain’t as nice as me.”

I didn’t know who this Sandelle person was, but the tone of his voice spoke of danger. A lot of danger.

“Oh, but you’ve got no idea what I’m talking about, do you? Don’t worry. You’ll find out. In due time.”

His gaze was cheerful, absolutely sure of himself. That worried me.

But then he glanced around. “Where is that guy, anyway?”

I realized that in the entire time we’d been talking, there had been no sign of anyone else in the cell. Then where was Indigo?

Apparently, Anton had just realized the same thing, because his eyes widened. “Wait a second…”

He whirled around, flicking a switch on the outside of the cell. Suddenly, it blazed with light – and now, it was obvious that there was absolutely no one but him and me in it.

My eyes widened. Did he escape?

But if he escaped, then…how?

Anton cursed. “Get over here, guards!”

The guards in charge of Indigo’s cell’s section came running over.

“Yes, sir? Is there a…” The guard’s voice trailed off as he took in the empty cell. “Oh no.”

“‘Oh no’ is right, idiot,” Anton fumed. “How could you have let him escape?! Mask will have your hide for this, mark my words!”

“I… I didn’t… How did he…” the guard stammered, looking completely dumbfounded. “We never saw him!”

“Oh, yeah? And do you think that’s going to matter to Argot or Mask?” Anton snapped, his face a mask of fury. For once, I was extremely glad to be just the prisoner and not the guard, whose eyes were wide with fear.

“Oh no, oh no, oh no,” his partner moaned. “We’re dead.”

“Yeah, you are,” Anton replied, and I had a feeling he wasn’t kidding. How cruel were these people, to kill one of their own just because of a mistake? Granted, it was quite a big mistake, but...

“Find him,” Anton ordered. “Find him, or you’ll die.”

“Yes sir!” both guards answered, saluting, and scrambled off to begin their search. He turned to me.

“Well, it’s too bad, but I’m gonna have to toss you back in your cell now. What a waste of time. Argot isn’t going to be happy.”

Argot might not have been happy, but I was. Indigo was free! He was out!

But a single thought nagged at me, unrelenting, and making my happiness even greater.

If he got out, then what about Lucas and me?

What if we could get out too?