Farbe

Farbe is a city in the middle of nowhere run by twelve colourful families. This blog details the stories of the characters and the families inside.

[farbe-town]

Farbe

Farbe is a city inspired by colours. There are twelve different families each based on a different colour. Each family also have their area of influence within the city. 

Family members have their names and their nicknames. These nicknames are also associated with colours that match their families. They may only call each other by their nicknames when out in public and by their real names in private. This rule was created to protect the family member's real identities. 

[farbe-town]

Missing people

The following short may contain graphic descriptions of violence, cannibalism and sexual content. Reader discretion is advised.

The dock warehouses were the worse. The smell of rotting fish and oil seemed to seep into your skin and stick to your sweat. Hunter’s nose scrunched up the smell as she pulled her leather jacket tighter against her chest. The winter was making every part of Farbe a living nightmare. But the job was one she took great pleasure in. It wasn’t a mission from Lilith or her little sidekick. Instead, it was a little detour to getting her position back.

Around Hunter were three police bikes and their officers lazing around. Hunter ignored them as she walked to a shipping container with black words, ‘Sea Board’ painted on faded yellow. That said the man she had to use for the job, was one she would rather have left at the mansion.

From inside the container, there were soft moans and groans, clearly coming from a man. They were sounds of pleasure, and it made Hunter’s stomach turn. She’s seen people get flayed, beheaded, and shot. There have also been a few she had done herself, but what that man can do, makes her wince.

The officers all turned their gaze to Hunter as she pulled the container open. The sight made two of the officers turn to expel their stomach contents, while the other one no doubt passed out.

In front of the man, with a skeletal body was the mutilated form of the ex-Head of Security for Mr Yellow. The dead body was covered in cuts and lay in its own pool of blood. The man turned to Hunter, his cheeks flushed and his naked body exposed for all to see. Blood dripped from his hair and nails. Around his neck hung the body’s large intestines.

“I think…” the man moaned and Hunter wanted to join the officer’s in puking her stomach out. “I think I came!”

“You are disgusting, Oil.”

“We have guests?” Johnny’s smile made his whole face crinkle around his sharp teeth.

“I told you I needed information, not another victim.”

Johnny licked the blood off his finger, dragging his tongue up every digit.

“For fuck’s sake! Did you find anything?”

The same sickly smile spread over his cheeks. “They are hiding in Leather’s house. But it’s no use. There are eleven days left. Do you truly think you have enough time to get the new Head?”

“I will! Even if it kills me! That position was mine from-”

“Not from birth!” Johnny waved a bony finger at her. He lay down and spread his body in the pool of blood and organs, inhaling the metallic stench. “That’s why you won’t win Grease.”

Hunter ground her teeth against each other. She ripped her pistol from her side and aimed it at Johnny’s head. The bony man lazily looked up at Hunter and yawned.

“You cannot kill me.” He turned on his stomach and kicked his legs. “But I can you if it’s what you want. I bet your heart will taste as cold as the rest of you.”

Hunter pushed her pistol back and stormed out of the container. Her mind was raving. For a psychotic killer, he sure talked more than acted.

“You didn’t get anywhere with him?” A deep voice asked from the darkness.

Hunter faced the darkness, her hand on her pistol. A river of blood ran down to her boots and she looked up at the two officers laying dead on the floor.

“What the fuck do you want Red?” Hunter growled.

“I came to offer you a deal. I can make you the Second, even the Head of the Black family. If you do something for me.”

“What do I have to do,” Hunter’s skin crawled.

“You’ll see. In the meantime, keep your men and Blue’s men away from my territory.”

[farbe-town]

How to hide a Birdy?

Cal, Dustin and Azrael sat around the small table in Dustin’s hideout. A dim light swung above them, barely lighting their sun-bleached table. Azrael’s cheeks were puffed up as he stuffed melted ice cream into his mouth. Cal played with the device Azrael had bought, pulling its strings and watching the little figure – it looked like a dumpster robot – wiggle with odd strings. Dustin stared at the two completely at home in his hideout.

“Why is the kid out Cal?”

Cal hummed and twisted the little figure around.

“Cal!” Dustin slammed his hand on the table and Azrael flinched, dropping his spoon and covering his face.

“Don’t scare the baby,” Cal placed the figure down and reached over to Azrael. They stroked the little kid’s hair until he slowly lowered his hands. “You are a brute sometimes.”

“See here Cal. If he is out of his room and Hunter finds out, she’ll be skinning both you and be alive. Unlike you, I plan to retire.”

“Hush, little one.”

“Talking to you is useless. I’m calling Hunter.” Dustin pulled his phone from his pocket.

“There is a new leader of the Pink family.”

“Yes, I heard. Hunter told me.”

Cal turned to Dustin, their eyes swam in the dark light and it made Dustin’s skin crawl.

“He knows who it is?”

“Eu não posso dizer!” Azrael covered his ears.

Dustin’s hand clenched around his phone. “You know too, don’t you?”

Cal didn’t turn from Azrael. “He does, but he didn’t find out by will. Their new leader hacked his system and threatened him. I went to the other Death Deities and apparently, the new head did the same to them too.”

“Death Deities?”

“Azrael’s siblings? How little do you know?”

“I’ve never cared about a brat I don’t deal with. What does any of this have to do with me anyway?”

Cal got quiet. Dustin could see the wheels turning in the spider’s mind. For a master of disguise and manipulation, they could never manipulate their own family.

“Hunter will force Azrael to tell her who the new head is, but if he does, the head will kill him. I need you to help me, please. I need to hide him.”

Dustin’s teeth grated against each other. No one helped each other in their family. It was a silent rule that everyone followed. Get to the top, destroy the bottom, that’s their motto.

“Where?... No”

They stood in front of an old door; the smell of clean air contrasted the dread pooling in Dustin’s stomach.

“Why her?”

Cal knocked on the ancient wooden door and a woman, in her thirties opened the door with a grimace. Her short hair was mushed into a mess and her dead eyes roamed over them. She wore a tight latex dress and a single scarf around her neck.

“Who are you?” She croaked out, pointing to Dustin.

“They are Dustin and Azrael.”

The woman’s eyes widen and she slammed the door shut. Cal quickly forced their foot into the door, pushing it back open.

“Go away! I don’t want to see them!”

“You have no choice, Cassidy!”

Cal forced the door open, sending the woman falling on her back. She ran deeper into the house and hid behind a couch.

“Please! Mrs Black will kill my babies!”

“She won’t know,” Cal reassured. “Please, just for two nights. I only need to convince Hunter.”

Cassidy looked at Cal, her eyes wide and her hands trembling. “How can I trust you?”

Cal sighed, “I am Cal Black. Nicknamed Spider, ranked sixth in the Black family. There now you know my nickname and my rank. I am even wearing the black scarf Mrs Black makes us wear.”

Cassidy touched the scarf around her neck. “And him?”

Dustin grimaced, but Cal shoved at him. “Ow! Fine, I am Dustin Chaisson. Nicknamed Metal, I’m ranked fifth in the Black family. Happy?”

Cassidy nodded, “And him?” Cal’s lips twisted into a sickly grin as they placed an arm around Azrael. “This is Azrael Black. He is the seventh in the family and the second of the Death Deities. His nickname… is Raven.”

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Farbe (@mininini2002)

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[farbe-town]

Bad memories

Dustin leaned with his head back against one of the crates. Water dripped from his wet hair onto the concrete floor. Above him swung a single lightbulb, illuminating the abandoned basement. The stench of gunpowder and metal filled the entire room.

“Oh, Dusty baby, is this where you store your weapons?”

“Cal,” Dustin greeted.

“You know Little Miss Black is searching for her arms,” Cal’s heel clicked against the concrete as they stalked closer to Dustin. “Aren’t you going to help?”

Dustin met Cal’s cold eyes and they sighed, “You are much less fun to tease after you meet him.”

Cal sat down next to Dustin, causing him to pull the photo in hand away from them.

“You cannot hide your pain, baby.”

Dustin grated his teeth together. He wanted to scream at Cal, to get the bloody spider out of his sight. But even the presence of a cold being was better than none.

“I went to greet him,” Dustin’s throat was dry. “But he threw a book at me. He cursed my existence and reminded me why we are not alike.”

He curled his knees up to his chest and stared at the picture of him and Steel. They were both dressed in their Sunday best and honey sweet smiles.

“It hurts.”

Cal placed a warm hand on Dustin’s should and pulled his head closer to their chest. Dustin listened to Cal’s heartbeat as they ran their long nails through Dustin’s hair.

“Did you take a shower here baby? Cause if so, you know Little Miss Black doesn’t like it if we hang out at other hideaways for too long.”

“Who else is here?” Dustin cut them off.

From the corner of the room, a small figure stepped into the light. Dustin growled and pushed Cal away from him.

“You bought Azrael?”

Cal stood up from their place, their long limbs looked like spider legs in the low light. They wrapped their arms around Azrael and grinned at Dustin. The little boy’s icy cold eyes always made his skin itch. His hands were behind his back and Dustin had no doubt he was playing with a small electronic device.

“I can’t leave my baby.”

“You’re a bad influence on the child. How you got Hunter to agree to you taking him, is beyond me.”

Cal placed their finger against their nose, “I have my ways. But can the baby rest here? I know I’m not allowed to remove him from his room, but it was suffocating him.”

“His room was designed to allow him the best comfort. Don’t take him out as you please!”

Cal rolled their eyes, “Come on Dusty. Let the baby get ice cream and we can go home.”

With a loud groan, Dustin stood up from his place and jammed the picture into his pocket.

“Don’t go through my fridge,” was all he said as he walked past Cal and up the stairs.

[farbe-town]

What's the game plan?

Click.

In goes the magazine.

He pushes his thumb out and the slide goes down.

Dustin raises the gun to his target.

Bang!

Outside the warehouse is Hunter. She doesn’t talk much when it’s just the two of them. It’s a silence both prefer. They make their way to a sleek black Mercedes, Hunter climbs in the driver’s seat and Dustin is in the passenger seat.

As they drive away from the warehouse, a flood of police cars flashing blue and red pool in behind them. Hunter spares a look into her rear-view mirror but doesn’t say a word. Neither does Dustin as he sees a man with red hair – a man that fuels the fire of hate inside him.

Hunter stops the car outside a small café with the name Cuppa Coffee written in cursive on the board outside. It's the only café to open at 5 in the morning and the treats there are guilty pleasures for most families.

Once more, it is silent as they walk in and people's eyes follow them as they sit inside a small booth. Granted, it would be odd to most people if two tall figures, dressed in black suits and bruises, come into a café where students mainly inhabit.

“Have you heard the rumour?” Hunter’s legs fall open as she sits down, her one arm resting over the couch’s backside.

“Yes,” Dustin sits with his back straight and his hands resting on his thighs. "This place's donuts are the best, but the cream is made with corn starch and not real cream."

Hunter’s lips twitched, “No... The one, about our lovely Mr Pink, who has seen the end.” She placed two fingers against her skull and pretended to shoot herself. “He and his wife.”

“Is that why there is a family meeting and a Rainbow Hall meeting?”

“You got that right. But Mrs Black is saying they are having a meeting because they believe the Brown and Green families should collide. I bet she's scared the family would start flipping out like did a few years ago.”

“But isn't that why we have the Death Deities in the first place?”

“Fuck if I know. I bet there is a war brewing between the families and the Blacks are not the most loyal fuckers…”

A group of college students stumble into the café. All of them are bones and flesh, with thinning hair stuck to their skulls. The woman leading their little posse goes up to the waiter behind the counter. The poor boy - hiding behind his glasses – tries to ask for the woman’s order, but the woman snaps and reaches over to the waiter, grabbing him by his shirt and forcing him closer.

The woman whispers something in his ear and the waiter quickly tries pushing her off, crying ‘I don’t do that!’ and ‘It’s illegal!’

Dustin watches the scene unfold until Hunter grinned. It was never good when she grinned.

“See their hands?”

Dustin narrows his eyes to see. All over the group’s hands are burn marks, like blotches of acid were dripped onto their knuckles.

“They are trying to look like they are in the Pink family. Fucking posers. Clear the mood, won't you.”

With a sigh, Dustin takes out his handgun and fires two shots into the roof. Screams fill the café, and the gang of druggies are sent running out into the street. The waiter turns to Dustin with a pale face and his glasses hanging loose over his nose.

From the backdoors, Thomas comes running out. The waiter tries to explain his part, but Thomas marches over to Dustin and Hunter’s table.

“Grease,” he greets Hunter, “and Metal.”

Dustin gives him a small wave with his handgun.

“Put. That. Away.”

Dustin does as Thomas orders and sits a little more upright in front of the café’s owner.

“I am aware that you both are… different people. But for the sake of my café, my sanity, and the safety of others. Please do not shoot in my café.” Thomas sighs and runs his hand through his blond locks. “But thank you. They have been messing around here since a few days ago. I don’t know what going on with your families, but please try to keep the peace. We cannot have Farbe in ruins… not again.”

Hunter and Dustin both give a slight bow to apologise, and Thomas orders the waiter to bring them both an Americano, black.

After a few minutes, the waiter brings them their coffees and they are off.

“You think they were trying to stir up something?”

Dustin looks to Hunter. He never knows what to say when she asks him stuff like that.

“Those fucking Pinks. They are going to cause a lot of chaos. And now without a Head, they are acting out.”

Dustin grins at the image in his head, “Like chickens.”

Hunter laughs, “Headless fucking chickens. Yes! Let’s hope they fall soon. I have a few friends who would be happy with a new family to own. But for now, let's go to our little spider. Their web might be useful.”

"Why not Johnny?" Dustin quickly frowns at his own words. "Never mind... I don't want to work with him more than I need to."

"I couldn't agree more," Hunter says as she clicks the key into the ignition.

[farbe-town]

Welcome to Third place

Hunter stood in her mirror with her chest bare from her shower as she fixed her braids. She ran her hand over her shaved sides and grinned at the tribal tattoos. They were a gift from Lilith. A sign she was the strongest the Black Family had to offer.

Hunter took out one bobby pin from between her lips and pushed it into her hair.

She was destined to be the Second of the family… a true symbol of strength for the Blacks, but who got the position?

A snot-nosed brat who barely knew how to run his studies.

Hunter slammed her hands onto her dresser, causing a picture frame to fall over. She picked it up and there within the wooden border, was a snapshot of her and Lilith.

It was taken as a memento to honour Hunter joining the Black family. Back then, she barely had her chiselled physic or the constant smell of grease that has become infused into her body. Those were simpler times when all she had to do was pretend to be Damian’s bodyguard as he played in the garden and parks. Her responsibilities extended to only her ensuring the little brat got home alive and in one piece.

But times change.

With each year she grew, so did her role in the family. Before she even knew it, she wasn’t holding toy guns anymore. Instead, she had shot her first victim three years after joining the family – best twenty-first in her opinion.

It didn’t stop. She gathered underlings, ran her gangs and finally, just as she was ready to become the Second. Her title as ‘the strongest within the Black family’ was firmly secured.

Yet, Lilith chose Damian.

With the upcoming meeting, it was more adamant than ever that she was just the Third, the muscle.

She loved the family and will protect them with her life. But there was a thrill in commanding weaklings.

There was a knock on Lilith’s door.

“Ma’am, I am here to clean your room,” a male voice croaked out.

“I know it’s you, Johnny.”

A man, tall and slender with long light-brown hair, strutted into her room. As he combed through his oily locks, Hunter was reminded of how disgusting, but fitting his family name was. His eyes widened at Hunter’s exposed chest, but he only stuck his tongue out as Hunter rose her fist.

“I warned you,” another man, this one twice the length of Johnny, stepped into the room. He turned her gaze to the ceiling upon seeing Hunter’s body. Dustin was an ex-marine that made you fear what he had brewing behind those eyes of him. “Hunter knows. I’ve tried it before too.”

In truth, there was not much behind them.

“Oh, will you hurry up!” Cal shouted from the doorway.

Cal… Hunter wished she knew more about them, but they were more of a mystery than half the people inside the Black family. They had secrets that Hunter almost feared to unearth.

“Is he with you?” Hunter asked Cal.

Two big doe eyes peeked out from the doorframe where Cal was standing but quickly dived back down into the hall.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

Hunter threw on her blazer that barely covered her exposed upper body. She pushed passed the men inside her room and passed Cal in the doorway. Azrael stared up at Hunter with his big doe eyes, his hands clutching around a laptop.

“Move.”

Azrael stamped away, Cal quickly catching him and pulling him along. The five marched down the hallway of the Black family. Hunter in front, Dustin, and Johnny behind her, with Cal and Azrael behind them. They walked with strong strides through the halls to the garage.

Hunter threw her leg over her bike, while the rest climbed into one of the black Mercedes parked in the garage.

She may be the Third…

Hunter’s motorbike roared to life, and she spend out of the garage once the doors opened. The black Mercedes followed behind her.

… But to her crew, she was the first.

[farbe-town]

Let's be Second

“Where is the Head?” Hunter’s voice was deep and echoed through the library.

Damian pushed his glasses higher up his nose. He licked the tip of his finger and leisurely turned the page.

“Drunk,” he commented.

“Drunk! Then why the fuck didn’t you take her to her room! You are the Second! You have to take care of the Head-”

“And the rest of the family under any circumstance where the Head cannot perform to the best of their ability,” Damian closed the book and ran his hand over the smooth spine. “I am aware of the regulations and responsibilities of a Second.”

“Then why the fuck isn’t she in her bed?”

Damian placed the book on the small coffee table and took his glass of red Cape wine. He spun it in his glass before inhaling the bitter aroma.

Hunter slammed her fist into the door frame and stomped out of the room.

“Useless fuck,” she whispered.

Damian stared at the grandfather clock next to the door. The wavy hands showed that it was far past midnight, while constant tick resonated over the room and drowned out the insecurities Damian didn’t want Hunter to see. She was a ruthless enemy, yet an unbearable ally.

Twelve days. Then everything would change. He would have to put on his best smile and ignore the screaming voice inside him telling him every word he’s uttering is a lie. Twelve days. Then there is no going back. Everyone will expect more from him. Johan would beg him to leave.

There were no footsteps to warn Damian as the library door slammed against the wall.

Damian rubbed his eyes under his glasses and stared at Hunter. Her eyes had a faint twitch and strands of white hair were sticking out of her tight braid. She always looked like a Viking warrior to Damian.

“We have a meeting in twelve days? In Rainbow Hall…”

“She informed you,” Damian down the rest of his wine. “Then it is official Second. I shall be the next Second. My condolences. I did not intend to take your position.”

“Congratulations,” Hunter smiled.

Damian’s eyes widened and he gripped his wine glass tighter. Inside Hunter’s eyes was a rage that made Damian’s skin itch.

“I can’t wait to work with you. But fuck up once. And I’m putting your head on a stake!” Hunter slammed the door so hard, that the hinges rattled.

He waited until the stomping footsteps disappeared down the mansion’s hallway.

“I’m fucked,” Damian whispered.

25 July 2022 - 03:32

[farbe-town]

Count down ... 12

24 July 2022 - 22:50

The bookshelves on either side greeted Lilith as she entered her office and sat behind her desk. Her gloved fingers swiped over the polished wood; it was spotless – as she ordered.

Lilith fell into her leather chair, threw her head back and released an aching sigh that had been boiling inside her chest. The fibre cushions had been an excellent choice. Her legs were killing her and her champagne dress that “grabbed men’s eyes” was more annoying than breath-taking at that moment.

The feathered scarf around her shoulders was the first thing to come off as she threw it into the corner of her study. Her black pumps were next. She kicked them off and left them in the darkness under her desk. Lilith pulled her hair tie loose and ran her hands through her white hair searching for any bobby pins. Every pin she took off, was another layer of Lilith Black, that she took off until all that remained was Lilly. 

Lilith slid off her silk gloves and caressed a glittering ring on her finger. It was a cheap arcade ring with little LED lights that flickered after pressing the button on the side. The ring sat too tight on her finger, but she couldn’t face a day without it. She kissed the piece of plastic and inhaled the comforting aroma. It smelled like cheap candy and sweat; like countless nights spend hiding in questionable playgrounds with a girl who held the world in her eyes. A girl, who called her ‘Lilly’.

“Would I find you in that park? Would you play with me on the swings again? Am I even your Lily anymore?”

There was a knock at the opened door. A figure, dressed in formal attire stood rigidly in the doorframe.

“If you are drunk, please retire to your quarters. It displeases me to carry you,” the figure spoke in a monotonous voice.

Lilith’s eyes narrowed and her son’s shoulders pushed back – like a dog rearing his ears. They stared at each other in silence. The soft smile that covered Lilith’s lips disappeared and was replaced with a terrible sneer.

  “Be glad I kept you. Your death would have been perfect revenge. Now, before you leave, remember. There is a meeting in twelve days at the Rainbow Hall. You’re the new Number Two. I expect you to act like it.”

Her son said nothing.

“Leave.”

The young man gave a short bow and retreated into the hallway, the door closing on Lilith once more.

[farbe-town]

The Black Family is the second richest family in Farbe. The Head of the Family is Lilith Black and she has gained a reputation for being a ruthless Family Head. Enjoy the shorts of this family and learn more about the characters that dwell within.

[farbe-town]

Welcome to Farbe, where the country is run by twelve main families. The first family is the Black family...