The Price of Freedom

The Bar code Tattoo is an enticing book that plays on controversial views of mass control, genetic manipulation, and authoritarianism. The heroine, young Miss. Kayla Reed is trapped in an alternate future, where people are manipulated and controlled by use of bar code tattoos on their wrists. Kayla and her fellow activists live in Putnam, New York in the year 2025. The setting in the novel rarely stays the same, as Kayla travels around so much as to be rid of her past and while also trying to find her future. Kayla is just an artistic young woman, with an aptitude for psychic visions and a caring persona, trapped in a downward spiral of unfortunate events. Along with her friend Mfumbe, a smart and friendly young man, they together face hardships no one should ever have to go through no matter what their age. Through companionship and many difficult ordeals, Kayla and Mfumbe discover the price of freedom and what it means to love.

A Not Too Bright Future

Kayla Reed is a sixteen year old high school student with dreams of becoming an artist. Unfortunately, her dreams have been shattered before they they even had a chance. While discussing the matters at hand with her counsellor, Kayla's mind begins to drift as she notices a bar code tattoo on her counsellor's wrist. Though the norm at the time, Kayla doesn't accept the idea of being branded like an animal. This bar code tattoo, the new trend of the 21st century is meant to replace all personal information and files. It becomes your credit card, your driver's licence, your birth certificate, your entire identity.
Distraught at the idea of not being accepted to an art school because of bad computer grades, Kayla trudges home where she is greeted by her hysterical mother. A terrible tragedy has just befallen Kayla and her mother, and the future does not look too bright for either of them.

Investigation

FBI Researcher Joseph Reed, 47, died on Monday, March 16 2025, of self-inflicted wounds.

Kayla stands in her washroom, desperately trying to rid her bathtub of the red splotches caused by her father's suicide. Her mother, completely unnerved by the event had taken to drinking as a way to cope and finds herself pushing further and further from her daughter. Mrs. Reed had developed the daily habit of viciously scrubbing her wrist as if in an attempt to free herself of the bar code tattoo. But what is her purpose in doing this? And why does she keep repeating that it was the bar code tattoo that killed her husband? Weakened by recent events, Kayla turns to her neighbor Gene for advice. Gene works for Global-1, the international affliction of corporations and billionaires that began popularizing the bar code tattoo. Wanting to know more about the bar code tattoo and why her mother kept talking as if it was evil, Kayla questioned Gene. Though she is seeking answers, Kayla only discovers more questions on her search for the truth.

Conformity vs. Individuality

Kayla Reed's seventeenth birthday has arrived, and with it the mystery of the bar code tattoo. With pressure from both sides, Kayla is still unsure of whether or not to go through with the transformation. She is even more uncertain after a chance meeting with Mfume who directed her towards a magazine called "DeCode" which is entirely against the bar code tattoo. She is also unquestionably worried about her mother's current state, now that she has added drugs to her drinking regime.

"This morning, postal worker Gene Drake, 28, was lethally gunned down by Global-1 security guards who opened fir after Mr. Drake destroyed equipment and threatened customers in the Putnam Central Post Office. Mr. Drake was employed at the post office where he recently began administering the bar code tattoo."

What had spun Gene Drake over the edge? Kayla knows he had been tightly wrapped as of late, but was a nice and friendly guy, someone she had enjoyed talking to. Just what had forced him to take these seemingly insane actions? Finally Kayla begins to break down, sobbing for the loss of her father and now for her friend Gene. With the loss of her mother's nursing job, Kayla goes on a job hunt of her own, but every place turned her down but one. Kayla feels as if she is in a continuing downward spiral, the cause of which you can only guess. Feeling sorry for herself, Kayla wanders the clubbing area of town when she hears forbidding footsteps behind her, and begins to run.

DeCode

Kayla's decision not to get the bar code tattoo is final, and so is her decision to join DeCode, the youth group headed by Senator Dave Young which subtly fights against the bar code tattoo. In an abandoned warehouse, Kayla meets each of the group members; cute Zekeal, sweet Mfume, feisty Nedra, genius Allyson, and adventurous August. During a trip with a virtual reality helmet, Kayla meets Eutonah, who gives her a mysterious message. As Kayla gets to know more about the DeCode movement and Global-1, she begins to realize that a storm may be brewing, and that the simple decision to not get a bar code tattoo on her seventeenth birthday may very well mean the end of life as she knows it.

A Lost Cause

Kayla's worst nightmare has just come true. The bar code tattoo is now required by law. The code, which had been required all over Europe and Asia had already began to permanently dig its hooks into American society. Later that day, Kayla discovers her mother reading forbidden government files on their computer, and makes a discovery that will forever shape how she views the world around her. A cold realization dawns upon Kayla as she discovers the truth behind the bar code tattoo. She quickly goes over to meet with Zekeal, her boyfriend and leader of her DeCode group. Kayla finally grasps the knowledge that the situation may be out of her hands, but is still determined to fight for what she believes is right. But before the day is done, another unexpected event happens, one of Kayla's fellow DeCode members betrayed them and all the group is quickly losing hope.

Of Loyalty and Flames

After Nedra's betrayal, questions are raised about the loyalty of Zekeal. After the recent turn of events, both the shutting down of DeCode websites and the now enforced bar code, the group members are beginning to have insecurities about the legalities of what they're doing. Kayla tries to meet with Eutonah, but all she receives were another cryptic message. Disheartened and bereaved, Kayla goes off to find Zekeal, but at his apartment she learns of information she never wanted to learn and is ultimately hurt in a way that she never expected. Kayla hurries home to discover her mother in the midst of making a horrendous faux pas. The wheels of fate have begun turning once again leaving Kayla in the hospital nearly dead after a horrible accident. But the worst is not over yet. The nurse brings news that will leave Kayla feeling more alone than she has ever felt in her life.

Fugitive

After a life-altering fire nearly claimed her life, Kayla uses the last of her strength to escape from the hospital turned prison where only too soon they going to take her freedom away from her. Stumbling around, Kayla makes her way to an all-night diner where she meets Katie, a middle-aged woman who is also un-coded. Through Katie, Kayla learns more on the bar code situation and also that she herself is a wanted fugitive. Dreading the future, Kayla hurries on her way to meet up with her friends in the Adirondack Mountains, home to the resistance groups. An unfortunate accident leads the Global-Officers straight to her, and looking for a quick chance to escape, Kayla hops in the back seat of an old couple's car. How much longer can she keep running from both her past and the law?

Lost

Meeting Toz and Mava has definitely been the highlight of Kayla's week. Together, they head for the Canadian border where bar codes are not required and where they can begin life anew. Kayla is getting anxious about arriving at the Adirondack Mountains in time, while Toz and Mava are primarily concerned about her health and welfare. Just when the fugitive group feels as if everything will be alright, the Global-Officers pick up their trail. Taking an enormous risk, Toz hits the gas attempting to get away, but it all ends in disaster. Bloodstained and crying, Kayla retreats into a nearby forest where she remarkably smells food cooking. venturing further into the wooded area, Kayla comes across a small settlement, and meets up with someone she thought she would never see again.

A Thin line Between Love and Hate

Kayla is overjoyed when she is reunited with Mfumbe. Their happiness is cut short, however, when the encampment is swarmed by Global-Officers. Kayla and Mfumbe decide to go on with the original plan to meet at the Adirondack Mountains, where the resistance groups are mainly located. Out of the action for so long, Kayla learns alarming information about what the government is planning the loss of their major political hope. Then disaster strikes, separating Mfumbe from Kayla once again and Kayla resumes her journey all alone. Nearly delirious with fever, Kayla finally arrives at her destination and at last meets face-to-face with the mysterious Eutonah. But all is not well. For who else is there to bar her way but Zekeal, Kayla's former love and the man who sold her out to the enemy.

New Beginnings

In this place of solitude, Kayla finally understands the true meaning of peace and freedom. She learns of many things that she never before thought could happen, of change, of evolution. Through the teachings of Eutonah, Kayla ultimately learned her true potential and what she can accomplish if she just sets her mind to it. An unfortunate accident however has shortened Kayla's happiness at the abandoned ski resort where the resistance group was located and before they can move, the enemy came to them. In the battle that ensues, Kayla is reunited with her love Mfumbe, and barely clinging to life is left face-to-face with Zekeal. Using the last of her strength, Kayla emerges alive, but not without a terrible price to pay.