II. Lesson Learned

After four hours of shots, dancing, grinding, kissing, and a break, Ivory's shift was over. She kissed three men and danced on one. Some of the men even told her their relationship problems. Ivory guessed that sometimes men come so that the strippers listen to their womanly problems — some of them were extreme. When the men got a kiss or a dance, they felt better. Then, there were the perverted and disgusting ones. Men were something else; that's all Ivory could say.

Ivory felt a little tipsy, but that didn't bother her.

"Thanks, Rebecca."

"Oh, anytime," Rebecca said.

The girls made their way to the staff bathroom. Ivory noted that some girls were snorting cocaine. Ivory knew that if she pulled anything else, Blue would kill her. Ivory wasn't going to do anything that she felt would get her into trouble, again.

"You weren't half bad."

"Well, I don't want Blue to kill me," Ivory replied.

Rebecca laughed and handed her a Ziploc bag that held white powder. "Do you want some?"

"Oh, I'm already in enough trouble with Blue; I'm not too sure that'll work."

"Right, I forgot."

Ivory watched Rebecca prep her cocaine and then snort it. Rebecca's eyes dilated, and she started to laugh. "You should eat something before you leave. You had a good amount to drink."

"I'll take your word," Ivory said and made her way over to the bar. She saw a waitress, looked at the menu, and asked for chicken nuggets and fries. As she ate her food, Harley entered the building.

"Ivory," Harley made her way over, "I see you're occupied."

"Rebecca suggested that I eat before leaving," Ivory said, giggling. She felt high; all her problems no longer existed. To Ivory, everything was funny and happy.

Harley narrowed her eyes, "How much did you drink?"

"Seven or eight shots, maybe? I'm not too sure."

Harley sighed. "Do I have to carry you out, Ivory?"

"No, I'm okay," Ivory promised.

Ivory felt like she gained an extra ten pounds because of the alcohol.

"She can walk," the waitress said. "She's okay."

"How much will the food cost?"

"Don't worry, just get her out of here. It'll get rowdy soon."

Harley drove Ivory back to the base, and Ivory was happy that her punishment was over. Ivory's forehead felt heavy, and she decided that a small nap would make her feel better. She closed her eyes and felt peaceful, but then something made itself known to her. She saw Swindle H, all bloody and missing a limb; she was stuck in a room. Swindle H was moaning and gurgling, she wasn't crying. Swindle H appeared to be disassociating. Ivory tried opening her eyes, but they wouldn't budge. That's when she realized that she wasn't dreaming nor imagining things. Swindle H was sending her a vision somehow. She sensed that Swindle H was alive, so maybe it was Roxie sending her this.

Swindle H looked near something, and her eyes widened. She started to shout, and the vision ended. Ivory opened her eyes, seeing that she was in the garage. Now she understands why Blue sent Harley to bring her back. Ivory has never dreamt of nor fantasized seeing someone the way she had seen Swindle H; the vision had to be real. She wondered how she could see such a thing.

Ivory entered her bedroom and took her outfit off. Ivory felt immense relief removing the clothing. She certainly learned that Blue will always find out when someone is sneaking around and has things that will get them into trouble. Ivory thought that being in a gang was part of her purpose. She felt that her life would revolve around the Blue Dragons, but she had no idea why. She remembered what Roxie had said earlier but couldn't interpret what the older woman meant. Ivory couldn't sense that Blue wanted her dead; Ivory guessed it was something more sinister.

Could there be anything more sinister than murder? Ivory thought.

Ivory couldn't remove the image of Swindle H. That had to be the most sinister thing she had ever seen. The whole thing freaked her out. Ivory couldn't put together how someone could be so heartless and cut up a person. Ivory also couldn't figure out why Swindle H was conniving if she knew the extreme punishments.

"Ivory," a voice said. She looked to see Blue closing her door. "How was the strip club?"

Ivory wasn't too sure how she should answer the question.

"Be honest. I love honesty."

"I hated it. I won't betray you again, boss. I'm sorry," Ivory said.

She felt uncomfortable around him, especially after what had happened a couple of weeks prior and the vision that Swindle H had sent her way.

Blue was close to her body. "I hope you learned something."

She nodded, avoiding his gaze "Yes, boss."

"Remember, your next punishment won't be so generous."

"I understand."

"Were you snorting cocaine?" Blue asked. "I can smell it on you."

"Oh, no. Rebecca snorted some in the bathroom after my shift."

Blue said nothing else.

Ivory looked at Blue again, noticing the way he stared at her. Blue leered at her, like always, but there was intention and emotion behind his gaze. Ivory was nervous that something would take place, that Blue would hold her down again. Ivory felt that Blue would kiss her, but she wasn't too sure why he would. Blue said nothing, walked away and closed the door. Ivory was all alone.

Ivory sighed in relief but stared at her vent. Now, she felt that gut-wrenching feeling. She moved closer, but it felt like someone had stabbed her in the abdomen; she had begun feeling sick. She stepped away from the vent and the feeling went away. Swindle H had to have been murdered; there was no way she was alive. She felt something in the room, and it didn't feel like Roxie. She looked around the room but couldn't see anything. Ivory wondered why the vents were so creepy.