II. Strike Two

After the conversation about Blue and his thick skin had ended, Lucky and Hawks turned on the T.V. and wanted to play a racing video game; the girls sat on the couch and gossiped. The boys were loud and running around the room as Lucky kept beating Hawks at the game. Hawks accused Lucky of cheating, but his best friend laughed. Lily told Ivory how she and Harley joined the Blue Dragons.

Lily and Harley's father was a gang member, but not for the Blue Dragons, and one day he got killed. The death deeply affected their mother, who committed suicide. Harley was eighteen at the time and tried to find a full-time job; Lily was thirteen. One day, Lily felt that someone had happened, and Harley came home with Blue, and he introduced himself. Lily thinks that Harley and Blue crossed paths through fate, but there wasn't much to say about the encounter. Lily was happy she had the basics for survival.

"I'm sorry, Lily."

"It doesn't matter. Harley and our mother never got along."

"Is Harley nice?" Ivory asked.

Lily laughed, "No, in high school, she fought some girl and slashed her face. Harley always had anger issues, and our parents didn't care enough to help her. Well, I guess her aggression got her somewhere."

Ivory felt nervous.

"Ivory, she likes you; Harley would never hurt you. Blue doesn't need a reason to hurt you; Harley does need a reason."

Spike and Harley made their way into the lounge and the three young gang members gave the older members their undivided attention.

"Blue wants you three to clean up and get to bed," Spike said.

"Three?" Lily asked, confused.

"Blue needs Ivory," Harley said with crossed arms.

Hawks and Ivory sent each other quiet glances. Ivory figured it was about the conversation she and Hawks overheard earlier. The four young members all said, "good night" and Ivory followed Harley upstairs. Harley opened Blue's office door to see Blue at his desk; he narrowed his eyes at Ivory, who wondered what she could have done this time. Harley left the room, and it was Ivory against the Blue Dragon's Leader.

Blue placed something in front of Ivory. "What's this, Ivory?"

Ivory stared at the paper and gasped; it was her High School Diploma. She had forgotten that she sent it to Swindle H so that Blue couldn't get his hands on it. Well, Blue got his hands on her diploma.

"That's my high school diploma. I wanted to finish school just in case I need a new job in the future."

Blue cackled. "Oh yeah, sweetheart? What job would that be?"

"I don't know, boss, maybe I won't be in the gang later in life, or something might happen. I didn't mean anything by it. I wasn't trying to betray you. I believe that everyone should have their diploma."

"I don't believe I've made myself clear," Blue said, "You don't need this silly piece of paper." Ivory sent him a confused look. "Your diploma is useless because you'll never leave the gang."

"I know, Boss, but I was close to finishing it; I wanted to finish it. I also believe that everyone should have their diploma."

Blue leaned closely to Ivory. "So, you think you'll leave?"

"I don't know."

Ivory felt like Blue was interrogating her. Ivory never sensed she had ever insulted Blue, but this time she believed that she had insulted him.

"You're a silly girl; you don't know anything about the real world, do you?"

Ivory sneered at Blue, who stood up holding her diploma.

"Blue, what are you doing?"

"After Swindle H pulled her little scheme, I had Lily and Honor search her emails, and they found this. Ivory, the only way you will ever leave my side is if you die."

Ivory felt her eyes water, and her throat tightened. "Blue, how could you say that? I didn't mean anything by it; I'm sorry if I hurt you."

"Hurt me?" Blue smirked, "Ivory, you could never hurt me. You're a sensitive soul; you'd never do anything terrible on purpose. Unfortunately, I'd do a terrible thing on purpose."

Blue held up her diploma as Ivory tried grabbing it. Ivory failed as Blue held her back and shoved her diploma through a paper shredder. Ivory was so shocked she wasn't sure of what she should do. Ivory felt like Blue was this huge school yard bully that was preying on a much smaller person. Ivory had never been in a situation like this before; she was never a target for anything, so she thought. The predicament paralyzed her. Ivory feared that Blue would kill her or even beat her like he had injured Swindle H.

Blue crossed his arms and pointed to his desk drawer, "Open that." Ivory opened the drawer and saw a file inside. "Take the folder out," Blue said.

Ivory took the file and handed it to Blue. Blue opened it, and Ivory gasped, seeing that the file held all her private information and photos. Ivory wondered where Blue had gotten that information, and how come she didn't know about the file.

"Where did you get that?" Ivory asked, creeped out.

She observed the reliable information and the photos of her.

"I had Honor and Lily hack into Ms. Campbell's computer a while ago," Blue replied nonchalantly.

Blue then closed the file and placed it through the shredder. Ivory saw the papers shred into pieces, and she wept.

Blue grabbed her shirt and leaned near her ear, "This is your second warning, Princess. Do you want a third strike?" She shook her head. Blue held her to his chest and wrapped his arms around her. "Now, if anyone believes Viper's stupid story, they'll find nothing on you," He grabbed her head and leaned closer to her ear; Ivory started to shake, "Honor and Lily have succeeded in deleting your track history and encrypted your files; only I have access. So, there, now you cannot leave unless you die."

Ivory started to cry. She couldn't help herself. It was like everyone hated her like everyone was against her. Ivory wasn't sure of what she should do. Ivory wondered how could Lily have done that to her? Ivor felt betrayed, how could Lily act like she liked Ivory and then suddenly, somehow erase her name and information from the internet? Now, no one would ever find her. Ivory was hurt, she was angry, she could kill Lily. Ivory didn't know who Honor was, but she surely didn't like Honor. She could never like Honor.

"Why are you crying? You did this to yourself, Ivory; your ambition will get you killed. Go to bed," Blue warned.

Ivory ran out of his office.

Blue scoffed and shook his head. "Ivory's so gullible; she's oblivious to why I need her."

Harley entered his office. "Why did you make her cry? Goodness, Blue, it's not that big of a deal."

"Stop it, Harley," Blue said.

"Don't you think you were a bit harsh?"

"Maybe, but she'll get over it."

Harley shook her head.

"I'm getting tired, see you tomorrow."

Harley nodded, said goodnight, and left.

Blue entered his bedroom and walked over to his dresser drawer. He opened the top one that was filled with miscellaneous items and took out a glass bottle with a black substance inside. The bottle was half-full, and he smirked while observing the bottle. He opened a narrow door and placed the bottle into a small bag. He figured he could use the black substance tomorrow. Blue peered down the staircase, which led to the dark basement. He heard a soft moan. Blue walked down the small staircase and closed the basement door, making sure that he couldn't hear any noise. Blue then closed his bedroom door, got ready for bed, and turned off his lights. All was ebony and silent.