I. Dead Prostitute

Hawks parked his car and ran inside the base. He ran into the living room to see Blue sitting at the table on his laptop, Red looking over his shoulder, and Ivory and Lucky sitting near Blue. The four all looked up, seeing that Hawks was angry.

"Where'd Fox go? He left in a hurry," Red said with crossed arms.

Hawks glared at Red as he panted, trying to catch his breath. "He's going to talk to Roxie. She took Viper to the police station."

Blue looked up from his laptop, eyes narrowed. Ivory felt her heart race and face heat up. Lucky noticed her reaction and slightly pushed her behind him, knowing that she couldn't fight Blue and Red. Blue pushed his chair back. His muscles clenched, and Ivory began to feel nervous.

Hawks shook his head, fear visible on his face.

"So, you just let her go?" Blue asked in a voice range that didn't sound human. Ivory flinched as her ears began to ring.

Blue's deep voice echoed in her ears.

"No, I shot her in the back, but she was too close to the station. Viper was able to go inside the station. Viper's snitching."

"Was Roxie there?"

"Roxie was gone when I confronted Viper, but she helped."

Blue and Red turned to Ivory, who stayed behind Lucky. Lucky looked at the two in command. Blue quickly walked over to grab her with narrowed eyes, but Lucky grabbed the older man's arm as Ivory stayed in her place.

Blue's eyes darted toward the younger boy. He grabbed his arm and twisted it, making Lucky flinch and Ivory back up. "Don't touch me, Lucky!" Blue pulled him close, the two face-to-face with each other.

Lucky got out of the tight grip. "Blue... don't blame Ivory. It wasn't her fault. Viper hasn't spoken to her. If Ivory knew, Hawks and I would have told you."

Red was in the distance, his dark eyes on Ivory. He turned to Blue. "I say that we go to another base and deal with Ivory later. We need to leave now."

Ivory looked at Red, who smirked evilly at her. She felt nauseated but knew that Lucky would protect her. She's starting to regret being so mean to him.

Hawks stayed near the entrance, not getting involved, though he looked like he wanted to help; fear got the best of him.

Blue thought for a moment. "Press the button."

Ivory was confused but saw Red dart out of the room.

All of a sudden, an alarm went off; blue and red lights filled the dark base, showing the furniture, cabinets, table, and everything else in view...flick...flick...flick...flick—the room went from bright to dark every couple of seconds. The screeching of the alarm imitated a lady screaming; it was like being in a horror movie. Hawks disappeared as Lucky took Ivory's wrist, quickly trying to leave. Blue grabbed Ivory from the back of her shirt, pulling her back.

Lucky turned around to see Blue sneering at him, "Fight me again, Lucky."

"Blue, it wasn't her fault."

"Start packing," he sneered. He reached into his pocket, and a shiny object made Lucky's eye widen. He then ran off. Ivory felt her heart begin to pound as she looked down, seeing a pocket-knife. Blue looked down at Ivory and dragged her to her room. He slammed the door. "You have five minutes to pack."

She ran around her room, packed what she could, and needed. Ivory zipped up her small suitcase as her small-time frame ended. Blue took her bag in one hand and Ivory in another. The two exited through the backway as she saw gang members getting into their cars and driving off. Blue threw her suitcase into the back as Red called for him and handed him his own. Red drove off with the others.

Blue and Ivory were the only ones left.

Blue closed the trunk and stared down at Ivory, who was silent with nervousness. He got close to her. "Your friend was able to get away, but you won't."

"I didn't know — "

" — I'm well aware of your ignorance, but don't think following Viper's footsteps will get you anywhere. Get in the car."

She climbed to the back as he sped off. She curled up on the seat, wrapping her arms around her body while staring out the dark window — the blonde thought about Blue's threat to her never leaving.

Ivory was well-aware that leaving a gang would be difficult, but she knew that Blue had different motives. Blue's reasons for deeming her necessary were a mystery, but finding out the base's secrets would unmask the discovery.

***

Fox drove until he reached his destination. He illegally parked his car and barged into his base. Roxie, Birdie, and Swindle H stopped laughing about something and turned to look at him. The other prostitutes saw his face turn red, a vein sticking out, ready to pop at any second. They got up and went to leave, but Fox stopped them.

"Sit down!" he shouted. The girls all squealed and scurried to the couches, some fell onto the floor and stayed there. They didn't want Fox to hurt them.

He made his eyes to Roxie. "Hawks called me earlier."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"He told me what you did!" Fox shouted. Birdie and Swindle H looked at Roxie, wanting to know what was going on.

The prostitutes looked ready to wet themselves, but they were also curious about Fox's anger.

"What did she do?" Swindle H asked.

"You were followed tonight, Roxie," he said.

Roxie began to stutter. "I didn't mention you, Fox. I didn't go to the station! I simply dropped her off!"

There were gasps. Some of the girls looked shocked and afraid that she could do such a thing. A small number sent her quiet looks of aptness. The prostitutes admired and envied her courage.

Birdie and Swindle H knew that this wasn't their fight. Not wanting to intervene, they slowly moved to the side. Roxie stood by herself. In an instant, her two best friends turned against her, anything for the gang, anything for their lives.

"Roxie," Swindle said slowly, stepping up. "Roxie, what did you do?"

"Step back!" Fox screamed in her face. Swindle flinched but took his order. Working for Fox caused quick reflexes.

Fox turned to Roxie, "Do you realize the danger you put us in? You risked the gang's safety for some stupid girl! Why disprove your loyalty over some ungrateful orphan?"

"They don't belong, Fox! They aren't fit for delinquency."

"Roxie, what did you do?" Swindle H asked.

"I took Viper to the police station."

Birdie shook her head but said nothing. She never liked Roxie anyway.

"What? Are you crazy?" Swindle H shouted. "You jeopardized the gang for her? What were you thinking?"

"I had too, Hannah! I don't want those two ending up like us. Blue will change them, just you wait. He already has Ivory around his finger."

"You do realize that Ivory will be in trouble, right?" Birdie asked. "Blue will punish her! And she had nothing to do with anything."

"No, Ivory would never be blamed for Viper's behavior," Swindle H said. "She's well-behaved; she's a hacker."

"Oh, is she? Well, I guess she's safe."

"She had nothing to do with what was going on," Fox said. "However, because Viper and Roxie betrayed the gang, we'll all have to redeem our loyalty."

The prostitutes rolled their eyes.

Fox grabbed Roxie by her hair, spun her around, and threw her against the wall. There were gasps from the girls as Swindle H and Birdie remained unfazed. Roxie held onto her bloody head. Fox forced Roxie to her feet, watching her sway again as he punched her in the face before pulling the trigger.

BAM!

Loud screams filled the room. The young girls got closer together and started to shiver. Roxie sank to the floor as blood oozed out, staining the deck.

The prostitutes hurdled together, crying silently. Some squeezed their eyes shut in fear of him killing them. "Get in my fucking car," Fox ordered Swindle H and Birdie. Then, he turned to the girls, "I called somebody to come and watch all of you. Anyone who pulls any funny business will be brought to room thirteen, got it?"

Their eyes widened, but they silently synchronized their head nods.

Fox turned to Birdie and Swindle H, who scurried to his car's back seat, scared of what would happen next.

"Because of that bitch, now we have to drive two hours to the nearest base!"

"No, we don't," Birdie said. "My place is smack in the middle. We'll stay there for the night and then transfer in the morning."

"Agreed, it's too late to be driving long hours," Swindle said.

"I'll message Blue. You two better not do anything fishy, or I won't hesitate to kill you both. It's either that or Blue will kill you."

"We get it," Swindle said quickly. She peered through the window, rehearing her best friend's inhuman screams. She's never heard a human being yell out like that. It was frightening.

"My place it is."

Fox tossed Birdie his phone. "Go through my contacts and call Blue. Tell him about Roxie and see what he wants to do with her body."

"Okay," Birdie held the phone to her hear, the ringing went on for so long, it tranced her.