I. The Gang

"Let me go!" Ivory ordered, struggling to get free from the grasp of the two boys. They were both stronger than they looked.

About five minutes ago, she fought these two boys, or at least tried too, and got a few good kicks and punches within their range, leaving some marks on the two. Afterward, she found out their names, Hawks, and Lucky, which was somewhat unusual, but she felt that their names were street names.

Ivory felt scared.

Hawks chuckled. "I'm not going to, and neither is Lucky." His dark hair shimmered against the sun.

"Oh, yes, you are!"

"No, we're not, and there isn't anything you can do about it. We're taller and much stronger than you are, and we know people in high places. I suggest that if you want to do this the easy way, you cooperate," Lucky threatened.

"Your threats aren't going to work with me."

Hawks snickered. "I like you; you're full of spunk, kid—"

Kid?

Ivory then noted that he must be older than she thought, either that or he believed she was younger because she might be seventeen, but had a bairn looking face, making her look younger than she was.

"—but for your sake, it's too bad, your friend won't find you. We know the city inside and out. There's no way you'll escape us."

Ivory shook nervously, wondering what trouble she'd face?

After a few minutes of silence, the three of them turned a corner into a deserted part of the city and reached an abandoned railroad. They jumped down and walked across it. Ivory knew that it was the Freedom Tunnel. The three musketeers turned a right and went down one of the tunnels. After a long, dark, and quiet walk of Hawks leading the way and Lucky was carrying Ivory along.

The three exited the lonely tunnel, seeing new railroad tracks, graffitied walls, and a gated fence.

Hawks climbed over the short fence as Lucky lifted Ivory over and dropped her from the other side. She tried to fight the boys off, but Hawks quickly threw her over his shoulder, and she stopped retaliating, knowing she wouldn't be able to break free. On the other side was an abandoned street with some old buildings and a large, black one. The three reached the large, gothic-looking building, all black, and an old structure. Ivory was put down by the large, heavy door. She lightly touched the side of the building, moving her hand away at how cold it was. She figured the building was constructed with some type of metal or steel.

Hawks knocked on the door, causing Ivory to feel panicky, pondering what these two boys might do to her. She heard the door echo the knock loudly, hollow and empty. She observed the exterior; the building was pretty big, but she figured that it was much more spacious inside. There was a weird pad on the side of the door, most likely for a handprint.

Hawks rolled his eyes, took out an I. D., held it to the pad, and flashed a blue light.

"Password," a deep voice said from inside, startling Ivory.

Ivory noted that the men were very high-tech. Some of the technology was nothing that she'd seen before; she figured that maybe this was how the outside world worked?

Ivory got weird yet dangerous vibes from the two and decided to stay quiet and not retaliate.

"No name," Hawks said quietly.

Ivory arched an eyebrow, wondering what type of password that was. Then, she realized that the street sign that was at the beginning of the block was nameless. It would make sense; the only other building around were abandoned, vandalized, and had broken windows. No one would suspect anyone to live around here.

Ivory felt that these men were dangerous, but she had no idea why. She moved back, but Hawks quickly grabbed her arm.

A man with spiked hair, wearing a leather jacket and pants, opened the door. Hawks dragged Ivory inside the vast, scary-looking building.

The man looked at her and said, "Who's she?"

He looked mean.

"That's what we'd like to know," Lucky said.

"We were scamming people, and she and her friend were standing there, watching us. We don't want them going to the police," Hawks said.

"Where is the other one? Did you let her escape?"

"She did, but they appear to be orphans. Finding the friend will be a piece of cake," Hawks said.

"We'll go and search for her friend later," Lucky said.

"Don't worry; I'll make sure she doesn't escape," The man replied, looking down at the blonde and taking a puff from his cigarette. She observed his features; a sharp jawline, dark hair, and facial hair with dark eyes. He looked older than Hawks and Lucky, but still young.

"Spike, where's Blue?" Hawks asked the man. Ivory arched her brow again; his name was unusual but fit his image.

"Upstairs in the kitchen. Everyone is eating."

"Thanks, let's go," Hawks grabbed her arm, leading her up a spiral of dark, cold, wooden stairs that echoed loudly.

Lucky was behind, eyeing her suspiciously.

Ivory rolled her eyes, sensing some paranoia, noting that these boys were criminals at the most. Ivory walked by four narrow cobblestone steps that led down a narrow cobblestone hallway. She raised an eyebrow, seeing that the small opening was pitch black. However, the two boys passed the narrow opening, and she followed them through a dark hallway with steel doors.

Each door had a large number embedded on top. She looked through the windows, seeing some weird, creepy, and deranged things. Some rooms had beds with restraints and odd-looking tools while a very few held frightened-looking people with eyes as wide as saucers. Ivory's stomach turned, making her feel nauseous.

She then knew right away that these men did twisted things to people, and she feared that she would be next.

"Are you guys criminals?"

Hawks glanced back at her. "You could say that."

"We participate in a wide range of action related activities," she could feel Lucky smirking at her.

"You'll find out when Blue talks to you," Hawks added.

Ivory wondered what type of name "Blue," was, but didn't ask.

They halted in front of a dark brown, wooden door. Hawks opened it, pushing Ivory through the door opening. Lucky closed the door as Hawks walked over to an older looking man near the fireplace. In the middle of the big room was a long table, and on the wall were photos of people and weapons. She gulped, realizing that they were gang members.

At the table were a large group of men and a small group of women ranging from maybe her age to their early-to-mid-twenties. The men sent her smirked while the women; however, sort of glared, but studied her, deciding whether or not she could be trusted. Ivory ignored them and drooled at all of the delicious-looking food on the table, wanting to shove it all in her mouth.

"Boss, we were out on the job, and she was watching us with her friend. We're worried that she'll tell on us," Hawks explained.

Blue observed Ivory. Ivory noted his bright blue hair—obviously—pompadour styled, and an all-black outfit with studs and tattoos. Ivory looked at him as he glared at her, but pondered at her image. Ivory guessed that he was debating whether they should get rid of her or keep her.

The members were silent, looking uncertain about whether or not to move. Ivory noticed two men standing by the end of the room, leaning against a wall, smoking cigars with their arms crossed. They both look about the same age as Blue, maybe a little older or a little younger. One had dyed red hair styled in a man bun with shaved sides; he was tan with massive muscles. Ivory didn't want to make him angry; he could snap her in half. The other had blonde hair tied into a ponytail.

"Where's her friend?" Blue asked, leering down at her, causing Ivory to look back at him, forgetting about the two men standing by the end of the room.

Ivory noted the man's deep and cold voice. She sensed that he was around his mid-to-late twenties because he looked older than most of the company in the room, but young compared to someone around middle-aged to elderly.

"She escaped. We'll look for her, but we caught this one," Lucky replied, holding onto Ivory's wrist, not even acknowledging her identity.

Blue stared down at her, "Do you know who we are?" He added a smirk, pride readily transparent.

Ivory shook her head, staying silent.

"Hawks, Lucky, why don't you show our newcomer where she'll be staying?" Blue suggested, shooting the blonde a smirk.

Lucky and Hawks opened the door, shoving her through and walked downstairs into a different hallway. There was a large living room and a few doors. They opened a steel door which held a bed, an old-looking toilet, and a sink, and lastly, a chair by the end of the bed.

"Here you are," said Lucky, making himself comfortable on the chair. "You'll remain here until we know that you won't try anything," Lucky said.

"Try what? This place is a maze. Can I get some food?"

Hawks smirked, "Behave, and we'll think about it."

Ivory rolled her eyes, irritated that she couldn't eat anything, and laid on the bed, trying her best to relax. Before Ivory knew it, she had her eyes closed.