II. A Tortured Child

Ivory edged toward Viper and held open her mouth, gagged, and ran over to the trash can, vomiting, and dry heaving. Ivory had a hard time processing that Blue and Harley had cut out Viper's tongue.

When she finished, Harley offered her some mints, which Ivory took. When she shoved the mints into her mouth, Blue moved Viper's neck chain around, and Viper started whimpering and crying.

As Ivory put her hand out to help Viper, Blue grabbed her hand and wrapped his large arms around her.

"Do you know what time it is, Little Lady?"

"No, no, I don't," Ivory replied.

Her stomach felt empty and queasy.

Ivory heard Viper muffle, it was impossible making out what Viper had tried saying. Then, Viper spoke, and it sounded like a "Help me."

"I think she said, 'Help me,'" Ivory said.

"Viper would never help you, Ivory, don't be gullible," Blue replied.

"Viper, do you want Ivory's help?" Harley asked in a mimicking tone, and Viper gave a small nod. "Would you help your friend if she were chained and beaten?" Harley asked, and Viper nodded the best she could.

"You think that Ivory can benefit you," Blue kicked Viper, who grunted and shook her head.

Viper had begun sobbing.

"Please, don't kick her."

"Ivory, what did I say regarding your mouth?"

Ivory wondered if what Harley and Blue told her was a lie.

"Let me prove to you that Viper is gaslighting you," Blue opened a closet door and pulled out a small T.V. on a stand.

Blue turned on the T.V. right when he hooked up a video camera and the video showed footage of Blue, Harley, Viper, and Hawks. Blue asked Viper in the video why she pulled her scheme, and Viper said nothing. Blue asked again, and Viper explained her reason, and Ivory's heart sunk. Blue was right. Ivory had never felt so hurt and betrayed.

"If Ivory were in this situation alone or by my side, I wouldn't help her. My life is more important. She chose Blue, and that was her choice. What Blue decides is his business, I don't care."

"Why go through all that trouble? Is it because you feel that Ivory abandoned you?" Blue edged closer.

Viper stiffened. "She chose you over me! She and I were going to make it big: Hawks and Lucky kidnapped us; you promoted Ivory and she made the big money. It was my idea to run away in the first place. Everyone loves Ivory, people can't get enough of her. I feel like the back burner, the third wheel, and it hurt seeing that my best friend was getting everything like she always does. The busier she got the less it felt like I was there."

"You're stupid," Blue rolled his eyes, "That's the adult life, Viper. Unlike you, Ivory is grateful. You're never happy."

"I could tell when I first came that you hated me, you didn't like me. You treated me like trash! I don't need to give you my respect."

Blue kicked Viper in the face, who fell to the floor, screaming and crying. Harley and Hawks tried to hold her, but Viper fought, moaning through her tremendous pain.

Ivory noted that the three were near a vent. Ivory realized that the vents were all connected, and that Viper was the one making the odd and eerie noises that echoed through the vents.

Blue turned off the recording and the screen went black as Ivory stared at her feet. She never thought that Viper could be so cruel. Ivory believed that Viper felt what they had gone through meant nothing.

"We ran away and were abducted for nothing," Ivory sneered as Viper pleaded with her former best friend. "You were the one that coerced me; you said we could have a new life! I told you to mind your business and you didn't," Ivory shouted at Viper. Blue and Harley seemed speechless because Ivory was always mellow and soft spoken. "You always placed us in danger and don't care if I suffer." Then, the damage was done: "I hate you, Viper Lehmann."

Viper whined and had begun sniveling.

Viper continued throwing her crying tantrum, but Ivory wouldn't be influenced. Ivory felt better hurting Viper's feelings.

Blue smirked at Ivory as Harley seemed uninterested and bored.

The door opened, and Spike and Red entered. Spike pointed near Viper and laughed as Red seemed nonchalant. The whole thing made Ivory angry. Viper was immature, rebellious, and acted before thinking; Ivory didn't believe those were excuses for gruesome punishments and abuse. Ivory closed her lips and stayed quiet.

There were four people in this room that felt Viper and her persecution were fair, and the entire gang most likely felt the same way Blue did. Not only that, but Viper also made it clear what Blue decided was best he should commit.

Ivory was upset, but the truth was better than a lie.

"Before you cut her tongue out, did she ever ask about me?"

"Sorry, Ivory, but no," Blue shrugged. "I hate liars, I wouldn't lie."

Ivory quietly sent her friend a glare, and Viper was mumbling, pleading that Ivory help her. The young woman turned away, she now knew that Blue was truthful, and the truth hurt.

"I want you to know that everyone here had fun with your stupid friend," Blue sneered and then grinned. Ivory went to run away, but Blue had pet Ivory's head and held her in place. Blue had leaned toward her ear and said, "We all enjoyed her."

Ivory knew that some members only abused Viper because they knew that it would spare their lives. The others like Blue, Red, Spike, and Harley were demented and immoral. Ivory then remembered when Lauren had to clean Hawks' bed sheets because Lucky got some odd red liquid on the sheets. Ivory felt sick and nauseous. She worried over what Lucky had done.

Ivory looked and saw dry blood by her former friend's crotch and knew someone sodomized her. She turned to Red. "Did you rape her?"

"Viper isn't my type," Red laughed and turned toward Spike, who smirked.

Ivory went to lunge at Spike, who scoffed as Blue held the younger woman back. Red and Harley looked amused at Ivory's courage.

"Rape is disgusting. Nothing excuses such a vile offense!"

"Ivory, you were so well behaved and disciplined," Blue tapped her stomach, "Don't ruin your luck," He turned to Spike and Red. "Grab Viper and place her in the limo's trunk. We're all taking a great trip."

Harley sent a text message to the other members as Spike and Red unchained Viper, who started sniffling and crying. Viper looked at Ivory with tired eyes. Viper looked like she wanted her suffering to end.

"How long has she been in here?" Ivory asked Blue. "Please, tell me how long Viper has suffered."

"Eight months," Blue whispered as Spike carried a squealing Viper out of the room. Ivory's eyes started to water; Blue gently grabbed her face, "Don't start crying; if it were you, she'd never care, Ivory. Stop caring about her. Let's go."

Ivory wasn't sure what she should believe; everything was petrifying and confusing. She remembered Viper's reason for going to the police, but she knew that Blue was right. Blue didn't fabricate the truth, and that was what bothered Ivory. Blue wasn't a liar, and her childhood friend was mistrustful.

Blue gently picked Ivory up and carried her out. Ivory watched as the other members ran down the hallway. Everyone but Viper and her appeared excited.

"Blue, I can walk. I'm fine walking."

"I insist," Blue said, holding her chin up to meet his eyes. He gave a smug smirk before walking down the hallway as the other members cheered that Viper would reach her fate.

Looking at the other members was painful; knowing that they all participated in Viper's intense and extensive torments made Ivory feel ill. The Blue Dragon's Leader carried Ivory in one arm as the others entered the garage.

Viper tried kicking Red with the strength she had left but yelped when Hawks hit her. The gang sat in the limo, and the driver drove them somewhere that felt so far away. Ivory noticed that everyone else was chatting like a battered Viper wasn't in the trunk and like it was a normal spring day.

Eventually, the gang pulled up to a building, and Ivory recognized the frightening place. Ivory knew that Viper would die today, and if she interfered, Blue would kill her, too. The gang exited the limo, and some members ran through the hallway, excited about what would take place as Spike and Red carried Viper inside.

Blue took Ivory's hand and led her through the front doors, and through a short hallway. Ivory felt her stomach twist and turn; Ivory worried about what would occur. Deep down, Ivory knew that Viper would be cremated like Roxie, but this time, the whole situation felt sicker, immoral, and foul. Ivory sensed that Viper wouldn't live another day, and it made Ivory's stomach churn, and her heart ache.