II. Cauterize the Living Doll

The Blue Dragons' members entered a room and crowded the area. Ivory saw Red holding onto Viper, who struggled against him as Spike searched for something. Ivory felt scared being inside the room where she cremated Roxie. Ivory knew Blue brought everyone to his crematorium because Viper would die here.

Ivory watched Spike and Red open the two small doors embedded into the brick wall. Ivory saw a narrow opening inside and figured Blue would place bodies inside.

Blue's hands touched Ivory's shoulders as she scanned the room. The other members were talking or on their phones. Lily was showing Lucky something, and they laughed.

Ivory thought the scene in front of her was so odd. She had never seen the members act strangely. Ivory wondered what would happen and why the gang members pretended that Viper's mutilated and wounded body wasn't in sight.

"Do you see those doors?" Blue pointed to where Spike and Red placed Viper. She laid inside silently. Ivory witnessed Viper's first defeat; Viper always fought, but not this tie. "I use those doors for people that are alive."

Ivory nodded, feeling like she'd vomit.

"Ivory, I know that face. Don't vomit. You've puked enough today," Blue said gently.

Ivory turned and on each side of the brick walls were narrow corridors. Members ran to either side and seemed to be peering through the walls.

"Blue, what's happening?" Ivory started to shake.

Ivory tried stopping herself from shivering, but she couldn't.

"Ivory, why are you so nervous?" Blue caressed her cheek.

"Please, don't touch me, Blue."

"Ivory," his voice lowered, "Behave. You're always so well-mannered. What's wrong today?"

Ivory had no answer. She wasn't sure why she felt apprehensive.

Ivory turned near the oven where Roxie had been cremated. Ivory saw Roxie staring at her. Ivory looked away but couldn't help taking another glance. Blue didn't notice that Ivory saw Roxie. Blue then grabbed Ivory's arm and led her to the left brick oven, and Ivory saw that she could see the tombs through the window.

Ivory noted that Viper wasn't wearing clothing. She turned to see Red and Spike burning the clothes in the metal oven. Ivory had no idea why Viper lay naked inside the tomb and felt awkward staring at her bare friend.

Ivory could tell everyone was mocking Viper, and it made Ivory angry. Ivory noted that Viper appeared to be exhausted. Ivory wasn't sure if Viper knew where they were and if she held the awareness that she was inside a brick tomb. The members peered at Viper like she were a zoo animal.

Ivory never felt so embarrassed.

Blue leaned toward Ivory's ear. "Do you know what Viper's occupying, Little Lady?"

"Is it an oven?"

"I don't know, you tell me."

"I think it's a tomb of some kind. I'm guessing you're burying Viper."

Blue shook his head.

"An oven," Ivory proclaimed.

"Correct," Blue replied. "I place my living dolls inside there, Ivory. My dolls are always my victims. Do you like dolls?"

"Dolls are creepy," Ivory said as everyone pointed and laughed at Viper.

Ivory glanced at Viper, who was crying quietly to herself.

The door opened.

Suddenly, two men entered the room, holding a black body bag. Ivory saw Leech's decaying body inside, and she covered her nose as the other members groaned about the smell. The two men placed his body in the metal oven. His cadaver started to burn.

"While Leech's body becomes ashes, let's watch our favorite doll burn. I call this event, Cauterize the Living Doll," Blue smirked.

All but Ivory cheered.

Suddenly, Ivory started to feel faint; she knew she'd pass out if she tried to move.

"She'll be okay," Roxie's calm voice told Ivory. "Viper's dying; Blue is doing her a favor."

"Red, push the button," Blue replied.

Red nodded, then pressed a button.

Ivory could see Harley, Lily, Honor, and Spike standing on the other side. Lily whispered to Harley, who smiled and nodded. Ivory guessed the sisters had forgiven one another. Then, Blue tapped Birdie and whispered into her ear; Birdie laughed and nodded. Birdie turned to Hawks; the two screeched in laughter. Ivory wasn't sure what Blue told them, but she felt him staring at her.

Ivory felt invisible amongst the members. It was like she wasn't in the crematorium. Everyone focused on Viper and her bitter state; Viper had the attention for the first time. Viper was popular, and for the first time, Ivory was the outsider. Ivory felt meek and powerless against the others. Viper and her schemes will now kill her.

Ivory saw small blue flames under Viper, who laid silently. Ivory and Viper met each other eyes; Ivory looked away as Viper stared and smiled. Viper closed her eyes, ignoring the disgusting things said about her. Viper then groaned as the fire burned.

Then, before Ivory's eyes, the flames ignited and heightened, turned orange, and covered Viper's body. Ivory looked down, not wanting to see how the situation appeared. All the members except Blue and her howled. Blue was quiet behind Ivory as he held her arms.

Ivory could smell Viper's flesh burning: it smelled like someone was cooking meat. What felt like hours was only minutes, and before Ivory realized it, the fire went out. She looked and saw tons of ashes. The scary part was that she didn't hear Viper scream. Viper was ready for her departure; Ivory felt that Viper had suffered enough.

Then, the members all found themselves outside.

"Yay, she's gone!" Lucky hollered, and some of the other members cheered after him.

Ivory asked Blue where the bathroom was, and she didn't like his response.

"You're not going; you better not throw up, Ivory," Blue stated.

"Blue, she doesn't look well," Red replied. "Take her to the bathroom."

Blue hurried Ivory to the bathroom, where she hovered over the toilet. Ivory couldn't bring herself to vomit, unsure why she felt nauseous. Ivory then looked at his abdomen, figuring something was wrong. She pulled up her shirt but saw nothing.

When Blue entered, she told him she was fine; Ivory wasn't sure why she felt the need to vomit. Blue sat on the sink counter and motioned for Ivory to come over. When she did, he embraced her in a hug.

Ivory was shocked but returned the hug.

Ivory grunted in pain as he gently touched where she had gotten shot a few weeks prior. Blue told Ivory that she was probably still sore from her wound and that everyone's bodies were different. One person's healing journey was different from someone else's.

Blue held Ivory's hand, and the two exited the bathroom, forgetting about the cauterized doll. The ride back to the base was quiet, and Ivory felt numb. It was like Ivory had no heart or empathy inside her. Ivory looked around, noticing that Blue quietly had his eyes on her.

Ivory was sure that she felt okay until she entered her bedroom.

Ivory sat on her bed and digested everything that had taken place. The one person that Ivory felt was her best friend betrayed her. The person that Ivory trusted the most never cared about her. Viper was tortured, beaten, starved, and then burnt alive. Ivory felt her body tingle like she was shocked a million times.

Ivory had begun shaking.

Then, she sobbed uncontrollably.

She looked outside her window to see the ebony sky and bright, white stars. The full moon smiled back at her, and Ivory began to calm down. Ivory sniffed, feeling her chest tighten. It was difficult for her to breathe. Ivory believed that she had lost everyone and that everything she knew about her life was a lie.

Ivory told herself that she only needed and had herself; no one was her friend or lover. Ivory did not think that she could trust anybody. She was parentless and friendless, perhaps loveless. Ivory was sure that Blue merely tolerated her. She didn't understand why Viper tried to sabotage her. Ivory was nothing but a good friend. Ivory then realized that her virtues would be her downfall and decided that she should remain distant.

Ivory stared outside her window again, seeing the moon smiling at her. Ivory felt calm and relaxed; nature was indeed calming. The young woman turned off her lights and fell asleep in her agony.