Chapter Thirty-Seven: Vivi

Airtight. Everything had to be absolutely airtight. Too many lives were dependent on it. Not just Kohza's life, but his life was at the forefront at the moment. But there were others, too, whose safety lay upon her shoulders. Her father's, Ingram's and Terra-cotta's. Even Vivi's own life. Everyone's life it seemed.

Vivi paused in her vigorous typing, her mind lingering on Kohza, the punk boy she'd met as a child that was pretty damn close to being her everything in life. He had survived a brutal beating, but was unconscious and likely to stay that way for awhile. He could not defend himself, so Vivi had to make sure there was no reason for him to have to do so. She looked back at the computer screen and went back to typing.

She was using the backspace button more often than not; a sign that she was in deep irritation about her failure to procure Miss All-Sunday's…what? Help? No, she didn't dare ask the assassin for help. It was more like she wanted Miss All-Sunday to stay out of the picture. Vivi was sure that if she had been able to talk to Miss All-Sunday and somehow convince her to stand aside, Vivi could have toppled the whole Baroque Works operation.

Now, she had to go through one of Crocodile's cleansings. He was an absolutely vicious man who had no conscience it seemed and he was going through his own comrades looking for people to kill. It was absolutely vile.

Vivi stopped typing again, looking at her phone. She wanted to call Nami, but knew that Nami was probably being 'utilized' by Crocodile. Vivi shuddered in revulsion. She had no idea how Nami even managed to go on with her everyday life with such sick things happening to her.

Vivi felt genuine sorrow for Nami, but didn't dare show it. Somehow she knew that Nami would have been insulted. But of all things, Nami was a girl who cared too much about others, and it was likely one day going to be her downfall. Vivi just prayed that Nami didn't suffer too much when that day came.

While staring down her phone, it rang. A foreboding tune, it seemed, for it was Crocodile on the other end. She steeled herself and answered the phone.

"Yes, sir?" She answered.

"I knew you would still be available," Crocodile praised. Vivi glanced absently at the clock and noted that it was near ten o'clock in the evening. Not that late, all things considered, but probably he was more pleased with her sobriety at such an hour, versus that of his other operatives. "Miss Wednesday, you are a treasure to my organization, and I do think that you would be better utilized if you were at my disposal every moment of the day. I wish you would reconsider my preference to see you housed within my facility walls."

Vivi felt her stomach turn, thinking about all the ways that he could 'utilize' her if she were one of the poor souls in his orphanage.

"I am honored that you think so highly of my skill," Vivi somehow managed to say, because she was tongue-tied for excuses not to have to move into that place that didn't involve putting people she loved in the spotlight of an assassin.

"You would not be so insubordinate as this child that I just had to deal with," he said distastefully. "Your partner of sorts was mighty disobedient today. I had to put her in her place."

Vivi felt chills. He had to be speaking about Nami. What had happened to the girl? "Perhaps I may speak to her and encourage her to not show such behavior—"

"No need," Crocodile interrupted. "As I said, I put her in her place. You would likely not get much conversation from her anyway. She's unconscious and tied up at the moment."

Unconscious. Okay, that was better than dead, but not by much And tied up? Like, literally?

"I see," Vivi hedged, trying to figure out how to get off the phone. It felt like Crocodile was calling her to test how willing she would be to become one if his persons to 'utilize' and Vivi wanted nothing to do with that.

"Tomorrow is going to be a big day," Crocodile went on to a new subject finally. "I will need my Weekdays and Numbers all at their best and strongest. Rest up and make sure you are here at my facility no later than seven o'clock tomorrow morning."

"Yes, sir," Vivi replied, wondering what was about to happen. Was it the cleansing? Was Crocodile going to make them watch as he called out the individuals he planned on cleansing from the organization? Vivi shuddered again.

Thankfully, he hung up on that note. Vivi once again pondered the safety of Nami before focusing on her computer again. She knew that she had told Nami that everything in her background should be airtight, and Nami had been right; 'should' was not an option. But she had gone through all the details with a fine tooth comb at this point and was as sure as she'd ever be.

Sleep was not a success that night. Vivi worried too much about things she could not control and spent most of the night tossing and turning instead of sleeping. She did manage a few scant hours before she got up at six though. She showered to rid herself of the remaining lethargy and got herself ready to go be an assassin.

It was a cruel joke; Vivi had rarely ever harmed anyone in her life. The only times she had actually harmed someone was in her 'tryouts' to become a part of Baroque Works. Crocodile had been so convinced of her skill that he had taken her in on the spot. Now she was faced with the idea of possibly watching the man slaughter his own subordinates, and further having to help him do it.

Vivi's weapon of choice was the whip. It didn't kill by accident. You had to know you were going to kill someone by wrapping the whip around someone's neck and cracking it or suffocating them. They were two methods that were highly effective if utilized. Otherwise, pain could be inflicted very easily, but nothing that was life threatening.

Vivi had chosen the whip for that reason. Knives could accidentally kill people. So could guns. But whips needed a certain amount of control to do it. Vivi craved control in a chaotic situation such as this. The whip was just perfect for her.

She didn't live far from the orphanage, so she chose to walk there. It was a late summer morning that's as still pleasant and quiet. Vivi took the time to mentally steel herself for the day that was to come.

At near ten to seven, Vivi made it to the orphanage along with a few other Weekdays. The Millions and Billions were straggling in too. Miss Doublefinger let them all in and they moved toward the cafeteria; the only area in the orphanage that had enough room to house them all.

Miss Doublefinger was in front of her, so Vivi had to pause too when she stopped at the sound of Crocodile's voice. The two women turned around to watch Crocodile approach, speaking on the phone with Nami in tow.

Vivi felt her body go rigid. Nami looked like a disaster. Worse than Kohza had looked the day before. She had been beaten bloody and appeared barely able to walk. What had Crocodile done to her?

"Yes, Don, she's on her way to meet your other subordinate Law right now," Crocoldie was saying. "I believe the two should be to your facility well before eight o'clock this morning. Yes, I will be needing them back this afternoon; I am planning on finishing up the Nefeltari heir matter this afternoon."

Vivi stopped breathing for a moment. He what?

A flurry of questions went through Vivi's head. Had Crocodile figured out that she and Nami were lying? Is that why he had beaten Nami so brutally? Or had Nami finally cracked under the abuse of Crocodile and let her secret slip? Where was Kohza? Was he dead already? What about her father, Ingram and Terra-cotta?

Vivi forced herself to keep breathing. Crocodile had called her last night after he had 'dealt' with Nami. If she had somehow let it slip that they were lying and that Vivi was the Nefeltari heir, he would have come straight for her, not allowed her time to flee. Kohza was probably fine, but unable to attend the event Crocodile was toting today, as he was probably still under doctor supervised bed rest. The others were likely also fine, but in retrospect, she probably should have found a way to warn them that she was at the cusp of toppling the organization or becoming victim to it.

All these thoughts passed in a matter of two steps of Crocodile and Nami. Vivi had her mask back in place as Crocodile turned her way and gave her a nod of recognition. Crocodile stopped in the hallway junction to turn to head to the cafeteria but Nami kept walking, heading for the exit.

She must have stumbled a bit because Nami brushed up against Vivi for a moment before continuing down the hall. Before Vivi could even reach out to steady her, she had already passed and was skirting some Billions right next to the exit.

In the next few moments, Vivi learned a hard and valuable lesson about that girl she had pitied. Vivi's hand went to her hip and clutched the empty spot there, even though she could see plain as day that Nami had swiped her whip and was using it to strangle a Billion lackey. It was brutal and over in half a minute, as she tightened the whip and snapped the Billion's neck when others tried to come to his aid.

Nami did not have skill with a whip but boy, could that girl fight. The three lackeys that had come at her were down in a puddle of drool and blood in the next half minute. Done being accosted for the moment, Nami stomped back over to Vivi and shoved the whip back in her hands.

"Consider that the only warning you'll get to not fuck with me today," Nami hissed and began heading to the exit again.

"Little Cat Burglar, do not look the victim and you shall not have that problem," Crocodile patronized. "I should have you clean up the mess you made but I dare say, you will probably take forever and miss your meeting with Don…"

Vivi watched Nami pale for a moment before making her way back toward the exit. This was not how she expected her morning to go. Nami was not afraid of Crocodile's bearings and rape, but feared a man who she had a meeting with in the next hour. Who was this Don?

Vivi had no time to contemplate. Crocodile called them all to order and had the Millions deal with the dead and incapacitated Billions and delegated the rest of them to the cafeteria. Like a death march, they made their way and lined up along the cafeteria walls. Vivi, being a Weekday, was required to be up front, despite her feelings on the matter. She tried to be sly and position herself next to Miss All-Sunday, but Miss Doublefinger was not allowing any line jumping. They were lining up by rank today.

"Welcome to the cleansing," Crocodile announced. "It's going to be fairly brutal this time around; but if you have done me no wrong, you shall have no wrong done to you."

Nervous shuffling could be heard in the silence.

"Now, Mister Two has found a way to redeem himself after the uniform information debacle," he went on, "and has procured me something much more valuable than a information tip."

Vivi had a bad feeling about what he was going to say next.

"Thanks to his knack of blending and costume camouflage," Crocodile began, "Mister Two has been able to procure the DNA of the great tycoon of Alabasta Incorporated, Cobra Nefeltari. All I need now, is the corresponding DNA of that of my student body."

Vivi did her best to hold her breathing steady, but she could see some of the Millions and Billions getting nervous. They likely did not know where this was going, but Vivi did.

"The school nurse has the DNA records of every student in that shitty school," Crocodile went on. "Miss Merry Christmas will obtain the nurse and we will interrogate her after…"

Vivi could feel the buzz around the room. The Millions and Billions were collectively thinking, after what?

"Miss All-Sunday, if you would be so kind?" Crocodile prompted. Miss All-Sunday nodded gracefully and pulled an ice pick from her light jacket pocket. She walked directly to Mister One and snatched up his hand. With a quick flick, she had stabbed his finger and started squeezing the blood from it.

"The hell?" Miss Doublefinger snapped, watching but unwilling to intervene against Miss All-Sunday.

"Mister Two has also provided me with a contact who is willing to run the DNA of any sample I bring to him for a very good price," Crocodile smirked as Miss All-Sunday dabbed the blood onto a card, burned the end of the ice pick for a moment with a lighter to sterilize it, and then moved onto Miss Doublefinger.

"I am quite pleased with this turn of events," Crocodile told them, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. "If Miss Wednesday and the Cat Burglar's search results are accurate, that means that the Nefeltari heir must be one of you…"

Crocodile let that statement hang in the air for a moment, watching the nervous movement among those gathered.

"But just in case that Cat Burglar was playing games with me, I'm going to test the student body as well," he finished. Under his breath he added, barely audible, "and skin her hide from her body if she is."

Vivi realized that Crocodile did not suspect her at all; he rather suspected Nami's treachery. Well, deservedly so, but Vivi knew she would be on the receiving end of that hate soon too.

Miss All-Sunday was making her way quickly down the line of Weekdays and Numbers. Vivi's turn came and, in a haze of fear, reached her hand out to Miss All-Sunday's waiting hand. It was odd; Vivi had expected Miss All-Sunday to have cold hands. But her hand was warm and gentle, until she stabbed Vivi's finger. Vivi sighed away the tiny pain and watched her fate fall onto a card.

"Miss Merry Christmas," Crocodile called to attention, "you have you assignment. Be efficient. I want you back here in an hour."

Miss Merry Christmas made a face but did not complain. Vivi suspected that Miss Merry Christmas was going to be pressed for time to return under such a condition. In the meantime, Vivi was going to have to find some way to get her card from Miss All-Sunday.

As Miss Merry Christmas departed with a few of the Millions that were allowed to 'jump the line' and get their DNA taken right away, a tall man who was all stomach and had the skinniest chicken legs Vivi had ever seen wandered into the cafeteria. He wore tinted goggles and purple pants, but that wasn't the fashion statement that caught Vivi's attention the most. He had on a mesh muscle shirt.

It was absurd because the man was the opposite of muscular. He was more rotund than anything. He wore a stained lab jacket over the entire ensemble that had at one time probably been white, but was stained with…well, Vivi hoped that it was stained by food, but likely it was stained with blood, some of it looking fresher than the rest.

"I need my payment," the man demanded of Crocodile. His voice-it put Vivi on edge immediately. It chilled her insides. There was something wrong with that man. Very wrong.

That, and like Nami, he did seem afraid of Crocodile. He simply regarded him as a source of income apparently.

"Soon Professor Hogback, soon," Crocodile agreed. "I want to be sure that I have all of their DNA first."

Miss All-Sunday was fast at work and almost through the Millions. She just had the Billions left. But this so-called professor was not appeased. He began wandering down the line of Weekdays and Numbers, observing them like they were meat from the market.

Vivi hoped he would shuffle past her quickly, and at first he did. But then he stepped back to her and reached out a hand, as if to grab her chin. Vivi ducked out of his reach and readied her whip, uncoiling it from her side. If that hand came at her again, she'd-

"You are not receiving payment from the Weekdays and Numbers," Crocodile called out to him. "If you dare lay a hand on one of them, you may not get it back while it's still connected."

Professor Hogback smiled, and Vivi's hairs stood on end. His teeth. They were filed into sharp points.

"A shame," he lamented, and then went back to ambling down the line of Frontiers.

Never had Vivi been happy to hear Crocodile's voice, and truth be told, she was not happy to hear it now, either, for it had been right behind her and she had a feeling he was coming to converse with her specifically.

"Miss Wednesday," he addressed. "I wish for you to know that I do not blame you for the failure in obtaining the Nefeltari heir's identity."

He ran a finger through her ponytailed hair and wrapped it around his finger briefly. Vivi felt the fight-or-flight urge very strongly, though she could do neither without blowing her cover. She had a feeling where this conversation was going, and if someone didn't interrupt…

"The Cat Burglar is proving to be worth less than I'd hoped in terms of how much I am paying to utilize her," Crocodile went on. "I think that you should have continued to spear-head the search and I should not have brought her in on it. I will be quite frank with you: I think she lied and knows who the Nefeltari heir is."

Vivi's jaw dropped involuntarily.

"That's so like you, Miss Wednesday," Crocodile accredited. "You have faith that all other members of my organization have the same dedication that you do. And most do. But seeing as she is from outside my organization, I do not feel that I can trust what she has told you in terms of her findings. She is hiding something. I can feel it."

The finger toying with her hair stopped and he put both his hands on her shoulders.

"Tell me, is there anyone that you saw her associate with at the school outside of that useless tit Trafalgar Water?" Crocodile asked her earnestly.

"I only saw her go to Miss All-Sunday's room at the lunch hour," Vivi admitted, but trying to be as non-specific as possible. "Miss All-Sunday may know who she was with, but I just saw a few boys from our grade. I did not recall seeing them in my searches, so I do not think I had searched them yet."

Miss All-Sunday was done stabbing people it seemed. She joined the two of them with her usual unruffled appearance.

"Miss All-Sunday, who were the boys that the Cat Burglar hung out with in your class?" Crocodile asked immediately.

"Roronoa Zoro, Monkey D. Luffy, and Syrup Ussop," she told him without hesitation. "There was also a new transfer whose name I do not know."

"Mm," Crocodile hummed. "I know of these boys. They were associated with her not long after being transferred to our school, less the new transfer. I do not think they are who we are looking for, seeing as one of them is the grandson of the head of Special Ops, Garp."

Vivi did a mental double take. What? Which one?

"You are sure you saw her with no one else?" Crocodile asked again. At a loss for words, Vivi simply shook her head negative. "Fine. The hard way it is."

He took the thick stack of cards from Miss All-Sunday and went off to corral Professor Hogback, leaving Vivi alone with Miss All-Sunday.

Finally. The moment she'd been striving for since Friday.

"Miss All-Sunday," Vivi began.

"How are your parents?" Miss All-Sunday interrupted. Vivi was caught off guard for a moment.

"What?" Vivi stumbled.

"How are your parents?" Miss All-Sunday repeated. Vivi struggled to make her brain work.

"Fine, I assume," Vivi finally got out. "I haven't spoken to them since Tuesday. My father was complaining that my mother works too hard and my mother was complaining that my father works too hard. The usual."

"You should never assume anything," Miss All-Sunday admonished. "You never know when that assumption will prove incorrect."

"Are you insinuating that there's something wrong with my parents?" Vivi asked, apprehension growing.

"I'm insinuating nothing," Miss All-Sunday assured her. "I am merely passing on a piece of advice that may prove useful to you. I understand that Mr. Zero allows you to live outside of the orphanage because your parents are still alive. I wonder how long that will continue."

Miss All-Sunday's head tilted to the side as she gave a polite smile, and then turned to walk away. Vivi was left in her wake shaken and unsure of her position in the grand scheme she thought she was on top of.

"If you did not come prepared today, I want you to go prepare yourself now," Crocodile told them after giving Professor Hogback the stack of cards. "I'm sending the Operatives out to the yard for surveillance and I want the rest of you prepared for the upcoming onslaught."

Most of the Millions and Billions were now lounging at the cafeteria tables, though a few got up and headed out of the cafeteria. Three, maybe four? Vivi wasn't paying enough attention. After they got out of the cafeteria, Crocodile turned to Professor Hogback.

"The down payment," Crocodile indicated. Professor Hogback smiled his dagger smile and sauntered out of the cafeteria. Crocodile addressed the rest of them. "A small lesson for you, that if you are not prepared to be utilized at all times, you are worthless to me. Those four idiots deserve what comes to them at the hands of Professor Hogback."

Uneasiness rolled through the cafeteria. The cleansing had begun it seemed.

"Today is going to have all kinds of lessons to be learned," Crocodile continued. "For example, one big lesson is loyalty. Mr. Seven, Miss Wednesday, please come forward."

Confused, Vivi approached the area of the cafeteria where Crocodile was and stood a few feet away. Mr. Seven approached as well, seeming smug about being called out by Crocodile. Vivi knew better, but worked to show no fear at being called out.

"One of these Frontier Agents is a loyal and steadfast part of this organization," Crocodile stated. He pulled a gun from his jacket and toyed with it. "The other is a traitor to the organization."

Vivi looked in astonishment at Mr. Seven. What had he done? But he was looking at her smugly, as if he were the one who was not about to die. His smug smile stayed all the way until the sound of a gun rang out. The confusion became his as he slumped to the floor, struggling in his last moments before his heart, struck by the bullet, gave out.

"Disgusting," Crocodile spat. "The fool did not think that I would find out that he was using his stature in the organization to collect tithes from the local police force. I asked for subordination of the police force, not for my Frontier to make money. We leave no paper trails. Am I understood?"

Vivi nodded along with the rest of the crowd, absently wiping at the blood that had spattered onto her.

"You may go sit down, Miss Wednesday," Crocodile bade. Vivi did as she was asked.

"The next lesson to be learned is strength of mind in the face of judgement," Crocodile went on. "Mr. Mellow, Shodane, please approach."

Mr. Mellow looked like the last thing he wanted to do was approach, but he made his way to the center of the cafeteria. Shodane, on the other hand, had disappeared from the room. Crocodile sighed in annoyance.

"Miss All-Sunday, if you please?" Crocodile prompted. Miss All-Sunday nodded and disappeared from view.

"Mr. Mellow, I do know about the dice gaming on the side," Crocodile mentioned. "But it does not interfere with your work and I have been known to have a vice of my own."

Crocodile pulled a cigar from his pocket and put it in his mouth, chewing on the end of it briefly.

Mr. Mellow still looked apprehensive and wasn't sure about the likelihood of his survival. In the moment of apprehension, Shodane fell from the rafters to the floor with a sickening cracking sound. He was very obviously dead, but if he hadn't been, the fact that he had landed on top of the knife protruding from his back would have insured it.

Mr. Mellow, looking shocked at the suddenness of the dead body appearing, raised his wide eyes to Crocodile. And that was the expression he held as he fell to the floor twitching, a bullet lodged in his brain.

"Both of those men stunk of fear," Crocodile declared. "Only one had enough gall to stand before me despite it. Vices, aside from smoking, will not be tolerated. If anyone would care to admit their addiction to alcohol at this time and give Miss All-Sunday more exercise by fleeing, you may do so now."

Vivi didn't dare look away to see which five people disappeared and placed their odds against Miss All-Sunday as better. She just hoped that the cleansing didn't take all morning.

"Next lesson: with patience comes rewards to be reaped," he started again. Vivi prepared herself, as her hope dwindled away.

The next hour was brutal. No Officers, but one Frontier agent, thirteen Millions and six Billions were expunged from the organization through murder. Twenty bodies were being hauled away as Miss Merry Christmas returned, the school nurse in hand. Crocodile seemed pleased at first, then frowned.

"Where's the animal?"

Two of the Millions parted from the third and left him standing unprotected. Crocodile sighed in dismay and pushed the body count to twenty one.

"Find me that animal," Crocodile ordered of the two living Millions. "This woman will not cooperate until we have leverage."

The two Millions rushed out to do his bidding.

"Begin the interrogation," Crocodile commanded.

How anyone left had the stupidity to question Crocodile on this day was beyond Vivi. She heard the question ring out and before the sentence was done, the asker was dead.

"If she's not going to cooperate, why-"

Mr. One was the murderer this time.

"Don't ask stupid questions," he interrupted, attacking the offender with the dozens of tiny blades he kept on his person to skin people with.

The cries of agony that followed were almost too much for Vivi to handle. She just continued to stare ahead at Crocodile, waiting for the next order.

"Thank you, Mr. One," Crocodile said. "Now, let's start with the fingers, don't you think?"

Vivi wondered if she would make it through the flaying to come, if Mr. One was in charge of interrogation. Abruptly, a phone rang. Vivi wondered briefly who would die for not turning of f their phone before Crocodile reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

He looked annoyed, but answered.

"Hello, Don," he greeted. "I trust your meeting went well and your subordinates were there on time."

Crocodile walked away while he spoke, and the two additional bodies were disposed of.

"You know I play rough with toys," Crocodile could be heard saying. "Yes, I understand that it is not my toy to begin with. I understand your concern. I will have them back to you by the end of the weekend, as I plan on completing this business of mine today."

During the brief pause in conversation, Vivi surveyed the crowd. Most of them were looking at the school nurse, probably determining how they would interrogate if asked. Except for Miss All-Sunday. She was watching Vivi. Even when Vivi caught her eye, she didn't waiver. She simply smiled her polite smile and stared on.

"This evening? But of course," Crocodile spoke. "May I bring an associate or two? Brilliant. See you at eight."

Crocodile returned to the center of the cafeteria.

"Mr. One, Miss Double-Finger, Miss Wednesday," Crocodile called out. Vivi approached again, wondering if she was considered to be an 'assocaite' for tonight. "You will accompany me tonight. The attire is formal at its finest. I trust you have appropriate attire?"

Vivi wracked her brain to think of something she could wear. She dreaded saying her next words.

"I do not think that I do," she admitted. Crocodile eyed Miss All-Sunday, and she approached.

"Please take Miss Wednesday to get appropriate attire for tonight," he ordered. "You will be in attendance as well. Return to base when you're done."

Miss All-Sunday nodded, and smiled at Vivi, turning and heading out of the cafeteria. Vivi followed Miss All-Sunday, wondering which was the worse of two evils: Miss All-Sunday or Mr. Zero. Vivi steeled her resolve; she needed to either get incriminating evidence on Miss All-Sunday or procure her agreement to stand aside.

Miss All-Sunday led her out of the orphanage and towards the parking lot. They entered into an unassuming light blue sedan and turned out of the parking lot, headed in the direction of All Blue.

"Do you know where we're going tonight?" Vivi asked, trying to test the waters.

"It does not matter," Miss All-Sunday dismissed. "We were assigned to go, so we shall attend."

Very point blank and to the point. It seemed that Miss All-Sunday was not interested in chitchat.

Vivi faltered again. It seemed it was going to be a quiet ride to All Blue. But still, Vivi had not forgotten the small conversation that had been had between the two of them earlier. Vivi took out her phone and texted Terra-cotta.

Hi mom. Can you and Dad call me? I have something to ask you.

She sent it and almost immediately, her phone rang.

"Hi Mom! Hi Dad! Sorry to bug you," she greeted.

"Go ahead and ask," Terra-cotta's motherly voice prompted. "You know it's no bother to hear from you honey. We miss you so much! You should call us more often."

"Sorry, I'll try to be better," Vivi pledged. "But I have to ask you something. I have a headache and I have an important event tonight. What is the family secret for headaches again?"

"Why, just some aspirin and a shot of good old fashioned rum," Terracotta answered. "Though I dare say that you will not be able to drink rum."

"I know," Vivi said. "But my head feels like it's in a vice."

It was quiet for a short moment.

"A vice you say?" This was Ingram's voice. "Well surely this time we can allow her to have a bit of rum, wouldn't you say, dear?"

Terracotta spoke up this time. "I suppose. How much?"

"Maybe an ounce or two," Ingram answered. "Sound good kiddo?"

"Sounds good," Vivi replied. "I'll get the aspirin and see if someone will help me with the rum. Thanks Dad, Mom."

"Love you sweetie."

Silence filled the car for a moment or two.

"So clever," Miss All-Sunday commented. "I would not have expected you to have a contingency plan for if things ever went awry for you here."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Vivi played dumb.

"I see my advice was taken to heart," Miss All-Sunday indicated. "You have warned your parents of a possible upcoming assault. The word 'vice.' Very clever."

Vivi's insides turned to ice. "I'm not sure-"

"No need to play coy with me," Miss All-Sunday assured her. "I already placed the bomb in their home last night. I'm afraid that you're about to become an orphan."

Miss All-Sunday pulled a cellphone from her pocket as she drove one handed and typed in a six digit code.

Vivi's breathing became erratic. "What? What did you just-"

"I'm assuming they told you one to two ounces of rum meaning that it would take them one to two minutes to leave. I'm afraid that is far too much time to spend in attempt to escape. Their home is likely on fire and they are buried under the rubble."

"I—I can't, um," Vivi stumbled. "You just killed them?"

"Yes," Miss All-Sunday replied indifferently.

Vivi began to cry. She could not stop herself. Tears flowed down her cheeks in rapid succession. "I can't believe this!"

As if to punctuate the statement, she dialed up the cellphones of both Terracotta and Ingram. Both went straight to voicemail.

"Shit!" Vivi screamed. "Why? Why did you do that? All I wanted to do was ask about a headache!"

Vivi sobbed uncontrollably for the next few minutes in silence.

"Take this as a lesson that the things dearest to you can be used against you," Miss All-Sunday suggested. "You don't want this to happen to anyone else who may be close to you."

"Like you?" Vivi screamed at her. "One good yank of the steering wheel and we're both going down."

They were crossing the bridge at Tequila Wolf.

"Why not?" Vivi shouted and grabbed the wheel hard. The car did swerve for a moment, but not enough to send them off the bridge. "Maybe you just created a loose cannon instead of someone who can be controlled!"

Miss All-Sunday pulled the car over to the side of the bridge and stopped. She removed Vivi's hands from the steering wheel and reached over and slapped her. Vivi tried to exit the car but Miss All-Sunday detained her.

"This is compassion," Miss All-Sunday told her. "Mr. Zero wanted to have you execute them yourself to prove your loyalty. If you were to behave as such in front of him, you would likely die with them."

"Maybe I should!" she screamed. "I allowed this to happen! Me! They told me I didn't have to but I chose it! I chose for them to die!"

Miss All-Sunday kept her patience.

"Do you wish to go step out in front of traffic, or do you wish to atone for your sins?" she asked.

"How do I atone for this?" Vivi sobbed. Miss All-Sunday let go of Vivi and turned back to the wheel. She checked her mirrors and pulled back into traffic.

"The only way to atone for the sin of living through the murder of those that you love," Miss All-Sunday stated matter-of-factly. Vivi looked at her, wiping her eyes.

"You simply survive."

A/N: The next several chapters are going to be overlapping but different perspectives as we enter the confrontation crux. If that's not your cup of tea, so be it, but different details will be sprinkled throughout so I recommend reading them. But hey, do you. Cheers.