Page 16 of The Tattoo Artist

“You’re nothing but trouble, Ares. I heard the stories.” I said, trying to keep my composure.

He releases a chuckle, his body vibrating with amusement before turning to face me. A sinister smile spread across his face, sending shivers down my spine.

“I love stories. Which one did they tell you?”

“You’re reckless,” I respond, not backing down. “You killed a girl in a car accident.”

His expression darkens, his jaw tensing as if the memory haunted him. “You know nothing about that accident,” he whispers angrily. “I should have known you were like the rest of them, ready to believe anything anyone tells you.”

The intensity in his eyes was deep, and for a moment, I glimpsed a vulnerability beneath his tough exterior. As much as I wanted to understand the truth, I also knew that there was more to Ares than met the eye.

“Then tell me what I should believe Ares.”

“Me.” He answers.

“I don’t trust you; I don’t even know you.”

Ares took a step closer against the locked door, his eyes never leaving mine. “Then get to know me,” he answers, his voice low and steady.

His words tugged at my emotions, but I remained cautious. “It’s not that simple,” I admit, feeling torn between curiosity and fear. “People say a lot of things, and I don’t know what’s true or not.”

“Let me show you who I am, beyond the rumours and the past,” he said earnestly. “I won’t ask you to trust me right away but give me a chance to prove myself to you.”

I hesitate, unsure of what to do. Part of me wanted to believe him, to see the man beyond the rumours, but another part was afraid of the consequences. Are they really worth it?

“Alexandra,” he said softly, using my full name, “I promise I won’t hurt you. Just spend some time with me, and you’ll see.”

“Why do you care so much about what I think?” I speak.

He shrugs his shoulders.

“I don’t know butterfly. I just do.”

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the whirlwind of emotions inside me.

“Okay,” I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll give you a chance.” I unlock the door and pull it open.

“Let me take you home,” he offers. “The streets are dangerous.”

I nod my head and go off to grab my things, switching the lights off I follow Ares out of the library after locking the doors. He opens the door for me, and I slide inside.

“What time do you have to be home?” He asks.

“Like an hour or two.” I respond to him.

He begins to go another route, my eyes widened, and I grip the door handle.

He’s kidnapping me.

“I’m not kidnapping you, Alexandra.”

“I would never think that.” I whisper out.

We enter a street lined with shops, and Ares parks his car outside the tattoo shop where he works. After turning off the engine, he got out, and I followed suit, leaving my belongings in the car. I look around the empty streets, folding my arms across my chest.

He fishes out his keys and unlocks the cage covering the entrance. I watched him carefully as he slid up the cage door, granting us access. “Come on,” he said, and I follow him inside, the door closing behind us. The tattoo parlour is dimly lit, and Ares walks ahead, turning on the lights as we went. I thought about the risk I was taking. If my parents found out I was skipping work and with a boy in a tattoo parlour, they’d be furious. They were strict and wouldn’t understand my desire to explore life beyond their constraints.

As Ares led me into one of the rooms, I couldn’t help but voice my concern, “is your boss okay with this? Won’t he be angry?”

---