Page 55 of The Tattoo Artist

And then, I spot her.

Half asleep, leaning against the exit door, Cathy looks like she was about to collapse. She wore a tight red dress that left nothing to imagination, and I turn my head to see a couple of guys checking her out-about to head towards her drunken state.

“You are going to be the death of me,” I mutter under my breath, pushing my way through the crowd to reach her. Apologising and excusing myself to the annoyed club-goers, I finally reach her side. I crouch down, gently whispering her name, “Cathy?”

I push her hair away from her face, she looks up at me- her mascara stained her cheeks, she’s been obviously crying. What had upset her so much? “Hey, come on lets go home okay.” I tuck my arm under hers as I slowly begin to lift her from the ground. She sniffles, crying into my shoulders as I prop her onto her feet. There was no response from her; she seems to be lost in a hazy stupor. I try shaking her gently, but she remains unresponsive, though I could see that she was still breathing.

Concerned for her well-being, I knew I had to get her out of there before the same which happened to me thing happens to her. Pushing open the exit door, we entered a dimly lit tunnel that led away from the pulsating music. She was too heavy for me to lift; she didn’t even attempt to take some of the weight off, but I managed. I tried.

“Hey, wake up,” I urge her, hoping to rouse her from her dazed state.

Suddenly, her eyes shot open, and she doubles over, vomiting on the floor. I wince at the sight but kept a firm hold on her, not wanting her to fall.

“It’s alright, Cathy. Just let it out,” I reassure her gently, rubbing her back soothingly as she continues to be sick. Once she was done, she leans against the wall, looking exhausted and disoriented. “Cathy, what happened?”

“He dumped me.” She cries out. “He broke up with me.”

I hear footsteps, my head turns, and the group of guys exit the same way we did. One specific tall one locks eyes with me, a smirk spreading across his lips. “One second guys.” He speaks, heading over to us.

Oh, for god sakes.

“Catherine, get the hell up.” I whisper, trying to pull her onto her feet.

“Sorry Miss.” I drag Catherine onto her feet. “Sorry, don’t mean to bother you.”

“Well, you are.” I respond back. “Come on Catherine.” She is getting on my nerve; never have I met a stubborn drunk before.

“You don’t need to be rude; you know.” I look up, and I could tell that I angered him.

“Leo, let’s just go man.” One of his friends speak up, walking towards us.

“Nah, this girl thinks she’s all that- well you aren’t. Your friend is though.” He takes a step forward, and I stand up immediately.

“Go away!” I snap, my voice trembling with a mix of fear and frustration. Leo’s eyes widen with amusement, his laughter cutting through the tense air like a knife. His friend approaches, and I glance desperately in his direction. “Please,” I implore, though a surge of anger rises within me at the thought of having to beg for our safety. It shouldn’t be this way. A woman’s words should be respected without question, but Leo’s bruised ego refuses to yield. Instead of leaving like I begged him too, Leo takes another menacing step towards me, his hand reaches out to grab my face.

Instinctively, I recoil, pushing him away with all the strength I can muster.

“Oh, you’re going to get it now-” Leo begins, his voice dripping with anger. But his friend grabs his arm and shoves him back. “What the fuck are you doing?”

Leo’s friend steps between us, a protective barrier against Leo’s mounting anger. “She’s with Ares,” he speaks, his tone firm.

Leo’s gaze flickers to me, and I feel a shiver run down my spine at the intensity of his stare. His eyes linger on the delicate necklace around my neck.

“Sorry, Miss,” Leo mutters, his voice laced with frustration. He raises his hands in surrender, a gesture of acknowledgment of his mistake. “I didn’t see that necklace of yours. I’ll leave you to it.” I watch as Leo turns away, his steps heavy with unresolved tension. His friend follows closely behind, casting a cautious glance over his shoulder as they retreat into the crowd.

I let out a slow breath, the tension in the air dissipating with their departure. I glance down to see a sleeping Catherine, and I wake her up. “come one, Catherine, let’s go.”

“The necklace of love protected us.” She chuckles, her hand grabbing onto my necklace. “I want this necklace!” She yells out, barely getting her words right.

“Catherine, let go.” I grab her wrist, trying to remove her hand away from the necklace. Suddenly, the necklace is ripped of my neck. My eyes widen as I watch it fall right into the drain before I could even attempt to catch it. “No!” I yell out, I rush towards the drain.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry-” Catherine speaks before vomiting, I reach the drain and look down, using my phone as a flashlight.

I turn back to her, my eyes filled with a mix of anger and sadness. “Why would you do that?” I choked out, trying to comprehend her actions.

“Alex... I’m sorry,” she whispers, her face now registering the shock of what she had done. But her apology couldn’t bring back the lost necklace, the sentimental value it held, and the memories attached to it. Ares is going to kill me.

Instead of struggling, I text Ares:

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