Queen Killmonger

Chapter 29

   I sit down on the barstool and watch silently as the nameless man prepares the tattoo gun with ink, as he cleans the needle, as he slides blue plastic gloves over his hands. He presses a little button that turns the machine on, making me jump at the scary buzzing sound. "Hold your lip down like this please" The man asks politely. I look over at Erik, who just smirks and nods. Swallowing hard, my hand practically raises itself, my fingers shaking while I pull the edges of my lip down. "Ok this may sting a little..." A giant lump forms in my throat as he leans in. The tattoo gun nears the inside lip and I can see the glittering electric blue liquid flowing into the little tubes to the needle. My arms start shaking uncontrollably, and I hope I don't accidentally mess up the artists work. The needle presses down into my gum, immediately, I wince, the pain overcoming me. It's a vibrating feeling, like dozens of little holes in my skin are being formed. After what I think was the first part of it, it got a bit better. My lip went numb so I couldn't feel it as much as before. Still, my arms shook, but a lot less when Erik places his hand on my shoulder. I don't know exactly why it felt so reassuring to me, but it did. Soon, as crazy as it sounds, I began to love the feeling. The adrenaline, the rush. It was addicting and I never wanted it to stop.