[ WP ] Tattoos give you power , but always take something away . You have just gotten your first one , and the results are ... surprising .

I parked my car a block away and walked through the alley and entered through the backdoor. I had a roll of cash in my front pocket and a black business card that confirmed only the address with nothing else on the front or the back. I was at wits end and I was determined to change my fortunes tonight. As I stood in the entryway, I held up the card in front of the viewer and a moment later I heard the latches unlock and the door cracked open slightly and the scent of wonton and various sauces wafted through the thick air. 
 
 
 A young woman greeted me in silence dressed in a dark ceremonial robe of sorts. The designs contained patterns of dragons, snakes and monkeys throughout. She took the card from my hand and it immediately vanished from her fingertips. She motioned for me to follow her through the kitchen and into a small room past the office and cleaning supplies. The cooks were hard at work concocting various dishes on demand and oriental music played on the speakers for the guests in the dining area. 
 
 
 She held the door open for me and motioned for me to walk through it, so I complied. The woman left and closed the door behind me. In front of me was nothing but a chair with a dim light overhead. “ Have a seat, please. ” An older man appeared from behind a desk. “ So, you wish to change your fortune, I see. Do you understand the consequences of such actions? ” He asked after I had taken a seat. 
 
 
 “ Yes, One power granted for each tattoo in exchange for something taken away. ” I answered. I thought about everything several times over on the way here. There was nothing that I wouldn ’ t give in order to have this one thing. Since I can remember, It was the only thing that I ever wanted. 
 
 
 “ Very well. ” He bowed and then began to lay his tools on the table. First the jar of ink, then the needle. It was wooden all the way through, except the tip. The handle had markings and seemed very old, almost ancient. 
 Once the preparations were complete, he took my arm and laid it flat against the armrest of the chair. With quick precision he made his mark. I was prepared for the pain. The procedure wouldn ’ t last more than two minutes. There it was, on my inner forearm, marks that would allow me to finally get what I wanted for so long. It was small, discrete, and it had sunk under my skin. 
 
 
 “ It is done. ” He told me with his palm extended. I placed the cash in his hand, rolled down my sleeve and exited the building the way I came. I passed a woman as I exited the alley, she was heading to the restaurant through the front door. “ The food is excellent. ” I said to her with new found confidence. She smiled back with a wink and a nod in agreement as she entered building. I continued on my way with budding confidence eager for tomorrow ’ s activities. 
 
 
 I walked into my apartment, set my keys down, and headed for the fridge. I turned on the TV for some background noise as it was still fairly early in the night. With soda in hand, I sat on the couch and channel surfed past a few infomercials and some of the local channels. I stopped on one channel In particular. There was a reporter in front of the restaurant that I had left earlier. Paramedics were putting a woman on a gurney and preparing to take her into the ambulance. I paused the screen. “ What is it? Could it be? ” I asked myself. I zoomed the image and it there it was. The woman that passed by me on the sidewalk, it was her. I went back to the live feed. 
 
 
 “ Sources can confirm that the woman died on the scene and attempts to resuscitate her ended in failure. ” the anchor relayed the message. 
 
 
 “ Huh, must have choked on some Dim Sum or something. ” I quipped and flipped the channel and continued surfing. 
 The next morning, I woke up early with bright eyes and new found energy. I got dressed, grabbed a quick bite to eat and headed into the office. There she was as always, dressed in her standard business attire, working the morning phone lines. “ Mornin ’ Jeanine. ” I said as I waved and headed towards the elevators. I stopped mid step, made a pivot towards her desk and stood by as she completed her conversation on the phone. 
 
 
 “ So... busy switchboard this morning? ” I asked. 
 
 
 “ It ’ s pretty quiet actually. ” She smiled and her eyes widened as she spoke. “ You ’ re here early aren ’ t you? 
 
 
 “ Um, ya, just a little bit I suppose. ” 
 
 
 “ Is an hour and a half considered a ‘ little bit ’ early nowadays. ” She quipped while twirling a curl in her hair. 
 
 
 “ You free for lunch? ” I asked. It was very straight forward and not typical based our past history. Typically I ’ d sneak by her desk hoping she didn ’ t notice me while I come and go to and from the office. However today was different. I felt my arm tingle. 
 
 
 “ Sure, I ’ d love to. How about Capriotti ’ s around the corner? ” 
 
 
 I confirmed and made my way to the elevators to get an early start. The rest of the floor soon filled with office workers buzzing about doing their daily thing when suddenly an abnormal commotion was heard. People were gathered around the window peering down into the lobby. I stood up and walked over to see what the commotion was all about. 
 
 
 “ I.. I dunno, they said she was talking one minute and then suddenly blood starting running out of her mouth and then she hit the floor. ” I overheard someone tell on of the other coworkers. 
 I got into the elevator and headed down. When I arrived the local police had tied the area off and paramedics had arrived. It was Jeanine, she didn ’ t make it. 
 
 
 I stood there and scratched an itch on my forearm. 
 
 “ Excuse me sir, I ’ m going to have to ask you to back away from the tape, you can not cross the line, if you have any questions you can call me. ” A policewoman maintaining the perimeter had just placed her card in the palm of my hand and slowly moved away while keeping her eyes locked with mine and smiling before she turned her attention to other onlookers near the area. 
 
 
 I returned to my office a little unnerved, but still in fairly good spirits. Some people just have bad luck and perhaps Jeanine just had bad luck. I pulled out the officer ’ s card from my pocket and tapped it across my desk. “ Officer Monica Delany. ” I read her card. “ She ’ s a cutie. ” 
 
 
 Just then, that tattoo started to itch again. 

