ANL - mark lee

16

it's been three days since aeri has been instated into the gang and the dreamies officially have their first assignment with their new member.

it is time for aeri to be revealed.

"I have to do what?"

"it doesn't have to be big ri, but you have to get one" jaemin explained.

"why do I need a tattoo?"

"it shows that you're part of the gang, keeps others away from you. plus it looks kinda cool." jaemin smiled up at his friend from his spot on the floor next to her bed.

"where's yours then?" aeri challenged.

"I thought you'd never ask," jaemin quickly stood up, rolling his right sleeve up.

sure enough, on his right bicep sat the gang emblem.

"did it hurt?" aeri asked.

"no it felt like a massage," jaemin rolled his eyes, "yes it hurt ri. but it wasn't too bad. just depends, renjun whined like a baby during his."

"what did I do?" renjun asked as he entered the room.

"nothing. show ri your tattoo." jaemin replied.

renjun obeyed, rolling his sleeve up and revealing the emblem on his left forearm.

"so what, does it have to be in a certain spot?" aeri asked.

renjun quickly took over explaining, "not necessarily. taeyong's is on his chest, he has it over his heart, something about how he'd die for the gang. jeno's is on his back. jaehyun's is on his collarbone. truly just depends on what you want, but you might want to decide soon, Ten is almost set up downstairs."

a few hours later, aeri was marked. she stared down at her right forearm, studying the black ink that now signified her place in a new home.

ten smiled at her reaction, "I'd have to say that's one of my better works."

"so, what now?" aeri asked.

"now, we show you off." taeyong stated as he entered the room, "you're part of this family. it's time for everyone else to know exactly where you stand. there's an outfit in your room, put it on and be in the garage in an hour."

aeri nodded, quickly heading to her room. as she arrived she looked at the outfit that hung from her closet door.

the black leather pants slid on smoother than expected. and the black short sleeved shirt, hugged her body slightly tighter than what made aeri comfortable.

aeri had just finished braiding her long hair over her shoulder, when a knock sounded at the door.

"come in." she mumbled through the hair tie that she held in her mouth.

taeyong entered the room, inspecting her outfit.

"it's perfect." he finally concluded, "makes you look just old enough to be dangerous."

"thank you?"

"it's a good thing. tonight, others  will know your face and once they see your tattoo, they will know you're one of us." taeyong explained, "all you have to do tonight is walk through the club, make sure they see your tattoo, hang out for a little bit then leave. the dreamies will be with you. this also solidifies you as a part of their unit."

"so walk in, make sure they know who I stand with, and then leave?"

"precisely, let's head down to the garage. they are probably waiting for you."

sure enough, as aeri and taeyong entered the garage the group of boys turned to face them. aeri's jaw hit the floor. they all stood dressed in all black dress pants, with varying kinds of dark black button ups.

"holy shit. you guys can clean up nice."

Chenle's jaw dropped, but jaemin quickly smacked him on the arm, correcting the younger boy.

"cmon kids, time to go. staff says that the club is packed right now." taeyong quickly climbed into the drivers seat and everyone else followed, taking their seats in the large vehicle.

the ride there held a comfortable silence, everyone busy on their phones. everyone, except aeri.

she stared quietly out the window, wondering what her life would be like after tonight. she had been training for over two months, her once skinny body now had muscle. as winwin had told her after her final gun training, she was officially lethal.

the car rolled to a stop, outside the door of the club. aeri looked over as the van door slid open to see jaemin wearing a reassuring smile.

"you're going to be fine, just follow our lead."

"and look scary, it's cooler when you look scary." chenle added from the backseat.

aeri offered a tight lipped smile, "got it."

as the group approached the door to the club aeri's heart pounded in her ears. the bouncer was quick to let them in with a quick flash of their tattoos.

the hallway that was the entrance of the club, was so dark it almost seemed pitch black compared to the outside. aeri followed wordlessly as the boys approached a door.

as jeno opened the door, you could hear music and voices from the club below. the door led to a small flight of stairs that the boys began to descend down.

jaemin, looked back at aeri, squeezed her right hand in his and then turned to face forward, following everyone else down the stairs.

aeri took a deep breath, this was it. this was what she was waiting for. as she descended down the stairs, the lighting became slightly brighter, with flashes of neon green.

as the staircase ended aeri tried not to let her jaw drop.

this place was huge.

on the back wall poker and gambling tables were dimly lit. you could hear the faint shuffling of cards from across the room. low chatter echoed off the walls as all eyes turned to face the group.

aeri tried to glance at one of the boys from her peripheral, but couldn't only see their blurry outlines. she then locked her eyes forward, staring at the back of jenos head, doing her best to minimize the terror that she felt.

as she walked forward, someone grabbed her right forearm, jerking her back.

she turned to see an older man with a crooked smile inspecting her tattoo.

"the neos got themselves a bitch!" he laughed, "you're a pretty one. what's ur name sweetheart?"

the man's breath stank of whiskey and his teeth were yellowed and chipped. everyone had stopped to stare at the scene in the middle of the room.

aeri stared back at the man, feeling like a deer in the headlights. she could hear jaemins breath hitch from behind her.

"her name is none of your concern and I suggest you let go of her." mark's calm voice spoke from behind her.

"or what?" the man challenged, tightening his grip on aeri's arm.

she heard mark sigh from behind her, "wrong answer."

aeri heard the crunch before she had time to process what had happened. the man clutched his nose as blood streamed down his face.

she froze at the scene in front of her, only to feel a tug on her arm pulling her in the opposite direction.

the room was a blur as jaemin pulled aeri to a back table where the group sat down.

"don't look so fazed by it, they'll think you're weak." jeno whispered in her ear.

aeri nodded, sitting up straighter.

she glanced at mark who was looking anywhere but her and then at jaemin who gave her an encouraging half smile.

"what now?" aeri asked.

"now, we sit here for a few minutes. talk, drink, and then we leave." renjun explained.

and that's exactly what the group did.