The New Me

Permanent Ink

Chapter 9- Permanent Ink

(Okay, I know it's been a while, but I finally updated!!! Sorry about the long wait guys. I've rewritten this chapter like three times! I wanted it to be perfect. Which, knowing me, it might not be, but who cares?! Read it anyway! Lol! Thx for sticking with me this whole time, and not leaving. And for that, I have another chapter for you! Enjoy!)

The party was going well. Everyone was having a good time. People chatting, playing games, and just having a blast. I guess they don't get to do this much? Eh. I wouldn't know. Maybe they do, maybe they dont. My guess is that they dont. I mean working for the Joker must be tiring. Always going places, and robbing people. Whatever they do. I did get some idea of what they do, when I was talking to everyone, until Joker pulled me aside.

He asked me how I felt about needles. Needles? What present would he have that involves needles? To be honest, I didn't care. Now I know that sounds weird, but hey, guess what? I don't care.

"Needles don't bother me." I replied to his question.

A smile spread across his face, and he took my hand. He brought me upstairs, to the room we watched the guy get shot on the other day. The one, where I found my knife on the wall, before I found out he took it. I got it back, so it's fine. He let go, leaving leaving me standing in the doorway, as he walked out of sight. I heard some shuffling, and then a loud 'Ah ha!'

"What did you get?"

He walked put carrying a small black box.

"What's that?"

"Sit down." He ordered pulling a chair over, next to another.

I sat down like he said. As he sat in the other one, he opened the box, and I saw what was inside. A tattoo gun. It was an 'ah ha' moment for me. I didn't realize that's what he was talking about. Wow. *face palm!* Lol.

He got the gun ready, and in a few minutes he was done. Looking at me, he held the gun up, as I watched the needle run back and forth. Was he serious? Oh man, shit just got real! Is he joking?! Wow! Okay.

"You're not joking, are you?" I asked not taking my eyes off the needle.

"Nope. I thought said they didn't bother you."

"No, they don't. It's just, I thought you were joking."

"Oh, ha! Yeah, no... I wasn't." He informed, putting on a purple glove. "Turn around."

"Unbelievable." I mumbled, as I spun around.

I sat the wrong way on the chair. You know facing the back. Yeah, that way. I heard the gun start up again, and my heart jumped a little. Not like a full jump...more like a leap. Or a shake. Why am I even trying? You know what I mean! If you dont, go ask somebody. I don't have time for this.

It kept getting louder, as it got closer. It was only when it punctured my skin the first time, did I jump. I wasn't expecting that. I grabbed the back of the chair, then bit my arm. Okay. That wasnt that bad. Then he began moving the gun around. Why?! I thought before hurt? Haha! Nope! It wasn't that bad, but it was worse than before. Like when you take a toothpick, and scrape it against your skin over and over again. But instead of one toothpick, it was like fifty.

He started on my right shoulder blade, and for about a half hour, then he moved to the back of my neck. It was fine too. I was falling asleep in the chair! It was putting me asleep. I didn't know why, but it didn't hurt anymore. Ha! I could do this all day. I was just about to fall asleep, when it stopped.

"Son of a bitch!" I yelled looking at him.

"What?" He asked.

"I was about to fall asleep."

"Oh...hahaha! Sorry."

"No you're not." I replied.

He pushed my shoulder so I faced the other way.

"Hold still."

He continued with whatever he was permanently putting on my skin. I didn't bother to ask, because he probably wouldn't tell me anyway. After a few minutes, I slowly dozed off to the sound of the gun. As for dreams, I didn't have any. I haven't, ever since I left home. And by home, I mean hell. You don't understand. What happened a few days ago, was just the tip of the iceberg. It depends on how drunk he is. I've gotten sliced so many times, but luckily they weren't deep enough to become scars. I hate when my father does that. I miss the old him. All I saw was pitch black. Voices spoke here and there, but that's it. No images. No other noises. And the voices weren't even loud. More like whispers. I heard shuffling, for a few minutes, then it stopped just before the voices came back. They were saying all these random things. Flower, green, hair black, dagger, love... all good things. Then it got weird. They started shouting things like: Monster...sharp...laugh...pain...blood... harm...one even said murder, but I didn't know why.

I remember yelling out at them to stop, when my eyes opened. I was blinded by a white light, and began to panic, but then realized where I was. Sighing in relief, I saw I was now lying down. On some kind of medical bed. Joker was sitting next to me, oblivious to my consciousness. He was mumbling something to himself. I couldn't hear what he was saying.

The gun was still going, and I felt a sharp pain on my right wrist. My body jerked, making him look towards me. He looked away like I was still asleep, and then started mumbling again. What the hell was he saying? My arm jerked again, but this time I winced a little too loudly.

"Ouch!"

He looked down at me, surprised.

"Your awake!"

"Yeah. How long was I out?" I asked.

"About a half hour. I'm almost done with this. Just another minute."

"Okay. What are you making anyway?"

Like I expected, he didn't answer. I told you he wouldn't tell me! Two minutes passed. And I heard the gun stop.

"Alright. You can get up." He informed putting the gun back in the box.

I sat up, and looked at my arm. There was spade with an 'S' in the center, and 'ha' written around it.

"What's the 'S' for?" I asked looking up at him.

"It stands for spade." He informed pointing at the word under it.

"Oh. I should've known that, it says it right there."

"It's your new name. When we go out, you won't be called by Dililah anymore. You'll be called Spade."

"Alright. What's on my back?"

He brought over a mirror, and what I saw shocked me. There a black dagger, with a green vine pattern around it. On the tip was a drop of blood, and above it, it had the word 'Joker's' in purple and green ink.

I couldn't say anything. I was speechless. It was beautiful. I never knew that he could make something like that. Now that's harsh, I know. I thought it was going to be something, like a skull, or blood. Which I would have been fine with anyway. I loved them both. I couldn't have asked for a better gift.

"Thank you." I said throwing my arms around his.

I guess I caught him off gaurd, because there was a long pause before he said anything.

"Yeah, um, your welcome."

Letting go, I smiled up at him...then it got awkward. No one knew what to say.

"So..." I spoke, breakng the silence. "What now?"

He shrugged.

"I guess we just go back to the party."

"Okay."