The Ink That Haunts Us

Chapter One

Something was up.

I couldn't figure out what exactly, but red flags were going up everywhere. Mack never asked for my help with paperwork. At least not since Freya started working at the shop. When I spoke to her earlier, she told me she and Jensen had decided to hang out around their apartment this evening. There wasn't anything strange about that as they frequently stayed in.

They were goals when I thought about relationships and as much as I tried to squish it, I couldn't help the pang of envy I felt when I thought of my two best friends. It wasn't because I felt something towards Jensen. He was the big brother I had always wanted. No, I envied them because they have found something so special in one another. Since the first day I met Jensen, he had been lost and when Freya showed up; she helped him find his way.
It was beautiful.

It overjoyed me to see them so happy, but like most, I wanted that kind of happiness for myself. And like so many, I thought I had found it once. It turned out to be the worst kind of love. It was the kind of love where a young and impressionable girl is taken advantage of. By the time I realized my mistake it was far too late, and I paid dearly for it.

Paranoia swept over me and I looked over my shoulder, expecting someone to be standing behind me. There wasn't, of course. I was standing all alone on the sidewalk in front of the shop. Giving myself a shake, I rid all my dark thoughts from my mind.
My mind had strayed to a dark place I worked hard every day to stay away from. It was a place filled with nightmares and shadows of a scared girl and I wouldn't let it damper my mood. Not again and not today. Today had been a great day, and I wasn't about to end it in a dark place.

Forcing the dark thoughts from my mind, I pulled open the door to Colorado Ink, the tattoo shop I worked at. It was one of the hottest tattoo shops in Denver. To me, it was a sanctuary. The place I felt most safe. It was my home away from home.

As soon as the door closed behind me, I knew I was right to be suspicious.

"Surprise!"

"Happy birthday!"

My friends all sprang from behind the reception desk where they had been lying in wait. Wide grins spread across their faces as they all took in my expression. For a moment, I stood there confused, before the streamers, balloons, and happy birthday banners hanging around the shop clued me in.

My throat closed up with all the emotions that assaulted me. I had to take in a few deep, steadying breaths to keep from bursting into tears. There was no way I would embarrass myself in such a way. Not over something as silly as a surprise birthday party. Even if it was my first one. Taking in one last deep breath, I tried to arrange my face into something that didn't resemble a deer caught in headlights. I think I was more shocked over the fact they managed to pull this off without me finding out than over the party itself.

The guys liked to joke I would have been a better FBI agent than a tattoo artist. I always knew when something was up and it will nag at me until I figure out how they did it. When I spied Mack standing back behind everyone, I knew who to question first.
Freya was the first to move from behind the counter.

She bounced over pulling me into a hug.

"Are you surprised?" She sounded hopeful.

"I think that might be an understatement, babe," I chuckled, weakly. Surprised wasn't a strong enough word. I was completely flabbergasted.

She pulled back, letting me see the hurt in her eyes.

"I only had two days to prepare since somebody didn't bother to tell me her birthday was coming up!" I pulled her back into my arms.