Tobias
Zeke and I spend the next few hours by the chasm, chatting as if we haven't spoken in years.
"How is your mom?" I ask after a while, my throat still scratchy.
"Fine," He replies, "She has been working at the parlour a lot lately, keeping herself busy."
I nod.
"I didn't know she worked at the parlour." I say after a while.
"Yeah, well…she does now." He replies heavily.
It must be hard on his family, losing their dad first and now their brother. We stand in silence for a while, watching the water splash violently against the rocks, the occasional spray of water wetting our ankles.
"We should go" I say, looking directly at the bottom of the chasm.
Zeke looks at me perplexed, "Go where?" He asks.
"To the parlour, get a tattoo." I say, surprised at myself. It is not like me to be this spontaneous.
He looks at me for a moment and a smile creeps onto his face.
"Let's do it." He says.
The Dauntless inside me takes over and we head down to the tattoo parlour, our footsteps fast and determined.
When we open the door, we are welcomed by a wave of heavy, rock music and blinding fluorescent lights; hung in sporadic places all through the parlour.
Hana greets us with a warm smile and I wave politely. Zeke and I decide to walk around and look at the different designs of tattoos; he looks somewhat indecisive, but I know exactly what I want.
I take a shaky step toward the counter and Hana looks up at me with tired eyes. I still feel uneasy without Tori's exhausted face, but greet Hana just the same.
"Four." She says with a smile.
"Mrs Pedrad." I say back.
"Oh please," She says, "Call me Hana."
"Will do." I say.
"Now, Four, what can I do for you today?"
"Just a tattoo thanks." I reply
"Indeed," She says, "But which one?"
I pause for a second before answering, "This one." I say stiffly.
She smiles as I hand her a template containing a single raven.
"Where shall I put it?" She asks again.
I answer without hesitation, "Right here." I say, tapping my left shoulder, my voice quaking a little.
She nods and fiddles with the needles beside her.
"Hey mom" Zeke says from behind me.
"Ezekiel." She says warmly, setting aside her equipment.
"Just this one, thanks." He says, looking at the ground and handing her his template.
Hana takes it with a soft hand and tears form in her eyes. On the template is a single dragon, slightly curled. Just like Uriah's.
"Where, son?" She asks, her voice shaking.
Zeke doesn't speak, but simply puts his finger behind his left ear; the same place Uriah had his.
Hana nods and swallows hard; shifting silently to the equipment.
I look at Zeke, feeling my eyes burn. This means so much more than I thought it would.
Getting these tattoos is not just a reckless, Dauntless action; it represents the people we left and who left us; our loved ones that will never return. But they will be forever in our hearts and we will wear them proudly, tattooed on our skin.