Tales of amity Park's graveyard
Chapter 14: Ink
The sun was starting to set over the city of Amity Park as Sam Manson marched into her bedroom, both upset that she was scolded by her parents and very happy about the reason, she had finally done it, her most rebellious moment ever. Animal rights protests seemed like child's play now that she had a tattoo on her middle back, though she recalled the difficulty in finding an artist willing to work on her, not even with financial persuasion could find one that wanted to touch a fourteen-year-old girl without parental consent, for a moment thought that she might have to wait until she was of legal age. Eventually, she came across a run-down tattoo parlor that had seen better days which made the goth doubt entering the place.
It was upon seeing the artist that Sam decided to venture into the shop, the artist was a bold woman with three long spikes protruding from her skull, and she wore a most daring outfit that consisted of a leather top with matching booty shorts that showed her bare skin and the many tattoos that she got throughout the years, her eyes were black as night, the result of the controversial eye tattoo and finally all manner of piercings. Sam knew that her first tattoo was in good hands, though didn't consider it to go nearly as far as the woman before her, just something simple and elegant.
"Holy shit! This is freaking awesome."- Sam said as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.
"Now that's some nice ink you got there"- the grim reaper expressed as he came out from the shadows looking at Sam's back. "Tattoos, the ultimate shout of personal decoration"- the robed creature added.
The reaper's large and intimidating figure loomed over the goth who was more interested in her tattoo than in death itself, she peeled off her blouse, to better admire the work done on her, Sam felt like jumping around in sheer excitement as she stared at the tattoo, a black viper coil up around a sword, the artist was extremely talented as the animal looked life-like, almost as if it would spring out from her back and slither away, the attention to details was admirable, the fangs seemed to be drooling, but the eyes were the cream of the crop, she could swear they were looking at her. its realism was uncanny but Sam more than welcomed it.
"Man, this is so worth getting grounded for a whole month."- Sam said to herself, though she thought her mother would ground her for life.
A rather lenient punishment. In hindsight, it wasn't as bad as the time she was arrested for attacking a police officer during one of her many protests to save the world, at least for the most reason cause. Nevertheless, her parents were shocked when they saw her walking into the house, her choice of clothing left little room to hide the tattoo, but even they had to admit that the talent of the artist behind the work was immense, even so, Sam got yelled at and grounded but there was nothing her parents could do now other than taking away her credit card and shortening her curfew.
"There's something ominous about that snake."- the grim reaper said as he passed his bony finger over the ink. "Damn, I gotta go to work."- the creature added.
Sam couldn't feel any more rebellious, and desperately wanted to show off to her two only friends, she was sure Danny and Tucker would be very jealous of her new tattoo. The goth never wanted to be the center of attention but she was sure that everyone would be talking about her once they saw the tattoo, the idea of going to the most popular water park in town, Floaty Heights, crossed her mind a couple of times, she hated the place but it was the only location she could show off her ink without passing as a pervert. There was no way she could just parade around town shirtless like a boy or in a bikini without having some police officer calling her mom.
Sleeping proved to be a rather difficult endeavor due to the constant sharp jolts of pain that crossed her body each time she lay on her back, Sam knew to expect some level of pain due to the tattoo but this was much more painful than what she expected, it didn't matter since she got what she wanted. She was still quite sleepy by the time morning came about, even so, she jumped out of bed once the alarm clock went off, Sam was more than excited to go to school, something scarce in her, rather than wearing her customary black blouse that exposed her belly button, she went for something a little more daring, a black backless crop-top that left her entire back exposed, just a small fabric covering her breasts. The black viper and the sword were in full view making her giggle.
Sam couldn't help but smirk as she walked down the street, turning heads as she made her way to school, her short black hair and milky skin contrasted perfectly with the black tattoo she showed off by carrying the backpack on her left shoulder rather than on her back. The sight of her two boys soon caught her attention as she came closer to the corner where they often met, the goth's smile grew even longer as she came closer to the two teens eager to show them her newest acquisition, Sam was more than sure they would go mad with jealousy upon seeing her new ink.
"Notice something new?"- Sam declared as she stood opening her hands.
Both boys raised an eyebrow as they examined their friend, scanning her from head to toe without seeing anything new other than her new top, that is until she turned around making both teens gasp in surprise as they laid eyes over the mighty snake and the sword inked on Sam's back. Danny was the first to comment that her mom would ground her for life once she saw it, but the girl told him that the worst was behind her already and was punished, though assured her best friend that it was more than worth it. The goth perked up as she felt a hand running over her back making her jump away.
"Sorry about that but it looks so real."- Tucker said with a long smile.
Being touchy with her was one of the few downsides of being friends with boys, especially if they didn't consider her a girl but another one of the boys. In hindsight, she did start this trend by always putting her arms over their shoulders, or staying late in their houses. Danny and Tucker continued admiring the tattoo as they marched to school where more students started to gawk at Sam as she walked down the hallways, some teens muttering words of praise while others mocked her, it didn't matter. Needless to say, the vice-principal called the goth to his office later that evening wanting to know about the tattoo, it wasn't a pleasant conversation but at least she avoided detention.
(XXXX)
As evening came about, Sam tossed herself on the bed expecting a boring weekend, she had come home much earlier than normal as part of her punishment for the whole tattoo incident though she didn't particularly mind staying home a few weeks since she got what she wanted, even if that meant not going out with her friends. The goth then took off her top and quickly headed over to the large mirror incrusted in the wall, her eyes gleaming as she looked upon her tattoo, though the position made it seem slightly larger than before, which was something she didn't expect but didn't mind either. She traced her fingers over the intricate design, feeling the slight sting that reminded her of the rebellious act she had committed just a few days ago. But as she stared at the tattoo, she couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and ownership over it. It wasn't just a mere piece of ink on her skin, it was a symbol of her independence and defiance against her strict parents. She knew they would never approve of her getting a tattoo, but that only made her want it more.
It was her way of breaking free from their expectations and forging her path. As Sam got lost in her thoughts, she heard a knock on her door which startled her, she knew who it was on the other side and put her top back on before answering. Sam rolled her eyes as her mother Pamela waltzed dressed in a needlessly expensive cocktail which reminded Sam that her family was going to a boring party. Sam always felt suffocated by her family's high expectations and constant need for perfection. She longed to break free from the mold they had crafted for her and to stop trying to control every aspect of her life. But every time she tried to voice her desires or make a decision for herself, her parents would do their utmost to shut her down. They wanted her to follow the family business, marry a successful man from a prestigious family, and live a picture-perfect life. That wasn't her.
"Great, another night stuck at home with no freedom."- Sam spoke as she saw her mom walking into the room.
"You know why you're stuck at home, young lady. You got that tattoo against our wishes."- Pamela retorted with a scolding tone.
"It's my body, I should be able to do what I want with it."- Sam rolled her eyes
"Only delinquents have tattoos, Sam. Do you want to be associated with that kind of crowd?"- Pamela added with frustration, she loathed tattoos and piercings as she thought only the lower class had them.
"Yeah, because a little bit of ink automatically makes me a criminal."- Sam fired back. "I suddenly feel like I wanna go rob the Nasty Burger!"- the goth added.
"It's not just about the tattoo, it's about respect and following the rules we set for you.
"Yeah, because your strict rules have done wonders for me"- Sam muttered under her breath but her mom heard and ignored the comment.
"Sam, we've been over this. You broke our trust by getting that tattoo without our permission. Until your punishment is over, there will be no going out, no parties, and no friends over."- Pamela said looking down at her daughter. "I really would have liked you to come to the party with us and meet Mr. Johnson's son, such a charming boy, not like those two vagabonds you hang out with.
Sam's eyes were darting around the room as her mother's words sank in. She didn't care for the party or whatever silly boy her mom was trying to hook her up but calling her only two friends bums was out of line, nevertheless, she knew she had messed up by getting that tattoo without her parents' permission, but she couldn't help feeling frustrated by the punishment they had given her. Sam couldn't help but roll her eyes. She knew her parents were strict, but this was just ridiculous. But deep down, Sam knew she had made a mistake. She had acted impulsively and had gotten the tattoo without thinking about the consequences. She knew her parents would be upset, but she never thought they would be this strict. She couldn't even remember the last time she had spent a weekend at home without going out with her friends. It was going to be a long and lonely punishment.
"Oh wow, thanks for the reminder. I'm gonna miss out on the most boring and lamest high-class party with a bunch of old dinosaurs."- Sam replied sarcastically.
"It's not just about the party, Sam. It's about you learning to respect our rules and boundaries."- Pamela said in a softer tone.
"Yeah, whatever."- Said replied with a cocking attitude.
It was then that Sam's father, Jeremy Manson walked into the bedroom trying to put on a tie, he was dressed in a pristine smoking, his blonde hair combed in the same twirl he always has, the man didn't make mention of the tattoo, he knew his daughter already got an earful from Pamela and didn't feel the need to add to the drama. The man explained that they would be at the party all night and to call them if anything happened. Sam rolled her eyes and sighed; she knew it was pointless to argue with her parents. They were the epitome of the perfect high-class family, always attending fancy parties and social events, putting on a facade of perfection while trying to control every aspect of her life behind closed doors. Sam couldn't stand the fake people and their fake smiles; she would rather spend her Saturday night doing something she enjoyed instead of being surrounded by a bunch of snobs.
"Have fun at your fancy party, Dad."- Sam said with a smirk as her parents walked down the corridor.
"And remember, no sneaking out or having anyone over. We'll know."- Jeremy said with a stern voice.
"Yeah, yeah. Don't worry."- the goth replied.
(XXXX)
Sam was expecting a boring weekend since Danny was camping with his family at Lake Eerie while Tucker visiting his grandmother on the other side of the country, but at least she didn't have to attend a boring party filled with snobs. The girl then decided to watch one of her many favorite horror movies. Armed with snacks and popcorn made her way to the living room ready to enjoy her night, but as her back touched the couch, she felt something cold on her back. She turned and saw nothing, giving it no further thought sat down she couldn't help but feel that something was off, the kind of strange sensation of being watched. It wasn't the first time she was home alone, but this time it felt different. As the movie played on, she couldn't shake off the feeling and decided to turn on some lights to ease her mind.
"Just my mind playing tricks on me"- Sam reassured herself.
Just as she was about to get up, felt a sudden weight pushing her down, almost as if someone pulled her back. Something was definitely wrong; she had seen countless horror movies to know there was something amiss. Sam slowly looked around the living room, it was too big making it easy for someone to hide. The more she searched the more she calmed down, perhaps she only lost her balance. She then recalled the actors in horror movies who had the same train of thought before being chopped to pieces. With all the lights on, continued her search but came empty-handed. She didn't believe in ghosts or any supernatural entities despite her closest friend being a ghost enthusiast, but there was a nagging feeling that she was being watched. She brushed it off as her mind played tricks on her, she knew she was tired and her imagination was running wild. She sat back on the couch, trying to shake off the uneasiness that had settled in her. But as she closed her eyes, she heard a faint whisper that sent shivers down her spine.
Sam's heart was racing, she was paralyzed with fear. She wanted to run, to scream for help, but her body wouldn't cooperate. The goth looked around, cold sweat dripping from her forehead, horror-filled screams coming from her television. She sat there for a while, trying to catch her breath and calm her racing heart. She finally convinced herself that it was all just her mind playing tricks on her. Thinking she might have watched too much television, decided to go to the bedroom and call it a night. But as she closed the door behind her, she couldn't shake off the feeling that someone or something was still watching her. Sam suddenly felt something move under her top, it didn't feel like a hand, it slithered. She immediately froze, her mind racing with terrifying thoughts. She mustered up the courage to peel off her top but once again found nothing.
"Something was moving under my top."- Sam told herself with a worried expression. "Probably just my imagination, or maybe a bug. Nothing creepy at all."- the girl continued.
Sam brushed her hand over her back and could feel the tattoo, though it felt bumpier than it should be, worried that her new ink might be getting infected headed to the bathroom to apply some ointment, the sense of unease never leaving her. Sam could swear someone was watching her from the shadows but constantly told her that she was alone and all doors and windows were locked by her parents before leaving, she was safe. But just as looked at her reflection in the mirror noticed that her tattoo had changed, the snake inked on her back seemed bigger, more lifelike. She rubbed her eyes thinking she was hallucinating. But when she looked back at the mirror, the snake moved its head, its eyes glowing red. Sam let out a blood-curdling scream as she shook and twirled.
The girl crushed on the corner rubbing her back against the wall but couldn't feel anything at all, she was hyperventilating from the sheer shock. Sam stood up and looked at the mirror again. Her blood froze, it wasn't a dream or a hallucination, the tattoo had moved, and the snake's head was no longer looking to the side but directly forward. Blood-red eyes glared at her with a starving expression. Sam stumbled back, her heart racing as she tried to make sense of what was happening. Perhaps it was just a new technique the artist used to make it seem like the snake moved, but Sam knew that wasn't possible at all. She tried to calm herself down, telling herself that it was just her imagination playing tricks on her. But as she looked back at the mirror, its sharp fangs dripped with what looked like venom.
Sam let out a piercing scream, her mind racing with fear and confusion. She couldn't understand how this was happening, and the more she tried to rationalize it, the more terrifying the situation became. She was trapped in a room with a tattoo that seemed to have a life of its own. Out of desperation, Sam started to scratch the tattoo until drawing blood but not a single drop of ink, she could feel her body trembling as she desperately tried to come up with a solution. Should she try to remove the tattoo? Was that even possible? Or should she call for help? But who would believe her? Who would understand what she was going through?
"Danny! He'll know what to do. He always complains about weird ass family doing some random paranormal shit"- Sam declared as she rushed out of the bathroom.
Sam rushed back to the living room searching for the phone, her back suddenly started to feel heavier with each step almost as if she was carrying a backpack full of books. She needed to contact Danny as soon as possible, Sam was sure that he knew a way to get rid of this horrible tattoo and whatever curse came with it. Her hands shook violently as she dialed Danny's cellphone number but it didn't connect forcing her to redial over and over again, growing desperate by the second, tears streaming down her face. A sudden hissing made the girl drop the phone; she could feel the snake moving under her skin. Sam forced herself to punch the number again only to receive the same irritating tone. It was then that she recalled Danny was out camping and had no signal in the middle of the woods. Her heart sank and her mind went blank. She was alone, trapped in this house with the cursed tattoo.
(XXXX)
"Come on, pick up, pick up!"- Sam tried calling her parents.
"Hi, you've reached the voicemail of Jeremy Manson. I'm not available right now, but leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as possible."- a prerecorded message said.
"Great, just great. What am I supposed to do now?"- Sam said as she redialed the number.
"You have reached the maximum time for leaving a message. Goodbye."- the robotic voice on the side said before hanging up.
It was a nightmare. The one time she needed them the most and they were too busy partying to pick up the phone, Sam could picture her father passed out drunk on the floor while her mother was busy flirting with some rich old snob, or perhaps they were too busy talking about some random political matter, it didn't matter at all. Panic started to take over her body, her breaths becoming shallow and fast. She needed to find a solution and quickly. She considered calling 911 but would they even believe her? A cursed tattoo that was slowly turning into a real snake? It sounded like something out of a horror movie but the weight hanging over her back told her it was real. She paced the living room, her mind racing with possibilities and solutions, but she couldn't come up with anything. Sam yelled frustrated and decided to call 911 and have anyone help her, it was by far better than being alone.
Suddenly, the tattoo started to burn, a searing pain spreading throughout her body. She fell to the ground, writhing in agony that she had never felt before in her entire life, her screams echoing through the empty house. Sam could feel her skin tearing apart, she could feel the cold of metal underneath her skin, and worst of all was the wriggling sensation as if the snake tattooed on her back was trying to get out. Just when she thought she couldn't take it anymore, the pain stopped, and the snake seemed to retreat back into her skin. She lay there, panting and sweating, her thoughts jumbled and her body exhausted. She needed to find a way out of this, it was only a matter of time before the worst happened before the snake ripped her apart from the inside. Sam scrambled to her feet, her hand instinctively reaching for the tattoo, feeling a sense of dread wash over her.
"Why?! It's just a normal fucking tattoo!"- Sam Yelled as she brushed her fingers over the tattoo on her back.
She could feel the snake's scales and the cold iron of the dagger, her heart skipped a beat as she felt the outline of the blade under her skin. Sam remembered a book she had seen in the library about ancient curses and rituals that her grandma bought at a yard sale years ago, perhaps it had some answers that could help her survive this order, with any hesitation, she ran to the library located just next to her father's office, her heart racing and her body trembling with fear, but just as she reached the door, a sudden pain engulfed her body again. This time, it was different, it felt like a thousand needles were poking her skin from the inside out, and she could feel the snake growing larger and larger, its body coiling around her internal organs. She fell to her knees, screaming in agony as she desperately tried to find a way to stop it.
Sam's mind was racing, she couldn't think straight, but she knew she had to do something before it was too late. She remembered a passage from the book about breaking curses by finding the source of the curse and destroying it. With a newfound determination, she crawled towards her father's office, the pain intensifying with every inch she moved. It was locked, her heart sank to the pit of her stomach, there was no way for her to break the open, not in her current state. Desperate times demanded desperate measures, so she forced her feet to the kitchen, if she couldn't cast out the curse with a magic book then maybe she could cut it out. Her hand trembling as she peeled off her top, she grabbed a kitchen knife and without much thought pierced her back as hard as she could, ignoring the excruciating pain as much as she could, her determination being put to the test as she sliced through her flesh. Sam took a deep breath and continued to cut, the pain was unbearable, but she didn't dare to stop. Blood poured out as she carved her way through the tattoo, could feel the snake slowly moving around.
But just as she thought she was making progress, the pain suddenly stopped, and the snake disappeared. She collapsed onto the floor, panting and covered in blood, but relief washed over her as she knew she had broken the curse and saved herself. She looked down at the knife in her hand, covered in blood and body fat, Sam started to chuckle as she thought to have ridden herself from the curse. She stumbled her way back to the living, with a gleeful smile looked at her back in the mirror but much to her horror noticed the snake had moved enough to avoid being cut by the knife. The girl yelled as she once more took the knife and tried to cut the snake tattoo out but her blade suddenly clinked upon touching the dagger tattoo, she could feel the tattooed snake slithering beneath her skin, mocking her failure. Sam's heart sank, she had failed, she couldn't believe that she was still under the curse.
"Fuck you!"- Sam Yelled as she stabs herself with the kitchen knife.
She could feel the pain once again go throughout her body, but this time it was different. It was more intense, more agonizing. She fell to the floor, writhing in pain as the snake tattoo on her back started to move and writhe as well, she let go of the blade as she soared in horror. Sam could feel the snake slowly consuming her from the inside out, moving under her skin. She couldn't believe it, after all her efforts and sacrifices, she was still under whatever curse had fallen over her. She pulled out the knife but was unable to cut any further, the pain was too great. Using all her strength and willpower got on her feet and headed to the mirror where she saw the damn tattoo untouched by the blade, it was infuriating. She could see the snake moving under her skin, it was as if it had a life of its own, it was no hallucination nor a vivid nightmare. She started to panic, her mind racing with thoughts of what would happen to her. She musters all the courage she can and plunges the knife at her back with the precision of a drunken monkey but this time she doesn't aim for the snake but for the dagger tattoo printed on her back, if she couldn't strike the snake then taking out the dagger would surely do the trick.
She screamed as she felt the knife go into her skin, mixing with the searing pain from the snake, but she kept pushing until she felt the dagger. The pain was unbearable but no matter how hard she tried to pull, the blade was deeply incrusted in her skin, perhaps even to her bones. The kitchen knife snapped in half, leaving her with only a small part of the blade in her hand. She collapsed onto the floor, tears streaming down her face as she realized she was trapped. She tried to think of a way out, but her mind was clouded with fear and pain. Suddenly, she heard a knock at the door. She tried to call for help, but her voice was barely a whisper. Her vision was blurry with tears, but soon saw the master bathroom at the end of the hallway, her mother's prize room. Sam chuckled weakly as she crawled down the hallway leaving a trail of blood behind. The goth wasn't one for surrender, she could summon a protest with just a single phone call, a curse tattoo wasn't going to stop her.
"If I can't pull you out, then I'll drown you"- Sam said as her bloody hand opened the bathtub's faucet. "I'll boil you alive if I have to"- She added.
She was determined to get rid of the cursed tattoo, no matter what the cost, she had already endured plenty of pain, and a little more meant nothing. She felt the hot water hit her skin, mixing with the blood and pain. She gritted her teeth and closed her eyes, trying to focus on anything but the excruciating pain. The thought of bragging to Danny about coming across a real curse crossed her mind, he would be mad with jealousy, soon it would be nothing more than a horrible story she would tell her friends, even if they didn't believe it. Sam could feel the snake moving around her back, scrapping her muscles. She couldn't let it win, she couldn't let fear and pain take over. She had to be stronger, she had to fight. But something was wrong, terribly wrong, the snake kept moving unbothered by the near-boiling water.
Sam opened her eyes in shock, she couldn't understand how the snake wasn't affected by the heat, it wasn't supposed to survive, she slapped her forehead, it was a curse after all, not a real animal. It was ridiculous to even think she could drown a curse. She could feel the panic rising inside of her, she had underestimated the curse, she had underestimated the power of the tattoo. Sam tried to conjure up another way to rid herself of the tattoo, that was the problem. She tried to stab it and slice it but it didn't work, but the tattoo was the source of this evil. Sam headed back to her room, and there she saw it, the scalpel. Much sharper than the kitchen knife and far more precise, the snake seemed to be moving only around her back. The girl looked at her back in the beauty mirror, it was already red from the boiling water, cut and punctured, blood flowing out. She couldn't wait any longer, she had to do it, she had to cut her skin. It was a terrifying thought, but she was determined, she had to do it for her own sake. With shaking hands, Sam grabbed the scalpel and pressed it against her skin. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath with one swift motion.
It was a long deep cut that ran vertically across her back, she fell on her knees. There was no pain, she was going into shock, she could taste the irony of the matter had she listened to her mother all of this would have been avoided. It was then that she saw it, just underneath her bed was a small wooden chest, and within was a small plastic bag filled with cocaine, she wasn't a user, in fact, she only got it as a gift after sneaking into a heavy metal nightclub and bribing her way into the backstage where she managed to hang out with the musicians who thought her to be over eighteen, though deep down, Sam was sure they didn't believe her. Sam only pretended to partake in the drug consumption and left soon after things started to get too intense for her. Even now, she didn't know why she took the drugs back home, if her parents found out, she would be grounded past her adult years, but she couldn't bring herself to throw it away.
"Just one sniff and I can endure peeling this shit off my back!"- Sam said as she made a line and snort as best she could.
Sam had no idea how long it would take for it to take effect, she stared at the bloody scalpel, she couldn't bring herself to use it again, perhaps once the drugs took effect, she would be able to slice off her entire back and be done with the curse. Looking at the cocaine, Sam had an idea. She grabbed the plastic bag and sprinkled some of the powder onto her open wound. She winced in pain as the white powder mixed with her blood, creating a strange paste. But to her surprise, the tattoo seemed to react violently, writhing and hissing as if in pain. Sam continued to sprinkle more of the cocaine onto her wound, feeling a sense of satisfaction as the tattoo seemed to shrink and weaken. She knew she had found the cure, she just had to keep going, keep pouring the cocaine onto the wound until the tattoo was destroyed. As she continued to sprinkle the powder, Sam couldn't help but think about how ironic it was that the very thing she had been warned against by her mother was now saving her. She couldn't believe that she had been so foolish to take the drugs, but she couldn't deny that they were now her saving grace. The pain was becoming unbearable, but she pushed through, pouring more and more of the cocaine onto her wound until the bag was empty. The girl collapsed on the floor heaving for air.
(XXXX)
Sam looked with tired eyes at the mirror reflecting her blood-covered back, horribly cut and stabbed, the terrible vertical gash on the side. Nothing a little surgery couldn't fix but it was over. The girl opens a soda can and pours the liquid over her back uncaring for the seething pain as the carbonated drink touches her skin. Her eyes opened in utter shock and horror as she looked at the tattoo dagger still printed on her back but the snake was nowhere to be seen, panic started to build up again, and tears gathered in her eyes. Sam screamed as her leg and knee suddenly snapped backward and she fell to the ground in agony. There it was, the wretched snake, printed on her right leg, she couldn't believe it, after all the torture she forced herself through, and it was all for naught. She lay on the floor, tears streaming down her face, feeling defeated and hopeless. But then, a sudden wave of determination washed over her. She couldn't give up now, not after all she had been through. With a newfound strength, Sam dragged herself to the nearest table and grabbed a knife. She gritted her teeth and began to carve away at the tattoo on her leg, ignoring the excruciating pain. She worked tirelessly, her hands shaking from exhaustion and pain, but she refused to stop.
The goth was being driven to madness as she started to stab the snake, knowing that it was all for nothing. The damned tattoo slithered up her legs and across her belly. She could feel the cold metal of the knife against her skin, but she didn't care. She had to get rid of it, she had to be free from its curse. Sam collapsed on the floor, her body covered in blood and sweat as she held the scalpel up high, she couldn't bring herself to bring down the tiny blade on her belly. Even in her deranged state of mind, knew that if she ran the scalpel across her belly then her guts would spill over the floor. But she couldn't let the snake win, she couldn't let it control her any longer. With a deep breath, Sam plunged the scalpel into her skin, carving away at the tattoo with fierce determination. The pain was unbearable, but she didn't stop. She collapsed on the floor, exhausted, crying and bleeding.
"Why?"- Sam whimpered.
Her eyes opened in utter terror as she saw the tattoo moving towards her chest and stopping between her breasts, her heart was beating harder than ever before. Sam looked with shock as the snake rose pulling her skin until it broke. At that moment, Sam felt like she was losing her mind. She couldn't believe what was happening. She tried to scream, but her voice was caught in her throat. Sam looked at the creature, it was far from the artwork she had done, it was the black mamba but a white-colored cobra with ruby-red eyes. She could feel the rest of the snake slithering inside her, its cold scales scraping against her organs. She wanted to rip it out, but she was paralyzed by fear. As the snake continued to move inside her, Sam felt her senses fading away. She was losing control of her body, her thoughts, her very being.
She had underestimated the power of the cursed tattoo and now it was consuming her. Sam grabbed the nearby lamp with one last burst of strength and smashed it against the snake's head. But it was useless; the snake was too strong, or perhaps she was too weak. And as Sam lay there, defeated and broken, she realized that she had been doomed from the start, there was nothing for her to have done to prevent this outcome. The goth who had once reveled in darkness had now become a victim of her own twisted desires. She looked at the snake as it loomed closer with its jaw wide open, long pointy fangs protruding from within, Sam twitched for a moment as the creature bit her.
She felt the venom coursing through her body, burning her from the inside out. In her last moments, foam came out from her mouth, her vision becoming darker. It was in those last moments that she could see a young woman with oddly green skin wearing nothing more than a bikini. The snake slithered its way out of Sam and went inside the stranger's leg. Sam lay still on the floor, too still, her last thoughts were not of the cursed tattoo, the stranger, or even the reasons. She just wonders what the police would say upon seeing her, followed by the embarrassing headlines on the news, just another rich girl who took her life for not getting what she wanted.
The End.