König (tattoo parlor)

The Steel Needle studio greeted the girl with its familiar hum. In the next chair, Eric was working with Gleb, the motorcyclist—the needle hummed as they bickered. At the counter, Mira was on her phone, commenting to Yana and Rina, who were laying out jars of pigment. Sebastian dozed in the corner.

The girl took off her jacket, went to her seat, turned on the lamp, and checked her instruments. An ordinary evening.

"Oh, our little star! " Eric chuckled. "First solo session?"

"Get lost, " she smiled. "They said there would be a recording. The master's client."

Mira raised her head:

• Serious?

• Don't know.

Yana looked up from the jars:

• Don't screw up.

The girl was about to answer, but the door opened, letting in the cold. Everyone fell silent. Eric put down the needle, Mira bit her lip, Sebastian sat up, shaking off the sleep.

A man stood in the doorway. He was enormous, his shoulders barely fitting through the doorway. His face was hidden by a black balaclava, and his tired gray eyes sparkled from beneath it. The air grew heavy.

Eric was the first to come to his senses:
— Good evening. Who are you going to see?

The man didn't answer. His gaze swept across the studio and settled on the girl. He stepped toward her counter. Mira exchanged glances with Yana, Sebastian stood up, and Eric whispered to Gleb:
— Do you know him?

• No. But I wouldn't want to cross paths with him in an alley.

The man stopped opposite her. The girl felt her colleagues' gazes on her. Today was her first night of independent work, and the test came in the form of a military man who reeked of gunpowder and blood. He placed crumpled bills and a reference sheet on the table: a strict geometric line, black flowing from elbow to shoulder. His fingers, with their calloused skin, trembled slightly.

"Colonel Koenig," the voice was hoarse and had a German accent. "They told me you're the best. Aren't you afraid of the needle?"

The girl swallowed. Behind her, Eric stopped breathing, Mira leaned forward, Sebastian stepped closer to the table. She looked up at the man and realized he was assessing her as intently as she was assessing him. Everyone waited.

"Colonel, " the girl repeated quietly. "Sit down."