Nightcrawling

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes references to sexual abuse and sex trafficking.

The tattoo of Kiara’s fingerprint that appears below Marcus’s left ear signifies their bond and love for one another. After their father’s death and their mother’s incarceration, the siblings are determined to remain together. The tattoo is a reminder of this promise, and seeing it reassures Kiara of the strength of their bond. Metaphorically, Kiara has imprinted herself onto her brother, ensuring that he will never be able to forget about her.

It is ironic, however, that the tattoo is of a fingerprint. This imagery evokes the way in which police fingerprint people after taking them into custody, and thus it carries a negative connotation. In this way, the tattoo reflects the ambiguity of Marcus and Kiara’s relationship, while also foreshadowing Marcus’s incarceration. At the end of the novel Alé returns to Kiara bearing a new tattoo that honors her—a pair of lavender shoes with the initial K, signifying the special blend of marijuana they enjoy together as well as, implicitly, Kiara’s name. Alé’s tattoo suggests that she will replace Marcus as Kiara’s main source of support and family.