Inflicting Pain (gxg)

● T W E N T Y | Blood ●

† Q U I N N †

Family is blood—one of nature's masterpieces, a beautiful tapestry made from the line of our ancestors. Yet, there's a saying that goes, "Family isn't always blood." It's about the people in your life who truly want you there, the ones who accept you for who you are. They are the ones willing to do anything just to see you smile, who love you no matter what.

When I think of blood though, I see it as nothing more than a substance—a thick, red liquid that flows through everyone's veins. It's the same substance that makes my heart race, the one I crave to see trickling from someone's delicate skin. The one that fills my deepest, darkest desires.

I was slowly strolling through the mall, making my way to the cinema. Elise and I had decided to rewatch Interstellar, which was playing in HD as part of the mall's monthly retro movie night. We both loved that film—the mind-bending story and the plot twist at the end always captivated me. It was so interesting that I could watch it over and over without getting bored. I was excited to catch it again.

As I approached the cinema, I spotted Elise standing there, talking to someone who had been intrigued me for a while now—Chloe. It looked like she had done a bit of shopping, her arms weighed down by a couple of paper bags. But as I got closer, I noticed another woman appear behind Chloe—someone I hadn't expected to see. It was someone who knew me a little too well. She smiled as she chatted with my roommate, and oddly enough, Elise seemed excited to be speaking with her.

I hesitated, unsure whether to step forward, my curiosity piqued. What was she doing here, and how did she know Elise and Chloe?

"Quinn!" Elise called out, breaking me from my thoughts. My eyes were still fixed on the woman beside my roommate, full of questions and surprise, and but I could see calmness reflected in her expression.

"Quinn, by the way, this is–" Chloe began, but I interrupted her.

"Jade? What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice firm as I searched for answers in her eyes.

"Hello, Quinn. It's good to see you out having fun," Jade replied, her smile unsettling.

"Mom?" Chloe suddenly exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock. My own eyes went wide at the revelation. "Why does Quinn call you Jade? Is she–?"

"She's a patient of mine, dear," Jade answered coolly. Chloe's eyes darted between us, a mix of shock and confusion painted on her face.

"Of course! That makes sense," I said, my gaze locked on Chloe—disappointment and anger swirled in my eyes.

"Quinn, I..." she stammered, struggling to form complete thoughts.

My jaw clenched, fists balled at my sides. Of course they were related by blood. Had Chloe been playing with me all along? Did she know I was her mother's patient and used that knowledge to mess with my mind?

Without thinking, I stepped back, turned around, and walked away as fast as I could. I heard Elise call my name, but I didn't look back.

The cold water from the shower helped cool my temper, to wash away my anger, but only a little. For a moment, I stood there, letting the chill numb my thoughts. All this time, I had been talking to Jade about Chloe, about how she intrigued me—but never once had I mentioned the things that had already happened between us. I hadn't told her how I had marked her daughter's skin, how I had slit it with the edge of my desires.

"Fuck!" I hissed under my breath, frustration bubbling up inside me.

As I tried to calm down, the bathroom door suddenly swung open, startling me. My eyes snapped to the entrance, and there stood Chloe, wide-eyed, frozen in place.