Pairing: Bella's on her own
Rating: M
Genre: Tragedy? I guess it depends on your POV
Word Count: 500
Prompt: The Weeknd – Wicked Games (see it on youtube - it's NSFW or small ears)
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
A Moment's Relief
Bella stared into the mirror, putting on her make-up for the evening. She was drinking, trying to get to the right stage of inebriation to perform properly for the night. She needed a few drinks to relax her mind and it somehow worked on her body, too. Always surprising, her clumsiness disappeared when she reached a couple ticks past buzz. Most people got stumbling drunk; Bella got graceful.
More proof that her mind was wired backwards.
She was having a bad day. She was exiting the nail salon that afternoon, and she'd seen a tall man with tanned skin, black hair and muscular shoulders. She froze, waiting for him to turn around; terrified of him turning around. A woman with auburn hair and olive skin walked directly into his embrace while Bella stood there, not breathing, until he turned enough to see his profile. It wasn't Jacob. Bella covered her face with her hands, not sure if she felt relief or disappointment.
That was trigger enough. She spent the rest of the day fighting off the memories, the overwhelming guilt, self-loathing, and the eternal yearning... for him.
She lit a cigarette and took a long, soothing drag, closing her eyes. She exhaled, and it helped, but she needed more than alcohol tonight. Bella finished her drink and went to the manager's office.
She knocked on the half-opened door. "What can I do for you, Dollface?" Jimmy asked with a smirk. Bella froze her face so she wouldn't grimace; his voice slid over her skin like a greasy film she couldn't wash off.
"Hey, Jimmy, I was wondering if you had a little something for me," Bella said, looking at the wall behind his head.
Jimmy smirked. She'd been on and off the wagon more times than he could count, but he preferred when she was off. She was open to suggestion when she was off. "Dollface, I will always have a little something whenever you want it. You never have to worry about that. Come over here, I'll take care of you."
This time she couldn't contain the grimace, but she hid it by turning to shut the door. She went to sit in the chair beside his desk, putting her arm across the top. She looked away, while he tied-off the tourniquet around her bicep. She held her breath, waiting for it.
In just a few heartbeats, she felt the needle pierce her skin, and then a few heartbeats after that, all the anxiety and memories turned to smoke, and disappeared. Bella breathed out a huge sigh of relief. "Thanks, Jimmy. I have to finish getting ready."
Jimmy smiled, "Ok, see you after the show, Dollface." Bella nodded and walked back to her dressing area.
At her vanity, she slipped into her heels and out of her robe. Moments later, she heard her musical cue. Belladonna walked onto the stage as the music started. She grabbed onto the pole, losing herself, only aware of her movement and the music.