Chapter 23s: Pin & Play
No. No no no no why'd I open my smart-ass mouth why...
My entire body feels tense. I'm shaking. And I'm sweating even more than I should.
Clara is just walking slightly ahead of me and Jenny.
So she doesn't see it.
That devilish grin on her lips.
She's taking pleasure in my suffering, too.
Hell, it was all her plan, I'm sure of it.
And worst of all, her hand is like a vice on my own.
I can't even run. Hell, I'm feeling dizzy and nauseous.
STUPID JELLY BELLY I HATE YOU! TRAITOR!
"Deep breaths, sis. Deep breaths. You can do this."
'THAT IS EASY ENOUGH FOR YOU TO SAY!' is what I want to scream, but I end up following her oh-so-kind advice. There is no real way to leave this hole I helped dig for myself according to her plans.
My hand squeezes hers even harder, and to her credit, she doesn't flinch despite my very avid attempt to dig my nails into her skin.
Pin & Play.
Written in bright red neon with a darkish and grey backdrop. Some sort of resting female-looking silhouette serves as the decorative line that is meant to adorn the words. The knee is popped upwards in an awkward angle. It looks as uncomfortable a pose to hold as it looks appealing to the eye.
Kind of like our purpose for coming here, come to think of it.
A sweaty shiver overtakes my spine again, and I make my steps smaller, but Nee-san gives no quarter. Her grip is like a vice that is now pulling me forwards, nearly making me stumble when my feet don't lift far enough to get over the threshold into...
... WAAAH, THIS PLACE IS SCARY!
I freeze on the spot as my eyes land on the attendants, and at this point Clara turns around with an equally bemused expression. A part of me cannot help but note that at least her smile isn't as sadistic and predatory as Nee-san's, but please, this is not fair. I take it all back!
Why does that girl have thorns all over her arms?
Why are his ears drooping?
If there's that much metal in her ear, did they replace it so it wouldn't fall off?
Wait, does that stick go through his nose and... are his eyes really RED!? Is he a DEMON!?
They both laugh sadistically at my utterly normal response like the hellspawn they appear to be, immediately having spotted what they no doubt understand is their latest customer hiding behind her older sister.
They don't drink blood, do they? Eeewww. I don't want to be a sacrifice! Not even a little snack!
The girl attendant motions to the Demon to back off and laughs as she approaches me. I'll call her a Succubus, because that is what she looks like more and more. An evil, evil succubus. With thorns on her arms and that spikey collar thing around her neck. Go away from me!
"He doesn't drink blood."
Whoa. She read my mind? TRULY A SUCCUBUS. But does she...?
"I don't either, for the record."
Wow. That is so scary. She knows it all.
"Do you eat souls?"
I can't help but blurt out that question. Mom had once said that devils hunger after the innocent souls of men.
She laughs again, shaking her head which causes a tinkling of sounds. Wow. Are those bells in her hair? Wait, her hair is green there?
"Only when freely offered."
The Demon responds with a booming laugh from a distance, and Clara seems to be on my side, giving the man a bit of that mom-look. You teach him, fake-mom!
"I take it you are here for the this and that?"
I can't quite make out what the Demon means because the Succubus is blocking my view, but being the subject, I know damn well what the subject is, especially as I see Clara nodding.
At this point Jenny abuses her height on me, and pushes me to the front. Why do you betray me so, Nee-san?!
"I'm Cassandra. And he is Timothy."
Her voice is as smooth and comforting as I always imagined a succubus would speak. Even that little bit of lilt.. it just fits so perfectly.
Meanwhile, Jenny wanders over towards Clara and the Demon. I'd pay attention to what she's saying, but I can't get much further than her knowing the guy. Why am I being left aloone?!
"I realize you are a bit scared right now, but it is all okay. It won't hurt you, and only lasts a couple of minutes for a lifetime is joy."
She grabs my hand in the few moments I am distracted and begins to lead me away. I thought the wiles of a Succubus didn't work on females?!
I am sorry, Nii-san. I'm about to become a sacrifice.
She's even lifting me up in a chair, looking all gentle and sympathetic but I'm on to you!
"Timothy will be over shortly. We both take care of half the business, you see. He does the sort of work you are here for, and I am the more artistic touch. See, don't these look nice?"
She's trying to put me at ease, and I should fight it, but looking at arms beats looking at the eyes of a Succubus. So I'm looking at those arms. They look like a painting of a wild, thorny overgrowth with the occasional little red flower peeking out.
"They are pretty."
I try to flatter her half-heartedly. Maybe she'll make it painless.
"Thank you~~! I thought so, too. When you are a bit older, I'd be glad to draw something pretty on your arms, too."
My nature betrays me as I smile at her on reflex. Why am I such a child?
"But for now, you are only getting your ears pierced. I think I recognised your sister. Isn't her name Jessica? She came in a couple of years ago.. well, I guess it is more than that. About six years or so?"
My voice sounds weak as I try to correct her on the name, but I'm not quite interested in conversing a lot. I'd like to leave now, please!
"She was a bit younger than you were at the time, but she didn't squeak a bit. Timothy already had his red eyes back then too. I remember her quite well; she was really brave."
I know I'm a sissy. You don't have to rub it in!
"You are very similar to her, not crying or sniveling or anything. Although she's a bit luckier with her genes. Vibrant red hair like hers is rare and always a hit with the boys."
She must have seen me rolling my eyes and rubs over my knee to console me. "You'll care when you are a bit older. Not that your pretty shade of blonde is bad in any way." she teases me with a gorgeous smile and matching wink.
Ugh. What is it with adults and boys? They love talking about that, except when it is Nii-san, because then they get pissed at me. Stupid!
I miss you so much right now, Nii-san.
You wouldn't have betrayed me like Nee-san. You don't have earrings to begin with, and thus you couldn't trick me into saying those words while fake-mom was listening in.
Saying that I want to get my ears pierced some day does not and has never meant I wanted to get them pierced today! I don't care that girls five years younger than me are already getting their ears abused! I have eight more years until I am an adult, why does it have to be now?!
Timothy walks in. He's covered his Demon-like claws in some sort of plastic gloves, and walks to a rack on the side. My eyes are drawn to it, despite the Succubus attempt to keep my attention away. Are those torture devices?
"Look over here, love. You'll be out of here in five minutes."
She's talking to me, but my eyes are focused on him. He's a big, muscled guy. Is he just the strong type, or is he also fast? I need to know if I plan to run.
"If you aren't out of here by then, how about I give you your first pair of studs for free? You'll look like a real lady with those."
Succubus. Temptation. Manipulation. It all goes hand in hand.
I wonder if Nee-san is related to this woman.
Nee-san said Nii-san would be disappointed.
The Demon is fiddling with my ear, but I'll stare at the Succubus and do my best to ignore him. At least she won't eat my soul. I hope.
From the corner of my eye I see that Jenny is waving as she stands at the door; this isn't that big of a room so I guess they cannot enter.
Nee-san, why did you dare me to go through with this?!
Nii-san, would you really think me to be a little baby if I chickened out?
Nee-san, why did you manipulate me so?!
Nii-san, would you really think I'm cuter with earrings?
Nee-san, I'm afraid of the needles and the knives and the pain and the...
OWwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. IT HURTSSSSS!
"See, that wasn't so bad, was it? Now the other earlobe, and then you'll be free to go."
I want to cry, but the tears don't come out.
It is because I realize that Nee-san's smile at the doorway is most evil thing in this room.
She's daring me to cry. She's daring me to be a baby.
She's daring me to call it off.
Damn you, Jellybelly!