Jay POV
The private condo felt too quiet.
Too white.
Too clean.
Too controlled.
I was sitting on the couch when Chantelle and Ceil stood in front of me like they were about to announce a life sentence.
"We decided," Chantelle began carefully, "that we're going to help you overcome your fear of blood."
I stood up instantly.
"No."
Ciel sighed. "Jay, are you ready to overcome your fear of blood?"
"I told you guys," I snapped, frustration rising like heat under my skin. "It's useless."
Chantelle stepped closer, voice softer now. "Don't worry, Jay. We'll search with other doctors if we need to. We'll find a solution to your blood problem."
My blood problem.
It sounded like I was defective.
I crossed my arms. "Fine. I'm leaving this to you."
I didn't mean it confidently. I meant it like someone signing a waiver before jumping off a cliff.
Ciel disappeared into my room.
That already made my stomach twist.
When she came back, she was holding a box.
A small, innocent-looking box.
"What's that?" I asked cautiously.
She placed it on the table.
"Exposure."
My eyes widened. "Stick yourself? Blood? Are you insane?"
Ciel lifted her hands calmly. "Relax. Nothing is going to happen."
Nothing is going to happen.
That's what everyone says before something happens.
She opened the box.
Pictures.
My throat tightened.
They slid one out.
I closed my eyes immediately.
"Jay," Chantelle said gently, "open your eyes."
"No. I'm good."
"Even at the peak of your fear," Ciel added softly, "trust us."
Trust.
Such a heavy word.
I took a slow breath.
You said you'd leave this to them. Don't embarrass yourself. Don't look weak.
I opened my eyes.
For half a second.
Then I shut them again.
"I can't."
"You can," Chantelle said calmly. "And if you can't, we'll put the pictures away."
That irritated me.
"You guys don't believe me."
I forced my eyes open again.
And then…
I blinked.
"…I thought there were real pictures?" I said, confused.
The picture was clearly fake. Badly drawn. Cartoonish red.
"You can't even draw blood properly."
Ciel almost smiled. "We're trying. We'll show you a real one soon."
Soon.
My stomach flipped again.
Then they replaced the paper.
And this time, they pulled out a real photo.
The red was darker.
Thicker.
Real.
My chest tightened instantly. My breathing shortened.
My hands started trembling before I could stop them.
"No," I whispered, shutting my eyes hard.
"It's okay," Chantelle said quickly. "Calm down."
I felt something cool press into my hand.
A glass.
"What did you give me?" I asked, eyes still closed.
"Water," Chantelle replied gently. "Nothing else."
I hesitated.
"Open your eyes. We put the picture away."
I waited.
Counted to three.
Opened my eyes.
The table was empty.
No red.
No image.
Just the box.
I grabbed the glass and drank the water slowly. My pulse was still racing.
Ciel crouched slightly to meet my eye level.
" Are you okay?"
I swallowed.
"…Yes."
But my hands were still shaking.
And deep inside, I knew this was only the beginning.