My Heart Can't Beat Unless You Tell It To

In this macabre scenario, siblings Jessie (character) and Dwight care for their ailing younger brother Thomas, whose fragile existence hinges on the consumption of blood to survive. Their peculiar dynamics are underscored by the siblings' gruesome methods of obtaining this vital sustenance, typically targeting marginalized individuals like homeless people and drifters. As the days blend together, the monotony is broken only by Jessie's mundane routine as a waitress at a local diner, while Dwight diverts his attention to haggling for trinkets or plundering valuables from victims, as well as frequent visits to Pam, a prostitute who provides fleeting conversation amidst their illicit encounters.

A particularly brutal murder prompts Dwight to implore Jessie to seek professional medical assistance for Thomas's dire condition. However, her stubborn refusal leads him to procure another blood source, which takes the form of Eduardo, a Spanish-speaking migrant. As Dwight attempts to subdue Eduardo, the latter fights back with a screwdriver, leaving Dwight wounded and reeling. In a moment of mercy, Dwight spares Eduardo's life, capturing him in a shed on their property.

Jessie's ire is piqued by Dwight's failure to secure a blood source, leading her to take matters into her own hands and brutally murder Pam, leaving Dwight devastated. That night, Thomas plaintively expresses his isolation at the dinner table, begging Jessie to allow him to interact with the children he hears playing outside his window. When she refuses, Thomas becomes agitated, overturning his bowl of blood in a gesture of defiance. This tantrum sets off a chain reaction as Eduardo escapes from captivity and attempts to kill Dwight, only to be thwarted by the latter's ferocity.

As the tension simmers, Thomas's growing restlessness manifests itself in a desperate attempt to connect with the outside world. He crafts a makeshift paper airplane, inscribing a note on its surface before hurling it at a group of passing teenagers. Dwight swiftly intervenes, covering Thomas with a blanket and pulling him back inside, but not before Thomas sustains severe burns on his arm from the failed endeavor.

As the day wears on, Turner, one of the unsuspecting teenagers who had stumbled upon Thomas' cryptic note, finds himself at the doorstep of the eerie household, where Jessie's absence provides the perfect opportunity for him to seek out a victim. Thomas, sensing an opening, extends an olive branch in the form of a guessing game played out on his piano keys, accompanied by a tantalizing offer of blood. As Dwight enters the kitchen, he inadvertently disrupts the fragile connection between Turner and Thomas, prompting him to hastily conceal the young man in a closet as Jessie's return with another unsuspecting prey draws near.

In a split second, Turner seizes the opportunity, plunging a kitchen knife into Jessie's unsuspecting form. As she expires in the bathtub, her final words of contrition and apology hang heavy in the air, as Thomas lingers by her side, his eyes drinking in the crimson liquid that flows from her veins. Dwight, consumed by rage and grief, tracks down Turner, only to spare his life and deliver him back to his bewildered father.

In a somber mood, Dwight returns home to find Jessie's lifeless form, her bloodied body a grim testament to the horrors she had unleashed upon the world. Thomas, still sated on her blood, remains unmoved by the tragedy that has unfolded around him. As Dwight buries Jessie and disposes of the remnants of their macabre rituals, he cannot help but feel a sense of liberation wash over him.

The morning sun brings with it a newfound sense of purpose as Dwight packs his belongings and announces his intention to leave this dark chapter behind. However, a chance encounter with a happy family at a diner serves as a poignant reminder of the world beyond their twisted reality, and Dwight's resolve begins to waver. It is not until he returns home to find Thomas, once again shrouded in secrecy, that the brothers' bond is rekindled, and they weep together for the loss of Jessie.

As Dwight sets out on a solo journey across the country, his thoughts are consumed by the memories of those lost souls. Eventually, he finds himself standing alone at a jetty, gazing out upon the seemingly infinite expanse of water, his mind lost in thought.