I gazed up at the crystal dangling right above my eyes.

“Go ahead and take some deep breaths.”

I breathed in slowly, and out.

“Gooooood. Just keep watching the crystal sparkle.”

It looked very pretty…

I knew this was a stock trick. Get your ‘tee to strain their eyes, fool them into thinking they’re feeling sleepy, and let the illusion make them more suggestible and agreeable.

“That’s it… feeling all fluttery and relaxed.”

They were right… my eyes were tired. My body was loosening up.

“Feeling sleepier and sleepier, reacting warmly to my words. 3…”

Habit began to take over, left over from so many trances before.

“2…”

I felt my eyes roll, and my momentum shift downward.

“1. Sleep.”

I fell back with a soft thud.

This was phase one.

They started petting my arm, making me feel cozy.

“Very good. You always do so well for me. And now that your body has relaxed, it’s time for your mind to relax…”

Here comes phase two.

“Five… four… three… two… one…” They snapped their fingers. “Sink.”

I felt my body relax further, though it couldn’t become any limper.

“Five… four… three… two… one…” Snap. “Sink.”

I felt my mind begin to plunge…

“Say it with me, now.”

“Five… four…” I counted with them. “Three… two… one…” Snap. “Sink…”

“Repeat, by yourself.”

“Five… four… three… two… one…” Snap.

Each countdown gradually dissolved more and more of my mind. The numbers ate up all of my thoughts…

“Five… four… three… two… one…” Snap.

I repeated. I became so focused on repeating that I didn’t notice the last of my mind fading away…

The gaps between the numbers grew longer and longer.

“Five…”

“Four…”

…

……..