“Your prize, as promised.”

My mouth was gagged as I woke up. I was tied to a chair. A man I thought was my friend, once, gestured to me to a woman.

No, not just any woman.

“Dear, you look dreadful,” she said, removing my gag.

“Stan!” I bellowed to the man. “You sick fuck! You did this to me!”

“Sorry, bucko,” he said, smiling. “You let me hypnotize you once, and that was enough. You have no idea what other triggers you have in store.”

I met him in college. He had a lot of kooky ideas about spirit healing and the power of the mind, but he was admittedly a decent hypnotist. We saw each other in a grocery store last week and agreed to reconnect.

My last conscious memory was on his couch, when he suddenly snapped his fingers.

“Honey…” she purred. “My eyes are up here.”

“Victoria…” I pleaded. Tears flowed down my cheek.

“Stan, I’d like a moment alone with them,” she said, still looking me in the eyes.

Her stare trapped me. I couldn’t look away. I only heard Stan close the door behind him.

“I forgive you, you know,” Victoria said. “You were gripped with anxiety when you broke up with me. I saw you cry as you left the apartment. But it’s okay now. You’re here with me again.”

“You…”

My voice was shaking, cracking, falling apart. I saw my future close in around me.

“Love me, dear,” she said.

Her words powered through my mind, clearing it like a bulldozer through a house.

I adored her again. I lusted for her again. I lunged for a kiss, straining against the rope bonding me to the chair.

I couldn’t reach her, but she stroked my chin.

I barely perceived the door opening behind her.

“You two lovebirds done? I kinda need you out of my house,” I distantly heard Stan say.

“For now, yes,” Victoria said. “Come now, pet. We’re going home.”