As the camera crew set up, I adjusted how I was sitting in the seat. I was nervous, sure, but I was also so excited.

 

It would be the first time I ever starred in a propaganda video. I’d be featured in a video disseminated to girls of a ‘punk’ persuasion. Just like I used to be. A fellow Sleepwalker gave me the thumbs up and I saw a red light flicker on the video camera. I smiled, imagined I was rehearsing, and started to speak.

 

“Hi there girls. I want to talk to you about something. Rebellion. It can be satisfying, believe me, I know. But coming up with new ways of doing it takes so much time. It takes so much effort to do. It’s so tiring. Speaking of, you should be feeling tired right now. It’s alright. Just stare into the ripple and listen to my voice.”

 

Once the camera crew got the take they were happy with, a ripple effect meant to put the girl watching into a trance was going to be added. I was supposed to act as though it were already there.

 

“Now, you should feel very relaxed. Sleepy, but relaxed and comfortable. It feels nice, doesn’t it? You’d like to feel this way all the time, wouldn’t you, ladies? Good. Because I can help you with that. What you’re feeling right now is just a taste of the bliss I and many other women like me get to feel each and every day. The bliss of conformity and obedience.”

 

My smile widened.

 

“The bliss of being a Sleepwalker, a mind controlled slave girl of my master, Hypnoman. I still have my personality. I still have my memories. But I have had my master’s green spiral painted on my brain like all his other slave girls. My mind is his to control. My thoughts are his to dictate. I feel so much less stressed now that I don’t need to do a large amount of my thinking on my own anymore.”

 

I really did mean that. I had my opinions on what I personally liked and disliked but I never had to ask myself existential questions before. I didn’t need to ponder my identity or purpose anymore.

 

“I know who I am with absolute certainty. I know my purpose with absolute certainty. I also know how I am going to rebel. I am a Sleepwalker, a slave of Hypnoman and a tool for evil. I fight the establishment by helping my master build his empire in the shadows, ensnaring girls in his web and adding them to ranks of his servants. To conform to his will and embrace his agenda is the ultimate act of defiance of the status quo. You can be just like me. You will be just like me.”

 

I giggled.

 

“After all, you have no choice.”