An hour later,

I was playing volleyball with my sister and a few other girls. A Sleepwalker was giving my mom a shoulder massage while she and Hypnoman discussed the plan for the Braddock Foundation. “I’m thinking that some of the girls in our marketing department might be able to help push Trance Chic’s popularity,” she told him.

“We’re trying to convert social media influencers too,”Hypnoman replied. “Singers, fashion models, women like that.”

My mom turned to me.

“Speaking of songs, how is Lola doing?”

“She’s having fun with the Sleepwalkers master allowed her to take as servants..”

“I look forward to hearing about her progress.”

Lunch was almost ready and I was working up a real appetite. When I was about to serve, a Sleepwalker came over to us.

“My apologies for disturbing you, master, but we have a bit of a situation near the front entrance.” I felt a little lump in my throat. Were we about to be raided? What was going on?

“Report,” he ordered.

“Well, we have five off duty policewomen who came by in a green sports car.”

“They’re acting of their own free will?” I asked nervously. The Sleepwalker shook her head.

“I’m not sure. When we stopped them they said that they felt compelled to come here. They gave themselves up and we searched them. None of them are wearing wires or other listening devices.”

“How do you know they’re not lying about who they are?” Ava asked.

“We checked their names in the police database, all of them are part of the ECPD. They’re sure they’re supposed to be here but they’re confused as to why.”

Hypnoman smiled.

“Harpy, I would like you to put on a show for your mother, Ava and I. You will put them through the conditioning process yourself.”

I grinned.

“I’d be happy to master, but if you don’t mind me asking, did you expect them to come here?”

“Somewhat. I believe they might’ve been exposed to an experimental subliminal frequency played over police radio by a Sleepwalker. These may be the test subjects for that project. I didn’t expect them to show up so soon though.” He handed me a tablet with instructions for me to memorize for their indoctrination. Once I had it all down pat, I walked over to the table where my goggles and gauntlets were laid out. After checking to make sure everything was running by putting a nearby Sleepwalker into a trance, I followed Hypnoman to the entrance hall with my mom and Ava in tow.

Five women in casual clothes were standing nervously in the atrium, surrounded by smiling Sleepwalkers. Three of them were pretty young, maybe in their early twenties. The other two were around their mid thirties. I guessed that the trio were new recruits or maybe even cadets.

I gave the biggest smile I could. Hypnoman said to put on a show so I was gonna go all out.

“Welcome, welcome, welcome to Chateau Svengali!” I told them, my arms open wide. “I take it you’re still trying to figure out why you’re here?”

One of the younger ones, an asian girl, nodded.

“We…we had to come here. We don’t know why but…we had to.”

“It’s like we’re being called here,” said the young Latina of the group.

“Well let me clear everything up for you,” I said to them. “You are here to be transformed into Sleepwalkers, will-bound slave girls of Hypnoman. Just like every woman in this marvelous home.” I snapped my fingers and every girl in the foyer let out a loud cheer of “welcome!” The police girls seemed somewhat nervous but they didn’t make a run for the door. Perfect.

“Now, it’s time to fill you in on your new roles,” I said, getting my projector ready. They stood still as I bathed them in a mind-warping light.

“Repeat after me,” I told them. “You are the Dream Police.”

“We are the Dream Police,” they replied.

“You are Hypnoman’s security force.”

“We are Hypnoman’s security force.”

“Hypnoman’s will is the law.”

“Hypnoman’s will is the law.”

“It is against the law for any policewoman to not be under Hypnoman’s control.”

“It is against the law for any policewoman to not be under Hypnoman’s control.”

“You will re-educate them at the first opportunity.”

“We will re-educate them at the first opportunity.” I turned to the girls around me.

“They can question you if they want to, by the way.”

“Understood,” the girls answered.

“If need be, you will search a Sleepwalker’s home.”

If need be, we will search a Sleepwalker’s home.”

“You will hypnotize any woman you can at your earliest convenience.”

“We will hypnotize any woman we can at our earliest convenience.”

“You will bring in Sleepwalkers who show any abnormalities for further brainwashing.”

“We will bring in any Sleepwalkers who show any abnormality for further brainwashing.”

I snapped the policewomen out of their trance right when an idea came to me.

“At attention.” They all went completely straight and still. I went up to one of the younger ones.

“Let’s see a little demonstration.” I looked at the crowd of Sleepwalkers and picked one out at random.

“Rosa, come down here.” A young Latina in a maid’s outfit came down the stairs.

“How can I help?” she asked.

“Rosa’s been having…episodes,” I told the policewoman. “For a few seconds, she is no longer under Hypnoman’s control.”

“Hm? I have? Funny, I can’t remember anything like that.” It was an act, but neither of the two knew it. The policewoman glared at her.

“Regardless, our master’s security comes first. You are under arrest as of this moment and will be given supplemental brainwashing immediately.”

Rosa smiled.

“Sure. Better safe than sorry. One of the brainwashing suites is right this way~.”

Rosa led the policewomen to a room nearby that looked like it came from a spa. Women sat in recliners in relaxed positions while they stared at TV screens displaying hypnotic light patterns and had headphones on that played looped suggestions. Those where were brought in against their will were in recliners with restraints. Those who were there to pass the time didn’t use them. The policewoman had Rosa come to one of the recliners and strapped her in before ordering a Sleepwalker to turn on the TV while she got the headset on Rosa. Within seconds, Rosa’s eyes became glazed as she stared into the patterns.

“Well done.” I said to her.

“I was only following my instructions as a member of the Dream Police.”

“Hypnoman’s gonna be happy with you regardless.”

“His praise honors me.”