“And that's why I reckon they ought not to let them ladies into the Monroe Tractor Society. Just muddles things up.”

 

Kyle looked proud as he said it, his right hand stroking his patchy goatee, his glassy eyes seemingly deep in thought. He was kept warm by his camo sweater and the girl sitting in his lap.

 

“That makes a lot of sense,” Jess swooned. Her arms were wrapped around his shoulders.

 

Olivia rolled her eyes and took another sip from her red solo cup. If she had to listen to another one of Kyle’s policy recommendations she’d probably vomit. What the hell does Jess see in this guy? Olivia wondered.

Olivia been stuck here for half an hour, sitting on a haybale next to Jess and her new backcountry beau. Maggie had disappeared. According to Hunter, who had brought her two new cups of beer during that time, Maggie was having a lively conversation with the guy they called The Fourth.

 

“Can I go see her?” Olivia had asked.

 

“She’ll come fetch ya when she’s ready. Should be any moment now.”

 

Despite that reassurance, Olivia had jumped when she felt the hands on her shoulders. After shrieking and leaping away, she turned around to see Maggie standing behind her haybale.

 

“Where the fuck did you come from?”

 

Maggie gave a dazed smile, “I need to show you something.”

 

“Um, okay,” said Olivia, grateful for an excuse to leave Jess and Kyle.

 

She bent down to pick up the orange flower crown that had fallen out her blonde hair. As she placed her own crown back on her head, Olivia noticed that Maggie’s brown hair was missing its flowers.  

 

“Your crown,” Olivia said, pointing to Maggie’s head, “it’s gone.”

 

“Must have dropped it somewhere,” said Maggie, her glazed eyes not registering any surprise.

 

How much beer has she had? Olivia walked over to her and took her arm. “What do you have to show me?”

 

“Something amazing. Let’s go.”

 

The two girls set out in the direction of the cornfield. Once they were a safe distance away from the bonfire, Jess began whispering in Olivia’s ear.

 

“I think something weird is going on here,” she said. “That Kyle guy is totally not Jess’s type. I’ve never seen her be all over a dude like that.”

 

“There’s something magical in the air,” Maggie responded in a sort of sing-song voice. “Maybe Jess feels the magic?”

 

“I wonder if there’s something in the beer,” Olivia said, realizing she had left her cup by the fire. “That’s the only magic I can think of.”

 

Their arms still interlocked, Olivia looked over at Maggie. It was hard to tell, now that the bonfire was at their back, but Maggie’s outfit didn’t look quite right. Her blouse was wrinkled, her bodice was missing some laces. It looked like she taken her outfit off and then put it back on in a hurry. Olivia thought she could see strands of hay in Maggie’s brown hair. Did she fuck this guy, The Fourth?

 

“Watch out!” a man’s voice rang out. Olivia spun her head around to the left just as a small pumpkin whizzed past her face. A second later she heard a wet, squelchy splatter to her right. She was hit with some moist debris.

 

Olivia looked to her right to see a male student holding a metal baseball bat, the messy remains of the pumpkin laying a few feet in front of him. “Sorry about that,” he said.

 

Although Maggie was closer to the smashed pumpkin and had undoubtedly been sprayed with more of its guts, she didn’t seem to register the interaction at all. Her eyes remained fixed before her, in the direction of the cornfield. She didn’t miss a beat.

 

“Maggie, are you okay? You’re acting strange.”

 

“I’ve never felt better.”

 

Olivia now realized they weren’t walking to the cornfield at all. Instead, they were approaching what looked like a large wall of haybales, stacked higher than both of their heads.  As they drew closer, Olivia could see an entrance into the stack.

 

“Where are we going?” she asked, although she was afraid she already knew the answer.

 

“In there,” Maggie said, pointing to the entrance with her free hand. “Trust me, it’s worth it.”

 

“What’s in there?”

 

“The Fourth,” she answered in a dreamy voice.

 

Is she on drugs? Olivia wondered. The strange feeling in the pit of her stomach was growing by the minute. She tried to stop walking, but Maggie’s grip on her arm was strong, and Olivia just ended up being dragged a couple steps.

 

“Hey, slow down!” Olivia demanded.

 

Maggie paused, but she didn’t let go of Olivia arm. “What’s wrong?” She looked at Olivia with vacant eyes.

 

“You’re acting really fucking strange. It’s freaking me out.”

 

She shrugged, “Sorry. Too much beer, I guess. Don’t worry about me.”

 

“I’m not taking another step until you tell me what’s in there.”

 

Despite Olivia’s harsh tone, Maggie continued to display a dumb, happy look. After pausing for a moment, Maggie leaned in close and whispered, “You really want to know what’s in there?”

 

“Obviously?”

 

“Fine,” Maggie whispered, her eyes lighting up for once, “There’s a giant jack-o’-lantern in there. The biggest you’ve ever seen.”

 

Olivia laughed. For the first time in minutes, she didn’t feel anxious. “Are you fucking kidding me? That’s what you’ve been keeping a secret this whole time?”

 

“I wanted you to be surprised,” Maggie said, totally serious.

 

“A giant fucking pumpkin,” Olivia muttered to herself. “Alright, fine, let’s go see it.”

 

“Great!” Maggie said, lively once more. She starting walking again, her arm still interlocked with Olivia’s.

 

The two girls walked into the structure and took the first right. Olivia stared up at the night sky as they walked between the high haybale walls. They took a left and walked down another corridor. Olivia could hear the rush of autumn wind outside the walls, and found herself feeling grateful she was shielded inside. She had been starting to regret wearing the dirndl tonight.

 

After they reached the end of the corridor and took another left, they entered a much larger space, still enclosed within the high haybales. The enclosure was lit with several small jack-o’-lanterns scattered around the perimeter. A college-aged man stood in the middle of the space, his white button-down shirt tucked into blue jeans.

 

“I’ve brought you Olivia, sir.”

 

Sir? Olivia glanced quickly at Maggie, then at the man, then back to Maggie. This guy looks like he’s our age. Why is she calling him “sir”?

 

“Thank you, Maggie,” said the man, stepping closer. “Olivia, it’s a pleasure. I’ve heard lots of good things. Maggie here won’t shut up about you.”

 

He doesn’t talk like the rest of his redneck friends. “You must be The Fourth.”

 

“You can call me Chuck.”

 

“Okay, Chuck. Wanna tell me wha—”

 

Olivia stopped mid-sentence. She had just spotted the giant jack-o’-lantern. She wasn’t sure why she hadn’t noticed it as soon as she walked into the enclosure, but its orange-yellow light was suddenly and totally captivating. She felt herself growing warmer by the second. Maybe her dirndl was just the right outfit for tonight, after all.

 

“I’m sorry, what were you saying?” Chuck took another step closer.

 

“That is big,” Olivia whispered.

 

Chuck turned back to the jack-o’-lantern. “Oh, that thing?” he said casually. “Yes, I suppose it is.”

 

Olivia stared at the flames flickering through its jagged smile. She had felt her anxiety spike when she first stepped into the space, but she couldn’t remember why anymore. She felt a small smile come to her face.

 

“I need to post this,” she said, reaching for her phone.

 

“Hold on,” Chuck said, “Maggie tells me you’re a nursing major?”

 

“Yes,” Olivia said, “I… always wanted to be a nurse.”

 

“I don’t blame you,” said Chuck, taking another step closer. “That new medical sciences building is beautiful, no? Enough to convince anyone to switch majors.”

 

“Yeah…. it was a big reason I chose MSU… they had just finished it when I toured the campus for the first time.”

 

“Right, of course.”

 

It took a good deal of effort for Olivia to pry her eyes away from the jack-o’-lantern and look at Chuck’s face. And once she did, she wished she hadn’t. His features were twisted into a menacing expression, his jaw was clenched tight.

 

“I’m sorry, did I offend you?”

 

“Yes, you did,” he said, his face slowly returning back to normal. “But it’s not your fault. This is the administration’s doing.”

 

“I’m not sure I understand.”

 

“No. But you will,” he said, taking a few steps closer. He was now only a couple feet away from the girls.

 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Olivia felt her anxiety begin to simmer again.

 

 “Everything will be revealed in due time. Your friend Maggie was confused at first, just like you. Isn’t that right, Maggie?”

 

“Yes, sir,” Maggie said in her dreamy voice.

 

There’s that “sir” again.  Olivia felt the pit in her stomach growing.

 

“But you’ll find that I can be incredibly persuasive.” He now stood directly across from Olivia. She tried to take a step back, but Maggie held her firm.

 

“What are you doing?” Olivia snapped, trying to break free from Maggie’s grip. “I think we should leave now.”

 

“But you just got here,” Chuck whined. “You don’t want to leave yet, do you, Maggie?”

 

“No, sir.”

 

“You did something to her,” Olivia said through clenched jaw as she put all of her strength into freeing her arm. Maggie’s grip was unusually strong, almost superhuman. But Maggie wasn’t even looking at her; she just stared blankly ahead at Chuck.

 

“You see, Olivia, I’m actively recruiting for the campaign ahead. And I’m offering you an exclusive spot on the winning team.”

 

“Not interested.” She was breathing heavily now. “Let me go, you bitch!”

 

“No need for that language,” Chuck said, turning around and walking back towards the jack-o’-lantern. He rested his hand on top of it, gently rubbing its orange skin. Turning his head to face Olivia, Chuck said, “You’re going to stay here for now.”

 

As soon as he finished speaking, Olivia thought she started to see green flashes of light emanate from the jack-o’-lantern. I’m going crazy, just like these two. Olivia was surprised when Maggie abruptly let go of her.

 

“Finally, Jesus!” Olivia rubbed her arm where it had been locked with Maggie’s. The jack-o’-lantern was definitely growing green now. Olivia felt lightheaded. She tried to take a step back, but her feet remained still.

 

“Come here.”

 

What happened next was one of the most bizarre feelings Olivia ever experienced. Against her will, her right foot rose and fell. Then her left did the same. Right. Left. Right. Left. She walked into the middle of the enclosure. How is he making me do this?

 

“That’s good,” he said. Olivia stopped. “Maggie, come join your friend.”

 

Maggie walked towards Olivia, her eyes still in a dazed state, her feet almost gliding over the ground.

 

“Maggie, what’s wrong with you?” Olivia whispered. Maggie didn’t respond.

 

“I’m afraid Maggie’s already fallen under the spell of my friend here,” Chuck said, giving the jack-o’-lantern a little pat.

 

“Let’s make a run for it,” Olivia whispered. She tried to give Maggie a nudge, but her arm wouldn’t move.

 

“There will be none of that,” Chuck laughed. “Are you getting bored? Better places to be? Maggie, why don’t you give your friend a little show?”

 

“Listen, asshole. Let me and my friend go, now. You’ll regret this.”

 

“I put all my regrets behind me a long time ago,” he said, smiling. “Maggie, take off your clothes.”

 

“What?” Olivia said, not quite processing that last command. She looked over at Maggie, who began to slowly unlace her bodice.

 

“Maggie, what the fuck are you doing?”

 

Olivia watched, horrified, as Maggie slid the bodice down her body and stepped out of it. Maggie was just in her blouse and skirt now. The cool air didn’t seem to bother her; she had a dazed smile on her face and stared into nothingness.

 

“Why don’t you do a little dance for us too, Maggie?”

 

Olivia felt like she was going to be nauseous. Maggie slowly started to sway her hips to an unheard rhythm, her eyes vacant as she gradually unbuttoned her white blouse. Her movements were fluid and graceful, but her expressionless face gave the whole scene an eerie quality.

 

Maggie pulled her arms out of her sleeves and let her blouse fall to the ground. Without missing a beat, she reached up to her back and unclasped her beige strapless bra. She tossed it to the ground as she continued her sensuous, serpentine movements. Her newly freed breasts jiggled slightly as she danced.

 

“Maggie, please, stop this,” Olivia begged. She felt like she was about to cry.

 

If Maggie could hear her, she didn’t listen. Her arm which had unclasped her bra fell to the back of her butt, where she began unzipping her skirt. She slowly pulled the skirt down her hips as they continued to sway. Her creamy thighs and calves came into view as the skirt fell.

 

Maggie was now just in her beige thong. Her hips moved with a mesmerizing fluidity as she grabbed her waistband and pulled her thong down her legs, bending over as she did so. And with that, Maggie stepped out of clothes, now fully naked.

 

“Thank you, Maggie, for that lovely show,” Chuck said, clapping his hands slowly. He glanced at Olivia. “You know, that dance made me feel rather gracious. I think I’ll let you talk to your friend for this next part.”

 

Chuck held his hand up and snapped his fingers.

 

Olivia watched as a look of clarity suddenly returned to Maggie’s eyes. She looked around confused, as if she had just woken up from a long nap. When she caught sight of Olivia she managed to smile. But this only lasted a moment before she looked down and realized she was naked.

 

Maggie screamed and quickly covered her breasts and pussy with her hands. By the way her eyes moved, Olivia could tell Maggie was debating whether to expose herself again to grab her clothes. Maggie turned to face her.

 

“Olivia, what’s going on?”

 

“I was going to ask you the same thing! You’re the one that brought me here!”

 

“What are you talking about?” Maggie asked, confused.

 

“You walked me here! You don’t remember any of that?”

 

“No,” Maggie said, looking even more concerned now. She glanced back towards her pile of clothes. After debating for a moment, she sprung quickly toward them, reaching her hand out to grab her blouse.

 

“Freeze!”

 

Maggie’s body became suddenly rigid. She remained bent over, hand reaching out towards her blouse.

 

“What the fuck,” she said, frozen still as a statue.

 

“You never learn your lesson,” Chuck laughed as he walked behind Maggie. He pulled his right arm back slowly before quickly swinging it forward and delivering a hard slap to her ass.

 

“Ow!” Maggie cried out, still bent over. “You fucking bastard!”

 

Chuck smiled as he watched a red handprint develop gradually on Maggie’s white ass. He took a step back and admired the view. After a few moments, he said, “Well, Olivia, I’m sure you’re feeling left out at this point. Maggie, why don’t we fix that?”

 

Olivia saw Maggie look up at her with her blue eyes wide. Olivia gulped and tried once more to move her feet, but to no avail.

 

“Maggie, please stand up and undress Olivia.”

 

Olivia watched in horror as Maggie stood up slowly and took a step towards her. “Maggie, don’t,” she begged.

 

“I’m sorry, I can’t stop,” she whispered as she continued walking over to Olivia. She paused when she stood directly across from her.

 

The two girls stared wide-eyed at each other as Maggie’s hands reached up to Olivia’s laced bodice. Maggie’s hands got to work unlacing the closures.

 

“I’m so sorry,” Maggie whispered. “I don’t know what’s happening!”

 

“It’s the jack-o’-lantern,” Olivia whispered back. “I don’t know how, but he’s using it to control us.”

 

Maggie finished unlacing Olivia’s bodice and slid it down her torso. She kneeled down to slide it over Olivia’s hips and down her thighs.

 

She stood up again and began unbuttoning Olivia’s blouse. “If we could somehow get free and destroy that pum—”

 

“Stop talking!” Chuck commanded.

 

Maggie’s mouth slammed shut while her eyes remained wide open, her fingers still working on Olivia’s buttons.

 

“Maggie, are you still in there?” Olivia whispered. Maggie didn’t respond, but Olivia could tell by her eyes that she was still aware of what was happening.

 

When Olivia’s blouse was finally unbuttoned, Maggie pulled Olivia’s arms through her sleeves and pulled her blouse to the ground as well. While she was kneeling, Maggie reached around to the back of Olivia’s skirt and began unzipping it.

 

“Maggie, stop, you don’t have to do this!” Olivia begged. But it was too late. Olivia heard the sound of her skirt unzipping and then a small swoosh as it fell to the ground.

 

Olivia now stood in just her sky-blue strapless bra and matching thong. She was cold, and she could feel goosebumps forming all over her body. Olivia felt Maggie’s hands reach up to the waistband of her thong and grab hold of it. No!

 

Maggie pulled Olivia’s thong down in a single motion, sliding it down her ass, thighs, and calves. Olivia tried to cover her pussy but found that she still couldn’t move her limbs.

 

Maggie stood up again and the girls exchanged glances. Olivia could tell that Maggie was aware, and her expression was a mixture of horror and regret. They eyes remained fixed on each other as Maggie reached around Olivia’s back and unclasped her sky-blue strapless bra. Her tits bounced out as her bra fell to the ground.

 

Maggie and Olivia were now both naked. Chuck walked over and slung an arm around each of their shoulders.

 

“Well, isn’t this lovely,” he said, his eyes darting back and forth between each of their chests.

 

“You’re a disgusting lunatic,” Olivia said. Then, in an action she didn’t entirely process, she spit in his face.

 

“Agh!” Chuck yelled, staggering back. He wiped his face with the back of his hand. “Fucking cunt,” he muttered.

 

“Fuck you!”

 

He stared at her, his face twisted in anger. Then the rage slowly subsided, a mischievous look taking its place.

 

“I am still a generous man despite your rudeness,” he said, grinning. “So, Olivia, I will give you chance to earn your freedom.”

 

Is he being serious? Olivia couldn’t tell.

 

“Maggie, would you mind tipping Olivia over onto this sheet here?” He pointed to a black cloth that was lying on the ground behind Olivia. It was about six feet long by four feet across. “Don’t worry, the ground is soft.”  

 

Maggie stared wide-eyed as she raised both of her hands and pressed them to Olivia’s breasts before giving her a solid shove.

 

“Ah!” Olivia screamed as she fell backwards, stiff as a board. The wind was knocked out of her as her back hit the ground.

 

Olivia coughed and sputtered. She had landed on the black sheet, and the ground felt cold beneath her. She still couldn’t move a limb or wiggle a toe.

 

When she opened her eyes, she saw Chuck standing over her, smiling wide. “Yes, I’ll give you the chance to earn your freedom. All you need to do is not orgasm.”

 

“I don’t think that’ll be a problem with you,” Olivia snapped.

 

“Me? Who said anything about me?” He glanced over at Maggie.

 

“What? No!” Olivia said.

 

“Maggie, I want you to eat her out.”

 

Olivia had to glance down over her nose to see Maggie, who was standing at her feet. Please. Maybe the effects of the jack-o’-lantern had worn off. Maybe she was free now. But Olivia’s hopes were dashed as she saw Maggie get on her knees.

 

“If you can resist an orgasm, I’ll let you walk free,” he said. Olivia saw Maggie get down on her hands and knees. “But if you come, you’ll be my slave forever.”

 

“Fuck you, you asshole!” Olivia screamed! She felt Maggie grab her ankles.

 

“Oh, first you need to take her shoes off, of course!”

 

Olivia felt Maggie pause, then go to work untying her shoes. She slipped each of them off and sat them next to her. Slowly, she pulled each of Olivia’s black ankle socks off.

 

“Give those feet a good lick before you get started.”

 

Maggie started with Olivia’s left foot, and licked from the bottom of her heel up to the ball of her foot. She gave each of her toes a lick before repeating the process with her right foot. When she was done, she grabbed each of Olivia’s ankles and pulled her legs apart gently.

 

Olivia was now spread wide before her. For a brief moment, the two girls exchanged horrified glances. Then Maggie began lowering her face.

 

“I can see you’re still tense. Relax,” he said, snapping his fingers.

 

Olivia felt a wave of forced calm wash over her. Her muscles, which had been taut, relaxed. Although she was still aware of what was happening, she could no longer tense her muscles up.

 

“Okay, Maggie, you may begin.” Olivia saw Maggie lower her head even further.

 

Then, suddenly, she felt the warmth of Maggie’s mouth on her folds. “Unhhh,” she heard herself moan, unwillingly.

 

Maggie’s tongue danced in circles around her entrance, flicking up and down, side to side, in and out. Olivia could feel her pussy start to pulse as Maggie’s tongue trailed around it. Olivia closed her eyes and tried to resist the pleasure she knew she was beginning to feel.

Against her will, Olivia felt her hips begin to move to the rhythm of Maggie’s tongue, which continued to curl and coil around her vulva. And she wasn’t sure whether the moisture she felt between her legs was Maggie’s or her own.

 

As Maggie lapped away, Olivia began to feel a throbbing sensation emanating from her groin. I cannot come. I have to… get free! The throbbing was only getting stronger as Maggie probed her core.

 

Olivia gripped the sheet beneath her tightly with both hands as Maggie drew circles around her bud.

 

“Unhhh!” Olivia was surprised by her own moan. Her hips were moving faster now.

 

Chuck watched, captivated as Maggie’s tongue explored Olivia’s recesses. “You want to come, don’t you Olivia? It would be so easy to come, wouldn’t it? Just give in. Give in and become my slave forever.”

 

“No!” she managed to utter between moans.

 

Olivia could feel the blood draining from her limbs and rushing to her groin where Maggie’s tongue continued to caress. The tension between her legs was building, almost overflowing, now. Must… resist!

 

But what happened next dashed any of her hopes. She felt Maggie’s fingers begin circling her hole. “No! Maggie, don’t!”

 

It was too late. Maggie’s index and middle fingers slid into Olivia’s crease, burying themselves in her wetness. Olivia arched her back as her hips raised and rolled. Her moans were growing louder.

 

Maggie stroked the upper wall of Olivia’s pussy as her tongue swept over her clit. Olivia could feel her climax approaching. It felt inevitable. She felt her vagina clutching Maggie’s fingers as they continued to stroke her, felt her warmth concentrate at her core where Maggie’s tongue blazed across in abandon.

 

It was here. Olivia gripped the sheet beneath her as her face contorted. All the heat in her body rushed to her groin. Her pussy gripped Maggie’s fingers as the climax began to ripple through her. Maggie’s tongue picked up the pace, streaking and swirling across her clit. Her hips writhed and then submitted to the onslaught. Maggie’s fingers drove her forward. The release was total. Her thighs clamped down on Maggie’s head, she screamed into the night air. She wasn’t sure whether the stars she saw streaking across the sky were real or not.

 

Unfortunately, there was one thing she saw that she felt fairly certain, at this point, was real. And that was Chuck’s smiling face.

 

“My, my,” he said. “That looked intense.” He kneeled down.

 

“Please,” Olivia managed to say in her afterglow. “Don’t do this.”

 

“I’m sorry, but a deal’s a deal.”

 

Olivia tried to sit up. “No, no, please,” she begged. But Chuck just touched his index finger to her forehead and said, “Sleep.”

 

And just like that, Olivia’s eyes slammed shut as she collapsed back onto the sheet. For the first time since entering the enclosure, she looked peaceful.

 

He looked up at Maggie, whose wide eyes were anything but peaceful. She still laid on her hands and knees between Olivia’s thighs.

 

“Well, my dear, so ends Phase 1,” he said, now touching his finger to her forehead. “Sleep.”

 

Maggie fell forward between Olivia’s legs, joining her in slumberland.

 

“I look forward to working with you both in Phase 2.”