“I’m independent,” you said stubbornly, scowling at the sparkly bauble swinging before your eyes.

“Of course you are,” they replied dismissively. “You keep telling yourself that, as you keep watching the crystal go back and forth...”

You bristled, indignant at their condescension. “I’m independent,” you insisted again, more forcefully than before. You needed to make that absolutely clear to them. They needed to know they weren’t going to win.

“Thaaat’s right,” they cooed again, voice dripping with snide insincerity. “You’re so independent, dear. No-one’s hypnotising someone as independent as you!”

Their smug self-assurance, their tone of mocking agreement that clearly indicated they believed the exact opposite, only made you more determined to resist. They were overconfident now, clearly expecting you to succumb sooner or later, just because you couldn’t stop staring at the crystal. But that didn’t prove anything. You may have been ensnared by their enchanting jewel, but you were still fully cogent, and fully prepared to fight their insidious influence.

Swallowing hard, you pouted up at the glittering gem that held your gaze transfixed, and said again, “I’m independent.” Despite your intentions, your voice sounded a little less certain than before. But you were. You knew you were completely, utterly independent, free-thinking and self-possessed. You had your own mind, and your own willpower. You weren’t going to fall under their control, no matter how long they kept up this ridiculous routine.

“I’m not arguing with you, sweetie,” they teased you, “but all evidence to the contrary. If you could only see yourself right now. Your slumped shoulders, your loose limp arms, your slack jaw, your staring eyes... Anyone would think you were totally mesmerised by now. Utterly vacant and mindless, robbed of your autonomy, dependent on my guidance...”

“I’m independent,” you complained, and you were shocked by the low drawl you spoke in, as if you were half-asleep. “I’m independent,” you declared again, trying to make it sound like the grim resolution of a strong-willed adult, rather than the petulant protests of a child objecting to being sent for a nap.

The transparent, shining stone still swung from left to right, blurrier by the second as your eyelids grew heavier. A flicker of panic went through you as you realised you were fading - staring at the crystal for so long had clearly depleted your energy, and now you were dangerously close to falling into trance. Your mind felt so foggy all of a sudden, thoughts coming to you so slowly.

“Looks like someone’s almost ready to surrender,” they said triumphantly.

No! You couldn’t let them win! You defiantly mustered your last reserves of willpower, clinging to the sole solitary thought that remained crystal clear, the one belief that was keeping you afloat. “I’m independent.”

“Oh, I know, love,” they said matter-of-factly. “You’re completely independant.”

A small confused frown creased your numb face for a moment. “I’m independent.”

“You are. You’re totally independant. You would be, after sitting here for so long, staring into the centre of my swinging crystal. Letting every glimmer, every facet, fascinate you. Letting it enthral you, enrapture you, draw you in...”

“’M independent,” you mumbled, barely processing what they were saying, barely aware of yourself, barely aware of anything any more. You only knew you had to hang onto that one thought.

“That’s true. You are independant. You watch it swing. You watch it shine. You feel it pull out every thought in your silly little brain, and suck them into its core. You feel it hold your consciousness within, encased in an impenetrable, inescapable crystal cage...”

“’M... in...de...pendent...”

“You absolutely are. You’re... com...plete...ly... to...tal...ly... in... de... pendant.”

“I’m in de pendant,” you muttered, barely audibly, and that was the last thing you knew. And you knew it to be true, inarguably so. Everything you were, your will and your wits, your desires and your defiant nature, had been drawn into the gem as if sucked into a whirlpool, and encapsulated within.

They cupped their palm around the pendant and snatched it out of sight, taking you with it. “Good,” they said to the nothing that remained of you. “Now we can begin.”