as jim walked up the slope, he noticed someone standing by the street sign, the one he always looked at, the one that said, "empty." at this time of day and this distance, he couldn't see them very well, only really able to make out a vague, shadowy figure. he wondered if they were waiting for someone.

he didn't look at them for too long, moving to the other side of the street to avoid them, as he always tended to do with strangers.

still, as he walked higher up, and got closer, and glanced over at them again, he realized they were looking directly at him, watching him. at first, he wondered if he'd just happened to catch them glancing, too - but every time he glanced back again, they were watching, their eyes fixed on him, their head turning to follow him. it was unmistakable. they were staring.

"excuse me," they called out to him. "can you come here for a moment?"

he really didn't want to, but, reluctantly, he stepped a bit closer. "what is it?"

they were probably just going to ask for directions, or something, he thought. there was no reason for him to feel this anticipation, to feel this dread.

"can you take a look at this sign for a moment?"

he glanced at it, and it was the same sign that it had always been. he only looked for a second, before looking away again, because he felt an odd sort of dizziness, when he saw it.

"what is it?" he asked.

"come closer. come look at it from over here."

"is there something wrong with it?"

"just come here, please."

he stepped over, standing next to them, although he was still confused. he only barely glanced at it again.

"it's just a sign," he said.

"you're not really looking at it, are you?"

"i don't know what i'm supposed to see. why are you-"

"it isn't just a normal sign, is it?"

an odd feeling traveled through him. he wanted to step away, to leave, but the stranger grabbed his shoulder, pulling him closer to them in a smooth, firm motion.

he twitched, trying to pull back, but in his bewilderment and confusion, he couldn't really put his full effort into it. they were holding him with both arms, still not being rough or violent, exactly, even though they were restraining him very effectively.

they tilted his head toward the sign, and he found himself struggling, trying to avoid looking at it.

"you won't look at it?" they said quietly. "but you always look at it, don't you? you like looking at it."

his heart pounded, a strange heat rushing to his face.

"you won't look at it for me? even though i waited so patiently for you here? even though you've wanted something like this to happen?"

"i don't- i didn't-"

they leaned closer to his ear, speaking directly into it. "shh... stop struggling... just be a good boy, and look at it..."

something about the directness of the command and the tone of voice they used made him freeze, obediently opening his eyes, and looking right at the sign.

"there you go..." they cooed. "that's right... that isn't so bad, is it?"

he felt himself falling into a trance, the sight of the sign making him feel more and more empty, the more he looked at it. he was completely helpless to it, even now, even when this stranger had their hands on him.

they began petting him, as he continued to stare.

"that's it... relax... fall deeper for me... you can't help it, can you?"

he shuddered, his shoulders dropping.

"there you go... that's better. very good..."

he felt himself leaning into their arms, leaning into their touch, becoming docile.

"you really wanted to behave, didn't you? you were just confused... but that's alright... i knew what you needed."

it was such a forceful thing for them to say, and yet, for some reason, it struck him as true.

"and you're going to be good and let me take you home, too, aren't you? or will i have to make you?"

"i'll be good," he said quietly, without thinking.

"good... you won't need much training at all, will you? you'll make such a perfect, empty pet..."

even in his trance, he was aware of how creepy they were being, and all of the implications of what they were saying.

but he held still as they reached into their coat pocket, grabbing a collar, wrapping it around his neck, and clicking it shut. he held still as they hooked a leash onto it. and when they gently pulled on that leash, he felt a certain eagerness to follow, deep inside of him.

no one saw them before they both disappeared inside of the stranger's house.