After she finished preparing everyone’s drinks, Ava returned to her friends, still smiling. Peter’s whiskey was poured into a hand-carved crystal glass, Travis’s wine glimmered in a vintage goblet, and Brandon’s came in another chilled martini glass. As she served each drink, her movements were as elegant as a ballerina dancing on a stage. Having completed her task, she took a step back, standing at attention in the middle of the room, her eyes looking into the distance yet seeing nothing at all.

“Good job, Ava,” Mistress Susan said. “Now, freeze in place until I tell you otherwise. You can’t move until I give the order. Obey.”

The hypnodomme snapped her fingers and Ava’s body became stiff, like a sculpture made of porcelain, her muscles rigid and with no sign of movement. Brandon, Peter, and Travis couldn’t believe their eyes - Ava looked like a living statue, her appearance so lifelike that it was almost surreal.

“I asked you to wake her up,” Brandon protested.

“You still haven’t emptied your glass,” Mistress Susan tapped the bottom of hers. “Do it and then we’ll talk.”

Brandon glanced at Mistress Susan, unsure of what to make of the situation. Her calm demeanor made him question if he was overreacting. He lifted the martini glass, feeling its cool touch against his fingertips. The liquid inside shimmered under the soft glow of the room’s lights, a delicate concoction that beckoned him to savor its taste. With a deep breath, he brought the glass to his lips and took a sip.

The drink was exquisite, a blend of flavors that danced on his tongue. It carried a hint of sweetness followed by a subtle kick of alcohol, leaving a pleasant warmth in its wake. As he savored the drink, Brandon noticed Ava’s frozen form on his periphery. Why was it so disturbing and yet so hot?

Mistress Susan observed his every move, her gaze piercing yet filled with amusement. “Good boy,” she remarked as Brandon finished his drink, and he blushed. Setting the empty glass down on the coffee table before him, he waited for the hypnotist to fulfill her end of the bargain.

She rose from the sofa and approached Ava with a smirk. She raised her right hand and waved it in front of Ava’s vacant eyes, seeing no reaction from the mesmerized waitress. With a flick of her wrist, she uttered, “Ava, it’s time to wake up now. At the count of three, you’ll be able to move again and you’ll no longer respond to my commands. You were a magnificent subject and made me happy tonight. Feel your mind floating back to the realm of consciousness, waking up in 3, 2, 1…”

At the sound of Mistress Susan’s voice, Ava’s stiff form began to tremble, like a delicate blossom swaying in a gentle breeze. Color returned to her cheeks, and her eyelids fluttered before opening to reveal a pair of luminous eyes filled with bewilderment.

“Ava, can you hear me?” Mistress Susan inquired, her voice soothing yet commanding.

Ava blinked several times before focusing on Mistress Susan standing before her. Confusion clouded her features as she tried to make sense of her surroundings.

“Mistress Susan…” she muttered. “I’m ready to be entranced whenever you want. We’re still doing this, right?”

“Huh?” Brandon shook his head. “But Ava, you were hypnotized the whole time!”

“No, I wasn’t!” Ava scoffed, her voice filled with disbelief. She scanned the room, taking in the familiar sights and sounds. Nothing seemed out of place, except for the empty glasses on the coffee table. “Hey, when did you guys have drinks?”

“You don’t remember?” Brandon insisted.

“Remember what?”

“It happened again, huh?” Peter said.

“It seems that way…” Mistress Susan remarked. “Not to worry, though. She’s fine.”

“Okay, what the hell is happening?” Brandon bit his lower lip. “How can she not remember she was entranced?”

“But I wasn’t!” Ava shrugged. “God, I’m getting confused!”

“It’s okay, dear,” Mistress Susan whispered. “Your memories will return little by little just like last time. You are a suggestible wonder, you know?”

“Wait, so I…?” Ava covered her mouth with her hand. “No!”

Mistress Susan arched an eyebrow, a hint of amusement playing on her lips at Ava’s denial. “Oh, you were under my spell, my dear, and your performance was impeccable,” she said with a sly grin. “You better go sit down, okay? Allow your brain to recover for a bit and then we’ll talk later if you’re not feeling like yourself yet, okay?”

“Okay.”

Ava joined Peter and Travis as Brandon remained on the defensive, now more worried than before.

“Is this a normal thing?” he asked.

“For some people, yes. I said it’s like a dream, didn’t I? Well, not everyone remembers their dreams when they wake up. Some do, but only vague details. And then, there are others who remember everything with no issues. When Ava goes deep, she goes really deep, and that’s why she’s confused.”

“Did this happen to you guys, too?” Brandon asked the guys.

“Not me,” Peter replied.

“Me neither,” Travis nodded. “But yeah, our girl is special.”

“How likely is it that the same thing happens to me if you put me under?” he turned to Mistress Susan and flinched.

“We won’t know for sure until you go under the first time. Are you getting cold feet again?”

“I’d be lying if I said no.”

“Well, since this is your first time, I doubt you’ll go as deep as her. Do you always remember your dreams, Brandon?”

“Sometimes, I do. Sometimes, I don’t. It depends on the dream.”

“I promise to be extra careful as I guide you into trance for the first time. However, if you’re not sure, then we can call everything off right now. You’ll never get anything except full transparency from me, okay?” the hypnodomme said.

Brandon hesitated again but this time it was short-lived. A voice in his head was telling him to live a little because an opportunity like that didn’t come very often. His friends exchanged knowing glances, encouraging him to take the plunge too. Ava gave him a reassuring smile, her eyes filled with empathy and curiosity. Peter and Travis nodded in unison.

With a deep breath, Brandon gave his approval. The demonstration was over. It was time for the real fun to begin.

“You’ve made the right choice,” Mistress Susan said. “There’s only one more thing we need to discuss. How do you see yourself going under for me?”