I’m waking up…

 

I think…

 

I’m… sat. Sprawled… Somewhere

 

Becoming aware of…

 

I recognise the room, just one of many in this Mansion. I look at a maid standing by a bookcase in the corner of the room. Endlessly patient.

I realise there’s something against my back, a chair. Just as my thoughts start to become clear, a hand reaches down. It runs over the back of my head and neck.

 

I shiver.

 

I hear Her voice “Now then, tell me.”.

 

Vision blurs. I go dizzy.

 

Awareness returns. All I know is I’ve been very good. It feels good. Warm. Before I can enjoy it too much, Her words are my thoughts again

 

“And now, Sweet Thing… Something new to fill your sleep”

 

I disappear again.

 

I’m in a mansion bedroom, sleepily removing clothes and washing in a basin. I’m Trying to think about the audience I had just had, with The Lady. It’s fuzzy. Something about… purpose?

 

I don’t… can’t…

 

I’m so tired, but I’m not willing to submit to sleep yet, out of habit.

 

At some point, I’m aware two Maids are in the room.

 

Identical.

 

Blindfolded.

 

But as I moved around the room, I knew I was being keenly observed.

 

Now I really don’t want to sleep.

 

I move from the basin cautiously, to browse a cabinet and bookcase idly.

 

“Sleep.”

 

Two synchronised voices make me yelp in panic.

 

“Wah- fff-jesus DON’T DO THAT”

 

“Sleep.”

 

“Stop it.”

 

“Sleep.”

 

“I don’t like this.”

 

“Sleep.”

 

I go to the door. Go to open it.

 

“Sleep.”

 

But I can’t. I wait a few moments. They remain silent. I go to grab the doorknob.

 

“Sleep.”

 

My arm freezes.

 

“Stop it.”

 

“Sleep.”

 

“Why are you even in here?”

 

“Maids serve our Lady. Our Lady’s Dreamer must- Sleep.”

 

“Ohoh don’t call me that- look we have an arrangement, it’s win-win, it’s also noooooone of your business” I leave out the part where I can’t quite remember the arrangement through the brain-fog.

 

“Sleep.”

 

“Yeah! Thanks! Was gonna! Before you went all Shining Twins on me!”

 

“Sleep.”

 

I sit on the bed

 

“Just shut up ok?”

 

“The Dreamer must Sleep. It must obey our Lady.”

 

I try to get up off the bed.

 

“Sleep.”

 

I can’t.

 

My body won’t.

 

Suddenly, the Maids move.

 

“Our Lady’s Dreamer must sleep”

 

I’m so tired now, so much more than before.

 

They’re moving me.

 

I’m letting them.

 

“Let our Lady into your dreams, more”

 

“Know your mind more”

 

“M- let- whha?”

 

“Every story. Every dream. Every thought. More and more.”

 

“Our Lady fills you”

 

Oh~ The mattress… the weighty covers… so good… pulling down…

 

“Like our Lady filled us”

 

Something in my mind tries to tell me I should really be concerned specifically about that.

 

but

 

I

 

can’t

 

“Sleep.”

 

“Dream.”

 

“Let her in”

 

“Show her what she wants”

 

“Share all. of. you.”

 

I…

 

 

 

 

sleep.