Awake in Sleep
Charles blinked. Dreaming of being hypnotized by his girlfriend was almost as erotic as the real thing. He hated waking up, though, for all memories and feelings he thought eternal, vanished in a flash.
He took some time to collect his thoughts, yet found none.
Smiling, he blinked again and drifted deeper under her control.
Have you ever woken up from a dream, not knowing for sure if you’re indeed awake or just moved from one oniric layer to another, this last one feeling so real you get even more confused, even if momentarily? I know I have.
For some people, going into trance is like dreaming so that’s what I was going for with this one. Perception is everything, except when it’s not. Just like thoughts. Are you sure you’re awake reading this right now? I didn’t think so.
Redemption Arc
Thomas J. Henderson. Pirate. Murderer. Rapist. Scourge of seven known solar systems and at least one unknown.
He was last seen talking to a green-eyed woman with ample breasts everyone seems to love without really knowing why.
Thomas J. Henderson. Hypnotized eunuch in service of dominant ladies across the universe. His redemption arc is complete.
Don’t you just love redemption arcs in books, TV shows, and movies? Stories of people bad to the bone at one point in their lives that suddenly develop a conscience and do their best to make amends? Some are pretty good, others not really. I have a bit of an issue with those that are completely forced or unconvincing. All people have the potential to change but some never do, not even with help.
I wrote this dark, humorous take on the subject thinking about this. He’s certainly a different person now and if the brainwashing continues, he’ll never revert to old ways.
It’s Weird
“I hate this,” Jonathan said.
“Hate what?” Victor asked.
“Not knowing when I’m hypnotized. Gina has perfected the art and it’s weird.”
“What do you mean?”
“Sometimes, I talk to people that aren’t real…”
“That’s called hallucinating, not hypnosis.”
“… and then they vanish before my eyes.”
Victor stared at the empty room while Gina laughed.
Just having some fun with perception and misdirection which is a theme that often appears in this challenge. This was a random idea written while I was waiting for dinner to get ready a few hours ago but couldn’t really post it on the site until now. Have you ever been fooled in a similar way? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments if you so wish.
Dessert Time
“Alexandra?”
“Yes, General?”
“The files on Cannibal Pete are missing. Records say you took them.”
“Yes, I did.”
“Why?”
“I’m having him eat them as punishment.”
“You hypnotized him to eat five hundred sheets of paper?”
“Better that than another woman. Please, excuse me. It’s dessert time.”
The General hung up. He wasn’t hungry anymore.
Oh look, Alexandra decided to drop by again but she was kind of mean in this one, wasn’t she? Well, she does have a peculiar sense of justice and it’s not the first time she punishes those that truly deserve it in some truly wicked ways. I love writing humorous snippets about her but I also like to have her go dark every now and then just because I can. This is all fiction after all and the challenge thrives on exploring many different themes to keep going. This was an improvised piece written just now.
The next time she decides to grace us with her presence here, it will probably be a more light-hearted affair. Probably.