Hypnovember 2023 - 30 Micro Stories

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That's all for Hypnovember 2023... if you've been reading all my longer stories, thank you so much! And if you haven't, I hope you'll go back to them soon~

Hypnovember 2023 Mini-StoriesBy Limewah18+ 

These are short stories I wrote using my prompts from 1 - 30 November 2023. Each one was posted to twitter initially, and was written to fit into two tweets. These are mostly unedited save for some slight tweaks of spelling and grammar.

  1. TWINKLEYou can see the reflection of the lights in their eyes. Their gaze glazes, their jaw slackens. You keep your hand under their chin, take the pressure off their tired neck to support their heavy head. The stars strobe and flicker, taking their focus every which way.This particular galaxy is known for its hypnotic celestial bodies. It was an obvious place to take your date... good thing you're wearing reflective sunglasses, so as not to slip yourself. Someone's got to stay in control of the ship, after all...

  2. WHISPERMy lips are so close to yours, you can hear them parting before that first word slips out. from my throat, along my lips and tongue, into your ear, and right into your brain. Listen. Closer now. The closer you lean in, the better you'll feel.That's it. Lean in. My lips at your ear. kissing the side of your head. My words creeping in unobstructed, straight into your submissive subconscious. Close those eyes, shut off all the other senses. My voice is all you need to perceive at this moment. Good creature~

  3. SAMPLEYou're not drinking tonight, but that doesn't stop your friend from insisting you try a sip of their 'mocktail'. The booze-free drink looks like a potion, with little sparkles of glitter in the dark blue liquid. You gingerly sip...And sweetness explodes across your tongue. Your whole body pauses as pleasure floods your system - intoxicating in an unexpected way. As your vision clears, you see your friend take a sip, and see the spirals in their eyes, and know you've GOT to have another round...

  4. SOFTThe tail wags slowly, brush brush brushing against your face. By this point, your head is now tilting from side to side, pushed ever so slightly by that warm, comfy fuzz. Your eyes have closed, and your body is still, the only movement you care about is the brush brush brush of that tail. Sweeping away all those thoughts and worries and cares, blocking off that stream of consciousness... so that when the wagging stops, you'll be ready to do everything that handsome doggy tells you to do.

  5. SHARPYour roommate knocks on your door. When you answer it, his post-run musk wafts over you and makes you have to ask him to repeat himself. "Do you have a towel I can borrow? Or... hm, maybe I should hold on a bit. Wanna sniff?" "Yes, Sir," you gurgle.You bury your nose into his lifted pit, the scent and the moisture caking into your face and making you feel like you washed down an edible with rum. And that's before he pushes you down his chest, to his stomach, between his legs. That's the spot that always melts your mind...

  6. SPLITCW: Hypnotic languageThere are two yous. The awake you, and the asleep you.The awake you thinks for yourself, when it's awake.The asleep you feels and follows and floats when it's awake.But the awake you and the asleep you can't both be awake at the same time.Which one is awake; asleep you or awake you?The awake you thinks it's awake, since you can respond to my words or stop me at any time, or you think you can.But the asleep you is awake, and the awake you is asleep, and the asleep you will wake up even more when you SLEEP.(and wake~)

  7. AURORAIt sparkles above you. Beautiful chaos. You can never predict how the ribbons of light will ebb and flow, and eventually your eyes give up trying to follow anything in particular. Your gaze just relaxes entirely and you take in the totality of it.You feel like you're floating towards the lights... in fact, you are. Your limbs dangle as you rise off the ground and towards the sky, as the lights suddenly seem less chaotic and more focused. A porthole in a shimmering disc opens above you, and you're lifted inside...

  8. RECORDThe affirmations play on a loop, affirmations you've recorded for yourself. Somehow you find it easier to believe 'You are good. You are valued.' when it's said with your own words. You are good. You are valued. You are well trained against anxiety.That leaves you more room for important things. 'You enjoy listening. You enjoy sinking. You enjoy letting your thoughts drift away so you can be blank, and empty, and compliant.' Your owner's voice speaks with yours. 'You are a good pet. You are a loved pet.'

  9. LICKYour date has been taunting you all night, daring you to kiss them. But the brightly coloured patterns on the frog's body make you feel primordial nervousness. "Trust me," they say, putting a slender hand on yours. "just a taste." You kiss their neck.The sour savoury tingle sends a zap of ecstasy straight down your spine. And your tongue is out. As you drag yourself along their body lips-first, the world turns colourful and bright. And they're at the centre of it. "See? Told you it was gonna be a good time~"

  10. CARESSThe sea feels perfect. Your wetsuit and scuba gear mean you could stay in this perfect temperature bath as long as you like. Now and again, the currents feel like a gentle, comforting hand along your thigh, your arm, your face...When the stroking becomes a sudden grip and your arms and legs are cinched together, you don't have time to struggle as the shark boy twists you around and around. Your head spins, which end is up...? When you dizzily behold a toothy grin, you smile back, waiting for his touch.

  11. CHEMICALStep right up, dear friends! Don't miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime. This wonderful tincture of mine cures what ails you... And you don't even need to drink it! Just remove the cork and let the vapours flow into your nose. From there...The real magic happens. My dear assistant could tell you all about how this wonderful elixir has divested them of all their worries and cares, leaving them in a state of blissful torpor. Isn't that right? "Yes Sir..." Ignore that li'l voice telling you this is a scam... Partake!

  12. CRAVINGYou see their cock when you close your eyes. In silences, your heartbeat reminds you of their cock pulsing. You feel the heft of their balls on your face. The tang of their shaft rests on your tongue. Their musk is a permanent resident in your nose.Since their cock put you under their spell, your entire world revolves around that space - the top of the thighs to the base of the navel, and the gorgeous pillar of flesh that dangles between. You count the seconds until the next visit when they can obliterate you again.

  13. GAZEHey there, friend! Down here! No, lower... there! Yes, I'm a talking severed head, I know, but aren't my eyes so pretty that you don't really mind? That's right, you don't. That's good. I'm glad you can look past that fact and look deep into my eyes.Closer now. Aren't the colours so nice? Don't they make you feel a sense of bliss like you've never felt before? And it'll feel even better if you pick me up. Gently, now... see? My eyes're even prettier this close. Hey, before you re-attach me, you should let me bite your neck.

  14. TONEHow does it do that? The sound feels like it's coming from both within your head and without. And the epicentre seems to swap between your left and your right ear canal every millisecond. It should be distracting you, keeping you from thinking. But......quite the opposite. It gives you a focus that you've never felt before. A sense of calm. The endless waves drown out everything extraneous. Your thoughts are clear as crystal. Your inner monologue and desires are free, unfettered. Now, nothing stops you from obeying Master.

  15. HARVESTYou fill basket after basket with brightly coloured fruit. They look so temptingly sweet and delicious, their fuzzy skin like soft velvet... There's so many, surely one going missing wouldn't be noticed? You bite, and the juice coats your mind...Your vision dances drunkenly and you can't stand anymore. As you chew and giggle and your mind tingles, you're vaguely aware of someone trudging towards you. They tut. "...well. They're no good for harvesting anymore. But the boss could use a new maidservant..."

  16. BINDWith each knot, you lift a little higher. With each knot, your arms and legs are pulled tighter behind you. With each knot, you feel that cord hug you closer. With each knot, your mind is bonded with them. Tighter. Lighter. More secure.Any fears or worries or nerves are left behind as you slip higher still. The feeling of floating fills your mind, and with it, your sense of submission to your Master grows. The rope's enchantments will remain on you after this. An everlasting brand to show all who you belong to.

  17. SWEETYour neighbour's sniffing is like a car backfiring - too loud to miss. You race to the kitchen just in time - your pie, still cooling on the windowsill, is beckoning that rubber-hose rabbit with its beguiling aroma. He grins sleepily as he floats.He hovers outside the open window, with that wide buck-tooth grin, his eyes spinning as the scent beckons him. "Yummy..." he giggles, his gloved hands reaching for the pie. You slam the window on his fingers. With a "YEOWCH!" he plummets down three stories.He'll walk it off.

  18. BETRAYALHer gaze - once blue, now gold - roots you to the spot. You drop to your knees, and she seems to grow. Her black hair turns teal, her pale skin turns to emerald scales. She grins and chuckles darkly, baring rows of ivory, sharp teeth."As fun as it's been to pretend to be one of you... I'm getting a little bored." The dragon looms over you as her disguise is shed. Smoky sweet breath pours from her nostrils over you, and your mind evaporates. It was a mistake to trust her - one should never trust a dragon.

  19. ENTERTAINMENTYou're getting antsy, fidgeting in your seat. It's 5:50 pm and the bus has been super slow. Ten minutes until your favourite show starts, and you NEED to get there in time. You don't want to miss out on a single second... Walking's quicker.You sprint until your lungs ache, managing to clear three blocks in no time flat. You have your keys in the door at 5:59. You whack the lights off and sit cross legged in front of your tv - you don't bother with the couch. 6pm. The spirals flash and flow. And you miss nothing.

  20. CHIMEYou come when called. No matter how far away you are, when the metal rod hits the brass bell, you hear it, and you seek it out. Because whoever rang the bell is your master, and they need something from you. You don't recognise them, but you know they are your Master. Why would they be holding the bell if they weren't? They look confused by your presence. They look at the bell, and ring it again. You stiffen and fail to stifle a moan, apologising for the indiscretion. As they realise their role, they start to smile.

  21. MOUTHFEELYou open your mouth to give some retort, something acidic and shitty. But they slip their fingers in there first, and the familiar softness and texture of your digit interrupts the electrical current of your frustration - and all other thought.You sigh and smile, still aware of what you're mad about even as that ceases to matter. You suckle on their digits as another one slips inside, further plugging up the day's worries. That familiar tongue-massage makes it so much easier to forgive them - and yourself.

  22. FLOATThe pendulum lifts a little higher, and your gaze swings back and forth to follow it. It's so hard to keep your eyes on it with your drooping eyelids in the way... will your hypnotist lower it? "Ah, hang on a sec. I'll be right back, plaything..."Their hand leaves the swinging, shining thing, and it just... stays there. It resists gravity and continues to swing. It really was magic, they were right... Which meant that it was going to steal your free will forever, and make you theirs forever. Your raised right arm aches.

  23. POLLENYou barely escaped. The luminescence of those petals, the thick vines molesting you... those plants almost claimed you as their latest food source. You wished you'd heeded the warnings, though you were glad you made it out safe. Though you still have a thick dusting of pollen all over your body and what's left of your clothes. It's fuzzy and sticky... and it makes your head feel similar as you breathe in deeper. It sticks to your mind. You turn slowly and dreamily, and retrace your steps, to feed the plants.

  24. INTOXICATEDWho doesn't come up from a very deep trance feeling a little loopy? It's totally normal. But you're awake, you assure your friends, even though you can feel the words stumbling off your tongue. When one of them snaps and says 'SIT', you sit.But you're still totally awake, even though you're swaying and obedient. Obeying feels fun. That's all... 'STAND UP STRAIGHT!' Boom! Back on your feet.You're killing it. Just riding the residue of that trance, even though you're totally awake. Just a little trance-drunk.

  25. SCREENThere's always one in eye-shot. A phone screen, a computer screen, a billboard at the bus stop. There's always a vector for projecting the mad doctor's mind-melting spirals. The rest of the city has fallen under her control, as far as you know.Your dark glasses manage to protect you, and so far they've yet to arouse suspicion from the blissfully placid zombies she now controls. Your work to find a way to counteract the endless hypnotism is unending. And so tiring. Sometimes you wonder if it'd be easier to give in.

  26. SERENADEArise from your bed, o mortal pet, Arise and come to me. Don't dawdle, mortal, do not fret, And walk towards the sea.

There will you hear my song so light And soft and sugar-sweet And in the dark embrace of night Us selkies you will greet.

Walk along the downy sand, Beckoned by my call. Forget about your life on land, As into the sea you fall.

Come swim with us, o mortal pet, Deep in the dark, cool sea. Enter our coral minaret, And serve eternally.

  1. NECTARNow overwhelmed by the soothing wall of buzzing sounds, you kneel as the bees surround you. Their fuzzy bodies and many hands caress your yielding body. A loyal drone floats down in front of you, cradling a bowl of wax, full of warm honey. You open.The bowl is pressed to your lips and the sweetest taste you've ever known coats your mouth and pours down your throat. Your vision splits, and splits again, the compound vision easy to adjust to as the honey morphs you to a new, more useful form. Your wingbeats join the chorus.

  2. VISCOUSThe fluid in the vat almost looks like a solid circle of black glass. Your hind-brain is afraid of it. It screams at you not to dive in. But you look at the impassive, black-visored faces of your soon-to-be fellow drones, and find courage.You take the first step. It's firm at first, but then your leg goes through the surface and the emulsion hugs tightly to you. You wade in deeper, all the way up to your neck, and allow your new skin to settle over you. The spirals on your visor tell you you're a wonderful drone.

  3. SMOKEYour entire world is their lips. Every little movement they make brings you deeper under their spell. They bring the cigarette to their lips. Pursed in a little kiss. You envy the butt of the cigarette. The cherry gleams brightly and your eyes cross.You get the barest scent of it before they blow. But they make you wait. Opening their mouth and letting you see the gray mist swirl around in the dark space just behind their lips, little ribbons seeping out... Then they blow, and you are consumed in a paroxysm of bliss.

  4. NIRVANAIt came upon you completely by surprise. There wasn't even a particular thing that broke the floodgates. You were responding to the hypnotist's call, as you had done so many times before, and...Something clicked into place. You plunged ever deeper.Serenity like nothing else. A feeling of peace, perfect presence in your body and mind. All the dark corners illuminated. The totality of You, revealed through trance.Your smiling cheekbones redirect the warm tears. "Do you need to wake up?" They ask, worried. "No," you say.

Posted using PostyBirb


Hypnovember 2023

Mini-Stories

By Limewah

18+

These are short stories I wrote using my prompts from 1 - 30 November 2023. Each one was posted to twitter initially, and was written to fit into two tweets. These are mostly unedited save for some slight tweaks of spelling and grammar.

1. TWINKLE

You can see the reflection of the lights in their eyes. Their gaze glazes, their jaw slackens. You keep your hand under their chin, take the pressure off their tired neck to support their heavy head. The stars strobe and flicker, taking their focus every which way.

This particular galaxy is known for its hypnotic celestial bodies. It was an obvious place to take your date... good thing you're wearing reflective sunglasses, so as not to slip yourself. Someone's got to stay in control of the ship, after all...

2. WHISPER

My lips are so close to yours, you can hear them parting before that first word slips out. from my throat, along my lips and tongue, into your ear, and right into your brain. Listen. Closer now. The closer you lean in, the better you'll feel.

That's it. Lean in. My lips at your ear. kissing the side of your head. My words creeping in unobstructed, straight into your submissive subconscious. Close those eyes, shut off all the other senses. My voice is all you need to perceive at this moment. Good creature~

3. SAMPLE

You're not drinking tonight, but that doesn't stop your friend from insisting you try a sip of their 'mocktail'. The booze-free drink looks like a potion, with little sparkles of glitter in the dark blue liquid. You gingerly sip...

And sweetness explodes across your tongue. Your whole body pauses as pleasure floods your system - intoxicating in an unexpected way. As your vision clears, you see your friend take a sip, and see the spirals in their eyes, and know you've GOT to have another round...

4. SOFT

The tail wags slowly, brush brush brushing against your face. By this point, your head is now tilting from side to side, pushed ever so slightly by that warm, comfy fuzz. Your eyes have closed, and your body is still, the only movement you care about is the brush brush brush of that tail. Sweeping away all those thoughts and worries and cares, blocking off that stream of consciousness... so that when the wagging stops, you'll be ready to do everything that handsome doggy tells you to do.

5. SHARP

Your roommate knocks on your door. When you answer it, his post-run musk wafts over you and makes you have to ask him to repeat himself. "Do you have a towel I can borrow? Or... hm, maybe I should hold on a bit. Wanna sniff?" "Yes, Sir," you gurgle.

You bury your nose into his lifted pit, the scent and the moisture caking into your face and making you feel like you washed down an edible with rum. And that's before he pushes you down his chest, to his stomach, between his legs. That's the spot that always melts your mind...

6. SPLIT

CW: Hypnotic language

There are two yous. The awake you, and the asleep you.

The awake you thinks for yourself, when it's awake.

The asleep you feels and follows and floats when it's awake.

But the awake you and the asleep you can't both be awake at the same time.

Which one is awake; asleep you or awake you?

The awake you thinks it's awake, since you can respond to my words or stop me at any time, or you think you can.

But the asleep you is awake, and the awake you is asleep, and the asleep you will wake up even more when you SLEEP.

(and wake~)

7. AURORA

It sparkles above you. Beautiful chaos. You can never predict how the ribbons of light will ebb and flow, and eventually your eyes give up trying to follow anything in particular. Your gaze just relaxes entirely and you take in the totality of it.

You feel like you're floating towards the lights... in fact, you are. Your limbs dangle as you rise off the ground and towards the sky, as the lights suddenly seem less chaotic and more focused. A porthole in a shimmering disc opens above you, and you're lifted inside...

8. RECORD

The affirmations play on a loop, affirmations you've recorded for yourself. Somehow you find it easier to believe 'You are good. You are valued.' when it's said with your own words. You are good. You are valued. You are well trained against anxiety.

That leaves you more room for important things. 'You enjoy listening. You enjoy sinking. You enjoy letting your thoughts drift away so you can be blank, and empty, and compliant.' Your owner's voice speaks with yours. 'You are a good pet. You are a loved pet.'

9. LICK

Your date has been taunting you all night, daring you to kiss them. But the brightly coloured patterns on the frog's body make you feel primordial nervousness. "Trust me," they say, putting a slender hand on yours. "just a taste." You kiss their neck.

The sour savoury tingle sends a zap of ecstasy straight down your spine. And your tongue is out. As you drag yourself along their body lips-first, the world turns colourful and bright. And they're at the centre of it. "See? Told you it was gonna be a good time~"

10. CARESS

The sea feels perfect. Your wetsuit and scuba gear mean you could stay in this perfect temperature bath as long as you like. Now and again, the currents feel like a gentle, comforting hand along your thigh, your arm, your face...

When the stroking becomes a sudden grip and your arms and legs are cinched together, you don't have time to struggle as the shark boy twists you around and around. Your head spins, which end is up...? When you dizzily behold a toothy grin, you smile back, waiting for his touch.

11. CHEMICAL

Step right up, dear friends! Don't miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime. This wonderful tincture of mine cures what ails you... And you don't even need to drink it! Just remove the cork and let the vapours flow into your nose. From there...

The real magic happens. My dear assistant could tell you all about how this wonderful elixir has divested them of all their worries and cares, leaving them in a state of blissful torpor. Isn't that right?

"Yes Sir..."

Ignore that li'l voice telling you this is a scam... Partake!

12. CRAVING

You see their cock when you close your eyes. In silences, your heartbeat reminds you of their cock pulsing. You feel the heft of their balls on your face. The tang of their shaft rests on your tongue. Their musk is a permanent resident in your nose.

Since their cock put you under their spell, your entire world revolves around that space - the top of the thighs to the base of the navel, and the gorgeous pillar of flesh that dangles between. You count the seconds until the next visit when they can obliterate you again.

13. GAZE

Hey there, friend! Down here! No, lower... there! Yes, I'm a talking severed head, I know, but aren't my eyes so pretty that you don't really mind? That's right, you don't. That's good. I'm glad you can look past that fact and look deep into my eyes.

Closer now. Aren't the colours so nice? Don't they make you feel a sense of bliss like you've never felt before? And it'll feel even better if you pick me up. Gently, now... see? My eyes're even prettier this close. Hey, before you re-attach me, you should let me bite your neck.

14. TONE

How does it do that? The sound feels like it's coming from both within your head and without. And the epicentre seems to swap between your left and your right ear canal every millisecond. It should be distracting you, keeping you from thinking. But...

...quite the opposite. It gives you a focus that you've never felt before. A sense of calm. The endless waves drown out everything extraneous. Your thoughts are clear as crystal. Your inner monologue and desires are free, unfettered.

Now, nothing stops you from obeying Master.

15. HARVEST

You fill basket after basket with brightly coloured fruit. They look so temptingly sweet and delicious, their fuzzy skin like soft velvet... There's so many, surely one going missing wouldn't be noticed? You bite, and the juice coats your mind...

Your vision dances drunkenly and you can't stand anymore. As you chew and giggle and your mind tingles, you're vaguely aware of someone trudging towards you. They tut. "...well. They're no good for harvesting anymore. But the boss could use a new maidservant..."

16. BIND

With each knot, you lift a little higher. With each knot, your arms and legs are pulled tighter behind you. With each knot, you feel that cord hug you closer. With each knot, your mind is bonded with them. Tighter. Lighter. More secure.

Any fears or worries or nerves are left behind as you slip higher still. The feeling of floating fills your mind, and with it, your sense of submission to your Master grows. The rope's enchantments will remain on you after this. An everlasting brand to show all who you belong to.

17. SWEET

Your neighbour's sniffing is like a car backfiring - too loud to miss. You race to the kitchen just in time - your pie, still cooling on the windowsill, is beckoning that rubber-hose rabbit with its beguiling aroma.

He grins sleepily as he floats.

He hovers outside the open window, with that wide buck-tooth grin, his eyes spinning as the scent beckons him.

"Yummy..." he giggles, his gloved hands reaching for the pie.

You slam the window on his fingers. With a "YEOWCH!" he plummets down three stories.

He'll walk it off.

18. BETRAYAL

Her gaze - once blue, now gold - roots you to the spot. You drop to your knees, and she seems to grow. Her black hair turns teal, her pale skin turns to emerald scales.

She grins and chuckles darkly, baring rows of ivory, sharp teeth.

"As fun as it's been to pretend to be one of you... I'm getting a little bored."

The dragon looms over you as her disguise is shed.

Smoky sweet breath pours from her nostrils over you, and your mind evaporates.

It was a mistake to trust her - one should never trust a dragon.

19. ENTERTAINMENT

You're getting antsy, fidgeting in your seat.

It's 5:50 pm and the bus has been super slow. Ten minutes until your favourite show starts, and you NEED to get there in time. You don't want to miss out on a single second...

Walking's quicker.

You sprint until your lungs ache, managing to clear three blocks in no time flat. You have your keys in the door at 5:59. You whack the lights off and sit cross legged in front of your tv - you don't bother with the couch.

6pm. The spirals flash and flow. And you miss nothing.

20. CHIME

You come when called. No matter how far away you are, when the metal rod hits the brass bell, you hear it, and you seek it out. Because whoever rang the bell is your master, and they need something from you. You don't recognise them, but you know they are your Master. Why would they be holding the bell if they weren't? They look confused by your presence.

They look at the bell, and ring it again. You stiffen and fail to stifle a moan, apologising for the indiscretion.

As they realise their role, they start to smile.

21. MOUTHFEEL

You open your mouth to give some retort, something acidic and shitty. But they slip their fingers in there first, and the familiar softness and texture of your digit interrupts the electrical current of your frustration - and all other thought.

You sigh and smile, still aware of what you're mad about even as that ceases to matter.

You suckle on their digits as another one slips inside, further plugging up the day's worries.

That familiar tongue-massage makes it so much easier to forgive them - and yourself.

22. FLOAT

The pendulum lifts a little higher, and your gaze swings back and forth to follow it. It's so hard to keep your eyes on it with your drooping eyelids in the way... will your hypnotist lower it?

"Ah, hang on a sec. I'll be right back, plaything..."

Their hand leaves the swinging, shining thing, and it just... stays there.

It resists gravity and continues to swing. It really was magic, they were right...

Which meant that it was going to steal your free will forever, and make you theirs forever.

Your raised right arm aches.

23. POLLEN

You barely escaped. The luminescence of those petals, the thick vines molesting you... those plants almost claimed you as their latest food source. You wished you'd heeded the warnings, though you were glad you made it out safe. Though you still have a thick dusting of pollen all over your body and what's left of your clothes. It's fuzzy and sticky... and it makes your head feel similar as you breathe in deeper.

It sticks to your mind. You turn slowly and dreamily, and retrace your steps, to feed the plants.

24. INTOXICATED

Who doesn't come up from a very deep trance feeling a little loopy? It's totally normal. But you're awake, you assure your friends, even though you can feel the words stumbling off your tongue.

When one of them snaps and says 'SIT', you sit.

But you're still totally awake, even though you're swaying and obedient. Obeying feels fun. That's all... 'STAND UP STRAIGHT!' Boom! Back on your feet.

You're killing it. Just riding the residue of that trance, even though you're totally awake.

Just a little trance-drunk.

25. SCREEN

There's always one in eye-shot. A phone screen, a computer screen, a billboard at the bus stop. There's always a vector for projecting the mad doctor's mind-melting spirals.

The rest of the city has fallen under her control, as far as you know.

Your dark glasses manage to protect you, and so far they've yet to arouse suspicion from the blissfully placid zombies she now controls. Your work to find a way to counteract the endless hypnotism is unending. And so tiring.

Sometimes you wonder if it'd be easier to give in.

26. SERENADE

Arise from your bed, o mortal pet,

Arise and come to me.

Don't dawdle, mortal, do not fret,

And walk towards the sea.

There will you hear my song so light

And soft and sugar-sweet

And in the dark embrace of night

Us selkies you will greet.

Walk along the downy sand,

Beckoned by my call.

Forget about your life on land,

As into the sea you fall.

Come swim with us, o mortal pet,

Deep in the dark, cool sea.

Enter our coral minaret,

And serve eternally.

27. NECTAR

Now overwhelmed by the soothing wall of buzzing sounds, you kneel as the bees surround you. Their fuzzy bodies and many hands caress your yielding body. A loyal drone floats down in front of you, cradling a bowl of wax, full of warm honey.

You open.

The bowl is pressed to your lips and the sweetest taste you've ever known coats your mouth and pours down your throat. Your vision splits, and splits again, the compound vision easy to adjust to as the honey morphs you to a new, more useful form.

Your wingbeats join the chorus.

28. VISCOUS

The fluid in the vat almost looks like a solid circle of black glass. Your hind-brain is afraid of it. It screams at you not to dive in. But you look at the impassive, black-visored faces of your soon-to-be fellow drones, and find courage.

You take the first step. It's firm at first, but then your leg goes through the surface and the emulsion hugs tightly to you. You wade in deeper, all the way up to your neck, and allow your new skin to settle over you.

The spirals on your visor tell you you're a wonderful drone.

29. SMOKE

Your entire world is their lips.

Every little movement they make brings you deeper under their spell. They bring the cigarette to their lips. Pursed in a little kiss. You envy the butt of the cigarette. The cherry gleams brightly and your eyes cross.

You get the barest scent of it before they blow. But they make you wait. Opening their mouth and letting you see the gray mist swirl around in the dark space just behind their lips, little ribbons seeping out...

Then they blow, and you are consumed in a paroxysm of bliss.

30. NIRVANA

It came upon you completely by surprise. There wasn't even a particular thing that broke the floodgates. You were responding to the hypnotist's call, as you had done so many times before, and...

Something clicked into place. You plunged ever deeper.

Serenity like nothing else. A feeling of peace, perfect presence in your body and mind. All the dark corners illuminated. The totality of You, revealed through trance.

Your smiling cheekbones redirect the warm tears.

"Do you need to wake up?" They ask, worried.

"No," you say.