Chapter 3: Chapter 3
I wake with a look of shock and confusion. "What was that?" I question aloud. I just had the most fucked up dream. I was enslaved and sold to Ann. That was pretty messed but that's not the worst part. The worst part was that I secretly enjoyed being her slave. I liked the way she called me her good boy. I liked the way she controlled me. I liked the way she made me feel safe.
I shake my head, trying to clear it of the lingering fog of the dream. I tear my covers off and go through the motions of getting dressed, brushing my teeth and hair and making my bed.
It's all mechanical. My mind is still stuck in that dream. It was so vivid. Ann's voice, her touch. The way my body responded to her commands. It was like I was really there. Like it was all too real.
I shake my head again. The apartment is quiet, the only sound the faint hum of the refrigerator and the distant murmur of the city outside. I take a deep breath, trying to ground myself in reality.
I grab my wallet and keys, slipping them into my pocket as I head for the door. I open it to find Beth already waiting for me. She’s leaning against the wall, her amphibian skin catching the dim hallway light, those neon-green eyes sharp and knowing. She’s got her arms crossed waiting patiently for me to come out. In any other woman, this would give me a creepy stalker vibe. But Beth is so warm and maternal that I can't see her as anything but sweet and kind. She steps closer, her bare feet silent on the worn linoleum.
Her fingers brush my forehead, her touch cool and damp like a frog's skin. "You look tired. Did you get enough sleep?"
"I'm fine, Beth. Thank you for worrying about me. Just had a really weird dream. It kind of messed with my head." I say, rubbing my temples. "I'd rather not talk about it."
Beth's neon-green eyes widen slightly, her amphibian skin rippling with concern. "Oh, sweetheart..." She murmurs, her voice warm with maternal worry. "That's just your subconscious trying to show you something. It'sprobably trying to reveal a truth you're too scared to admit."
I force a chuckle, but it comes out hollow. "It just felt so real, you know?"
She nods, knowingly. "You just need figure out what the dream is trying to tell you. Dreams are never random." Beth says, her voice soft but firm. She reaches out, her cool, damp fingers brushing against my cheek. "You're carrying a lot of stress, sweetheart. You need to let it out."
I sigh, leaning into her touch for a moment before pulling away. "I wish that helped but honestly, I'm not sure I'm ready for that truth... also... I don't have any of the rent today." I admit, my shoulders slumping. "I'll have it for you by the end of the week. I promise."
Beth studies me for a long moment, her neon-green eyes softening. "I know you're trying. But you can't keep living like this, sweetheart. You need stability. You need someone to take care of you."
I swallow hard, the weight of her words pressing down on me. "I'm working on it."
She sighs, her fingers brushing my arm. "You're so stubborn. You know that?" Beth's voice is gentle but firm, eyes narrowing as she studies me. "You're a boy. No one expects you to work this hard. You don't have to do everything alone. You have people who care about you."
I force a smile, though it feels brittle. "I know, Beth. I just... I don't want to be a burden... or a slave, for that matter. "
She scoffs, her amphibian skin rippling with irritation. "You're not a burden, sweetheart. You're basically family. And family takes care of each other. I won't make it worse by reminding you of what's at stake. So I'll just say this; no matter what happens, I'll be here for you." Beth says, her voice softening as she reaches out to squeeze my shoulder. "You're not alone in this, okay? You're not some disposable human boy. You're *my* boy, and I won't let anyone hurt you."
Her words wrap around me like a warm blanket, but they also make my stomach twist with guilt. If only she knew the truth; that I was already in so deep with Ann, that I'd never be able to pay her back. This time next month, I'd be either woman's property. Beth's... or Ann's.
I let myself imagine what it would be like to just... give in. To let Beth take care of me. To stop fighting and be hers.
But then I remember the dream.
The way Ann’s voice had wrapped around my thoughts like silk. The way my body had obeyed without question. The way I'd felt... safe... cared for.
I shake my head, forcing the thought away. "I should get going." I mutter, stepping around Beth before she can say anything else. "I'll see you later, okay?"
Beth doesn't push, but I can feel her gentle eyes on my back as I hurry down the hallway. The apartment building creaks around me, the sounds of other tenants waking up filtering through the thin walls.
I left early for work again. I should have plenty of time to meet with Ann and... what? I know she doesn't expect money. Her thug shook me down last night. But I'm not entirely sure what she’s planning to do with me. For that matter, I'm having a hard time remembering what we did yesterday. She brought me in and made me sit in a chair. I remember that, but then nothing. It's like several minutes of my day are just... gone.
Lost in thought I hardly notice that my feet have already carried me to Ann's territory. Ema and a few other imps are waiting for me.
They don’t say anything, just nod at me to follow. I sigh and fall in step behind them, my shoulders slumping. The imps lead me to the same storage room, where Ann sits on a crate, talking to some one on her phone. She gestures for me to sit in the only chair in the dusty room.
I do as I'm told, my fingers curling into the edges of the seat. The wood creaks under my weight, the sound loud in the quiet room. She hangs up her phone and leans forward, her claws tapping lightly against the crate.
I swallow hard, my throat suddenly dry. "I... uh. You wanted to see me, Ann?" I ask, not sure how to begin... whatever this is. I don’t even know why I’m here. I don’t have any money. I don’t have anything for her. But my feet carried me here anyway.
Ann’s red eyes gleam in the dim light as she watches me, her claws tapping an impatient rhythm against the crate. The flickering bulb overhead casts jagged shadows across her face, making her sharp features seem even more predatory.
She smirks, tilting her head. "You look lost, puppy." Ann's voice is a velvet purr, dripping with amusement. "Did you forget why you're here?"
I shift in the creaky wooden chair, my fingers tightening around the edges of the seat. "I... I don't know." I admit, my voice coming out rougher than I intended. "I don't remember much from yesterday. But you told me to come, so here I am."
Ann's grin widens, her pointed teeth glinting in the dim light. "And what a good boy your are for coming. So obedient."
Before I can process how good her affirmations make me feel, her eyes glow and I'm again frozen in place by her spell.
My body locks up, my muscles tensing involuntarily. I try to move, but it's useless. My body is frozen, my mind racing as I try to process what's happening. "There we go." she purrs, stepping closer. "Now... look deep into my eyes." Her voice is soft and hypnotic, her red eyes pulsing with indigo energy.
"Good boy." she coos, "Its time to melt that brain of yours. Just relax and let your mind go blank."
The pressure builds in my skull like a slow, warm tide. My thoughts dissolve like sugar in hot tea. The edges of my vision blur until all I see are those glowing red eyes, those sharp white canines, those full smirk smirking lips that say she knows exactly what she's doing to me.
"Good boy." she coos again. "You're doing so well. Just let go. Let me take care of everything. You don't have to be strong anymore. You don't have to think or worry. You don't have to be afraid. You're safe now. You're *mine*."
The words sink into my mind like warm honey. My body sags in the chair, my muscles unclenching as the last of my resistance melts away. Nothing exists but Ann's voice, her eyes, her touch. "Such a good, obedient boy."
I whimper softly, my body responding to her praise like a flower turning toward the sun.
"Time for another session, yes? Did you dream about me?" She asks, tapping her lip.
I nod.
"You did dream about me, didn't you? I can see it in your eyes. You're remembering. I can. Make your conscious mind forget, these things have a way of bubbling up in dreams. Did you enjoy this dream?"
I whimper again, the sound escaping my lips before I can stop it. "Y-yes." I mumble. My body feels heavy and warm, my mind floating in a haze of compliance.
"Good. Your dreams are mine. And after today, your mind will drift to me, throughout your day. You will think of me and how much you want to please me. You will think of me and how safe you feel when you obey me. You will think of me and how much you want to be my good boy."
She pats my head, before cupping my chin in her hand. "You're beginning to feel more comfortable with being submissive. You're beginning to feel more comfortable with being obedient. You're beginning to feel more comfortable with the idea of being *mine*." Ann's voice is my entire world. I hang on her every syllable. "When you think of me, you will think of safety, warmth, and authority. You know, deep down inside, that you are mine. It is a fact, as clear as the sky. You are my good boy and you belong to me."
She smiles warmly, but catches herself quickly, hardening her expression. "Any way, that's enough for today. I'm going to count backwards from three. When I'm done, you will not remember what we talked about, but you will remember all the feelings of joy, obedience and submission to my authority. You feel even better when you are called a *good boy*. You will desire this feeling even if you don't know why."
You're going to remember how good it feels to be obedient. How good it feels to be mine."
She leans in closer, her breath warm against your ear. "You're going to remember the way your body feels when you obey me. The way your mind feels when you submit. The way your heart feels when you know you're safe and cared for."
She pulls back slightly, her grin sharp and knowing.
"Three..." Ann begins, straightening up. "Two..." she takes a step back, crossing her arms behind her back "One..."
Ann stands before me, her vertical-slitted eyes gleam with amusement, her pointed ears twitching as she watches me.
I exhale slowly, my body feeling strangely relaxed, my mind oddly clear. The tension that had been coiled in my shoulders is gone, replaced by a warm, fuzzy sensation that spreads through my chest. I blink, my vision clearing as the dim light of the storage room comes back into focus.
"Good boy," she purrs, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "You did so well today."
I nod automatically, my lips curving into a smile before I even realize I'm doing it. "I... did?" I ask, strangely pleased that I had made her so happy. "What did I do?" I ask, my voice soft as I look up at Ann. My mind is still foggy, but the warmth in my chest feels good. It feels right. Like this is exactly where I'm supposed to be.
Ann's red eyes gleam with amusement as she steps closer, her claws tracing a lazy pattern on my cheek. "You were a very good boy for me. You listened so well." She purrs.
I nod again, my fingers curling into the edges of the chair as a wave of warmth passed through me. It felt so good to know that Ann was pleased and I found myself wanting to please her more. I wanted to be a good boy for her. I wanted to make her happy. I wanted to be hers. I wanted to be *good*.
"You'd better hurry, so you're not late for work. But I want you back here tonight, after your shift." Ann's voice is a velvet purr, her claws tracing lazy circles on my cheek. "I have plans for you, puppy."
I nod automatically, my body already responding to her words before my mind can process them. "I'll be here."
Her grin widens, sharp and knowing. She coos, her claws tapping lightly against my chin. "You're learning so quickly. It's almost like you were made for this."
The words send a strange thrill through me, warm and heavy, like honey dripping down my spine.
I don't question it. I don't *want* to question it. The storage room feels smaller now, the air thick with something I can't name—something that makes my pulse quicken and my thoughts soften at the edges. Ann watches me with those glowing red eyes, her smirk sharp enough to cut glass.
"Good boy," she purrs again, and the words wrap around me like a spell. I can feel them sinking into my bones, settling into the hollow spaces inside me where doubt used to live. "Now go. And don't be late."
I stand, my legs moving before my mind fully catches up.