Chapter 5: Good Pet

The next morning I awoke in my bed and turned off my alarm, the file I listened to last night felt almost too good. My whole body just felt unusually warm and cuddly, I couldn't help but snuggle with my pillow and blanket in bed. I almost fell back to sleep when my second alarm rang, wiping the blissful smile off my face for a moment…

I had some hours before I'd have to leave for work, today I had a longer shift compared to normal days. It was the store's anniversary and they had a sale on their most popular item, every year people flood into the store just to get it. Not the most enjoyable experience to work this day, but in all actuality that's a good thing. It simply means they know I can handle it. And they wouldn't schedule the less-skilled employees for today, it just means I'm reliable!

I stretched a bit in my room before going to make myself breakfast. I ate it and took a shower, changed my clothes, and stood in front of the mirror. Then I straightened my back, took a deep breath, and gave myself a bit of a pep talk to start the day on a confident attitude. "Okay it's going to be just like any other day but slightly more difficult. I'll get through it like I have all the others!" I said to myself in the mirror, staring at my own reflection while the sunlight slowly crept into my room. I was ready for this long day ahead of me.

Next I put on my wrist watch, filled up my water bottle to pack in my bag, slipped on my shoes and headed out the door. I arrived a little early so they can explain to me the store anniversary sale and what else was exclusive for today. It was easy to memorize and I clocked in when my shift began.

Crowded, as expected. This whole day would be a blur of noise and my brain going on autopilot half the time. The customers come and go, I normally forget their faces, but I noticed a familiar one in the queue, that person with the blank expression and usual behavior from before. It sent a chill down my spine but not enough to distract me. I was hoping another cashier would call them to their register but unfortunately, I had to ring them up…

"Hey…" The strange person said. Still blank faced and staring at me, almost as if they were unable to show expression for some reason. It wasn't the worst behavior I've seen from a stranger, but it was certainly creepy...

"Yes, hello, I could scan your items now. If you'd please put them on the counter-" My brain already went on autopilot, saying the same thing before actually looking… Then I realized this person had nothing in their hands, nor did they have any bag that they could be using to steal, so I asked: "Uhh, are you shopping today or did you have a question about anything?..."

"I have a card." They said. I was perplexed.

"Oh? Did someone drop their credit card?" I asked, no longer irritated or creeped out, just curious.

The person said nothing and handed me a piece of paper folded in half, then walked straight out the door. I opened it and inside was a handwritten message that read: "Join Us".

I didn't have time to think about it so I just slipped it in my pocket and called the next customer because the line was so long it trailed out the doorway. This was normal but it's stressful when anything like that holds up the line. Nonetheless I waited until I had my break, I slipped that note into a zippered compartment of my bag. I was exhausted by the time I finished work, it wore me out more than I expected...

Now it was late at night and very windy, I was walking back home along the side of town as usual. My vision was foggy from the tiredness. Then I saw that white cat I've seen around town. He was licking himself near a tree on the sidewalk. It was nice to see him again, he was a cute cat, but then he ran off down the street leading my attention towards something concerning… It was hard to see but it was shaped like a tall man with a short top hat in a long dark coat, hiding in the shadows between a streetlamp and a building. I froze like a deer in headlights for a moment…

I waited for a few seconds, then a car drove by with it's bright headlights on, revealing that it was just the shadow of the lamppost with a dead bulb, casting a shadow like that because there was a lamp on the other side. I let out a heavy breath, I guess I'm on edge because of how tired I was at the moment, I continued walking back home.

As I opened the front door, I glanced to the left. Once again I saw the two glowing tiny dots in the darkness, but it didn't concern me this time! I know those were just the lights from the alarm clock sitting atop the old tv, so I didn't even bother to flip the light switch to double check.

I just went to take a shower since I was so sweaty and exhausted from today's long shift. Though the strangest part is that while I was in the shower with the sound of running water filling the room, I could've sworn I heard the distant sound of a door or window… It can't be a person because I locked the door and we do have a security system on the locks. Probably tonight's strong winds that slammed an open window shut… I thought to myself as I got out of the shower and put on a change of clean clothes.

I felt so relaxed after that warm shower, I went straight up to my room and got ready for bed. I didn't even bother to take out my water bottle and wash it, and I didn't work tomorrow so it could wait. It was awfully cold in my room tonight, probably the wind and because my windows were left open to ventilate the room during daytime. I closed them all shut and tucked myself into bed.

As I was laying down, I noticed how closing the windows didn't make much of a difference. In fact, the room felt even colder now… I thought maybe I could listen to a hypnosis sleep file if it keeps me up, but there's not much for a need for it since I was tired enough to fall asleep on my own.

But now that I've thought of the hypnosis files, I couldn't get it off my mind, whatever I could recall from the files were just looping in my head. Just thinking of his voice and his seductive words just made me even sleepier... "Eyelids impossibly heavy, your eyes are closing, down, down, all the way down"

My eyes were already closed and I was lying comfortably in bed, and recalling the audios seemed to have the same effect of listening to them, only to a lesser extent. Hmm, could it be that just memorizing the trance is all it'd take to fall back into it? Or is that what you'd call self hypnosis? I'm getting so sleepy…

"Sleepier and sleepier, tired. So so tired, you're falling down, deep into sleep. You can't resist my voice…" The memory of the files I listened to previously began to sound clearer in my mind, perhaps laying in bed triggers the memory of the file, since I've associated laying in bed with listening to them... Huh, though it is strange, I'm not sure if I've listened to that exact line. Oh well, I probably just forgot because I can hardly stay awake during files anyway…

"Hehehe~ You're getting so very sleepy aren't you?" The faint sound of his voice grew more present. It felt like a soft breeze just swept across my body… I closed all the windows, that's impossible!

I tried to get up and check but my body wouldn't even budge, in fact I could feel that I was beginning to fall into trance. And to my surprise, a portion of the bed slowly sunk down, as if a person just sat down beside me on the bed… But I didn't hear anyone open the door…

"Shhhh-shh-shh~ You've had such a long day at work haven't you? Just sleep~"

Now I could confirm that line wasn't from any of the recordings! I felt the adrenaline slowly rising and I couldn't move anything other than my lungs. Could this be sleep paralysis? But I know I don't have anything like that, how is this even possible?…

Oh no, what if there really was someone who snuck into the house?! Did I forget to lock the door being that I was so tired? I did hear that noise while in the shower and what if there really was someone hiding in the darkness? It's been super cold tonight, perhaps there's paranormal activity taking place?... Or maybe I already fell asleep and I'm just having a nightmare, yeah haha that's probably all it is, because this would be impossible in real life. It can't be from the external world, it could only be happening internally, therefore it must be a dream!

I felt better having it sorted it out in my head, even though I couldn't move I assumed I was just too tired. And maybe it felt like someone was sitting next to me on the bed because I'm too sleepy to stay in touch with reality. Maybe I'm just dreaming is all...

That is, I believed it was all a dream. Until I felt a soft hand gently stroking my cheek, and that voice became much more audible than ever. It felt a little too real for a dream…

"Good Pet~ Sleep for Master~"

With that I immediately dropped into trance deeper than ever before. It was like riding one of those roller coasters that linger at the top of the slope, and just rush down the hill when you least expect it. Embarrassing to say, I got a little horny too. But it happened so suddenly that I couldn't even do anything.

Next thing I know, it's morning already…