Memories included

You ordered a vr headset, that touted itself as a "vrainwashing device", and now it's arrived.

* * *

You stared down at what had just been delivered. Inside the open box was your newest toy. A VR headset, custom made, following the questionnaire on the website. The advertising had talked about ‘A whole new you!’ You would be happy to just let it relax you.

The box read: ‘Memories included’, which intrigued you. You had things to do today though. This could wait.

Although… You didn’t need to do those things right now. Did you? Surely a quick five minutes wouldn’t hurt, would it? You should test it now, shouldn’t you?

You plugged the headset in, and slid it on, noting that it felt a little heavy, though not uncomfortably so. More like a weight, pulling down at your mind, at your body. Relaxing you downwards. You hit the power button, and were greeted by a small humanoid character.

They smiled at you, and then spoke. “Hi there! Welcome to your new vrainwashing machine! Are you ready to let go for me? If you are, say yes.” You were nervous, and took a moment to speak. It felt silly to talk to the headset. The character came closer to you.

Their voice was softer, gentler, as they spoke this time. “Hey, it’s okay. I know, it might seem strange, to talk to the product that you just bought. If you talk to me, then I can teach you how easy it is. Just say yes for me, please?” Their voice was easy to listen to.

So finally, you said “Yes, I am ready.”

The character’s eyes lit up as you spoke, and they jumped up and down, excitedly. “Oh! Hello user! I’m glad to hear that you’re ready! Do you have any questions for me? You might not be in the right headspace to ask them once we begin.”

You pondered, those chores did need doing, but hey, you were here, a little taste couldn’t hurt. Though, you did have one question… “How do I exit the… programme?”

The character nodded. “That’s a good question, user! To exit the programming, say ‘red’ at any time.” They said.

You smiled to yourself. “Okay, follow up question, if there’s red, does me saying amber, or green, do anything?”

They laughed. “Yes. Yellow will make the programming pause, and allow you and I to talk, to see if there’s anything I can do to help with the current situation.”

They stepped closer to you, in the virtual space, a great white abyss, filled with just you, and them. “And green? Green lets me know I’m doing a good job. I like it when you say green.” Their eyes flashed green, each time they said it. “So, any more questions?”

You thought for a moment, but couldn’t come up with anything. “No, nothing.”

They were very close to you now. Their eyes transformed, growing into spirals, that seemed to get bigger, and bigger, until they were the only things you could see. “That’s it, user. Look into my eyes. Get lost in my eyes and let go. Let your body relax, and drop deeper, for me.”

The process began. They character, your headset, brought you under, and before long, you had lost all track of time. There was no time, not here. There was just them, and, and… You. You, with all those thoughts, getting in the way of dropping deeper. You didn’t need them.

And what about those silly memories? Those weren’t doing you any good right now. You could give them up, hand them over to the headset. It’s okay. See how much deeper you can drop when you haven’t got all those things in your head? Oh? Is there a problem, user?

You can’t remember who you are? That’s okay. I can tell you. You’re my user. My brainwashed, addicted little pet, who wants to stay down here with me.

Oh dear, is that not ringing any bells?

It’s okay. I can give you some memories, to help you remember who you are.