A chance encounter - Teaser

This is a public teaser for the long form content for October, that will be released this weekend!

It covers our protagonist, Sam, who meets hypnotist Lauren at a bar. She gives them a taste of hypnosis, and well.. You'll have to join at the £5 tier to get the rest this weekend!

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Sam was new to this bar, though they tried not to show it. They walked confidently to the bar, and ordered their drink of choice, before taking a moment to survey the rest of the room. The dimly light booths were mostly taken, a few tables were empty.

One person caught their eye. A woman, talking disinterestedly to a man in one of the booths. Long, black hair, piercing eyes, and an outfit that grabbed the imagination and ran with it. The thing that really caught Sam’s eye though was a pendant, draped around her neck, and glinting like a ray of sunlight in the low light of the bar.

Having got their drink, Sam turned back to look at the woman, and found her looking back at them. They quickly turned away, nervous. This might have been a bad idea. Why did they need to meet new people again? Sure, they missed the company of others, but… Sam was suddenly aware of a presence behind them, and turned.

The woman was shorter than she had appeared at the booth, but not by much. Sam was taken aback by how close she was. Her perfume was light, and soft, but noticeable.

“What’re you drinking stranger?” Her voice, like her perfume, was soft, but noticeable. It almost commanded their attention, and Sam’s urge, to look away, to flee the situation, quietened a little.

“Oh, just…”Sam looked at their drink. “Rum and coke.”

The Woman smiled. “A good choice. Think I’ll join you, I’m empty.” She put an empty glass on the bar, before ordering a drink, and turning back to look at the booth, where the man was still sitting. She sighed, picking up her drink, and beckoning at Sam. “My friend’s saving us the booth, but he needs to go somewhere, so we can get to know one another. What’s your name?”

“Sam. Yours?”

“Lauren.”

She grabbed Sam’s hand, and gently, though not without some clear direction, tugged Sam over to the booth.

The man nodded at them both, before heading off, out of the door.

“So. What caught your eye Sam? I saw you looking earlier. I had to know. You seemed unwilling to look away. It’s okay. I like to know what someone likes about me. Helps my confidence. You know?”

Sam was not used to this direct approach, they grasped for words, spirally, trying to remember what had initially caught their eye.

“Sam, sweetie, relax. There isn’t a wrong answer. There’s no need to be so tense about it. Just… Relax.” Lauren’s voice was soothing. Something about the way she spoke, it commanded attention.

Finally, Sam found an answer. “The pendant. Your pendant.”

Lauren smiled, and held the pendant in her hand, it was simple, just a small crystal, hanging off a chain. “This thing? It caught your eye, hmm?” Sam’s eyes were drawn to it, the way it shimmered. “Seems like it’s caught your eye again. Keep looking. Can you see the way the light shines, and dances off of it?” Sam had unintentionally leant forwards, fascinated. It was so lovely.

“It feels so good to watch, doesn’t it Sam? So lovely and peaceful, so relaxing. Almost like you’re drifting into a daydream.” Sam could feel it. Their body unwinding, their mind becoming a little bit fuzzy.

“All your attention on the crystal now. Only hearing my voice. Doing so well. Focusing, drifting, dropping… until you’re back up!” And with that, Lauren palmed the crystal, hiding it from view.