Pleasure State
Chapter 6
Sam felt like a bag of nerves. The past 24 hours of her life had been a strange blur of crying and distractions. It seemed obvious Ben was missing after a couple of days without . Once she was sure of it, fear washed over her like a cold wave. In her room, with Theo watching TV in the one beside it, she sobbed and searched through old messages on her phone, hoping for some clue to what happened. She found nothing.
When she became too dejected and discouraged to keep looking for answers, she found other things to keep her mind occupied. First pictures of Trish, then pictures of things she wanted to do with Trish, or more often, things she wanted Trish to do to her. That fantasy kept her from the darkest thoughts. Instead of wondering if Ben was gone, she wondered what it would be like to feel Trish clamp a collar around her neck and clip on a leash. Sam almost drooled at the idea. She wanted more than anything to be with Trish, to belong to Trish, to be loved by her. That fantasy was a comfort in a time of fear. Being kept at the foot of Trish’s bed, being taken care of like a pet, it would be so much easier than worrying about Ben and the world and the city and where the next rent payment was coming from. The brothel beneath her apartment was a constant reminder of what she knew would eventually be the only way she could make money, if the city kept closing in on her.
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad… if she could have Trish as a client.
The fantasy faded when she started speaking to Marc and now at least, as he approached her, Theo, and Trish, they were doing something. What little they could do. People went missing from the Circuit all the time. Sometimes they never showed up again, sometimes they’d appear in a suit or other uniform, fresh from their new life with CaliaCorp, and ignore everyone they used to know. Sam hoped if Ben were really gone, that at least he might come back in some way, even if it wasn’t actually him. Either way she felt terrified.
“What’s up,” Marc said.
Trish nodded. Sam forced a smile.
“Hey man,” said Theo, “you ready to head over?”
“Yeah,” replied Marc, “let’s do it.”
There was no more conversation. The sky was grey, and the streets were old and worn and everything just looked faded. As though the colour had drained from reality. As the group walked from the falafel stand toward the converted warehouse, they ed by another group of locals, an older group. They were wearing clothes that could have been called fancy once, now as faded as the district. The groups exchanged solemn nods and half-smiles and ed each other by. Community, conversation, social life had all become things of the past. Once in a while TV commercials showed grand events in the CaliaCorp buildings, something else denied to those outside the system. Yes, people could meet and be friends, but there were no longer places to congregate. Everything was either home, or business. Nothing more. Sam wondered if it had always been like that, but it couldn’t be. She read the history books, knew the trajectory of society. The rapid acceleration of climate change. The wars. Then the end of all that. The rise of CaliaCorp. It must be fake; propaganda. But then, it did seem less stormy, less unpredictable every year.
They arrived at the warehouse, a grey building with a corrugated iron roof, leaking in various spots. Through a heavy metal door the group walked into a central corridor separating two rows of units, generously called apartments. Each one looked more like a place to store equipment, a shed. Bens was at the end of the left side.
“Can’t believe he lives here,” said Theo.
“Where else was he gonna live?” replied Trish.
Theo shrugged. He led the group along the corridor and with a sudden crash, a door to his right burst open and an elderly woman leaned out.
“What are you doing here? Are you with them?”
“With who?” asked Trish
“You know,” the woman said, “them, they come here sometimes.”
Theo shook his head. “Ok grandma, go back inside, we’re busy.”
The woman muttered a quiet curse and shut her door.
“What was she talking about?” Sam said.
Marc raised an eyebrow, “It’s gotta be—”
“Guys,” interrupted Theo, “come here quick.”
He was looking at the door to Ben’s place. It hung open, letting them see halfway inside.
“This looks bad,” said Trish.
Sam rubbed her hands together nervously. Marc bit his lower lip. Theo pushed open the door fully and walked inside.
“What the hell?” he called out.
The other three squeezed inside the tiny entrance and ed Theo in the single room that made up Ben’s place. It looked pristine.
“Nothing,” Theo said, “not one thing out of place.”
“I don’t know if that makes me feel better or worse,” said Sam.
“Worse,” Trish muttered.
“Let’s take a look around,” Marc said, “see if we can find anything.”
He began digging under Ben’s bed, freshly made with sheets tightly tucked. Sam rummaged in a chest of drawers, moving underwear and t-shirts aside. Trish leafed through a bookshelf. Theo found a folder of documents. He ran his fingers along them, peering in at each one in turn. Lots of rejection letters from jobs, a few copies of Ben’s resume. Nothing useful.
The bed, drawers, and books turned up little of note either. Everything was just as it was when they last visited. Neat and clean, no sign of anything strange. As if Ben had never been there.
“What now?” Trish asked.
“Did he have other friends?” asked Marc.
“I don’t think so,” Sam said.
Theo started to pace up and down between the couch and TV. He rubbed his forehead gently, thinking. Suddenly, he booted a small wooden coffee table, shattering it to splinters.
“What the fuck are we supposed to do? There’s nothing. Not a damn thing we can do.”
No-one spoke. Sam cowered behind Trish. She hated seeing anyone that angry, much as she understood why, it was terrifying. Trish broke the silence.
“Calm down Theo, that’s not going to help.”
“What is, Trish? What’s going to help?”
Another silence. Theo brushed past the others and walked outside. Trish followed. Marc looked at Ben’s computer with his head tilted to one side.
“You leaving, Sam?” he asked.
“Yeah, I think so.”
“I’m gonna stay and see if I can get into Ben’s system.”
“Oh. Good idea.”
“I’ll catch you later, ok?”
“Ok, thanks Marc.”
Marc sat down at Ben’s desk and Sam walked outside to where Theo and Trish were arguing.
“It’s not like we even know that much about him, is it?” Theo spat.
“That’s on you then, isn’t it? You’re supposed to be his friend.”
“Yeah, some friends we are. We have no idea where he is, how to find him, or why he might vanish like this. For all you know he could show up in a minute and wonder what we were doing here.”
“But he won’t, will he?” Sam mumbled.
Theo’s anger faded. He sighed. “No. I don’t think so.”
“We can’t do anything can we?” Sam said.
“It’s ok Sam, we’ll figure something out. Let’s just go get some rest.” Trish said.
“We’re giving up?” Sam asked.
“No, just taking a break.”
Theo grunted. “Trish is right. We’re not going to get anywhere like this.”
“Oh, now you agree with me?” Trish said.
“Let’s just go home. Where’s Marc?” asked Theo.
“Inside, he’s trying to get into Ben’s computer.”
“Still thinks he’s a hacker huh? Whatever, I need to eat and sleep, let’s go,” said Theo.
Chapter 7
The was the easy part. Marc cracked through that in a few minutes. The problem now was that Ben’s computer was as neat and tidy as his room. Absolutely nothing to be found. Barely any files, personal or professional. A couple of games they used to play together, some music, and little else. Marc dug around in every folder, hoping to find something that would illuminate him to where Ben could be. After a while, he found a folder labeled ‘vids’ and opened it.
It was Ben’s porn collection. Nothing too surprising, the usual CaliaCorp ‘adult entertainment division’ stuff. Lots of very attractive people writhing all over each other. Marc had more important things to do than watch it, but one video grabbed his attention. It had a thumbnail that looked like the same popup that grabbed his attention earlier. Calia, again. This omni-present face, taunting him. Calling to him.
He pressed play and the video began with a spiral. A little cliché but it worked to keep Marc focused on the centre of the screen. As the video went on he could hear a voice begin to speak as Calia appeared on screen in a loop, slowly beckoning him with that same crooked finger that he saw on the ad. This time she wore a royal blue blouse with a few buttons open, revealing the edges of a black silk bra, and a tight pencil skirt and black tights. It showed off her slim waist and supple curves. Marc knew he should stop watching but his hand decided not to click the mouse, like the signal from brain to finger got lost and instead sent a delicious jolt of pleasure to his stiffening cock.
Then the voice faded in.
Hi, I’m Mistress Calia, and I know you’re eager to watch. Eager to listen to my words. Eager to listen and focus on my important words. And my words are important, aren’t they?
Marc nodded without realising.
That’s right, and as you listen to my voice, a voice you’ve heard so many times, you find you don’t want to look away, to move away. You’re rooted to the spot by your desire to stare and listen to me. I’m sure you find my body compelling, my eyes so enchanting, and that’s without even considering my words. My all-important words. My words that slip right past the conscious mind and speak directly to your subconscious. As you focus now on my body, my hips, my legs, my chest, my lips, you find that focus is overwhelming, and you can’t focus on anything but how sexy I am. You think I’m sexy, don’t you?
“Yes,” Marc whispered.
I know, I know you do. Now, you’re going to enjoy yourself with me ok? You’re going to reach down and touch yourself for me. Slowly, gently now. Above your pants. You can do that for me, can’t you?
“Yes,” Marc said as his hand did what Calia told him. He began to slowly rub his erection through his tros. His mouth hung slack and his eyes were transfixed on the woman on screen, looping forever in front of a swirling spiral. Nothing could have torn him away at that moment.
And as you feel that pleasure grow, as you feel your throbbing, twitching cock desperate for more of me, more of my words and my image, you can let it out. Let it stand to attention for me, good boy.
Marc did as commanded. His cock twitched in the chill air of Ben’s apartment. He gripped it gently and stroked up and down.
Very good, you’re finding it so easy to obey me. So easy to follow my commands. To follow my orders. Letting my words fill your mind. Letting my image fill your vision. Letting pleasure cloud your judgment. All it takes is a slow, rhythmic motion. Up and down. Pump your cock up and down for me, my good boy. Pump it slowly, but grip it tight. Grip it tight and pump it for your Mistress. For me. You love to obey me because it feels so good. You can feel the pleasure you get listening only to me.
Marc’s body bucked as he touched himself. A sliver of drool fell from the side of his mouth. His eyes were glazed over. All he could think about was listening to Calia and stroking himself at her command. It came upon him so quickly, as if it had happened before. Had it happened before? He couldn’t , couldn’t think. All he could do was listen.
All you can do is listen. Listen to me and let my words infect your mind. Infect it like a virus. Like my program is running in your mind, replacing those files, those thoughts, those memories with my words, my commands, my power. I’m the virus in your mind, spreading everywhere, into everything, and you can’t do anything to stop it, because it feels so good to let it spread. Each memory, each thought it overwrites makes you feel even better. Makes that stroking so much more pleasurable. Good boy, pump it faster now. Faster for your Mistress. And say ‘Yes Mistress’ for me now, won’t you?
“Yes Mistress,” Marc droned, his hand moving up and down furiously.
You can only cum with my permission my lovely listener, so you’ll wait for that patiently while I infect your mind completely. While I fill that brain with only my words, only what I want, what I need, what matters to me. You don’t need thoughts. You don’t want them. You don’t deserve them. You’re just a mindless worshiper, staring at my perfect body and letting your lust guide you into my service. Guide you to me. Infected with my power, deep in the back of your mind it will always be there, always has been there, and it will inevitably guide you into my service. Won’t it, slave?
“Yes, Mistress,” Marc groaned, the pleasure becoming intense.
His grip tightened. He felt pre-cum ooze from the tip of his cock down between hand and shaft, making his movement slightly faster. His eyes were locked on Calia’s eyes. Her deep blue eyes. Her irresistible eyes. Her enslaving eyes.
My eyes make you so weak, so weak and desperate for me. So desperate to cum for me but only when you have permission and you can’t have permission until you’re completely mine, completely in my power. My slave. My toy. My possession. And that’s what you want isn’t it? That’s what you want more than anything. To be mine. To belong to me. To be in my service, in my employ.
“Yes Mistress,” Marc grunted.
He needed to cum. Badly.
So, keep stroking my good boy, and let me explain what happens next. You’re going to let my words overtake your mind, and when they do, you’ll feel that pleasure increase to heights you never knew possible. My words will drive you wild with desire, and that desire will make you agreeable. Make you docile and compliant, and you’ll agree to anything I ask. You will agree to anything, won’t you? Speak, slave.
“Fuck, yes Mistress!” Marc blurted.
He became lost in pleasure, writhing in his seat, desperate to orgasm, feeling like inside him held a dam ready to burst, a volcano ready to explode. He needed it so badly. How long had he been watching for? He had lost all sense of time.
Anything at all, anything I want. It makes so much sense. So much sense to agree with me as your thoughts and memories become overwritten by my needs, my desires, my beliefs. You don’t matter. Only Calia matters. Isn’t that right? Say it.
“Only… only Calia matters.”
Marc’s mind reeled. Something, somewhere, a voice of reason, told him to turn off the video. Instead, he looked at Calia’s chest and felt as if his thoughts were being sucked into her cleavage. Everything she said made sense, didn’t it? It felt so good. Everything she said made him feel so good.
You feel amazing when you obey me. You can let the idea of you go, and embrace being part of me. Part of my world, wouldn’t that be perfect? To be part of my world? My blissful world of pleasure and joy. Of change and progress. Wouldn’t you like to be part of a better world with me? What does your cock tell you to say?
Marc didn’t need to think about it. His cock knew exactly what to say.
“Yes, yes, yes Mistress!” he shouted.
Marc was lost in a haze of pleasure and lust. The spiral seemed to swirl faster and more voices ed Calia’s. More of her voice. Whispering to him of submission and obedience and a collective mind that felt only pleasure in service. What a wonderful idea. To give up thought and identity. Was that his own thought, or what he was being told.
And does it matter, slave? Does it matter whether you thought it, or I planted that seed and you’re now watching it blossom into a revelation, an epiphany of who and what you should be. You should be mine. In my service. Working every day for me and enjoying the pleasure of that, enjoying the fruits of that labour. Making the world better one orgasm at a time. Wouldn’t it be perfect?
“P-perfect,” Marc agreed.
So keep pumping that needy cock for me, keep stroking at my command and feel your pleasure overtake any sense of reason. I am your reason. I am your everything. My words replace your thoughts and fill you with joy and happiness in service to me. You’ll be my wonderfully happy slave, so delighted to fulfill your purpose. And you’ll be rewarded. You’ll be cradled in the bosom of my love as everyone who works for me is. You’ll be given so much and all I ask in return is your work, your labour, and your loyalty. Don’t you want to give all of that to me? Doesn’t that sound like the perfect way to live? A life in blissfully obedient service to your Mistress. Your Goddess. Your Ruler. Your CEO.
He blinked. Something felt wrong. Pain rose in the back of Marc’s skull. Resisting hurt, but something seemed very, very wrong. He couldn’t just watch the video and accept all of that. But was it just a fantasy? A fantasy of being cared for by someone. Looked after. It sounded so nice. Life was hard. Maybe it would be easier to give in. Maybe the video was just a video.
You feel so close, so close. On the edge. The edge of giving up for me, giving up control of your mind and body, giving them to me for that wonderfully pleasurable reward. And all it takes is becoming mine. My employee. Accepting that you want to work for me, to be part of my world, that’s what will earn you permission to cum. And then once you do, you’ll apply to work for me. You’ll cum and send your application, and you’ll me, forever. You’ll be part of a better, brighter, sexier world. And doesn’t that sound like everything you want? To be happy, safe, and loved?
“Y-yes Mistress,” Marc said.
He spoke gently. As if unsure, even though the idea made the pleasure centres of his mind light up and his cock pump out another dollop of pre-cum that lubricated his shaft and further increased his pleasure.
That’s right my new slave, my new job applicant. Just agree to come work for me, and that delicious release is yours. Agree to me, to be part of the CaliaCorp family, and you can let that pleasure bubble over and send you over the edge into a state of mindless, obedient bliss. And then you can send that application, and you’ll start the path to a better life. A better world. A better you. Won’t you do that? Won’t you agree to give in to my control and become my employee? To come to serve CaliaCorp? You will, won’t you? For your Mistress? Say yes, now.
Marc hesitated. His hand slowed. He wanted it so badly. To cum and give in and be safe and warm and-
“No!” he cried, “no I don’t want to.”
Ripping at the cord, he pulled the headphones he didn’t even putting on off his head. He panted, chest heaving. His cock throbbed but he let it go. The video came to an end and Marc exhaled, then closed it.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” he repeated. “Fuck, that bitch. She almost had me. But… was it even real? Is that just some fantasy for her workers?”
He leaned back in the chair and looked up at the ceiling. Had Ben watched this? It was on his computer. He must have. Did that mean? What had Ben done? What had Marc almost done? The pleasure felt so intense. He’d watched CaliaCorp porn before, but nothing was that good, that utterly enrapturing. The power of it, the voice, the video. Something else was going on. That face was everywhere but it never felt like that to see it. The voice. The voice did it. Something about that voice.
Marc looked back at the computer and felt compelled to watch the video again, but he willed himself to close the video folder. Instead, he opened CaliaExplorer and checked Ben’s C-Mail . It was signed out. Looked like he’d have to hack into it, but he needed some air. He could hack Ben’s at home, with his own machine. After he told everyone else what he’d seen. Right now, Marc needed to not be near Ben’s computer, and that video.
Chapter 8
Theo stomped around the living room while Sam hid in her bedroom.
“Fuck!”
His face was red. He sweated profusely. The second he arrived home with Sam his barely concealed anger came out. Not directed at her, or anything really. It was something that had been bubbling under the surface for a long time and finally erupting. Sam crept to the door and listened.
“Bullshit. It’s all bullshit. This shitty apartment. This fucking city. Fuck all of it. Fuck CaliaCorp. Fuck them all.”
She cracked the door open and looked out as Theo crashed backward onto the armchair and lounged. He removed his shirt, and Sam couldn’t help but take a glance at his body. He was in good shape. She liked that. His skin looked smooth, and a light sheen of sweat covered him.
“Coming out or are you gonna hide all day?” he said.
Sam sheepishly walked into the room.
“Sorry I—”
“Look, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t blow up like that around you. I know you don’t like it, I just…”
“I know.”
“I can’t stand having no control over anything. I didn’t want this. To be here. And shit just keeps getting worse.”
“I know.”
Theo threw his head back and let his arms drape over either side of the chair. He shut his eyes, and Sam again took a moment to enjoy the view. She hated the anger, but the smooth chest and tight stomach she saw made her feel much better. She wanted Trish but sometimes Theo could be appealing. Mostly when his clothes were off. The long hair helped. Something about long brown hair was really appealing, even if Trish was blonde. She wasn’t thinking of Trish though, her eyes traced down Theo’s body to his crotch and Sam bit her lower lip, then Theo opened his eyes and sat up. If he had seen Sam looking, he didn’t show it. He was always a bit oblivious to others.
“He’s gone, isn’t he?”
“Theo, I… I don’t know.
“Fuck.”
Again, Theo threw himself backward. He bristled with nervous energy.
“We can’t do a damn thing,” he said to no-one in particular.
Sam didn’t reply. He was right. Ben was gone. His place lay empty, he didn’t answer calls or messages. It had been days. Best case scenario, he’d moved and left his stuff and didn’t want to talk to them anymore. Worst case. Sam didn’t want to consider it.
A knock at the door interrupted her worrying. Theo walked over and answered it as an insistent series of knocks followed. Marc pushed past him into the apartment.
“Where’s Trish?”
“At home, why, what’s going on?” Theo said, shutting the door.
“Call her. Get her over here.”
“Marc, what’s going on?” Sam said.
“CaliaCorp. It’s them.”
Theo walked over to Marc and put a hand on his shoulder. Sam stood next to Theo.
“I fucking knew it.”
“Marc, how do you know?” Sam said.
“Ok, well I don’t, not yet but I found a video on Ben’s computer and—”
“A video?” Theo said.
“Yeah, yeah that’s right.”
“That’s it?”
“Well, it was about working for CaliaCorp, but like she’s telling you to—”
“Marc, did you jerk off to a porn video in Ben’s place?” Theo asked.
Marc’s cheeks flushed. He pushed Theo’s hand away.
“Look I think this is—”
“Marc, you already thought it was CaliaCorp. Maybe it is, but what do we even do with that information?” Sam asked. “Go to their office and say our friend watched a sexy video and went missing, did he get a job here?”
Marc looked at the ground. “No, I… I thought it was important. She said to apply for a job there.”
“She? She who?” Theo asked.
“Calia.”
“Marc, we don’t even know if she’s real. I don’t know if you know this, but people tend to age. She’s looked the same since I was a kid.” said Sam.
“Yeah but… what if Ben was watching and…” Marc trailed off. “I don’t know. I just want to find him.”
“Me too, Marc, but there’s nothing we can do without proof,” Sam said.
Theo nodded his agreement. “I hate them, Marc, you know that. I hate CaliaCorp more than anyone. I’m pissed off. I’m ready to go to war if they did something to Ben, but Sam’s right. We need something to be mad about. Something we can bring to their headquarters and shout about. That’s not a jerk off instruction video.”
“Ok, ok, then I’ll try to hack into his C-mail . If he applied for a job, it’ll be through that right?”
“Yeah,” agreed Sam, “good idea.”
Marc nodded and made for the door. “I’ll let you know if I find anything.”
The door shut behind him, leaving Theo and Sam alone together, standing very close to one another. Sam offered a smile and looked at the floor for a moment.
“Do you think it’s strange, Sam?”
“What?”
“All of it. Ben. The world we live in. You and I living here together. Everything.”
Sam blushed and swept a strand of hair behind her ear.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“You don’t think it’s weird, we’re basically opposites and… I don’t know, maybe it’s the stress.”
Theo leaned close to Sam and wrapped his arm around her.
“Theo, I…”
He pulled her close to his body and wrapped his other arm around her waist.
“It’s ok. Just… don’t say anything.”
Sam let Theo’s body engulf her small frame and melted into his arms. He felt solid, but yielding. Surprisingly gentle. Safe. For a moment, she could breathe and forget everything that was going on. Theo’s body, so close, feeling his bulge pushing against her stomach, her head falling onto his chest. It felt good to be held. Protected. If only she could feel like that all the time, but there was always something wrong, always some problem. Sam wished it could all just go away. She wanted Trish, maybe even loved, but she would take Theo if it meant being cared for. She rarely saw this softer side of him, he seemed almost scared to show it to anyone else. It happened when they were alone. It was what she needed. She put a hand on his bicep and trailed her finger down past his elbow. Theo shivered. Sam let out a tiny moan and felt Theo pull her closer. His body felt so warm, and she felt her hands roam down to his belt.
“What are we doing, Sam?”
She looked up at him and saw a sad, confused face. Not what she expected.
“I… I don’t know, it just feels right. Like I need to.”
Theo took Sam’s hand in his.
“It’s not right though, is it? We’re supposed to be finding Ben.”
Sam had forgotten. How had she forgotten that?
“Right, I know, it’s just—”
“You just need comfort,” Theo said. He brushed his hand down Sam’s cheek. “You need to feel safe.”
“Yeah. I’m scared.”
“I know, I know, it’s ok.”
Theo kissed the top of Sam’s head and held her close. She took her arms and wrapped them around his waist, letting herself relax into the embrace and forgetting about the momentary spike in lust. She didn’t like Theo like that, most of the time. This was better.
“It’s going to be ok,” Theo said.
“You think so?”
He put a finger under her chin and lifted her head to meet her eyes with his.
“I’ll keep you safe, I promise.”
Chapter 9
“You’re a lot more relaxed now Theo.”
Trish took off her coat and put it over the arm of a chair, then sat down. She crossed her legs and kicked off her heavy black boots.
“I’m still mad, but… I don’t know. We can’t really do much.”
“We can tell the cops, I guess,” Trish said, “for all the good it’ll do.”
“They’re not even cops,” Sam said, “just CaliaCorp security.”
Sam was looking at Trish’s legs. She wasn’t wearing her usual fishnets, instead a pair of sheer black tights, red miniskirt and a white tank top. With the boots on, she looked like she was about to kick someone’s butt. Without them, Sam had a hard time thinking of anything besides kissing Trish’s feet. Her red-painted toenails showed through the sheer fabric, like candies gleaming in the dimly lit room.
“I hope he’s ok, wherever he is. Poor Ben,” said Trish.
Sam nodded with her agreement. Theo pursed his lips, let out a popping sound, and turned on the TV.
-eryday comforts you can have in a CaliaCorp Tower. Swimming pool, gym, restaurants, cafés, and so much more at no additional cost.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” groaned Theo.
He changed the channel.
So good, yes, keep going Mommy. Please Mommy I need it so badly.
Theo held the remote, as if he wanted to change the channel, but lingered, staring at a woman in a suit pegging a man whose tros were around his ankles.
“Jesus Christ,” muttered Trish with a mixture of disgust and iration.
Sam just stared.
You naughty slut, so desperate for Mommy, aren’t you? Beg me to go harder you filthy pig.
“Theo, change it,” Sam whispered.
Mommy, please fuck me harder. Harder please Mommy!
Theo snorted. The man on screen oinked. The doorbell rang. Theo turned off the television with a jump.
“I’ll get it,” Sam said.
She got up and opened the door. Marc stood in the hallway, leaning against a wall, breathing heavily and sweating profusely.
“Marc? You ok?”
Marc put a finger in the air, needing a moment to compose himself.
“Ran… ran all the… all the way here.”
“Come in, sit,” said Sam.
She helped Marc to the couch, and he took some longer, heavier breaths. Trish got him a glass of water which he gulped down, then almost spat out as he tried to speak far too soon.
“Found out, Ben, where Ben went.”
“What?” said Theo, “where?”
“Calia… CaliaCorp. Job.”
“Wait,” said Sam, “for real?”
“For real,” said Marc, finally breathing normally. “I got into his C-mail. He applied a month ago. Interviewed a week ago.”
Theo leapt to his feet.
“What the fuck? CaliaCorp? How could he even think about working for them?”
Trish put her boots back on. Sam kept looking between her three friends. The tension that was there at Ben’s place was back, worse. Her stomach tightened.
“Where did he go though, where is he now?” demanded Trish.
“He went for something at their headquarters. He’s gotta be there.”
Sam leaned forward, looking down at the ground.
“Do you think… Do you think he’s happy?”
Everyone turned to look at her.
“Excuse me?” snapped Trish.
“The fuck, Sam?” sniffed Theo.
“It’s just, he must have wanted the job, if he applied. He must want to live in one of those nice towers.”
“He hated CaliaCorp until what, a week ago? If even. Sam, something’s up here,” said Marc.
“And if he was there of his own free will, why hasn’t he ed us? Where’s the message saying he got a job? Where’s the call to invite us to his swanky apartment?” Trish added.
“There’s no way, Sam,” Theo said, “Ben isn’t like that.”
Sam looked up at Theo with a half-smile.
“Then we’d better go find him, right?”
Chapter 10
“How we doin’ Benny baby?”
Lucy and Ben were alone in her office. She wore a pink latex dress that cut off at her mid-thigh and pushed her breasts up into a spectacular vista. The dress perfectly matched her pink hair, and white platform heels and matching stockings gave the outfit a mixture of innocence and filth that sent Ben’s mind racing. He sat in a chair while she looked out a window across the city.
“I, I’m ok I think.”
“You sound nervous Benny. What’s wrong sweetie?”
“I feel so good working here, I do, but I never even told my friends where I am.”
Lucy walked from the window to where Ben was sitting and placed a hand on each armrest, leaning over him and placing her heaving chest directly into his line of sight.
“Am I not making you feel good enough Benny?”
Lucy’s tone sounded saccharine, but there was something else there. Undertones of frustration.
“You do, I feel good. I love the way you make me feel. But it feels wrong to just ignore them.”
Lucy removed her hands from the chair, stood up straight, and turned around, placing her latex-clad ass in front of Ben’s widening eyes.
“Even for this ass Ben?”
Lucy began to rock her hips back and forth, and Ben found himself following the motion, swaying his head from side to side.
“I… they’re my friends.”
“Benny, we’re your friends now.”
Lucy sped up her motion slightly and looked back at Ben. She smirked, seeing his eyes locked on her body, and placed a hand on her left cheek, squeezing the latex. Ben squirmed. His cock was rigid.
“My friends need to know where I am.”
“We do know Benny, you’re here with us. Take out your cock and let me explain while you stroke it for me, ok?”
Ben obeyed, pulling his cock from his tros and stroking it to the rhythm of Lucy’s swaying behind.
“Isn’t that better Benny?”
“It feels good, Mistress.”
“And you know who your friends are?”
Ben kept pumping his cock, but didn’t speak. He felt the tiniest spark of clarity, like light flooding into a dark room through a pinprick. His friends. He and they hated this place, this company. He needed to tell them where to find him. He needed help. He was being brainwashed.
“Benny, look into my ass and listen. You belong here. We are your friends. You obey me completely.”
Ben shook his head, but he couldn’t pull his hand away from his penis.
“You’re just a slave Benny, a drone for CaliaCorp, for me. That’s what you want to be. That’s why you came here.”
His hand behaved unhelpfully, and the pleasure coursing through him as Lucy gave that cute, sexy smile overcame his defenses. The light faded.
“Good boy Benny, the programming. everything now. what you are.”
Ben’s mind flooded with images. Him kneeling, him watching brainwashing videos. It should have been enough to quell his arousal, to send him running from the room and out of the building but the memories of Lucy were there too. Perfect, pretty Lucy. Mistress Lucy. Ben wanted to work for her. Ben didn’t want to think. Ben loved working for Lucy. Obeying Lucy and serving CaliaCorp. The memories were like shockwaves, rippling through him, sending wave upon wave of pleasure down his body, making his cock tremble and his hands shake. He needed to obey Lucy. It was more important than anything.
“You now Benny baby, don’t you?” asked Lucy.
She gave her cheek another squeeze and grinned. She could see Ben’s glazed eyes, the haze falling over his mind, the cum trickling from the head of his cock. He was more resistant than she’d expected, but it was time to end that.
“Yes Mistress,” Ben droned.
“Now Benny, you’re going to stroke that enslaved cock to the edge, and when I push my ass into your face, you’re going to give it a little kiss, and cum for me. Once you do, you’ll know the truth, that CaliaCorp is where your friends are. That you don’t need your old life. That all you need is us. Do you understand my little drone?”
“Yes Mistress,” Ben said.
“Good boy, harder now for Mistress. No thinking anymore. Only mindless obedience. CaliaCorp is more important than you, than your past, than anything. You exist to serve CaliaCorp, and serve me, your perfect, sexy boss. Who you can’t get enough of. You love working for me don’t you Benny?”
“Yes Mistress,” Ben groaned.
He stroked his cock and staring blankly at Lucy’s pert behind. The latex of her pink dress slid upward, revealing the curves at the bottom of each cheek. Ben was utterly enraptured by the sight.
“Such a good boy for me, now before I press my perfect ass into your needy lips, you’re going to repeat after me, ok?”
Lucy gave her behind a slap and Ben nodded his agreement.
“That’s a good boy. Repeat; I exist to serve CaliaCorp.”
“I exist to serve CaliaCorp.”
“My identity does not matter.”
“My identity does not matter.”
Ben was ready to burst. His cock stiffer than he had ever felt and he wanted to kiss Lucy’s bottom. More than anything in his life.
“My friends are all at CaliaCorp.”
“My friends are all at CaliaCorp.”
“My past doesn’t matter.”
“My past doesn’t matter.”
“Good boy Benny, one more thing… I submit to Lucy’s perfect ass.”
“I submit to Lucy’s perfec—”
He didn’t finish the sentence. Lucy pressed her latex-covered rear into Ben’s face, and he planted his lips on it. Immediately he felt an orgasm rock his body. He came all over Lucy’s legs. He didn’t notice, or care. His cock twitched and leaked as he kept kissing her ass. That was all that mattered to him. All he needed to do. He tried to what he was thinking about, what Lucy talked about with him before things got so hot and steamy but all he could picture when he tried to was her perfect, perky butt waving back and forth, and that seemed much nicer to think about than anything else.
“Now Benny, you’re going to do three things for me. You’re going to clean this mess up with your tongue, on your knees. Then you’re going to forget everything that you were worried about and only think of how you can serve CaliaCorp. Finally, you’re going to fall into a relaxing sleep for one hour, wake up and go home. Do you understand?”
“Yes Mistress,” Ben mumbled between kisses.
“Good boy,” said Lucy, “get to it then.”
Ben dropped to his knees instantly, and when he next had a conscious thought, he stood in the foyer of his new apartment with a big, idiotic grin on his face, and a terrible taste in his mouth.
Chapter 11
CaliaCorp Headquarters was a slick, but wholly imposing building. Its scale seemed unfathomable. A monument to the utter dominance of the company in everything it did. The entrance sat atop a set of enormous marble steps. The facade exuded the impression of wealth and power, all sharp angles and glass and gold.
“You got the emails?” Theo asked.
Marc nodded.
“We’re really going to do this?” asked Sam.
“Yeah, we’re doing this,” replied Trish.
The four were standing at the front door. They looked utterly out of place. People in suits tailored to fit them perfectly strode about confidently, rushing to and fro. The four Circuiters were in poorly-fitting, dirty, old clothes. Their heads hung low; shoulders slumped. It looked like they’d gotten lost going somewhere entirely different.
Theo walked in first. The marble of the steps continued into the lobby. Trish followed, marveling at the scale of the place. The lobby looked huge, and the reception desk looked like a ship adrift in a sea of luxury design. Marc and Sam slunk in last. Together, they approached the lone woman at the reception desk. Marc felt surprised to see no security guards. Sam was impressed by the chandeliers above her. Each one probably cost ten times what she made in a year. This was just a lobby.
“Hey, we’re here to see Ben Wheeler,” Theo said to the receptionist.
She looked up at him with a beaming smile and adjusted her black dress.
“Certainly, do you have an appointment?”
“No, but we need to—”
“I’m sorry,” the receptionist said, “but without an appointment I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to leave. Thank you for visiting CaliaCorp.”
Theo stood stunned for a moment. Trish stepped forward.
“Listen, we just want to find our friend, he hasn’t ed us in days.”
“I’m terribly sorry to hear that. Have you reported him missing?”
“Well, no, not yet but—”
“That should be your next action I would think. Thank you for visiting CaliaCorp.”
“Wait just a minute,” Marc said, “his last emails were from here. He came for an interview. You probably even saw him. We just want to talk to him, ok? Help us out?”
Marc held his phone up, email to Ben open. The receptionist regarded it with disinterest and offered her smile to Marc.
“I’m afraid I wouldn’t an individual. We have so many visitors. Thank you for visiting CaliaCorp.”
“For fuck’s sake!” roared Theo, slamming his fist on the reception desk. “We’re asking to talk to someone, not meet the fucking CEO. Just check your computer or whatever and tell us where to find him.”
The receptionist didn’t flinch. She turned her head to face Theo and tilted it slightly to the side in a robotic motion.
“You must not have understood. Without an appointment, you cannot meet a member of the CaliaCorp family.”
“Oh, I fucking understood, and I’m telling you to be a human, not some fucking robot.”
“Thank you for visiting CaliaCorp,” the receptionist said.
Theo bristled with rage. His face shone red. His hands balled into fists. Sam grabbed his arm.
“Hey, it’s ok, let me try.”
Theo calmed a little, just about containing his anger.
“Hi,” said Sam, “sorry about him, we’re just really, really worried about our friend. He’s always in touch with us, he never ignores calls or messages, and we went to his place, and it was deserted. We’re scared. Please help us however you can.”
The receptionist turned to Sam, still smiling.
“I’m afraid without an appointment, you cannot meet a member of the CaliaCorp family. Thank you for visiting Ca—”
“Oh fuck this,” Theo shouted and leapt over the desk.
He pushed past the receptionist and looked at her computer screen, expecting to see a directory or staff list. Instead, playing on the screen was a video of a spiral. A screensaver of some sort. He felt himself captivated by it, but clicked on the mouse hoping to get rid of it. It didn’t work. The spiral kept spinning and Theo became too dazed to notice the receptionist calling security. It felt as if the spiral drowned out the noise around him as his friends were grabbed by a team of eight burly people in black riot gear and dragged out of the building, writhing and kicking in protest and shouting for Theo to help.
Theo couldn’t hear them. Theo could faintly hear the sound of a woman speaking to him through the screen. The faintest hint of a voice speaking very important words that he couldn’t quite make out. He felt relaxed, horny, empty, and it felt good. Then his arms were grabbed by a pair of security guards, and they dragged him away from the video, away from the reception desk, and out into the street. The security guards stopped at the top of the steps, let him go, and walked back into the building. Theo simply stood, dazed and confused, back to the CaliaCorp lobby. Sam, Marc, and Trish were sitting on the steps, and Theo ed them, plonking himself down and resting his head in his hands.
“What just happened?” he asked.
“I could ask you the same thing,” said Trish.
“What do you mean? I went to get into their system.”
“Dude, you stood there like you were in a trance,” said Marc.
“It was super weird,” Sam added.
“There was something on the screen. Like a screensaver or something. I couldn’t focus on anything else.”
“Something fucked up is going on in that building,” Trish said.
“And they’ve got Ben,” said Sam.
The click of high heels approached the foursome, and a woman in a business suit walked toward the group. She looked down at Theo, and he looked up at her. She was tall, with long, firmly toned legs in stockings, a short pencil skirt, white blouse, and black jacket. Her long hair a shade of copper and her green eyes glowed above deep red lips.
“I can help you,” she said.
Theo noticed her perfume. She smelled like roses, a wonderful floral scent that filled his nostrils and made him instantly warm to her.
“How?” asked Trish.
The woman tipped her head to one side. “There’s a bar, Zenith, two blocks away. Meet me there in thirty minutes. I’ll have a table for us. Don’t talk to anyone else.”
Before anyone could question her, she strode into CaliaCorp Headquarters and vanished. Sam looked at her friends, wondering what to do. Marc looked confused. Trish was suspicious.
“We’re going, right?” said Theo.
Trish sighed. Marc shrugged.
“Nothing else we can do, is there?” said Sam. “Let’s see what she has to say.”
Chapter 12
Zenith was not so much a bar as much as a strip club. No one was nude, but dancers in various states of undress writhed on stages and in cages hung above tables and a large, empty dance floor. The customers all wore suits, the same sharply tailored style all CaliaCorp employees seemed to share. Waiting staff walked about in tight leather, taking drinks to tables and checking on the patrons, who were mostly staring with glazed eyes at the dancers. A few were surreptitiously rubbing themselves under the tables, and not hiding it particularly well. The group entered feeling like interlopers. They were not in suits, nor dressed in anything like the dancers or other staff. If the other people in the bar noticed though, they certainly didn’t show it. No one batted an eyelid as Theo led the others through the winding maze of tables, to pulsing music thumping from loudspeakers in the corners.
They found the woman who met them outside CaliaCorp in a booth nestled in the back corner of the bar. It was dimly lit, but her green eyes seemed to shine out from the darkness, and the light caught her hair as she lifted her head and nodded. Theo nodded back and ed her, sitting down on the opposite side of the booth, with a table between them. Trish, Sam, and Marc squeezed in beside him. Four on one side, her on the other. She smiled.
“Thanks for coming. Before we get into anything, I need you to understand, this conversation never happened. You get me?”
The group nodded.
“Good. Now, you’re looking for someone, one of the missing?”
Theo leaned forward and whispered, “Ben. Ben Wheeler.”
“Another lost to CaliaCorp,” the woman said.
“What do you mean?” asked Trish.
“All those missing people,” the woman said, “they end up working for CaliaCorp.”
“But how, why?” said Sam.
The woman leaned closer. Theo snuck a glance at her cleavage as she did, the others found themselves captivated by her sparkling emerald eyes.
“They’re brainwashed.”
Sam and Marc looked at each other. Theo appeared to be getting a little more lost in the woman’s eyes than he expected.
“They’re what?” asked Trish.
“Brainwashed. Everyone is, to a degree.”
“What do you mean?” asked Trish.
“You see what’s on TV, on your phones, on those big screens. Everywhere, sexuality, erotica. It’s designed to grab your attention, weaken your mind, make you think of pleasure.”
As she spoke, the woman met Theo’s gaze, started speaking directly to him.
“And the more you see of it, the weaker you become. Slowly your mental defenses erode. It can take months, years, but eventually something will get you. Some image of your exact kink or the person of your dreams. That’s it, you’re prey from that point onward.”
When she said ‘prey’, she licked her lips. Theo mimicked her.
“So, everything on TV… it’s brainwashing us?” asked Sam.
The woman kept looking at Theo, holding his stare.
“Everything on TV, everything on social media, the porn you watch, the products you choose. Every fetish is catered for, every desire shown. Something out there will flick a switch in your mind and pleasure will become your priority.”
Theo’s mouth hung open. He was totally out of it. He couldn’t do anything but stare at the woman from CaliaCorp.
“That’s insane,” Marc said, “so like… all CaliaCorp stuff is doing this?”
The woman nodded. “Everything. All of it. The screens out on the buildings are doing it. You are being conditioned through life to be aroused, docile, and obedient.”
“This can’t be real,” said Sam.
“But it’s all right there, isn’t it?” said Trish. “Right in front of our noses. How CaliaCorp got so big, why everything seems to just move aside for them.”
“There’s nothing quite as motivating as arousal, as pleasure. As driving as that primal need for intimacy, connection, sex,” said the woman, still staring at a dazed Theo, “and whoever truly harnessed that was always going to change the world.”
“Calia,” Marc said.
The woman nodded. “Before this, sexuality was frowned upon, judged, fetishes were taboo. Now everyone embraces who they truly are.”
“And she took advantage of that,” Trish said, “used people’s desires to take control.”
“Something like that,” said the woman, “you can see just how powerful it is already.”
Theo stared at her, mouth agape. She reached a hand up and snapped her fingers.
“Hey,” she said sharply, “wake up sweetheart. Back to reality.”
Theo shook his head and slapped his lips together repeatedly, as if he’d been in the desert without water.
“What the hell?” he said.
The woman, finally, began to look at everyone in the group, her eyes drifting between each person in turn.
“What your friend just experienced was a light trance, brought on by his arousal. His natural instinct to look at me and focus on me when I started to use sexual language.”
“So… what does this have to do with Ben?” asked Sam.
“How do you think he ended up at CaliaCorp?” she replied. “He saw something that flicked the mental switch and did exactly what he was supposed to. Applied for a job. At that point, it’s already too late.”
“Too late… for what?” asked Trish.
“Too late to stop himself from becoming brainwashed.”
Theo ran his hands down his face and released a long breath.
“You’ve made your point. How are we going to save him?”
The woman, for a moment, showed a flash of frustration. “I don’t have all the answers. I can find your friend; I can maybe get you a chance to see him. Whether you can break the programming… that’s another story.”
“Why should we trust you?” asked Marc, “we don’t even know your name.”
“It’s Aisling. Does that help?”
“So, there’s nothing else we can do? Now we know all this, shouldn’t we try to stop it? All of it?” Sam said.
“You want to… what? Bring down CaliaCorp? The most successful, powerful company on the planet?” Aisling asked. “I wouldn’t recommend you try something like that. I’m only here to help you find your friend.”
“We can’t just hear all that and not do anything. The world is fucked, and I am not sitting back and accepting that a company can control our lives like this.” Trish snapped.
Aisling sighed. “You can try whatever you want. Just… you should know what you’re getting yourself into. Know what might happen.” She pointed to Theo. “Know how to avoid ending up like he did.”
“Hey,” Theo said, “you tricked me.”
Aisling looked at him and shook her head. “You think the people you’re going to encounter won’t? Do you have any idea of the kind of brainwashing, mind control, hypnosis techniques this company has developed over decades of research? You want to stand against that, you need to know how it works.”
Theo folded his arms. “Good, yeah, I won’t be taken advantage of again.”
“How do we stop it?” Sam said.
Aisling clasped her fingers together and leaned in, closer to Sam. “It’s complicated. Very complicated. But the crux of it is simple. Get you aroused, get your focus on something else, your lust, need, fetish, secret desire, unrequited love, and twist that to their ends. You love hot girls in stockings? Well guess what, you’ll be fed a video of that once the algorithms figure it out, and then once CaliaCorp has you hooked, the association between that fetish, and the company, is built. Soon you think of CaliaCorp when you think stockings. Once that happens, you might already be too late. And once you’re conditioned enough to want to go work at CaliaCorp, or at least be curious about it, they’ll send someone to interview you who’s the living embodiment of your desire. You’ll meet someone with perfect legs, wearing your favourite shade of stockings, who’ll tease you, arouse you, and use the interview to start your programming.”
As Aisling spoke, Theo’s eyes began to glaze over again. He had to shake his head to stay focused on what she said. Had he been paying attention, he may have noticed his friends all having similar reactions.
“And when they start programming you. Once that begins. Wherever, however it begins. It would take an astronomical level of willpower to escape it. This has taken politicians, CEOs, billionaires, and turned them into mindless pets for CaliaCorp.”
The group listened carefully, enraptured by Aisling. They sat in a daze for a few moments after she stopped talking. Trish shook off the reverie first.
“Why? What does Calia and her company get out of all this?”
Aisling shrugged. “Years ago, the world was on the brink of collapse. Now it’s not. Now we’re not burning holes in the atmosphere. Or melting the ice caps.”
“That’s worth controlling people? Brainwashing them?” Marc asked.
Aisling didn’t react. She reached into the inside pocket of her jacket, drawing everyone’s eyes to her chest, and pulled out a card.
“Take this,” she said, pushing it across the table to Theo, “and me if you need help with whatever you do next.”
Theo picked up the card. It smelled of roses. He put it in his pocket.
“What if you need to reach us? If you find Ben?” asked Sam.
“Theo will send me his details, won’t you?”
Theo nodded.
“Good. Now, this conversation never happened, and we never met. You all understand that? If you want my help, I don’t exist.”
“Yes, ok,” said Trish.
“Thank you,” said Sam.
Aisling nodded and stood up. Her hair shone in the flashing lights from the dance floor as she walked out of the booth.
“Don’t leave for ten minutes,” she said, before sashaying away and out of the bar.
Theo stared as she walked away and let out a loud sigh when she moved out of sight. Marc eyed him suspiciously.
“She did a number on you buddy.”
Theo scowled. “She was showing us what happens if we don’t pay attention. She helped.”
“Sure, I bet the mysterious stranger is totally on the level,” Marc replied.
Theo glowered at him over folded arms. Marc glowered back.
“Guys, let’s just not, ok?” said Sam. “This is a lot to take in.”
“Is it?” said Sam. “Or did we all kind of know already?”
Trish looked at Sam with a raised eyebrow, then slowly lowered it.
“Do we trust her then?” said Marc.
Glances darted between friends. No one answered for a while, until Theo uncrossed his arms and planted his fist on the table.
“Doesn’t matter, does it? We know what’s happening now. Which means—”
“We have to do something about it,” Trish finished.
Theo nodded his approval.
“What… What are you two thinking?” Sam asked.
“Not here,” said Trish, casting an eye toward a waiter hovering near their table.
The waiter was a young man in a pair of tight leather shorts, with a leather collar and metal chains dangling from it, framing his pectoral muscles. He appeared clean cut, with a tightly shaved head and not so much as a hint of stubble on his face. His brown eyes appeared empty, devoid of thought, but he wore a smile that seemed to indicate he was feeling particularly satisfied.
“Let’s get the hell out of here,” said Marc.
“It hasn’t been ten minutes,” Theo replied.
“I don’t care,” said Marc, before standing up. “I’ll call you later.”
He brushed past the waiter, who didn’t react to the sudden impact of Marc’s shoulder. It simply didn’t . Trish rolled her eyes and followed him. Sam followed Trish. In the booth, Theo dutifully waited another seven minutes, and finally, stood up and walked out of the bar.