As the week dragged on, Jack grew increasingly uneasy. His sister hadn't mentioned anything about the hypnosis session, or wanting to try it again. Throughout the week, their conversations were mundane, revolving around work and their parents needing assistance. Finally, on Friday, as Jack was preparing to leave his office, his sister called.
Glancing at the phone screen, he wondered what this call would bring. He had almost lost hope that she'd request another session. Although he had implanted the idea of hypnosis being relaxing, she needed to ask for it herself. He couldn't just suggest it, as that would seem suspicious.
Answering the call, he said, "Hey, Kelly, what's up?"
"Hey Jack," she replied, sounding off.
Jack frowned, concerned. "Is something wrong, Kelly? You sound upset."
"I've been feeling stressed at work lately, and for some reason, I'm angry at John, as if he did something terrible. But I can't figure out why I'm so upset. I keep thinking about a dream where he kissed someone in his office, but dreams never bothered me like this before, or felt so real."
Jack frowned again; he had worried about this.
Hypnosis wasn't a magical fix. The human mind was incredibly powerful, often bringing buried thoughts to the surface. He thought he'd have more time before the memory he tried to suppress resurfaced, but her work stress was accelerating the process. The positive side was that she hadn't yet recalled the hypnosis session. Time was critical now; he didn't care if she remembered her husband's indiscretion, but once she did, the suggestion that hypnosis relaxed her and encouraged her to return for more would be undone.
"You still there?" she asked, after a prolonged silence.
"Yes, sorry, I was lost in thought for a moment."
"I was thinking, last time, your hypnosis made me really relaxed. I hope we can do it again, so maybe I won't be so harsh on John."
Jack did his best to not sound so enthusiastic. "Yeah, if you believe it would help, sure. Did you have an idea when you would want to have a session?"
Kelly hesitated for a moment, her breath catching audibly over the phone. "Actually... I was hoping we could do it tonight. I know it's short notice, but I can't shake this awful feeling. It's like a storm cloud hanging over me."
Jack's pulse quickened, but he forced his voice to remain calm and neutral. "Of course, if you think it will help. I can be at your place in about an hour. Does that work?"
"Yes, perfect," Kelly replied, relief evident in her tone. "John's working late tonight, so we'll have the house to ourselves."
As Jack hung up the phone, a feeling of anticipation churned in his stomach. He gathered his things quickly, his mind racing with possibilities. On the drive over, he forced himself to relax; he knew he would be needing a clear mind for the following events.
Ever since that first night he put sister under, he had been hard at work planning the steps to get her under his control; after all, if he rushed too quickly, the changes made to her would not only seem strange to John, but also Kelly. Her mind would try to figure out why she was doing what she was doing, on the other hand, if he took things too slowly, it would take too long and run the risk of some of his suggestions coming undone. With his mind racing, he arrived at her house.
Kelly answered the door before he could knock, her face a mixture of relief and anxiety. "Thanks for coming," she said, ushering him inside.
The house was dimly lit, soft lamplight creating pools of warmth in the otherwise shadowy interior.
"Of course," Jack replied, following her into the living room. He noticed how she moved with a slight tension, her shoulders tight. "Why don't you sit down and get comfortable?"
Kelly sank onto the plush sofa, tucking her feet underneath her. Jack settled into an armchair across from her, studying his sister's face.
"Why don't we first talk about what's on your mind, Kelly. I do help people for a living after all."
Kelly sighed, running a hand through her hair. "It's just... I can't shake this feeling of unease. Every time I close my eyes, I see John in his office with another woman. The image is so vivid, so real. But then I remind myself it was just a dream, and I feel guilty for even thinking it."
Jack nodded sympathetically, leaning forward slightly. "Dreams can be powerful things, Kelly. Sometimes, our subconscious mind tries to tell us things we're not ready to face in our waking hours."
Kelly's eyes widened slightly. "Do you think... do you think it could be more than a dream?"
Jack paused, choosing his words carefully. "I think the important thing right now is to help you relax and clear your mind. Once you're in a calmer state, we can explore these feelings further. Are you ready to begin?"
Kelly nodded as Jack reached into his bag and pulled out an incense stick. His sister was so tense, he needed to help her relax as much as possible first. This incense stick was special; he used it on patients who were resistant to hypnosis. It wasn't anything extraordinary, but it was made from specific herbs that unknowingly helped relax the mind. As he noticed her shoulders easing up a bit, he instructed it was time to begin.
Kelly sat up straight on the couch, her eyes following Jack as he began to get serious. The gentle aroma of the incense stick wafted through the air, making her feel like slouching back on the couch, its tendrils of smoke curling lazily upward. Jack noticed her eyelids growing heavy, her breathing slowing.
"That's it, Kelly. Just relax," he murmured, his voice low and soothing.
"Focus on the sound of my voice. Let everything else fade away."
