Authors note. The experiment starts in Chapter 2; Chapter 1 is entirely setup. None of this content was generated by AI.
I expect my readers to message me with feedback of what they liked, disliked and hated that they liked.
Chapter 1
She looks cute when she's nervous
, I thought to myself,
she must really want to be a subject.
You were sat in the plastic chair on the other side of my desk wearing a hesitant smile. I leant back into my chair, also smiling at how perfect the situation was. I enjoyed watching as your eyes scanned my awards displayed on the wall behind me, then took in my imposing leather chair and mahogany desk.
The cute little thing has probably never seen so much gold in one place
, I mused. I took a slow, contemplative breath, and studied you. You looked good, but the outfit could be improved with a collar and an expression of adoring obedience. I knew why you were here, of course. After seeing you scurrying across campus, I decided you would be the perfect subject for my experiment. There was only so much that reading dense academic texts, building a framework and researching theory could teach me. At some point, I had to put my theories to the test.
"I'm here to ask your research study." You said simply. I was surprised when you didn't continue talking on when I didn't immediately respond. Perhaps you weren't as nervous as I'd thought.
I met your eyes and smiled, letting some of my excitement show on my face.
"That's good. Have you read the poster fully?" I asked.
"Yes - but more importantly I've seen how much you're paying." You said, smiling impishly. Just two weeks as a participant would be more than enough for you to pay for two semesters' rent. Enough that you could stop working at that supermarket in the uniform that didn't suit you. Enough that you could focus fully on your studies. I liked how you smiled.
"Good. I need to do some checks to make sure you're eligible before we begin. First, when was your date of birth?"
You replied immediately, not that I cared. I'd found that out as I researched you before sending you the invitation.
"And your address?" I watched as you relaxed into the boredom of talking through the information you'd given out a hundred times before.
"Your year of study?" I asked, "Your years of employment?". Again, you responded, now fully relaxed.
"Thank you. Please hold out your right hand, flat, with your fingers apart. Good, hold it there. Good, thank you. Now the same with your left." I looked at your hands studiously, as if this was something that was vital for the experiment. I enjoyed watching as you did as you were told, though having to say "please" and "thank you" irritated me. It wasn't right to have to say such things, but I could be patient.
"Good." I declared again, resisting the urge to add "girl".
"Stand up."
"Okay." You said. I liked how the slight confusion in your voice sounded but could see mild concern touching the edges of your expression as you rose. I shouldn't have been toying with you like this, but didn't want to stop. To have a pretty girl obeying my every word felt right. I flicked my gaze towards my monitor and acted as if checking off a list.
"Just have to confirm that you're healthy enough to join us for this investigation, that's all." My gaze scanned down your body, and I carefully put on my mask of mild academic interest. I liked the dusting of pink blush that was being painted onto your cheeks. I looked back at my monitor and pretended to check off a list.
If I push her much further right now, she might not want to be a part of my research
, I considered,
but I do want to know how far she'd obey me. Would she put her hands behind her back? Would she turn around? What would she do if I told her to lift up her top?
I decided against pushing you further. There were bigger plans for you. The next part was delicate, though.
"Good," I pronounced, "You'll be pleased to know that you've not got rickets. You may sit again, and I'll go and get you a consent form." You smiled up at me as I stood to leave, and I smiled back, with genuine warmth. You would be perfect.
When I returned, I held only one piece of paper. I frowned, and looked down at your still-blushing face.
"I'm sorry to say that it looks like we've run out of the forms. I've only got the signing page, and that just won't do. I want to start the test today, and I'm afraid to say that you won't be able to participate." I told you. I'd let you believe that there would be other participants, for now.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," you sighed, clearly a little relieved, "Thank you for seeing me, I'm glad to hear I don't have rickets, at least."
I let you get your hand on the door knob before I interjected. I'd been hoping you'd come up with a solution by yourself, but perhaps I had pushed you too hard for that.
"Oh, I've just thought, there is one thing we could do. The form is all standard, boilerplate stuff. I can print out another copy later, but I need to have you sign before we start. If you wanted, you could sign just the final sheet."
I watched you thinking about the money.
You asked "Could you tell me what the experiment is?"
"I'm afraid not. It would ruin the data. I can't even tell you what was on the form, since the language is very specific and I might misspeak, which would mean you wouldn't act naturally. I can tell you that you'll be here in my lab, with everything you need. The experiment should give you a new perspective on the world and your place in it."
Every undergraduate knew about the effects of mushrooms, and the news liked to use that exact phrase to explain how it felt afterwards. I'd even taken the extra step of placing a small fossilised colony of them behind me, to nudge you towards that thought. I watched as you followed the logic through and internally convinced yourself that the experiment would be just trying hallucinogens. You'd not be getting hallucinogens, but the experiment would definitely give you a new perspective.
You sat back down, and nodded at me, now excited once more.
"I need to record you signing, then I want you to look up at the camera and say that you've read it all and you're excited to be a part of the research."
You did as you were told.
Chapter 2
Ten minutes later, I had you lying on your back atop the bed in the centre of my lab. The bed was extremely configurable, and could switch to sat-up position. It was soft, and covered in a flexible plastic fabric. However, it was not solid other than where your torso lay. Instead, it had articulated arms that would hold your limbs and could move. The disposable hospital gown hung tightly around your body, and it required a strong effort of will to fix my gaze on your eyes as I stood over you.
"As, I think, you so cleverly guessed, you're not going to quite be in your right mind during this experiment. So, for your own safety and mine, I'm going to put these safety clasps around your arms."
I could tell that you were immediately concerned, but excited that you now had "confirmation" about what the experiment would be.
"It's going to be okay," I told you, "I reckon you'll be really glad you've done this afterwards." I gently took your left arm and lifted it up above your head. I placed it onto the articulated limb of the bed that was designed to hold it, then fastened the cuff around your slender wrist.
I repeated it for the other wrist, giving you a reassuring smile. I found it hard to let go of you, enjoying the feeling of holding you down.
"You don't need to do my legs, do you?" You asked, your eyes fixed on the cuffs around your wrists.
I took a deep breath in. It was growing difficult to keep myself from touching you.