Katie tries to resist the hypnotist

She walked forward on shaking legs, slow, like every step cost her something. The spotlight caught her red dress again, making the fabric shimmer. She stopped next to him, arms clasped in front of her, eyes wide and fixed on the floor.

Chuck’s mouth went dry. He wanted to stand. To shout. To do anything.

But he just sat there, hands clenched white-knuckled on the table, watching his fiancée stand under the lights, waiting for whatever came next.

The hypnotist turned to Katie, tilting his head like he was sizing up a new toy.

“You seem like a polite one, miss,” he cooed, voice dripping with mock sweetness. “I’m hoping we can be more cordial.”

He offered her the mic, holding it out flat on his gloved palm.

Katie’s eyes flicked to it, then back to his mask. She’d seen what happened to the others. No arguing. No running. She **** a smile, tight, fake, the corners of her mouth barely turning up and took the mic.

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

She lifted it to her lips.

“I’m Katie Larsen. I’m twenty-three. And I’m here with my fiancé. We came on a Valentine’s date.”

A wave of loud “awwws” rolled through the room. Some guys whistled, others clapped like it was the sweetest thing they’d heard all night. Katie’s voice had that soft edge to it, gentle, almost shy and it made the whole crowd lean in a little.

The hypnotist raised his hands for silence.

“Looks like we have another lucky guy in the audience here.” He scanned the tables. “Please let us know where you are!”

For the first time in what felt like forever, Chuck felt his limbs loosen. The invisible weight that had kept him glued to his seat lifted, just enough. He shot to his feet.

“Hey!” he shouted, voice cracking. “Let her go! We’re not supposed to be here, we didn’t know what this was! Just let us leave, please—”

The hypnotist cut him off mid-sentence, not even turning fully. Just raised one hand in Chuck’s direction.

“Take a seat again.”

Chuck’s legs buckled before he could finish the plea. He dropped back into the seat hard, chair scraping. His mouth snapped shut. He couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak. Could only stare.

The hypnotist shook his head at the crowd, tsking like a disappointed teacher.

“Greedy, isn’t he?” he said into the mic. “Our humble patron from earlier was happy to share his wife for the greater good. But this one? Clinging to his pretty little fiancée like she’s his property. Selfish.”

He paused, letting it sink in.

“Does a douchebag like that deserve a lovely woman like Katie?”

The room answered with a resounding “NO!” loud, unified, some people banging on tables for emphasis.

Chuck’s heart slammed against his ribs. He looked up at the stage. Katie’s eyes were locked on him, wide, wet, tears spilling over her lashes. She reached one hand out toward him, fingers trembling, like she could bridge the distance if she just stretched far enough.

The hypnotist stepped in front of her. Covered her moist eyes with his gloved hand, gentle and firm.

“SLEEP!”

Katie’s head fell limp into his palm. Her body sagged forward, held up only by his grip and her own balance.

He leaned in close, lips right against her ear. Whispering. Chuck couldn’t hear the words, just saw Katie’s head shake. Small at first, then harder. No. No. No.

Chuck’s chest tightened. That was good. She was fighting. She was still in there. If she kept resisting, maybe he’d give up. Maybe they could walk out.

But the hypnotist didn’t stop. Kept whispering, low and steady. Katie’s shakes grew weaker. Slower. Until they faded into tiny twitches, then nothing. Her head started to nod, slow, ****, then surer. Once. Twice. More.

No. No no no.

Chuck wanted to scream it. Wanted to lunge. All he could do was sit there, fists balled so tight his nails dug into his palms, watching.

Finally the hypnotist pulled his hand away. Katie’s face was flushed, a sheen of sweat on her forehead. He theatrically wiped it off with the back of his glove, flicking it toward the floor.

“That was one tough cookie to crack, folks,” he announced. The audience laughed. “But you know what they say about the fruit of labor, it’s always sweetest.”

He clapped his hands once, loud and sharp.

“Let us meet the new Katie!”