The First Dose

I move through the kitchen with purpose, a plan forming in my mind and the serum case retrieved from the hallway and tucked under my arm. My hands work quickly—two glasses of Linda's favorite white wine, one glass of Ashley's preferred hard lemonade. The vials come out easily, the caps twisting off with barely a whisper. The clear liquid disappears into the drinks without a trace, not even a ripple to mark what I've just done.

I take a deep breath. I’m really doing this, huh? I grabbed a tray from one of the cabinets and put the three drinks on it, making sure the none-serum glass of wine was facing me.

When I return to the living room carrying the three glasses on the small tray, Linda finally looks up. Her eyebrows rise slightly. "What's this?"

"Celebrating," I say, keeping my voice light and easy. "I got a raise today. A significant one, actually. I was thinking— remember that vacation you two have been talking about? The resort in Cabo you showed me last month? We can actually afford to do it now."

Ashley's attention shifts from the TV, suspicion flickering across her features. "Seriously?"

"Seriously," I say as I hand Linda her wine first, then Ashley her lemonade. I keep one glass of wine for myself, settling into the armchair across from them. "I know I've been distant with work. I know the project has consumed a lot of my time. But it's paying off now. I want to do something special for us. For our family."

The word 'family' sits awkwardly in the air. Ashley's jaw tightens, but Linda's expression softens fractionally. She looks at the wine glass in her hand, then back at me.

"That's... that's good news, Synn," Linda says. There's genuine warmth there, however muted. "When did they tell you?"

"This afternoon. The board reviewed my progress and they're very pleased."

Not entirely a lie, I think to myself. The board has been pleased with my progress, but they still think it's at least a year away before I have anything testable.

I raise my glass. "To new beginnings?"

Linda considers for a moment, then raises her glass. "To new beginnings." She takes a sip— just a sip— and then something shifts in her expression. She brings the glass back to her lips and drinks deeper, finishing nearly half of it in one long swallow.

Ashley watches her mother, still wary. "Mom's really excited about that vacation," she mutters. But then she looks at her own glass, takes a tentative sip, and suddenly she's drinking too. Not stopping.

The compulsion works exactly as I designed it— irresistible, seamless, feeling like her own choice even as she drains the lemonade faster than she normally would.

Linda finishes her wine within thirty seconds, setting the empty glass on the coffee table with a soft clink. Ashley follows suit moments later, the ice cubes rattling in her empty glass.

Then Linda's eyes go distant. Unfocused. Her body relaxes completely into the couch cushions, her hands falling limp into her lap. Ashley's head tilts back slightly, her mouth parting, all the hostility draining from her face to leave it smooth and blank.

The trance. One minute. Sixty seconds to reshape reality.

They sit before me, utterly receptive, utterly ****. The movie plays on, forgotten. My heart hammers in my chest—not fear, but anticipation. Power. Three years of work has led to this moment.

The clock is ticking.