What happens to the participants?

Most of them are returned to 'normal'

The audience started clapping, slow at first, then building, as the women began filtering back from the floor. Chuck’s heart hammered. He scanned the edges of the crowd, waiting to see Katie.

Delilah was the first to crawl back onto the stage. She moved slowly on all fours, body filthy, smeared with all kinds of fluids and food remnants. Streaks of pie filling dried on her cheeks and chin, cum spots on her back and thighs, something sticky clinging to her hair. Her stomach looked noticeably bloated; in just the short time she’d been gone she’d clearly stuffed herself silly. She stopped in the middle of the stage, head down, breathing heavily, and let out a soft oink without being prompted.

Zoe flapped in next, arms still tucked under her armpits like wings, making little hops and squeaks. Her pixie cut was frazzled, strands sticking out every which way like hands had grabbed and pulled it hard. She stood beside Delilah, tilting her head side to side, repeatedly squeaking in a hoarse voice.

Isabella followed, walking on shaky legs. She looked exhausted, muscles trembling under her skin, sweat shining on her body, hair matted. Her posture was slumped, shoulders rounded forward like she’d been bent over tables or poles for hours.

Annie came after, strutting like nothing had happened. Her silver thong was stuffed full of cash now, bills poking out the sides and waistband, overflowing so much a few twenties fluttered to the floor as she walked. She waved at the crowd, giggling, still in character.

The hypnotist waited, arms crossed, scanning the wings. Katie didn’t appear.

Chuck’s heart started racing. Where was she? The others had come back quick enough. Had something gone wrong? Had someone taken her somewhere private? The thought made his stomach twist.

The hypnotist raised his voice, loud enough to carry over the low chatter.

“Remember the rules, folks,” he said. “All women must be returned when the show is done.”

Right then Katie stumbled into view.

She stank, even from his table Chuck could smell it: sex, sweat, cheap cologne, the sharp tang of cum. She walked onto the stage slow, legs unsteady. Completely used. Naked except for the name tag still clipped to her hair, her bra was gone. Cum streaked her body in patches, some fresh, some drying. Her hair was a mess, bun half fallen out. And what really broke Chuck’s heart, someone had taken a black marker and drawn a crude, oversized penis right in the middle of her forehead, between her eyes, complete with spurting cum lines. It looked horrible on her cute face, the ink stark against her pale skin. The audience laughed when they saw it, pointing, some clapping like it was the punchline of the night.

The hypnotist chuckled into the mic. “Clearly this one’s been a favorite.”

The five women lined up, Delilah still on all fours, Zoe flapping occasionally, Isabella swaying on her feet, Annie counting her cash, Katie standing there dazed with that awful drawing on her face.

The hypnotist turned toward Mark, Emily’s husband, still seated a few tables over.

“A deal’s a deal,” he said. “You can choose one woman in exchange for Emily.”

Chuck’s heart dropped into his stomach. He stared at Mark, willing him not to point at Katie. Please not her. Anyone else.

Mark rubbed his chin, looking at the women slowly. Then he lifted his hand and pointed straight at Anahita, Annie.

“That one,” he said.

The hypnotist nodded once. “Commendable choice, sir.”

He motioned to Annie. “Step aside with my assistant, please.”

Annie shrugged, tucked the last of her bills into her thong, and followed Em to the side of the stage.

Chuck let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. Relief hit him hard, weak in the knees even though he couldn’t stand yet.

The hypnotist raised his hands.

“Another big round of applause for our participants!”

The room clapped, loud, enthusiastic. Chuck found his own hands moving, clapping along automatically, palms stinging.

A bigger curtain than the cylindrical ones dropped from the ceiling, thick red velvet this time, covering the four women completely. Chuck noticed a large embroidered symbol in gold thread on the front: “J.I.” He had no idea what it stood for, but it looked official, almost ceremonial.

The hypnotist motioned for Emily and Anahita to walk backstage. They obeyed without a word, disappearing behind the curtain.

He made a dramatic sweeping gesture with both arms.

The curtain rose.