sweet dreams in the morning

Alex finally drifted off to sleep, but he found no relief. His dreams were disturbing and bizarre, mirroring his fears and shame. In his dream, he was sitting in his place at school. All around him were girls, giggling quietly and casting skewed glances at him. Even Tessa, who usually made him feel safe, was giggling like crazy, as though she’d suddenly joined the others’ side.

“What’s going on?” Alex wondered, looking around in confusion. He wanted to speak, to clarify the situation, but the words stuck in his throat.

Suddenly, the door opened and Ms. Avas walked in. She appeared as she always did—strict and composed, with a presence that filled the room. But something about her was different. Her usual severe bun had been replaced by perfectly styled hair, and she was wearing a pink, elegant dress he had never seen her wear before. She went to the board, turned around, and smiled.

“Good morning, girls,” she began in an exuberant voice that unsettled Alex. “Today we’ll be focusing on the truly important things in life: makeup, clothing, proper behavior, and, of course, how to handle men correctly.”

The girls around Alex cheered softly and clapped. But Alex felt as though the walls of the classroom were closing in on him. “This can’t be real,” he thought. “What kind of lesson is this?”

“Alex,” Ms. Avas said suddenly, her eyes resting directly on him. He flinched, as though he had been caught doing something wrong, yet he had no idea why. “You’re such a good girl, aren’t you? Perhaps you’d like to show us how to do the perfect curtsy.”

The class burst out laughing, and Alex felt his face flushing red. “What? No! I… I’m not a girl!” he wanted to shout, but his voice was gone. Instead, he stood up as if pulled by invisible strings and performed an awkward curtsy. The girls giggled even louder—Tessa included—her face nearly in tears from laughing so hard.

“Oh, Alex,” Ms. Avas said with a sickeningly sweet smile, “you still have so much to learn. But don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll be just as charming as the others soon.”

The scene changed, and Alex suddenly found himself standing in front of a mirror. But when he looked into it, he didn’t see himself. The face that looked back was made up with shimmery eyeshadow, lips in a bright pink shade. His hair was styled in soft curls, and he was wearing a dress that reached his knees. “What is this?” he thought in panic, but the dream allowed him no respite.

All at once, the scene in front of the mirror changed. Alex kept staring at his own reflection, yet his feelings of shame and confusion intensified as he noticed movement behind him. The reflection showed not only himself—made up, styled, and in a dress that felt like a nightmare—but also a familiar figure slowly approaching from behind.

Miriam appeared in the mirror behind him, her eyes gleaming with a mixture of pride and amusement. She was dressed in an elegant, form-fitting dress that highlighted her perfect posture and flawless style. Her smile was cool, almost mocking, yet there was something in her gaze that deeply unsettled Alex.

“Oh, Alex,” she said in her typically over-sweet voice, “you look simply enchanting. I knew you had it in you.” She placed her hands lightly on his shoulders, her grip feeling heavy and controlling. “I’m so proud of you. Finally, you’re beginning to accept your true role.”

Alex wanted to say something, but his throat felt constricted. He could only stare into the mirror—at himself and at Miriam, who stood behind him like a queen, watching him with a gaze that left no room for argument.

“You know,” she went on, examining a strand of his styled hair between her perfectly manicured fingers, “I always knew there was something special about you. It just took you some time to see it too. And now?” She leaned closer to him, her voice dropping to a whisper that sent a chill down his spine. “Now I can’t wait to have some real fun with you.”

Her words echoed in his head while Alex stood there as though paralyzed. Her face was so close he could smell her sweet perfume, mingling with the scent of the lotions on his own skin. Her eyes sparkled, and a cold smile spread across her face.

“It’s going to be wonderful,” she added and gave his shoulders a slight squeeze before straightening up again. Alex couldn’t think or breathe anymore. Everything felt surreal and oppressive, and deep inside, he longed desperately for a way out.

Alex was wrenched from sleep by an unfamiliar alarm tone. The shrill ringing was different from what he was used to—a playful, bell-like jingle that didn’t suit him at all. Sleepily, he reached for his phone to turn off the alarm. But as he unlocked the screen, he noticed something: the alarm was new. His original tone was gone, and this one seemed to have been installed by the blackmailer.

“Of course,” Alex thought wearily. “He really has control over everything.”

He groaned softly and let the phone drop onto the mattress. His head felt heavy, and a vague sense of unease lingered over him. Something had happened in his dream that he could no longer fully recall—images fading like shadows into his subconscious. But despite it all, he felt surprisingly rested.

He sat up and ran a tired hand through his hair. “No idea what that dream was about, but it probably wasn’t too bad,” he murmured to himself, as he noticed the silky smooth bedding all around him.

His gaze wandered around the room, and he picked up on the sweet smell still lingering in the air. The lingerie set he had worn all night still felt unfamiliar and wrong, yet he couldn’t deny that he felt physically more rested than he had in previous nights.

Slowly, he got up, the fabric clinging to his skin, and walked over to the window to look outside. The world out there seemed calm and peaceful—a stark contrast to the chaos in his own life. “Maybe today I can somehow…” He stopped. Whatever he was about to tell himself was immediately cut off by reality: the blackmailer would send new instructions.

His phone vibrated on the mattress, as though it had heard his thoughts. A wave of unease washed over Alex. “Of course,” he thought bitterly. “It’s already starting.”

Alex reluctantly picked up his still-vibrating phone and opened the message. He knew it was from the blackmailer again—by now, that was inevitable. His stomach clenched as he read the words:

“Good morning, Princess! I hope you slept well. Don’t forget to call in sick at school today—you’ll need the day off to focus on your tasks. And before you continue, freshen up a bit. Obviously only using your dear Mommy’s products. Oh, and change your underwear. I think you know which one I mean. :) Don’t forget to send me some pretty photos afterward—with a lovely smile! ♥”

Alex lowered the phone and felt overwhelmed by the sweet scent emanating from him all over again. The thought of having to put on Miriam’s things once more and being **** to smile made a cold shiver run down his spine. “I’m like a puppet in his hands,” he thought despairingly.

But he knew he had ****. The risk of ignoring the instructions was too great. The blackmailer had already proven willing to completely humiliate Alex if he didn’t comply. “I just have to get through this,” he told himself quietly, burying his head in his hands.

With a deep breath, he turned to his first task: calling in sick at school. He picked up the phone again, punched in the number for the school office, and waited for someone to pick up. His voice quavered as he started speaking:

Alex dialed the school’s front office with trembling fingers, ready to report that he was sick. His heart pounded loudly while he waited for someone to pick up. After a few seconds, a friendly but businesslike voice answered.

“St. Ashley Academy, how can I help you?” asked the secretary. Alex cleared his throat and **** himself to speak calmly.

“Um… good morning, this is Alex. I… I’d like to call in sick today. I’m not feeling well.”

There was a brief silence before the secretary said, “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Please hold the line; I’ll forward you to Ms. Avas.”

Alex froze. “What? Ms. Avas?” He hadn’t expected to speak to the teacher herself. He thought about hanging up out of sheer panic, but before he could decide, he heard the familiar click indicating he was being transferred.

“Hello, this is Ms. Avas,” came her clear, authoritative voice. “Alex? Is everything all right? I hear you want to call in sick today.”

Alex swallowed hard. “What am I supposed to say now?” he thought in desperation before forcing himself to answer. “Yes, um… I’m not feeling very well this morning. I thought it’d be better if I stayed home.”

Ms. Avas was silent for a moment before she asked, sounding concerned, “Alex, this is your first week with us. Are you sure everything’s okay? I don’t want you feeling overwhelmed. Is there anything you’d like to talk about?”

“No, no,” Alex replied hastily. “I’m just physically under the weather. I think I just need some rest.”

Ms. Avas’s voice grew gentler, though she still sounded serious. “I understand. But I’m worried you might fall behind, especially at the beginning. How about if I have someone drop by with the assignments and materials?”

Alex’s heart skipped a beat. “Oh no, no, no!” he thought in panic. Someone from school coming here? While he was **** to spend the day in Miriam’s lingerie? That was out of the question. But how could he refuse without raising suspicion?

“That’s really kind of you, but I… I don’t think it’s necessary,” he stammered. “I’ll just try to catch up tonight. Really, I’ll manage.”

But Ms. Avas wouldn’t relent. “Alex, I want to make sure you don’t miss anything. I’ll ask someone from your class to bring over the materials. It’s no big deal, and I’m sure it’ll help you.”

Alex realized he had ****. “Uh, okay,” he said finally. “Thank you, Ms. Avas.”

“All right,” she said, her voice reassuring. “I hope you feel better soon. Take care, and hopefully we’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yes, thank you,” Alex mumbled and hung up before his nerves got any worse.

His head was spinning. “Who’s going to come?” he wondered. His heart pounded so loudly he felt dizzy. The blackmailer had already burdened him enough—and now he had to prepare for the arrival of a classmate as well.

He stood there for a while, motionless, phone in hand, as Ms. Avas’s words echoed in his mind. Someone would come to bring him his assignments. He had no idea who, and the thought that a classmate might see him like this drove him to despair.

He shook his head, tried to push the panic aside, and **** himself to focus on the blackmailer’s other instructions. “I can’t worry about who’ll show up right now,” he thought. “I just have to make sure I don’t get caught.”

Taking a deep breath, he reread the blackmailer’s message. The instructions were clear: freshen up, use Miriam’s products, change into different underwear, and send photos with a smile. Alex bit his lip at the thought of being **** to smile again; it sent a shudder through him. But he knew resistance was futile.

Alex headed to the bathroom and took off the lingerie set, now unpleasantly sticky. He placed it carefully on the sink, like a bomb that could explode at any moment. Then he began showering, using Miriam’s sweet-smelling products. The cloying fragrance enveloped him immediately, and Alex couldn’t help but feel disgusted.

“Why does it have to smell so strong?” he wondered, rubbing in the lotion that made his skin feel almost unnaturally smooth. He wanted to be rid of the scent, but each step only made it more intense. When he finished, he dried off and looked at himself in the mirror.

“I look like…” He stopped himself before completing the thought. It was pointless anyway.

Alex stepped into his parents’ bedroom, the air still heavy with Miriam’s perfume. He walked over to the closet, where he had already struggled the previous day to find something suitable. “Please let it be easier today,” he thought, opening the closet door. But again, its contents looked like a chaotic assortment of Miriam’s garments and accessories.

He sighed and started rummaging through the shelves. Nothing immediately stood out as matching the blackmailer’s instructions. The more he searched, the deeper he had to dig, until eventually he discovered something hidden beneath a pile of clothes: a white box adorned with gold ornamentation, elegant and almost ceremonial in appearance.

Alex carefully pulled out the box and studied it. The lid featured a shimmering embossed floral design. Along the side, in flowing script, were the words “Memories of Our Wedding.” His stomach twisted as he realized this box must be very special to Miriam and his father.

“He can’t be serious,” Alex murmured softly, opening the box slowly. Inside lay a lingerie set even more elaborate than anything he’d seen so far: a snow-white lace corset with delicate gold embroidery, matching stockings with lace trim, a tiny pair of panties, and even a dainty garter with a small gold pendant.

Alex stared at the contents, speechless. “She wore this at her wedding?” The thought sent a shiver through him, yet at the same time, he knew the blackmailer would expect exactly this. It was striking, distinctive, and a perfect fit for the absurd game the blackmailer was playing.

With trembling hands, he removed the pieces from the box and placed them gently on the bed. The lace felt cool and soft, its embroidery almost unnaturally detailed. He wanted to protest, to scream, but he knew no one would listen—and that the blackmailer was waiting for him to fail.

“This just keeps getting worse,” Alex thought, lifting the corset and bracing himself to put it on.

Alex sat on the edge of the bed, the wedding lingerie set laid out before him, his hands shaking. He gazed at the elegant white lace and gold embellishments, which should have symbolized something intimate and meaningful—instead of fueling the nightmare he was living. The conflict raged inside him: should he really go through with this, or was it better to risk it all and ignore the blackmailer?

“I can’t do this,” he murmured to himself, the words sounding hollow. His heart was racing, and the pressure in his chest grew unbearable. “I have to find a way to end this. I can’t keep doing this.”

But before he could decide, his phone vibrated again. The familiar notification sent a wave of cold sweat over him, and he reluctantly picked up the device. His gaze fell on a new message:

“The clock is ticking, Princess. You’ve got 15 minutes left. If you don’t do what I said, then all the photos and videos I’ve taken so far go online. I’ve got it all perfectly edited and ready to post. Your reputation? Destroyed. Not just at school—in your entire future. Believe me, no one will ever take you seriously again. Your choice.”

Alex’s stomach churned, and for a moment his heart seemed to stop. “He can’t be serious,” he thought desperately, but deep down, he knew the blackmailer was absolutely serious. The threat wasn’t empty; it felt like a final judgment hanging over him.

He bit his lower lip and lowered the phone. Photos and videos—everything the blackmailer had gathered, edited into a compromising, humiliating collage. It wouldn’t just ruin his reputation at school; it would destroy his entire life. No employer, no university would ever take him seriously. His family? “What would my father think?” Alex could hardly bear the thought.

He felt tears welling up, but he **** himself not to give in. “I have ****,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “It’s either this or lose everything.”

Alex stood by the bed, the pieces of the wedding lingerie set laid out before him, taking deep breaths to quell the rising panic. “This is just another task,” he told himself, though he knew it would humiliate him more than any before. He reached for the corset, gleaming white, adorned with gold embroidery so intricate it almost seemed too precious to touch.

His hands trembled as he first reached for the panties. They were small, delicate, decorated with gold thread that glinted in the light. Alex swallowed hard, his face flushed with shame. “This can’t be my life,” he thought as he carefully pulled them up his legs. The material felt cool and smooth against his skin, and once it was in place, he felt more **** than ever before.

Next, he picked up the stockings. They were made of fine lace, snow-white with a gold-trimmed band at the top. Gingerly, he slipped the first stocking over his foot and then slowly up his leg until it fit perfectly. The second stocking followed, and Alex had to sit down on the edge of the bed to ensure they were both straight and level.

His gaze shifted to the corset, the meticulously embroidered centerpiece of the set. With trembling fingers, he lifted it, trying to figure out the straps and hooks. It was more complicated than he’d expected, and he had to readjust multiple times before it finally fit. The corset gripped his torso tightly, forcing his posture into a more upright stance than he liked, heightening the sense of being trapped in someone else’s skin.

Finally, he picked up the small garter, adorned with a gold pendant. It felt like the finishing touch on a grim ritual as he carefully slid it up his right thigh.

Alex stepped in front of the mirror. His gaze traveled over his reflection, which looked almost unreal: the lingerie set fit perfectly, the lace and embroidery seemed made for a wedding, but they clashed with his blank expression. He felt as though he were looking at a stranger.

His phone vibrated again. Another message: “Don’t forget to smile, Princess. I want to see your sweetest one!”

Alex closed his eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, and **** himself to follow orders. He raised his phone, positioned himself in front of the mirror, and managed a smile. It felt wrong, almost grotesque, but he knew he had ****.

With one final breath, he tapped the shutter. The sound of the photo being taken seemed to fill the room for an instant, as though it had permanently sealed in that moment of his shame. “Please, let this be over soon,” Alex thought as he sent the picture.