the new Renee

You decided to try a test. The next time you put Sarah in a trance, you changes your post-hypnotic programming so that your trigger word would no longer switch Sarah into 'Renee mode'' But you made it so that Sarah wouldn't realize the lack of change - the trigger would just relax her.

The next day she didn't realize what you had done. She acted like Renee even though the trigger word had no effect - she acted like Renee on her own.

You needed to test further.

You waited for a weekend when Sarah had no plans, no friends to meet, no public appearances to maintain. If she stayed home, maybe the Renee mannerisms would fade. Maybe the constant performance just needed a break.

But Saturday morning, she came downstairs barefoot in an oversized hoodie, hair up in the same messy bun she’d worn in dozens of Renee’s videos. She poured cereal straight into her mouth from the box, smirked at your disapproving look, and padded into the living room to watch reality TV.

She hadn’t been under hypnosis in two weeks.