…wtf...

She looked at Duncan like he was an idiot. “What the hell are you talking about? It’s right here in my...” She looked at her hand, then looked down. Several minutes passed by before she snapped back up to look into his eyes. “What the hell is going on?!”

Duncan was confused. She really didn’t…know…she had put them on. And, judging from her face, and the way she started rubbing her thumb and forefinger together, he realized she was not taking the realization well. She only did that when she was REALLY upset. This had to end, he had to tell her. “Em, I can explain...”

Cring squeezed down tight and Duncan almost doubled over in pain. He almost yelled out loud. Really?! Not ever or just not now? It would have to be a question for another time, as Emily was getting a bit distressed, and he should pay attention if he wanted to stay alive.

“THEN EXPLAIN! Did you...**** me? Knock me out? Hypnotize me? How in the hell am I wearing this? Because I sure as hell didn’t put it on myself!” Her voice got increasingly hysterical as she tried to cover herself. “Why would you do this to me? I thought I was your...um...I am your...aren’t we…ngh…” she closed her eyes for a second, then opened them and looked around and tilted her head to the side, “did you hear that?”

Her…****-maker must be…starting to make a connection. That would be the ONLY way she would have stopped her tirade. He knew Emily, she wouldn’t have allowed herself to be interrupted when she was this upset for anything. There was no longer any doubt in his mind. These clothes...these -Makers were real. He thought about what was happening to Emily, what may change her entirely, and a feeling of dread settled in Duncan’s stomach. And yet...that wasn’t the only thing he was feeling. There was something odd that he couldn’t make out, something swirling in his subconscious, perhaps. Whatever it was, he felt chills going down his skin. What the hell was going on with him?

Right, she asked a question.

“No, I didn’t hear anything.” He sighed and regrouped, trying to salvage anything with their friendship. No matter what happened, he didn’t want to lose her as a friend. Then again, if that was the case, then maybe he shouldn’t have tried to make her wear that thing? “Emily, I don’t know why you are wearing that, only that you did it of your own will. I would never have **** you into something like that. You are my best, well, my only...”

“****..” she blurted out, slapping her hand to her mouth, eyes wide. At least, they were wide before she stifled some sort of other reaction. “Mmmff…Friend...friend is what I meant to say. Where the hell did that come from?”

Duncan just stared. That was…different…Was it invading her thoughts? Making her think things, changing her mindset? Then a realization ran down his spine like cold water. How different was it from Cring? Could he even trust his own thoughts? Was Cring already there? He shook his head. Even if that was the case, he didn’t have time to dwell on that now.

“Em...I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.” He came closer and motioned to the couch. “You should...”

“Obey.” She said the word without realizing she said it. Again she seemed to stifle some sort of reaction. She looked at him, waiting for him to finish his sentence. Something started to tingle in his brain, sending jolts of energy through his body. He felt a bit on edge, more than expected in this unbelievable situation.

“Sit.” He finished, and she instantly sat, as if she was primed to sit as soon as he told her to. When she did, she looked like something shocked her, letting out a cute little gasp he didn’t know she was capable of making. Her eyes closed and she started to breath a little faster…and just like that it was over and she was staring at him again. What was that about? He took a deep breath. “How are you feeling? What are you feeling? Tell me honestly.”

“It feels like, in my head, I’m talking to myself, a weirder and sluttier version of myself…mmmph…It keeps saying words and I’m trying to ignore it. I f-fuh-feel **** and violated that I’m here half-naked and confused. I’m angry, and frustrated that I am starting to lose control of something inside me. At first I was ticked off that this vibrator in this thong keeps going off every time I have a sex-related thought towards you, or when I say certain things to you-haaa-oh my god…” she placed a hand over her thong. “I feel annoyed that maybe I am saying more than I really want to say out loud.” She looked up at Duncan and paused, “and I feel curious, scared, and unintentionally horny that you are standing naked in front of me.”