Yes.

We follow the man with hardly another word spoken. I keep trying to get Max's attention but he seems too focused on following this friend of his to pay me any attention. This just wasn't normal.

We are lead around the corner and to a metal door at the base of an old four story brick building. Small businesses occupy the ground floor but it was all apartments above that. Most of them looked empty. He leads us through into and up a cramped stairwell, it smelled slightly of mildew. I was liking this less and less. Finally I just had to say something.

"Max, let's get out of here. C'mon..."

He looks down at me. "We're going for drinks." He states flatly, leaving no room for argument.

"Okay." I say as I follow along. I start to wonder if this had something to do with his work.

We are lead to the top floor and finally into a drafty spacious studio apartment. This guy obviously lived alone and wasn't accustomed to having company over. The place was a mess. Empty beer cans and pizza boxes all over the place, dirty clothes strewn here and there.

"Sit down." The man says, it seemed more an order than a request. Max walks to the couch and takes a seat. I stay glued to his side as he moves. Once more I notice Max's attention seemed to be completely on this man, I just couldn't manage to catch his eye. Disturbingly the man's attention was all on me.

The man locks the door's deadbolt and turns to face us. "So Max, why don't you introduce us." He peels his jacket off and tosses it on a nearby chair.

Max nods. "This is my wife Bridget." He gestures to me. Then he turns back. "Bridget, this is Marvelous Martin."

"Marvelous Mart....the stage magician?" I query.

Martin shakes his head. "No magic sugar tits, just hypnotism."

"Sugar tits!" I bristle at the tone and the language. "Okay, that is it. Lets go Maxwell." I stand up angrily.

Martin smiles and laughs a cocky confident laugh. "Say Max my man. Tell me of Bridget's deepest fantasies."

Without missing a beat my beloved Max responds. "She likes me to be forceful and in control. She has daddy issues. She really likes it from behind. She reads interracial erotica when she thinks I'm not looking."

I feel my face go red with a deep blush. "MAX! Oh my god! Why did you say that?" Everything he had just said was absolutely true. He just looks at me like nothing was wrong. "I'm leaving!" I state emphatically. "Please come with me Max." I was now starting to clue into what was happening here. This damned hypnotist somehow had control over my husband. I had to get out of here and go get help. Go report this creep to someone.

Martin laughs again. "Oh you're not going anywhere sweet thing. Maxwell, take your wife's phone."

Max slips his hand into my jacket pocket and grabs my phone. I try to stop him but he grabs my wrist with his other hand hard enough to hurt. "Ouch! Max stop it!" I protest. He fishes out my phone and puts it in his own pocket then lets me go. I look to Martin furiously as I rub my wrist. Martin still stood at the door, blocking my exit. "What have you done to my husband!? I'll scream!" I threaten.

He laughs his horrible laugh once more. "Go ahead. Thick brick walls all around, they don't make buildings like this anymore. The neighboring unit is empty and the window leads to a busy street. No one's going to hear you." He stretches then nonchalantly slips off his shoes, acting like he just came home from an average day out. "Besides, I just want to watch you and your husband put on a show for me. Purely monogamous. What could be the problem with that?" His laughter made the hairs on my skin raise.

I turn to my husband. "Max, snap out of it baby!" I shake him by the shoulders. He continues looking at me like everything was as normal as could be. Only then did my concern truly turn into fear.