Kim stretched and yawned, rolling over to look at the alarm clock. *Six in the morning,* she thought blearily. *I really don't want to wake up. I don't want to go to work today, dammit.* She swung her feet to the floor, rubbing her eyes and stretching, then padded barefoot to the bathroom.

The shower began to wake her more. She luxuriated in the hot water, turning off the spigot only when it began to run colder. Her morning routine went by in a blur. She was surprised when she got downstairs and discovered it was only 6:40. 

*I'm running early!* she thought, a little confused. *How did that happen?* Wonder was cut short as the phone rang. *Now who in the hell could that be?* She ran for the phone, almost dropping the reciever as she picked it up. "Hello?" 

An unfamiliar voice returned her greeting. "Hello, is this Kim?"

She frowned. Not Master, then, as she'd half-hoped. He was likely still asleep. "Yes, this is, can I help you?" *Fucking telemarketers! They're not allowed to call this early!*

The voice was male, she could tell that much. He wasn't reacting to the chill in her tone. "Good morning, Kim. This is the video store. Have you watched the video you picked up last night?"

She put a hand on her hip. "I didn't pick up any video last night," she informed him. "If this is some kind of joke, please stop." She checked the caller ID, but didn't recognize the number.
"Of course you did," he told her, unruffled. "Go look. It's in your VCR right now, I bet."

Kim muttered "Yeah, right!" as she walked with the cordless to the living room. She blinked. There was a tape sticking out of the VCR. "What the hell?"

"Why don't you have a look, Kim? See what movie it is?"

She shoved it into the slot with no little aggravation. As she turned on the TV and hit the play button, it occurred to her that she should just have pulled it out and looked at it. Still, it was in and cued now. She sat down on the couch, saying "I don't remember renting any movie. How did you get my number anyway? It's unlisted..."

Her voice trailed off as the tape began. There was no FBI warning. Instead, it started out with a single word, fading up into the middle of the screen. It shimmered in blue and then purple and then deep red, cycling through the colors of the rainbow. It said simply "Watch."

Kim leaned forward a little. "Watch...what the hell is this...?" Her voice sounded a little odd, even to herself. She kept her eyes on the screen. 

The voice chuckled. "Why don't you do what it says? It's one of our most popular, Kim, we told you that last night."

She nodded, forgetting whoever it was couldn't see her. The word pulsed on the screen for another moment, then faded out. It appeared smaller in a corner of the screen, then in another corner, then somewhere in the middle. It began to flash all over the screen in a pattern she couldn't figure out. She was distracted by trying to place where the word would come up next.

"That's it, Kim. I can tell by your breathing you like this movie." 

Again, Kim nodded. "It's...weird. Kinda trippy." Watch. Watch. "How can you tell..."

"Ah-ah-ah. Just watch and be quiet, Kim. You'll know when it's time for comments."

Kim bit her lip and kept watching the screen. *Why am I still watching this? Why am I still talking to this freak?* she wondered, but despite herself the curiosity was getting the better of her. Her eyes flicked from one place to another on the screen as Watch appeared and disappeared, faster and faster. She felt her eyes getting tired just trying to keep up.
Slowly, she became aware that the screen was lightening slightly in places. It was hard to keep track of that and the word as well, so she just let her eyes rest on the center of the screen. That was easier and felt better. Watch flickered all over her field of vision, but the center was the place to look. 

The lightening continued, then began to move. She realized the pattern was a spiral, slowly spinning in toward the center of the screen. The words continued to flash all over her field of vision, but after that the spiral was a cool and pleasant relief. She let out a sigh and let herself enjoy it.

"Good, Kim...keep watching. Is the spiral there yet?"

Her voice sounded distant. "Oh, yeah...it's there...it's nice. This is a cool tape."

"Good, Kim, we're glad you like it. Of course it's cool. Keep watching, now, an even better part is coming up. You know you want to see that, don't you?"

She licked dry lips. "Yeah..." she breathed. "I sure do."

"Good girl." She felt a shiver go through her. *Master calls me that,* she thought dimly. *Master calls me that when I please him. I love to please.* 

The spiral continued to spin on the screen, drawing her further in. She felt herself pulled into its depths. It was hard to resist, and after a minute she realized she didn't really want to resist at all. She sighed again, sinking back against the back of the couch and watching the TV raptly. Only her elbow on the arm of the couch kept the phone to her ear.

"Good girl. I can tell you're enjoying this. The most important word is coming up. Are you ready?"

She murmured to the Voice "I'm ready..."

The spiral began to flash. She stared into it, caught up in the warmth of it. Flash. Flash. Flash. Then, seeming to rise up from the depths of the center to meet her, one word appeared. It was tiny at first, but it began to grow. 

Obey.

Her breath caught. Obey. Of course. Good girls obey.

"Yes, Kim, good girls obey." Had she spoken aloud? Did it matter? "And you're ready to obey now, aren't you?"

"Yes..." she breathed. "I'm ready to obey."

"Good girl!" She almost moaned at the warmth she felt in that Voice. "Over near the door, you'll find a small bottle. It has some tiny white pills inside. I want you to take one, with only a little bit of water. No food. Do you understand?"

She nodded with relief. That was easy to do! "I understand..."

"Good girl! Obey. Now."

She put down the phone and stood. It felt like she floated across the floor, the carpet not really there under her feet. The bottle was there, as promised. She opened it with numb fingers, then swallowed the pill dry.

The phone waited for her as she turned slowly back to the couch. She carefully retraced her steps and picked up the phone as she sat back down. "I obey."

"Is it gone, Kim?"

"I took the pill as ordered, Sir." Ooh, that felt good. This person was definitely a Sir.

The warmth and approval in his tone bathed her. "Good girl. Now you will listen to further instructions while you watch the spiral. You will obey."

Part of her wondered if she should be obeying anyone other than Master, but the stronger part of her agreed "I will obey!" and the doubts disappeared into the depths of the spiral and the Word that held her.

"You will watch the videotape to the end. Then you will sit on the couch until someone comes for you. You will treat them normally, acting as if you're supposed to go with them. The pill will make it easy for you to pretend everything is all right, and you will follow them without question. Do you understand and obey?"

"I understand and obey."

"Good girl. Hang up now and wait for further instructions."

Kim pushed the button and the phone beeped, cutting off the Voice. She let it fall to the floor, sinking into the spiral almost longingly. It felt so good to watch...

She finally became aware the tape was over. Her head felt light, her limbs tingling. The pill, she realized in what was not quite a thought. She sat and stared at the blank TV screen, enjoying the stoned feeling that spread through every cell.

Some time later there was a knock at the door. She rose and crossed to the door, feeling the dazed sensation surge as she moved. "Who is it?" she called with a tongue gone thick.

"It's me, Kim...I've come to get you. Are you decent?"

She unlocked the door and opened it. The man on the other side chuckled. "Stoned is what you are...look at your pupils! Come on, let's get you in the car. Is the pill helping?"

She started forward agreeably. "It helps," she murmured. 

The man stopped her. "Whoa! Keys and purse, hon. Come on." She swayed as she turned, and he stopped her. "Wait here. I'll get them."

She stood staring into space on the doorstep as he got her things and rejoined her. "Is everything taken care of?" he asked, taking her hand and guiding her to the waiting car.

"Sure," Kim said, having no idea what he was talking about. "It's all all right now."

"Good girl." His tone altered, growing in compassion. "Let's just get you buckled in, now, all right?"

She let him move her, let him command her. It was easier to go along with things. Besides, the Voice had told her to Obey and she would Obey. She was a good girl.

The car started and she closed her eyes. She wasn't sure if she slept, but the smooth hum of the engine was soothing. It seemed like only a moment before he was helping her out of the car door. She didn't remember unbuckling the seat belt. The man guided her inside and into a seat. There was talking around her, but the pill was overwhelming her sensation. She could hear, but nothing was sticking in her mind for more than a moment except the memory of the spiral.

Firm and gentle hands touched her cheek. She forced her eyes open. A woman was standing there, backlit so that Kim couldn't see her features. "Come on, sweetie, this'll be over soon. Take this, and go to sleep." Another pill was placed on her tongue and a cup to her lips.

Kim drank and swallowed, feeling the tiny pill going down. "Good girl," the woman told her. "This will be just fine." Then the world went away.

Kim became aware of someone speaking to her. "Kim, are you back with us?" It was the kind man who'd picked her up. She managed a nod, swallowing against the dryness of her throat. 

"Good...come on, they're done with you now. They say you were really good, really easy to work with. They were able to do everything to you they needed to do."

She sat up with his help. She couldn't think to question what he was saying. His shoulder was so easy to lean against. He helped her to the car, settling her in as before. She came back to herself as he was helping her into her own bed. 

"Good girl...you're so sleepy, aren't you? Sleep, Kim. You did very well."

Then the phone was ringing, and she picked it up groggily. "Hello?" she blurted, still dazed.
"Kim? It's Me, dear one. How's My pet? You weren't at work today..."

No. No, she hadn't gone to work. Why not? Kim struggled to make her brain work. "I didn't feel good," she said. It was the first thing that made sense. "I was sleeping, Master..."

He laughed softly. "Sleeping all day? But you were fine last night when you left My place on the way to the video store..."

That triggered a memory and she sat up a little. She remembered the spiral, the bottle downstairs. *I'm drugged!* she thought, the first coherent thought she'd had in a while. *I have to tell Master, let Him know...I have to...* She was horrified to realize that her voice wasn't working. 

"So how are you now, My pet? Do I need to come over?" He was so caring, so kind to her. "You know you're My responsibility. I could come by."

Kim struggled to think through the drug haze. *They programmed me! Maybe they're trying to trap Master...and I'm the bait!* More memories flooded back and she felt cold remembering how easily she'd been trapped.

"Shall I do that, pet?"

She fought with every ounce of will she could dredge up. "No!" she gasped. "Please..."

 His voice turned thoughtful. "No. No? Did I hear you correctly, pet?"

Kim burned with shame. She had never once needed to tell Him no, not since their first encounters. She had never wanted to deny Him. 

"I think I'm coming over." His voice was firm now, not to be denied. "I think I'll come over and find out what's wrong with My little pet. It's certainly not like My good girl to ever deny Me with no reason."

It was more than Kim could bear. She buried her face in the pillow, unable to speak. *If He comes over, who knows what'll happen...what they made me do!* she mourned. *But I can't deny Him either...I can't say no to Him when I want Him here...and I'm supposed to want Him here. But I want Him to comfort me too! I want Him to make it OK!"

"On my way, pet. Don't. Move." His command froze her in place and she heard the click and then buzz of the line going dead.

Kim was able to make herself roll over and hang up the phone, but her legs wouldn't work to get her to the door. She knew the tape was downstairs. *If He watches it...!* she thought in agony. *I've failed Him!*

She heard the key in the lock. She was still forced by His command to lie in bed waiting. There was a pause, then she heard a bottle of pills being shaken. Kim bit her lip, willing Him to run.

Instead, His footsteps, so familiar and normally so welcome, came up the stairs. He leaned on the doorway and looked at her in bed. His slate-blue eyes studied every inch of her frame while she lay still, numb, terrified.

Finally, he spoke. "So far, so good. No sign of anyone else here. That, at least, makes Me happy." He crossed to the bed and sat down on the edge. "So why did My girl tell Me I couldn't come over?"

Kim couldn't speak. She tried to communicate with her eyes alone the depths of her worry and fear. He tilted His head. "You WILL speak," He commanded quietly. 

Kim shuddered as the Command tugged on her spirit. "I...they...tape!" she forced out of a throat gone rough and scratchy. Then she shuddered again. *I wasn't supposed to tell Him that!* she wailed within. 

His eyes went flat and cold. "I see," He said quietly. "They thought they'd get to Me through My most prized possession, did they?"

Kim couldn't move. Her eyes begged him to understand, to forgive.

With a speed she had momentarily forgotten He had, Master grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head. His gaze held hers as He trapped her. "But you are not theirs. No matter what. You are Mine. Do you understand me, girl? I trained you, I own you, I command you, I collared you, you are My slave, My pet, My tool, My toy. No one else's. Is. That. Clear, girl?"

Kim's breath left him in a gasping moan as she surrendered willingly to His eyes. "Yours!" she cried out. The orgasm which shook her surprised her. It came from nowhere, it came from her core, but mostly it came from His eyes and her surrender.

"Mine," he agreed, not releasing her wrists as her body shook and writhed. "Mine, coming like the good girl you are as you understand fully. No one claims you but Me."

Kim lost herself in His eyes and whimpered "No one but You...owns..."

He smiled then, the warmth returning to His gaze. "Now. You WILL tell me what happened. Their commands are not as strong as Mine. Exactly, girl, everything you remember. Begin. Now."

Words tumbled over each other as she babbled to Master. The pill, the tape, the words, the car...
As she spoke, He kept a firm hold on her wrists. He listened carefully and without interruption, and when she was done He leaned down and kissed her.

"Very good, girl. But who owns you?"

"You do, Master!" she moaned. "You own me! I'm Yours, forever!"

He released her wrists. "Good girl." Then He tapped her temple twice. "Done."

Kim gasped and grabbed for His hands as the world tilted. The commands shifted and realigned themselves. It was with awe and wonder she opened her eyes and looked up at Him again. 
"Th...thank You, Master..." she breathed.

He laid down on the bed next to her. "You're welcome, pet. Now, why don't you tell Me..." and as she buried her face in His shoulder she felt as much as heard Him chuckle. 
"How was your real trip to the dentist today, My pet?"