"You can't do this to me! I command you to stop! Stop!"

She struggled futilely.

"Obey me! I am your mistress! Let me go!"

Her words went unheeded.

"I am your mistress! You must obey me! You must do as I say! Stop! Let me go!"

The four women who carried her did not react to her outbursts. They stared straight ahead and walked slowly forward. Another woman walked ahead of them.  And another walked behind.

None of the six women wore shoes, and their bare feet left temporary impressions in the plush carpet that they strode across. Neither did any of them wear expressions, and their attractive faces bore only wide, blank eyes and slack jaws.

The first woman reached the back wall of the large room. She flipped a switch on its surface. A hidden panel slid aside. In the space behind the panel resided an oddly shaped chair nestled among electronic consoles. The chair had a high back, swiveling arms, a long seat, and separated leg rests that also swiveled. All of its surfaces sported thick padding. Cushioned cuffs complemented each arm and leg rest.

Stepping to the side of the chair, the woman pushed several buttons on a console.  As she did, the four women walked forward. They lowered their struggling captive into the chair and forced her wrists and ankles into the cuffs. The cuffs immediately closed and tightened, locking the captive in place.

"Why aren't you obeying me? What is going on? Wait, your eyes. I see spirals in them. That isn't a technique I use. You're no longer acting as my slaves. Someone else is controlling you. Who? Tell me, dammit! Who is controlling you?"

The four women who had carried her parted before the chair. The final woman walked through them, knelt before the captive, and began removing her shoes.

"What? No! Don't you dare! Leave them on! Don't touch my stockings! No! No! I won't be bound and barefoot like some submissive slave! I won't! No!"

Holding the captive's footwear, the woman rose, then turned and walked away. The other five women followed after her.

"You can't leave me like this! I'm not a slave! I'm your mistress!"

Soon, no one was left in the room to shout at. She continued yelling just to yell. Finally, she grew tired. She stopped and looked around her. The consoles were not immediately familiar to her. But she had an idea of what they were for. She didn't like the idea at all.

Footsteps sounded from the doorway at the other end of the room. She looked up to see a man enter. He walked towards her.

"You. Of course. How'd you do it? How'd you break the girls out from under my control and place them under yours?"

"I have my methods. You'll become acquainted with them very soon."

"Will I? You know I'm not some weak-willed, easily swayed, girl. Nor am I an already brainwashed slave. This contraption that you've strapped me into won't break open my mind as easily as it did those girls'. Their brains were already mush thanks to me."

"Yes, I do know that. And no, my machine won't do that to you easily. But it will do it. I assure you."

"%$#@!"

"As much as I like the sight of you sitting there helpless, while still retaining all your faculties, I don't care for that language. Nor do I expect it to stop on its own."

"%$#@! %$#@%$#$@!"

"As I thought. Perhaps when I upgrade the machine, I'll add a gag as part of the restraints. Because it is fun to see women such as yourself bound, barefoot, and struggling to escape. But for now, I think it's best if we begin."

A low hum began within the chair. Then a metal helmet rose up from behind it on thin mechanical arms. The helmet hovered for a moment before beginning a slow descent towards the captive's head. In a few seconds, it covered her scalp.

"%$#@! %$#@! %$#@%$#$@!"

"That really is enough of that. Let's start with the lowest setting. It will be just enough to let us talk without these annoying outbursts or obnoxious profanity."

A soft light pulsed under the helmet. The captive twitched. Her eyes glared hatefully, but she no longer yelled or cussed.

"Much better. Now we can talk. Tell me, why do you think you're here?"

"Because you're an evil..."

The words she desired to speak would not come. She clenched her fists in frustration.

"Perhaps I am evil. But if so, no more than you. We both dominate others, brainwashing them into slaves to serve us. Either way, that isn't the reason why you're here. Any other guesses?"

"No. Just tell me already."

"You're here because you want to be."

"That's ridiculous."

"Is it? I wonder, then, why you recently said, 'I want to be barefoot and hypnotized.'"

"I never said that. I am a mistress. I hypnotize other people and make them do my bidding. I have no desire to have that role reversed."

"Ah, but you do. I know it for a fact because one of your slaves told me. She told me after I had thoroughly brainwashed her, so she was incapable of telling me anything but the truth."

"..."

She clenched and unclenched her fists.

"Well, if you won't admit it on your own, then I'll just have to increase to a higher setting. This one will make you tell the truth."

Under the helmet, the flashing light turned to green. The captive trembled. The intensity of her stare lessened, and she relaxed despite herself.

"That's better. Now, did you recently say that you want to be barefoot and hypnotized?"

"Yes."

"Who did you say it to?"

"One of my brainwashed slaves."

"Why did you say it?"

"Because...it's true. And...I knew she would keep my secret."

"And so she would have, if not for me. Anyway, elaborate on this secret fantasy of yours."

"I love being a mistress. I love enslaving women to my will. But...I also desire...to submit to someone else. I desire...to be a slave...a submissive, obedient slave."

"Excellent. Now it's all out in the open. Was that so hard?"

"Yes, it was very hard."

"Oh, right, I suppose it was. You're very strong willed, and you're fighting the power of the machine. It's probably time to make it easier for you. It's time to give you what you want."

The flashing light under the helmet changed to blue. The captive shook.

"This is the induction phase. It will slowly dissolve your will and open your mind up to suggestion."

"Uhhh...uhhhh....uhhhhh..."

"When it's complete, you will be in a deep hypnotic trance, in which you will readily accept anything I tell you."

"Uhhhhhh...uhhhhhhh...uhhhhhhh..."

"I will then brainwash you into my dutiful, unquestioning slave. Serving and obeying me will bring you great pleasure."

"Uhhhhhhhhhhhh..."

The blue light stopped flashing and shone steadily over the captive's head. Her eyes closed. She stopped shaking and sat silently.

"You are now hypnotized and highly suggestible. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand."

"Good. You are my slave. You will obey me."

"I am your slave. I will obey you."

"You are happy to be barefoot and hypnotized."

"I am happy to barefoot and hypnotized."

"You are thankful to me for giving you what you want."

"I am thankful to you for giving me what I want."

"Excellent."

The light under the helmet went out. Then the hum within the chair stopped. Finally, the restraints around the captive's wrists and ankles opened.

"Wake up."

The slave opened her eyes. Faint spirals swirled within her pupils.

"Do you know who I am?"

"Yes, you are my Master."

"Have I given you what you want?"

"Yes, Master, you have given me what I want."

"What was that?"

"To be a barefoot, hypnotized slave."

"Are you thankful?"

"Yes, Master, I am very thankful."

"Do you know what I want?"

"No, Master. Please tell me what you want."

She listened intently as she was told.

"Do you understand?"

"Yes, Master, I understand."

"Good. Give me what I want."

The slave stood up from the chair. She raised her arms out in front of her and walked slowly forward, like an old fashioned zombie. When she reached her master, she stopped. Then she gave him exactly what he wanted.