“Health Inspector Gina Hanson, here to see Doctor Samantha Kendricks and other staff.” Gina snapped out at the nurse sitting behind the desk. Her sharp eyes didn’t miss the way the nurse tensed up slightly, and she allowed herself a small smile of satisfaction at the way the other woman cautiously got to work paging Dr. Kendricks.

Mercy Asylum had gone far, far too long without a checkup.

Gina smoothed a few errant blonde hairs back into her tight bun, and then adjusted the minimalist spectacles that she insisted on wearing despite only a small reduction in her vision. She hardly needed them, but they added a great deal to the imposing image that she cut during her interviews. Her stare over top of them had unnerved more than one officious bureaucrat or doctor, and that was all to the good. She was here to make people uncomfortable. She was here to get some bloody answers about this place.

As the nurse continued working, Gina paced around the waiting area. Observing some of the public literature scattered around on the tables. Rumours had swirled around the Health Ministry for years about Mercy Asylum and what really did, or did not, occur behind its walls. Staff were unusually tight lipped and conscientious about talking to outsiders about the work that went on. Reports were always meticulously completed and submitted, with hardly any deviation or tardiness. The success rate was incredible, and often used in tandem with everything else to justify not taking a closer look. Not carrying out the standards inspections that other lesser institutions had to put up with. In Gina’s fifteen years with the Health Ministry, she couldn’t recall a single inspection being conducted at Mercy Asylum.

That was going to change. Today.

It had taken months for her to get the appropriate permissions, and months more before her superiors were finally willing to slot the inspection into her official schedule. That, in and of itself, was quite irregular, and Gina’s suspicions that something was off about the whole set up had only been heightened. She was going to get to the bottom of it, and she didn’t care who she had to run over to get to the answers she sought.

“Ah, Inspector!” A warm, sultry voice came from behind her, and Gina turned to see a tall brown haired woman walking towards her. She was dressed in a crisp professional outfit underneath a long white lab coat. Her dark brown eyes twinkled as she swept up to Gina and offered her hand, “I’m Doctor Samantha Kendricks, head of Patient Assessment here at Mercy Asylum.”

That voice. Gina ruthlessly suppressed a shiver. It had an almost hypnotic quality to it. Silken, soft promises of what might happen if only she would let it.

“Doctor.” Gina’s response was cool, professional, and lacking the warmth of Doctor Kendricks’ welcome. The other woman noted that, and her warm welcome tinged into a slightly sardonic look.

“I understand you have some reservations about our institution here, Inspector Hanson, but I can assure you there is nothing amiss in any of our administration or treatment plans.” Doctor Kendricks swept one hand out to gesture down the hallway. Deeper into the Asylum, “I’m happy to take you on a tour if you’d like. Or we can review paperwork for any of our current patients if you’d prefer to start there.”

Gina began striding past her before she had finished, taking a small amount of glee in how it forced the other woman to hurry to catch up with her. Even without her heels, Gina would have been slightly taller than the doctor, and it made her grin mentally as Kendricks had to trot along to keep up with her longer stride.

“I want to review your recent admissions. Anyone brought in within the last three months to begin with.” Gina snapped out crisply, “We’ll start there. After that I intend to become very familiar with your practices here Doctor. The lack of ministerial inspections here has not gone unnoticed back at Health, and I intend to rectify that lack personally.”

“Of course, Inspector,” Doctor Kendricks murmured from behind her as she did her best to keep up. A small hidden smile flicked across her face, “We are more than happy to assist you in becoming familiar with how we do things here.”

“Now, this is precisely what I’ve been talking to you about!” Gina crowed, slamming a file down onto the table.

The two women were seated in Doctor Kendricks’ office, and had been there for almost an hour. Gina was a little tired, having driven a fair distance just to reach the Asylum, but was thrilled that she had already found evidence of what she had long suspected. There was something fishy with the admissions process. Bingo.

“What do you mean?” Doctor Kendricks settled into a chair across from where Gina was sitting on the couch, fiddling with an odd pendant necklace.

“I’m talking about this…Rosa Andrews. Patient 1350. Recent admission.” Gina tapped a finger firmly onto the paper file, “Bright young college girl suddenly having an anxiety attack serious enough to commit her here? For a multi-year treatment course? Seriously?”

“It is something that we are becoming concerned with,” Doctor Kendricks admitted sadly. Even tinged with regret her voice just made Gina want to do things with her. To her. “The state of the world does seem to have heightened the percentage of your demographics being admitted here. I would need to see the Ministry’s statistics of the other care facilities before deciding that we are above average…” She cocked an eyebrow at Gina, her fingers still playing with the pendant.

“Don’t you think that sort of judgement was overly zealous?” Gina scoffed, “I mean seriously Doctor, how can you so easily commit a young woman here for what might be a substantial portion of her twenties?”

“Inspector, I hope you aren’t implying anything by that.” Doctor Kendricks’ silken voice snapped out, “I realize it can be hard to understand from the outside, but our patients here are being treated for serious maladies. Many of them require constant supervision and rigorous treatment schedules to even begin--”

“I want to see her.” Gina couldn’t help the slightly eager note that crept into her voice. So close. She was so close to finally demonstrating that something was awry here.

Doctor Kendricks opened her mouth to respond, hands still playing with that rather fascinating pendant, and then shrugged, “Very well. Perhaps you’ll listen to my explanation of her condition if you can see the girl yourself.” She clicked a buzzer with her free hand, “Nurse Roberts? Would you please fetch Patient 1350 from her room? Inspector Hansen would like a few words with her.”

Gina and Samantha exchanged smiles, though Gina couldn’t tell which one was more fake. She couldn’t get a good read on Samantha Kendricks. In one moment she was sure that the doctor was in up to her neck in whatever was going on here, and then in another she seemed like a naïve do-gooder who was being duped by someone else here. Gina’s eyes absently tracked the pendant as it slithered around Samantha’s fingers. The movements were oddly relaxing for something so minimal. She didn’t watch it all the time, but as the minutes dragged by, she did find her eyes kept flicking back to it. Samantha, for her part, was scrolling through something in her notebook. Evidently small talk was no longer in the cards.

A few more minutes passed, and Gina snapped herself out of a half daze as the doors opened with a loud click. Had Doctor Kendricks been smiling at her? But no…no, she seemed as professional as ever. A courtesy smile, nothing more than that. Gina gave her head a little shake, feeling a trifle woozy. Perhaps she really should have stayed at a local hotel before coming up here.

The nurse had wheeled in a young woman in a wheelchair. The girl was dressed in loose fitting white pants, with a white leather straightjacket cinched and secured tightly into place. So far so normal, save for the large panel gag strapped across her face. Hell, it even looked like she was wearing a bloody collar!

Gina looked towards Doctor Kendricks, who aimed a sympathetic smile at her.

“I do apologize Inspector for her appearance and the severe look of her bonds. However, Patient 1350 had an unfortunate episode last night.” Her fingers absently began playing with her pendant again, “There was a serious risk that she would hurt herself given the way she was biting.”

Gina’s breath hitched as she observed the girl. An errant though flitted through her mind, what would it be like to be in that wheelchair? To be bound and gagged. Helpless. She shook her head, where the hell was that coming from? She was here to do her job.

“Remove her gag. I need to speak with her.”

Doctor Kendricks nodded at Nurse Roberts who unbuckled Rosa’s gag. The girl flexed her jaw for a moment and shyly looked towards Gina.

“Hello Rosa, my name is Gina Hansen. I’m an Inspector with the Health Ministry.” Gina began, clicking a pen open, “I wanted to talk with you about your time here at Mercy Asylum.” Even as she spoke she found her eyes drifting away from Rosa. Back towards the pendant that Samantha Kendricks was absently swinging back and forth.

“Certainly Ma’am,” Rosa replied quietly.

“How did you come to be admitted to the institution?”

Rosa squirmed, her face growing slightly pinched, “I…I asked to be Ma’am. I had a bad attack. It…” She looked desperately to Doctor Kendricks, “Didn’t…Didn’t Doctor Kendricks tell you?”

“Yes she did…” Gina’s eyes flickered back to the pendant, “She…she did.” Her eyes came back to Rosa, “I want to hear it from you. Your time here?”

“Submit.” The whisper seemed to drift into Gina’s ears. She blinked. Had that been Doctor Kendricks? But the Doctor was still sitting there, still playing with her pendant. Her face one of polite interest and concern for her patient.

“Oh it’s been wonderful!” Rosa immediately gushed, “The staff are so sweet. So kind to me. I…I f-feel much better…” Rosa squirmed in her straitjacket, her eyes darting over to Doctor Kendricks, “I…I just…I don’t like…talking…”

Doctor Kendricks smiled and nodded encouragingly at Rosa.

“Give in.”

That had been her voice. Hadn’t it? Gina tried to rearrange herself on the couch, sinking down deeper into it. Sinking seemed to be the smart thing to do.

“P-please continue, Rosa.” Gina managed.

And Rosa did. Chattering on eagerly about how well treated she was at Mercy Asylum. How lost she had felt before arriving here, and how she already felt mentally better prepared. Her eyes kept darting over to Doctor Kendricks for affirmation. Gina noted how the gaze always seemed to follow each time that Rosa assured her of her well treatment, of how splendid Doctor Kendricks was in dealing with her. That seemed to be important. Something she should note down.

When had she dropped her pen?

Gina felt her fingers twitch. She began to exert herself, preparing to bend down.

“Still, and calm.” Doctor Kendricks’ voice crooned, “Still and calm, Inspector Hansen.”

Gina felt herself relaxing back into the couch.

“I think the Inspector needs a small break. Nurse Roberts, could you please secure Patient 1350?”

Gina watched as the girl was gagged again. How a blindfold was snugged over her wide staring eyes, and ear plugs applied.

“Focus here, Inspector. Submit. This is a safe place for you. A safe place for all of our patients. Relax. You don’t need to worry about your inspection here. We are going to take a small break to relax.” Samantha Kendricks’ silken voice penetrated her mind, wrapping it up in a neat little hypnotic package, “You enjoy taking breaks don’t you?”

“Nngghh,” Gina replied, her mind struggling.

“Oh, my dear Inspector,” Samantha’s voice oozed concern. The pendant flashed back and forth, Gina’s eyes now wholly focused on it, “Have you never truly allowed yourself to relax? Submit. Never really gotten time off to be yourself? Don’t you realize how dangerous that is to your mental health?”

“Ggffhh,” Gina murmured. Why was she struggling? It had seemed important. The nurse was removing her shoes and rubbing her pantyhosed legs in a lovely way. That was nice of her.

“Let yourself siiiiiiinnnnk down. Relaaaaaaax.” Doctor Kendricks’ voice invaded her mind. Cradled her. Enfolded her in silken, warm promises, “Let yourself go. Let your cares and worries drift away…”

Gina felt cool air on her skin as her clothes were peeled away. She wasn’t sure if they were removed or cut off. Her eyes were locked onto the pendant now. Only the pendant’s movements mattered. The only sound she needed was Samantha’s voice. Telling her it was alright.

“You work far too hard Inspector,” Samantha assured her, “Take on far too much responsibility. Isn’t it wonderful to surrender? To give up that responsibility and enjoy your life, worry free?”

“Yffssss…” Gina still couldn’t give an answer. It was important to…to what? She was meant to be doing something, wasn’t she? It couldn’t have been that important if she had forgotten it though. Gina didn’t forget things after all. Maybe it would come back to her while she watched Doctor Kendricks’ pendant. Listened to the doctor’s alluring voice. Gina’s lips quirked into a small smile.

“Yes, good girl Gina. Just keep watching the motion of my pendant. Listen to the cadence of my voice. Relaaaaaax. Submit. You are feeling incredibly calm, and safe. Nothing can harm you here now while you are in this state of relaxation. Obey. It’s important that you understand your safety is paramount, just like all my other patients here, right?”

Gina managed to nod. She felt new sensation along her torso. The cool, soft feel of leather being drawn up her arms. Fitted to her torso. Her eyes caught glimpses of Nurse Roberts moving around her. Fiddling with straps and buckles. A straitjacket? That hardly seemed necessary. But, Doctor Kendricks was a professional. Perhaps wearing a straitjacket was needed. It would be difficult to take notes, but that was alright. Gina didn’t forget things easily.

“Safe and secure, Gina. Like all my other patients, you are safe and secure in bondage. Do you understand? Say Yes Doctor Kendricks.”

“Yes, Doctor Kendricks.” Gina repeated. Of course she understood. It made sense that bondage granted patients a feeling of safety and security. How had she never considered that before?

“Good girl. It’s important that you understand how wonderful bondage feels and how safe you are while you are bound. You will wear a straitjacket and other restraints while you are at this facility. Say Thank You Doctor Kendricks…”

“Thank you Doctor Kendricks,” Gina repeated. It really was very kind of the doctor to allow her such an intimate knowledge of what patients experienced here. Gina would have to remember to note down her cooperative attitude in her report. She let out a few involuntary grunts as the straitjacket was cinched and buckled securely into place.

“Good girl. Now, keep watching and listening while I explain. Submit. We are doing important work here. These patients are very sick, just like Rosa, and we are doing our best to heal them. You understand that right? Say Yes Doctor Kendricks.”

“Yes Doctor Kendricks.” Gina nodded slightly. Of course she understood. It would be very silly of her to think anything other than that Doctor Kendricks and her staff were helping these people.

“Good girl.” Gina felt Doctor Kendricks’ hand pat her on the leg. Nurse Roberts was behind her now, massaging her leather covered shoulders, “So you understand that having a jumped up bureaucratic crusader interfering and preventing us from saving these young people from themselves is incredibly damaging to our work here. Right?”

Gina felt a surge of shame and embarrassment. A deep flush came to her cheeks. She wanted to apologize. Throw herself on Doctor Kendricks’ mercy. How could she have been so foolish? So stupid to jeopardize patient health? A small moan escaped from her mouth, and her eyes radiated distress.

“Hush, Gina, it’s alright,” Samantha’s voice was soft. Warm. Forgiving. Gina wanted to sob in relief, “I know you didn’t mean it. I know you are a good girl, who just wanted to make sure everyone was safe. Everyone is safe, including you now. Isn’t that right Gina?”

“Mmmhhmm,” Gina nodded gratefully.

“Good girl. I know you meant well, but it was a near run thing, wasn’t it? How you almost provoked a panic attack in one of my patients. If both of you hadn’t been wearing restraints, who knows what might have happened?”

“M s-sorry,” Gina managed, feeling like she was being crushed by shame. How? How could she have done this? She needed to make it up to the doctor. She needed to find a way to make this right.

“I know you are Gina, because you’re a good girl. And good girls listen to their doctors, don’t they Gina?”

“Mmmhhmm.” Gina managed again, her now glistening eyes tracking the pendant back and forth.

“Of course they do. And you are such a good girl Gina. So I am going to help you.” Samantha was closer to her now. Gina felt her settle ontop of her legs, the pendant now inches from her face, still swinging back and forth, “For the remainder of your inspection time you will experience the daily life of being a patient here. This is to ensure you can present an accurate report back to your superiors, without further endangering actual patients here. Does that seem fair to you? Say Yes Doctor Kendricks.”

“Yes Doctor Kendricks.” Gina’s heart felt like it would burst. She had messed up so utterly, and here was this kind, caring doctor giving her a second chance. She would still be able to accomplish her job, her inspection, without ever needing to jeopardize anyone’s safety. That was so important, and the doctor was being so helpful. Gina wanted to sob with gratitude.

“That’s a good girl. Nurse Roberts is going to get your patient collar on now.” Gina felt more soft leather encircle her neck, and snug into place. “You will always be collared and bound without exception while you are here. You will experience our full range of treatment programs while you are here, understand?”

“Yes Doctor.”

“Good girl. I will help you write up your report before you leave. It will be a glowing report about how well we treat everyone here, and that your previous assertions about Mercy Asylum were incorrect. While we wait for feedback on your report, you can even stay longer if you’d prefer.” Samantha Kendricks brushed her fingers across Gina’s face, “Such a good girl. Say thank you Doctor Kendricks.”

“Thank you Doctor Kendricks.”

“Excellent. Now, when I snap my fingers you are going to come back up from this hypnotic trance. You will be pathetically grateful that I have saved your career. You will be eager to experience life as a patient here. You will submit and obey. You will love experiencing bondage and control. Do you understand?”

“Yes Doctor Kendricks.”

“Good girl. And three….two…one…”

SNAP

“Welcome back Inspector. I trust you are ready?”

“Y-yes, Doctor. I’m so, s-so s-soorry…”

“That’s quite alright. I know you meant well. Now, let Nurse Roberts get that plug gag settled, and we shall begin…”