False Memories

[marauder13]

Who we are, and what we do are defined by our memories. With the generous assistance of VampiricTouch, we are going to take you, our dear reader, down that road paved with good intentions into the darkness that very road traverses. This initial post is lengthy, but it does a fair amount of work.
This is a closed thread, so please do not post here without an invitation. Feel free to PM any comments, feedback, etc.

Sandra MacCallum was celebrating. She was not just throwing a house warming party, she was showing the world the butterfly that emerged from her cocoon where she had been for the last several months.

A vibrant 23 year old woman had come home one day to find her partner tied up by two intruders who had piled up most of their valuables in front of him. They proceeded to repeatedly raped the woman, before murdering her partner before her eyes, and shooting her and leaving her for dead.

It took nearly a year for her to physically mend, but her mind was broken by what she experienced. Two more years of seeing various specialists got nowhere. Then her brother heard of a Dr Gordon Malahki, who specialised in new hypnosis techniques that had some impressive results in if not curing the patient, made them much more functional. Sandra was literally dragged kicking and screaming to see Doctor Malahki. He agreed to take her on as a patient, and after 12 months of intensive visits, he finally brought her back.

It had been a long year for Dr Malahki. The normal hypnosis techniques failed to make any headway against her deeply rooted schemas. So he started researching what drugs could be used to help weaken her grip on those schemas, allowing the other techniques to do the work they were supposed to.

Ten months into her therapy, he found a interesting combination of three different medications when used together, in the proper dosages, made the brain active in a way that defied normal medical wisdom. Under the influence of the drug cocktail, if the patient was put under hypnosis, he could instruct the patient to undertake any behaviour or outlook he desired. Or so it seemed. In Sandra's case, he said to her that the events of that night were indeed terrible, but they were in the past, and they had no hold over her life now. The men who committed the crime had been killed by Police during later crimes, and her physical suffering had ceased, so there was nothing to stop her from progressing. Her partner would be remembered, and honoured, but she could move on.

To his immense surprise, over the next 6 weeks, she slowly came to terms with what had happened, and started looking at living again. She still felt the loss of her partner, and still carried a small piece of the terror from that night, but they no longer controlled her life.

Sandra invited Gordon to a celebration where she “relaunched” herself. When the party started, Sandra gathered everyone together.

“Firstly, thank you to everyone for coming along. This means a great deal to me to be surrounded by so many people who have suffered through my recent life. But that is now behind me, and new times await.

“Secondly, I would like to thank Doctor Gordon Malahki for all his hard work in helping me reach this place. Without his determination, and skill, this would not be happening.” Sandra clapped and the rest of the room applauded him too. Gordon smiled, and nodded to the Sandra and the other guests. “Everyone, eat, drink and be merry. It's time to rejoice and celebrate.”

Sandra came over to Gordon, and gave him a hearty embrace. “Thank you, Doctor. I feel so much better now. I know, it's all my hard work, but without your guidance, I wouldn't have made it.”

“Sandra, seeing you like this is what makes my job worthwhile. It's not everyday I have a success like you. You are a rare case, one that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Go and enjoy your friends, I'll be fine.”

He mingled, being thanked by everyone, as well as being asked how he managed it. With each retelling of what he did, he came back to how it actually worked. He managed to get Sandra to a place within her mind where his instructions were taken without any resistance. And the instructions were not in the normal manner that he would have used. He began to speculate about whether the technique was a one off success, or if it was repeatable on other subjects. He had to find himself a test subject, but who would volunteer for such an experiment. Also there were all the federal regulations to adhere to which would slow the process down immensely. The overhead of mandatory reporting, checks by inspectors and the massive amount of rules that would make the process almost useless.

But he had found a new powerful tool, all he needed to do was to test the limitations of the process. To have a test subject who had known boundaries that the technique could be tested against, seeing if the person could move beyond them due to the influence of the technique and the physician. He found the general background noise to be a bit distracting, so he moved into the kitchen, and fixed himself another drink while he pondered how to progress in the best possible manner.

His solitude was broken by the arrival of a young woman dressed in a traditional Malay-Chinese suit in a rich sapphire blue. She was Asian, possibly Chinese if his knowledge of the differences was correct, of average height for her race. Her raven black hair as cropped short, but seemed to suit her. She gave him a polite smile as she went to the fridge and poured herself a glass of orange juice. As she walked past him, she slowed and turned to face him.

“Doctor Malahki, I would like to thank you for what you did to help Sandra. I am very grateful, and I wish I could do more to thank you than just say the words.”

“That's fine. I did what I was trained to do, and what Sandra was paying me to do.” The young woman smiled again, and walked out. But the brief talk had planted an idea in his head, one that would meet both their needs. She wished she could do more to thank him, and he needed a test subject. It couldn't have been any easier. But even if she volunteered, there would be suspicions of some form of testing taking place, and that would lead to all sorts of issues. But, all he needed to do was ensure that she had a need to see him. Even in such a place like this, he should be able to work something strong enough to get the young woman to seek out his services in dealing with her irrational thinking.

It took only a few minutes for him to map out exactly how that would be achieved. He noticed that the young woman was drinking only orange juice. So, he simply spiked the juice with a small amount of vodka, enough to get her inhibitions down a little without necessarily alerting her to any foul play. He estimated that it would take three such glasses for her to be receptive enough for what he needed.

Gordon waited for her to return for yet another drink, and he could see that the alcohol had had the desired effect.

“Excuse me, Miss...?”

“Chan. Melanie Chan.” Her smile was a little broader than usual going by the effect on her face. Her pupils were slightly dilated too, and she seemed a little flushed in her cheeks.

“Melanie. Have you ever been under hypnosis? I know a trick or two for parties such as these. Totally harmless. Would you be interested?”

“Sure, Doctor. But you can't hypnotize someone to do things that they would do under their own control. If you can hypnotize them, that is. I doubt that you can hypnotize me.”

“Shall we see?” When Melanie nodded, Gordon commenced his hypnosis technique and within a minute, she was in a trace. “Melanie, listen closely. In three days time, you will start getting concerns about home invasions and being raped. These concerns will increase in their intensity over the following week until they reach a potency where you know you will need to be treated. At that stage, you will seek me out to be the treating physician. When you waken from the trance, you will have no recollection of this instruction being given, though you will act on it.

“Now, Melanie, the next five times you hear someone say your name, you will jump up and down on the spot, clapping and laughing in joy. You will know why you are doing this, because I have instructed you to do it. You will not do it any more than five times until I allow you to, or you sleep. Which ever occurs first. When I count to three, you will awaken. One, two, three.”

Melanie blinked several times, looking at Gordon with a quizzical look. “You allowed me to remember?”

“Of course. Where would the fun in your not remembering, Melanie?”

She jumped up and down like an excited school girl, clapping her hands rapidly and laughing. She stopped after a few seconds, her expression a combination of joy and fright. She picked up her glass and walked out of the room. A minute later, he heard her clapping and laughing, along with a vast number of the others in the next room.

“Doctor Malahki!” Melanie called out. He entered the room, with a large grin. “Yes, Melanie?”


Two weeks after the party, Gordon was sitting in his office waiting for his newest patient to arrive. Miss Melanie Chan. As he knew she would, she contacted his office, seeking help dealing with the onset of some severe irrational thought processes concerning a phobia of hers – being raped.

It was a few minutes before the session was due to begin. He stood up, and walked to the door, opening it up to his reception area. He looked around and saw her sitting stiffly in one of the chairs, looking straight ahead.

“Miss Chan.” She looked over his way, and he smiled and nodded to her, holding the door while she made her way into his office.

 

[VampiricTouch]

Melanie was heading home after work in high spirits as she remembered the change in Sandra's life. It was several days after the party, but she still thought about Sandra's story and how far she had come. She smiled as she remembered dragging Sandra, with help, into Doctor Malahki's office, a bit skeptical about the doctor's abilities... and now seeing the results, it was definitely worth it.

As she closed her front door, the thought struck to her... could it happen to her? She laughed softly, telling herself that it wasn't possible even as her hands apprehensively locked the door and bolted the dead bolt.

That night, her sleep was broken multiple times as she tossed at the slightest sound outside her apartment. Each rustle of the night wind or creak of the trees forced her eyes open as she repeatedly told herself, she was imagining things.

As the week progressed, she lost more and more sleep from her unexplainable paranoia. Each night, she checked and rechecked the locks on her door, even so far as to shove a chair beneath the knob, angled so that it would in some way close off that route. She paced through her apartment, checking the windows and the latches as each moving shadow seemed to be a threatening menace that could break the glass and assault her.

And then the dreams came. The few moments she was able to catch snatches of natural sleep were tainted by dreams. Dreams that marched steadily into nightmares as the sexual assault of shadowy silhouettes ravaged what innocence they could claim from her.

When she dared not close her eyes and succumb to the needs of natural sleep, she began pacing her room, walking to the windows to make sure they were locked before shuddering and returning to the darker corner of her room. A whole night passed like this and when morning came, she found herself unable to function at work.

She needed the sleep... but was frightened by what nightmares would assault her when she closed her eyes and resorted to medication. She started taking sleeping pills, only to wake up in even more terror that something - someone might've broken into the sanctity of her home while she was unconscious with her medicated slumber.

When Sandra came to visit at the end of the week, she was surprised by the new shadows that haunted her friend's eyes. Sandra went through all the arguments of the unlikeliness of Melanie's worries (especially since she was living in a relatively safe neighborhood) without any success at calming her agitated friend. Finally Sandra suggested her to make an appointment with Dr. Malahki.

After leaving work early, Melanie went straight to see Dr. Gordon Malahki. She sat nervously in Dr. Malahki's waiting room in her business attire, glancing from the gilded name plate on his door to the floor, and back to the door in which she came. The dark halos under her eyes were marginally masked by the light dabs of make up she had started to put on to cover her problem. However, with her lips pursed into a thin line, the pallor of her face detailed far more than what she could conceal. It was then that the door of his office opened.

"Good afternoon "

Her voice was several notches softer, and the confidence in her demeanor lost in comparison to the last time they had met as she stepped into the office and took the offered seat. He was able to help Sandra, surely something like this would be a piece of cake...

 

[marauder13]

Gordon indicated for Melanie to sit in the plush leather chair he had for his patients as he sat down in his own leather bound office chair. He moved the chair around to the end of his desk, so there wasn't anything between them while they spoke. He took up her folder, which was mostly empty, along with a large notepad and and pen. He jotted down a few notes, mainly date, time and what few details he knew.

He looked over at the young Chinese woman. She was dressed in a business suit, with trousers opposed to the normal skirt most women wore with such outfits. Even on her compact frame, he noticed the nice amount of shape in her figure. He remembered her choice of outfit during the party, which was also trouser based. He made a note to follow up on that, as it might be useful as part of his tests.

He was surprised at the effect his initial suggestion had on her, as she was suffering from sleep deprivation, as well as a high level of anxiety. It had him wondering if he had tapped in on an existing fear, and amplified it's effects on her. It was something that he noted, and would examine in depth later.

"Hello, Melanie. I wish I could say that it is a pleasure to see you again, but under the circumstances that would not be quite true. All I am aware of at this stage is that you are suffering from a strong anxiety that is disrupting your sleep. From the look of your eyes, and just underneath, it would seem you are lacking a lot of sleep.

"So, in your own words, and in your own time, can you tell me what it is that is causing this distress. Try not to solve the problem yourself right now, just tell me what you are experiencing and how it is effecting you. Together, we will seek out the root cause and resolve it.

"Also, I know that you would like this dealt with as quickly as possible, as do I, but there are no hard and fast rules for how long this will take. But I assure you that I will do my utmost best to get it resolved quickly."

He smiled, then stood up and poured two glasses of water from a jug on a coffee table, taking one over to Melanie.

"But before we do get started, if you have any questions at any time, please do not hesitate to ask. Don't be embarrassed about any questions you might have, or anything you might have to say. I am not here to judge you. I am here to help you resolve a major issue that is having a severe impact on your life."

Gordon sat down, and took a sip from his glass. "As I said, when you're ready, in your own time and in your own words."

 

[VampiricTouch]

She sat stiffly in the chair and listened, the plush leather doing very little to ease her unease. Repeatedly she questioned herself whether she was doing the right thing by sitting in the chair in his office, and repeatedly she could not find the answer to that question.

She gazed towards the window, and breathed - surely no one would break through the window overlooking a city park... When she realized her train of thought, she grimaced, knowing that the thought itself said much about the absurdity of her paranoia. She took a sip from her glass and noticing the slight tremor in her hands, set the glass aside.

"I- You - you'll think I'm crazy " She sighed and rested her face in her hands.

"It - this... it was all fairly recent. I guess hearing Sandy - Sandra I mean... retell her story might've triggered something. I - I haven't been able to sleep... it's completely unfounded! I have no idea why I think this way... I ... " She struggled to tell him what she had to say, as if the words refused to come out.

Finally in a low voice, she spoke in a cracked whisper, "I'm terrified... someone will break into my apartment. It's like... there's no where that's safe, no matter what I do, where I go. Things started small... like the bolting of doors... and then the dreams. God I think they're the worst... "

"You - This.... This is private right? No one else will hear this... " She paused a moment as he reassured her, while her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her jacket.

"Rape. " It was the only word she was able to choke out of her paper dry mouth. She picked up her glass and took a drink before putting it back down with a clatter. Her mouth opened to speak and closed once more. Finally she stood and began to pace the length of the room.

"I don't know who it is. In my dreams it's a shattering of glass and - and I have the time for one scream before he - they overwhelmed me. Mere shadows that bind my hands and feet..."

Her voice came rapidly, as if she would not be able to say more should she slow down. Then the pause - the pause in her rant was almost palpable as her face went red. She turned her back to him immediately as the soft whisper pierced the silence.

"They strip me and rape me. Ravaged over and over until I wake up screaming in a cold sweat on my bed" Both of her hands lift in despair before they fall to her sides.

"Each time I close my eyes, some variant of that dream comes to mind. I stopped sleeping 3 days ago. Too terrified to see what would happen. I paced my room that entire night, walking past the windows, the doors over and over again even though I know I've locked them. I know it's unfounded... but I can't help it."

She breathed a moment and closed her eyes. Then reached into her pocket and pulled out a few tabs of pills. "I started taking sleeping pills the next night, but the next morning... God I don't know how I got through that day. Every nook and cranny of my apartment suddenly became a hiding place for someone to hole up while I was knocked out with the pills, just waiting - waiting for the chance to repeat ... that nightmare."

She stopped her pacing and rested her hands on the back of the chair she had been sitting on. The knuckles on her hands paled white as she gripped the seat and waited. The silence of the room fell as she waited for him to pass judgment, for him to give her some hope that she could get out of her living nightmare.

 

[marauder13]

Gordon watched the young woman doing battle with herself to start talking about what was concerning her. Gordon was no longer surprised or even amazed that a person would come to him to deal with some deep seated problem, but when the time came to start, they wouldn't. He had seen it so often that he knew the only thing he would do was to sit there and wait for them. Not to move, speak, take notes, nothing. Just sit, looking in their general direction with an aura of support and comfort. They would start, and when they did, he would be able to help them.

"I- You - you'll think I'm crazy ". She dropped her face into her hands. He could feel her shame and embarrassment coming off her in waves. He waited for a second or two before he spoke.

"Not at all, Melanie. You are experiencing some strong irrational thoughts, that is all. And with my help, you will be able to resolve them, and weaken their grip on you. Please, continue."

He listened to her as she recounted the fear she had. He made a note on his notepad - Patient actually had some latent fear of home invasion. Her reactions are stronger than anticipated.

"You - This.... This is private right? No one else will hear this... "

"Correct. This is confidential between you and I." She fidgeted some more before the true source of her concern surfaced. "Rape. "

He watched her take another drink of water, putting the glass down with a noticeable clatter. Her anxiety levels spiked with that one word. She tried to speak again, but couldn't. She stood quickly and and walked like a tiger in a cage.

Correction - not home invasion. Sexual assault. Note for future test.

Melanie continued to tell him of her fears, the impact they had on her, and even the measures that she went through to deal with the nightmares. She ended her talk standing behind the chair, her hands clutching the chair so hard that her knuckles were white. He was truly amazed at the depths of her latent fears that he tapped into just to get her as a patient.

For him to conduct his tests, he needed her to at least sleep. The idea formulated in his mind very quickly.

"Melanie, please could you sit down again? Thank you for telling me all of that. I must congratulate you on managing to speak of that. It was not easy for you, and it obviously caused you much distress to retell it. But now, I know what we are up against. It is a common source of anxiety in young single women, though the degree to which it has inflicted you is quite severe. I think you are right in that hearing Sandra recount her experiences recently touched on some deep held fears of yours. She managed to give you enough information to fill in the gaps of the irrational thinking, giving them the strength to finally bring you to this state.

"But, all we need to do if find the weaknesses in the schemas that have propelled these thoughts into prominence, remove those weak points, therefore remove the schemas and cause the entire irrational thought network to collapse.

"In order to reduce the initial distress to you, I would like to use hypnosis. I know that you can be put into the necessary meditative state to allow me to explore the thoughts and emotions without causing you any further physical or emotional distress. You are free, of course, to decline such therapy, but in doing so, I believe that you would be unnecessarily prolonging your treatment."

He gave Melanie some time to digest that news, and when she indicated she was ready, he continued.

"Now, during these times, you will be safely positioned so that you are physically safe. At no stage will I be in physical contact with you while you are in the trance. There is a safe word associated for emergencies, so, for example, if a fire was to break out, I would say the word, and you would snap out of the trance quickly and cleanly. Of course, anything done during that time would be lost, but you would not be in any extra danger. Unfortunately, but Law, I am not permitted to record those sessions. Also during those sessions, no one else is permitted to enter this office, to the extend that a slide bolt is used to keep the door closed. At no time will your physical well being be under threat."

He gave Melanie another opportunity to digest the information while he took down some more notes concerning her actual 'problem'. He took another sip from his glass, contemplating when he would actually commence his experimentation.

"Melanie, you said you had some sleeping tablets? May I see what the actual medications is?"

 

[VampiricTouch]

She breathed and forced the agitation down as she stepped forward to sink back down into the leather chair. She listened, letting his presence and the reassurance of his words take the edge off of her fear. His arguments sounded reasonable, it was why she was here, and if he thought hypnosis might alleviate the absurd terror she was suffering from…

She nodded slowly in acquiescence to his suggestion for hypnosis, the coil of tension apparent in her movements as the irrational questioned the results of hypnosis – Could she subject herself to such a degree of unconsciousness? What happens if someone broke in while she lost control of her body? Would she be safe…? His voice broke through the terror that had frozen her in place, as if he had seen the questions that had crossed her mind.

She released the breath she didn’t realize she had held as his words reassured the questions that had tangled her in fear. Slowly thawing, she took another sip from her glass and nodded stiffly.

"Melanie, you said you had some sleeping tablets? May I see what the actual medication is?"

She started at the request and looked down at her clenched hands. She unclenched her fists to show the tabs of sleeping pills crumpled in her hand. Apologetically, she handed what remained of the sleeping tablets to him.

“Sorry, I didn’t realize…It’s just generic over the counter stuff.”

Settling back down in her chair, she waited for his verdict on her sleeping tablets as well as the beginning of his hypnosis, still unable to wave off the nagging edge that something might go awry.

 

[marauder13]

Gordon took a look at the tablets, noting the type of medication, and from there he was able to determine the active ingredient and the amount in each pill.

"Thank you, Melanie," Gordon said as he handed them back. "Those are fine. I will be giving you some other medication that should work with dealing with the nightmares. I just wanted to make sure that the medications would react to each other. They're fine."

Gordon stood up, and walked over to the door, sliding the bolt into place with a soft 'click'. He returned to his desk, and searched for a few items, before realizing he had his pen in his jacket pocket.

"Now, as best as you can, settle back into the chair, and relax. Now, are there any last minute questions before we get started."

Melanie gave Gordon a nervous look. "Will I remember what goes on during this session?"

"No, Melanie," he shook his head in a reassuring manner. "You will not remember what happens during the session. This is to help you deal with the issue without added to your distress. Even if you didn't get the distress while in the trance, remembering it would be just as damaging to the healing process."

Melanie nodded, a little relieved at the news.

Gordon walked from his desk, and took Melanie's glass back to the table with the water jug. Before pouring the water from the jug into her glass, he tipped a small vial of clear fluid into her glass. With the glass fully stocked, he returned it to Melanie.

"I have found it's a good thing to have a good drink of water before such a session. Some patients get a little dehydrated through the session if they don't. So I make it a standard practice."

Melanie drained the glass as if it where a shot glass full of whiskey, rather than a normal glass full of water. He watched her put the glass down forcefully on the small table beside her chair as she settled back.

"Thank you, Melanie. Now, close your eyes, and concentrate on my voice. Let my voice be the only thing that exists in the world apart from yourself..." He spoke for the next five minutes, guiding Melanie deeper and deeper into the hypnotic trance. He finally saw her breathing had slowed to a more normal level, and her obvious tension had gone.

"Melanie, can you hear me?"

"Yes," Melanie replied with a normal volume and tone of voice.

"Good. Melanie we are going to do two things while we are here. The first will be to let you be able to sleep. To reduce the power of the Nightmares. Will you help me with that?"

"Yes."

"Melanie, when you awaken from this trance, the nightmares that have come when you sleep will come no more. When you take the tablets I give to you, you will sleep naturally, and not suffer from the nightmares. Do you understand, Melanie?"

"Yes."

"Melanie, tell me what I have told you. What will I give you? What will they do for you?"

"You asked me to help reduce the power of the Nightmares. You will give me sleeping tablets. After taking the tablets, I will sleep naturally and will no longer suffer from nightmares."

"Very good, Melanie. Now, there is something else we need to do. Listen very carefully. Picture in your mind a hallway. The walls, ceiling and floor are all in nice soothing colours. You're standing at the end of this hallway, the lighting is just right, not too bright, not too dim. As you walk down this hallway, you see a door before you.

"Tell me when you are just in front of the door, Melanie."

Gordon watched as her eyes furrowed imperceptibly as her hand lifted, and the tips of her fingers touched the door of her mind. "I am there now."

"Ashes are ashes, dust is dust. Melanie, the door will open now, walk through. There are stairs that lead down. Fifteen in all. When you reach the bottom, open your eyes, Melanie."

Melanie's hand dropped a few inches, and nothing happened for about a minute until Melanie's eyes opened. Her eyes slowly open, unseeing, and distant. The dullness of her eyes are broken by the sudden quiver of REM sleep before returning to their dull state.

"Melanie, look around you. Melanie, this is a place that brings you peace. It is filled with those sights, sounds, smells and objects that bring you absolute calm. You are in your sanctuary. Here is your place of peace. Here is where you will be what ever you need to be. Here is where all that can be will be

"When you hear the words, 'Ashes are ashes, dust is dust', the door will open, and you will return to this place. This safest of places where nothing can harm you."

Melanie turned her head as her unseeing eyes took in her surroundings. The tension in her body visibly faded as her face became serene.

 

[VampiricTouch]

Sanctity of the Mind


"Very good, Melanie. Now, there is something else we need to do. Listen very carefully. Picture in your mind a hallway. The walls, ceiling and floor are all in nice soothing colours. You're standing at the end of this hallway, the lighting is just right, not too bright, not too dim. As you walk down this hallway, you see a door before you. Tell me when you are just in front of the door, Melanie."

The dark void of his hypnosis, where each and every command was received and stored, went up into a kaleidoscope of chaos. Slowly the pieces came together, coalescing into a hallway that led to a single door before her. Her unmoving feet ghosted down the hall. A small remnant of conscious curiosity opened as she lifted her hand to touch the door, questioning the substance of the barrier before her. It was solid. Her fingertips traced the rough grain of the wood, confused as to how something conjured in her mind could become so ... tangible.

A distant disjoint voice answered "I am there now."

"Ashes are ashes, dust is dust. Melanie, the door will open now, walk through. There are stairs that lead down. Fifteen in all. When you reach the bottom, open your eyes, Melanie."

The door eased open, creaking on unused hinges as her fingers slid down the wood and fell to her side. The first conjured step appeared before her as her phantom feet stepped down. Then the second, and the third. Each step appearing only after she had made the next descent. Another - Four, and another - Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten. With each monotonous step, her own self drifted farther and farther away. Eleven. The person that was Melanie became covered and repressed. Twelve. With each passing step the veil grew heavier. Thirteen. Until she had emptied into nothingness. Fourteen. An empty hard drive, malleable to whatever software the voice deemed to give her. Fifteen.

Her eyes opened into a grassy meadow that met no end. The light fragrance of orange blossoms wafted through the air from sturdy trees - trees like the ones she would climb as a child, were scattered through her sanctuary.

"Melanie, look around you. Melanie, this is a place that brings you peace. It is filled with those sights, sounds, smells and objects that bring you absolute calm. You are in your sanctuary. Here is your place of peace. Here is where you will be what ever you need to be. Here is where all that can be will be" The intoned voice was celestial, resonating across the open plains and in the natural chapel of her mind, it - he became her god.

Her head turned as the uproar from her life, from what made up Melanie vanished in the updraft of serenity that permeated the place. Throughout were the smattering imprints of faded memories, the only indicator of what was behind the heavy veil that sheltered her from what was outside of her sanctuary.

"When you hear the words, 'Ashes are ashes, dust is dust', the door will open, and you will return to this place. This safest of places where nothing can harm you."

~~~***~~~​

Melanie left the office with a small piece of that serenity that had suffused her during her hypnosis - enough that she had called Sandra out for dinner. Tucking the given pills into her pocket, she returned home with much more confidence in the swing of her steps. Closing her apartment door, she gave a soft sigh of content – things would be improving… right? A soft click told her that the lock was secured.

For the first time in a week, she slept without dreams with sleep falling naturally over her being. Her peace of mind extended even till the next morning when she woke and showered.

She lazily went through and started scrubbing herself, the foam of her soap adding an iridescent shine to the curve of her body under the light of her bathroom. Her anxiety escalated as the heated water ran down in rivulets to her feet - what if someone broke in now? While she was in the shower? In such a vulnerable state... She quickly rinsed and fled the shower - a sudden transition from the comfortable into something frenetic as she dried and dressed.

Her anxiety again spiraled out of her control within the span of her day, making her restless at work and agitated on her way home. She returned to the routine of bolting the deadbolt, latching the security chain and wedging a chair beneath the knob. She checked every nook and cranny she could think of, locking the windows as she went. It was only when she was certain that no one had invaded her apartment that she was able to start dinner.

She paced the apartment in a wreck of nerves, terrified of staying inside and yet too scared to leave. Too frazzled to make plans, she tried to work through the necessary house chores and finally gave up for bed. Obediently, she took the prescribed medication and tried to sleep. Sleep. Yes, she did sleep, almost too easily her mind gave up the paranoia when her eyes closed and for a brief moment the sweetness of starved slumber swept over her senses. Then the dreams came... a hurricane that assaulted her with a vengeance as if in a rage over her stolen night of rest...

His steps were easy and measured. He'd been watching her from the other building for some time now, waiting for her to disrobe, to shower. Tonight however instead of watching her until her window fogged, stroking the length in his hand, he was moving purposefully quickly to her room. 309, the little squat building she lived in across the street from him. The door to the lobby was never locked and he opened it with hardly a care; taking steps two and three at a time until he reached her door.

The pattering of water from the shower resounded through the bathroom. A soft sigh mingled into that dull roar as she stepped behind the frosted glass into the cascading rain of water.

Standing at her door he licked his lips nervously, once then twice. it was the final portal. She never closed the door to her bathroom, always leaving it cracked open. But this door was a little different. Reaching into his pocket he picked up the Bump Key he had bought online. How strange that 35 dollars was going to bring him the night of his life. He tapped it in slowly and quietly unlocked her deadbolt and closed the door behind him, hopefully soft enough she would not hear. It was getting to the point she'd be turning the shower off and opening the window, getting close to her reaching for a towel and drying that smooth lean body off. He hardened again simply thinking of it.

He crept up, coming to her door where he saw her, standing still in her shower the water falling on her silhouette through the frosted glass. The sound of his zipper the first audible thing, a quiet sound and yet it echoed mightily.

She cocked her ear... had she heard something? Turning off the water, the pounding roar ebbed into a soft drip, drip, drip. She turned half way and listened once more... silence. She shrugged it off and turned the water back on to finish rinsing the remaining suds that clung to her, pausing a moment longer to just enjoy the flow of water over her face, hair and body

His breath stopped as she turned off the shower, unable to see him through the steam and soap he imagined must be in her eyes. The thought of luscious bubbles lucky enough to caress that firm body and adorning her tan skin drove him mad. Like he was in a trance he came forward, evil intent in each step before he pulled the shower door open, looking at her exposed, her nipples the thickest part of those gorgeous peach blossom breasts. Her smell was fresh from the shower of apple and cinnamon shower gel as the last few bubbles were washed clear. He could see her jump like it was in slow motion, as her eyes widened in shock. Her surprise was long enough for him to press her into the shower, crushing her between his body, so much larger than hers, and the unyielding tile wall.

"I know you want me." The words were breathless; mad even. His breath stinking as he exhaled in her face coming to kiss her, his lips swallowing hers, his tongue tracing and silencing what scream she might have voiced. She strained against his grip as panic washed over her. A hard knee to the groin brought her enough slack to pull her hands free and she bolted at the chance, rushing for the door - her mind in an uproar and the only thought was… to get away.

She was fighting him? He thought. Obviously it wasn't very effective - she wanted him after all. Hadn't she known what he'd do? Seeing her each and every night? He gripped his manhood slightly sore from her knee. She can't have been trying too hard then, he wasn't that hurt or winded. She brushed past him running for the door, her limbs flashing in the water. He whipped out his hand, catching her ankle and tripping her. She had almost made it to the door when she went sprawling. The impact dazed her leaving her too stunned to move… Perhaps it was just that he wasn't nude. Like she was. He began to take his pants off. Holding her ankle still in one hand he stepped out of them. It had taken a moment too long to recover, but recover she did and she started kicking, trying to dislodge the hand around her ankle.

"Look. Look at what you do to me. Can't you see that this is all for you?" His manhood was swelling back up to touch his belly again, the thick shaft swinging as he stepped in and pinned her with his weight.

His breath, hot behind her ear, was already panting as he lay down atop her. His body touched hers intimately and his weight crushed her to the floor. His hand tightened on her hair and his other around her neck squeezing her until he could feel her begin to lessen her struggles. Her vision blurred as it became harder and harder to fight him. Darkness from every corner washed over her until her struggles became nonexistent. His grip slackened now that he was sure she was breathing but barely lucid.

She had hand towels and pair of medical scissors in her drawers. Slitting them into long strips, he used them to tie her arms high to her shower bar. It likely wouldn't support her long but she couldn't kick with her body suspended, and her hands tied together above her head. He licked her flesh to wake her, his mouth sucking her pert nipples and his fingers roughly pushing in and out of her. How could she not love him? Her juices were sparse but they were there. Was she wet enough? He could hardly tell. But he gripped her legs anyway and slowly began to push into her, penetrating her the first time…

And she woke up.

____________
OOC: Dream scene done with massive amounts of Chronicle_Tenko's help.

 

[marauder13]

The week passed as it normally did, some patients leaving due to the mental health issues being resolved to the point where they were managing it themselves, or moving onto a different physician as the therapy offered was not working for that client. Plus, he took on a few more new clients to replace those that left. But all in all it was another standard week.

That morning, he saw that Melanie Chan was due for a consultation. He had a little spare time before her appointment time to prepare what he would be doing during the session. He allocated time during the session to conducting the first test. It would be a simple test of the capabilities of the Sanctuary, including the longevity of the effects.

But what was of greater concern to him at that stage was her anxieties concern sexual assault. It might have been triggered by the actual event that occurred to Sandra MacCallum, but it seemed to be too strong for such a recent event. He thought about it further, and it could have been possible if there was a strong emotional bond between Sandra and Melanie. There was also the possibility that Melanie had been intimidated by a male in a sexual context. Someone who wanted to date her, and made it clear that he wanted to have sex with her, and was rather persistent about it. She may have even been sexually assaulted and suppressed the memories. They could have been the source of the dreams, actual memories recalled in a 'less threatening environment' as a means of resolution. Those were the primary scenarios that Gordon thought of. As part of the preparation for the session with Melanie, he reviewed the notes he had about Sandra's sexual assault.

Under hypnosis, Sandra recounted how she had been violated in rather graphic detail. Needless to say, she had been violated in all three orifices repeatedly, including a few of the more extreme examples. She also had a termination conducted on the resultant conception from the event. He jotted down notes of the main 'scenarios' of her assault by the criminals to cross reference against those mentioned by Melanie to see if Sandra's assault was linked to Melanie's current issues.

His further train of thought was disrupted by the buzz to let him know his next client had arrived. Melanie would be waiting outside for him. He replaced Sandra's file before he opened the door to the reception area.

"Ms Chan," he said softly. Melanie snapped herself out of whatever deep thoughts she was having, and looked at him. Gordon smiled and nodded. "Ms Chan, when you're ready."

Melanie seemed to gather her thoughts, then stood and walked into his office. He noticed she seemed to be a little more alert, and coordinated. He ravages of sleep deprivation seem to be less, though she did not appear to have achieved complete restful sleep through the night. The physician and healer within him came to the fore, wondering what had been tapped into with his initial suggestion. That had him confused as well as concerned.

Melanie sat down in the chair before he could say anything, but her body language showed she was trying to shut herself off to everything around her. He saw the quick glances at him as he wandered about getting ready for the session. He filled two glasses with water, placing one on his desk, the other on the small table beside Melanie's chair.

"Hello, Melanie. To start, I was wondering if you could tell me about your week. Have you slept better? How have the nightmares been? Any changes in your anxiety levels? Plus ask any questions you might have."

 

[VampiricTouch]

Her mind ticked rapidly as she sat in Dr Malahki's waiting room. Why was this paranoia assaulting her now? Was Hypnotherapy really going to work? Surely she could've handled this herself... could she? If Sandra hadn't made her promise to try it for at least six months, she might have reconsidered where she was spending the expe-

"Ms Chan," The sound derailed the train of her thoughts as she looked up. With a slight nod, she stood and entered his office.

Despite the collected appearance, her eyes automatically went to the window as her mind gauged what a person might have to do to break in... then sweep across to the door, wondering how much time she'd have to escape should one try to break in. She realized where her mind was headed and tried to ignore it as she sat down... Her problem wasn't getting any better... was he really capable? She glanced skeptically at Dr. Malahki before quickly looking away.

"Hello, Melanie. To start, I was wondering if you could tell me about your week. Have you slept better? How have the nightmares been? Any changes in your anxiety levels? Plus ask any questions you might have."

"Sleep... yes... marginally." She briefly went through the escalating progression of her stress with her eyes glued to the floor at her feet. Questions...? She bit back the scalding 'Why isn't the therapy working?!' remark she might've made, knowing that it stemmed from the stress that was careening through her life. She shifted in her seat and breathed, fighting to maintain her composure. She had to trust him to get her through this...

 

[marauder13]

Gordon watched Melanie fighting with some internal dialogue before she finally spoke. Her sleeping was better, and her anxiety levels were close to being the same as the previous visit. Her eyes were fixed on the floor the entire time she recounted her dream, and answer his other questions.

"Melanie, would I be correct in assuming that you are having doubts about this course of therapy? You would not be the first patient to expect some miraculous change in their condition because of it." Gordon took a sip of water. "The main benefit in this approach is to allow you to work on the source of your problem, without adding to the already high anxiety levels you are experiencing. You need to face what is causing these thoughts, but that is not an easy thing to do.

"Dealing with mental health problems is not a quick fix scenario. The human brain and mind are very complex, with an enormous number of variables to take into consideration. In this stage of the therapy, I am trying to stabilize you enough for the real work to commence. If you have doubts or concerns, it is in your best interests to tell me as soon as they occur. I want to help you resolve this as quickly as possible, Melanie.

"But you have managed to get some benefit, and that is a good sign. There is something that we are doing that is getting results. Is there anything else you would like to ask, or say before we start work on resolving this issue?"

 

[VampiricTouch]

Melanie took a deep breath, willing the frustration down...

"It's... improving some, but the root of the problem is still there. I almost feel like we're dealing with the symptoms and not the main issue... I don't even know where this issue is coming from. I can't think of anything... besides Sandra's incident that would cause such paranoia...and even that I don't think would be... enough to cause such manifestation of fear. "

She lifted her glass and emptied it. For a moment silence filled the room as she stared at the empty glass, as if she could find some sort of peace should she stare hard enough. Finally she set it aside with a clatter and stood. The distress only rising, now that she started to talk, and it emanated from her as she paced his office.

"Yes I know it takes time. I know this isn't going to vanish overnight... but it doesn't change the fact that I'm frustrated. Frustrated that the problem is still there, even more so that I can't fix such... irrational thoughts on my own. That I need to depend on someone else to fix it... "

Her voice trailed off as her hand rested over her eyes. Her thoughts returned to the dreams and she shuddered. With one swift movement of agitation, she pulled the scarf that hung in delicate wraiths around her neck and threw it over the chair she had been sitting on.

"Honestly... if Sandra hadn't talked me into trying hypnotherapy... for at least a couple months, I wouldn't be here. " She spat the words out bitterly before realizing that they had left her lips. Pausing another moment, she sighed and sat back down, resting her head in her hands.

"I- I'm sorry. That was rude" She murmured apologetically.

"I just don't like this feeling of helplessness... and knowing that I need help... just makes that sting all the more."

 

[marauder13]

"It's... improving some, but the root of the problem is still there. I almost feel like we're dealing with the symptoms and not the main issue...

Gordon listened to the rest of what she said, but it was merely supportive of the main point she initially raised.

"You are absolutely correct. I am trying to deal with the sleep issue first, to get you a little more coherent in your mental processes. Sleep deprivation to the extent that you had was very detrimental to anything else we would do. In order to be able to get any worthwhile results, you needed to get more sleep. You are well enough now for us to start dealing with the root cause."

Gordon watched her as she stood once more and paced the room. It was clear that she was frustrated, angry and scared as she stalked the room. It became clearer when she spoke to him of her thoughts and feelings. He kept his face passive, knowing that she had said similar to a majority of his clients.

"I- I'm sorry. That was rude" She murmured apologetically.

"I just don't like this feeling of helplessness... and knowing that I need help... just makes that sting all the more."

"It's quite fine, Melanie. A lot of my clients have expressed similar thoughts and feelings. Please, sit down. This session we will explore the issue at hand, and seek the root cause. Part of the session will be dedicated to informing you of what was discovered, and detail anything you can do to assist in the resolution of your issue."

He waited for Melanie to sit down, and he refilled her glass. He moved his chair so that it was in front of the one that Melanie was sitting in.

"Melanie, please get settled. We will start the session proper. Now, close your eyes, and concentrate on my voice. Let my voice be the only thing that exists in the world apart from yourself..." He spoke for the next five minutes, guiding Melanie deeper and deeper into the hypnotic trance. He finally saw her breathing had slowed to a more normal level, and her obvious tension had gone.

"Melanie, can you hear me?"

"Yes," Melanie replied with a normal volume and tone of voice.

"Very good. Melanie, some time ago, a suggestion was implanted in your mind that you would have irrational thoughts concerning home invasion and rape. That suggestion is now no longer valid. It is no longer there, Melanie. When you awaken, that suggestion will hold no further power over you. You will freely think without its influence.

"Melanie, we are going to take a short trip back into your past. We are going to the place you were when you first heard the news of Sandra's assault. I want you to relive what you said, thought and felt as the news unfolded. As you relive it, I want you to tell me what you were told and what you said, thought and felt. No analysis, just tell me as plainly as possible. After that, we will go to the place when you next saw Sandra and spoke to her. There you will do the same again.

"You will be safe, there will be nothing to fear. No one will be getting hurt again. All will be safely played out within this place, and no one will suffer any harm."

Once Melanie finished recounting both of the listed events, Gordon moved on to the main part of the session.

"Melanie. Ashes are ashes, dust is dust. Welcome back to your place of true safety. It is time you embrace your true nature... rather than hide it. Do you know who you are? You are a woman, Melanie Chan, a feminine woman. You will behave like one, attire yourself like one, and look like one without compromising any required limitations of your work or professional needs.

"Leave this place and return to where you came from."

Gordon waited a few minutes before continuing with the therapy session. "Melanie, our time here is nearing and end. When I count to three, you will ease from the trance with no memories of what has passed. You will awaken relaxed, fresh and calm. One... two... three..."

Melanie's eyes fluttered open, and looked at Gordon. "Shall we go over what was discovered?"

 

[VampiricTouch]

"Melanie, we are going to take a short trip back into your past. We are going to the place you were when you first heard the news of Sandra's assault. I want you to relive what you said, thought and felt as the news unfolded. As you relive it, I want you to tell me what you were told and what you said, thought and felt. No analysis, just tell me as plainly as possible. After that, we will go to the place when you next saw Sandra and spoke to her. There you will do the same again.

"You will be safe, there will be nothing to fear. No one will be getting hurt again. All will be safely played out within this place, and no one will suffer any harm."

Her mind faded back, regressing over four years of time to that day - January 16th. Once more she endured the events, this time a ghostly spectator behind a glass screen. Her eyes open, glazed as they focus on the distant past.

"I'm walking out of my apartment heading to Sandra's. She needed help in her Linear Algebra class and we agreed to meet about an hour after she got home from her part time job. I can hear sirens cutting through the night, even though I'm still a few streets away. It strikes me as odd but I dismiss it. "

"Turning the corner now. The lights flash blindingly at the end of the street where Sandra's apartment is at. What is normally a quiet cul-de-sac, now is swamped with the ruckus from sirens and curious spectators. I get this horrible feeling in my stomach and squeeze my way in through the crowd. In time to see an officer pull a white sheet over Matt's face. I start screaming his name, fighting the officer trying to keep me in line. It can't be, Matt can't be dead. The disbelief is overwhelming. "

Despite the calm, almost monotone voice she describes the events of that night, her face distorts with hurt as the shock hits her again, unadulterated as she relives the moment and watches the scene unfold before her.

"Then it hits me, if Matthew really is... gone, then what about Sandra? She should've been in the same apartment! I turn on the officer who's trying to keep me behind the line of caution tape."

The shock rolls into a frenzy as her fists clench and her body tenses with panic.

"What the hell happened? What the fuck happened to Matthew?? Oh God... Where's Sandra? Sandra MacCallum? She was supposed to be here Oh God... Oh God... I'm a close friend, please tell me that she's okay... " The monotone breaks into a furious yell that finally cracks into a hoarse groan. In her mind, She pounds against the glass screen, as if she could change the turn of events should she pound hard enough. With fists clenched tight in her lap, her dejected head lifts as her voice returns to it's original dullness.

"He tells me that the other woman in the apartment had been taken to the nearest hospital. I stop fighting him and the flood of sound from nearby spectators fill my ears. 'Home invasion', 'murder', 'rape' repeat themselves across the noise. Those words make me feel uncomfortable. It hits on something I feel like I've had to experience before... but it's too vague. Sandra needs my help."

Her eyes close as the scene in her mind fades to darkness. Her eyes open once more to show the pristine white of the hospital.

"I'm pacing the hospital, waiting outside of urgent care praying that she'll make it. It seems like an eternity before they let me in to see her. She looks horrible, deathly pale... only broken by the motley of bruises that color her skin. Someone tells me that she's had a lot of blood loss."

Her hand lifts as if she could stroke Sandra's cheek. Her unseeing eyes brim with tears that overflow and streak down.

"Sandra wakes and her eyes barely register my presence. She turns away and hoarsely whispers, 'Go away.' I tell her 'Everything will be okay...' and the rest of the words I try to say is caught in my throat. What can I tell her? I'm in just as much shock as her over the events that have come to pass. Sandra stares off at the far wall and says in a calm whisper. 'He's gone. Matthew is gone...' It then breaks into a pitched scream, 'Why am I still alive...?!' Sandra starts to sob, broken by screams that she hasn't the will to live... and the nurse comes in... asking me to leave."

Her eyes close again and the scene fades away.

"Melanie. Ashes are ashes, dust is dust. Welcome back to your place of true safety. It is time you embrace your true nature... rather than hide it. Do you know who you are? You are a woman, Melanie Chan, a feminine woman. You will behave like one, attire yourself like one, and look like one without compromising any required limitations of your work or professional needs."

The phrase immediately brought her back to that hallway. The door opened and she ghosted down the steps into her sanctuary. Once more the god of her world spoke and she listened. His command became absolute truth. She glanced down at herself as the painfully plain but professional slacks and jacket faded away from her ghostlike body.

For a moment, time paused in her phantom nakedness before a different look solidified about her. She touched the fabric of her dress, a dress that conformed to her body and fully presented her lithe form. Her other hand lifted to the silver pendant that now graced her neck, emphasizing the elegant column of her neck. A light dusting came over her face making her eyes close... make up... how odd... Things she would have scorned to don now adorned her inner self with whole hearted acceptance. When each piece of Melanie was back in place, the voice sent her back into reality.

Her eyes fluttered open and for the first time in their session she smiled. Her hand lifted in confusion to touch the tears that stained her cheeks but quickly brushed them away.

"Shall we go over what was discovered?"

"Yes please."

 

[marauder13]

Gordon sat back, quickly jotting down a few more notes before he lost the thoughts all together.

"You recounted the events very clearly, with some tinges of emotion in the retelling. That is perfectly normal given the intensity of the events in question. Your reactions to what happened were also with normal bounds, nothing extreme at all.

"You exhibited surprise, shock, fear and grief at the initial news of what had happened to your friends. Indeed, going by your reactions, you feel strongly about Sandra and her partner. You are a good friend to Sandra, and I am sure she values your friendship.

"Similar qualities were shown when you visited Sandra in hospital."

Gordon consulted his notes before he looked back at Melanie.

"It seems, Melanie, that there is indeed a link between this event and something else earlier in your life experiences. While recounting the initial scene, you said, and I quote, 'Those words make me feel uncomfortable. It hits on something I feel like I've had to experience before... ' The words in question were 'home invasion', 'murder' and 'rape'.

"What happened to Sandra is similar to an event that occurred in your past. Whether it happened to you, or to someone close to you, like a family member, I am not sure. Now, I am also working off the base assumption that you don't have a conscious recollection of such an event, because if you did, you would have been able to make the connection yourself.

"There may be clues hidden elsewhere. The nightmares you have been subjected to, were there any common elements to them? Do not concern yourself with how far fetched they may be, but if there is something in common, it might be caused by a latent memory of the source event in question."

Gordon added to his experiment notes, detailing what instructions he gave, as well as her change in demeanor. Though there was no way of knowing if that was dependent on the normal session results or the trip to her Sanctuary. But he was indeed curious to see what he did when he saw her next.

"One final matter, Melanie. I saw that you were smiling when you returned from the meditative state. It would appear that something positive occurred for you or to you. Do you actually feel any different? If you do, can you describe the feelings you experienced, or what gave them to you? If that is possible of course."

Gordon sat back, and readied himself to take notes as Melanie answered his questions.

 

[VampiricTouch]

She watched him jot down a few more lines on his pad with the same gentle smile. As she waited she turned her attention down to her attire. For the first time in a very long time, she found herself out of sorts with herself. What was wrong? Besides the uneasiness from what she was here to deal with… there was something else that she couldn’t quite put her finger on... Her slowly furrowed brows snapped open as his voice interrupted her train of thought.

"It seems, Melanie, that there is indeed a link between this event and something else earlier in your life experiences. While recounting the initial scene, you said, and I quote, 'Those words make me feel uncomfortable. It hits on something I feel like I've had to experience before... ' The words in question were 'home invasion', 'murder' and 'rape'.

Her eyes widened with surprise at the words she had no recollection of say but … had a haunting familiarity … as if the exact words had passed through her thoughts… Surprise set aside, she continued to follow his lead and explanation, certainly not quite understanding where the connection took place.

"…There may be clues hidden elsewhere. The nightmares you have been subjected to, were there any common elements to them? Do not concern yourself with how far fetched they may be, but if there is something in common, it might be caused by a latent memory of the source event in question….

One final matter, Melanie. I saw that you were smiling when you returned from the meditative state. It would appear that something positive occurred for you or to you. Do you actually feel any different? If you do, can you describe the feelings you experienced, or what gave them to you? If that is possible of course."

“Positive… I’m not sure if you could say that something positive occurred, but rather I came to… with a sense of peace. A sense of happiness that everything will work out…”

Even thinking back brought a small smile to her face and brightened the room just that little bit. Yet it was short lived. Returning to the first question, she paused as her peace of mind faded away into nothingness. She shifted uneasily and began to work through the dreams she could remember in her mind. What was in common?

“I – I don’t know… aside from those three words in common… I can’t seem to find anything else…”

Her voice quavered as she forced herself to review her nightmares. Was there a common element? Maybe…

“Thi- this is small, I don’t know if it counts, but its all I can think of… In all of my dreams… I’m both the spectator and the victim… I don’t know if this will make sense…” Her voice trailed off as she searched for the words to explain herself, “I, as a separate presence, watch everything take place upon ‘me’. An almost omnipresent spectator that sees their approach, senses their thoughts but in no way is able to interfere, able to change the course of what I see"

Her eyes glanced up with worry, as she searched for confirmation that this might qualify as a commonality in her problem.

 

[marauder13]

Gordon quickly took down notes concerning the common elements of Melanie's dreams and her other observations. The feature of Dual Presence within the dream was common, particularly if the main focal point in the omnipresent one.

Gordon decided he would set aside some time during the week to review the nightmare she detailed, and see if he could find any clues from that to help guide his continued therapy.

"Well, Melanie, it may not feel like much progress has been achieved, but some important information has come to light. In our next session, I hope to explore that possible connection further, and see if we can unearth whatever it is. Even with this small step forward, there might be... I stress might be, a decrease in the severity of the nightmares."

Gordon put his notepad down, and went to sit in the corner of his desk. He looked down at the young Chinese woman with genuine concern. "Melanie, thank you for returning and having some faith in me and what I am trying to achieve on your behalf. I know you have your doubts and frustrations, but the fact that you are persisting with this therapy is reassuring to me that you believe that I am helping. I do not want you to see me if you think I am not helping you, because it would be a waste of time for both of us. I just want to be clear on that. Also, if I feel that I am not helping you, I will recommend other professionals for you to see."

He looked down at the floor, sighing a little bit. He felt guilty for the degree of suffering he triggered in her, but he justified it as a small price compared to how much medical knowledge he would gain from his field research with Melanie.

"I want you to know that I have your best interests at heart, and I will not prolong our relationship merely to pad my wallet." He stood up, offering his hand to Melanie. "Thank you again for coming along. Please speak to my receptionist to organise your next appointment."

As he did with all of his clients, he spent five minutes after the session cleaning up his notes and filing them away before his next client's session started.

 

[VampiricTouch]

Sandra watched her friend and her easy gait through Nordstrom's, thoroughly mystified by the sudden change that swamped Melanie's life. If this wasn't the second hour they'd spent in the store, she might've still be gaping at her friend.

"So... explain this one more time to me... "

"What's there to explain? Just felt like... looking like a woman for a change and was thoroughly frustrated when I didn't have a single dress I could wear." Melanie's voice was surprisingly soft spoken, so very different from her normal blunt and to the point attitude.

"And... this doesn't have anything to do with someone guy you're trying to impress.... or anything like that? You're seriously not joking around here... the clothing, the shoes, the makeup... You've even picked up accessories to go with them! and I know you... since when did you ever have the patience to accessorize ?"

Sandra watched as Melanie picked up another outfit and waved the questions away. She had to admit, even Melanie's choices were significantly different then the usual rough and tumbled taste Melanie had always adhered to. It might be a good thing... for all that it was perplexing... and expensive. It was more than just that though... the sudden grace in her demeanor, the elegant poise she carried herself with... Sandra had never seen her friend like this! This was certainly not something one could pick up overnight... was it??

She watched as Melanie stepped out of the dressing room, the streamline cut of her shirt flowed smoothly over the skirt, both doing volumes to demurely show the curve of her body. The look was made complete by the loose scarf flowing around her neck giving her an almost... romantic, dreamy look.

"You know... you're making me jealous, I bet everyone at work is going to be doing double takes at you. " Sandra laughed as Melanie turned in front of the mirror, both women watching the confident change as the six different angles of reflection turned and swayed.

"Thank you... They did, at least yesterday when I walked in. " Melanie hid a small smile before becoming serious, " Though now that I think about why... I think this is also a way to... distract myself. To not think about what might happen if I stop preoccupying my time and mind..." Melanie murmured softly, listening to the whisper of her skirt as she wheeled another turn.

Sandra was quiet, she was genuinely worried about Melanie's sudden inexplicable phobia but still stood firmly on the standpoint that Dr Malahki would take care of it. It was finally after they had checked out that she broke the silence, "So... how is that going for you... Is it getting better? "

"I... it's still there. It's getting better, but it's still there. Not quite the same anymore though... and I still can't put my finger on it... The home invasion isn't as prominent... I don't lose sleep over it ... but I still dream..." Melanie's voice was soft... and calm. An enormous change in comparison to the agitation she had displayed a week ago, but the fear was still there, laced into every single syllable she uttered...

 

[marauder13]

Gordon had a rarity in his line of work. Free time. One of his clients called in ill, and there was no one on the waiting list for free sessions. So, he turned his attention to his field research, since his next client would be his test subject, Melanie Chan. He was not doing her any long term harm, and the results of the various tests he would be performing would bring him invaluable data that he could apply to his other clients.

Gordon knew that he discovered this technique while dealing with Sandra MacCallum, and that while she was there, he could investigate all sorts of information.

It prompted a thought within him, and he went and got her file. He sat down at his table, and quickly searched through the file. He had all his files organised in a manner that made these types of searches very efficient. Within moments, he found the details concerning the session when he unlocked the Sanctuary within her.

"Here it is... 'I mentioned to her that she could trust me, completely. Upon return from the enhanced meditative state, there was a complete change in her demeanor. The resistance shown had vanished. She had become totally cooperative.' Did that change her perception of me or was it a simple command that she obeyed?" He jotted down some notes on the writing block before he looked at the MacCallum file further. A few more pages, then he stopped again.

"Hmmm... 'Sandra had become fixated on the 'fact' that it had happened once, it could happen again. Once returned to the enhanced meditative state, or the Sanctuary, I was able to isolate her from the irrational schema, effectively excising it. I told her that it was a one off aberration, and she accepted that without any further support work applied. The next two sessions confirmed that the schema had been neutralized to the point where it did not exist anymore.'

"So, maybe this could be applied to Melanie as well? But the underlying issue generating the irrational thought processes is different. And also unidentified. I shall take her to the Sanctuary and investigate the root cause of her issue there."

He noted the time, and put the MacCallum file away. He tidied up his notes for the session to come before he went to the door to let Melanie come in. When he opened the door, he paused. His initial glance of the waiting room showed someone else waiting for him as opposed to Melanie. He took a look at his secretary, she nodded to he unasked question, her surprised look turning to the woman sitting quietly in one of the chairs.

"Miss Chan?" Gordon asked softly, calling her into his office. When she faced him, there was no mistaking her, even though she was almost a totally different person.

The woman who walked into his office was wearing a feminine business suit. The jacket and skirt were navy blue, with a light blue blouse that complimented the suit nicely. She was also wearing earrings, silver in colour and large enough to be decorative with out being distracting. They seemed to match the same style of the necklace she wore, with the centre piece resting at the top of a discreetly displayed cleavage. He noticed a difference in her movement as well. Less stiff, more graceful. She was wearing open toed, high heeled shoes, or what he would call high heels. Maybe about two inches. But they did some good work on her leg definition. He also noticed the split in her skirt that would give enticing glimpses of her thigh.

He dragged his gaze back to her face, and was surprised when he noticed signs of makeup around her eyes. Just enough eyeliner and colour to enhance her dark eyes, giving them a sparkle and depth that were missing the last time he saw her.

Gordon stood still, slightly stunned at the transformation. It took him a moment or two to remember the 'command' he issued to her. If anything, that stunned him further.

"Mel... Melanie. I must say that you... I'm sorry. You look fantastic. I would even go as far as saying that you look quite attractive. It is a big change for you, and one that, both professionally and personally, I support fully."

He shook his head, bringing himself back into a professional mode of thought. He went to his writing block, and started writing furiously.

"Melanie, can you tell me what prompted this change in your attire? And how do you feel now that you have made this change in you dress style?"

Gordon listened to her responses, taking detailed notes for later investigation.

"Thank you, Melanie. Now, back to more conventional topics, how have you been since we last met? How have the nightmares been? Have there been any incidents or circumstances that you'd like to mention?"

 

[VampiricTouch]

Melanie smiled, lowering her head slightly to hide the blush but confident enough to say her thanks. Taking a seat, she laid her perfectly manicured hands in her lap as she watched him writing down information even before he had asked a single question. Was her new attire... that impressive?? and why would such things interest him, or even pertain to what they were dealing with?

"Melanie, can you tell me what prompted this change in your attire? And how do you feel now that you have made this change in you dress style?"

"Change... I'm not quite sure..." She smiled hesitantly, still confused by his interest in the matter. "I just thought... well... I am a woman, and a feminine one at that. As a woman I should dress like one... and I was quite annoyed when I couldn't find anything feminine in my wardrobe. I suppose now that I think about it, it's quite a drastic change... but it's not bad. This is who I am, and I'm quite surprised it's taken me so long to ... express it. "

Her eyes returned to his concentrated scribbling as her brows furrowed. Just why would her attire interest him? It seemed perfectly normal to her...

"Thank you, Melanie. Now, back to more conventional topics, how have you been since we last met? How have the nightmares been? Have there been any incidents or circumstances that you'd like to mention?"

"Things... have been improving, there's been significantly less dreams this past week... two, to be exact. Also... the fear for home invasion is almost completely gone... At least its not overwhelming enough that I can't sleep because of it. I was able to stop taking the pills you prescribed. "

She shifted uneasily, uncrossing and crossing her legs, movement that made the cut of her skirt fall farther apart and make the hem of cloth dance precariously up her thigh. She thought for a moment to the dreams she had and flushed. Could she tell him that... she'd been waking up terrified... and moist? What did that say about herself and her own desires... The thought was pushed away as she finished. "The dreams are similar, there isn't anything to really note from the previous ones... and I still wake up in this terrified panic... "

 

[marauder13]

It was clear to Gordon that Melanie was slightly confused about the interest in her attire. He had to admit that she was a far more attractive woman that he first thought. But he had other things to concern himself with apart from the attractiveness of a client. Years of training came to the fore, preventing him from conducting any questionable activities with her.

But she was also a research assistant, so Doctor-Client rules did not apply. He shook his head when he remembered that. And he needed to be able to do things that would be unethical when dealing with a client. So, in his mind, he shifted Melanie Chan from a Client who was assisting with field research to being a full Research Assistant who was benefiting from some psychiatric therapy along the way.

"Melanie, the reason why I have asked the questions I have is to do with what appears to be a substantial shift in your personal tastes and behaviours. It might be a reaction to the stresses and anxieties of your current condition. But there are some other questions I have to ask you. These will be highly personal, but they are important to assisting with the search for the root cause of the problem.

"Ashes are ashes, dust is dust."

Gordon watched Melanie go into a trance like state immediately. Just like what happened with Sandra. He suppressed the almost child like excitement when she saw it work, and remembered what he wanted to achieve.

"Melanie, when you leave this place of peace and Sanctuary, the next person you see you will trust completely, answering their questions, following their directions without question, thought or concern. Everything they get you to do will be natural for you to do. This will remain so until you awaken from your next normal sleep. You will remember all the deeds done as perfectly normal, and you not be concerned about anything you did during that time."

Gordon was out of his chair, and standing near Melanie, reaching out for her.

"Depart from the Sanctuary, Melanie. Return to the place where you came from."

Melanie awoke, looking slightly confused. He took her wrist in hand, checking her pulse.

"Are you ok, Melanie? You seemed to have fainted. You haven't had any of these spells before, have you? Please relax."

Gordon went and filled a glass of water for her, bringing it back to her. He gave her a minute to settle before he started asking his questions.

"Melanie, I need to ask you about your sexual history. Since rape seems to be a significant component of your issue, I need to know about your history. We'll start with the obvious things like partners, what activities you have had with them and related subjects. We will also need to look at what sexual fantasies you have. Finally, at this stage, examining what you would see in a sexual partner, be it their physique, personality, and any other traits that would make for a... perfect partner."

 

[VampiricTouch]

"Ashes are ashes, dust is dust."

For a brief moment darkness swamped her vision as she careened and fell. The pieces of her Sanctuary rapidly building from the ground up as she slowed and her feet safely touched the soft grass of her mind.

"Melanie, when you leave this place of peace and Sanctuary, the next person you see you will trust completely, answering their questions, following their directions without question, thought or concern. Everything they get you to do will be natural for you to do. This will remain so until you awaken from your next normal sleep. You will remember all the deeds done as perfectly normal, and you not be concerned about anything you did during that time."

She bowed her head in submission to the voice as two images coalesced before her. One was Sandra, who had walked with her as a best friend for so long. The other a mere shadow of a human, waiting for the cue to fill out the icons of her trust.

The command issued, the voice sent her away as the walls of her Sanctuary collapsed and her reality returned to her.

Her eyes slowly blinked open as her brows furrowed with confusion. Wh- what had happened? She looked up when Dr. Malahki touched her wrist to check her pulse and a wave of utter relief washed over her.

"Are you ok, Melanie? You seemed to have fainted. You haven't had any of these spells before, have you? Please relax."

She settled back in her seat, satisfied with the explanation that she had fainted. If he was here, everything would be fine. He had her best interest in mind and with the command to relax, she lost a level of her wariness she had always displayed before him.

"Fainted... odd. That must be the first time it's happened... I'm sorry to have worried you... You don't think that it's an indicator of something wrong with my health... is it? Never mind, I'm sure you'd tell me if that were the case. " Feeling completely normal, the worry of her fainting spell quickly faded from her mind.

"Melanie, I need to ask you about your sexual history. Since rape seems to be a significant component of your issue, I need to know about your history. We'll start with the obvious things like partners, what activities you have had with them and related subjects. We will also need to look at what sexual fantasies you have. Finally, at this stage, examining what you would see in a sexual partner, be it their physique, personality, and any other traits that would make for a... perfect partner."

The questions brought about a tint of pink as he asked the questions with systematic professionalism. These were questions that only Sandra probably knew the answers to... but it was Dr. Malahki, she could trust him. The word rape brought about a tinge of discomfort but it was quickly brushed aside by Dr. Malahki's desire to help her solve her problem.

"Partners... I- I've only dated once while I was in college actually, and when we graduated and went to separate places...it didn't last. He was an interesting one... a bit of a romantic when we planned outings. Everything had to be perfect. The atmosphere, the ambiance, the music... I'm like that with my work... but he was like that with his personal life. Maybe too much. " She nibbled the edge of her thumb in thought as she began to share.

"He was rather pushy about exploring though... I've been rather... hesitant about trying new things whereas he'd always be the opposite. " Her head lowered to hide the crimson that kissed her cheeks. "Whether it would be toys, different positions... I rejected most of them. And oddly enough I've always wanted to try bondage. So much for being hesitant about exploring you know? We never did do that. I never told him actually. I... just didn't trust him to put me in such a situation. There were too many possibilities that could've gone wrong. "

A small thought flickered across her mind, how it was odd that a relationship of 2 years hadn't garnered enough trust for her to try to be creative whereas she had utter faith in Dr. Malahki's to share such information...

"Perfect Partner... I used to talk with Sandra about this all the time... about the type of guy that attracted us. Smart enough that can keep up with me and vice versa... someone who's got a touch of talent musically... etc etc. The list goes on... Physique... I'd like someone who's tall with broad shoulders, well... my idea of tall would be from 6' to 6'5. I'd say wiry and well built, a sort of subtle strength.

Someone who has confidence. Who's strong enough that I feel safe being with him... and can give me the feeling of security. Not just on a physical level, financially as well.... So that I can let down my guard around him." She paused a moment to take a sip from her glass, gathering her thoughts for his last question.

"I'm a bit timid ... sexually to try new things... and I don't mind that my partner wants to explore... I'd just like enough patience to build up my trust.... reassurance that things will be okay. "

 

[marauder13]

Gordon was pleased with how her 'fainting spell' went, and the ease by which he covered it up. There was something different in her behaviour afterward, but nothing he could clearly identify. He would have to take the risk, and be prepared for a failure response.

When he asked his questions, he watched Melanie closely to gauge her reaction to them. She was a little embarrassed, but she proceeded to answer them without too many problems. He took down details notes of her answers, slightly eased by the fact that she was not a virgin. Everything in her responses was indicative that his planned test would be a valid one.

His professional mind did pick up on the liking of bondage. From his readings on that subject, it appeared that those who liked that form of pleasure, be it sexual or not, enjoyed the sense of not being in control, by having it removed from them. There was another facet about the personality type that enjoyed this form of pleasure, but he couldn't remember. He noted that to follow up for the next session.

When she finished answering his questions, he took a deep breath, and took the plunge.

"Thank you, Melanie, for answering those questions. Just as a reminder, that information you have just given me is confidential, and will not be disclosed to anyone without your express, written permission.

"Before we go further, Melanie, I need you to strip down to your underwear please, before walking around the room to display it for me."

 

[VampiricTouch]

"Before we go further, Melanie, I need you to strip down to your underwear please, before walking around the room to display it for me."

The issued command was immediately obeyed. There was a reason for why he was doing this. He had her best interests in mind, and this was an absolutely natural request from him.

The jacket came off without much fuss and was laid across the back of her chair. Her fingers worked on the button to release the waist of her skirt and with a soft metallic whisper of the zipper, the pink edge of her panties peeked through. With a subtle swish of her hips, the skirt fluttered down her sculpted legs to pool at her feet. Here her head lifted as she began to undo the buttons of her blouse, its bottom hem hanging just above the laced edge of her panties.

It was here that her cheeks began to color. A warm heat radiating from her face as it spread with each button that surrendered their protected view. One button... displaying a scandalous amount of skin sitting within the confines of her clothes. And two... Revealing the dainty laced edge of her bra cupping her globes of flesh. Then three... The inner margins of her breasts rimmed with pink culminated to a center, made adorable by a small satin bow. Then four... The smooth expanse of her belly. And five... as the entire blouse fell open.

With the blouse and skirt laid on the seat she had been sitting on, she walked across the room with her arms crossed in front and wrapped around her chest. The hem of her panties showing just a peek of cheek as she moved over the floor. Why was it so warm? Was she blushing? There was no reason to... right? This was perfectly normal...

She turned to face him once more with her head lowered in embarrassment.

"I'm sorry I wasn't quite sure what you meant by display..."

 

[marauder13]

Gordon watch with a professional and personal interest as Melanie commenced to remove her clothing.

Doctor Malakhi watched as she easily removed her jacket, as well as her skirt. But when it came to her removing her blouse, he noted some hesitancy, as well as some blushing as if there was some embarrassment involved in that act. For most women, the exposure of the upper torso was of lesser concern that exposure of the lower torso. Yet Melanie exposed her lower torso first, and with greater ease. This was a matter to follow up with her when the current test was complete. Even as she crossed the floor to speak to him, she was making an effort to cover her chest, leaving her genital area effectively exposed.

Gordon on the other hand watched as a rather attractive woman slowly revealed herself in a tantalizing manner. The delicate reach of her hand to deal with the button and zipper of the skirt was full of innocence. The sensual movement of her hips allowed gravity to unveil a lower torso that spoke well of the delights contained by the panties, as well as legs that were delightfully shaped and accentuated by the shoes she wore. Even her posterior was well shaped and sized in comparison to the rest of her. Her face took on the most flattering shade of rose as she started working on removing her blouse. The upper buttons slowly revealed breasts held in place by a delicate framework of lace and other light materials that enhanced her marvelous bust line. The final buttons revealed a stomach that matched the potential of her hip region. He stared at a truly attractive young woman who was very pleasing to look at in such a manner. He viewed her wrapping her arms about herself as an affection of her innocence.

He returned his gaze to Melanie's face as she lowered it in what appeared to be embarrassment.

"I'm sorry I wasn't quite sure what you meant by display..."

Gordon kept his demeanor professional, regardless of the effects her appearance was having on him. This was a test of a therapeutic technique, and it was a boundary that she would have definitely resisted under normal circumstances. Even if he was aroused by what he was seeing. He could see how attractive she was now that she had 'embraced' her more feminine side, and the potential she had for other more enjoyable, carnal activities.

"Have you seen any models at work on a catwalk? Just walk around the room, such that I can see you from front on, side on and from behind. Let your arms rest and move naturally."