The Erotic Mind-Control Story Archive

Edward

I kept my eye glued to the peephole, watching Silvra turn toward someone out of my line of sight. Her posture changed instantly, straighter, more deferential.

“They went upstairs,” she reported. “Gabriel, his women, and Dr. Pierce. Lenore is pursuing them now.”

“Upstairs?” Smith’s voice, sounding confused. “Why would they—” There was a pause. “The emergency staircase. Damn it. There’s a way down from the roof.” Another pause. “Let’s hope Lenore catches them. I’d rather not lose five women in one go.”

Smith must have moved closer because his voice got clearer. “Any word from Warda? She was supposed to handle Barrett.”

Silvra shrugged. “No idea. Haven’t seen her. She wasn’t with the others.”

For a moment I considered making a run for it, trying to slip out while they were distracted, shoot Smith if I got the chance, but Silvra was still right outside the door, her eyes trained on it, unblinking, like some kind of predator waiting for its prey to make a mistake.

I could see her gesture toward the door now. “Mercer and Barrett are in there. Probably Mercer’s women too.”

Smith sighed, loud enough for me to hear through the door. “And here I was hoping for a quiet night. Wanted to avoid this kind of mess.”

“Edward.” Smith’s voice was suddenly directed at the door, like he knew exactly where I was standing. “Don’t be an idiot. It’s over. You’re locked in there with no way out.” He was right. The windows in this suite were too high up, no fire escape. “You’ve lost. I have Ramona, Phoebe, Wendy, Olivia.” He listed the names like he was counting trophies. “Plus, of course, Kaori, Petra, and Lenore.”

I gripped my gun tighter, knuckles white.

“All I want is control of Echelon,” Smith continued. “I’m not interested in unnecessary bloodshed. Open the door, and I’ll let you and Mercer walk out of here. You can take Duncan’s women with you, try your luck in the new world outside. Otherwise, we force our way in, and there will be blood. Is that what you want, Edward? More killing?”

I looked at Mercer, surrounded by his three women. They looked terrified but determined. Ready to fight if he gave the word.

Mercer stared at his women for a long moment, then gave me a small nod. He was right. We were stuck. No point in getting killed here if the others had escaped. And even if they hadn’t, Corbin and Warda were still outside. Plan B was still in play.

“Fine,” I called through the door. “I’m putting my weapon down. I’m going to open the door slowly. Don’t shoot.”

“You have my word,” Smith replied, sounding almost bored.

I placed my gun on the floor directly in front of the door, then slowly turned the handle, opening it just a crack. Silvra immediately aimed her gun at the opening. I pushed the door wider, hands raised.

Smith hesitated before stepping forward, bending down to retrieve my weapon while keeping his eyes on me. He straightened up, examining the gun with a small, smug smile.

“Out,” he ordered, gesturing with the barrel of his gun.

I stepped into the hallway, staring at the bastard. His face was calm, almost pleasant, like this was just another day at the office. Silvra kept her gun trained on me, gesturing for me to sit on the floor against the wall. I complied, jaw clenched so tight my teeth hurt.

Silvra pulled zip ties from her pocket and secured my hands behind my back, the plastic cutting into my wrists. Smith stood in the doorway, looking past me at Mercer and his women.

“Your turn, Duncan,” he said. “Let’s not make this any messier than it needs to be.”

Mercer stood in the doorway, shoulders slumped in defeat. “Stand down,” he told his women, voice hollow. “Just… stand down.”

The women hesitated, exchanging glances. Dr. Elodie Thorne, the small one with the dark ponytail, stepped forward, her face contorted with desperation.

“Duncan, please,” she begged, voice breaking. “We can fight. We can—”

“Enough,” Smith cut in, his tone suddenly ice-cold. “Either you do exactly what your owner tells you, or I shoot everyone in that room, starting with Duncan. Your choice.”

The fight drained from Thorne’s face. All three women backed away from Mercer, their movements stiff and reluctant. They lined up against the far wall, hands visible, eyes downcast.

“Thank you for being reasonable,” Smith said pleasantly. Then, without changing his expression, he raised his gun and shot Mercer in the chest.

The sound was deafening in the narrow hallway. Mercer’s body jerked backward, a look of surprise frozen on his face as he collapsed.

His women didn’t scream. They didn’t move. They just stood there, paralyzed, staring at their owner’s body as blood pooled around him.

I couldn’t process what I was seeing. One second Mercer was standing there, alive, and the next… My brain finally caught up and I lunged forward, trying to get to my feet, but Silvra was faster. She slammed me back against the wall, pressing her gun hard against my temple.

“Stay down,” she hissed.

Smith sighed, turning toward me with an almost apologetic expression. “Surely you didn’t think I was actually going to let you walk out of here, Edward? Too risky. You might seek revenge. You might try to retake Echelon.” He shook his head like I was a disappointing student. “I can’t have loose ends.”

Wendy and Olivia appeared at the far end of the hall, moving calmly toward us.

“A bit late, I’m afraid,” Smith said to them. “Get to the roof.” He pointed toward the end of the hallway. “If Gabriel and Cedric are still up there, make sure to get them to come back. Tell them you’ll hurt yourselves if they don’t.”

The two women nodded in unison, like asking them to threaten their own lives to lure their husband and father into a deathtrap was perfectly normal.

“Now...” Smith turned back to me.

He raised his gun, aiming it directly at my forehead. I stared down the barrel, a strange calm washing over me. I hoped to God the others had made it out. Elaine, Ritter, Corbin, Warda; someone had to survive this. Someone had to stop this bastard.

Smith’s finger tightened on the trigger.