The Erotic Mind-Control Story Archive

Warda

I blinked, the world coming back into focus like someone had flipped a switch in my brain. For a second, I just stood there, trying to make sense of everything. Then I saw Edward’s face, and it all came rushing back.

Oh god. I was about to kill him. I was going to lure him away from the others, maybe seduce him so he’d lower his guard, and... What? Strangle him? Bash something against his head? The thought had occurred to me, but it hadn’t felt wrong. Now I could barely breathe with the horror of it.

I spun around to find Charlotte holding one of the devices Smith and his women had stolen, and suddenly it clicked. She’d unclaimed me. I grabbed her, pulling her into a crushing hug that made her squeak in surprise.

“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice rough with emotion. “Jesus Christ, thank you.”

“Sorry to interrupt the moment,” Edward said, his gun still half-raised, “but is what she’s saying true? All of it?”

I released Charlotte, my hands shaking. “If she told you Smith’s taking over Echelon, then yeah. It’s true.” I didn’t remember anything after she’d pressed the device against the back of my neck, but I had a rough idea of what they had been discussing while I was... indisposed. “His women jumped me outside the fabrication lab. Fucking tasered me, tied me up. Smith unclaimed me and then claimed me for himself.” My stomach lurched at the memory. “Ordered me to find you and kill you.”

I patted my hip. “And I gave him my keys to the weapons locker. Fuck! I’m such a goddamn idiot.”

Edward moved closer, holstering his weapon and placing a hand on my shoulder. “It wasn’t your fault. He claimed you. You had no choice.”

I nodded, suddenly aware of something strange. I was unclaimed. Myself again. I looked at Edward, trying to sort through my feelings. That overwhelming devotion, that desperate need to please him, it was gone. But as I stared at his face, the concern in his eyes, I couldn’t help but smile a little. I still liked the idiot. And I was damn grateful he hadn’t taken advantage when he owned me. Well, not too much advantage anyway.

Edward’s cheeks colored slightly under my gaze, and he looked away.

“This is all very touching,” Cedric cut in, his voice tight with panic, “but that bastard has my daughter and Wendy. What the hell are we going to do about that?”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “By now he’s probably got the weapons. Miles is dead. Rodriguez…” I trailed off, suddenly worried about my colleague.

Edward grabbed his radio. “Rodriguez, do you copy?” Nothing but static answered. “Rodriguez, respond.” More silence. “Shit!”

“If Miles is dead, they might have his radio,” Edward realized, his face paling. “They might have heard me.”

“Let’s hope they’re too busy elsewhere,” I said. “And they don’t know I’ve been unclaimed yet. No reason for them to be suspicious of you.”

Edward turned to Charlotte, eyeing the device in her hand. “Where the hell did you get one of those things?”

Charlotte hesitated, clutching the transmitter tighter. “Ramona and Phoebe gave it to me a few days ago,” she finally admitted. “Along with access to a secure folder with the programs. They told me if anything went wrong, I was supposed to escape and find a way to maintain resistance. Maybe broadcast the signal eventually. I’m Plan B.”

“Great,” Cedric said, a spark of hope in his eyes. “We have a transmitter. We can unclaim the women Smith claimed.”

Charlotte shook her head firmly. “I was given this to escape, to protect Ramona and Phoebe’s work. Not to get myself killed trying to save a failing Plan A.”

“Plan A hasn’t failed yet,” Edward said, his jaw set in that stubborn way of his. “Not until Smith gets to Quinn and Conrad.”

My stomach twisted into a knot. “About that… before I went to fetch Olivia and Wendy, I heard Smith and his women talking about hurrying to the MRI room. I think they might already have Quinn and Conrad.”

“Fuck!” Cedric slammed his fist against the wall.

Elaine stood silently beside Edward, looking lost but with that determined set to her shoulders. She’d fight for him, that much was clear.

Edward rubbed his face, the stubble on his jaw making a scratching sound against his palm. “To claim them, he first needs to program them, right? And that takes hours. Maybe we can stop him before then.”

I shook my head, hating to be the bearer of bad news. “Smith’s not an idiot. He’s probably focused on securing the MRI room first. If he was so eager to get Olivia and Wendy so fast, he’s planning to use them.” I glanced at Cedric. “The only reasonable thing would be to lure Gabriel and you, but mostly Gabriel. It’ll take hours to program Quinn and Conrad. If he started now, he wants it done by morning so nobody notices. He’s probably trying to pick off the owners one by one, using claimed women as bait.”

Edward nodded slowly. “So he wanted security out of the way tonight because we’re the ones who could stop him. Otherwise he’s trying to be subtle.”

“And he needed me to get access to the fabrication lab, and to get to you,” I realized. “Son of a bitch...”

“But why get Wendy and Olivia now?” Cedric asked. “Why not wait tomorrow?”

Edward’s expression was grim. “Gabriel is the one with the most claimed women. He probably wants to get to him first and needed everything in place as soon as possible. Then he’d move to Mercer and that autistic guy... Tristan?”

“Tristan, yes,” Cedric confirmed.

“He’s covering himself,” I said, pacing back and forth. “Me, Wendy, Olivia, it’s not just about subtlety. It’s about having the right pawns if things turn south.” I stopped, meeting Edward’s eyes. “I was the most qualified to kill you.”

“And if Gabriel and I try anything, Wendy and Olivia can be used to blackmail us...” Cedric added. He clenched his fists, fury burning in his eyes.

“That tracks,” Charlotte said, clutching her transmitter like a lifeline. “Then he’ll probably send Olivia and Wendy back to me, they think I’m still in our quarters, or to Cedric and Gabriel, soon.”

“If we’re gonna do something, it needs to be fast,” I said, checking my gun again out of habit. “Before Smith or his women realize his plan is fucked, at least partially.”

“I need to leave,” Charlotte insisted, backing toward the door. “That was the whole point of Plan B.”

Edward made a sound somewhere between a growl and a sigh. “Yes, you need to leave. We’ll respect Quinn and Conrad’s plan. But you can’t go alone.” He turned to me. “Ritter, Mercer and their women are downstairs. If Smith is counting on his claimed women acting normal to lure the others, he won’t make a move tonight. He’ll wait till morning when Quinn and Conrad can convince everyone everything’s fine. We need to warn Mercer and Ritter, see if they can escape with their women. That would still mean fewer scientists working for Smith.”

Charlotte’s shoulders slumped slightly. “Fine. But if anything looks risky, I’m out of here. That’s non-negotiable.”

“No... If Smith is smart, he’ll have one of his girls watch the cameras,” I said, glancing at Edward. “And if I were him I’d focus on where the prizes are.”

“Shit,” Edward breathed. “The visiting researchers’ quarters... No cameras here on the roof, but if we go downstairs, we’ll be spotted. And if they’re watching, they’ll see that you’re not doing what you’re supposed to.”

Edward sighed, rubbing his forehead. “Alright, let’s assume it’s gonna take them at least five minutes to get there once we’re spotted. There’s an emergency stairway on the other end of the roof. It’s locked, but I have the keys,” he said, grabbing them from his belt and handing them to me. “Take Ms. Corbin down. You two can wait for us at the edge of the forest, you know, where we once found that dead deer. Appleton, Elaine and I will wake up Ritter, Mercer and their women. With a bit of luck, we’ll have just enough time to get back on the roof and make our exit. If we’re not with you in fifteen minutes, or if you see or hear anything fishy, you get the hell out of here.”

I groaned, anxiety twisting my insides. “Are you fucking serious? You think you can get, what, ten sleeping people scattered through at least two different rooms out of here in less than five minutes? And what the hell are we supposed to do if we found ourselves alone out there?”

“Plan B,” Charlotte murmured, her voice barely audible.

“Fuck plan B!” I exclaimed, turning to her. “You’re a tough girl, I get it. I’m a tough girl too. But two girls alone out there? One immune, one unclaimed? Seriously?”

Appleton seemed to hesitate, then he stepped closer to me, his hand resting on my shoulder. “I’m coming with you,” he said, his voice quiet but firm. “God knows I want to get down there and strangle Smith to death, but he’s got Olivia, he’s got Wendy. I can’t risk him using them against me. If plan B is finding a way to broadcast the deprogramming, free women, then I guess it’s my best shot at saving them...”

Edward didn’t protest, simply nodding his agreement.

I groaned, my heart racing. Edward was gonna get himself killed, but I knew the look on his face. Nothing I could say would change his mind.

I sighed and extended a hand toward him. “Then at least claim me again,” I said, forcing myself to sound calm. “I’m not getting out there only to be claimed by the first asshole that crosses my path.”

Edward stared at my hand for a second, then shook his head. “No. Appleton should do it.”

The large man shook his head, but extended his own hand toward me, looking at me like a kid asking permission to take a bite out of someone else’s cookie.

“No way,” I protested. “I’ll chose the evil I know, thank you very much.”

Edward’s lips pressed together, his expression grim. “We don’t have time for this, Warda! If I don’t make it, you three will have to manage on your own. If I get killed and you find out, you’ll be unclaimed again. This is stupid. Just let him claim you...”

I clenched my jaw. He was right. Of course he was right. “Shit,” I breathed, trying to calm my racing pulse. I didn’t think twice. I jumped on Edward and kissed him, hard, my arms wrapping around his neck. “Don’t die on me,” I whispered against his lips.

Then I turned to Appleton, a lump in my throat. I reached out and took his hand in mine. “You’re... mine,” he said, the words coming out haltingly, as if he were afraid to speak them.

I felt the familiar tug inside my mind. The feeling of belonging that wrapped around me like a warm blanket. I looked up at Appleton, and a small, satisfied smile spread across my face. “I’m yours,” I said.