Test subject pt.1 (Patreon)

You sign up for a study with a local scientific group on "pattern forming", whatever that means.

* * *

‘An experiment into human psychology and pattern forming’ Was what the advertisement had read. It was paying well. So you signed up as a test subject. You didn’t expect to hear back. But you did, after a time. The initial interview went well. The experimenters seemed pleasant.

Though you took it all with a pinch of salt. Hypnosis, behaviour modification, conditioning. It all seemed a bit far fetched for you. But that was on them, not you. You were just here to get paid. As you settled in for the first session, they explained what would happen.

The headset was the main part of it. They’d strap you into it, and present you with stimuli. After which, they’d test your willingness to follow instructions. It seemed easy enough. Though you weren’t really certain what they hoped to prove with this.

Then the headset was on. It seemed a little… Hokey, at first. The colours, the spirals, the words. But you were feeling relaxed. The voice was easy to listen to. And as you came back up, out of the state you were in, you missed it. You wanted more.

You had expected to be given instructions, but none were given. “Oh, no. This is just your first session. To get you acclimatised to the effects of the headset, what it feels like. Instructions start next time. Close your door on the way out though, please?” As you left, you did.