Julie and Luke had spent weeks plotting every switchback of the Blackridge Trail, a notorious 10-mile ascent through jagged granite slopes and whispering pine forests. For Julie, hiking was more than exercise; it was how she'd coped since childhood, scrambling upstate trails with her dad's old compass clutched in her palm, learning to read silence between birdsongs. Now, she grinned as Luke wobbled behind her, his borrowed backpack sagging awkwardly. He'd only agreed to this 'death march' (his words) after three beers last month, muttering something about 'needing cardio', though Julie noticed how his eyes lingered when she tied her hair back at the trailhead. They paused near a lichen-crusted boulder, Luke wheezing dramatically as mist curled over the valley below.

"You doing okay, Luke?" Julie asked with a small smile.
"I'm good," Luke replied, panting a little, "just… need a little break."
Julie chuckled, "What's the matter, Luke? Can't keep up?"
Luke rolled his eyes. "You know I'm not as fit as you, Julie. Cut me some slack, yeah?"
Julie laughed, patting Luke's back. "Don't worry, I'll take it easy on you."

They rested for a few minutes, and Julie took the opportunity to check out their surroundings. The cool, damp air smelled richly of pine needles and wet earth, a distant woodpecker's rhythmic tapping punctuating the heavy stillness. She noticed something strange in the distance, a small opening in the side of a hill."

"Hey, Luke!" she called out. "Check it out. It looks like a cave." Pointing to the craggy opening, she looked at Luke eagerly, a glimmer of adventure in her eyes.

Luke groaned. "I don't know if that's such a good idea, Julie. Caves can be dangerous, and we don't have the right gear for a deep cave..."

Julie wasn't one to back down from a challenge, though. "Come on, Luke. Live a little!" She pleaded, "It's not every day we find a cave in the woods. Let's go check it out, quick pop in and out, promise." 

Luke hesitated for a moment, rubbing the back of his neck. The thought of Julie rolling her eyes later- "Guess who chickened out?" -made his stomach twist.

"Okay, fine," he conceded, forcing a grin. "But just a quick look-in-and-out deal. And we're being careful, alright?" He pointed a finger at her, trying to mask his nerves with mock sternness. "No 'ooh, let's climb that weird hole in the ceiling' nonsense." 

Julie grinned, leading the way toward the cave. The entrance yawned like a crooked mouth, its jagged edges stained rusty orange with iron deposits. A musty chill seeped out, carrying whispers of damp stone and something faintly metallic. As they squeezed through the narrow gap, shoulders scraping against cold, uneven walls, the daylight vanished abruptly. Inside, the darkness swallowed everything; even Luke's nervous exhales seemed to vanish into the void. 

"Wow, this is amazing," Julie whispered, her voice ricocheting off unseen hollows.

Luke's voice sounded small and far away in the darkness. "Yeah, it's pretty cool. But we can't see, Jules, we should… yeah, I think we should head back now." A shiver passed through his body; it was disconcerting not to be able to see his own hands or know what was right in front of him…

But Julie wasn't ready to leave just yet. She pulled out her phone and its torch - the Explorer wanted to explore the cave further, and she wasn't going to let Luke spoil her fun.

"Come on, Luke," she said, her voice bouncing off the walls. "Let's see where this goes."

Luke sighed, resigned to his fate. He wouldn't let her get lost in there alone. Annoyingly, she probably knew that too. 

"Okay, but we need to be careful! How much battery do you have on your phone? We don't want to get lost in here."

Characteristically ignoring her companion's pleas, Julie led them as they made their way deeper into the cave, using their phones to light their way along the walls. The air grew colder, and Julie could feel a shiver run down her spine. Never one to let fear stop her, she pressed on, determined to see where the cave led.

As they rounded a corner, Julie gasped in awe. The cave passage opened into a massive cavern, filled with stalactites and stalagmites. The walls were covered in glowing moss, casting an eerie green light throughout the cavern.

"This is incredible," Julie whispered, her voice hushed in the vastness of the cavern.

Luke nodded, looking around in wonder. "Okay, I'll give you this – it is incredible. How about we mark our maps, take some pictures, and come back again? We really should start heading back now. It's getting late, and we don't want to be caught out here after dark."

Julie pouted, not wanting to leave so soon. But she knew Luke was right, and they needed to start making their way back to the trail. As they retraced their steps, Julie felt disappointed. She had been hoping for something more, some kind of adventure or excitement. But now they were just walking back, and the cave seemed to be a letdown. She was lost in thought, not paying attention to where they were going.

"Julie, wait up!" Luke called out, jogging to catch up with her.

"What is it?" Julie asked, looking up at him with a small frown.

"I think we took a wrong turn," Luke said, pointing to the path ahead.

Julie groaned. The creeping realization that Luke had been right grated against her pride, not to mention the gnawing fear springing up within her stomach

"Let's go back to the big cave and figure it out from there. I don't like this. Luke, what are you-?"

But Luke wasn't listening. His head tilted, fixated on something beyond the beam of Julie's flashlight. A sound? No, a pull. His feet moved without hesitation, boots scuffing over oddly smooth patches in the floor, too symmetrical to be natural.  

"...doing?" Julie's voice cracked as Luke strode past her, his usual cautious demeanor erased.  

"Come on, Julie. We're already here. Let's just see where this leads."

Julie was irritated that he was suddenly the one who wanted to go deeper, now that they were already lost. Reluctantly, she trailed after him, baffled by his sudden recklessness. The path twisted downward into a domed chamber slick with condensation. Then, there it was.

An altar dominated the space, its obsidian surface veined with luminescent blue streaks that pulsed faintly, like dormant circuitry. Strange symbols, angular and deliberate, covered every inch, glowing brighter wherever Luke's shadow fell.

Julie shivered, her skin prickling as she stared at the monolithic altar. At its center sat a fist-sized totem: a crudely carved female figure, her elongated limbs twisted in submission.

"I don't like this, Luke," she repeated, her voice trembling slightly. "Let's go back."

"Look at this, Julie. It's incredible," he said calmly, his voice smoother than she'd ever heard it. "I've never seen anything like this before."

Julie watched as Luke reached out and picked up the totem from the centre of the altar. The moment his hand touched it, Julie felt, more than she saw or heard, a strange surge of force take hold of Luke. She could barely sense it, but it was if a ghostly claw had clasped his body. It was as if the totem was exerting some kind of power over her friend.

"Luke, let go of it!" she cried out, fear and panic creeping into her voice.

But Luke just laughed, holding the totem up to the light. "Relax, Julie. Everything's fine. I've got this."

Julie felt a sudden calm wash over her, and she couldn't explain why. Luke's voice was soothing, and she felt like he had this situation under control.

"Yeah," she said, her voice now soft, coming out on its own. "You've got this."

With effortless precision, Luke guided them backward, one hand gripping the totem, the other brushing Julie's elbow as if steering a sleepwalker. The cave's twists unraveled before him like obedient threads. By the time stale air gave way to blinding sunlight, Julie's doubt had dulled to a nagging itch beneath her skin.  

Luke turned, grinning. The figurine nestled snugly in his jacket pocket now, pulsing gently against his ribs. "Well," he mused, squinting at the horizon, "that was certainly an adventure, wasn't it?"

Julie nodded. Part of her was relieved to be out of the cave, but another part of her was curious about the mysterious totem Luke had taken. What was its purpose? What kind of power did it hold? She decided to push those thoughts aside for the time being, focusing instead on the relief of being back in the sunlight.

"Let's get on with it," she said, pushing Luke back towards the trail. "I don't think I want to explore any more caves today." 

She tried to chuckle, but it didn't reach her lips.

Luke smiled and caught up with her. Julie kept a watchful eye on Luke as they continued their hike. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was different about him since he took that totem from the cave. He seemed normal now, but she remembered the strange surge of force she had felt when he first touched it. Was it how he looked? His voice? No, it was… it was as if she'd not been in control of herself when he spoke… that couldn't have really happened, right?

After a while, they found a nice spot in a field and sat down for a short break to enjoy the landscape. Julie tried to relax, but her mind kept wandering back to the totem and Luke's strange aura. Finally, she gathered up the courage to bring it up.

"Hey, Luke…? Can we talk about what happened back there, in the cave?" she asked hesitantly.

Luke looked up, "Sure, what's on your mind?"

"When you suddenly went down that passageway and found that weird altar? And picked up that totem? I just feel like… I dunno, like something is different about you. Like, the way you calmed me down was… unnatural."

"What are you talking about? When did I calm you down?" He furrowed his brow, confused.

"When you told me to. In the cave, right after you grabbed that thing."

"Huh? I don't understand."

"You grabbed this totem, and I had this weird feeling that something strange was happening. It's... like, really hard to describe. And then you told me to relax, and… I just did. Just like that."

Julie shrugged. She knew she sounded like an idiot, and Luke's laugh confirmed it. Julie felt a flush rise to her cheeks.

"Are you saying I have mind control powers now?"

"No, of course not. It's just...I don't know. It felt weird."

Luke's expression turned mischievous as he picked up the totem from his pocket. He pointed it at her like a gun and spoke dramatically, as if he were in a theatre play.

"Julie, you're my devoted slave from now on, and you shall do whatever I say."

Julie gasped and instantly felt herself drawn towards Luke as he spoke those words. She tried to resist, but the compulsion was too strong.

"Yes, Master. I will obey," she found herself saying, confirming his words. She was devoted to him. To Luke. She was his devoted slave, and she would do whatever he said. It felt so weird to even think it, but it was the undeniable truth. Luke just raised an eyebrow.

"Wait, are you messing with me?"

"No, I swear," Julie shook her head. "I feel... different. Like… I'll do whatever you say."

Luke looked down at the totem in his hand and then back at her.

"Oh, ha ha. Come on, you don't think I'd believe this would actually work? This is insane."

"I know it is, but it's also true, Master."

"Very funny, Julie. You're a terrible actress. I know you're just messing with me."

"No, Master, I swear it's not a prank. I honestly am ready to do whatever you say."

Luke rolled his eyes. He put the totem down and looked at Julie.

"Alright then, allow me to call your bluff. Come here and kiss me passionately."

Julie's heart skipped a beat as Luke's request echoed in her mind. She felt an irresistible pull inside her. It wasn't that she wanted to kiss him, but she couldn't resist. She was his devoted slave, and she would do anything he told her to do. And he just told her to kiss him passionately. So, she leaned in and kissed him, opening her mouth to push her tongue inside his. She wrapped her hands around his neck and caressed him. She kissed him, passionately, her body responding to his touch. Luke was pleasantly surprised by the sudden turn of events. He pulled her closer and deepened the unexpected kiss.

Julie was lost in the moment, evaluating this newfound purpose of serving her Master. She felt restrained in her submission, a disconnect from the privilege of decision-making. This was wrong, she knew, but it was her now. This was who she was. His slave.

Then, Luke broke the kiss and pulled away. He looked at Julie with a mixture of disbelief and amazement.

"I can't believe it," he said. "You're really under my control?"

"Yes, Master," she replied, her voice filled with devotion.

Luke's pulse hammered. How many nights had he imagined peeling her clothes off? He'd jerked off plenty to memories of Julie in her skinny jeans at parties, that round ass begging to be gripped. Or leaning forward in tank tops, cleavage teasing him for years. But seeing her standing docile, ripe for the taking? Fuck. Better than any fantasy.  His grin turned wolfish, heat surging straight to his dick.

"Get naked, Julie."

Julie hesitated for a moment, but then quickly obeyed. She stood up and removed her clothes, revealing her naked body to Luke's gaze. Luke's eyes lit up with lust as he looked at her. He looked back towards the trail, but it was hidden behind a small hill. The chances of someone coming here were slim. Luke commanded her to kneel before him and take out his cock, and Julie complied.

She knelt between his legs and opened his pants, pulling them down just enough to get his cock out. Luke looked at her in disbelief while she looked at him expectantly.

"Is this really happening?"

"Yes, Master. I can barely believe it myself…"

"You are my… devoted slave… just like that?"

"It seems so, yes."

"This is amazing. And you will do anything I say?"

"Yes, Master."

"Suck me off, Julie. Please."

"Yes, Master."

As she performed her task, Julie realized that she was completely under Luke's control. She was powerless to resist him, and her only purpose was to please him. She bobbed her head up and down, hearing him groan and moan and telling her how amazing this felt.

As she worked, Julie's thoughts swam in hazy contrast—her body moving with practiced ease while a sliver of her consciousness screamed behind fogged glass. The salt-bitter taste on her tongue, the scrape of denim against her knees, the way Luke's thighs tensed as he bucked into her mouth… it all registered distantly, like watching herself in a dream. Some kind of twisted pleasure prickled under her skin each time he gasped, "good girl," her core clenching helplessly at the praise.

He came pretty fast, his warm sticky cum coating her tongue. Mechanically, she spat into the grass, wiping her chin with a tissue he offered. Luke thanked her and told her to get dressed. Julie obeyed, her limbs moving like marionette strings. She was still feeling the effects of the totem's power. And she knew that she was completely under Luke's control, powerless to resist him.

She wondered if she would ever be able to break free from this spell, or if she would be forever enslaved to her Master.

Luke looked worried and kept glancing at Julie. After a while, he started talking.

"Hey, Julie, don't call me Master in public, okay? It could cause problems."

"Yes, Mas-" she caught herself, cheeks flushing. "Sorry. What... are you planning to do with me now?

Luke blinked, brow furrowing as if confused by the question. "You'll be my girlfriend, of course," he stated matter-of-factly, tone almost incredulous that she required clarification. In his mind, this fact was as inevitable as the moon rising each night.

Her heart sank. She had no romantic feelings for Luke, but she couldn't disobey him either. "Okay, Master. I'll do whatever you say."

Julie felt dreadful suddenly. She liked Luke as a friend, but she wasn't attracted to him in that way. However, she knew she had to obey him.

"Wait!" Suddenly remembering her actual relationship status felt like a bucket of ice dumped over her head. "What about my boyfriend?!"

Luke merely shrugged, expression bordering on annoyance. "So break up with him. Obviously." As if dismissing someone's partner ranked alongside choosing dinner plans in triviality.

Numb resignation flooded back, smothering her protests. Julie's shoulders slumped in defeat. "Yes, Master," she whispered.

"Get it done, Julie." Luke then told her firmly, "And don't tell anyone what happened today. This stays between us, alright?"

"Yes, Master."

"Good girl. Now, when you've dumped your boyfriend, doll yourself up and come to my place. I want to see my new slave slash girlfriend looking her best."

Julie didn't know what to think, but she knew she had no choice but to obey. She nodded again, the dread in her stomach growing by the second. "Yes, Master. I'll be there."

Julie stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom, staring at her reflection. Her mind was still reeling from what had happened earlier. She had broken up with her boyfriend as her Master had commanded her to, but she couldn't shake the feeling of absolute dread ever since Luke 'enslaved' her. It had been as easy as pointing a totem and saying one sentence. How on earth had her whole life gone off the rails this quickly?

She wondered what "doll yourself up" meant to Luke. She always kind of knew he had found her attractive, but now that she was his devoted slave, she couldn't even begin to imagine what he might expect from her. Julie racked her brain. What exactly did Luke consider "hot"? Bits of forgotten conversations resurfaced: him drunkenly praising that volleyball player's toned body at last year's Olympics, his obsessive rewatches of 'Underworld' ("Selene's leather catsuit, man…"). Always the same type: athletic, dark hair, usually pale-skinned, just like her. At the time she'd tuned it out, the same way she ignored his lingering stares when she wore yoga pants. Now those throwaway comments became vital intel.  

It was clear that he would want her to look sexy, and she had to make sure she met his expectations. She started by taking a long shower, shaving every inch of her body to make it silky smooth. Then, she applied a generous amount of body lotion, feeling the coolness of the lotion on her skin.

She sprayed some of her favorite perfume on her neck, feeling a familiar sense of allure as the scent filled the room. Her perfume made her feel confident. Perhaps this confidence, this sexuality, would give her a modicum of power in this new, fucked-up puppet show that her life had become. Why wasn't she crying right now? Because Luke hadn't told her to? Because it felt natural on some level?

Next, Julie began working on her hair, curling it into loose waves that cascaded over her shoulders. She took great care to apply her makeup, accentuating her eyes and lips. She knew she had to look as sexy as possible. She searched through her closet, looking for the perfect dress to wear. Still unsure about Luke's expectations, she figured she couldn't go wrong showing as much skin as possible. She squeezed herself into the shortest strapless black dress she had, and then she slipped on a pair of sheer stockings and matching high heels to complete the look.

As she stepped out of her house and made her way to Luke's, she felt another pang of dread. She walked down the street while her mind raced with thoughts of how she could get her friend back to his normal self. Or at least somehow escape his control. She didn't want to be Luke's girlfriend, especially if it was just to cover up the fact that she was his devoted slave. Julie reminded herself that this was the actual problem. She was conflicted, but couldn't see a way out of her predicament. At least, not one he might immediately deny her with a single sentence.

When she arrived at his door, she took a deep breath. She reached her hand up, as slowly as she could, and rang the bell. Luke answered and welcomed her in with a grin. Julie was relieved that he seemed normal. But she knew she had to act quickly.

"Master, can we talk?" she asked.

"Of course, dear. Come inside."

Luke stepped aside to let Julie in. They sat down in the small living room.

"I don't want to be your girlfriend," Julie blurted out. "I don't think this is right. You've got to snap out of it before it's too late!"

"Oh, Julie, you always were a straight shooter. Don't worry about it, my dear. You'll come around."

Julie felt a lump form in her throat. She had hoped he would listen to reason, but it seemed he was still under the statue's influence.

"Please, Master. I need to be myself again; I don't want to be your slave. This isn't right. You know that. Don't you?" Her voice pleading, tears welling in her eyes.

"I understand how you feel, Julie. I am sorry for what I put you through. I had no idea. I'm sorry." Luke's face contorted, mouth tightening, brows knitting together in a semblance of remorse. 

"I-It's alright, Master. You didn't know how it made me feel. But you are my friend after all. I knew you couldn't do this to me. Not really. So please… turn me back to normal?"

Julie was hopeful that her friend was still in there. To her surprise, Luke sighed and pulled the little statue out of his pocket.

"Don't worry, Julie. I had a hunch you would feel this way. I'll fix you, and then everything will be alright."

"Oh, Master," Julie felt utterly relieved. "Thank you so much! I was so afraid all day; it was such a nightmare. You have no idea how-"

"You love me, Julie," he cut her off. "You are deeply, madly in love with me. I am the only man for you, and the best thing that ever happened to you was me finding this statue and using it on you. It is the reason you found your purpose in life: To serve me."

Julie gasped and felt a supernatural sensation hit her senses as Luke's words took hold. Before she could comprehend what they did to her, he continued.

"You are grateful that I enslaved you. You are happy to be my adoring girlfriend in public and my devoted servant whenever we're alone. It's all you ever want to be. And all you ever want to do is please me because you adore and worship me with every fiber of your body."

She felt herself smiling, her heart filled with a warm, fuzzy feeling. She was happy, truly happy, for the first time in her life.

"Yes, Master," she said, her voice filled with adoration. "I love you, and I want nothing more than to please you."

"See?" he said, putting the statue down. "I told you, everything will be alright."

Julie sat on Luke's lap, feeling his strong arms around her. They were in his bedroom now. She looked into his eyes and felt a deeply rooted sense of love and adoration.

"Master, I want to show you how much you mean to me," she whispered.

"Oh, do you now?"

"Yes, Master. I want to please you in every way possible," Julie replied. "I want to be the perfect slave for you. What can I do to make you happy?"

Luke stroked her hair, savoring the feeling of control he had over her. "Well, first of all, you can start by kissing me."

Julie leaned in and pressed her lips against Luke's, feeling a surge of excitement run through her body. She kissed him deeply, feeling his tongue explore her mouth.

Luke pulled back, smiling. "That was nice, but you can do better than that. Show me how much you want me."

Julie understood what Luke wanted. She leaned in again and kissed him passionately, running her hands over his body. She unbuttoned his pants and felt his hands roam over her own body, feeling up her breasts. He stopped kissing her to pull down her dress and let her breasts pop out of it. "I love your boobs," he breathed in her face.

"They are yours, Master," Julie assured him with a serene smile. "My body is made for your pleasure."

She kissed him again, pressing herself against him. Luke leaned in and whispered in her ear.

"Would you like to give me a little dance before we get started?"

She nodded eagerly, feeling proud as she realized how much she was willing to do for her master. Julie spent all night showing her love and devotion to Luke, eager to please him in every way possible. She knew that she would do anything for him and that she was truly his devoted slave. Him finding this totem truly was the best thing that ever happened to her.