Don't move.

My name is Ryder and I can screw with your head.

Calm down! I didn't mean to startle you; not that badly, anyway. Guess it was a bit creepy, given how quiet the library is after hours. I have to admit that your fear does do something to me, though.

Dammit.

Anyway, you're probably wondering why you're frozen in your chair. I mean, sure, I snuck up behind you and whispered, "Don't move" in your ear, which I suspect I'll be nibbling on in a moment. But that's hardly a good reason for you to not be able to move a muscle, is it? Of course not.

Your hair smells wonderful, by the way.

Hey, don't cry! Take a deep breath and relax; you can see that everything is going to be fine, can't you? I thought so. Nothing bad is happening to you; feel the tension slip away while I rub your shoulders. That's better, isn't it? Oh, feel free to move again, but don't say anything. Just sit back and enjoy this.

Whew.

So where were we? Oh yes, my voice. As you have possibly guessed, I have a hypnotic voice. Okay, it sounds stupid, but that's the easiest way to say it. I tell someone to do something and they do it; I make a suggestion and it sounds reasonable. No, scratch that - it's the right thing to do.

For example, you don't mind if I kiss your neck, do you? Thanks.

It's strange, isn't it? Each kiss ... turns you on ... a bit more. It won't be long until .. you can't ignore the fact that you want me ... will it?

I should probably stop now if I'm going to get her set up tonight.

A bit more ...

You know, you purr like ... skip it. Anyway, my voice does things to people. Stop that, I'm trying to concentrate. Does thing to people. It must have been the accident; you can see the scar across my throat. Here, stand up and let me take the chair.

Okay, now just sit in my lap. Gods, but you have brown eyes.

The piece of glass cut my vocal cords up a bit. I don't know if it was the wound or the doctor's attempt to fix it, but it did something to my speech. You can see, or rather hear, the effect. Once I figured out what was going on, I did some experiments. They were small at first, little requests that wouldn't attract attention if I was merely delusional, but they sort of ... grew as I realized what my voice was capable of. Nothing serious, but they aren't kidding when they say "power corrupts".

Yum, strawberry lips.

So, I'm lying there next to the nurse when it hits me. If I can do this, what are the odds that no one else can? There's nothing new under the sun, right? And if there are other people like me, are they a threat? Hell, does the government know? Maybe I've seen too many cheap sci-fi movies, but those ideas pretty much killed my libido. Well, stunned it anyway.

Let me help you with those buttons.

I managed to get my medical records changed to say that the accident left me mute. I can't talk around people without having weird things happen, so now I'm learning sign language; you may remember the books I checked out earlier. That was when I noticed you; your short black hair caught my eye and then I saw you smile ...

Whoa.

Do you know how distracting you are? I am so glad you aren't wearing a wedding ring; that'll make things easier for me.

Uh, anyway, I realized there should be some way to look for evidence of other controllers. What I need is information about various things, missing persons cases, mass hysteria, amnesia, odd stuff that might give me a lead. Of course, to get that information I need agents and my first agent is - you!

Oh, you're ticklish? How about if I do ... this? Heh.

I don't even know if you're likely to find anything and at the moment that doesn't really matter, does it? Stand up so I can clear the desk off, would you? We can talk later.