was my
last chance to get a good night's rest. "When do we start?"
James pushed up his sleeve and glanced at his watch.
"How long does it take you to get ready for bed?"
"Wait... now? It's still early!"
"According to the questionnaire, you've been
sleeping an average of two hours a day. We'll have plenty of time to normalize
your sleeping schedule, but for now, we have to get you rested up first. So,
changing room is over there," he pointed towards a door in the back of the
room. "Doubles as your bathroom. Take whatever time you need to get ready
for bed. Remember, the more relaxed you are, the easier this goes. Just push
the button on the wall when you are ready to turn in." And with that, my
nerdy lab tech walked out of the room.
I looked around after the doors closed. Other than the
bed, the room really was bare. I pushed my hand against the mattress, testing
out the bed. Memory foam. Should be fine. The pillows were thick and
fluffy. The sheets were soft and felt good against my arms. Good bed. I
pushed down on the mattress, trying to see if the bed creaked. Quiet too.
A black dome in the ceiling caught my eye. The forms
I'd signed said I might be recorded, but I hadn't expected the camera right
over the bed. But then, I didn't expect anything I'd seen so far. All I knew
about the study before I'd arrived earlier was what the ad in the school paper
had told me. The study had a high success rate and paid a decent amount of
money at the end. The money was a bonus. I just wanted some sleep.
I stepped into the bathroom and shut the door. Lights
turned on automatically. I slipped my overnight bag off my shoulder and unpacked.
Toothbrush, paste, make-up. Fresh clothes for the morning and a nightie for
bed. I unfolded the nightie and pressed it to my body before turning towards
the mirror. The light pink dress ended a few inches before my knees. I
instantly regretted not bringing pajama pants. I know for next time. The
nightie might cover me up, but not as much as I want. I didn't think I'd be
recorded.
I pulled my chestnut hair up into a ponytail, then
slipped out of my day clothes. I unhooked my bra as well, letting the lacy
white garment slip down my arms to join the rest of my discarded clothes on the
floor. Left in nothing but a pair of thong undies, I pulled the nightie over my
head and let the loose nightshirt settle over my skin. When I looked in the
mirror, I could see my nipples pressing against the cotton. Great. James is
going to love this.
My bare feet slapped against the cold tiles as I left
the bathroom. With my arms crossed over my chest, I pushed the red button on
the wall. In seconds, James was back in the room with me. Was he just
waiting outside?
"All set then?" he asked. "Do you need
a glass of water or something before we start?"
I shook my head. I want to sleep, not talk to you
all night. "Let's get started. I really hope this works."
"Well, hop up on the bed and get comfortable. I
have to get a few things queued up. Back in a minute." James disappeared
into the small monitoring room.
I climbed onto the bed and slipped under the warm
sheets. The light above me dimmed before changing from soft white to a multicolored
rainbow that shifted randomly. "Pretty..."
"And functional," James said as he walked
towards the bed. "The lights respond to the music. The combination of
aural and visual stimuli increases the chance of success nearly tenfold."
"As long as I pass out, I don't care what you
have to do."
James laughed and picked up the headphones. He slid
the soft leather cups over my ears and adjusted the headband. Satisfied with
the fit, he pulled a cup away from my ear for a moment.
"Comfortable?"
With half a yawn, I answered. "Yes. Thank
you."
"Good." The ear cup pressed back to my head.
As soon as it did, soft, melodic music filled my ears. That's pretty too...
My eyes grew heavy almost instantly. The shifting
lights danced above me as the music lulled me to sleep. But before my eyes
closed
last chance to get a good night's rest. "When do we start?"
James pushed up his sleeve and glanced at his watch.
"How long does it take you to get ready for bed?"
"Wait... now? It's still early!"
"According to the questionnaire, you've been
sleeping an average of two hours a day. We'll have plenty of time to normalize
your sleeping schedule, but for now, we have to get you rested up first. So,
changing room is over there," he pointed towards a door in the back of the
room. "Doubles as your bathroom. Take whatever time you need to get ready
for bed. Remember, the more relaxed you are, the easier this goes. Just push
the button on the wall when you are ready to turn in." And with that, my
nerdy lab tech walked out of the room.
I looked around after the doors closed. Other than the
bed, the room really was bare. I pushed my hand against the mattress, testing
out the bed. Memory foam. Should be fine. The pillows were thick and
fluffy. The sheets were soft and felt good against my arms. Good bed. I
pushed down on the mattress, trying to see if the bed creaked. Quiet too.
A black dome in the ceiling caught my eye. The forms
I'd signed said I might be recorded, but I hadn't expected the camera right
over the bed. But then, I didn't expect anything I'd seen so far. All I knew
about the study before I'd arrived earlier was what the ad in the school paper
had told me. The study had a high success rate and paid a decent amount of
money at the end. The money was a bonus. I just wanted some sleep.
I stepped into the bathroom and shut the door. Lights
turned on automatically. I slipped my overnight bag off my shoulder and unpacked.
Toothbrush, paste, make-up. Fresh clothes for the morning and a nightie for
bed. I unfolded the nightie and pressed it to my body before turning towards
the mirror. The light pink dress ended a few inches before my knees. I
instantly regretted not bringing pajama pants. I know for next time. The
nightie might cover me up, but not as much as I want. I didn't think I'd be
recorded.
I pulled my chestnut hair up into a ponytail, then
slipped out of my day clothes. I unhooked my bra as well, letting the lacy
white garment slip down my arms to join the rest of my discarded clothes on the
floor. Left in nothing but a pair of thong undies, I pulled the nightie over my
head and let the loose nightshirt settle over my skin. When I looked in the
mirror, I could see my nipples pressing against the cotton. Great. James is
going to love this.
My bare feet slapped against the cold tiles as I left
the bathroom. With my arms crossed over my chest, I pushed the red button on
the wall. In seconds, James was back in the room with me. Was he just
waiting outside?
"All set then?" he asked. "Do you need
a glass of water or something before we start?"
I shook my head. I want to sleep, not talk to you
all night. "Let's get started. I really hope this works."
"Well, hop up on the bed and get comfortable. I
have to get a few things queued up. Back in a minute." James disappeared
into the small monitoring room.
I climbed onto the bed and slipped under the warm
sheets. The light above me dimmed before changing from soft white to a multicolored
rainbow that shifted randomly. "Pretty..."
"And functional," James said as he walked
towards the bed. "The lights respond to the music. The combination of
aural and visual stimuli increases the chance of success nearly tenfold."
"As long as I pass out, I don't care what you
have to do."
James laughed and picked up the headphones. He slid
the soft leather cups over my ears and adjusted the headband. Satisfied with
the fit, he pulled a cup away from my ear for a moment.
"Comfortable?"
With half a yawn, I answered. "Yes. Thank
you."
"Good." The ear cup pressed back to my head.
As soon as it did, soft, melodic music filled my ears. That's pretty too...
My eyes grew heavy almost instantly. The shifting
lights danced above me as the music lulled me to sleep. But before my eyes
closed
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