Exploring Scotomisation: A Night of Revelation and Hypnosis
Seeing what we want to see, not what something actually is
Mitchell and Natasha share a quiet evening aboard Surly Mermaid. After dinner, they sip wine under a starry sky, watching for satellites. Mitchell teaches her how to spot them — tiny dots drifting slowly across the blackness. Natasha’s awe opens the door for deeper conversation.
He guides her into reflection: why do we see things that aren’t there? Why does the mind fill gaps with comforting illusions? He introduces the concept of scotomisation — the brain seeing what it wants, not what is. Natasha listens, wide-eyed. Mitchell believes that hidden within sleep and silence is a sanctuary — a space for healing beyond reality.
He asks if she remembers where her mind went after their time in the bay. She recalls warmth, floating, peace — but little more.
Through gentle hypnosis, Mitchell takes her back. While she’s under, he probes further — into memories of her mother, her secrets, and whether Natasha suspects his role in Nina’s past.
Satisfied with her silence, he wakes her, hiding the manipulation under charm.
Later, he confesses a deeper truth: he shares his mind with another — a darker presence. Natasha laughs it off at first, but grows uneasy. Her doubts spark Mitchell’s temper. He uses a trigger phrase to reassert control, resets her memory, and resets the night.
She awakes, smiling.
None the wiser.
[excerpt from SEETHINGS 2 — available for download now!]
Ch10
Originally published at
https://michaelformanwriting.com
.