Test Subject, Part 4

Author's note:  The following story is satire, and is not intended to, in any
sense, impugn the fine folks at big tobacco companies who, no doubt, put
their customers best interests ahead of their profits.  

The author does not necessarily condone the use of tobacco, by adults or
minors, nor the use of illegal substances, nor masturbation, nor
participation in lesbian sex, nor any other morally questionable practice
depicted in the story.  Later parts of the story contain graphic sexual
language, and are not suitable for underage readers.  
Any resemblance to smoking fetish fiction is purely accidental.  
All other imaginable disclaimers apply.

Test Subject
Part 4: "The Call"

Somehow, she would make this happen. Getting back on the machine, as soon as
possible, was Maureen's top priority right now, and she was willing to do
whatever needed to be done to achieve her desire. 

Maureen sat in her favorite comfy chair, saturating her lungs again and again
with Allure smoke, while she pondered her plan of action. She took a forceful
drag on her cig, sighed as she exhaled, and took one more pull on it before
crushing it out in the overflowing ashtray on her lap. Maureen told herself
that this would be her last one for a little while, but soon felt an
overwhelming need to light up again. Happily, she gave in, and felt the new
influx of nicotine tickle the pleasure centers of her brain. Dr. Monroe had
warned her that after coming off of the machine, she might experience an
increased desire for her special cigarettes.

On some level, Maureen felt guilty about what she was about to do. Her sister
Julia was a happy, attractive, intelligent, and innocent high school
sophomore. She totally disapproved of Maureen's smoking habit, even without
knowing about her new Allure dependency. If she knew what becoming the newest
ATC guinea pig would do to her, she would never consent to the test. 

Maureen looked down at the newly lit cigarette between her slender fingers,
seeking some possible justification for involving her sister. She asked
herself, "Knowing what I know now, would I have started to smoke these things
if I had it to do over again?" With a strange, almost sinister looking smile,
she sucked the smoke aggressively inside her body, and in that moment she had
her answer. Without further hesitation, she picked up the phone to call her
sister.

"What's up, Sis?" Although the two sisters were different in terms of
temperament, they remained close, even after Maureen went away to college.

Maureen took a quick drag before speaking. "Hey! I got some exciting news for
you. You know how Mom and Dad told you they can't afford to pay for your
summer trip to Europe? I know a way to earn some quick money - enough to pay
for the trip with a little bit extra spending cash."

"Really? I'd do anything to be able to see Europe with my friends."

The strange smile returned to Maureen's lips as she took another puff and
then replied. "I can't tell you any specifics yet, but this is a really good
opportunity for you. I know you'll be glad you took advantage of it."

"Can't you tell me anything more?" Julia's tone indicated that her interest
had been aroused. She asked, half-jokingly, "It's not anything illegal, is
it?"

Maureen laughed, lightly, "No, nothing like that." That was true enough, or
at least would be in a few years. "All I can tell you is that you'll be a
participant in a psychology study off-campus. It's an experiment in memory
and concentration." This was also true. Dr. Monroe had told Maureen that
while Julia was trying Allures, she would be given a series of mental tasks
to measure their effects on a first time smoker.

"That sounds interesting. Why does it pay so much?"

Maureen preferred not to answer that question, so she replied, "All of your
questions will be answered when you come in. Trust me, you'll enjoy the
study, and maybe learn something. You've got to keep an open mind though." If
there was one thing that Julia prided herself on, it was on being open
minded. "Do you think you can come visit me tomorrow sometime?"

"Well, I'm not sure what I'm getting myself into, but yeah, I'll drive over
after school. I'm excited that I'll be able to afford my trip. What should I
tell Mom and Dad?"

This was another question that Maureen didn't want to reply to, so she took a
sharp hit on her cigarette and said, "Don't tell them anything just yet. Wait
to see if this is something you want to do. So, I'll see you around 5:00 or
so?" Maureen wanted to wrap up the conversation before Julia asked more
questions, or worse, changed her mind.

"Um- ok. Sure. I'll see you then."

"Sounds great. Hey, I gotta get going. Call me when you're on your way."

"I will. Love you."

Maureen took a final drag on her cigarette, and sucked the smoke into the
furthest recesses of her lungs, which tingled with pleasure. "I love you too,
little Sis. Bye." Maureen slept poorly that night, waking up several times
for a cigarette. When she did sleep, she dreamed about smoking. Surprisingly,
however, when it was time for her to get up the next morning, she felt
refreshed, eager for another nicotine filled day. She supposed that she
should have been concerned about her ever-deepening obsession with
cigarettes, but as she lit up, she didn't really care about anything except
getting as much smoke in her body as possible. If anything, she felt a sort
of excitement about being totally dominated by her cravings for cigarettes.
She inhaled the smoke almost mechanically, and surrendered herself to its
soothing influence.

She kept a cigarette lit pretty much all morning, and even opted to take a
bath instead of a shower so that she could smoke as she washed herself.
Maureen kept her cigarette in her mouth the whole time, and just let the
ashes fall of into the bath water. Midway through the morning, she opened her
third pack since yesterday, and smoked while she ate a bowl of cereal and
some toast. Fortunately, after her experience of running out the previous
day, she had made sure to pick up a couple of cartons of Allures from Dr.
Monroe.

Her day went smoothly. She smoked in the car on the way to school, and made
sure that she smoked right before each of her classes. She felt like she aced
her biology test, although all through the test she had the nagging desire to
go out for a quick smoke. However, with the sharper concentration that her
Allures gave her she was able to finish quickly, and rush right out for her
fix. 

Around 3:30, Julia called to let her know that she was on her way, and
Maureen immediately called Dr. Monroe to tell her the good news. Because she
was instructed to avoid smoking around Julia until she was tested, Maureen
spent the time until her sister arrived loading up on nicotine, so that the
cravings wouldn't be too unbearable later. When Julia arrived a little bit
after 4:30, Maureen met her outside.

"Are you ready to earn your Europe money?" Maureen asked, smiling. Although
she had just finished a cigarette before Julia got there, she already wanted
another one.

"Yeah. I'm still really curious what all this is about, though."

Maureen replied with the answer that she had rehearsed. "All of your
questions will be answered when we get there. It shouldn't take more than a
half hour of your time, and I've been told that they'll pay you in cash. I
took part in the study too. It's really easy."

Julia smiled at her sister. Although she was 16, she looked much younger,
perhaps because she wore her raven black hair short, with bangs, and still
had braces, which were due to come off in a couple months. She adjusted her
glasses on her button nose like she always did when she was nervous. "Ok.
Let's go."

On the way over to A.T.C., Maureen was careful to keep the conversation off
of the study. She drove quickly, eager to have get her sister all set up so
that she could smoke again.

As they entered the building, Maureen immediately noticed the lack of smoke
in the air. Dr. Monroe herself was waiting to greet them.

"Hi. You must be Julia. It's a pleasure to meet you. Maureen has told me so
much about you." Dr. Monroe's demeanor was entirely charming and disarming.
"If you'd like, please come this way and my assistant, Emily, will have some
papers for you to look at and sign before we begin."

Maureen gave her sister a hug. "Trust me. You won't regret taking part in
this study. Good luck, Sis, and have fun!"

Julia gave her sister a wry smile and fiddled with her glasses again, before
Dr. Monroe escorted her into a side room, where Emily was waiting. Dr. Monroe
returned and said, "Very good, Maureen. Very good. Come with me, and we'll
watch your sister's progress in a different room over a video feed."

The two women reached into their purses for their cigarettes as they walked.
Each lit up with an expression of intensity, and inhaled audibly. They sat
down in some comfortable chairs, and turned on the monitor to see Julia.

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