Nick was also watching the others, giving you a tilt of his head when he spotted Jordan and Tony were fascinated with a couple of the local girls.
Quietly, he confided that he had to run an errand. As the pair of you split off from Jordan and Tony, he confesses that he needed a little parental assistance to afford this little trip. Sharing his pain, and discomfort, you could only afford it because of your week-end job.
Not an issue for the others, who were studying for their degrees before getting a job working in the family business. You need your degree, for any prospect of a decent career. Nick too, blushing he admitted he'd pretended this was partly a study trip. So, his parents were expecting a few pictures from a local museum.
He wants the trip out of the way as soon as possible, so he can relax and enjoy the rest of the trip. Somehow, you suspect his parents aren't as gullible as Nick imagines, but you play along. Following the directions on his phone, you head off to the museum.
Arriving at your destination, you regret coming, knowing it's going to be a horrific experience. The pair of you look up at the expansive plantation house. It's well manicured lawn, picket fence, and fresh coat of paint make it look immaculate.
However, the sign on the front grass tells you the museum to the history of slavery on the island is still open.
Trying to put on a brave face, it looks like it's been modernised recently. Opening the gate, you walk up the path to the wide open front door. It's a perfect restoration or preservation, the electricity subtly placed to look like it fits.
A couple of cases show the shackles and collars used for keeping the slaves. A local girl startles you as she emerges from a side room.
"Can you imagine wearing that, and being considered less than human... treated as property?" she asks.
Nodding your head, you agree, but you see that Nick is less taken with the question, and more with the tour guide. With your head low, you sneak a sly look. She is young, stacked, fit and thicc. Straightening up, you focus on keeping your eyes on her face, and not falling into that incredible cleavage, or down to that taut tummy. Those incredible hips provide their own risks, too.
She hands you a couple of the collars to examine as if you're an audience member at a magic show. They're surprisingly heavy, and simple. The simple hinge and the loop at the back to be sealed with a lock, or added to a coffle line. Nick is fidgetting with his, distracting himself with it's smooth movement.
"Are... Are we meant to wear these for the tour?" he asks awkwardly.
Silently you curse him, you want to hand the damned things back.
"Perhaps you can see if they fit you?" The guide asks, her voice sweet, seductive and innocent.
Nick's is snapped in place before you can show any hesitancy yourself. And scowl to show your unhappiness.
"And you?" the girl asks you. The pressure mounting, you don't know if she's the descendant of slaves, or if her forefathers worked on this plantation hacking down cane sugar in the heat. But, you comply, to be able to move on.
Opening her hands, you see two metal pins resting in her open palms. Like oversized rivets, they rest there. Swallowing nervously, you feel sick as she gestures for you both to kneel down.
"It's part of the tour..." you tell yourself, repeating it like a mantra. You feel as much as hear the soft clink of metal on metal as she drops the pins into your collars. Resisting the urge to inspect them, you see the same green look from Nick.
"Let's start this tour now..." she takes you to a couple of mirrors to inspect your reflection. It's bad enough seeing Nick collared, and feeling your own. Seeing it too, just adds to the rising nausea.
"Let's see what your role would have been on the plantation."
The guide stands a foot or so shorter than either of you. But, uncollared she seems to loom over you both.
At the press of a button, she stands between you. A hand comfortably around your waists, "For this experience, your mine... just relax and enjoy it.
As you look at the mirrors, you start to spot differences. Staring intently, you hope the lighting returns to normal. Whether a cloud is passing by outside, your looking darker in the mirror. But the longer and harder you stare the more extreme it seems to become. As you watch your lips thicken, and your nose broaden you, raise a hand to your face.
It's still the same pale hand as ever. In the mirror it's reflected matching your face. Finally the penny drops, and you realise it's not a mirror, this is an app of some kind. A damned convincing one, a terrified glance from Nick tells you his reflection is shifting too.
As all traces of your real selves are erased from the mirror, you take in the look of dread and horror that remain. Your humanity still intact, buried behind new features and a very different hairstyle.
"Ready, now?" The guide asks. Both of you are eager to step away from these nightmarish reflections.
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