Tina had not heard from Chelsea in a little over a year. Back then, the two of them were the faces of the national champion University of Kentucky Cheerleading program. They were fixtures of the program. Heck, they were fixtures of college cheerleading in general. Tina was on the left side of each pyramid, and Chelsea on the right. Two perky, energetic southern belles, perfectly balanced, aesthetically flawless. Totally unbeatable.
But then Chelsea graduated. And a few months ago, the judges were not blown away with Kentucky’s performance. Score sheets included observations like, “Technically sound, but somehow out of synch,” as well as “Lacks the symmetry of previous champions.”
Those were nice ways of saying, “Tina couldn’t cut it without Chelsea.”
And Tina knew they were exactly right. So, when she received a text message from her former co-captain, Tina was mentally packing her bag for Los Angeles before she’s even finished reading the invitation.
-----------
Tina couldn’t believe she was catching her break. When Chelsea graduated and became a stunt person for a major motion picture studio, Tina knew she wanted to follow in her footsteps. Now, she was landing at LAX and getting picked up by a Loviante Studios driver. He was easy to spot in the crowd of casually dressed assistants carrying tablets with names of passengers in large fonts on the screens. @Loviante sent a tall, stoic man dressed in a classic black suit with pristine white board and Tina’s name printed in clear block lettering. As Tina approached, the driver did not even wait for her to introduce herself.
“Your limousine awaits,” was all he said before easily lifting Tina’s bag and walking toward the main ground transportation doors.
Tina’s new life was almost upon her.
-------------
The work was hard but exhilarating. Two months in and Tina had shot fight scenes, chase scenes, falls, underwater shoots…you name it. She’d even been chained down to a stone alter and sacrificed twelve times during a day-long shoot.
Loviante treated her like a star, even though she was just the stunt double. She was kept in a five-star hotel. Meals were delivered to her room or to the set or to the trailer. Everything was carefully arranged and controlled at all times.
Safety was also a huge priority. Tina was given a thorough physical examination. Everything was checked out and she was deemed to be in perfect health, an elite athlete, able to handle the grueling rigorous this life would require.
Tina especially enjoyed the costume fittings. There were so many fantastic outfits she’s try on, and each one tailors to fit her body precisely. As special as that attention made her feel, Tina did NOT enjoy the “molding” process. Exact molds of her arms, her legs, her hands, and even her face, were made using pitchers and pitchers of pliable goop poured over her. She had to remain perfectly still for hours as the mixture hardened. For the facial mold, Tina was forced to breath through a tube for several hours.
Tina wasn’t sure how many movies she’d shot scenes for, but it must have been a lot. She’d been so busy she’s still not had a chance to see her friend Chelsea. But that was going to change soon.
------
The same driver that picked her up at LAX delivered Tina to the steps of the famous Loviante Mansion. Tina must have impressed the owners to be invited to the family home and the symbolic capital of old Hollywood power and influence.
This was it. Tina had made it, and there was no turning back.
--------
Chelsea heard the snap of heavy composite manacles locking around the wrists of someone at the other end of the book shelf she’d been positioned beside. Poor thing. It’s so hard at first. In time, her body will begin producing pain blocking endorphins and numb her mind to ease the stress of holding herself statue-still all day, everyday.
Even after weeks, Chelsea had not totally perfected keeping her ribs expanded in her exhales. It was a necessary talent to acquire to prevent the constant scraping caused by the sharp and jagged prongs build into every edge of the body harness locked onto her.
Chelsea’s lithe, athletic form sheened brightly beside the dark mahogany wood work that dominated the parlor. Before she’d been installed in her location, she was treated to the site of her beautiful framed curves. Never had she looked more supple and feminine than now with the dark, hard bands hugging her contours.
The clanging had stopped followed by small talk and then footsteps as the maintenance staff left to the staff access areas on the mansion. Chelsea decided to focus on her stillness and not to listen to the new one shifting and straining. It was pointless anyway.
———-
“I cannot belief they found such an excellent pairing. It’s almost a perfect match!” Mrs Loviante explained happily.
“Truly remarkable,” agreed the guest. “Did you say they came from Georgia?”
“No dear, Kentucky,” corrected Mes Loviante. “Oh see the time. Let’s retire to the promenade for tea.”
———
Chelsea heard the loud snapping of hard composite against itself. Locks that were not ever meant to be undone were being closed, permanently binding the arms of someone who was like Chelsea was however long ago it was that she was changed.
Chelsea found the sounds pleasantly distracting. Small talk once the installation had been completed. A few laughs as they dared touch and harass the new fixture. Then hurried steps as they fled back to the staff areas of the mansion, but not before a hand slapped her thigh.
Chelsea didn’t flinch.
Immobility was imposed by her bondage and enforced by hard, jagged “teeth” that covered the perfectly fitted bands strapped all over her body. Chelsea had even learned to keep her chest expanded when she exhaled so as not to jab her ribs into those hated teeth when her ribs compressed.
But all the noises and touches had passed. There was nothing left to do but focus on remaining still. Chelsea was good at holding a position precisely. The new fixture would acquire that skill as well. In time.
———
Tina ached all over. Her head was painfully tilted back so she could support the globe shaped bulb the sat upon the the mouth filling molded gag on the underside of the sculpted hard foam face plate sealed over her face. Her tears could not escape the vacuum of the torturous devise, much less a whimper or a cry.
Air and some kind of sludgy liquid were delivered to her through hoses inserted through the gag apparatus. She thought she’d drown until she swallowed what she realized to be her first meal of her new life.
Tinas freedom and her senses had all been stolen in an instant. Loviante was taking its time stealing her will. Struggle brought only pain but pain reminded her that she was more than an object so Tina made what pathetic struggles she could. They appeared as little more than trembles across the exposed expanses of her creamy flesh. Tina thought she was sending. A message of resistance but in truth; no one noticed or cared.
——-
“Wait. Go on and turn them off before we go.” Mrs Loviante encouraged.
“Really? They’re functional? How do they work?” Asked the guest.
Tina was forced to hear each and every objectifying word.
“I don’t know the mechanics of it but just pull down on the wire. Pull sharply. Yes. Just like that.”
Tina heard a soft click as the the dome light mounted to what atina presumed was another kidnapped woman toggled off. Tina waited for the sharp sting of the wire cutting into her own nipple to sear its message into Tina’s mind.
“That one is a little bit stubborn, Dear,” stated Mrs Loviante. “Try giving it a lift straight up and THEN snap it down.”
Tian had prepared herself but the pain combined with her inability to flinch with it flooded her mind and overcame her resistance. Tina worked the toggle switch by forcing herself to swallow. She heard the soft click of her light turning off.
“Splendid. Such lovely fixtures. Timeless really. I believe they’ll hold up well. Now let’s go have that tea.”