A Tooth For A Tooth

The guards took cotton balls and soaked it in rubbing alcohol. After sanitizing the wound, the guards fixed Peter's position and applied pressure on the injury.

"After everything that you've done, you dared harass my daughter in public while she was enjoying her date. Not only did you and your little girlfriend irritate her, you even insulted her. Your disgusting hands weren't kept to yourself. For that -" Eric paused and looked down at his wife.

Rosanna smiled slyly. She gave his wrist a small squeeze before speaking. "For that, you'll have to pay. Didn't your little girlfriend have pretty nails? Pretty sharp too. Guards, I'll give you a chance to learn how to do nails. Grab the nail kit on the shelf. Remember to glue those nails on with Loctite Plastics Bonding System. It is stronger than super glue. Oh, don't forget the shape driller. I want a specific sharp curve for the nails."

While two guards held Peter in place, the other two guards retrieved the nail kit from the shelf and opened it. Inside the kit, various shaping, smoothing and coloring manicure tools were organized by layers. The guards quickly took the specific glue Rosanna had mentioned and some fake nail pieces out of the kit.

Taking the clear artificial nails, they clumsily applied glue on it and pressed it on top of his fingernails. The sizes of the fake nails didn't matter to them as long as it was wide enough to cover the entire nail.

After the nails were glued on his fingers, Rosanna decided on a blossom pattern she liked on her phone. "Draw this using similar colors and the tools provided. If it is ugly, you need to rip the nail off and redo everything."

Nodding, the guards did as they were instructed. Once one nail was done, they'll move on to the next nail. If they messed up or the pattern wasn't up to Rosanna's expectations, the guards would peel it off. Since it was a much stronger type of glue, his skin and nail underneath were attached to the fake one.

Every time they peeled a nail off, blood would spurt out and a new fake nail would replace the extracted one. At the end of the torment session, Peter was left with ten bloody fingers. Not only that, the guards dripped hot salted lemon water on top as a remedy to grow out his nails.

Once everything was done, the guards stood up and replaced the protective gear they wore with a clean one. Wearing these uniform gears were required whenever the Clover family needed to deal with prisoners.

"Now, we will call it even for laying a finger on my daughter with your girlfriend. I told you to not address me wrongly. My only son-in-law is Jason." Rosanna's eyes narrowed as she gave him a final warning.

Rosanna returned to her seat and continued observing her nails. Seeing her satisfied smile, Eric whispered some words into her ears. She giggled in response and starting swinging her legs in a good mood.

After three minutes had passed, Eric started walking around in circles again. He continued from where he had left off. "As my wife had said just now, we're considered even for harassing Selina. Last but not least, you kidnapped and threatened my daughter. You brought her to an abandoned area and traumatized her psychologically. How should we have you pay this debt?"

Eric clapped twice, ordering the guards to lift Peter into the specially customized room. The guards tossed Peter's body into a room full of double-sided mirrors. The door was locked from the outside, leaving him trapped in the horrific room alone. Wherever he ran, he would witness his own fearful expression. His body distorted in different shapes and sizes as he looked for an exit in the maze room. Suddenly, he heard his own voice echoing.

He covered his ears, yet the voice didn't stop. His voice continued repeating, "I am you. This is the real you. I am your worst fear. Come. Come join yourself.."

"No! No! No, you are not me! I am myself! No!" Peter staggered as he tried looking for an exit. After attempting several times, he found it hopeless. All he saw were his own reflections and sharp metal spike dead-ends.

He panicked as he looked left and right for a way out. Unfortunately, the mirror effects made it difficult for him to find any possible escape routes. In less than half an hour, the last bits of rationality drained from his mind. He slammed his fists, but the mirrors didn't shatter.

Hearing his manipulative voice whispering negative thoughts to him, he slowly started accepting these ideas. In a confused state, he walked towards the sharp spikes and rubbed his finger on it. When he saw blood dripping down his finger, he laughed hysterically.

"This is my end." He backed away from the sharp wall. Spreading his arms out, he started imitating a bird's wings. Then, he dashed forward, letting the sharp spikes penetrate his body.

"Ah, one down and two more to go." Rosanna commented at the screen on the laptop. She rested her head on Eric's chest and unfolded her legs.

"Tired? I can deal with Justin and his father on my own. If you want to rest, you can go back first." Eric combed strands of her hair away from her face.

"Of course not. There were so many sleepless nights and wasted eye masks for my dark circles because of them. How could I sleep in peace without making sure they are dead?" Rosanna hopped out of her chair and extended her arm.

Smiling, Eric interlocked his finger with hers and nodded as they entered a different room. In an adjacent room, Justin and his father were bound to the wall by heavy metal chains.

"Just what exactly do you guys think you are doing to us? You are kidnapping innocent citizens for your sadistic desires! This is against the law! You better let us go, or we'll report you!" Justin screamed on top of his lungs hoping his threats would scare the guards.

"Shut your trap and just stay still. We already know who took us here. Save your saliva and warm your stomach instead. If we don't speak the truth, they won't kill us." Justin's father, Jordan warned his son to keep his mouth shut.

"And exactly what kind of law did you ever take seriously? A good citizen? You? Please, your hands are soaked in blood. Also, Jordan, did you think my husband, and I won't kill you? Ah, wait, you are right. We're going to torment you psychologically and physically. Which one do you want us to deal with first? Gouge your eyeballs to fry it as fish balls for your supper or skin your stomach and grill it like chicken?"

The door creaked open and the couple entered the soundproof room. Rosanna lazily yawned after speaking her thoughts. Her threats alone were enough to make them bite their bottom lips nervously. "Now, your choice. To talk or not to talk. To say what I want to hear or sing a river of bloodshed for me. Your choice. I gave you the options."