Justice by My Own Hands

Jack was not surprised to see me in the hospital.

He was busy with a cotton swab and iodine, cleaning Yvonne's cut. He simply glanced at me before he snapped, "Where's Cindy hiding? Do you really think you can keep her safe? I'll make you give up soon."

Jack was so mad that he pressed too hard, and Yvonne let out a little hiss of pain.

"If she won't come and say sorry, then it's her own fault for what happens next," Jack growled.

"These fingers are just the right size. I need them for a special necklace that's supposed to bring luck. So, I'm taking this one," Yvonne said, holding up a finger.

I was shaking all over, unsure if it was because of anger or fear. I scrambled over to Yvonne.

"Give my daughter's fingers back!"

Yvonne jumped when she saw me crawling over. She kicked me in the face and hid in Jack's arms.

Jack frowned down at me. "It's been hours. It's too late to fix her fingers now. What's the point of giving them to Yvonne?

"I'll get Cindy a fake hand later. Don't make a scene here and embarrass me!" he said.

I could not believe what I was hearing. How could a father say such crazy things about his own daughter?

He had cut off his sweet little girl's fingers to give to his childhood friend as a present. It was ridiculous.

"Bring Cindy out now, or you'll have to say sorry to Yvonne yourself. Keep apologizing until she's not mad anymore!" Jack demanded, puffing with anger. Yvonne smirked beside him.

She looked at me like I was nothing more than an ant, all high and mighty. However, in front of Jack, she acted like she was the nicest person in the world.

"Don't worry, Jack. I'm not the type to hold a grudge. Let's not get upset over a kid.

"I just don't get how Amelia raised her to be so sensitive. I asked her to call me 'Mom', but she can't even do that."

She sounded like she was trying to make peace, but her words were actually stirring up trouble.

Jack had his belt out, ready to give me a good whipping.

However, this time, I was not going to just stand there and take it. I quickly stepped aside.

"Cindy can't come," I said, my voice flat but filled with anger.

I wished so badly that those two would feel the pain they had caused and would suffer like my daughter did. I wished they were the ones gone, not her.

Slap!

Before I knew it, a hard slap hit my face.

My cheek turned red and swelled up, and blood started pouring from my nose. I crumpled to the ground in a heap.

"If Cindy won't come to apologize, then you'll get her punishment," he said.

Blood filled my mouth, but I could not help smiling through the pain.

"Cindy's gone! She's dead! She's never coming back! Hitting me won't change that. You can't bring her back!"

Jack looked stunned for a second, but then he got even angrier.

He grabbed my chin so hard it felt like he might break it.

"You're lying. You can't even come up with a decent excuse. How could I forgive her for what she did?

"She’s only five, yet she’s already thinking about hurting Yvonne. What will she do when she gets older? Will she bully other kids or worse?"

He lifted his arm to hit me again, but a nurse rushed in and stopped him.

"Ms. Scott, we have the report about what happened to your daughter."

I forced a sad smile, lifting my head to look at Jack with determination. "You still don't believe it?"

Jack's eyes were dark, and he did not even pause before he spoke. "You'd do anything to trick me, wouldn't you? You even paid an actress to put on a show right here," Jack said, looking down at the young nurse with scorn. "Whatever Amelia is paying you, I'll double it. Now, get out of here! You're in the way!"