Retribution

ylor, and Anne sat around the dining table. Ann

the business

trying to exaggerate, dear, bu

g. "Should I speak to Thomas,

e, honey,"

n Diego's cell phone rang. He glanced at t

, I remember. Okay, I'll be right there

his family, his confidence restored

replied. "There's enough time for you

ft alone, her thoughts swirling, when the doorbell rang. She ope

me," Anne exclaimed. "I was actuall

e me out here chatting

. "Oh, I am so sorry for m

d her to the living room

ting someone el

They left for a meeting a fe

's face. "Having troubles with the busi

t I can't. Mom and Dad put their trust in me. Do you

hten the mood. "Why don't we get your mi

hat? I'm at the end of a tiny rope... no distractions, or else

rgued, "then there'll be a bigger distraction, and you'll event

led deeply. "Alright, fin

ed. "Ten

n eyebrow. "S

," Mia c

otiate, Barbie doll? I thought negotiation t

My negotiation

st into laughter, e

n minutes,"

Gosh, you are such a buz

working, he's having meetings.

ugh," Mia

out it," An

ile and talk about the ingredients. Do you have cocoa powder,

en is not like your Barbie doll kitchen, Mia. My kit

Anne? I wanted to take your mind off t

uld order pizza; it's pretty much

ng thinner by the day. You look like a toothbrush,

o that in ten minutes, Barbie do

s is the fourth r

r being nosy, but I wanna know. What ar

d. "How wou

laughter, and Mi

it seems I put a laugh on your face," Mia

nne said, smiling warmly. "It's been months s

and chatted as they

he patients within. Selina Richard sat in her cold, sterile room, lost in thoughts that swirled like a dark vortex, each one pulling her further

Richard," Laura stated,

was waiting, her eyes already brimming with tears as she saw the state of her daughter. Selina's once

out of here." Frances sobbed softly, the weight of her failure evident in her every word. "I tried my best to hire a good lawyer, but the judge said it's not sa

forming on her lips as she spoke in

er in shock. "Huh?" she gasp

er," Selina repeated, her voic

re for years. Do you like it here? Don't you want a good job

as cold as the room they were in, "I don't like

you're starting to scare me now, love. Please,

om, her presence cutting the moment short. "Sorry t

ed, desperation creeping into her voice.

. She is dangerous," Laura insisted,

fury barely contained. "News f

ing for you now," Laura said nonchalantl

ura said, "Walk to yo

e door, she paused, turning back to her mother with a sinister grin that made Fr

... Did Selina grin at me? She..." Her thoughts traile

We want to lock the building

elf. "I know my daughter, I promise. Something is g

e was wearing t

nces demanded, her voice rising in anger. "Ar

he call of security," La

coming back for my daughter, and that's a promise from a mother to her daughte

er mind a storm of dark thoughts. Laura barged in,

t, her voice laced with venom. "I hope you didn't

sion devoid of any fear. "I told her

d across the face. "Who are you trying to fool?" she snarled. "You can fool you

," Selina shot back, her wo

orcefully. "What did you say? You'll be punished for

ile room filled with ominous-looking equipment. "I guess you

I was out of line. Please forgive me. I don't n

ura responded,

instant. "Indeed," she said, h

ift in Selina's tone before she was struck hard

itch," Laura hissed

dark amusement. "I thought you warned us against harsh language

he. "You... are... s-s-sick," she choked out, her

s dead. She stood up, her expression unreadable as s

na turned on the fire al

o the room, concern etched on their faces. The

ed panic. "She... she was about to punish me when she started

d at the scene

I don't know. I am scared, I don't want to end up like her. Please, I

bserving the situation, asked, "

ask me anything, I am anxious right now. Can I... can

. "Take the corpse out, guys.

e female doctor, Doctor 4, approached Selina, who was still sobb

you can talk to me," Doctor

Don't make it hard for yourself, or else you

shift in Selina's tone. "What?" she wh

" Selina said, her voice cold and calcul

mind racing. "You... you murd

ctor Laura. She treated me like trash, like I was some orphan begging for a penny. When I get out of here, I'll make sure

was palpable. "W

elina said, her

ieving her freedom, and nothing, not even the blood on her hands, would stop her from getting what she wanted. The taste of freed