Where the fuck am I? The dingy light flickered over Anthony’s head as he looked around. His mind ran slowly as he tried to think of how he got here. I was at the bar, knocking back a few drinks... Did I pass out? Looking around the room, he spotted a door in front of him. Someone must have left me in this room, now that I’m up I can go back to the bar and have a few more. Stumbling forward he knocked his knee into the table. Fucking table. Rubbing his knee, he stumbled around the table towards the door. Feeling a tight grip on his fingers, he looks back to see several steel cables wrapped around his hand. What the fuck?

“Good morning, Anthony. I can see that you are a bit confused right now. You are no longer in the bar where you passed out. I removed you from that environment because it was a dangerous place for your wandering hand. Marriage is a sacred thing that is supposed to be taken seriously. However, you have chosen to repeatedly go against your own commitments to your wife and have instead gone willingly into the arms of other women. Your marriage is on its last legs; however, you still have a chance to save it. In front of you is a box, as you can see it contains your wedding ring, a symbol of your bond to your wife. All you have to do is retrieve it from the box. However, you have to pay a price for your actions. Your right hand has been tied up in steel wires, these wires are connected to the ring. Your fingers will break, but as long as you cherish your relationship with her, you will be set free, and all wounds will eventually heal. Good luck Anthony.”

Break? This is fucking sadistic. “Jessica? Jessica, can you hear me? This isn’t funny, I’m sorry for cheating on you babe, just please let me out so we can talk about this.” Receiving no response, his mind started to race as anger sets in. “Bitch, let me out. This is vile. I knew I never should’ve married a crazy bitch like you.”

Still getting no response, the fear finally set in. Don’t tell me I actually have to do it. I can’t break my hand. There has to be another way. Looking at the glass box, an idea came to mind, and he quickly punched the glass. It’s glass, I might be able to break it, that way I don’t have to deal with this shit. Beating his fist against the glass for a while, his arm started to tire before he was able to so much as make a crack in the glass. He ruffled his hair in frustration as he began to sweat. Damn, thought that would be easier. It happens all the time in movies. Looking at his right hand that was tightly encased in steel, he tried to calm himself down. I guess I have to do what the voice said. Maybe it’s just a joke. He put his arm through the hole in the box and reached for the ring. Before grabbing the ring, he squeezed his hand tight one last time, to calm himself down. You can do this. Grabbing the ring, he started to slowly pull it towards him. Staring at the cable connecting the ring to the gears, he watched it slowly tighten. Snapping tight, the gears started to slowly turn, tightening the wire around his little finger. Pulling the ring closer, Anthony winced as the wires continued to tighten, eventually crushing the finger with a sickening crunch. Biting his lip, he paused for a moment.

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Breathing in and out, he slowly brought the pain under control. Starting up again, he pulled the ring closer. However, this time the cables quickly snapped shut on his ring finger, nearly slicing it off. “FUCK.” Staring at his right hand, he saw the bone poking out of his finger. Oh fuck. He retched, the contents of his stomach flowing out onto his clothes. The acidic smell stung his nose. Quickly he turned his head away, blocking the sight of his right hand from his mind. He slowly pulled the ring closer; it etched its way past the half-way point as the gears continued to move. Focus on the ring, just focus. Ignoring the burning pain in his hand, he brought the ring closer. It’s so close, I’ve almost got it. Only a quarter of the way left to go. The cables continued to tighten.

His wrist passed through the gap in the box. Yes! Thank God!

SNAP!

The cables crush his middle and index fingers together, piercing the bones through each other. Stumbling forward in pain, he instinctively tried to grab on to the box.

Clink. The ring dropped to the bottom of the box.

No. Fuck no. I was so close. Pushing his arm forward, he reached for the ring, but came up short.

“You have once again proven that your marriage to Jessica isn’t important to you. You were close, but ultimately you selfishly chose yourself over her, just like you have for the past year...”

“Fuck off you piece of shit.” Anthony snapped as he continued to reach for the ring.

“Stop trying Anthony. It’s too late for you to make up for your mistakes. Give up on the ring. It should be easy for you, after all, you’ve already done it before. Now that it’s gone, you have time to reflect on yourself. Look around you, as this room is the last thing you’ll see. Enjoy Hell Anthony. Goodbye”

“Let me go. Why are you doing this to me you evil bastard!” Looking around he tried to find a way out, but he couldn’t move far, the restraints on his arm kept him in place. The agonising pain set in as he dropped to the ground. Staring at his hand, he saw his index finger piercing through the middle one, the bones of both, shattered into pieces. I’m sorry Jessica.