Ten Nails to Save a Daughter

Our daughter Lily was brought back to the family. Yet my wife Peyton ordered someone to break her legs and throw her into a wolf cage.

It was just because her precious adopted daughter Maya sprained her ankle while showing Lily around the mansion.

Peyton had ten steel nails driven into Lilys legs, destroying her dancing career.

Drool from wolves outside the cage dripped onto Lilys face while Peyton held Maya in her embrace.

I screamed hoarsely, Lilys our daughter by blood! How could you do this to her?!

Peyton stroked Mayas hair. Her eyes were venomous.

Maya sprained her ankle and needs at least ten days to recover, so I have ten nails driven int o Lilys legs. Thats only fair!

Then she threw a pair of pliers at my face.

Go on. Pull the nails out. Let her crawl out of this cage, and Ill spare her life.

My hands shook as I gripped the pliers, aiming at the first nail in Lilys leg.

Peytons call blasted through.

Oliver, enough with the drama. Pull the nails as soon as possible and bring Lily back now.

Im warning you. If you bother Maya again, next time wont be an act!

Act? Those steel nails were real! Didnt she know that?

I stared at the bloody holes in Lilys legs and laughed bitterly.

Wolves snarled and closed in. The cage shook violently. Lilys cries tore through the air.

On the live feed, Maya cooed at the camera,

Mom, Dad still wont admit hes wrong. Poor Lily

Her innocent face was full of smug delight. I shielded Lily with my body and roared into the void,

Peyton, you monster! Open your eyes! Is this a performance to you?!

No one answered.

Only the heavy panting of wolves drawing nearer.

Desperate, I realized only pulling out those nails could get us out.

With a sickening crunch, the first nail came out.

Lily screamed until her voice broke. Blood spattered, staining my vision red.

The warm blood told me this was all too real.

Lily weakly grasped my hand.

Daddy it hurts This isnt pretend Maya she told them to hammer hard

My heart stopped.

Maya told them to hammer hard?

It wasnt just Peytons order?

Peytons men stood nearby, acting like they saw nothing. They just urged me to play along occasionally.

I studied their faces. Did they think this was acting too?

Or did they know the truth and just play dumb?

I gritted my teeth and pulled out the second nail.

Lilys scream nearly pierced my eardrums.

Rage burned in my eyes. Every last bit of hope I had for Peyton shattered.

My phone rang again.

Oliver, thats enough! Stop this nonsense now!

I looked at Lilys pale face, at the eight nails still left in her legs.

You think Lilys misery is for show? My voice was low. Fine. Ill play along until the end.

Third nail.

Lily was in too much pain to speak. She just clutched my hand tightly.

Her hand was so small. So cold.

Like when she was first born and held my finger.

Fourth.

Fifth.

With every nail, my heart broke all over again.

From the monitor, Mayas voice chirped,

Mom, Dads really lost it. Look at all that blood! Poor Lily.

Not a trace of concern. Just evil excitement.

I looked up at the camera.

Maya, listen closely.

I will make you pay for this.

She laughed even harder through the screen:

Daddy, are you threatening me? Mom, did you hear that? Daddys threatening me again!

Peytons voice came through the phone:

Oliver! If you lay one finger on Maya, youll regret it for the rest of your life!

I already regretted it.

Regretted marrying her. Regretted having Lily with her. Regretted letting my innocent girl suffer like this.

The sixth nail came out.

Lily had passed out.

I patted her cheek gently. She opened her eyes slowly and looked at me weakly.

Daddy it hurts

I know, sweetheart. Itll be over soon.

My tears fell on her face.

Seventh.

Eighth.

Excited by the smell of blood, the wolves were right at the edge of the cage now. Their claws reached in, nearly scraping Lilys feet.

I blocked them with my body, feeling sharp pain as claws raked my back.

Ninth nail.

Only one left.

Lily had lost too much blood. Her face was deathly pale.

My hands shook as I gripped the pliers, aiming at the last nail.

This one was driven deepest almost through her entire calf.

With a brutal pull, the last nail came out.

Lily went completely unconscious.

I lifted her and stumbled toward the cage door.

It was locked.

Lily was bleeding heavily. Her face was as white as paper.

I beat against the bars, my voice hoarse.

Help! Is anyone there? Save my daughter!

Yet only the growls of beasts answered.

My phone vibrated. Peytons voice came through, cold as a knife:

Oliver, are you done yet? My men say youre taking this too far. Why wont you wrap it up?

I screamed desperately: Peyton! Lilys really dying! Come save her!

Dont test me! Stop this pathetic act now, or youll pay the price!

The call ended.

I tried calling 911 no signal in this remote area.

Outside, the bodyguards chatted:

Sirs really committed. Crying like its real.

Yeah, those prop nails look legit.

I shook the cage like a madman. Lilys blood dripped onto my face, warm and stinging.

Just then, I received a video from Maya.

She and Peyton were having dining at a fancy restaurant. Candlelight flickered as Maya sweetly fed Peyton cake.

Caption: Daddy, Mom says if you keep acting up, shell have to personally coach Lilys acting. Dont say I didnt warn you.

My heart shattered completely.

Soon after, my brother called in a panic.

Oliver, the companys being audited. The banks calling in our loans. Whats going on?

It must be Peytons doing.

She was forcing me to admit this was all an act and to apologize to Maya.

I held Lily close. Her breathing was growing weaker.

Daddy it hurts

Its okay, baby. Daddys here. I wont leave you.

Night fell. The bodyguards mocking continued.

Sir deserves an Oscar for this.

Yeah, crying like its real.

By the time, all my illusions had vanished.

Peyton wouldnt save us. Shed always take Mayas side.

Id save us myself.

I pulled out a brooch, which was a birthday gift from Peyton long ago.

Now, none of that mattered. With the brooch, I started picking the lock.

My nails broke. Blood blurred my vision. I kept working.

Lilys hands turned colder. She shivered in my arms.

Daddy, am I going to die?

No. Daddy will save you.

I didnt know how long I worked. But thank God, the lock finally gave way.

Seeming to be drawn by the gate swinging open, Peyton came with Maya.

She glanced at Lily lying in blood and frowned, while Maya fake-gasped,

Oh my god! What happened to Lily? Daddy, how could you hurt her just because youre mad at me?

She turned to Peyton, eyes teary.

Mom, look. Daddys taking it out on Lily to get back at me!

Peytons face darkened. She pointed at me and yelled,

Oliver! How could you really hurt her? Are you insane?!

I held Lily, who was barely breathing, as tears streamed down.

Peyton! Look closely! You ordered those nails! Youre the monster!

Enough! Stop pretending! Take her to the hospital. Lets see what act you pull next!

She still didnt believe. Or maybe she didnt want to.

Maya fake-comforted her, Dont be mad, Mom. Daddys just upset. He didnt mean it.

This was the woman I loved for over a decade. This was the girl I treated like my own.

Lily was rushed to the hospital. Peyton followed closely.

Her face was stiff and cold. She snapped at the doctors,

Check everything. Leave nothing out.

She still doubted me. I felt a wave of despair.

Even with our daughter bloody on a stretcher, she thought this was my doing.

We waited for thirty minutes till the doctor came out, wearing a grim expression.

Mrs. Grant, the patients injuries are extremely severe.

The doctors voice trembled.

The nails penetrated deep into the bone, causing severe fractures and muscle tears. Shes lost a dangerous amount of blood. Another hour, and

He didnt finish. For a second, I thought Peyton would finally believe me.

But after a brief shudder, her face turned cold again.

Impossible I clearly instructed she muttered.

Maya jumped in, panicked,

Doctor, are you sure? Lily just fell onto some prop nails!

Peyton didnt notice Mayas voice shaking. Her eyes darted between the doctor and me, in confusion and anger.

Then she slammed the table.

Youre all lying to me?!

Oliver, youre something else. Even bribed the hospital?!

I was stunned.

The diagnosis was clear. Lilys injuries were undeniable.

Yet she still accused me?

You think Id believe this? Peytons eyes were full of scorn. Not a chance!

My chest felt torn open. I pointed at Lily with trembling fingers.

Peyton! Look at her! Shes your daughter by blood!

You think I bribed a hospital? Is your heart made of stone?!

I remembered how she cared for me when I had a fever clumsily bringing water, patting my back.

Her eyes were gentle then.

Now, this woman felt like a stranger.

Peyton snorted, ignoring my tears.

As she ordered her men to investigate the hospital, hurried footsteps came from the hall.

The Grants butler rushed in.

He held a tray with blood-crusted steel nails and torn, bloodstained fabric.

Mrs. Grant! His voice shook. Its terrible the nails theyre real!