### *Tobias: The Gauntlet*

The Rejuvenalization Center buzzed faintly with the hum of machinery as Tobias walked alongside his parents. It was supposed to be a routine follow-up visit, but Tobias felt a knot in his stomach. The memories of his own transformation lingered, raw and unprocessed.

As they entered the waiting room, Tobias froze. Sitting in one of the plush chairs was **Edmond Harris**—the former Mrs. Harris. Now a freshly rejuvenated six-year-old boy, Edmond sat uncomfortably, glancing nervously at the older couple beside him, his new parents.

“Tobias,” Edmond stammered when their eyes met, “I... I didn’t know you’d be here.”

Tobias’s tail bristled, and his fists clenched. The anger he thought he had buried surged to the surface, overwhelming him. “You,” he said, his voice low and venomous. His parents exchanged worried glances but didn’t interfere as he stepped forward.

“Tobias,” Mr. Rowe warned softly, but Tobias didn’t stop.

“You think this fixes it?” Tobias spat. “You think being turned into a kid erases everything you did to me?”

“Tobias, I—” Edmond began, but Tobias didn’t let him finish.

“You don’t get to talk!” Tobias yelled. Without thinking, he grabbed a **hairbrush** from the discipline station nearby, a standard tool kept in the center. He yanked Edmond by the arm, pulling him toward a chair.

---

### *The Hairbrush*

Tobias sat down, dragging Edmond over his lap. With a sharp motion, he pulled down Edmond’s pants, ignoring the gasp from Edmond’s new mother.

“You think you can just apologize, and that makes it okay?” Tobias growled.

The **hairbrush** came down with a loud *crack*, the bristles digging into Edmond’s tender skin. Edmond yelped, his legs kicking as Tobias delivered another swat.

“You humiliated me!” Tobias shouted, striking with the bristles again. “You made me feel worthless!”

After several sharp smacks, Tobias flipped the brush to the **smooth wooden side**, the swats landing with a deep, resounding sting. Edmond squirmed, tears streaming down his face.

“You don’t get to walk away from what you did!” Tobias shouted, punctuating each word with a firm strike.

---

### *The Paddle*

Dropping the hairbrush, Tobias grabbed a **wooden paddle** from the nearby rack. He stood Edmond up briefly before bending him over the arm of the chair. The first *whack* of the paddle echoed through the room, and Edmond let out a sharp cry.

“Now you know what it feels like!” Tobias yelled, delivering another firm strike.

Each swing of the paddle was deliberate, the wood cracking against Edmond’s already reddened backside. Edmond sobbed loudly, his legs trembling as Tobias continued.

“You thought you could hurt me and get away with it?” Tobias shouted, the anger in his voice unwavering.

---

### *The Belt*

Tobias dropped the paddle, his eyes catching the **leather belt** hanging nearby. He grabbed it without hesitation, wrapping it around his hand for grip. The first lash of the belt snapped loudly against Edmond’s skin, making him cry out.

“You think saying ‘sorry’ fixes everything?” Tobias growled, swinging the belt again. “It doesn’t work like that!”

The leather landed sharply, leaving thin, red lines on Edmond’s tender backside. Each swing was filled with the pain and humiliation Tobias had felt at Mrs. Harris’s hands.

---

### *His Hand*

Finally, Tobias dropped the belt and pulled Edmond back over his lap. Raising his hand, Tobias delivered a series of sharp, personal smacks. Each strike landed with a sting that sent Edmond sobbing louder.

“This,” Tobias said, his voice breaking as he continued, “is what you deserve!”

---

### *Intervention*

Before Tobias could land another strike, Edmond’s father stepped forward. The tall, broad-shouldered man gently but firmly grabbed Tobias’s wrist, stopping him mid-swing.

“That’s enough,” Edmond’s father said, his tone calm but commanding. “I understand why you’re angry, but this isn’t the way.”

Tobias froze, his chest heaving as his anger clashed with the older man’s steady gaze. Slowly, Edmond’s father knelt in front of Tobias, his voice softening.

“You’re hurt, Tobias. I can see that,” he said. “And you have every right to be. But hurting him won’t make that pain go away.”

Tobias blinked, his hand trembling as he let go of Edmond. Edmond’s new mother rushed forward, scooping up her sobbing son and holding him protectively.

---

### *Aftermath*

Mr. Rowe stepped forward, placing a hand on Tobias’s shoulder. “Let’s go, son. We’ll talk about this at home.”

Tobias nodded reluctantly, his anger dimming but not entirely gone. As they walked away, Edmond’s father called after them.

“Tobias.”

Tobias stopped, turning slightly.

“I’m sorry for what he did to you,” Edmond’s father said sincerely. “We’ll make sure he learns from this. You have my word.”

Tobias didn’t reply, but the sincerity in the man’s voice gave him pause. As they left the Rejuvenalization Center, Tobias clutched his plushie tightly, trying to process the whirlwind of emotions. He knew he had crossed a line—but part of him still wondered if it was enough to make Edmond understand.