The Kings Series #2 His Silver Hand
Prologue

The Three Sisters

11 and A Half Years Ago

"Rie, please don't forget Mish's vitamins. She will need that for herlungs. I will be out until lunch. When I get back, I'll bring us somethingto eat. Stay safe, sis."

Her sister Anna pulled her close and embraced her lovingly, soothingher and at the same time drawing strength. Rie gave it without secondthoughts.

Anna bent down to kiss Mish's pale cheek. "Lock the door to our roomand don't come out until I get back.”

She smiled and nodded. "You take care, sis. Don't worry about us. We'llmanage." They always do.

Anna smiled tearfully. She loathed leaving her and Mish by themselvesbut she had to work to feed them. At barely fourteen, she shouldn't beburdened with taking care of two minors -- she's a minor herself -- shedoes it anyway. Without reservation.

All three of them should be in school. They couldn't afford it. Mom haddied a few months ago and they were adopted by a crack-addict auntand her pervert husband.

Rie hated that vile man. He has touched her in places he shouldn't betouching. She managed to escape every time. But for how long? Herskin prickled at the thought.

Anna never knew. The trauma, the helplessness she felt andexperienced at the hands of their uncle. She adamantly refused to addmore burdens to her tired shoulders.

After some time she decided to risk it. There was a battle going on inher tummy and Mish was hungry. She couldn't hear anyone outsidetheir cramped bedroom. It should be safe for her to venture out.

No one's in the kitchen. She managed to sneak and cooked three friedeggs and toast some leftover bread. She went back to their room assilent as a mouse.

Mish needed all the nourishment she could get. She was very thin andsickly.

She fed her sister and ate whatever's left on the plate. The plates coulddo some washing but she'll do it later when she was sure that the devilwas not around.

The warm body cuddled closer, making her eyes droop. She looked sosmall and fragile despite her age. More like a toddler that seven yearsold. Rie grimaced.

She woke up to pans banging on the stove. What the...

He's back. And by the sound of it, he was either as high as a kite or hewas boozed. She was counting on the latter. He'll fall asleep in no time.He was whistling an off-key tune. Damn! He does that when he wasalone. She shuddered in fear, it was a sign that he wanted to touch her.Goosebumps traveled through her skin. Eyes round like saucers and herears sensitive to all the sounds he was making.

Rie ran to their door and locked it. The small clock on their wall says it'shalf past one. Anna should be back at any moment.

What if he will go for her sister? Tears began to stream down her face.She held Mish in her arms. Thank God, she slept soundly.

"Anna, a beautiful girl, you're back.” She cried harder. His leering voicewas clear and steady. It meant he was high.

"What do you want?" She could hear her sister's voice quaver."Aww...come kiss your Uncle." She heard his lewd smacking sounds."No! Stay away!" Her sister's voice was hysterical and edgy. She sobbed.He wanted her, too.

Desperate to save her, she sped out of the room. His uncle has Anna byher hair and she was weeping in pain. Twisting and squirming. Trying toget away from his touch.

"Anna..." She cried. What should she do?

"Rie, come join us. You want me to touch you again little girl?" Herbody shuddered at the memory. She wanted to puke then and there."What did you say?!" Anna shouted in outrage. She had never seen hersister so angry. She thrashed from his hold, kicking and biting.

Losing patience his uncle threw Anna away like a ragdoll and cameafter her.

Running was futile. He was fast and had her caged with his meatyhands. Holding her on his lap, her body stiffened when she felt his vilething poking her.

"No!" Her whimpers did nothing to stop his palms roaming all over hersmall body. He laughed, pinching her skin.

Suddenly, it all stopped. His hold slackened and she fell out of his arms.Anna has a thick pipe in her small hands. She struck it again and again -- anywhere she could reach -- her sister didn't stop until he was on theground groaning in pain. Rie took another pipe and struck him as hardas she could, giving vent to her anger. He was unconscious by the timeher strength left her.

"Rie," she blinked dazedly at her sister's soft voice and anchored backto the present.

"Mish is awake. Get her. We are leaving.” Anna bid her firmly. Althoughshe shivered in fear, she was focused on them. On their situation.Taking a firm grasp of it.

She picked up her youngest sister and bundled her warmly, soothingher, and letting her fall back to sleep.

Anna joined her to pack their meager belongings. Rie was still in shock,occasional shudders made themselves known.

"Where are we going, Anna May?" She whispered.

"Somewhere safe. I have enough money to get us there." She wasfrantic, guiding them out. "We don't want our aunt to catch us. Thatwoman could be here at any moment. And she's as cruel as they come.”Trusting her, she nodded her head. Anna will always take care of them.With Mish in her arms and Anna carrying all of their bags, they left thehellhole that was their home.

And never looked back.