***1980***

"Flow gently sweet Afton among thy green braes, flow gently I'll sing thee a song in thy praise…"

Her voice was pure and as soft as velvet, and the sweet tune broke the silence of the night. She held her sister in her small arms despite the rope bonds, and rocked her gently as she sung.

"My Mary's asleep by thy murmuring stream, flow gently sweet Afton disturb not her dream."

"That's a pretty song." I interrupted the usually silent middle child causing a small gasp to escape from her ruby lips. Painful images danced across her wide eyes as she stared upwards at me, finally daring to whisper a reply.

"My mom used to sing it to me."

I kneeled before her, stroking the chestnut hair of her sleeping sister in the dark, confined room. "You'll be hearing it again real soon," I assured the 9 year old child.

Her eyes darted from my hand to my face, alarm and fear emitting from her features. I withdrew my hand and spoke again in a low voice. "Steve is letting you guys go tomorrow. All of ya. Your mom can sing it anytime you want then."

Poignant chocolate eyes lowered and gazed longingly into nothingness.

"Mommy died." The voice was barely audible. Her simple words held the power to open the floodgates of the human heart and cause a forceful gush of pity to flow rapidly.  It was at that moment that I felt with certainty the only twinge of fear that would ever break through my stone heart. As if the position of power had shifted, the middle sister captured my eyes with her own and spoke again.

 "You shouldn't have hurt Mrs Williams."

I was silent.

"You can't hold a person's life in your hands." The mature words seemed to swirl and flow from her tongue, not ineptly as they would if she were unconvinced of her speech.

"You're going to get into trouble."

She was neither taunting, nor threatening me. Her delicate voice held a certainty that was mirrored by the look in her eyes. I could only stare, spellbound by the conviction possessed by such a young being.

"Shut the fuck up, twit." The gruff voice from behind me caused the compassionate child to jump. Craig stood in the doorway watching us, his looming silhouette a torturous monster to the child. Stray wisps of smoke frolicked and danced from the corners of his smirk.

"You joining us sometime today, ma'am?" He provoked me, indicating towards the doorway with his head while holding out his arm and revealing the clearly visible track marks.

The stench of weed was overwhelming as it seductively taunted my nostrils. My eyes were drawn back to the child and locked with her own. The expressive gaze was drowning me in sympathy. Confused over the events that had just taken place, I stepped backwards and silently demanded she release me from her controlling stare. I shook my head and spat at my feet.

Then, I left the small room and securely locked the door behind me. Once again, I surrendered to the game.