The final piece

"Where the hell were you," asked Alex as I snuck in through my window.

The light was on and through the mirror, I could see black and blue bruises on my face. The housekeeper Talia screamed as I took off my jacket. Yep, the cage had left its mark. The laceration marks on my back went through my top.

"Mina," was the only word I knew that could explain

"You went to that horrible place," demanded Talia

Wow, never knew our delicate housekeeper knew of such horrors. A nod from me was all they needed to confirm it. Talia forced Alex and Mike to go out of the room. Before I could protest, she stripped me and tended the wounds.

"You are going to school tomorrow," she said

"Looking like this," I asked

"You brought this onto yourself be grateful that you aren't dead," Talia reprimanded

I nodded in defeat and slumped onto the bed to get some well-deserved sleep. It was pouring the next morning. The walk to school at least meant that no one would see my face until later. The whispers followed me as I made my way into first period. Lips had swollen and my eyes had dark circles underneath them.

A month later, I had risen onto the top of the ranks. Not as feared and respected as I wanted to be but hey life wasn't about roses. The fight was hard. I fought more than once a night. Most of the time, just grateful for making it out alive. There I also worked on Russian. A UN language which I had difficulty speaking.

Yes, I was ready and thankfully, it was holidays. Easter holidays, a time when we remember suffering and renewal of life. Josh had always taken Lent seriously. I didn't, no matter how hard he tried to make me. This time I did though, sworn off junk food for forty days. It seemed like a long time.

Finally, I was ready to rescue Josh. I packed lightly, just an extra pair of clothes, my glasses and bracelet. No one tried to stop me and Mike wished me well. This was something I had to do alone. The flight was quick. St. Petersburg was cold. There black market run by the local Mafia was the best in the world. Paying by cash, I bought knives, a motorbike and a gun one of the latest models whose name was unpronounceable.

Changed now into a pair of boots, a black turtleneck and combat pants, I drove my mp3 player was blasting out music as if trying to make the solace a little more bearable. The cold of Russia still felt through my whole body. I found out that Josh was in a mansion, a couple kilometres outside St. Petersburg. I knocked out most of the guards by hand on the outside perimeter. I swiped the credit card charm from my hacker bracelet onto a keypad. Immediately the codes were cracked. Sirens blared as the mansions defences fell.

So didn't see that one coming. Another thing I didn't see was a teenager. He looked a lot like Yessen. Before he could see me, I broke the mops head off so that I had a makeshift bo. It was small and awkward. Reminding me that this is what we used for a bo when I was a kui. In my old karate school only when you reached black belt would you use a proper bo. Money constraints, don't you just hate them.

He walked forward and the eyes widened in recognition.

"I'm asking you nicely where is Joshua?" I asked

"Less talk more work," he said as out of nowhere he threw a dagger.

I swore as it cut through my turtleneck. Without hesitating my bo lifted for a strike. The weapon an extension was a perfect extension of my body. Taylor Swift's new album Red was coming out. From the corner of my eye, I saw Joshua come down stairs.

Then the world seemed to spin. Dropping the bo in favour of clutching the table. Why was the world spinning?

Joshua pov

I recognised the signs. Well I should have sooner. Annabelle had always had low blood sugar levels. Quickly I ran into the kitchen and got some coke out. El was focused but barely. Slowly I tried to force some coke down her mouth.

You couldn't believe how shocked I was when she spat it right out. That was weird Anna always drank anything that fizzed.

"Lent,"

The word barely said in a whisper. God, I swore the one time when she decides to go on Lent. Keeping as calm as possible.

"Ivan, mix sugar with water quickly," I commanded the teen

Ivan shrugged but did as I said. I made her sit up. Taking off her top, I checked my baby sister's body for damage. There were countless bruises. Was she in a gang? If she was I'm killing her.

Ivan returned with the water and I forced it down her throat. That child had a lot of explaining to do. Slowly she regained herself. Never in my life had I seen such hate in her eyes.

I had gotten Ivan to call Yessen and Nile down stairs. Annabelle walked into the bar stool and closed her eyes. In front of my eyes, my baby aged.

Annabelle pov

Why was I even here? The question rolled repeatedly in my mind. So I walked out.

"Sit down," the voice of my brother called out

Did I care? The simple answer was no. He left us. I let my body lead me. When I was thinking I walked fast. I felt a hand grab my shoulder. From my days at Mina I reacted on instinct. I took it off my shoulder and applied pressure on the hand.

"What the hell are you doing Annebelle Hanna Dimitriv," my brother demanded

I ignored him but let go of his hand. Finally, I couldn't hold it anymore, beyond pissed I shouted. "Do you think you could run away," I started accusingly.

"Run away from what?" he demanded

"From your responsibilities, damn it," the frustration showed

"Let's go inside," he said with a forceful calm

I followed him inside and sat on one of the bar stools.

"What's been bothering you," he wanted to know

"Mike has been threatened with expulsion. My grades are slipping fast. I've been fighting at Mina. Alex and Talia are trying to keep it together. What do you think is bothering me?" my temper started to flare

"Well I haven't been on holiday either-"

"No you could have fooled me," I cut putting the earphones back in and blocking him out. This was an old strategy. A battle of wills. We were oblivious to everything but each other.

A minute later Yessen decided to intervene, "Can you two please make up?"

"Back off," we snarled in unison

Joshua got up and inserted a CD in the stereo. I recognised it as Melody from Ivan Sings. Josh always played it when I was little so I would fall asleep. Soon I became immune to it but it still was one of my favourite pieces of music. I couldn't handle it anymore. I slipped the earphones off telling him I was willing to listen.

"You're willing to listen El," said Josh shocked

I nodded there was nothing better to do anyway. The truth shocked me to the core. Joshua was dying of cancer.

I couldn't do this anymore. Alex and I decided that we had to take up Talia's offer through the phone. Alex, Mike and Talia boarded the first flight here. Never had I come to appreciate Talia more than in my brother's dying moments.

She stayed strong for everyone. The day Joshua's casket lowered beside mom and dad's was the worst. A part of me just died.

Like mom always said family is what makes you and what breaks you. You are nothing without it. So with this are my parting words.

Remember no matter how fucked up your family might be they will always be there. In all you will ever face.

Signing out

Annabelle Hanna Dimitriv,

Alex John Rider and

Michael Joshua Dimitriv