Chapter 10

Mariah woke up still where she fell asleep, the log cabin. Daylight came in through the curtains. Mariah decided to get dressed. There were no more diary entries to read. Breakfast consisted of custard creams and a warm bottle of water that was in her bag.

Most of the day was spent reading. Mariah had a book to read, so that kept her occupied. Mariah was taken out of her novel by three knocks on the door. Mariah was careful she knew was Gabby told her. Cautiously Mariah went to the door and unlocked everything. At the other side she saw Gabby.

"Hi Mariah, glad to see you're alright. Look you best let me in, Grayson was following me in the village, dunno whether he saw me come here"

Gabby hurried on through. Mariah looked around the place, there was no one around the woods. Mariah as always bolted the door including chain. The curtains were still closed.

"Did you sleep alright?"

"Yeah, it was fine"

"Excellent, oh I brought you some things, to keep you occupied and to brighten up the place a bit"

"Oh thanks Gabby"

Mariah had a bag of things with her. She pulled out some puzzle magazines, books, regular magazines, food and a four pack of Bacardi Breezer.

"There you go," Gabby started rearranging things, making the place look homely.

"Oh and heres a couple a cushions and candles"

"That looks great, Gabby, you're a great friend"

Mariah sat down. Something made her feel uneasy.

"Oh my god, Gabby, I think I heard something"

"Really, its probably nothing"

"Shh listen, someones out there I know it"

Gabby sat down she nodded her head in agreement.

"Keep down and very quiet"

They should be safe, everything was locked up, curtains drawn like every other cabin. Then Gabby crawled to the window and pulled the curtain back just a tiny bit and then quickly put it back.

"Oh no, someone is out there, its Grayson"

A look of panic came across Mariah's face, she didn't know what to do. Gabby noticed.

"Its alright Mariah, he didn't see, look he's going back the way he came, calm down please"

Mariah was shaking. It took half an hour to calm her down.

"Mariah, look, its alright, if I came later he would have seen me, everything will be fine"

Mariah was starting to calm down. "I can't stay here, not now he knows about this place, at least it wasn't dark"

"You want to leave, but where"

"I've been thinking, London is the only safe place"

"London, its a long way, you sure"

"Absolutely, I could manage fine, I just want to leave now, please"

Gabby nodded. "Ok, come one, we'd better make a move, we better stop at Home Farm first"

Mariah was a nervous wreck. Gabby carried her bag for her and led her through the woods to Home Farm. They went through the back entrance.

Matthew was there.

"How come you're back here"

"Grayson discovered the village, Matt, we had to get her away from there, think what the place would be like at night with him lurking around in the shadows"

A shiver went down Mariah's spine as Gabby said the last part.

"Well here's not that safe"

"Mariah's set on London"

Matthew thought for a moment. London would be safer to get away from Grayson, for starters it was big and easy to hide, plus London wasn't like Emmerdale where everyone knew your business.

"How are you going to cope Mariah?"

"I'll make it fine, I'm going to follow my dream and become a dancer"

Matthew nodded. "Ok, look you'll need some money. Matthew handed Mariah £500.

"Oh, thanks but I can't take that"

"Mariah, just take it, I don't need it, you will"

Mariah took the cash and put it away for safety.

"Thanks, Matthew"

Then the three of them got in the car and headed to the train station.

"Now Mariah, is there anything else we can do for you," Matthew said.

Mariah thought for a bit, there is one thing. She handed Tish's phone to Matthew.

"After my mum's funeral my good friend Tish vanished. When I arrived at Mill Cottage I found her phone in a shrub just across the street. I have been thinking all the time why it is there. Perhaps you can find out why and find Tish, thanks"

"I'll see what I can do Mariah, you take care of yourself"

Gabby was starting to cry. "I'm gunna miss you, you know. You just take care of yourself, the London streets can be tough, but I know you, you're strong, you'll make it. Oh yeah you can come back any time, catch you around"

Gabby hugged Mariah tight. "Thanks Gabby, you've been great to me, I guess I could come back, see ya"

Mariah walked off towards the platform and boarded her train to London.

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It had been an hour since the train had left the station. Mariah was on her way to London. She had no idea where to go when she got there, just go wherever.

It was late afternoon, evening now and already it was starting to get dark, at least she wasn't in that holiday village, all alone, with that monster lurking in the shadows. decided to just sit in her seat and wait the train arrived in London. She would need all her energy.

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Grayson still hadn't tracked down, he had to find her. He knew Gabby and Matthew were hiding her, he just didn't know where. Earlier he had followed Gabby all around the village, she had a bag full of stuff, he had no luck seeing where she was heading, somewhere in the direction of the woods.

He was a while behind Gabby, so he didn't follow her at the same time, when he did get to the woods, there was no sign of people sleeping rough. Grayson had eventually came to an old holiday village. He had been wandering around there for quite some time, but he had no luck.

If his daughter was hiding out there he would come back later when it was dark, there was bound to be a sign of life at night.

So he did come back hours later, one of the doors was open a little bit. Grayson walked into the cabin, and used a torch to see, there was some cups lying around the place and some very recent magazines. A grin came over Grayson's face. Unfortunately for him it looked like they had left the place in a hurry. He was going to head to Home Farm, so he did.

As soon as his Range Rover was pulled up outside he jumped out and stormed up to the front door and rang the doorbell.

Matthew answered. "Larry, what can I do for you"

"Where is she, , I know you're hiding her, where is she"

"Somewhere you can't find her," Gabby interrupted the conversation

"You think I won't find her, I will, you know"

"Not where she's gone, the city is a big and busy place"

"The city, you mean London"

"So what are you going to do now"

Grayson stormed out and got back in his car, they were probably lying, he thought as he drove back to Mill Cottage.

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A few hours later and it was completely dark, the train pulled into Kings Cross. Loads of people got off in a hurry, probably off home.

It was 10pm, it felt like days go she was in the log cabin, even though it was earlier the same day. thought of a place to stay, she decided to head to Piccadilly Circus where she knew wouldn't be deserted like this station was beginning to look. Mariah headed for the Underground.

Once Mariah had got to Piccadilly Circus she needed a place to sleep, a hotel would be too pricey even though she had £500, she would need that money, so she went in search of a hostel. It took about 20 minutes to look for one and when she did, the first thing she did was check in and fall asleep when she got to the dorm. Mariah was exhausted.

It was late morning when woke up, the dorm was empty and she decided to check out and find a more permanent place to live. The weather outside was freezing, so looking for a job was a great start.

After hours of searching there was nothing. Suddenly when was getting change out for a bus a kid of about 19 snatched her wallet from her hands and pushed her to the floor.

"Hey, give that back"

The kid paid no attention and kept running, most of her money was gone. She had that £50 she stole from Mill Cottage in her pocket. It looked like she would be spending the night sleeping rough.

Mariah thought about going to the police and reporting a theft, but thought against it. Grayson was looking for her and if he found out she was in London he would be on his way.

Mariah kept walking she was gradually leaving the centre of London and heading further out into unknown areas, it was getting dark. went into a cafe and ordered a cup of tea and a bowl of soup. Mariah tried to make it all last but it was gone and the cafe would have to close sooner or later. Mariah went over to the man behind the counter.

"You looking for any help?"

He shook his head. "No love, we got nothing"

Mariah just nodded and headed out into the dark street, there was a boarded up shop window with a small part undercover. ran across the road and put her backpack behind her, she then pulled the blanket she had around there and waited to see what would happen.

Mariah drifted into a sleep, it seemed like forever she was sleeping. Days come and went. Her hair was a mess all matted from the weather. Just then a girl of about 17 came up to her and sat by her.

"You ok," she said

Mariah nodded.

"Look I know what its like first few nights out on the street, trust me there the worst, ya don't mind if I keep ya company do ya," the girl had a London accent.

"Sure, go ahead," coughed Mariah.

"So what do they call ya, I'm Kat"

Mariah shook her hand. "Mariah"

"Nasty cough ya got there , trust me it will go, look theres a place I know, why don't ya come along, its not exactly the Ritz but its out of the cold, come on"

Kat got up and pulled Mariah along, just a few streets away was an old building, all boarded up.

"Heres that place I was on about, follow me"

Kat found her way in through a gap. The place was quite small, no heating or electricity and there was damp setting in. Kat went up some stairs.

"Ya can stay here," Kat pointed out a spot and lit some candles.

"So how old are ya," said Kat sitting down by Mariah

"16"

"I was two years younger than ya when I ended up on the streets, so ya a runaway then"

Mariah nodded. "Had to get away, it was my dad, he lied to me about everything, couldn't stay there anymore"

Kat noticed Mariah was upset. "Oh don't cry hun, he ain't worth it, ya in London now, ya'll make friends. I ran away from care, been in care for as long as I could remember, wasn't gunna take it anymore"

Mariah nodded. Then some more girls appeared they looked the same age,

"Whats up Kat"

"Hey Tina, look we got someone new, this Mariah, found her outside earlier on"

The girl called Tina came over and sat by .

"Hi hun, listen i'm Tina and this is Karyn, we'll all look after you"

"Thanks"

"So , whats your story?"

Mariah told them all about Grayson. They all understood. Tina and Karyn were runaways too.

"So what are ya dreams," said Kat

"I wanna be a dancer, was going to study it at college but my dad stopped me, he made me do economics, I hated it"

"Go for it ," said Karyn

"Hey, theres a woman I know runs a dance club, I'll have a word with her she can come and see you then, have a chat," said Tina

Mariah cheered up. "Oh thanks Tina, that would be great"

"I could take you now and see her, come on, its not far from here"

Tina took Mariah to see the woman. She was found in the same cafe as Mariah went the other day.

"Kim, can I speak to you," Tina said going up to a woman who had long hair, heavy makeup and a black fake fur coat.

"Of course, sit down"

Tina waved Mariah over. She sat down with them.

"Mariah meet Kim, she has that dance club I was talking about"

The woman called Kim smiled at . "Nice to meet you ," she held out her hand. Mariah shook.

"Look Mariah here is a keen dancer, perhaps you could help her along"

"Is she now Tina, well I'd have to see her dance some moves, bring her along to mine tomorrow at 11.30. I will see you tomorrow, it was nice to see you both"

Kim got up and left the cafe.

"Told you she'd be interested, just give it your best shot, come on we best be heading back"

Tina and Mariah headed back to the building.

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Back in Emmerdale, Matthew had found out some information. It was very important.

"Gabby, come here, I found something out about Katie Sugden, Mariah's mum"

Gabby ran into the living room.

"What is it Matt"

"Well according to the official police report, Katie had purchased a gun, I've got hold of the CCTV tape from the store. Look"

Matthew put the tape into the VCR and pressed play, he had to rewind it a bit. There was a clear view of the checkout and a woman purchasing it.

"It looks a lot like Katie" Matthew handed Gabby some photos of Katie.

Gabby agreed.

"Until now"

Matthew pressed pause on the part that had a clear shot of Katie's face.

"Oh my god"

"I know, whoever bought that gun, it wasn't Katie"

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