Chapter 13

It was almost seven. Mariah had everything packed, she was getting excited. Performing in Paris as a dancer on Christina Aguilera's world tour. As she got into the hotel lobby, she took a seat. Kelly had told her she would meet her at the airport and a car would be arranged for her.

In about five minutes a man appeared.

"Mariah Sugden, your car is waiting, come with me"

Mariah followed the man to a blue Jaguar, her luggage was put into the boot and Mariah got in.

"Wow," Mariah said to herself. It was very comfortable inside and there were tinted windows so nobody could see in. Then the car headed towards Heathrow.

The traffic outside was very busy, after all it was the middle of London. It was also starting to rain, Mariah didn't mind, she was excited to be going to Paris and other places on the tour, which according to Kelly included many other European cities, North America, Mexico, Australia and the Far East.

Mariah decided to not look out of the window, she decided to just sit and relax. Mariah could here loads of cars blowing their horns all of a sudden, it was just a noise, Mariah had heard nothing like it in her life. All the traffic was stopped, nothing could move.

Ten minutes later the car began to move. Then something unpredicted happened. As the Jaguar went along a junction, a car out of nowhere crashed into the side.

"Bloody hell," was what Mariah said as she fell into blackness.

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Mariah had woken up lying in a hospital bed, there were doctors and nurses everywhere.

"Where am I," she cried out

"Its alright, you are fine now"

"What happened?"

"You were in a serious car accident. A car smashed into yours"

It was all coming back to her now, she remembered how that car just came racing through the junction. Mariah was feeling fine.

"Look I must be going I have a plane to catch," Mariah tried to get up but was stopped.

"You won't be getting any flight Mariah"

"What"

"You're not well enough, perhaps in two days"

"Two days, your kidding me right, look I have to get to a show in Paris tomorrow, I'm touring as one of Christina Aguilera's dancers"

"Mariah you won't be dancing at least for two months, you're two legs are badly broken, I'm sorry. Is there anyone we can call for you, how about family?"

"My parents are dead I have no family"

The doctor nodded.

Mariah couldn't believe it she couldn't go on tour, her life felt like it had shattered into a million pieces that couldn't be mended.

Then a man appeared with a camera and clipboard.

"Is Miss Sugden up for talking"

"I'd rather she wouldn't"

Mariah noticed and interrupted. "Bring him in, of course I'm up for talking"

The man came to her bed. "Miss Sugden, I'm from ITN, we heard about your accident, I'm sorry, could you answer some questions.

Mariah nodded.

"Excellent, now Mariah, its ok if I call you Mariah. What was your feelings when you woke up"

"Well at first I was like what the hell am I doing here, I had a plane to catch"

"You must be feeling awful, do you think there is any chance soon, you will be dancing?"

"Well not for at least two months, I'm meant to be on stage tomorrow night, but my legs are badly broken, so it looks like I'm stuck here"

The man nodded. "Thankyou for your time Mariah, all of us at ITN wish you a speedy recovery"

Then the man left. Mariah began to sob, why did this have to happen to her, she had a bright future, now it looked uncertain.

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"Matt, Matt, look at this," Gabby called out watching the news at Home Farm.

"What Gabby"

"Look, it's terrible"

Matthew stared at the news report.

"Earlier this evening, there was a serious car accident in central London. There have been 2 fatalities and 1 serious injury. This Jaguar had been taken latest dance sensation Mariah Sugden to Heathrow airport when it was believed that another car had smashed into the side.

The two deaths have been John Mitchell the driver of the Jaguar and the unknown driver of the other car. Ambulances were called on scene immediately. The injured has been confirmed as Mariah Sugden she has been taken to the Royal London Hospital where doctors are working on her right now.

It has been confirmed that Mariah will not be travelling anywhere anytime soon, she is making a full recovery right now.

Gabby turned off the TV set.

"Gabby, we have to get to London right now, make sure she is fine"

"Of course, oh poor Mariah though, she won't be able to tour, what will she do now"

"Gabby there's no time for wondering, come on"

Matthew pulled her along to his car and they sped off for London.

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All Mariah dreamt of that night was performing on tour, where was she going to dance now, her dreams were shattered.

A nurse came to see her, she spoke in a London accent.

"Here I brought you a nice cup of tea and some toast, how are you feeling now love?"

The nurse put the tea and cereal down.

"My health is fine, but I won't be able to go anywhere, look at me, I can't dance for two weeks, I was meant to be practicing for the tour, it opens in Paris tonight"

The nurse gave Mariah a hug.

"Other opportunities will come up love, do you feel like getting dressed"

Mariah nodded. The nurse handed Mariah her clothes, she then left giving Mariah privacy to change.

It was now the afternoon, time went so slowly in hospital, she had been reading some magazines and a book. Suddenly an older woman appeared, she seemed friendly.

"Hello Mariah, my name is Allison I'm the chief nurse here, I have some good news for you"

"You do?" Mariah was sounding hopeful.

"Come with me Mariah, its alright dear, you're going home"

Mariah was confused. Perhaps Gabby and Matthew had come for her, it was a possibility. Mariah was happy; she was looking forward to seeing Gabby.
Mariah followed the woman to an office a few corridors down.

The woman let her in. Another woman was in there with a man. Mariah didn't see his face he was turned the other way. Whoever it was it wasn't Gabby. Maybe Matthew.

"Here she is," Allison happily announced.

The man turned around. Mariah was horrified, it wasn't Matthew at all and Gabby wasn't nearby. The man spoke a look of victory on his face.

"Princess."

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Mariah was in shock, Grayson had found her.

"What are you doing here"

"Princess, don't be like that I heard about your accident, I'm sorry to hear about it"

Grayson was approaching Mariah.

"Stay back"

The woman in the room decided to speak

"Mariah your father saw you on the television as soon as he heard about your accident he was on his way right away"

Mariah had to act.

"I hate this man, he is a liar and a monster, you must keep him away from me," Mariah was panicking, she had no where to go. Grayson had his eyes on her. The two women thought Mariah was being stupid.

Grayson spoke to the woman. "She will be fine once I get her out of here and take her home, trust me"

Grayson then turned to Mariah and started approaching her

"Come on princess"

Mariah was walking backwards. "Don't listen to him, please, he's no father of mine"

The woman decided to talk to Mariah.

"Mariah we know the truth, he is your father, we have your birth certificate here"

"Don't let me go with him, he's evil"

Grayson spoke to the woman.

"The psychiatrist did say she would be like this"

Mariah heard this and couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"What psychiatrist, I haven't been to one in my life, he's lying"

Mariah's protests weren't working, nobody was listening to her.

Grayson was advancing towards Mariah. Mariah was shaking, she was going to run to the door but something was stopping her, it was like her feet were glued to the ground.

Grayson said to the woman. "Thank you for looking after her, it is great to know my little princess is safe"

Then Grayson was right by Mariah. "Come along now princess"

Mariah was petrified. Grayson grabbed her arm and took her out of the room. Mariah shouted back.

"No, you can't let him take me, please, help"

It was no good though, the woman had closed the doors, ignoring Mariah's protests. Mariah was kicking all she could along the hospital corridor. Unfortunately nobody was doing anything to help. Grayson gave them looks like he understood and it wasn't easy having a daughter who was a lunatic.

The finally got to the outside and Grayson's red Range Rover was waiting for them. He opened the door and threw her in, and then he got in and drove away, making sure all doors were locked so she couldn't run away. Grayson then drove out of the hospital, towards the motorway.

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Driving around the hospital car park was Matthew, Gabby was with him. They found a place to park and entered the hospital, they were going to visit Mariah and check she was alright.

They were shown into an office and waited until the woman that sent Mariah away appeared again.

"Hello," she shook both of their hands.

"I believe you have come to see how Mariah is doing"

"That's right," Matthew replied.

The woman's face had dropped.

"Is there something wrong"

"No definitely not, in fact Mariah has been reunited with her father"

"Father?"

"That's what I said, her father had seen her on the television and came to take her home, he was so glad when he saw her, poor man, he was frantic with worry. Lovely gentleman he was, smartly dressed and well spoken"

"You let Grayson Sinclair take Mariah"

"Sir, he was her father, he had her birth certificate to prove it and what's more I would have rather him take her than you"

"What"

"That's right, as we speak Mariah is happily reunited with her father"

"Come on, Gabby, we have to find her, we are wasting our time here"

Matthew and Gabby stormed out of the room and got in the car and prepared for the long drive back to Emmerdale. They had to get back and expose what kind of a man Grayson was before it was too late.

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