Chapter 17

Mariah was screaming in the car and moving about a lot.

"WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU TAKING ME, LET ME OUT NOW"

Grayson was strangely calm.

"Princess, please calm down, you will see soon enough"

Mariah banged on the window but there was no luck. Mariah looked out they weren't going towards the village it was the opposite direction. Mariah had to be careful she knew what Grayson was capable of.

"I WANT TO KNOW NOW, WHERE ARE YOU TAKING ME"

Grayson stopped the car all of a sudden, he was starting to get impatient.

"Princess, I told you once, now I must insist you do as you are told," Grayson grabbed her arm and took out a needle.

A look of worry came over Mariah's face, she wanted to take back her screaming.

"Look, dad, I'm sorry, just don't do that"

Grayson paid no attention and continued.

"I'm sorry princess but this is for the best, I won't have my daughter screaming like that, now this won't hurt a bit"

Grayson jabbed the needle into Mariah's arm.

"AGGGHHHHH," Mariah screamed. She then felt all weak and couldn't fight back, then she fell back into her seat all calm.

Grayson had an evil look on his face and continued driving.

Mariah passed out.

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Back at Home Farm, Gabby was in a fright. "What has he done with her, we have to get after him"

"Don't worry Gabby, her dad won't hurt her," Jimmy said calmly.

Matthew interrupted. "Are you mad, you saw what he is capable of, we have to find her, who knows what he will do with her"

Gabby then remembered about Tish and ran up to the room. Tish was busy listening to Gabby's Ipod.

Gabby tapped her. "Tish, listen up"

Tish took the ear phones out of her ears.

"Has he gone?"

Gabby shook her head. "Its worse Tish, he's taken Mariah with her, we couldn't stop her. All of us were talking in the living room then he dived at Mariah and picked her up, then he put her in his car and drove off, we have to get her back"

Tish looked worried. "Oh god, poor Mariah, he's a psycho Gabby, we all know what he is capable of"

Gabby nodded, then she took Tish downstairs to discuss on where to find Mariah.

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When Mariah came around, the car had stopped. Mariah saw Grayson looking at her weird.

"Where are we?"

"Oh somewhere you will find enjoyable"

Mariah didn't know what he was on about. She glanced out of the window. There was an old stone building. It looked frightening. It was six floors up and looked all isolated.

Grayson opened the car door, it was freezing and very cloudy, it looked like rain. Grayson grabbed Mariah and dragged her to the entrance. Mariah struggled all she could, but he was too strong for her.

A storm was in the area. There was a flash of lightning and a crackle of thunder. Then the rain poured. Grayson rang the doorbell. A butler answered, he looked unwelcoming. The butler led them through to a sitting room. The room was quite big, it had a big fireplace, oak panelling and dark furniture. Grayson sat next to Mariah. She said nothing.

Then an old woman dressed smartly appeared. "Ah Mr Sinclair, I'm glad you came after, I see this is young Mariah"

Mariah took an instant dislike to the woman, she approached her.

"Well"

Mariah just sat there and shrugged.

"Stand, when I speak to you girl"

Mariah looked at Grayson, he never defended her.

"Your father tells me you have been having mood swings, well we'll soon sort that out. I have known a lot of girls like you refusing to respect their parents"

Mariah looked at her with disgust.

"He's a psychopath; he's been lying to me all along"

Grayson interrupted. "See what Mariah is like, nothing seems to change her, I trust you can"

The woman looked at Grayson. "Oh absolutely Mr Sinclair, when you return she will be a better person"

Grayson nodded and went to Mariah. "Princess, I will see you in two days time" he then kissed her goodbye. The woman showed Grayson out.

Mariah hated her dad, now he had dumped her in some old isolated house with some old witch. Mariah went to the window, she saw Grayson drive away. Mariah was distracted when she heard the woman speak to her.

"Girl, get away from that window"

Mariah turned away and went up to her.

"I was only looking out, what's wrong with that"

The woman didn't take to kindly to Mariah's answer.

"Don't answer back to me, I've dealt with many girls like you, you have no respect, that's your problem. Now I will show you to your room, follow me"

Mariah followed the woman upstairs. The rain was pounding heavy outside and there was another crackle of thunder. Mariah wanted to run away, but there was not a place for miles.

The woman took her up another few flights of stairs to the top floor and along a corridor. It was so depressing. The woman stopped at the very end of the corridor and unlocked a room.

"This is your room"

Mariah entered the room it was quite small. There was a single bed, chair, sink and a wardrobe. The window looked out to the front of the house.

"The day starts at 9 for you, you best be up," the woman shut the door. Mariah ran to it, but the woman had locked it.

Mariah jumped up in frustration. Mariah went to the bed and laid face down and began to cry. The rain was getting harder; it battered the roof and window.

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The next day Mariah had woken up on her own accord, she looked at her watch it was 7am. Mariah walked about the room, everything was silent, there was no rain. Mariah glanced out of the window, not a soul in sight, it was dark outside, it looked unwelcoming.

Mariah sorted out her hair, it needed a brush. Then there was a loud knock, the woman had appeared.

"You're awake then, I expect to see you in the lounge at 9 sharp," then she shut the door but she didn't lock it. Mariah waited for a while and walked around the corridor. All the doors were locked, apart from one, which read. "Bathroom," it was unlocked.

There was a girl brushing her teeth, she looked the same age as Mariah.

The girl eyed up Mariah. "You new here, haven't seen you around here, I'm Chrissie," the girl said

"Mariah, Mariah Sugden"

Chrissie looked up in surprise. "Are you Mariah Sugden, the dancer?"

Mariah nodded in disappointment.

"Oh did I say something wrong"

"Well my fame was cut short, by my dad"

Chrissie looked interested to know more. "How come"

"He was dead against me becoming a dancer, he arranged for me to be in a car crash"

Chrissie was horrified. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry, what a jerk, you don't have to tell me anything more"

Mariah spoke. "Its fine, I want to, found out my dad had been married before and ruined his wife's life, then he was put away in a mental hospital for 16 years, then when he was released he had my mum murdered and my friend abducted. Then when I confronted him he brought me here"

Chrissie didn't know what to say. "He seems like a right monster, who is your dad anyway"

"Grayson Sinclair, he's a top barrister"

"I've heard of him, my parents talk about him quite a lot; anyway I bet you wanna hear my story. My parents sent me in this place, when I refused to go to all of their fancy parties, they told me they couldn't have a daughter who wouldn't socialise, how could I help it if I hated all of their stuck up friends"

Mariah had never heard a story like it. "Do you think they will take you back"

"Who knows, don't think so, how about yourself"

"My dad says he will come and get me in two days"

Chrissie looked at her watch. "Oh my, look at the time; she will do her nut if we're late come on"

"Who"

"The old witch who runs this place. Margaret Thatcher mark two."

Chrissie ran out of the bathroom and down the stairs. Mariah followed close behind. They both went into the lounge, where a line of girls some older than Mariah all stood. Chrissie and Mariah got in line, waiting for the nightmare to begin.

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The day went awful for Mariah. Her dad had dumped Mariah at this place that seemed to be for rich families to dump their children to when they had enough of them. In Mariah's case it was only for two days or so Grayson had said.

The woman in charge was evil, she made everyone do lots of chores and they were endless, it was one after the other. The woman always carried around a small Bible, she was meant to be one of those strict religious people, it didn't wash with Mariah. Trying to tell her if she didn't work she would rot in hell for eternity had no effect on Mariah. Mariah was an atheist and wasn't afraid to say.

"You think you scare me telling me that"

"Listen to me girl, and don't answer back, religion is what you need in life, repent or suffer

Mariah laughed in her face.

"What suffering. You are on my case all the time, telling me I'll go to hell doesn't work with me, I don't believe in God or heaven or hell, so shut it, you stupid bitch"

All the other girls looked up from their chores, nobody had spoken to her like that before, and they were impressed. The whole room was quiet.

Then the woman slapped Mariah hard across the face. Mariah wasn't going to take it, she fought back.

"What gives you the right to hit me, you say lying is sinful, well I was only carrying out what you preach honesty."

There were whispers all across the room. Then Mariah pushed the woman over.

"That's what you get for messing with me, hit me again and I'll personally throw you into the fires of Hell," Mariah smoothly said pointing to the fireplace that was lit.

Mariah cruised out of the room as if nothing was happening, feeling happy with herself. Mariah spent the whole afternoon in her room relaxing, a bit later on she went into the bathroom.

Not long after a group of girls came in and ran to her.

"Oh my god, you were brilliant, nobody has spoken to her like that before," a girl said.

Another girl nodded her head. "She was so embarrassed, we just followed your example too, what gives her the right to boss us about"

Another spoke out. "I can't believe you questioned her religious ways, none of us would have the guts, to do that, your name is Mariah right?"

Mariah nodded.

"Okay, well I'm Linda, this is Natalia and that is Andrea. Hang on your that dancer, Mariah Sugden, how come your here"

"Its a long story"

Then Natalia spoke she pulled two bottles of vodka out of her bag.

"Why don't you tell us about it in the attic, we can have a party to celebrate that woman's demise"

"What attic?"

"Well Mariah, we found this secret room where us girlies can go, we drink and basically do whatever, so come on"

Mariah followed the girls along the corridor and through some panelling in the wall, there was an old staircase leading to a huge attic. They were joined by Chrissie and some other girls, and then they began drinking.

"So what's the story," Andrea said

"Well I ran away from home to go to London, I became a dancer and was chosen to tour with Christina Aguilera, my dad found me and had me in a car crash, then my legs were broken so I couldn't dance, he had it all arranged. He forced me to go home with him. Then I found out my dad murdered my mum and kidnapped my friend, I ran away to my friends house. Then dad turned up there and dragged me here."

The girls were horrified. Chrissie spoke

"Her father is Grayson Sinclair, my family always talks about him"

Linda knew who he was. "I know who he is, don't like him, he gives me the creeps, used to come around my father's house for drinks, he's really creepy"

Mariah decided to say something. "It gets worse, my dad was locked away in a mental hospital for 16 years, and he was released this year"

Linda was even more scared. "I don't blame you for leaving, Mariah, have some vodka"

Linda passed over a bottle of vodka to Mariah. Mariah took a sip and wanted more, she drank it like it was a cup of water.

"Hey take it easy Mariah," Andrea said.

"Oh leave her, And, look at Natalia when she gets going," Linda said.

"Where did you get this stuff?" asked Mariah.

"The bitch has a whole supply in her office, I'm telling you she's an alki," Linda said.

Mariah was getting drunk and so were the other girls, they started slurring. Unknown to them it was already dark and they had been discovered.