Chater One
Fifteen year old Lucy Holmes is an only child and has lived with her Grandma since the tragic death off her parents when she was very young.
Lucy a small but very pretty blonde girl arrived home from school one afternoon to find her Grandma sitting in the lounge looking very serious another much younger woman sat on the armchair opposite her.
“Lucy come in and sit down please, we’d like a chat with you.” Her Grandma said.
“What is it Gran?” Lucy said knowing something was wrong.
“Come and sit here next to me dear.” Her Grandma said patting the sofa.
“What’s wrong Gran please tell me?” Lucy begged.
Lucy this is Miss O’Connell she’s a social worker she’s here to help us. You know I haven’t been too well lately.”
“Yes, what is it Gran you’re not going to die are you?” Lucy cried.
“No no my child I’m not going to die, at least I hope not. But I am going to have to go into hospital and could be in there for quite a while, which means that there will be no body here to look after you.”
“But I can look after myself I’m nearly sixteen.” Lucy replied.
“I’m sorry Lucy but nearly sixteen isn’t good enough the law says you must be sixteen before you can live alone.”Miss O’Connell told her
“I can look after myself.” Lucy cried.
“No doubt you can Lucy, but if anything happens to you, your Gran will end up in trouble. You wouldn’t want that now would you?”
“No” Lucy dejectedly replied.
“I’ve arranged for you to go into care until your Gran is well enough to look after you again, or your sixteenth birthday which is only a two months away. I know this is upsetting for you dear, but these things happen in life. I’ve arranged for you to move into a lovely small all girls care home run by a nice lady called Mary Taylor and her daughter Donna I’ve placed many girls your age with her and they all loved their stay some were even sorry to have to go home.” Miss O’Connell told her.
“I’m sorry darling but there is no other option it won’t be for long.” Lucy’s Gran said giving her a big hug.
“It’s alright Gran, you just concentrate on getting better don’t worry about me, that place sounds really nice I’ll be fine.” Lucy said tearfully hugging her Gran.
“Mrs Taylor runs one of the better care homes in the area Lucy you’re really lucky to get a place in there she’s normally full up. I know its short notice but can you be ready in the morning.”
“Yes it’s the half term holiday now I have no school for a week so I can be ready tomorrow. What time?”
“Is ten o’clock in the morning alright?” Miss O’Connell replied.
“I’ll be waiting for you.” Lucy replied feeling much more cheerful than when she first heard the news that she had to go into care.
Lucy spent the rest of the day sorting through her clothes and belongings sorting out what to take with her.
The next morning Miss O’Connell arrived right on time to collect her. Lucy who was wearing a short pink skirt and thin white sleeveless top hugged her Gran and said good bye telling her she’d come to visit her in hospital every day. She began to cry as she got into Miss O’Connell‘s car and waved to her Gran through the window as they drove off. Mrs Taylor’s house was on the other side of town and it didn’t take very long for them to get there.
“Here we are.” Miss O’Connell said as they stopped outside an old large thee story house.
Miss O’Connell could see the fear in Lucy’s face when she saw the creepy looking old building.
“Looks scary from the outside doesn’t it dear? Don’t worry darling it’s nothing like this inside you’ll see.”
Miss O’Connell took Lucy up to the front door and knocked on the large iron door knocker, after a short while the door opened and tall slim attractive woman with collar length black hair, who Lucy guessed was in her early fifties stood before them, she was wearing a knee length navy blue dress and a navy blue cardigan.
“Hello Miss O’Connell and this must be Lucy.” The woman said with a pleasant smile.
“Hello Mary, yes this is Lucy she’s a little nervous.”
“Hello Lucy there’s no need to be nervous I don’t bite, come on in you’ll feel much better once you settled in and met the other girls.”
Lucy followed Mrs Taylor and Miss O’Connell into the lounge on their way they passed another room with its door open inside three girls who all looked to be around the same age as her were playing on a Nintedo Wii. In the lounge another woman was waiting she looked to be in her early twenties, like Mrs Taylor she was tall and slim with the same jet black hair only hers was long and tied back into a ponytail, she was wearing dark blue tracksuit bottoms and a white tracksuit top with the Nike logo on them. Lucy guessed this was Donna Mrs Taylor’s daughter. Her guess was right as Mrs Taylor introduced her.
“I don’t have many house rules Lucy you’ll find me pretty easy going, but let me explain what few rules I have to you. I don’t allow smoking or the drinking of alcohol in the house. No boyfriends are to be brought into the house without asking me first and they are certainly not allowed in your room. No swearing or bad language please. All the girls are expected to help out around the house, every Monday morning Donna posts list of your jobs for the week on the fridge door please look at it.
“This week you’ll be on dish washing after our meals with Debbie.” Donna told Lucy interrupting her mum
“The third floor of the house is mine and Donna’s living area and out of bounds to you girls unless there is an emergency. Other than that treat the rest of the house and the gardens as if they were your own, help yourself to drinks from the kitchen you’ll find plenty of fruit and snacks in there too don’t be shy help yourself. I think I’ve covered just about everything have you got any questions for me dear?”
“How many girls are staying here?” Lucy asked.
“I only have four girls at any one time I like my girls to feel like they’re at home I could fit more in but then feel more like an institution than a home, there’s yourself and the three you passed in the other room on your way in we’ll introduce you to them once you’ve been shown your room. Anything else you wish to ask?”
“Will I be allowed to go to the hospital to visit my Gran?”
“Of course you will my dear this isn’t a prison you’re free to come and go as you wish just like you would be at home, just let myself or Donna know when you are going out. Anymore questions?”
”No thank you, Mrs Taylor.” Lucy politely replied.
“If that’s everything I’ll be going then, you have my number don’t you Lucy call me if you need anything. Good bye dear.” Miss O’Connell said.
“Good bye and thank you.” Lucy replied.
“Donna will show you to your room now Lucy.”
Lucy followed Donna up to second floor and into one of the bedrooms
“This is your room Lucy, through that door over there is your bathroom.”
“You mean I have my own bathroom? Wow!” Lucy replied in amazement.
“You also have a television, DVD and CD players.”
“This is great I’m going to love it here.” Lucy said with smile looking around her well furnished room and her nice big bed.
“We ask all the girls to be responsible for cleaning their own rooms and making their beds, but I’m sure you do that at home anyway.”
“No problem.” Lucy replied.
“You’ll find all the cleaning equipment you need in the cupboard on the landing. Now I’ll leave you to unpack and when you’re ready come back to the lounge and I’ll introduce you to the others they’re three really nice girls I’m sure you’ll soon make friends with them.”
Once Donna had gone Lucy looked in her bathroom she couldn’t believe how nice it was, with nice white tiles on the walls, nice big white bath, with matching sink and toilet, hung up behind the door was a nice thick fluffy bath robe, nothing like her Gran’s old tatty bathroom which never seemed to feel warm.
After unpacking she went back to the lounge and Donna took her into meet the other girls.
“Girls sorry to interrupt your game, but I’d like you all to meet Lucy she’ll be staying with us for a while. Lucy this is Debbie.” Donna said pointing to small plump ginger haired girl with a freckled face who was wearing jeans and black hoodie.
“Next to Debbie is Natalie.” Donna continued pointing to tall thin girl with short brown hair who was wearing grey wearing jogging pants and a white t shirt.
“Last but not least is Sharon or Shazz has she prefers to be called.” Donna said pointing to spectacle wearing girl with long wavy blonde hair who was wearing white jeans and pink t shirt.
“Pleased to meet you all.” Lucy nervously said.
“Don’t just stand there come on in we’re playing tennis on the Wii you can play me next if you want.” Debbie told her.
“Thank you.” Lucy said with a smile as she joined the others.
“I’ll leave you then Lucy I’ll be next door if you want me.” Donna told her.
Lucy spent the afternoon getting to know the other girls who she thought were all really nice and friendly and made her feel really welcome.
After a few hours Mrs Taylor came in and told them dinner was ready.
The food was lovely Lucy had never had a three course evening meal before in her life. After dinner she and Debbie washed the dishes with Debbie washing and Lucy drying. Once she had finished Debbie dried her hands and then to Lucy’s horror she cried out.
“BITCH WHERE’S MY RING?”
“What? I haven’t seen your ring?” Lucy replied.
“MY MUM’S RING I LEFT IT THERE WHILE I WASHED UP NOW IT’S GONE YOU’VE NICKED IT.”
Hearing the noise Mrs Taylor and Donna ran into the kitchen.
“What on earth is going on in here?” Mrs Taylor asked.
“This thieving cow has stolen my mum’s ring I left it on the top while I washed up now it’s gone.”
“Is this true Lucy?” Mrs Taylor asked.
“No Mrs Taylor I haven’t touched her ring honestly.” Lucy replied.
“Check her pockets Mrs Taylor.” Debbie said with a hint of a smile.
“Ok Lucy empty out your pockets for me.” Mrs Taylor instructed the girl.
To Lucy’s shock and horror inside one of the pockets of her skirt was Debbie’s ring.
“I didn’t put there.” She sobbed.
“Well it didn’t get in there by itself did it young lady? I will not be lied to Lucy and I certainly will not tolerate stealing. Donna take her up to her room I’ll be up to deal with her shortly.”
“Please I haven’t done anything.” Lucy sobbed as Donna grabbed her arm and lead her out of the room.
Lucy looked back over her shoulder to see a huge smile on Debbie’s face as she was lead away.
“I guess Debbie didn’t take kindly to Lucy thrashing her at tennis this afternoon.” Natalie said to Sharon with a laugh.
Once they were in Lucy’s room Donna pushed Lucy down onto her bed, they didn’t have to wait long before Mrs Taylor arrived.
“Lie down on your back.” She barked at Lucy.
“Raise her legs up high for me Donna.”
“Please you have to believe me I didn’t steal her ring she slipped it my pocket without me knowing.” Donna sobbed.
“Nonsense I’m sure you’d have felt her put in your pocket.” Mrs Taylor replied.
Mrs Taylor then took hold of Lucy’s wrists and pulled them behind her knees and taped them tightly together with a roll of black tape she’d brought in with her, she continued until all of Lucy’s hands were cocooned in the black tape.
“You can let her go now dear her arms will keep her legs up and her cute little bottom exposed.
Lucy watched in disbelief as Mrs Taylor bound her ankles and knees together with the tape.
“Find me a pair of her panties will you dear.” Mrs Taylor said to Donna.
Donna searched the draws in Lucy’s dresser until she found her underwear draw and took out a pair of pink panties and passed them to her mum, who balled them and stuffed them into the protesting girl’s mouth, she kept one hand over Lucy’s mouth to stop her spitting the panties out and passed her daughter the roll of tape.
“Tear me some strips off will you please.”
Donna tore a strip of tape of the roll and passed it to her mum who stuck it down sealing Lucy’s lips, four more strips followed until all of Lucy’s lower face was covered by the tape.
Lucy watched as Mrs Taylor took a small key from her pocket and unlocked a draw built into the base of the bed and took out a thin whippy cane.
“Hold her still please darling.” Mrs Taylor said as Lucy began to struggle at the sight of the cane.
Donna took a firm hold of Lucy’s legs stopping her from struggling; Lucy closed her eyes as she saw Mrs Taylor raise the cane above her head. She screamed into her gag as the first stinging whack of the cane landed on her panty covered bottom, this was followed by four more in quick succession each one greeted with a muffled scream, after a short pause five more hard stinging whacks of the cane landed on the bare tops of her legs which caused Lucy great pain. These were followed by ten more on her bottom and ten more on her legs which left Lucy crying uncontrollably.
“Let this be a lesson to you young lady that kind of behaviour will not be tolerated in my house.”
Mrs Taylor put the cane back in the draw and took out a length of white cord; one end was tightly looped around Lucy’s ankles a number of times before she secured the other end to the fancy patterned metal headboard behind her leaving no slack in the rope.
“You can stay like this until morning young lady, and then maybe you’ll think twice before lying and stealing again.”