Marcie already saw the reason for what had happened. She hugged her body tightly again.

"My brother got in as an orderly a couple of weeks after I got canned. We decided we were gonna teach your old lady a lesson… her and you," Jack said, grinning down in triumph at the girl.

"But I…"

"Shaddup!" Jack snarled, slapping her.

Marcie screamed, the blow stinging her cheek. She struck the wall. Lying there and moaning softly, Marcie wondered how her mother would escape this horror. Jack's brother undoubtedly was dogging her mother, waiting for her to be alone so he could pounce on her the way Jack did.

"But you brought me here. Why?"

"None of your fuckin' business for now. Better get used to it, bitch. It's gonna be your home for a long time," Jack said, hitching up his pants, then backing out of the room.

Marcie lay still after Jack had slammed the door shut. She listened to the fading footsteps. Now she was alone, alone to think of her shame, alone to rehash all that had happened to her. When she thought of Jack's hammering prick, when she thought of the brutal way his dick had torn away her cherry, the girl sobbed. Marcie covered her mouth, stifling the hysteria rising in her. No, no, she would survive all this. Soon they would be after her mother, possibly bringing her here. She had to be strong. Her mother, God only knows, lived in a Never-Never land where things like this just didn't happen.

CHAPTER FIVE

Rhoda tapped her fingers nervously on the kitchen table. Marcie should have been home hours ago. It was nearly seven-thirty. Her daughter had been increasingly difficult to handle. But she wouldn't have stayed out this long without a phone call or at least a note!

The attractive nurse put both hands to her mouth, sighing deeply, wondering if she should call the police. She hated to put them on a false track. But really, this was going too far even for Marcie.