Legendary Business Woman

Dinah walked and walked till she grew tired. Once again she arrived at the little crossroad she had been avoiding for the past two hours. The frail girl, standing in the snow on a crossroad facing the east side looked like a ghoul if not for the red cheeks caused by the biting cold, the contrast with her flaming orange hair and pale skin making it hard to not see her even when the snow was pouring down heavily. She grabbed the strap of her bag tighter and decided to continue walking round the junction, but contrary to her thoughts the snow wasn't going to let up on the poor girl despite her apparent dread for her house. Her whole body shook with the cold, her school jacket could barely protect her and she was supposed to be home long ago but as neglected as she was no search party came for her. 'Papa probably listened to that woman's words again', she mused. Looking down the path again, she brought out her only electronic device, an outdated 2015 Samsung model given to her by her very 'amazing step mother', since she didn't want 'Dear Dinah' to be corrupted by the internet. 'Harsh, if you ask me', she laughed The time was 10:09 pm. She nearly burst into a guffaw if not for her body shivering in protest. Tears sprang into her eyes instead. 'I am more than four hours late, and Papa hasn't even tried to call me', she tucked her phone back into her jacket and began walking down the path. At the end of this road would be her house, she could not classify that as a home for she only lived there, because she had no other place to go. At the back of her mind, she imagined having a kind grandpa like all the stories she read. She would cry and complain to him and he would take care of her. Reality however was harsh, her paternal grandparents were just as bad as her Papa and Stepmother. And she didn't even know who her mother was, which cancelled out the idea of looking for any maternal relation however. She arrived at the gate and pressed the intercom connected to the security house. Yes, they or rather her Papa was filthy rich. He owned dozens of pharmaceutical companies and business has been flourishing for so many years. He told her his grass to graces riches as long as he was around, maybe to console her or something. But she didn't care, he worked so hard for his daughter to be trampled on by outsiders, she didn't care for his money. Zzzzt "Who is there?", a guard questioned. She really didn't have the energy to answer, there were cameras here and obviously they knew it was her, but just as every other human in this house, they tormented her just for the fun of it. 'Tsk' She looked straight into the camera and said, "Your grandma" Laughter could be heard through the intercom since the guard was probably still pressing the microphone button. "Johnny, you didn't say your grandma was coming for a visit, what to do? It's past curfew", one suggested while holding back a bout of laughter "You should send her to a hotel, maybe accompany her too", another sneered "Yeah, show her some real city sights ehhh" "Hahahahaha" She stood rock still and listened, this happened everytime she used this gate, consistently for years now. She wondered if they had so little entertainment that torturing a sixteen year old was a novelty. But she stood ramrod straight, with gloomy eyes staring right at the camera. The laughter stopped after not receiving anymore 'food for thought' from the 'flaming ghoul' aka her. She was buzzed in after a while and she continues her journey down the estate towards the main door. She could almost see the scene. Everyone in their pyjamas, Papa wearing only a singlet and the pyjama bottoms, her stepmother, ever graceful in silky lingerie covered very modestly with a robe and an eye mask on her head. And then the last one, beautiful, lovely, kind, gentle and very intelligent little sister Serena. They were the same age, she didn't know why they insisted she be called older sister but she knew Serena was exactly like her mother. A very vicious ghost, hidden beneath that very straight hair and perfect eyebrows. She wondered if Serena counted them daily and made sure they were equal. 'Does she remove if one side sheds or does she use a pencil to add on?', a mystery she hasn't been able to solve yet and she loves solving mysteries. She looked up and realized that in her musings she had arrived at the door. It had reflective glass on it and she was able to take a look at herself. Wearing State High school custom uniform of brown blazers on white shirt and brown trousers. She never liked skirts and luckily State High allowed girls to wear trousers. Her shoes looked more worn out than her but they were probably holding on better. Her unruly orange hair was as usual unruly. Her eyes looks like emeralds she thought, if only they weren't so dull and lifeless, her face with it's massive amount of pimples and freckles was as hideous as ever. She smiled and shuddered at her reflection. She even scared herself, wonder why people say she is a ghoul. Even ultra pale skin didn't even help and she was already having frostbite, evident in her blue lips. She shook her head, probably to remove the image of herself from her head and pushed the door with both hands. 'Massive i***t door, why don't we at least have a doorman? I lose half my life pushing this door than I do everyday' She walked into the hallway and as expected, there was a formation to welcome her, but this time they stood right in the hallway. Must have been informed by the security. She stood right across from them and didn't say a word. She also didn't make a single sound when her stepmother raised her hand and brought it down, red nails and all right on her left cheek. She made sure to maintain eye contact with her Papa however. 'See Papa, you can't hurt me anymore' She smiled, he kept his beady eyes locked on her, narrowed like the snake he is, she didn't care and right now all she wanted was her bed. Her small, hard and welcoming bed. Right under the staircase was her little room, a closet but a bit bigger. She wasn't deserving of having a better room for herself but she loved it. She was already sharing enough space with these hypocrites she had no desires increase her interactions with them. She zoned out again. A coping mechanism she developed over the years, it stopped the pain and harsh words from reaching her. "We searched all over for you!", stepmother screeched in her high and thin voice. 'She sounds more like a ghoul should', Dinah's head was filled with wonderful thoughts. "Darling, look at her. As her mother, all I do is worry but see how I am rewarded", she burst into tears. Dinah was no longer shocked 'You hit me and then you are crying? One would think my face was that thick. Thick enough to hurt you. Pathetic' It works like a charm though, an emotion she hoped and prayed long ago be directed at her was focused squarely on the more suited ghoul in front of her. Papa looked at her with adoration and pity, and then he turned those eyes at her and flames matching with her hair sprung into them. He held his wife and spoke to her. "Leave and go to your room, I'll deal with you in he morning". She was relieved at least she had time to prepare herself.