The grandfather clock in the corner chimed eleven sharp times.
Victoria stood over the children with a terrifying look of greed.
She wanted the entire family trust fund for her own biological relatives.
Mark had established a ten million dollar fund for Lily and Tommy.
If the children were proven unfit or bad, Victoria could control it.
Victoria: Your father made me the primary legal guardian last month.
Lily: Dad would never leave us in your cruel care forever!
Victoria: You have no idea what your father signed before he left.
She laughed quietly as she pulled a piece of paper from her folder.
It was a legal document detailing the trust fund rules and conditions.
Victoria: If you commit a crime, your share goes to me.
Tommy: You hid the golden locket yourself so you could frame us!
Tommy stood up brave and wiped his wet cheeks with his shirt sleeve.
Victoria: You are smarter than you look, little boy, but nobody cares.
She pointed to the heavy wooden door leading to the hallway.
Victoria: Both of you go inside the dark storage closet right now.
Lily: We are not going inside that cold room without light!
Victoria: You do not have a choice in this house anymore.
Victoria grabbed Lily's upper arm with a very tight grip.
Lily: Let go of me! You are hurting my arm!
Tommy: Stop touching my sister right now, mean stepmother!
Tommy tried to push Victoria away with all his small strength.
Victoria shoved Tommy back onto the soft rug with a sneer.
Victoria: You children are nothing compared to the fortune I deserve.
She dragged Lily toward the closet door while holding the stick.
Lily: Daddy is going to find out what you did today!
Victoria: Daddy's plane does not land for another six full hours.
She reached out her long hand and unlocked the heavy closet door.
The inside of the closet was dark, cold, and filled with dust.
Tommy: Please don't lock us in there, stepmother, please!
Victoria: You will stay in here until you sign the confession paper.
She pulled out a pre-written letter accusing them of grand theft.
Lily: We will never sign a fake letter for your greed!
Victoria: Then you will stay in the darkness without any food.
She forced both children inside the room and slammed the wooden door.
The heavy key turned inside the lock with a loud click sound.
Lily pounded her fist against the thick wooden door repeatedly.
Lily: Help us! Somebody please help us get out of here!
Outside in the quiet hall, Victoria checked her golden wrist watch.
She smiled and tucked the missing locket into her designer purse.
She thought her plan to ruin the children was completely foolproof.