Chapter 1- Hellos and Goodbyes
I just stared out the window watching the city fade into country, country into mountains. Before I knew it everything that I had known was gone. All the bustle and noise of the city, the friends everything was gone. Where I was going I knew that I wasn't going to wake up in the middle of the night by my mother pulling me to the floor of the house because of another drive-by. That thought comforted me, but I worried about my mother. Would she make it though the next shooting? I leaned my head against the window and tried to imagine my life before everything had changed. My mother continued to drone on and on about how I was going to be safer up here, and how I should be thankful that my Aunt had decided to pay. To be honest I wasn't angry with my mother. She just didn't know what she could do anymore, and it was all my fault. Though I was extremely angry with my Aunt she was always putting her nose in our families business. She never really cared about us just always wanted a way to show that my mother had made a bad decision in marring my father.
"... Just think there will be no....Ally, are you even listening to me?" She asked as we pulled into the drive way. Horizons.... that was the name of the school.
"Mama, you can't take care of everything alone... you need me there please don't leave me here." I tried one last time to get her to keep me at home.
"Allison Marie Jackson, I have told you time and time again to stop! You are going to stay here until you complete their program thing or whatever." She yelled at me. Lord, I think that I have the record of losing everything that I have ever wanted in the shortest amount of time.
"Whatever." Stepping out of the car, I couldn't help but be thankful that I had gotten my nails done just the other day. By the looks of things it was going to be a while before I got into town. My hair though that was another thing. Already I hated everything about the place and yet there was something that drew me in. At that moment my mother stepped out of the car.
"Get your bags."
" yes ma'am" respect was the one thing that had been drilled into my head since I was a baby. The Lord knows what would happen if I disrespected her here. Next thing I knew was I was going through some inspection process. This guy just went on and on about how they don't allow drugs and what not. I didn't even bother to really pay attention until he said some thing about chores that stopped me.
"Excuse me?!"
" What did you not understand something?" He asked looking at me.
" What's this about doing chores? I don't clean up after anyone but me." I snapped, my street girl attitude came back in a snap I may not talk back to my mother but these people that was another story.
"Everyone here helps out, each person does there share."
I just rolled my eyes. By this time I was starting to rethink my stance on not being angry with my mother. If she would have just let me deal with my problems my own way!! Oh I need so badly to hit something or some one. Lashing out I throw my fist in to the wall right there in front of that guy. I know I know that was stupid of me to do right there. He just stared at me and didn't say anything.
" Well lets go and have a little meeting with your mother and than I'll take you to meet the Cliffhangers which will be the group that you are with." Standing up he showed me the way out.
Once we were in his office I sat down next to my mother a put on my perfect little daughter act for her. By now though she had partial figured out my charade. Acting like I was paying attention my gaze was draw to the window watching the kids look like they were enjoying them. I was jealous, I had never been even that close happy in a long time.
" Mrs. Jackson, I would like to ask you about your daughters Anger." He asked. Oh well that was a topic that my mom could really get going on.
" She has an explosive temper now, to be honest Mr.Scarborow. She was the sweetest girl until..."
"Ma, stop okay. I think I can talk for my self." There she goes again going to go and tell everyone our family business.
"Did you just interrupt me young lady?" She asked in the tone that would have earned me a beating if I was still at home.
"Yes, ma'am. But I think...." Back to the roll of submissive daughter, I hated that someone was watching this.
" What I tell this man is my business. Don't you go interrupting me again."
"Ma can we just be done here, ya know you say goodbye and get back home to Jr.?" play the brother card, this one almost always worked.
"Your right sweetie." She smiled halfheartedly " Now Ally you be good ya hear, don't you go wasting your Auntie's money."
"Wouldn't want that now would we." I muttered under my breath. My mother just rolled her eyes. In a few moments she was gone and I was left there watching everything of my old life drive away. Parts of me desperately wanted to go and run to the car and leave with her, but the other part was intrigued with this school.
"Allison, what was your mother going to say before you cut her off?" Peter asked.
"Its no of your concern really. So don't worry about it." Rolling my eyes I turned to look at him. "Family stuff isn't meant to be spread around. Can I see where I am going to be staying?" Push him away... push everyone away that was the only way that I was going to make it. Locking people out, putting on masks changing who I was to please people that had always been my game. Waiting for him to say something a woman walked up.
"Allison this is Sophie and she will be your counselor and will show you to your cabin."
" Yeah whatever" Looking down at my clothes I smiled. Nothing to revealing just simple hip-huggers with a white tank top. My hair was down around my shoulders with my bandana tied up in my hair. Walking up to the cabin I tried to prepare myself for the types of girls that I would be staying with.
Chapter 2.-run
As the door opened there were four girls siting on beds in what looked like some sort of argument.
"Girls!" Sophie yelled, each of them looked over at her with mild annoyance when they noticed the girl standing in the door with her."I want you all to met the newest Cliffhanger... Allison." Each of them muttered some sort of hello none of which were worth the mention. "So Allison, Jules will be your buddy for the first week." Motioning to a girl with long brown hair. " That bed over there is yours."
"Right." I replied grabbing my bag, I walked into the cabin not wanting anything to do with any of the girls. All I wanted to do was sleep. Lately sleep was the only thing that I would do, I could sleep for days at a time. I flopped down on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
"So what brings you up here?" Shelby asked with some major additude. I looked over at her she was the embodiment of the very girls I would kick the shit out in school.
"I don't think it is any concern of yours."
"Touchy."
"Lets get the straight right now, You will never get to know me, you could never understand. And Frankly I want nothing to do with you. Got it?" I snapped at her. Push everyone away that is the only way to deal with everything especially with what is happing. Standing up I decided I wanted to go and wonder around for a while. Walking to the edge of the forest I looked around and saw no one watching me smiling I scaled a tree near the front of the woods. It felt so good to be up there away from everything. So many days I had spent at the top of the trees after my sister died. Being high up made me feel safe like no one could touch me, like I was closer to my father. I missed him so much.
"You think that we should go and find her?" Jules asked
"She is your buddy not ours." Shelby snapped " who does she think that she is anyways?!"
"I know god forbid that anyone give you some sass." Daisy said sarcasticly. Shelby through a pillow at her head.
"Doesn't really matter we have group now." Standing up Shelby walked out of the room. She was still trying to get her head around that girl. Once everyone had sat down Peter walked in and than looked around.
"Where is Allison?"
" She blew up at Shelby and than walked right out of the cabin." Jules started " but I don't think that she ran because she left all her stuff in the room. Than again...."
"Shut up Queenie!" Shelby yelled.
" You mean you didn't try and stop her or anything."
" she made it very clear that she didn't want to talk to any of us!" Shelby snapped.
During this whole time the guys had been quite they didn't even know that another cliffhanger had been added to the group.
" Well lets go group we have someone to be looking for." Peter said as he head for the door. " We need to find her before it gets to dark outside."
Everyone headed out side they looked all around. When the sun started to set the all headed back to the school. Standing at the foot of the tree that she had just gotten down from she smiled. Turning she noticed a boy standing there watching her.
"Can I help you with something?"
"Umm... Yeah are you Allison?" The boy asked.
" Yeah, what can I do for you?" She asked looking the boy up and down. " and who are you anyways?"
"Scott, and we have been looking for you like all afternoon." shrugging her shoulders she started to walk towards the cabin. Catching up with her he just stared at her. "Don't you even care? Or aren't you worried about punishment."
"No to both, I didn't try to run so there is nothing to get punished for. Why should I care?"
"I don't maybe that some people have spent a whole afternoon looking through the woods for you." getting tired of her aditude he grabbed her arm and turned her around to face her. When he looked into her eyes he could see the slightest bit of fear from the way that he had touched her.
Ripping her arm from his grasp she just looked at him.
"DON'T you ever touch me!!" Taking off in a sprint she ran to the cabin. Dashing through the door she threw herself down on the bed. It was just like before, the moment that he had grabbed her arms it felt like she was back in that alley way. Shaking her head she moved her thoughts to something else. It wasn't long until sleep claimed her.
Running to catch up with Peter, Scott tried to understand what had just happened.
"Hey Peter!" He yelled a little ways behind him. Turning peter look extremely exhausted.
"Scott, what's up?"
"I found her."
"You what?? Where is she?"
" Well she is in her cabin now." Scott said shruging his shoulders.
"Wait what? I thought she ran? Why is she in her cabin than?" Peter asked completely confused.
"Honestly I don't know." Scott continued to retell what had happened when he found her. "...maybe I shouldn't have grabbed her arm. She looked really scared for a second."
"Umm.. Thanks Scott. When don't you head to bed. I think I'll deal with this in the morning."
Chapter 1 - day one
Light slowly began to creep into the cabin illuminating the small room. Slowly streching out on her bed she looked around at the other girls who were still asleep. Allison still could not believe that she was here. Getting up she walked into the bathroom and toke a look at herself. God I look so bad... I look like I have a hangover. Turning her head slightly sideways she ran her hands through her hair. Pulling her hair back in to a ponytail, she changes her clothes. As she heads for the door of the Cabin she hears someone call her name. Turning around slowly she see Shelby sitting up in her bed with a smirk on her face.
"What princess couldn't find a place to run to?"
" Why would I want to leave, when I can stay and drive you insane?" She asked with a smile.
" whatever, I hope for your sake that you don't run again." She said as she rolled out of bed and began to get ready for the day.
Sitting down on the deck Allison just stared out. Lost in thought she didn't see Shopie walk up and sit next to her. It was almost as if she had been sucked into her memories a tear slide down her cheek as she thought about how much her life had changed in the last few months.
" you want to tell me what's wrong?" She asked. Jumping a little at the sound of someone sitting so close to her she just looked at Sophie for a moment.
" No." She snapped. Standing up she walked towards the dinning hall. Getting her food she sat down and just stared at it. Playing with her food, she saw Scott walk in, get his food and head over her direction. Sitting down next to her they sat in silence for a while, her playing with her food and him eating.
"Hey I'm sorry about last night... I shouldn't have yelled at you." She muttered without looking at him. He just kind of stared at her before telling her that it was okay and he shouldn't have grabbed her. " so how long have you been here?"
"Oh I've been here for about 4 months." He answered before taking another bite of food.
"Oh..."
"You know they are going to make you eat your food." glancing at her plate he smiled a little.
"I guess.... I'm just not hungry. I've never been a morning person." She said with a slight laugh " my sister used to love this time in the day...." Drifting off she began to think about her sister. It was still hard for her to grasp that her sister was dead.
Scott just watched her for a moment and noticed her far of gaze. Slowly her eyes began to fill with sadness and than anger than to emptiness. Quickly she got up and walked away from the table. On her way out she passed Shelby, Jules, and Daisy. Speeding up her pace she found the tree that she had climbed the previous day and began to scale its branches. Sitting up in the tree she let herself become lost in her thoughts once more.
"So where was she going?" Shelby asked Scott as she sat down at the table.
"Don't know she didn't say where but I think that I have an idea." He said as he pushed his chair away from the table and started to walk away.
"Hey, what's the deal why do you care so much about where she is going?"
" I don't think that it is safe for her to be out on her own." He tossed over his shoulder as he exited the building.
" Gosh, she has been her only a day and she already has people wrapped around her little finger."
"Someone jealous?" Daisy smirked as she saw the fury on Shelby's face.
"I think that she is just having trouble adjusting." Jules offered as an explenation of Allison's behavior.
" No one cares what you think Queenie."
Walking to the tree which he had found her the other day. As he approched the tree he heard someone crying softly. Looking up into the branches he saw her siting.
"Hey, why don't you come down? We have group." He called up to her. Looking down at him she smiled a little through her tears. Starting to climb down her foot slipped on one of the branches. Holding on as tight as she could she tried to pull her self up enough to put her feet back on the branch. Scott stood on the ground holding his breath while watching what was going on above him. She started to whimper as she didn't have enough strength to pull herself up.
"Oh... I'm gonna fall...." she said softly.
"Just hang on I'm coming up." He said hurriedly as he looked for the branch that she had used to get up there. Climbing as quickly as he could, all he could do was silently pray that she wouldn't fall. Getting up to her level he gently pulled her to him as she let go with her hands her feet found the branch with his guidence.
"Thank you" she muttered holding on tightly to him.
" you know if we are going to get down you are going to have to let go." Nodding quickly she climbed the rest of the way down without any problems. Standing on the ground she looked up at the place that she had been sitting.
"Maybe I shouldn't go up there again." She muttered shaking her head as she followed Scott.
"Do you mind if I ask you something?" He asked.
"Well... you did help me so I guess that I'll answer a question for you."
"Why did you climb up the tree instead of run?"
" honestly?" Pausing she looked at the ground. A slow smile spread across her lips. "To be honest, I'm glad that I'm here I don't have to wake up in the middle of the night to guns going off, or mothers crying because their babies were killed, that's why I didn't run. Why I climbed the tree? Well thats because it makes me feel like I'm close to my sister and my father." He just nodded. The rest of the way they walked in silence. As they entered the room all the cliffhangers turned to see them. A look of pure haterade filled shelby's face, they rest were just interested in what Scott was doing with someone other than Shelby.
"Glad you two could join us." Peter said slightly annoyed " take a seat."
"Well you know couldn't hang around all day." She muttered as she toke a seat. Jules gave her a kind smile.
"Okay I want each of you to go around the room and tell a reason that you are here."
"Well, I ran away from home, because my stepfather was a jerk." Shelby said reluctently.
" I'm not at my mothers level of perfection, so I started to cut,"
"I got into a gang and drugs."
"Lets, see I toke a golf cub to my fathers skull because I was sit of his drinking." Daisy said with a sad smile on her face.
" um... I got into a bunch of drugs." Ezra muttered
"I stared doing drugs after my stepmother molested me." Scott replied with no emotion in his voice. After a few moments of silence they looked at Allison. Her eyes were glued to her hands that had multiple cuts on them from the tree.
"Allison its your turn." Sophie said softly to her. Raising her eyes to look around the room.
"What do you want me to say?" She asked
" why were you sent up her?"
"Why?!? Well that is a good question. I was sent cause my good for nothing aunt can't mind her business and let my family alone." She snapped. Not in a mood to answer any more questions she looked back down at her hands. Jules who was sitting next to her gentely put an arm around her. Looking over at Jules she smiled softly. How she remenied her of her sister. After group they got up and went to their classes. They were all easy, Allison had never had problem in school. During break she went back to her cabin to take a nap.
It was a dark cold night she was walking with her sister. There was something that had changed in her sisters eyes, she looked determind to do something. Walking in to the little house she went straight to her boyfriend.
"I want out!" She shouted at him. I just looked at her. "I'm done being your little whore. I know what you are trying to get my sister to do and I won't let you. I'm done. We are done." She paused
" LaToya you know that you can't just walk out. I doesn't work like that you are mine no one else's that's the way that it is going to be." He stepped forward and let his hand slide down her face. She quickly pushed it away
"No one owns me. I'm done. You are going to let me and my sister go, you aren't ever going to mess with my family again." I could see the anger that had filled his eyes. I knew that something bad was going to happen. That's when they grabbed her and pushed her over on to the bed. She screamed for me to run home and never come back and not to worry about her. I tried, but they were there to block my why. They tied me to a chair. And forced me to watch...
Allison let out a terrifed scream as she sat up in her bed. Tears were streaming down her face. No matter what she did she couldn't get it out of her head.
"Stop, stop.... please just stop!" She yelled, it seemed as thought she was still stuck in her dream. All of the Cliffhangers had heard the scream come from their cabin and ran to see what was the matter. Looking in the room the saw Allison sitting here muttering something as she cried. No one moved, they didn't know what they should do. Walking in Jules sat down on the bed and put an arm around her.
"Allison... Allison, its okay, whatever happened they can't hurt you now. Your safe." She said softly to her trying to calm her down. Allison turned her head and saw Jules there.