Erika trudged out of bed the next morning, and assembled her packed things. She dressed, and pulled a brush through her hair. She pinned up her hair so it wouldn't be hanging in her face during the hike. Once she had completed her preparation, she went off to meet Peter, Sophie and Scott at the main lodge.

"I'm here," Erika announced as she arrived. Scott was lounging on one of the couches with his bag beside him.

"Good," said Sophie. "We can get started. Here's the plan: Peter will drive us up, and then he will head back. Once we're on the trail, I will shadow you two for safety. Basically, you have to find your way back to Horizon, forage for food and spend a night outside, all while you're twined together. Clear?"

"Yeah," Erika muttered.

"And I'll be able to provide you guys with help when you need it," said Sophie.

Peter added, "I want you two to keep track of your progress in your journals. Erika, I haven't had the chance to supply you with yours as of yet, with all your commotion lately, so here's one now," he said as he handed Erika a leather-bound notebook.

"Uh, thanks," she said.

"And where's that essay, by the way?"

"Right here," Erika said as she reached into her pack and removed a few lined sheets of writing.

"Thank you, Erika. Good work."

"It took me long enough. You sure a thousand words was enough?"

"Ok, let's go," Scott interrupted, rising from his seat.

"You two ready?" Sophie asked the two Cliffhangers.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Erika responded.

"Yeah," Scott echoed.

"Alright, let's get going," asserted Peter, leading the three to his jeep. They all piled in the vehicle, and the trek began.

Peter drove deep into the wilderness, following a rugged path along the forestland. When he finally pulled up in a desolate piece of forest, the two Cliffhangers and counsellor leapt out of Peter's vehicle, lugging their packs.

"Good luck, guys," Peter said when they had exited his vehicle. He subsequently drove off in his trek back to Horizon.

As they watched Peter speed off, out of their sight, she announced, "You're on your own now. Let's get you two twined up."

Reluctantly, Erika and Scott allowed Sophie to fasten the twine to one another. As she completed the final knot, the restraint put on them was not welcomed.

Erika raised her foot to test the restraint of the twine, unsure. She had made it very clear all throughout her stay at Horizon that she despised limitations. The twine was quite the hefty limitation.

"K, where we headed?" Scott asked Sophie.

"This way, guys."

Scott turned to Erika sharply. "We should get a move on, we don't need a fire this time of day, and food really isn't a problem now."

Erika looked at him strangely. "You've done this before, haven't you?" she said knowingly.

"Yeah, guilty. Let's go."

"Alright."

The two headed off in the direction Sophie had instructed them to take in an uncomfortable silence.



Peter Scarbrow drove back up to his school. He arrived, and got out of the Jeep, heading into the main lodge. He made his way to his office and found the phone ringing off the hook. He picked up the phone, and slumped into the chair behind his desk as he answered it.

"Mount Horizon school, how can I help you?" Peter answered.

"Hello, I'd like to speak with the headmaster," the effeminate voice replied.

"This is Peter Scarbrow speaking."

"Oh hello, Mr Scarbrow, this is Jordana Lavalier, Erika's mother." A short pause proceeded. "How's she adjusting?"

"Well.." Peter began. "She got off to a rocky start, provoked a few fights, but she's beginning to adjust. She's off on a hike right now."

"I see. Well the reason I phoned was because I came across something of interest this morning that you might want to know about."

"And what was that, mrs Lavalier?" Peter asked.

"A letter in my mail, that I found curious. I found more of them stashed away in her room."

"What kind of letters, Mrs Lavalier?"

"Letters from her father," the woman stated.

"Uh huh? Would you like to fill me in here? I thought he lived out of state."

"He does. In prison."

This was news to Peter. He breathed a short sigh. "Did you have any knowledge that Erika was contacting her father?"

"None whatsoever," was the frank response.

"Did you open the letter?" Peter questioned.

"Oh yes. I want to know what a man convicted of murder has to say to my daughter."

"Murder? How come you didn't tell us about that before? I think it explains quite a bit of her behaviour," Peter explained.

"And how is that Mr Scarbrow?"

"She's angry, up until this moment, she was inexplicably angry. The state of her father is a likely the faucet of her anger."

"I don't even know where she got the address for her father's prison, Mr Scarbrow. I've never even told her his whole name."

"Did she have any kind of contact with her father before the letters, that you know of?" Peter questioned.

"No, none whatsoever. I tried my best to keep my daughter away from a murderer, a person I thought I knew but didn't. I even moved out of state to get further away from him."

"Why did you fail to mention the identity of Erika's father up until now?" Peter said, exasperation seeping into his voice. He wasn't pleased that the woman had withheld such important information from him.

"I never mentioned her father to Erika, it wasn't a subject I was willing to talk about." Jordana Lavalier explained. "I didn't think it would be important, because as far as I've ever known, they hadn't had any contact whatsoever. But apparently, that assumption was wrong. You know, now that I think about it, she did ask about her father a few times throughout her life, but didn't get anything out of me. I thought it would be best if she never knew what her father had done. And not too long ago she asked again, put up quite the argument. I had told her that I had a restraining order against him and that there was good reason why she couldn't see him."

"Is there anything else you'd like to let me know about, Mrs Lavalier?"

"No, Mr Scarbrow. But what should I do with the letter?"

Peter furrowed his brows. "What did it say?" he asked.

"I'll get it now and read what it says. One moment," a pause lingered. A few moments followed and the voice returned. "I've got it, it's definitely in familiar handwriting. It says, 'Dear Erika, It's not what you think, kid.. It's not what you think. I know this has to be hard for you to understand, and I know it's weird coming from a man you haven't seen in what has seemed to me a lifetime, but it's even worse for me. My life the past few years have been the hardest of life in entirety. I'm sorry that you couldn't get to know me, the real me, and not just projections of what you must hear. I'm sorry for that. But thank you for writing. It means the world that you didn't forget about me, even though your mother has. She's not a bad woman, she just doesn't believe anymore. Write back soon. Signed Darryl Lavalier'." Jordana paused to take a breath. "I don't know what to think, Mr Scarbrow. And I don't know how she got away with it without me knowing."

"I think you should forward the letter to Horizon, and we'll make sure she receives it. Even though he is a convict, he deserves to hear from his daughter, Mrs Lavalier."

"He is not a good man."

"That doesn't change that she's his daughter."

It was a few moments before Erika's mother replied. "He's a murderer," she said bitterly. "He doesn't deserve to speak with his daughter."

"By the by Mrs Lavalier, how did you manage to keep Erika's father from visitations rights with her?" Peter questioned.

"I managed to convince the court it was best. After all, this is a man convicted on three counts of first degree murder."

Peter exhaled slowly, assessing the situation. "Will you forward the letter here or not, Mrs Lavalier?"

Another pause. "Alright, I will. But I hope you do know what you're doing."

"Thank you. I'll be sending you a weekly progress report in a few days."

"Alright, thank you. When will my daughter return from the hike?"

"She'll be back by tomorrow. Would you like to have a word with her?" Peter questioned.

"More than one. She's got some explaining to do."

"Alright. Could you phone back mid-afternoon tomorrow?"

"Certainly. Alright, thank you mr Scarbrow."

"No problem."

"Goodbye."

"Bye."

Peter Scarbrow sat silently, pondering. He put his face in his hands.