Author's Note: Thanks for reviewing, y'all. There's not much to say about this chapter, it pretty much speaks for itself. Just so y'all know, after this chapter, I only have one more planned. Amazingly, this seemingly endless soap opera of a story will finally draw to an end! It's crazy, I originally only planned for seven chapters. Now I have 41! I'm not really sure how that happened, exactly.. ;) I might write an epilogue.. But I'll decide when I get there.
So that's pretty much it.. Enjoy! -luv, Jazz
Adrian entered the infirmary room, and closed the door behind him lightly.
Only a day had passed since he'd last discovered Erika's limp body in the light of his flashlight, in the search for her and Amber, both of whom had merely run of into the darkness of night.
But once they'd discovered both bodies.. They'd headed immediately back to Horizon. There hadn't been another option.
Adrian brought a chair up next to the infirmary bed.
She was peacefully asleep, breathing deeply.
Adrian almost didn't know what to do. He didn't want to wake her, but he desperately wanted to talk with her. He needed to talk with her.
Yesterday had been ceaselessly crazy.. One thing, right on top of the other. When it seemed things could get no worse.. Suddenly it did. And yet it made sense to no one.. No one understood it fully.
Only Erika.
Her blond hair was loose, and sprawled over the pillow under her head.
He would have painted the scene, if he could have. The peacefulness of sleep, eyes closed that held so many mysteries..
Delicately, he reached out and brushed a lock of her hair out of her face.
Even in sleep, she was beautiful. A kind of beauty that was solely her own.
At his touch, Erika stirred in her sleep. Her eyes opened slowly, her green-eyed gaze landing on Adrian.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey Adrian," she replied. Her gaze drifted slowly, suddenly assessing her surroundings. She blinked, and suddenly bolted upright.
"Where.. where the hell am I?"
"Relax," Adrian said soothingly, taking her hand in his own. "You're in the infirmary. How are you feeling?"
Erika eased slowly, and sank back down into the infirmary bed. "The pain is unbelievable.." she said. "But I'll survive."
Their gazes were locked, when Adrian looked away.
"They found Amber's body," he said grimly.
Erika's eyes widened.. Suddenly reminiscing, the memories came flooding back.
She'd never forget the look on Amber's face before she fell...
She'd never forget looking into the darkness, seeing only ebony. She'd never forget the darkness.. It was impenetrable, and could have swallowed her whole.
"Oh my god.." Erika assessed. "That's right. How.. is she?"
It was a moment before Adrian answered. He knew that it was going to be hard to say. He just hadn't realized just *how* hard until he was there, her eyes questioning, anxious to know.
Finally, he met her gaze.
"She's dead, Erika."
Erika's grip on Adrian's hand slackened. She fell back onto the headboard of the infirmary bed. "Oh my god.. Oh my fucking god.." she murmured to herself. "I've turned into my father.." Suddenly turning to Adrian, there was fear in her eyes. Genuine fear. "What's going to happen?"
Adrian shook his head, and looked away. "I don't know. I don't know what's going to happen. But it's going to be alright."
"I fucking killed a girl, Adrian," Erika asserted. Shaking her head, a stray tear ran down her cheek. "I doubt it'll be alright. You can't imagine how this feels."
Adrian nodded grimly. "You're right, I can't."
"As obnoxious as she was.. I ended someone's life, Adrian. Even though it was self-defence.. I killed a girl."
Adrian didn't know what to say. "Yeah," he managed. "By the way," he continued, placing an envelope in front of Erika, "you uh, got a letter. Thought you might want to see it."
Erika took it in her hands, a welcome distraction from the disquieting revelation. "From my father..!" she said. "Yeah, I'm glad you brought this to me. Thanks Adrian."
Thought she was sincere, Adrian could hear a hint of mixed emotions in her voice. She was scared, and he knew it.
"No problem."
Ripping open the envelope, Erika dared to meet his gaze. "His last letters were pretty hopeful," she told him. "He's been sending them almost daily."
Erika pulled the letter from the envelope, and unfolded the letter.
Adrian shuffled his feet anxiously as she read.
Once done reading the letter, Erika set it aside, and subsequently drew her knees close to her body, burying her face in her hands.
Adrian was almost afraid to ask. "What does it say?"
Erika lifted her tear-streaked face momentarily, handed the letter to him. "Read it."
Adrian took the letter tentatively, and read.
His eyes scanned the cursive handwriting. He even reread certain parts to make sure he hadn't misread. He hadn't. He hadn't imagined things in the letter.
It was incredible.
Finally, he set down the letter, and regarded Erika with new eyes.
Were those tears of joy streaming down her face.. Or what?
"Wow, Erika," he said.
Erika lifted her head to look at Adrian. She realized that she was crying, but she didn't care. She realized it was the first time she'd ever cried in front of anyone, but she didn't care about that, either. She was vulnerable right now.. and the feeling wasn't as bad as she thought it would be.
She'd never allowed herself to be vulnerable before.
"Adrian, you know what this means!?" she exclaimed.
He couldn't suppress his half-smile. "That you're less like your father than you thought? Yeah, I know, beautiful."
Erika stared into space as she spoke, seemingly trying to make sense of it all. Trying to swallow all of this new information and not choke. "This guy- my father.. I spent forever thinking he didn't give a damn enough about me to stay out of lock down. I was wrong. He told me the truth all along."
"Yeah, I understand, Erika," Adrian said. "You feel like maybe there's something you have to live for now?"
Erika paused to stare into his eyes. Such beautiful eyes, dark and direct. "I already had something to live for, Adrian."
Having just awakened, Scott dragged himself out of his bed.
The phone rang, and he picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Hey Scott."
Scott smiled at Shelby's voice on the other end. He'd had a feeling that it would be her. It usually was. "Hey beautiful."
"It's soon, Scott. It's coming soon."
Scott collapsed back onto his bed. "I know, Shel!" he began. "God, I can't wait to see you. You would not believe how slow the time is passing without you here."
"I know. You would not believe what's going on around here. You know Erika? She *killed* Amber."
Scott wondered if he'd heard correctly. One thing was for certain, if he hadn't been awake before, he was now. "Huh? What?"
"I'm serious! It's crazy, no one knows the whole story, except for Erika, who's in the infirmary and is like unconscious."
It was almost too much to process. "Whoa.. No way, Shel."
"I'm serious!"
Scott shook his head, smiling. It was amazing, the effect she had on him.
time passage..
"The morp is fricking tomorrow," Shelby announced. "Scott. I'm going to see Scott.. Tomorrow."
She said it as if she could hardly believe it.
It was like, suddenly all of her misery was coming to an end. Suddenly, there was a light at the end of the tunnel.
She'd finally reached the end.
"Awww, Shel," Kat said sympathetically.
The Cliffhanger girls were lounging in their respective dorm, but it wasn't any typical day.
The morp was the very next day.
"I love him.. so much," Shelby continued, not caring if anyone listened. It just felt wonderful to say the words aloud.. And tomorrow she could tell Scott, in person.
It was like a dream.
"Well, I'm happy for you," Daisy commented.
Erika was sprawled over her bunk, lying there idly, consumed with her thoughts.
The truth to the matter was, she was concerned about her father. It had been ages since she'd last received a letter from him. The letters had come flowing, almost daily, and then abruptly stopped.
She didn't know what was going on, and that scared her.
In his last letter, he'd mentioned to her that new evidence had arisen in his case, evidence that proved his innocense. He'd mentioned that his lawyer was confident that he'd be released from lock-down any time soon. There'd be a retrial.
But that was a while ago, and she hadn't received a letter since. What the hell was going on?
Her thoughts filled with possible scenarios, anything that could have happened to him.
Her trail of thought ended, however, when Sophie barged into the girl's dorm, rather loudly.
"Oh, the routine again," Daisy commented when she saw Sophie, a huge box filled with garments occupying her hands.
Sophie set down the box in the middle of the girl's dorm. "Okay guys.." she said. "Choose away. I'll be right back."
As Sophie left the dorm, the garments were spread in piles across the dorm, the girls sorting through them.
Kat came across a long black, strapless dress made of glittering material. "This is such a beautiful dress," she said wistfully. Holding it up, she found that it was infinitely too long of a dress for her. "It's meant for someone tall, though," she remarked. Eying Erika, still lounging on her bunk, Kat tossed her the dress. "Erika, try this one on."
Erika caught the raiment disinterestedly. "Is this necessary?"
"Just try it on."
"Fine," Erika relented. "God, I haven't worn a dress since like, third grade, back when I couldn't think for myself."
Erika zipped up the back of it, and smoothed it out. Turning to Kat, she set her hands on her hips. "Happy?" she questioned.
"It's perfect," Kat said. "I love it. Are you going to wear it?"
Erika shrugged. "I could."
"You should."
"Yeah, why?"
Kat shrugged. "I don't know," she said. "Do it for Adrian, maybe?"
"That boy is in love with you, you know," Daisy added, as she rejected a dress from the pile.
"I know," Erika said inaudibly, to herself.
Shelby held up a pale gold, off the shoulder dress made from a opaque, gauzy kind of fabric. "What do you guys think of this one?" she asked.
"Try it on," Kat urged.
Shelby did try it on, and realized that it was a near perfect fit.
"You *have* to wear it," Kat said. "Scott's heart is going to stop when he sees you."
"You think so?" Shelby smiled. "More likely, I'm the one whose heart is going to stop from seeing him. You could not imagine how it feels to be separated from..."
Shelby didn't finish her sentence, she merely left it trailing. Juliette however, was more than happy to finish it for her.
"The one?"
Shelby sat down on the edge of her bunk, careful not to crease the dress. "Yeah. The one."
Juliette smiled. "That's so sweet!" she exclaimed. "I really hope you guys are meant to be together! That would be like, destiny.. That would be so romantic, like a happy ever after."
Daisy rolled her eyes, thoroughly unamused.
"You found a dress yet, Jules?" Kat asked.
Juliette held two in both her fists. "I'm thinking either this one, or this one."
"I like the one on the right," Daisy opined.
"Me too," Kat added.
"Okay, okay," Juliette said. "I'll see how it looks on me."
"What about you, Dais?" Kat asked.
"I've already decided," she said, smiling imperceptibly.
"But you haven't tried anything on yet."
Daisy held up a dress of her own. "It's called a *kimono*, Kat. One size fits all."
Kat shook her head, amused. "Alright," she said.
-*-THE MORP-*-
Peter Scarbrow sat behind his desk in the quiet of his office. Finishing up some last-minute paperwork quickly, so he could head back to the morp.
He didn't expect it when he heard a knock at his door.
"Come in," he called.
The door opened to a person Peter didn't recognize.
Scruffy, chestnut brown facial hair, his hair a shaggy mess. Intense, emerald green eyes, that shifted around the room, scanning. Eyes that belied nothing. A lean, tall, imposing build.
"You must be Peter Scarbrow," the stranger said. His voice was distinctively raspy, and unfaltering.
Peter set down his paperwork. "I am," he replied. Still, he could detect no familiarity with the stranger. Vaguely, the stranger's physical features made Peter reminisce, but only vaguely. He was more than certain, however, that he'd never seen this man in the entirety of his life. He would have remembered had he. "And you are?"
The stranger met Peter's gaze. Unwavering, striking green eyes met his. "Darryl," he said, in his gruff, raspy voice. "Darryl Lavalier."
Peter's jaw nearly dropped.
What on earth is Erika's father doing here? he wondered.
Peter was aware of recent events involving the man in front of him. New evidence had surfaced in the case, evidence that proved his innocense. But he was here..?
Taking a closer scrutiny to the man's features, Peter noticed strong resemblances between him and Erika. Angular, strong features.. Striking green eyes.. Tall build.. A stubborn, square chin..
Why hadn't he seen it before?
Peter put out his hand for the man to shake. "Good to meet you, sir."
Darryl took his hand, his grip strong. "I'm here to visit my.. daughter," he continued.
"Erika?"
"Yes," he said simply, his voice so raspy, it was almost as through it scratched against his throat. "Do you know that the last time I saw her.. was when she was just an infant?"
"No, I didn't know that," Peter said quickly. He sat down in the chair behind his desk, and motioned for the man to do the same. As he did, Peter drummed his fingers against his desk, wondering where to start. "You were recently released from jail?"
"Yes," the man rasped. He looked about forty, but it was impossible to tell. The man had been in jail for countless years, and being in that kind of setting no doubt affected the aging process. His face was hard, and strong, conveying a kind of harshness that was developed only in prison cells. His hands were rough, and dry, his knuckles cracked and bloody, but had an eerie kind of gentleness about them. A man of contrasts, Peter decided.
"A few days ago," Darryl continued. "It's been a.. crazy past few weeks. After being imprisoned for so long, I never honestly believed, that there was any hope for me. I thought I would continue on, in that hell.. without ever seeing my daughter again."
Peter met his gaze, and found that it was no different than looking into Erika's eyes. Fearless, unwavering, electric green eyes..
"Is she.. a good student?" Darryl asked suddenly, a hint of hopefulness in his raspy voice.
Peter smiled imperceptibly. "She's quite the character," he replied. "She's also made remarkable improvement in the last month."
"She spoke of you in her letters," Darryl said. "I appreciate everything that you've done for her."
"It was.. no problem," Peter replied. "You actually picked a very interesting day to see Erika. Today is 'the morp'."
"The.. morp?" Darryl questioned.
"It's like a prom, only backwards," Peter explained. "It's a dance-type thing, the one day where they can shed themselves of their inhibitions and have fun. Be kids."
"Sounds nice," Darryl commented.
The man was impossible to read, Peter found. "Does Erika know that you're here?" Peter asked.
The gruff man shook his head. "No.." he said. "I want it to be a surprise. I haven't had the time, with all the court dates and whatnot to write her recently, she does know that I had a retrial, but doesn't know the outcome."
Peter chuckled. "Well, this will prove to be.. very interesting," he said.
Readying themselves for the morp, the Cliffhanger girls were still in their dorm, preparing.
"How do I look?"
Shelby turned to them, her hair loose, and wavy, curled with a curling iron. She wore the off-the-shoulder gold dress she'd found among the piles. A diamond in the rough, it trailed to her dainty ankles. Her make-up matched her dress- a glittery gold on her eyelids, black mascara, and sparkly lip gloss completed the look.
She looked perfect.
"You look beautiful, Shel," Kat said.
"That gold eye shadow thing was a really good idea," Juliette commented, as she applied her own mascara.
"Yeah. I concur," the kimono-clad Daisy said.
Shelby sat down on her bunk. "I can't believe it," she said to herself. The thought of seeing Scott again.. finally.. was almost overwhelming.
"Don't cry, you'll mess up your make up!" Kat chided playfully.
Shelby smiled. "I know. It's just.. it's been so long."
"I know, Shel."
Juliette touched up her eyeshadow, and once satisfied with the result, turned to the others. "You guys realize this is like, one of our last days here?" she said.
Daisy lifted the corners of her lips, in what could pass for a smile. "It's finally time for the real world to set in."
Shelby sighed wistfully. "At least Scott will be there.." she said to herself..
Little did she know... If only she knew.
Sophie reappeared at the door. "It's about to start," she announced.
Scott looked at himself in the mirror.
Dressed in a dark tuxedo, Scott paused at his reflection.
He adjusted his hair slightly, and then appeared satisfied.
He let out a quiet sigh, and drew a breath.
It had all come to this.
After months without Shelby.. endless months.. It had all come to this.
Finally, it had come to this.
He collapsed onto his bed, one thought occupying his mind.
Shelby.
The days without her were hell. He'd never taken Shelby for granted, but being without her, having to live without her, only made him appreciate her all the more.
He loved her so much, more than anything he'd ever loved in his life. He loved her so much it consumed him.. He loved her more than anything in the world.
The thoughts of seeing her again.. He wanted to cry from happiness.
He recognized that he'd be an utter wreck when he was finally reunited with her. He'd never loved anyone like he loved Shelby Merrick.
Scott owned his own car. Living back at home, Shelby so far away, Scott had often found that he didn't know what to do with himself. So he'd done something productive- he worked. He eventually raised enough money to buy his own car. While it was, admittedly, a little bit worn around the edges, a little bit rugged, it could get him around. With it, he could get to Horizon, and that was all that mattered to him.
Scott took a long look at his room. Hopefully, this was the last time he'd ever see it.
After tonight.. It was a new beginning. With Shelby.
He didn't care what they did, once they were out of Horizon, as long as he was with Shelby.. his soul would be at ease.
Scott made his way downstairs. As far as he was concerned, all was well in the world. He'd soon be reunited with Shelby, he'd never have to deal with his dad again.. It was perfect.
The moment, however was not so perfect.
Scott found his dad waiting for him at the end of the staircase.
"Why in the hell are you dressed like that?" Martin questioned.
Scott barely gave his father a second look, as he reached for his coat. "I'm leaving," he said, "and if I'm lucky I'll never have to see you again."
"Leaving for Horizon?"
"Yeah," Scott said under his breath. He paused when the keys to his car weren't in the place he kept them. Scott turned to his father. "Have you seen my keys?"
Martin's expression was unreadable. "Fortunately," he began, "I have." It was then that Martin pulled Scott's car keys from his pocket, and let them dangle in his fingers."Unfortunately for you," Martin continued, "they're far beyond your reach."
Scott didn't know what to think. "What the hell, Dad..?!"
Martin's face took on a serious expression as he placed the keys back into his pocket, and turned to Scott. "I refused to sit and watch as you destroy your future, Scott. So I decided to take matters in my own hands. Literally."
Scott was aghast. Surely his dad hadn't sunk to this level!? "My future is not your choice, give me my fucking keys!"
Martin looked unimpressed, and neither his voice, nor his gaze, faltered. "Not a chance. Scott, when did you ever get the impression that you were in charge around here?"
Scott stood, dumbfounded, staring at his father.
"I mean, seriously Scott," Martin continued. "You thought I'd just let you leave? No, Scott. You have a potential to fulfill."
Scott had had enough. He shook his head defiantly. "I choose my own destiny, my own path to fulfill."
"No, you won't," Martin interjected, before striking Scott across the face.
The last thing Scott had expected was his dad to use physical force to get his way. He hadn't expected it when his father's fist made contact with his face..
Despite all that had happened between them two, Martin had never physically struck Scott. Until now.
Scott held his sore cheek, as his father continued.
"You will do as I tell you."
"Like hell I will!" Scott exploded. "I choose my future, not you. You don't understand my choices? Fine. I don't care."
Scott made his way towards the door, the door that led to his freedom, but his father's voice made him turn around.
"Where did I go wrong in raising you, Scott? First, you ruin my marriage, and now you're ruining your future. You're ruining me."
"How am I ruining you?!" Scott exclaimed. "You ruined yourself, you ruined your marriage by marrying Elaine in the first place, and you're ruining my future by keeping me here!"
A look of shock came over Martin's face. "The nerve.." he muttered to himself. Turning to Scott, sudden authority in his voice, he said, "Get out of my house."
Now Scott was just confused. A minute ago, his father had forbade him to leave, now he forbade him to stay? "What the hell?"
"Now."
Needless to say, Scott didn't budge.
"Get out of my goddamn house!"
"Give me my fucking keys!" Scott returned. "You want me to go so badly, where do you expect me to go without my car?!"
"I don't care anymore, Scott," Martin said simply. "Get out of my house."
Scott looked at his dad with disgust. "Fine," he relented. "Fine *dad*. Some father you are, eh? Kicking me out because I refuse to let you run my life? It's my life. I'm sorry that you can't understand that. Shelby is out there waiting for me. I *love* her more than you could possibly conceive. You can't understand that either? Fine."
Martin's anger boiled. "Get out of my goddamn house!" he raged.
Scott made no indication that he'd even heard. "If there's one thing in life worth living for, you know what? It's love."
"Now, Scott. Get out of my house now."
"I hope you rot in hell," Scott hissed, before slamming the door behind him.
It rained. Outside, it rained.
Scott had exited from the emptiness of his house, to the rain, with only the clothes on his back.
He headed towards his car in the driveway, only to find that things could get worse. Incredibly, things could get worse.
Even the tires on his car were slashed.
Scott leaned against his car helplessly, letting the rain soak him. He allowed tears to leak from his eyes, travelling down his face with the rain.
How the hell was he going to get to Horizon, now? Could he, even?
Would he ever see Shelby again?
Could he?
The night was dark and stormy, clouds dark and gloomy. It poured relentlessly.
Scott despaired. He literally had nothing. He didn't have material possessions, not his car, not even his home anymore, and even Shelby.. She didn't deserve someone who could even make it to their morp.
He was cold, soaked, and miserable. A stark contrast to what he'd been mere minutes ago.. Moments ago he was eager and truly believing that everything would work out alright. He had believed that everything would work out perfectly.
How wrong he was, he thought dismally.
But he couldn't give up, he thought. He couldn't just abandon Shelby. He'd done that once already, and wasn't about to do it again.
He wanted to see Shelby more than anything in the world. He thought about breaking into his own house, and prying the keys from his father's hands.
Bleakly, he thought about it. He'd do it for Shelby.
But then there was the slashed tires on his car.. A part of him couldn't believe that his dad would have sunk to that level. That part of him also couldn't believe that his father had struck him out of rage.
The other part of him was amazed that his father had thought that physical force would work.
Scott shook his rain-soaked head. He had no means of getting to Horizon anymore. It was over two hours away by car, so it wasn't like he could just casually ask for a drive from a neighbour or anything of the like.
He couldn't do anything, and it pained him to no end. He was hopeless, helpless.
He'd never see Shelby again.. She'd wait for him at the morp.. But he'd never come.
It reduced him to tears.. The thought of Shelby being so overcome by disappointment when he didn't show up..
If anything, he could do something about that. If anything, he had to do something about that...
------------------------
Scott stood at his neighbour's doorstep, thoroughly drenched and desperate.
He rang the doorbell, and could only wait in the rain for the door to be answered.
It seemed like an eternity until the door opened, but when it finally did, his neighbour, a black-haired, middle-aged woman with a kind smile named Nora, confronted Scott with wide eyes.
Scott realized he must look like a mess.
"Yes?" she said. She knew Scott well, because he was friends with her son, Matt.
"Hey, uh, can I use your phone?" Scott asked, realizing he must sound like an idiot, but at the moment, with everything else that was going on, he didn't particularly care.
Nora furrowed her brows at the strange request.
At the same moment, Matt casually crossed the hallway, and noticed Scott at the door. "Scott?" he said, going to the door. "What's.. Going on? Why you dressed like that, man?"
"It uh.. is a long story," Scott explained quickly. "Can I please use your phone?"
"Of course," Nora said, opening the door for him.
"Thank you," Scott replied as he stepped through the doorway.
"You alright, Scott?"
Scott merely shrugged.
"Yo, Scott," Matt continued.
"What?"
"You alright, man?"
"I just need to use the phone."
--------
Scott could feel the eyes of his neighbours on his back, as he stood in their kitchen, the phone to his ear.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Peter?" Scott said into the phone.
"Scott?"
"Yeah, it's me."
"So.. you want to tell me why you called?"
Scott didn't know where to begin. "I.. I don't think I'm going to be able to make it," he managed.
"And why is that?"
"Well.." Scott began. "My dad just kicked me out of the house.. He has the keys for my ride.. I have no means of getting there anymore."
"Are you alright, Scott?"
Scott wanted to laugh. Any hope of a future with Shelby was obliterated, he no longer had his car, didn't even have a place to stay. Did Peter think things were hunky-dory with him? Of course he wasn't alright. "Not exactly," he said finally.
"What are you going to do?"
Scott shook his head. "I don't know. Peter.. Can I ask you to do something for me?"
"What is it?"
"Tell Shelby I love her," Scott said urgently.
"Alright. I will."
"K, thanks for that. Bye."
"Bye.."
Scott set down the phone, heaving a tired sigh.