I don't own any of the Higher Ground characters except Dawn.
The figure pulled Shelby to the ground. Her life flashed before her eyes. OK, not her life. Just all the times she'd spent with Scott. Which was basically all of her time at Horizon.
Then her eyes started playing tricks on her. While laying flat on the ground, someone heavy on top of her, she saw Dawn walk into the clearing. She went into a shooter's stance and swiveled until she was satisfied Shelby wasn't there. When she was gone Shelby turned to face her guardian.
She threw herself in his arms. She sobbed in terror as Scott held her tight.
"It's OK," he said, his voice breaking. "You're safe now, Shel. You're safe now."
Back at the lodge, Juliette was worried. They should have been back by now. The door opened and Juliette rushed to see who it was. Kat and Daisy looked like they'd been through hell. She reminded herself that they had.
"Where are the others?" she asked. "Shelby, Sophie, and the guys?"
"What do you mean, the guys?" Kat asked. "I mean, we saw Peter and Sophie, but you said guys, plural. Who else went out there?"
"Scott," Daisy said without missing a beat. "Had to be Scott."
"And Auggie and Ezra," Juliette said. "They went out after Shelby and you two before peter went out. He wanted to wait for the cops, but he left after the guys disappeared. Scott was so determined to find her."
"So nice to know we matter to Scott," Daisy said.
"You know he does, Daze," Juliette said. "He's just worried that Dawn will get to Shelby before he does."
"What if she does?" Kat asked quietly.
"We've got to find them now, Peter," Sophie said. "It's getting darker. I don't want Shelby to spend another night out here with Dawn."
"Don't worry, Soph," Peter said. "We'll find her." I hope, he added silently.
Scott held Shelby for a few moments and then released her. He cupped her face in his hands. "I'm so sorry," he whispered. "I'm so sorry I hurt you."
"And I'm sorry for leaving you," Shelby said. "I'm sorry I made things so hard on you. It just hurt. I love you so much, I can't stand you being with Dawn."
"You didn't have a choice about the leaving," Scott said. "And I knew that. I was hurting too. I know that's no excuse, but-" He was cut off when Shelby wrapped her arms around him and kissed him passionately. Now, he thought. Now everything's perfect. But he was wrong. Very wrong.
"This is so touching," Dawn said snidely. "I do hate to break this up, but I've got two murders to commit and an escape to make before sunrise." She laughed evily. "You know, I thought I was going to kill you and Daisy, not you and Scott. But hey, a witness is a witness."
Scott put himself between Shelby and Dawn. "You don't need to do this Dawn," he said. "Please don't do this."
She laughed again. "Oh please. Spare me of the love sick puppy protecting his true love. She doesn't deserve you, Scotty. And I'm going to make sure she never gets you. If I can't have you, no one will!"
Scott launched himself at her, but she moved toward Shelby. He picked himself up off the ground.
"Don't try that again," Dawn said in a steely voice. He turned. She was using Shelby as a shield and had her gun trained on Shelby's head. "Or your precious Shelby is dead. And that goes for the two of you as well." Scott turned. Sophie and Peter came into the clearing behind him. They were up a creek without a paddle.
