I don't own any of the Higher Ground characters except Dawn.

Shelby was shaking. Scott could see it clearly and all he could do is stand there and watch. He felt so helpless. Peter and Sophie stood behind him.

"Stand by Scott and don't try anything," Dawn said in a steely voice. They obliged. Peter touched his shoulder and Scott went rigid.

"You know, Scott, if I can't have you, no one will," Dawn said. "She will die and you will watch." She laughed evily.

Peter clenched his jaw in efforts to keep his anger in check. Dawn was going to kill Shelby if they didn't do something quick.

"You know, there are cops all over the woods," Peter said. "You'll never get away with this."

"Hmm," Dawn said. "I didn't think about that. Thanks, Peter. Now I'll have to keep Shelby alive long enough to make my escape. But after that, she's dead." Dawn started backing up. "You stay here. If I even think you're coming after me, I'll kill her in an instant." She kept backing up, gun trained on Shelby's head, until she was gone. Scott sunk to the ground and buried his face in his hands.

Back at the lodge, Juliette, Daisy, and Kat were trying to console a worried Jess. They told her it was probably a good thing that they hadn't heard anything, that it meant she was still alive. It seemed to calm Jess down a little, even if no one believed it.

"You'll never get away with this," Shelby told Dawn. "Peter's right. They'll shoot you the second you shoot me."

"That's a chance I'll have to take," Dawn said, pushing Shelby further into the woods. "Besides, if you're dead, I really don't care if they shoot me or not." Shelby cringed inwardly, knowing that Dawn really meant what she'd said.

"Why do you hate me so much?" Shelby asked, deciding to take a different approach.

Dawn laughed. "Easy," she said. "You had Scott. I wanted him. You left and I got him, only I never fully had his attention. But when you're gone, I will."

"That is so twisted, it will never happen," Shelby said. "You are so dreaming."

"I think not," Dawn said, jerking her forward. "And stop stalling. They have orders. They'll follow them." The sinking feeling in Shelby's stomach told her that Dawn was right. Peter and Sophie would never let Scott do anything to endanger her life.

Scott was having a hard time forgetting the stricken look on Shelby's face as she was pulled from his viewpoint. She'd begged him with her eyes. Begged him to save her. He was disgusted with himself that he couldn't. She needed him, and he couldn't help her. He got up to go after Dawn, but Peter put a restraining hand on his arm. Scott tried to shake it off, but couldn't.

"You heard Dawn," Peter said to Scott in a low voice.

"And you saw Shelby," Scott said. "She was terrified. And Shelby is never terrified. I have to help her. I can't lose her again!"

"Scott, we understand how you feel," Sophie began in a gentle voice.

"No, you don't!" Scott was irritated that they thought they even remotely knew what was going through his mind. "Did you hurt her? Did you date the same psycho who wants to kill her? No! I did, so don't tell me you know what I'm feeling!"

"Can't we rest?" Shelby panted. It was dark and they still weren't out of the woods.

"No," Dawn said. "Apparently you haven't gone on any of Peter's legendary quests lately, have you?"

Dawn seemed to be going faster now that it was dark. She wanted to get out of the woods before it was daylight and someone might see them first.

Shelby turned her head. She thought she'd seen something out of the corner of her eyes. Probably just her imagination. They had been walking for hours and Dawn hadn't let her eat.

Suddenly Shelby was slammed into from behind. She heard Dawn utter a string of swear words as she stumbled over a log. Shelby had to stifle a laugh. Dawn shoved her roughly. Pain shot through her cramped muscles. When they were far enough away from Peter, Dawn had tied Shelby's wrists together behind her back. The rope was rubbing her wrists raw and her muscles ached. She longed to stretch them, but she knew Dawn would never go for that.

Peter slipped stealthily through the woods. He'd told Sophie to take Scott back to the lodge and bring everyone up to speed. He'd told her he was going to camp out and search early the next morning. Not a lie. He would camp as soon as he found them.

Juliette and Daisy looked up as Sophie and Scott entered the lodge. Scott's eyes were red and he had a scowl on his face. Sophie was unreadable.

"Where is Peter?" Daisy asked cautiously. "And Shelby? Where is she?"

"Dawn took her at gun point," Sophie said tiredly. "Peter went after them, although he said he was camping out." She collapsed on the couch. Scott had almost forgot she'd been out there too. Now she looked exhausted.

"But they'll get her back right?" Juliette asked. She was glad Kat had taken Jess back to the dorms.

"We hope so," Sophie said, rubbing her temples. "We hope so."

He watched as Shelby was once again shoved roughly. She tripped and went sprawling on the ground. Dawn yanked her up and moved her forward again. He continued to follow them, hoping that when he made his move, he wouldn't screw up and get Shelby killed.