I don't own any of the Higher Ground characters except Dawn.
Shelby leaned against the tree. She and Dawn had stopped for a few minutes to rest. It was almost sunrise, and they were almost out of the woods. Shelby wondered what would happen if they made it to town.
She felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She'd been getting this feeling for a while. She kept telling herself it was just Dawn's presence. She heard the crack of a stick. She turned as a dark figure launched at Dawn, who'd let the gun drop to her side during their rest.
Shelby watched the struggle helplessly. The figure yelled for her to leave. She didn't have to be told twice. She took off running toward Horizon as fast as she could.
As Auggie struggled with Dawn, he became aware that Shelby had done as he'd told her and left. That was good. She was out of harm's way, at least for now. He was having a hard time with Dawn, so it was a good thing she had a big head start. Because after Dawn killed Auggie, she would go after Shelby.
Shelby ran blindly through the woods, ignoring the pain of the thorns on her bare skin. She kept running in efforts to conceal her hysteria. Then she ran smack into something. It felt like a solid brick wall. She fell to the ground, screaming.
Peter ran into Shelby, but he didn't know it was her until she screamed. He breathed a sigh of relief. He thought it might have been Dawn. He reached to help her up, but she scrambled away from him, screaming even louder.
"Shelby! It's me. It's Peter," he said. She threw herself into his arms.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't know who you were."
Peter could tell from the shaking of her body that she was crying. Something Shelby didn't do very often.
"What happened?" he asked. "Where's Dawn? Did she hurt you?"
"I don't know what happened," Shelby said. "Someone attacked Dawn and told me to run. So I did."
"OK, go back to the lodge," Peter said, releasing her. "I'll check in out."
"Go by myself?" Shelby gulped. "In the dark by myself?"
"No," Ezra said coming out of the woods to their left. "I'll go with you. I think it's Auggie back there with Dawn. WE split up a while ago and I never saw him again."
"OK, Ezra, you take Shelby back to the lodge and make sure everyone stays there," Peter said. "I'll take care of Auggie and Dawn." Shelby pointed out the way to Peter and Ezra guided her back toward the lodge.
"I'm really worried, Sophie," Juliette aid wringing her hands together. "What if something happened to them?"
"I'm sure they're fine," Sophie said, glancing at Jess. Jess was a wreck. Her eyes were red and she refused to eat.
The door creaked and everyone jumped up to look. They were shocked to see Ezra leading a very distraught Shelby through the door.
"Shelby!" Scott ran to her, but Ezra stopped him with a hand gesture. He led Shelby to the couch and everyone gathered around.
"What happened?" Sophie asked Shelby. "Where's Peter?"
"And Auggie?" Juliette said. "Where is Auggie?" Ezra held up his hand.
"Give her a minute, OK?" he said. "Auggie attacked Dawn and Shelby ran. Peter went to help Auggie."
"You ran?" Juliette said in disbelief. "You left Auggie there alone with that maniac?"
Scott gave her a dirty look. "Auggie isn't alone, Peter's out there," he reminded her. "And Shelby didn't have a choice." During all this conversation, Shelby had been staring expressionless into space.
"Shel?" Scott asked tentatively. "Are you all right?" When she didn't answer he touched her shoulder. She flinched and jumped.
Scott put his arms around her and she didn't resist. Sophie got up and ushered everyone out of the room. The pair didn't even notice.
"I'm sorry," Scott whispered into her hair. "I'm so sorry. I love you so much. If anything had happened to you-"
"I love you too, Scott," Shelby said, cutting him off. He leaned down and kissed her forehead.
"This is all my fault," he said regretfully. "I hurt you so bad. I didn't mean to. You have to believe that, Shel. I didn't mean to hurt you. I know that doesn't make up for it, but..."
"You hurt me, Scott," Shelby said. "But I hurt you too. I left and you were hurt because of it. I'm the one who's sorry."
"You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for," Scott said, cupping her face in his hands so he could look her in the eye.
"Neither do you," Shelby said. "I think we're even."
The door opened again and Dawn tumbled in, followed by Auggie and Peter. Juliette ran to him and kissed him passionately, calling him a hero. Shelby hugged him and Scott gave him a friendly pat in the back.
"I owe you, man," Scott said. "I owe you big time."
"Nah," Auggie said. "You would have done it for me, right?" Scott nodded. "Then leave it at that, meat."
The police arrested Dawn for attempted murder. As they walked away reading Dawn her rights, Scott looked at Shelby's sleeping form in his arms. Everything's finally perfect, he thought. Today is finally a happier day.
