World Turned Black

I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE CHARACTERS FROM HIGHER GROUND

Chapter 1

School was starting in a week, and everyone was back at Horizon excited about their summers spent home with friends and family. Only a hand full of kids didn't go home because they couldn't or just didn't want to. For the Cliffhangers, the only two who decided to stay were Shelby and Daisy, as for the rest, only one had yet to return.

The Cliffhangers were sitting in the lounge waiting for Peter and Sophie to start group.

"Ok guys were going to go around and say how we are feeling and then why," said Peter, "Shelby?"

"Gee Peter I'm just super, because this summer was just so much fun for me," Shelby sarcastically replied, "Daisy?"

Daisy could see how hurt Shelby really was, she hadn't heard from Scott the entire summer, "and he better not come back because he's got a lot of things to explain," she though, then said, "Oh you know" and then "Juliette?" before Peter could make her elaborate.

The excitement could be seen in Juliette from a mile away; she had on one of her huge fake smiles and looked almost ready to explode. "I had such a great summer!!! Instead of having to go home, I went to Auggie's house, and his parents were just the nicest and I had such a great time!!!" she said in almost one breath. Then her smile suddenly faded as she looked around the room, "Umm Peter?"

"Yea?" he looked concerned by her sudden change of emotion.

"Where is Scott?"

Daisy saw the flash of hate is Shelby's eyes, she knew she really didn't hate Juliette, but for most of the summer she had cried over Scott's absence, and just the mention of him, Daisy could see all the pain in her eyes.

"Well, lets finish then talk about it." He said then quickly, "Auggie?"

"Oh man, everything's great, Jules is right, the summer was awesome, so yea I'm great," He said while smiling at Jules, "Ez man?"

"Well things are ok, I'm glad to be back because going back and forth between two houses get old fast…David?"

"I'm fine." He said without emotion

"David, is something bothering you?" Peter asked

"If something were bothering me would I be fine?" he spat back harshly

"Ok then," Peter knew he was lying and that something had been bothering him since he got back, but knew better than to push, " Now, onto the issue with Scott, as all of you have noticed, he is still not back."

"No Peter really? I though he was just hiding." Shelby said sarcastically

Peter just ignored her statement; he knew how much pain Shelby was in, and noticed how her eyes were begging him to skip the subject, but he could also see the worry in all the other Cliffhangers' eyes; Daisy's, he figured was for Shelby, but the rest were for Scott. In truth, he was just as scared about the where-a-bouts of Scott, but had to keep up a strong, sure appearance for his kids.

Sophie just sat there the entire time watching her group's reactions as Peter told them he had no contact from Scott or his father since they had left. She watched as he tried to reassure them and himself that Scott was fine. The reactions did not surprise her, not even Shelby's blank stare. She was especially worried for Peter though, she knew how worried he had been for Scott the entire summer, she was sitting there daydreaming, when suddenly, she noticed Roger was standing beside Peter and everyone was staring at her.

"What?" she asked confused

"I said can you finish up here cause I have a call?" he repeated

"Oh yea, sure," she said smiling

Peter's Office

"Did they say who it was?" asked a confused Peter, when he picked up the phone, the line was dead.

"No, it was really weird he just asked for you and when I asked who it was, there was no answer," Roger replied

"Who did…" he was interrupted by the phone

"Hello, Mount Horizon, this is Peter Scarbrow."

Peter could hear low talking but couldn't make out what was being said, "Your going to have to speak louder, I can't hear you." Then he heard someone breathing on the other end, whoever it was sounded scared, and he realized that the voices were not whoever was on the other line. "Is something wrong?" Peter was getting very nervous, and knew it was a stupid question, but he couldn't think straight with wondering who was at the other end. Finally, when he was about to speak again, he heard it.

"Peter," it sounded more like a plea then a statement or question. The speaker's voice was hoarse and low, then Peter heard someone else, and at first, they were screaming, "SCOTT WHAT THE HELL…." Suddenly there was nothing.