World Turned Black
I DON'T OWN ANYTHING!
Chapter 14
An alarm clock rang out its screeching annoyance, until a hand slammed down on it seizing its noise. Peter slowly opened his eyes, the room was dark, and although it was only 6:30, the sun would usually light up the room even the slightest. He got up out of bed, careful not to wake Sophie, and walked to the window. Outside, a major storm had engulfed the sky.
Peter took a shower and then woke Sophie up, she also took a shower and they both had breakfast. After, they headed over to the school where it was time to wake up the students.
Peter assigned various counselors to different groups, since Sophie was the Cliffhanger leader; she woke the girls while Peter took on the boys.
"Time to get up." He said loudly
The three of the five boys moved slightly then joined in the motionless the other two exhibited.
"Come, breakfast is in twenty minutes."
Ezra peeked his head from the covers, "It's Sunday, can't we just have one day to sleep until at least 10?"
"Sorry Mr. Friedkin gotta get a head start."
"For what?" Auggie asked
"For all the fun activities we have planned for you today!" Peter said with sarcastic excitedness
"I'd rather sleep." David mumbled, he received noises of agreement
"Ok, I'll tell you what," Peter smiled, "You can sleep today until ten, but then for the rest of the week, you all have to get up at 4:30 for a two hour run."
With that they all jumped up and got ready while Peter just laughed and walked out of the room.
Twenty minutes later, the Cliffhangers were sitting at a table, eating their breakfast.
"I can't believe we're already up, its Sunday!" Juliette said
"Since when do they ever let us sleep late?" Shelby asked
"They did last week, later at least."
"Yea, when it was the summer Princess."
Juliette just looked down, back at her mostly uneaten food.
Peter walked over to their table, "How's everyone?"
They all just looked at him, he just laughed
"Well, finish up and meet Sophie by the rope course," He said looking around at each of them, then looked at Scott, "When your done, meet me in my office, they should be here soon."
He just nodded and Peter walked away. The table went back to talking, while Shelby turned to Scott
"Ready?" She asked
"No." He answered
She took his hand and rubbed his arm supportably, "It will be alright, do you want me to come with you while you wait?"
"That'd be awesome, but I don't think Peter will let you." He said sadly
"Well, it won't hurt to ask." She smiled and they continued eating
Once the group was finished eating, they started walking outside when Daisy noticed the Shelby was walking the opposite way with Scott
"Hold on for a second." She said and walked toward them, "Shelby!" She called
Shelby turned around, "Yea?"
"Where are you going?"
"Can you just tell Sophie I'm with Scott and Peter?"
"Yea, sure," She walked back to the group and they left
Scott and Shelby walked to Peter's office, when they arrived, Scott knocked on the door
"Come in!" They heard Peter say from inside, so they did
Peter was surprised when Shelby also walked in the room, "Shelby, what are you doing here?"
"I wanted to know if I could wait with Scott until they got here."
Peter looked at Scott who looked quite panicky, Shelby's presence would probably make him calmer, "Fine," She smiled, "But once they get here, you have to join the group."
"Yea, ok that's fine."
"Why don't you go and tell Sophie that you're going to stay here."
"I already told Daisy to tell her."
"Ok."
They took a seat on the couch in Peter's office. "Scott, you sure there's nothing you want to talk about before they get here?" Peter asked
Scott looked up at Peter, so many times he had thought about just blurting everything out, then he wouldn't have to worry about seeing his father or Elaine ever again, but he always remembers how much harder life would get if he did tell; all the people he would have to repeat his story to, it was just easier to take what happened. They would only be there for a day, he reminded himself and then he would be at Horizon, safe, until the next visit. "No, there's nothing."
"Ok, well like I said they should be here soon."
Scott just nodded, it was becoming increasingly hot in the small office, and he was beginning to find it hard to breathe. He began feeling nauseous and light headed, when Shelby grabbed his hand.
"Calm down, your going to make yourself sick." She soothed
She could always tell how he felt, and although she would usually be able to make him feel better, he was too scared.
Scott was trying his best to concentrate on anything and everything besides what would be happening that day when there was a knock on the door.
Peter looked at Scott, who had turned almost white, "Scott, you sure there's nothing? You still have time."
Scott shook his head so Peter addressed the knocks, "Come in."
The door seemed to open in slow motion; Scott looked to his right and watched as his father walked through the door, alone…
Rope course
The group arrived, Sophie was already there waiting for them.
"Ok, today we are going…" She looked throughout the group, "Where is Shelby?"
"She said to tell you that she's with Peter and Scott." Daisy relayed the message
"Oh, alright," She thought about where she left off, "Today we will do the course in partners, one of you will be blindfolded and the other will be directing you where to go from the ground then you will switch off, any questions?"
"Can we pick our partners?" Auggie asked, looking at Juliette
"No, I already selected them for you."
Everyone moaned, "The partners are, David and Juliette, Daisy and Zack, Ezra and Auggie, oh, and since Shelby isn't here, Lexi you can go with Ezra and Auggie."
They were all disappointed with their groups but began to get harnessed up and ready.
Peter's Office
Peter stood and walked over to meet Martin's outstretched hand, "May I ask where your wife is?"
Scott listened intently, hoping for tales of her leaving him or being killed in a tragic accident, and the thought brought him back to his mother. He suppressed his sadness and listened to his father speak.
"Oh, yes, she's coming, left something in the car."
Scott slumped and Shelby looked at him with a sad expression on his face while squeezing his hand.
"Would you like to have a seat Mr. Barringer?"
"Actually, I would like to know if we could take Scott out."
A twinge of panic flashed across Scott's face that only Shelby caught. She gave him a questioning look, but he just hid it and smiled reassuringly at her.
"Well, I don't know if that's a good idea, tomorrow is school."
"Its still early, just for lunch."
Peter thought for a minute then said, "If Scott agrees, I guess it's alright."
All three looked at him, but Scott only stared at his father's threatening face
"Yea sounds good." He gave a fake smile that Shelby saw right through
"Ok then, Scott why don't you walk Shelby back to the rope course and I'll talk to your father," Scott nodded and he and Shelby began to leave when Peter said, "Meet outside in ten minutes alright?"
"Yep." He said and they left
"Why are you going?" Shelby asked staring at him as he just looked forward
"What do you mean?"
She stopped him, "You know what I mean, why didn't you just say no."
"Because Scotty knows better then to disobey his father." The two teens looked forward to see Elaine smiling at them
"Go away." Scott said annoyed, grabbed Shelby's hand and walked around her
When they reached the group, Shelby turned to Scott, "It will be ok."
He nodded his head, Shelby threw her arms around him and they put all their emotions into the hug, all the things they couldn't say to each other. Then Scott whispered the one thing he knew for sure, "I love you so much."
"I love you too." They ended the embrace and Scott leaned down and kissed her softly
"Bye."
"See you later." They smiled at each other and Scott started back.
As his father's car slowly enlarged, Scott's stomach became tighter. By the time he reached the car' Peter, Martin, and Elaine were all waiting for him.
"Ready?"
"Yea." He lied, "When do we have to be back?"
"Well, since you have school tomorrow, I told your dad 6:00."
"Ok." He said, the three walked into the car and Peter saw the expressions on the three change. Martin became grim, Elaine looked ecstatic, but it was Scott's expression that scared him the most; it was of sheer desperation. When the car pulled away, Peter ran to where the Cliffhangers were.
Sophie noticed his look of urgency, "Peter, what's wrong?"
"Where's Shelby?"
Shelby looked confused when Peter was looking for her, then Scott came to her mind and she ran to Peter, "What happened?"
"I just need to speak to you for a second," He turned to Sophie, "We'll be right back."
"Did something happen to Scott?"
"I need to ask you if he said anything at all while you talked to him."
"Peter…"
"Look, I know that what you say between each other is in confidence, but this is important."
"What do you mean?"
"I just have a feeling, look Shelby; did he say anything at all about why he is so scared of his father?"
"Just that when he went home he was different."
"That's all?"
"Yea."
"Ok."
"You think something is going to happen to him?"
"There just going out for lunch, I'm sure it will be fine."
The Car
When they past the sign of Mount Horizon, Martin looked in the mirror at his son with hate, "I knew I couldn't trust you, you're going to pay for running that mouth of yours."
"I didn't say anything, I promise!" Scott said nervously, "Only what you told me to say."
"Scotty, don't lie, I heard that trashy girl talking to you," turning towards her husband she said, "She knew about everything."
"She isn't trash, don't you even talk about her!" Scott yelled
"You shut your mouth the hell up or I'll stop this car and shut it for you."
They rode on in silence. Scott's nerves jumped higher when their car passed Rusty's; the only restaurant in Agnes and then past the sign reading Now Leaving Agnes.
"Where…Where are we going?" Scott stammered
His father didn't answer, Elaine just smiled. Scott looked out the window and noticed another sign saying Welcome to Bridgeport.
They had been driving for two hours when Martin pulled the car into a grungy looking motel parking lot.
"Which is it?" Martin asked Elaine
She looked in her bag and pulled out a key, "Umm…13."
Scott realized they had planned the entire thing; he looked at the clock, only 12, he realized it would be a long day.
They pulled into the parking space; Elaine got out and walked towards the door to open it while Martin walked over to the door standing between him and his son. He opened the door and said, "Get out and go in that room." In a voice that went right to the bone and sent shivers up Scotts' spine.
He got out from the car and walked quickly towards the door, his father walking mere inches behind. When he got through the door, Scott was pushed hard from behind.
"I'll teach you to keep that mouth shut!" He yelled while kicking Scott in the stomach.
Scott started coughing violently, but was just dragged up to his feet by his father who punched him, then pushed him again; Only this time, Scott hit his head on the corner of the desk, where he blacked out.
Peter's Office
Peter tapped his pen on his desk while staring at the clock that read 8:00. Shelby burst into his office.
"Is he back?" Shelby asked
"Not yet."
"Peter, you have do something, you have to find him!"
"Who am I supposed to call Shelby? He's with his father."
"You know that's bullshit! You can call somebody, you HAVE to call somebody."
"Watch your language."
Shelby walked out frustrated. Peter returned to tapping his pencil, he knew he should call someone, he just didn't know who. Then all at once he realized; they had gone to lunch. He picked up the phone and dialed a number.
"Rusty's, how can I help you?"
"Annie?"
"Yea, Peter, is that you?" She asked
"Yea, have you seen any of my kids come through there with their parents today?"
"What did they look like?"
"He is tall with blonde hair, blue eyes, wearing a green sweater."
"No, no one like that today, sorry."
"Ok thanks, but if you see him call me please."
"Of course, Peter is everything alright?"
"Yea, well, I hope so, talk to you soon, bye." And he hung up
Peter called the only two hotels in Agnes, both without luck; it was as if they had disappeared.
Motel Room
Scott began choking on the blood that was pooled in his mouth. He couldn't open his right eye, but looking out his left he could see that it was dark out. His entire body ached, but the worst pain was coming from the arm that was enclosed in a cast. When he touched it, he felt a crack that went along his entire arm. He felt where he bumped his head, and all his fingers touched was dried blood. Scott sat up, but had a hard time breathing when he did, so he lay back down on the bed he was put into. What scared him was when he noticed that he was only in his boxers.
Looking around, Scott couldn't see whether or not his father and Elaine were in the room. What usually happened was that his father would leave, and it would be Elaine's turn, but she didn't seem to have left also.
Scott head began to spin, his vision began to get blurry so he laid his head back and closed his eyes. Only one thing came to his mind, and it was Shelby. He opened his eyes again, and looked at the desk across the room.
Sitting on the desk, he saw a phone. Slowly, he sat up, he tried to ignore the pain wrenching through his body. His breaths became shallow and painful, but if he could reach the phone, he would be saved. He stood up, using the nightstand as a crutch, and began taking slow steps towards the desk.
Every step caused him immense pain that after the second, he collapsed and threw up on the floor. When he looked at the vomit, it was red, it was blood. He compelled himself to stand using the bed. With each step, he grew more and more tired, but reaching the phone, he pulled it to the floor so he could lie down.
Scott dialed the number he had come to memorize, again his vision slowly fading in and out. But Shelby's voice saying, "Just a minute longer, just a minute longer, I love you, just hold on," gave him the will to listen to the ringing phone. Then he heard it, "Mount Horizon, This is Peter Scarbrow, how can I help you?"
Scott tried to talk but nothing came out. His throat was soar and only a faint noise, not audible over the phone was made. Scott dropped the phone next to his head, a tear sliding down his face. He closed his eyes and listened as Peter talked.
"Hello, is anyone there?" He asked, "Do you need help?"
Peter's voice soothed Scott, even as the room turned black, as his world turned black, he felt calm listening to Peter's voice. Then he heard something that made him smile.
"Peter, is that him?" Shelby's voice was faintly heard, and then Scott blacked out again.
(a/n) Good place to stop, but don't worry, this isn't the end lol. Thank you for all the reviews, they're so awesome to read:-)