World Turned Black

I DON'T OWN ANYTHING EXCEPT MY CHARACTERS!

(a/n)I wanted to say thank you for the reviews, opal- thank you so much for saying that, while I'm writing I always have the problem of forgetting that like people who read the chapter don't like know what I know. lol it's actually funny because that like same day my teacher was like don't write to be understood, write so you can't be misunderstood, so thank you so much! Now, the way I was thinking was it was like a dirty old motel in a little town and so there was no one really there. I should have said something like the parking lot was empty or something.

Chapter 15

"I...I don't know." Peter said then set the phone down, he hadn't heard a noise on the other line for several minutes

"Well call it back." Shelby said with hope in her voice

Peter star 69'd the phone and listened as a busy signal rang through the reciever, he put the phone down.

"What happened?" Shelby asked

"Either they're back on the phone, or it was never hung up."

"What does that mean?"

"I don't know..."

Sophie walked into the office, "Any news?"

"I got a phone call but no one spoke and when I called back, the line was busy."

"So it wasn't definetly Scott?"

"No," Peter thought for a moment, "How are the rest of the Cliffhangers?"

"They're nervous, they want to know what happened to him."

"Ok well it's getting late, tell them they can set up in the lounge and if we find anything out, I will come and tell them."

"Alright."

Peter turned to Shelby, "I think you should go to."

"No, no way Peter."

"Look Shelby, nothing is happening right now, once I know anything I promise I will find you."

Shelby knew she wouldn't win the fight, "Fine, but you better come and get me once you hear anything."

"Deal." He said then she and Sophie left his office.

Peter continued making calls between Curtis who still couldn't tell him anything and to the mystery call from earlier. Sophie periodically checked in to see if there were any new developments and to tell him the the group had refused to sleep until they found somethin out, then finally passed out from exhaustion; all except Shelby.

Scott

Waking up, Scott kept his eyes closed. He could hear his father talking, and felt movement, slowly he opened his left eye slightly. He was laying in the back seat of a car, he figured it was morning because the sky was slowly growing lighter. Scott felt like he had been hit by a truck, he couldn't feel one spot that didn't seem to hurt. Trying to ignore his poan, Scott listened in on his father.

"We'll stop a few miles down and explain everything. He will follow what we tell him this time."

"Martin, honey, are you sure Scotty's alright?" She looked at Scott who shut his eye, "He hasn't moved in a while."

"He's fine, he had enough strenght to get up and walk across the room, little shit, he's lucky I don't teach him a lesson for doing that."

They continued driving for what seemed like an eternity to Scott, by the lightness of the sky, he guessed it was probably about 2 or 2:30, finally, the car came to a sudden stop and Scott fell forward, knocking his mouth on something hard hidden beneath the pouch of the front seat. Immediatly, his lip began bleeding and swelling. When he fell, his stomache hit the median in the back, he felt like he couldn't breathe and started to cough and gasp for air at the same time.

Scott heard the door by his head open and a sudden burst of cold air surround his body which caused him to realize he now had a t-shirt and pants on. Next, Scott was pulled from the back of the car to the outside. Slowly, Scott began to get his breathe back, he father had pushed him against the car, so he lened on it to help him stand as he listened to his father talk threatenly to him.

"This time you WILL listen to what I say because this is your last warning; you tried to run, then to buy drugs, there was a group of kids and they jumped you and beat you up. This is how we found you, got it?"

Scott stared into his father's eyes, he no longer knew this man, this man with so much malice for his son, this man who once claimed to love him. Scott just nodded, apparently it wasn't good enough for his father who slapped him.

"I want to hear that you understand."

Scott stared at the ground, "I...I under...understand." He said in whisps of breathes

"Good." Martin said and shoved him back into the car.

Peter's office

Peter had dialed the number from that night and instead of being busy, it rang, but without an answer. He tried to figure out what could be happening when the phone rang.

"Mount Horizon, this is Peter Scarbrow."

"Peter, it's Curtis, I'm in Bridgeport, I found a 24 hr. diner and they reconized Martin from Scott's picture, but no Scott. The guy said he was in there with a woman matching Elaine's description. He heard them talking about a motel they were staying in, so I went to the only two in town. One had no idea what I was talking about and the other also identified Martin."

"When I asked what room he was staying in, he said they had left earlier this morning, said they had a buisness meeting to get to. I'm in the room right now, it's a mess..."

Peter cut him off, "Curtis, can I try to call this number, I want to see if it was infect from them."

"Sure, go ahead."

Peter dialed the number and sure enough Curtis picked up the phone in the room.

"I figured it was him."

"That's all I have so far, I'll call back with more information when I get some."

"Alright, thanks Curtis, bye."

"Bye."

Peter was about to tell Sophie and the Cliffhangers the news when a flash of light ran across his wall, seeminly coming through the window. Peter jumped up and looked outside where a car had pulled in. He was walking out of the office just as Shelby walked in.

"Peter I need to talk to you."

"Shelby, hold on, someone's here."

"What? Who?"

Peter just continued walking past her and began to run until he reached the door.

Scott sat waiting for his father to help him out of the car, pretending to care like he was told, not that he had the strength to get out and stand by himself. He looked out the window and noticed his father looking and talking to someone to the right of the car; when he looked, Scott saw Peter standing outside the admit building, then Shelby walked out behind him.

Martin opened the door but began talking at the same time, "Mr. Scarbrow, I just don't know what to do anymore, he won't listen to anyone." Scott felt like he would be sick listening to his father talk like it was his fault, slowly his father bent into the back seat, and before helping Scott out said, "This is your last chance, next time you won't be so lucky."

Lucky? Scott thought, lucky would be for his father to be the man he used to be, not that he still had his life, but Scott just nodded. Martin took Scott's arm and placed it around his neck and slowly helped him out.

Peter couldn't belive what he saw, he rushed over to the two, "What happened?" he asked concerned

"I think we should get him to a doctor or something."

Peter just nodded and took Scott's other arm around his neck and the two helped him to the infimiry. Shelby ran ahead to tell the nurse, and Elaine walked ahead sweetly opening the doors

When they got to the infirmiry; Peter, seeing that Scott wouldn't be able to get on the bed, helped Mr. Barringer to get Scott on the bed. The nurse forced them out so she could examine him, so Peter took Martin an Elaine to his office as Shelby sat outside worridly.

Peter's Office

Peter sat at his desk as the othe two sat at the chairs on the other side.

"First of all, what happened?" Peter asked

Martin was the one to speak, "He is out of control."

Peter looked confused, "Excuse me?"

"First, he runs, then goes off and when we find him, he has the shit beat out of him. I ask him why and he tells me he got jumped after trying to buy drugs."

Peter listened on skeptically, he knew Scott no longer used drugs, he didn't need to, and with what Curtis told him, he just knew they were lying. Not wanting them to know, he said, "Well I'll have to have a long talk with him," Which was true, just not about what they thought, "It's lucky you found him."

Martin stood up which was followed by Elaine, he shook Peter's hand and so did she, "We are going to stay in a hotel in town, I'll call you later on and you can tell me how he is doing alright?"

"Sure." Peter smiled although he wanted to punch the man, knowing he didn't care about anything that happened to Scott.

After they left the school, Peter ran over to the nurse's. Shelby was sitting outside waiting.

"Nothing?"

"Not yet." Shelby said sadly

"He'll be fine." Peter said and walked over to the door and knocked, after a minute, it opened and the nursed looked out.

"How is he?"

She looked at Shelby who was listening eagerly, "Why don't we talk in here." She whispered to Peter who nodded and walked in

Upon entering, Peter saw Scott laying on one of the beds in his boxers, he was covered with bruises head to toe, Peter had to try hard not to gasp at the sight.

"Peter, it's bad, whatever happened to him...I don't even know what to say, I think he should go to the hosital for x-rays."

"Well what is he saying?"

"He won't talk."

"At all?"

"No, the only noise he made was when I touched a bruise, he cried out in pain, but then clamed up."

"I'll try to talk to him, then well go," The nurse nodded, "Can you find Sophie and tell her what's going on?"

"Sure." And she walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Peter walked over to the bed, Scott looked at him, fear written all over his face.

"Scott, what happened?" He asked in a soft tone

Scott didn't answer, he just looked away, he didn't want to lie to Peter anymore but his father's words rang in his head.

Peter just started at him sadly, Scott was hurt deeper than any student he had ever seen pass through Horizon, he had to get him to talk about everything or else Scott would be stuck in the darkness forever.

"I'm going to take you to the hospital for some x-rays alright?"

Scott was still looking at an unseen spot in the room and only shook his head, Peter walked quietly to the door and opened it, but did not walk through, instead he let someone in and began talking. "He still has to go get some tests done at the hospital so be careful."

"Scott?" He looked over to the voice calling his name, Shelby stood next to the bed, tears flowing fro her eyes, he raised his left hand, since the right was broken, and wiped a tear away, Shelby took his hand and held it. She didn't say any more to him, they just looked into each other's eyes.

Fifteen minutes later, Peter had called the hospital to tell them they were coming, but the doctors thought it would be best if an ambulance came to get him to prevent further injury. When the ambulance arrived, Sophie was waiting outside to tell them where to go, when they got into the room, the EMT's took the stretcher to the bed he was laying in. They placed a neck brace on him, and then put a back board under him to keep him from moving.

"What's his name?" The one EMT asked Peter

"Scott Barringer."

"Scott, what happened?" he asked the boy when he didn't answer, the EMT turned to Peter

"What happened?"

"We don't know for sure, his father says a group of kids jumped him."

"Did they have bats?" he asked then they wheeled Scott out of the room and out to the ambulance. They continued to try to get Scott to talk, but he wouldn't

When they left, Peter ran to his truck to follow behind when Shelby jumped in, "Shel, you have to stay here."

"No, Peter, I'm coming, you can say all you want but I'm coming."

Peter thought about it then said, "Fine, but only you."

"Fine by me."

When they got there, they sat in the waiting area until the doctor came out...

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