Chapter 66:

Squib carefully glided the car down the road. He was still fearful for Mabel and her joyriding accident. He could already see a glint of fear in her eyes since she sat down in the passenger's seat.

Squib placed his hand on her arm as a gesture of "Don't worry, I'll keep you safe."

"Dad!" Mabel slightly yelled, causing Squib to raise an eyebrow.

"Whats wrong?" He looked at her, still driving.

"Could you- could you please keep your eyes on the road and both hands on the steering wheel?" She took 3 quick shallow breaths, "I'm still a bit afraid."

"Thats fine." Squib said in a hollow voice with the air of "Are you ever going to be okay?"

They swiftly swiped the corner of a street and the gates of Cascadia came into view. The gates were closed.

"Welcome to Cascadia!" A tough voice chirped, making the greeting sound a bit awkward, "How may I help you?"

"This is Gary Furlong. I made an appointment to visit the grounds today, to show my daughter Mabel around." Squib answered in a fluid voice.

"Is she a prospective student here, Mr. Furlong?" The voice hardened a bit. Maybe he recognized Squib.

"Not at the moment. I used to go here, and I thought that I could just let her see."

"Very well then. Please report to the Main Office and someone will help you from there." The gates creakily opened.

-----

"The road to perfection starts here?" Mabel read out the now-rusted sign that was still there from way-bak-when, "Sounds like a cult..." She muttered to herself.

Squib laughed lightly, "That's what your mom told me she said when she first came here." Mabel sensed a note of loneliness in his voice.

"Dad?" She asked, wringing her hands.

"Yeah?" Squib answered.

"Are you okay coming here? I mean, it won;t be too hard on you, will it?" She felt a bit scared for both of them.

"To tell you the truth, I've been avoiding this place since I left." He sighed, "I guess I had to face it sometime..." He trailed off.

The view of a large building came into view, with numerous flags hanging over the entrance. Students were dotting the grass here and there, carrying their tennis rackets or doing homework.

Squib parked the car and took Mabel inside. She looked a bit alienated coming out of the car. She wasn't sure how to react at coming to the place where her mother's life once thrived.

Squib didn't know how to act either.