Sydalee Conners sat in the back seat of the jet black Ford Explorer, watching the scenery whiz past as the vehicle sped along the winding country road. The driver, a case worker for Child Protective Services, repeatively glanced into the rear view mirror, watching Syd like a hawk. What was this one's name again? Penny? Patty? It didn't matter. Syd had seen so many case workers over the years that their names and faces became one great big jumbled mess.

Syd replayed the last month through her mind's eye. All hell had broke loose in the middle of the night. The first night she had been allowed to sleep back in her own bed. Police and neighbours were everywhere, scattered on the lawn and into the street, as she was escorted from the cookie-cutter house and into the newest police car.

She shook the thoughts from her memory and sighed as a group of log cabins suddenly came into view and the car rolled to a stop. She was here. Her final destination. Mt Horizon -- school for a those who had been rejected by society.

Flinging open the door, Syd slid out. Although the sun was shining overhead the air held a crisp chill and Syd instinctly pulled her leather jacket more tightly around her. With her duffle bag in hand and her sole material possession, an old and worn accoustic guitar, slung across her back, Syd looked around the grounds. At least a dozen teenagers roamed the area, several of them casting curious glances at her. Trying to pay them no mind, Syd focused her attention a line of trees nearby as she waited to find out what was to happen next.