Okay, this is going to be a fairly long author's note.
First off, I want to say a huge thank you to all of you guys have read my previous stories – your support means the world to me; and I am begging you, that if this story turns out to be absolutely awful, please, please don't loose faith in me! If I know it's not working, I will take it down, and try my hardest to make it work.
Also, I want to say a mammoth sized 'Thank you!" to Dani – she and I talked about this story a fair bit, and we both know it's going to be hard to write, but her support has been incredible, so THANKS Dani! You're my rock :)
This story is going to be a chaptered story (shock horror, it's not a one-shot?!) LOL I know that I always write one-shots, but this story is going to be my project now, and I am going to make it have chapters. How many, I'm not sure, but I don't think there will be no more than 5 – but we'll have to see how it is accepted by you amazing people first!
Okay, this story is loosely based on 'The Noughts and Crosses' book by Malorie Blackman. For those of you who have not read the book, you have not yet lived! It's utterly incredible, and is one of my absolute faves! For those of you who have read the book (It's the first book of a series), you're gonna understand the story more – and you people have amazing taste in books ;) lol
I am going to try by absolute hardest to make sure this story is not identical to the actual book, but the idea is going to be similar. I'm going to say now: The kidnapping of Sephy in the book is in my story, but I am gonna try and change most of the details to ensure that this story is not a complete and utter copy.
Going back to those who have read the book, don't worry, Troy's ending is NOT going to be the same as Callum's! I think would actually kill me to write anything as sad as that! For those of you who don't know who Callum McGregor is, he is one of the main characters in the book, and he is one of many characters I am insanely in love with! I cried for days after finishing the book! If at any point, any body wants me to explain the book to you, PM me, and I will gladly reply.
Okay, I think that AN was long enough! I'm trying to delay you guys from reading it, cuz I have been agonizing (and still am!) for days now! Please please please don't hate me if you guys think this story is too much like the book, but I swear down, it's not my intention!
(Also, the LM will be mentioned, but the name won't be the LM!)
Jeez, I really should stop but one final thing to point out – the subjects in the book were quite dark. They were: racism, discrimination, death, terrorism…) but my story won't be that dark – I don't think I am capable of writing that sort of stuff. Oh! And finally, this story is going to start from when (in the book) Sephy get's kidnapped by the LM!
Ugh, okay, stopping now! Promise!
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing, except the characters that have been invented by moi.
Love, Hate, Hope
Chapter One
Darkness surrounded her petite frame as she sat motionless on the steel bed. How long had she been sitting here now? It felt like days, but it can't have been longer than a couple of hours. Cradling her murderously throbbing head in her hands, Gabriella Montez cried silently, the salty tears staining her cheeks that were flecked with mud, dirt and blood. Her blood.
How could have this have happened? It was completely unthinkable, utterly unthinkable. But…it was happening. Gabriella couldn't have blocked this out even if she tried. There was no way she would have been able to ignore the way her body was ablaze with furious pain; the cruel memories of hours before flashing repeatedly through her mind; the way he looked at her – regret shining to the depths of his cobalt eyes.
Gabriella's body shook uncontrollably as violent tears streamed from her puffy eyes as she remembered the way he had looked at her moments before a body lunged at her from nowhere, knocking her brutally to the sand, and a cold hand being pushed against her mouth to muffle her desperate screams.
The throbbing in her head intensified and Gabriella whimpered as she carefully leant back onto the bed, resting her bruised head against the pathetic piece of cloth that was laughably called a pillow. Gabriella laid in silence for what felt like days, and her tears slowly subsided, finally allowing her tired eyes to flutter closed as the horrifying events of the past hours finally caught up with her and her sore body finally succumbed to sleep.
Slipping off her sandals, Gabriella giddily made her way for the moonlit water; the waves gently running up and down the sand. She sat down on the soft surface, and wriggled her toes enjoying the feel of the cool sand trickling through her toes like baby powder. Inhaling deeply, Gabriella smiled softly as the saltiness that lingered in the air, and she couldn't remember a time where she had felt more at peace with herself.
This beach contained so many happy memories of the two of them; it was no wonder why Troy had arranged for them to meet up here. Gabriella couldn't shake the feeling of giddy excitement that soared through her veins as she thought about seeing him again. It had been almost two years since she had last seen him – a lifetime.
Gabriella hadn't stopped smiling since she got his note. It had been handed to her the minute she walked through the door after returning from her studying abroad. The note wasn't very long, but it was direct. It asked for her to meet him at the beach at ten o'clock that evening, and to come alone.
Glancing down at her watch, Gabriella shifted with anticipation as she watched the second hand tick by slowly, before the minute hand moved defiantly, pronouncing it exactly ten o'clock. He would be here any minute. Gabriella stood up, and rubbed the sand off of her jeans, before consciously smoothing out her chocolate tresses. Shifting from foot to foot, Gabriella turned her body, and froze, a soft gasp emitting from her lips.
Troy was standing there, directly behind her, his appearance so sudden that he could've been a ghost. Gabriella stood in awed silence as she registered how similar but different he looked. Troy had shot up like a beanstalk and he was no longer skinny. Strong defined muscles could be seen from underneath his black leather jacket. His hair was slightly shorter, but it still hung in front of his eyes in the way that Gabriella loved. Her hand itched to be brought up, and to stroke the hair away from his eyes, but she forced her arms to stay pinned to her side, as she and Troy silently regarded each other.
The silence between the two of them was torture, and Gabriella could no longer take it. Stepping forward so that she was mere inches in front of Troy, Gabriella outstretched her shaking arms for a hug, expecting a similar response, but Troy didn't even crack a smile. As she focused on his face, Gabriella could clearly see that something was wrong. She dropped her arms back to her sides, frowning.
"Troy?" Her voice was uncertain as her russet eyes searched his azure ones. Suddenly, Troy stepped forward, and pressed a cold, icy kiss to her lips. Gabriella was taken aback for a moment, but just as she melted into it, the kiss was over, and Troy was standing further away from her body, his eyes filled with regret.
"Troy? Wha-" But then she saw them. Three shadowed figures behind Troy, walking towards them; towards her. Gabriella's eyes widened in fear as she glanced quickly back at Troy, confirmation written on his face. Tears sprang to Gabriella's eyes as she worked out what was happening. Troy wasn't here to see her; he was here to kidnap her. Taking a big step backwards, Gabriella's eyes desperately searched Troy's, her heart beating like a thousand brass drums.
"Why?" Her question came out as a sob, but before she had time to run, a heavy body flew from nowhere, crashing into her fragile frame and sending her plummeting to the sand. A strong pair of hands grabbed her flailing arms, whilst another pair appeared from the darkness, and clamped around her mouth, muffling her desperate screams.
"Troy! No! Troy, why are you doing this?! Help!" Tears gushed from her eyes hysterically as she frantically tried to free herself, screaming with all of her might. As Gabriella bit into a hand, something solid and metal appeared from nowhere, and smashed into Gabriella's head, knocking her unconscious immediately, and the world turned to the blackest ink.
--
"We did it! We actually did it!" Aaron Gates was ecstatic. "We nailed it, fellas!" Aaron grabbed Mitchell's hand, and they both did an impromptu jig around the kitchen. Yes, they had done it. They had captured Gabriella Montez, the only daughter of Antonio Montez, an important diplomat who took pride in his family, and was on his way to becoming the next President.
Troy watched in silence as his accomplices cheered and high fived each other, their faces proud and jubilant. How could they be so happy? They had just kidnapped an innocent seventeen year old girl, and they were cheering?!
Wait, don't think like that Bolton! You don't feel sympathy for anybody now, remember? You're as cold as ice. You feel nothing – just the satisfaction of killing unworthy and useless people who don't deserve to live. Troy lectured himself in his mind, and he stared blindly around the room. He couldn't feel sorry for Gabriella – it was forbidden; one of the many rules he had promised to obey when he joined this…group, this cell, this organisation.
But as he replayed Gabriella's petrified screams in his mind, Troy could feel his heart wrenching in pain…
"Bolton!" Troy blinked heavily before reluctantly looking up to meet Aaron's gaze – the second rule he had learnt was to never ignore Aaron Gates, not unless you had a death wish. Aaron Gates was the leader of the division, and the position fitted him well. Sharp, lithe and deadly, Gates was well known of, and was number three on the most wanted list. He had been in the business for over six years, starting at the tender age of sixteen. Now, he was the leader of a division in the SF (Salvation Fighters), a well known terrorist group.
"What?" Troy asked through gritted teeth, his jaw clenched almost painfully.
"Loose the attitude, Bolton." Gates demanded, his grey eyes locking onto Troy's clenching fists. "You did a good job tonight. I had my doubts 'bout you, but the stupid cow didn't even see it coming." Gates sneered, slapping him on the back in praise. Something inside of Troy snapped and in one swift movement, Troy spun, and slammed Gates' body into the wall, gripping the collar of his leather jacket.
"Don't you ever doubt my actions or loyalty again. D'you hear me?" Troy hissed, his face centimetres away from Gates' harsh yet slightly amused one. Out of the corners of his eyes, Troy saw Mitchell step forward, but only to be held back by Michaela. He didn't care. He'd take them all on to get to Gates. Troy and Gates watched each other in silence, before Troy slammed him against the wall again.
"D'you understand me?" He repeated, his stormy eyes flashing with hatred.
"Yes, I understand. Now get your fucking hands off of me." Gates replied, his voice harsh. Troy released him at once, and took a resolute step backwards.
"So, the mouse can roar, can he?" Mitchell's voice cut through the tense silent, his eyes dancing with amusement. Troy took a step towards him, snarling.
"Jesus, dude, relax." Mitchell put his hands up in front of him, laughing at the murderous expression on Troy's face. Troy sighed harshly before leaning against the side again, casting his eyes downwards.
"So, Aaron, what do we do next?" Michaela's annoying voice spoke up, and Troy lifted his gaze to see his 'boss' looking thoughtful.
"We deliver the ransom note with proof that we have her, to the girl's father." Gates replied, a grin playing on his lips.
"What kind of proof?" Troy asked sharply, and Gates turned to face him.
"Convincing proof." He replied, before pointing at Mitchell. "Mitch, got any ideas?" Mitchell grinned before nodding his head.
"'Course. How about we cut off a piece of her hair?" he suggested, but frowned when Michaela snorted in amusement.
"Uh, no. We should stain something with her blood. That'll make it more than convincing." She said, smirking at Gates who was nodding his head in agreement.
"Excellent, Michaela. And as seeing as Bolton is our star tonight, he can do the honours." Gates sneered, and Troy felt his stomach drop to the floor. Uh oh. He watched in apprehensive silence as all three of them smirked at him. Knowing better than to refuse, Troy stiffly nodded his head.
"Leave it to me." He replied, and pushed off from the counter, collecting a pair of scissors and a sharp knife, before walking from the room, and down the narrow corridor of the three roomed cabin. The first room was the kitchen that had been neglected to years as there was a thick later of grease coating every possible surface in the room. The second room was a small living area, and the third room had been turned into a cell.
What the hell was he doing? He couldn't do this! Ever since Troy had heard the plans of Gabriella's kidnap, he had been on edge. He had desperately wanted to find ways in which he could warn her, but found it impossible with Gates watching his every move. After nearly three weeks of plotting, the four of them had succeeded. They had caught Gabriella! No! Not Gabriella – just a random girl who'd get them everything they needed. Not Gabriella, not Gabriella…
Troy repeated this in his mind as he paused outside of the cell door. He could do this. He had to do this.
Taking a deep breath, Troy unlocked the steel door, and walked inside.
--
Okay, I am currently freaking out! This chapter is probably the most important thing I have ever written in my entire life – please please please don't hate me! I worked really hard on this, and I'm hyperventilating right now.
I'm sorry if this didn't make any sense, but I'm hoping those of you who have read the book will know what's going on, but even so, I hope that those who haven't, you still have the basic idea!
I'm sorry if this is too much like the actual book. I've tried immensely hard to keep it to my own ideas – so please don't hate me!
I'm in desperate need to hear what you all think! If none of you like it, then I'm not gonna continue with it. So if you guys actually enjoyed that chapter, and do not hate my guts, please please press that sparkly review button, and make me the happiest fifteen year old ever!!!!
xoxo