The Silent Forest

Summary: A field trip becomes a nightmare when the gang is separated from the rest of the group in the middle of a vast forest. Things go from bad to worse when they discover that they are not alone.

Pairings: Chaylor, Troyella and some mild Zekepay. Ryan will also feature but with no pairing.

Disclaimer: Yep, I own it. *Keeps dreaming*

Warnings: Possible character death(s). Rated T for some language and quite a bit of violence/blood. Probable spelling and grammar mistakes due to my lack of beta.

9. Be Right Back

"How's he doing?" Gabriella cast a wary look at Zeke. She hadn't told the others that septic shock could kill without treatment. She didn't want to worry them. But the information was a huge burden to carry. And the stress was driving her crazy.

Troy glanced at her. He said nothing but the look in his eyes was enough. It wasn't good. Gabriella bit down on her lip with distress and gazed hopefully in the direction of the river. Where was Taylor?

"O-okay…" she began to formulate a plan. "You need to tie off the leg. Stop the blood flow temporarily so he doesn't lose any more." She untied the head band that had been wrapped around her hair. "This'll do." She said, handing it to Troy.

He nodded and efficiently tied it tightly around Zeke's thigh. Zeke barely seemed to notice. His eyes were locked on Sharpay's who sat beside him. In all the commotion, Sharpay had been keeping him calm by talking to him.

"I meant to say thanks," Sharpay told him. Zeke looked at her inquisitively. "For trying to catch me. Yesterday." Was it really only a day ago that they had gotten off track? Zeke still looked confused so Sharpay continued. "When I was falling after I tried to chase Ryan. My heel broke and I fell and you caught me." She reminded him.

He could barely comprehend what she was saying. He didn't even know what was happening any more. His heart was racing. His whole body burned with pain. All he wanted was to go home.

Gabriella gazed again towards the river.

"Where is she?" Chad asked, as if reading Gabriella's mind.

She shrugged. Good question.

"Go find her, man." Troy urged Chad. He knew Chad couldn't focus with his mind somewhere else. "Me and Ryan have got this." Zeke was shaking less and was just about controllable.

Chad didn't waste a second. He jumped up and sprinted to the river. He knew something was wrong. She said she'd come right back. He should never have let her go on her own.

"Taylor!" he called as he ran. "Tay?!" She didn't answer. He arrived at the river bank seconds later, skidding to a halt on the wet ground.

She wasn't there.

He began to panic. Where wasshe? Where could she be? A terrifying thought hit him and he peered into the water. It was murky. He couldn't see a thing. He was about to turn away and look somewhere else. Then, through the white water, a dark shape started to appear. Its shape grew clearer as it neared the surface. Chad only realised what it was when it had fully emerged to the top. His jacket.

His breath caught in his throat. "Please Taylor, no…" he said softly to himself, all sorts of images flashing through his imagination.

Distraught, he threw off his shoes and took in a deep breath. He dove in without a moment's hesitation.

The heated water stung his eyes like chlorine of a swimming pool. All he could see in front of him was white nothing. So he felt. With his hands, he explored the space around him, feeling for anything that could be her. Under his fingers, he touched sharp, slimy rocks, and gooey, wet mud. Then, he felt something different.

Taylor.

Grabbing her around the waist, he pulled her motionless body to him. He pushed off the river floor and propelled them both to the surface. He gulped in a desperate gasp of air while swimming back to the edge of the river, Taylor still held tightly in one arm.

As he scrambled perilously out of the water, all he could think about was how still she was. How her rag-doll-like body hung limp in his arm. He half carried, half dragged her away from the water, before laying her down gently. Now, for the first time, he looked at her.

Dead.

That was his first thought. She lay still and lifeless, her wet hair stuck to her face. Her eyes were shut. Her chest did not rise or fall. She wasn't breathing. Dead.

She couldn't be.

He wouldn't let her.

He dropped to his knees beside her. Being closer only made things worse. Her face was paler than it should be. Her lips tinted blue.

"Tay?" He whispered, surprised by how small and child-like his voice sounded. A lump formed in his throat. She didn't respond. He put his hand on her shoulder and shook her gently. Her head fell loosely to the side. He gasped. "Tay?" He said again. He lifted her head with both hands, stroking her cheeks with his thumbs. "Wake up." He begged.

"Where are those two?" Troy grew increasingly concerned. They'd been gone for far too long. He could tell something wasn't right. He was worried about his best friend. It was stupid, but he was frightened he may never see him again. He'd been gone for no more than fifteen minutes but in this forest….

Gabriella shrugged and started to walk nervously back and forth. "I don't know." She said. "But we need that water now." The water wasn't her only concern. Both Chad and Taylor knew the severity and urgency of the situation, neither would dawdle. Something had held them up. And deep down, Gabriella knew they probably wouldn't be returning soon. She needed them.

Zeke was barely conscious. Other than his shivering, which had died down considerably, he didn't move. His eyes were tightly pinched shut. He was sweating bucket loads. A check of his pulse confirmed that his heart was racing. He was deteriorating.

"I'll find them." Ryan proposed, rising from his seated position.

A flash of worry crossed Sharpay's face. What if he didn't return either? Something very strange was happing within these trees. There were traps and danger around every corner. Zeke was dying. No-one had said it, but Sharpay wasn't stupid. She saw it. And if Ryan went out there… he could end up the same. Sharpay couldn't take losing her brother. That would be like losing half of herself.

"I'll go with you." Gabriella added. She felt useless here. And she needed to find her best friend. It was getting dark again. And the forest was dangerous enough during the day.

Troy nodded reluctantly. He didn't want Gabriella to be in danger, but he could see that look in her face. That determined, unstoppable look. There was no way he could persuade her to stay. And besides, someone needed to find Chad and Taylor. "Alright." He said finally. "But only if you promise to come back as soon as you find them."

Gabriella agreed. "I promise." She said. There was no way she was hanging around. "We'll be right back." And, without another word, she and Ryan followed Chad and Taylor's trail.

"Right back…." Sharpay muttered solemnly. "That's what Taylor said."

Chad was crying.

Taylor wasn't waking up. Even with his attempts at mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. CPR. He didn't even know if he was doing it right. For all he knew, he could be hurting her. She felt so fragile under his hands.

He pumped her chest with his hands; something he'd seen on TV a countless amount of times, then pinched her nose between his thumb and index finger and breathed into her open mouth. He tried to ignore how cold her lips were on his.

He didn't know how long he'd been doing it. His arms ached. He was out of breath. His chest was tight from his choked sobs. He was still damp, shivering now from the cold water. Pure adrenaline fuelled him on. She had to wake up.

"Come on. Taylor. Baby." He said with determination, each time he compressed her chest. "Wake up." He breathed into her mouth. "Wake up." He paused to get his breath back and leaned close to her face to feel if she had started to breathe again. She hadn't. He started again.

Chad had never cried like this before. Never. He was crying so much now that he could barely breathe. His eyes were sore and his head felt like it was going to explode. At the back of his mind, he was starting to come to terms with the fact that Taylor may never wake up. He had no idea how long she'd been in that water. Her body could have already shut down.

He only realised that he wasn't alone when he heard Gabriella whimpering behind him. He didn't turn around to look at her. He didn't care to see that she and Ryan had arrived and were watching the awful events unfold. He didn't bother to turn when he felt a hand, seemingly Ryan's, on his shoulder.

"Chad…" Ryan began, shakily. It almost seemed as if he was afraid of Chad. "Chad I-… I think you should…."

Chad knew what Ryan was trying to say. "No!" He growled. He shook his friend's hand fiercely off his shoulder. Stop? Taylor wasn't dead.

Ryan backed off a little. He didn't want Chad to stop. Of course he didn't. Taylor and him weren't the best of friends. They weren't close at all. They'd never even spoken properly. But they were friends. And they were all in this together. If Chad stopped then Taylor would be dead. But, the way things were looking, Taylor was already dead. And Chad was just prolonging the inevitable. Causing more unnecessary heartache. For himself. For Gabriella.

Gabriella couldn't believe her eyes. Her best-friend. Dead? She realised that she hadn't even spoken to Taylor properly since their journey to the forest the day before. She didn't even remember the last words they'd said to each other just earlier that day. And now… she'd never speak to her again. Gabriella had never seen a dead body. It wasn't fair that the first one she ever saw was that of her closest friend.

She cried silently, unable to tear her eyes away. She'd never seen Chad like this. She'd never even seen him without that signature cheeky grin on his face. He was heart-broken. Gabriella hadn't even realised he was so in love with Taylor. It was devastating just watching him.

"Chad…" Ryan tried again after Chad had unsuccessfully tried another three or four cycles of CPR. "I'm sorry." He said.

Chad was wheezing now. It seemed the intense strain he was putting on his body was taking its toll. He was worn out. He needed to stop before he really hurt himself.

"I'm really… sorry." Ryan continued. "B-but… she-…she's gone."

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