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.

8. Water


"We need to get back to the river." Taylor decided.

Venturing away from it had been a bad idea. Troy and Gabriella had nearly died, Zeke was hurt and Sharpay had fainted. They needed water. They needed to clean Zeke's wound before it got infected. And they needed the safety that being around the river seemed to bring.

Troy stood from where he had been sitting next to Zeke, careful not to lean on his throbbing arm. "How do you suggest we do that?" He asked, unable to hide his bitter hopelessness. Zeke couldn't exactly walk, and a glance at a still unconscious Sharpay confirmed that she wasn't fit to travel either. Maybe Taylor was right. But they simply couldn't do it.

"We'll carry them." Chad said, agreeing with his girlfriend. It had been his idea to follow the rope. So far, everyone had suffered for it. The sooner they got back to the river, the better. He continued to kneel beside a disorientated and dazed Zeke, not willing to leave his friends side, feeling slightly to blame.

Gabriella approached the group. She'd been trying to awaken Sharpay with Ryan but to no avail; the poor girl had been through too much trauma for her brain to deal with. "Going back to the river is our only option." She said, having heard their discussion.

It was true. It was their only option. Unless they chose to stay where they were, which had proven to be an extremely dangerous place.

Sharpay began to stir, groaning as her eyes slowly opened. "Ryan?" She whispered.

Ryan, who was already at her side, smiled with relief. He thought she'd never wake up. "I'm here." He told her, stroking her hair gently. "Don't worry."

She started to sit up, a confused frown on her face. "What happened?" She asked.

She didn't remember.

Gabriella had now returned to her side and was softly stroking her back. Sharpay grimaced and pulled away, unsure of why she was being treated so delicately. Gabriella seemed momentarily deterred but did not move from Sharpay's side. Taylor joined them, giving Sharpay a warm and sympathetic smile.

This was weird.

She looked back at Ryan who had yet to answer her question. He didn't know if he should.

"You fainted." He told her. It was the truth. Just not the whole truth.

She nodded sluggishly, allowing the information to sink in. Her frown deepened. "Why?"

Ryan said nothing. How was he supposed to remind her of something that had caused her so much anguish? Maybe if he could keep it from her somehow…

"Ryan!" She snapped, getting back his attention. "I asked why."

"You… you, um…"

While Ryan struggled to find words, Sharpay caught sight of her hands for the first time since waking. The blood. Now, the memories came flooding back. The bear trap. The screaming. Zeke.

"Where is he?" She asked as she clambered to her feet.

Taylor took hold of Sharpay's arm. "Maybe it's best if you-."

Sharpay viciously ripped her arm from Taylor's loose grip. She needed to see him. What if he was already dead? Her eyes quickly scanned her surroundings. She spotted him.

"Move." she said, shoving Chad out of the way more forcefully than she'd intended.

Her brutal demeanour dissolved the second her eyes met Zeke's. He was awake. But barely. He was in pain. Obviously. His eyes were full of plea. He wanted her to make the hurting stop. He wanted her to make things alright. And she couldn't.

She raised a trembling hand to his face. "Oh, Zeke…" she sniffed back tears that threatened to flow.

"Don't cry." He whispered.

She smiled weakly.

"I hate to spoil the moment," Chad cut in, truly disliking how he'd disturbed the tender connection. "But we really do need to get back to the river…. Before it get's dark." He looked at the sky as if to prove his point.

A few minutes later, Chad, Troy and Ryan were carrying Zeke back through the forest, the girls leading the way. They'd got quite far; about half way between the hole-trap and the river, when things started to go terribly wrong.

Zeke's trembling evolved into a continuous, seizure-like spasm. He was dripping with sweat. His eyes were glazed and empty. His temperature sky rocketed and he was breathing at a worryingly fast pace.

"What's happening?" Ryan asked, struggling to keep a hold on Zeke's jerking body.

Troy shook his head, clueless. "We need to put him down." He said.

They lowered him to the floor.

"What happened?" Sharpay asked hurrying back as soon as she realised something was wrong.

Chad shrugged. "It's like he's got a fever." He observed.

"I think it's septic shock." Gabriella said, hoping she was wrong. If it was septic shock then Zeke would need immediate medical attention. If he didn't get it, he would definitely die. Ryan knelt beside Zeke and pulled back his pant leg, revealing the mess of his shin underneath.

Aside from the obvious gory wounds, his leg was red, swollen and tender; all signs of septic shock.

Her fears now confirmed, Gabriella spoke again. "We need to wash that now." She told them urgently.

"That's what we're trying to do." Chad said with exasperation. "But he's squirming around too much. We can't carry him anymore."

It was sad but true. As well as Zeke's unmanageable movement, their arms were tired; Troy's most of all as he was only using one. Chad's hands were bleeding still from the gashes that had been caused as he tried to remove the bear trap. Most of the weight had been depending on Ryan who was now fully worn out.

"Well…" Gabriella continued, thinking. "If you can't bring him to the water…" She trailed off.

They'd have to bring the water to him.

"We can't leave him." Sharpay insisted. There was no way she was going to do that.

"I'll go." Taylor volunteered.

"Alone?" Chad asked, already against her suggestion.

Taylor nodded. "The rest of you are all needed here."

And they were. They all knew it. The strength of the boys was needed to keep Zeke restrained and hold down his shaking body to lessen the blood loss and avoid any further aggravation of his lacerations. Sharpay could never be torn away and Gabriella was the only one that knew about septic shock so her staying with Zeke was vital. That just left Taylor.

"It's dangerous out there, Tay." Expressed Gabriella with concern.

Taylor rolled her eyes. She could take care of herself. Even if she was a little scared. "I'll be fine." She said confidently as she dismissed Gabriella and Chad's evident worry. "Just give me a bit of material, I'll soak it in the water and I'll come right back."

Chad still looked uncertain. He opened his mouth to protest but Taylor cut him off.

"We're wasting time." She declared.

Chad closed his mouth and removed his jacket. "Use this." He said, handing it to her. When she grabbed it, he didn't let go right away. He waited until he was sure he had her attention. "Be careful." He said seriously.

Taylor took the jacket from him and turned straight away to begin her short walk to the river. "I'll come right back." She said again over her shoulder. Within seconds, she had disappeared into the trees.

She was scared. Even more so now that she was alone. She was a smart girl. So she was fully aware of the fact that all the bad things that were happening probably weren't down to coincidence. She was also aware that, being alone, she was extremely vulnerable.

But she had a job to do. Zeke's life hung in the balance.

Arriving at the river, she cast a timid glance behind her. Nothing. She crouched by the river bank and stretched her arms out to submerge the jacket in the cloudy water.

She'd always loved this jacket…

The water was warm on her hands and hot, humid steam whirled around her. It was almost relaxing, as if she was in a sauna or spa. She took in a deep breath and closed her eyes, allowing herself one final moment of peace and tranquillity before she'd have to return to the bloody, chaotic war-zone.

Peace.

Something felt wrong. Her eyes were shut but she could sense a gaze on her back. She could feel a shadow fall over her. But she had no time to react.

A blunt object struck her on the head from behind. A momentary jolt of pain flashed down her spine. Then, darkness.

It was as if she had stepped out of her own body. She heard the splash as her body entered the water. She felt the liquid slowly trickling into her lungs.

But she could do nothing to stop it.

A/N: I think we're about half way through. I'm aiming for a hopeful 20 chapters but we'll see. I don't think that this one was a great chapter. I've found them increasingly hard to write recently and I know that the next two (as well as being VERY eventful with more shocks, some sad moments and some action) may not be up to standard. Sorry, I'm just finding it kinda tough to beat writers block and keep churning this stuff out! But anyway, review and tell me what you think.

RissaIzDeBomb, TheDiamondPrinces, Saynt Jimmy, zanessatroyella4evr620, Always-Here-Imani, charlotteloveszacefron, ChaylorTwilightQueen10, Daydreamer299,Kt luvs., utmy123, EllaKnight22 and NavalHut; you guys are royalty in my little world and each review you leave brings wealth (in the form of happiness) to the little people of my little world! *Random Moment*

I hope you keep reading and keep reviewing.

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