Select Few

Chapter 2: Promise

Disclaimer: Not mine…obviously…

Genre: Sci-Fi/Horror/Angst

Warnings: Okay this is a dark story, might be why it's M huh. There will be character deaths so don't read if you don't want that. Hmmm…What else? Oh yeah loads of violence. (I figured I would bold that this time so you understand it will be violent.)

Pairings: This is NOT a romance story but there will be Troy X Gabriella through the whole story and Chad X Taylor at the beginning.

Summary: Earth is attacked and the only survivors are prisoners to the beings that took it. Can they survive everything that comes there way? Will they want to? Troy centered. Troyella. Troy Chad Friendship.

Thanks to the people who read my crazy story and thank you to the people who are actually looking forward to the next chapter…this one. Please remember this is rated M for a reason. I'm not usually this demented but what can I say…On with the story!

Troy pulled up to the front of Gabriella's house as dark clouds began to pull in over the city. They were coming. Troy swallowed and tried to pull up his leader mask, tried to be in control, to be the guy who knew what was going on.

Once he had control over his emotions and mind, he licked his lips and dried his tear streaked face. Climbing out of the car he smoothed his pants and tugged at his rumpled shirt. He ran a faintly shaking hand over his hair trying to fix it into a somewhat presentable mess.

His leg carried him quickly to the front door without much conscious thought over his actions. In a smooth motion he rang the small lit door bell and glanced over his shoulder at the oncoming clouds. He could almost hear the screams that would roll in with them, see the blood, and smell the death.

Troy rocked gently back and forth from heel to toe as he heard shuffling behind the door. Slowly and cautiously the door was cracked open. Dark eyes peaked out of the crack filled with fear. As soon as the eyes locked on Troy they flooded with relief then the door was swung all the way open.

"Oh Troy," Mrs. Montez called out in a raspy voice. She looked like she had aged a good many years over the last day.

"I wanted to see if it was okay if I took Gabi to the school. I think we'll have more time there, it being empty and all." Troy said in a voice with a bit more confidence than he felt.

Mrs. Montez reached out and pulled Troy into a tight hug and began crying on his shoulder mumbling near in ear, "You take care of her Troy. Do what ever it takes, do what I can't, to make sure those monsters don't get her, you hear?"

Troy numbly shook his head, being the only thing he could do. There was no way he could make a promise like that but he knew that Mrs. Montez would feel better if she died believing that her only child was with him and not with the monsters. She didn't want to have to watch her daughter die.

"Gabi," Mrs. Montez called out pulling away from Troy, "I want you to go with Troy."

Gabriella appeared in the doorway with a tear stained face. Upon seeing Troy standing before her she rushed out and wrapped her slim arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest. Troy ran a hand through her thick raven locks and kissed the top of her head.

After a few seconds she turned and looked to her mom. "You're coming too mom, right?" Her eyes were wide and full of tears making them liquid and child like.

"No baby," was all her mom could force out before they embraced in a watery hug. They held each other and cry for a minute before Mrs. Montez pushed Gabi away and held her at arms length.

"Now listen baby, I want you to let Troy take care of you and," the elder woman swallowed and looked away, "do what ever it takes to stay out of those monsters hands."

"No mama I can't do that," Gabi cried desperately. "They won't want me anyways."

Mrs. Montez shook Gabriella hard and gritted out, "Yes they will."

"I can't, I…No don't ask me to, it's a sin! I'll go to hell!" Gabi choked out between sobs. Troy looked away as he felt tears pool in his eyes and one stray down his cheek. Gabi was religious, he wasn't.

"I'll do it," Troy forced out as more tears streamed down his face.

"Troy," Mrs. Montez began slowly.

"I'll do it, she can stay pure," Troy said with more force this time.

Gabi opened her mouth to argue just as a streak of lightning touched ground nearby. Troy hadn't realized how quickly the storm was approaching. "Gabi get in the truck," Troy demanded in a cold detached tone. Gabriella didn't argue, she simply planted a silent kiss on her mom's cheek and made her way to the truck.

Troy stood frozen trying to keep control and not think about what he just promised to do. Mrs. Montez pulled Troy into a hug he didn't respond to and whispered, "I know I am asking too much of you but…Thank you…There is no way I can ever thank you."

Troy wrenched himself out of her hands and ran towards the truck repressing sobs. He threw the pile of junk into drive and with a roar took off for the school. The whole way there he swiped at tears and tried to muffle his sobs. Gabriella simply looked at her hands ashamed at what she was asking him to do for her. Ashamed of what she couldn't do herself.

Troy pulled up to the school as the rain began. As they dashed up the front steps to meet the others waiting outside they were soaked to the bone. Without saying a word Troy kicked in the glass front door ignoring the pain that lased up his leg with the swift action.

As they silently made there way into the school Troy was grateful for the fact that his wet hair covered his tear filled eyes. After a few moments of trying to regain his composer he gave up and faced his friends.

They all looked terrible, tear tracks covered there face and they all looked exhausted. Troy licked his lips and looked to the three girls. "I'm sure you heard what they are looking for," Troy faltered and looked down trying to repress another sob. "Umm…I don't know if you want to…" Troy ventured a look to Gabi which sucked the words out of him and forced a sob from his chest. He turned away and let the tears fall freely.

Chad took a hesitant step towards him and placed a hand on his shoulder. Troy looked to his best friends and forced a sad smile which was returned. Swallowing Troy continued in a low voice, "I'll make it so they won't take you if you want." His voice cracked as the words left his mouth.

He was expecting looks of horror for him even expressing the idea but instead he got nods of understanding and a gentle rub on the back from Chad.

"I already talked with Sharpay," Ryan mumbled looking just a devastated as Troy felt. "I need to find a classroom." He swallowed as he paused again, "You won't be seeing us again."

The others gave faint nods of understanding and they all briefly gave the twins silent embraces before watching them walk down the dark hallway.

Taylor gave a small smile and said, "I don't think I meet the 'select few' requirements so I'll wait it out with Chad." Chad frowned at her words but it seemed as if they had already talked and Taylor managed to convince him she would be killed not enslaved.

"I'll meet you in the auditorium in a few minutes," Troy turned his back to his friends and finished in a hoarse whisper, "I made Mrs. Montez and Gabi a promise."

The other young couple silently nodded and hugged Gabriella. Then they left Troy and Gabriella standing in the darkening hallway. After a minute of listening to the rain and thunder outside, Troy figured it was time. He reached out without looking at his girlfriend and grabbed her hand.

They walked down the halls until they entered the empty locker rooms. Troy hoped this was far enough into the school so they wouldn't find her body. He hoped the monsters would find him, Chad, and Taylor first and then leave.

He sat Gabi down on the hard wood bench and kneeled before her. He took her smaller hands in his and kissed her fingertips letting his hot tears fall on her golden hands.

Gabriella opened her mouth to say something but Troy shushed her with a single finger against her lips. "Just listen for a second," he mumbled in a weak voice. He licked his lips and tried to find the nerve to look at her.

After a few minutes of working up the nerve he locked eyes with her dark ones. "I love you," he forced out in a sob.

"I love you too," Gabriella mumbled in a soft voice. She when to lean in for a kiss as Troy pulled away.

He took a deep breath and turned away from her. In a rough voice he said, "That's what I needed to hear." He stood with his back to her for a few seconds locking his mind and emotions deep inside.

Finally he turned around the knife he had grabbed from his kitchen held tight in his hand. His hand was shaking and his knuckles white. His face was sharp and locked in an empty look. Gabi closed her eyes not wanting to look in his empty icy blue ones. She knew he did it to protect himself but it hurt to see him so empty.

A single tear slid down her jaw and Troy swung out with the blunt end of the knife hitting her hard in the temple. He watched silently as she crumbled to the floor in an unconscious heap. He hesitated for a second before making his next move. He wasn't entirely sure if she would wake up or not and if she did he wouldn't be able to handle it.

Taking a deep breath and making sure he was completely numb then he smoothly struck out slashing her throat. Blood slashed out in tiny crimson drops that rained down over him. Her blood washed over his head, staining his shirt, splattering over his face, and landing on his lips. He could taste her bittersweet blood burning on his tongue and it took all his self control to stay emotionless.

He quickly and messily slashed down her arms and legs. He had to make her undesirable. He had to corrupt her beauty to save her. They can bring her to life but he could only hope they don't want to. That they can't see her beauty or that the scars won't heal making her undesirable.

Troy slashed across her chest at odd angles working his way up to her beautifully sculpted face. With out a single thought he mangled her features making his love unrecognizable even to his eyes.

With the last few slashes Troy dropped the knife and ran from the room. He made it to right outside the locker room before he could no longer maintain control. With a sob he dropped to his knees and braced his hands on the ground. His body was racked with dry heaves having nothing to bring up from over a day without food.

After a couple finally spasms he pushed himself up on shaky feet and made his was towards the auditorium sobbing and pulling at his hair trying to forget what he had just done to the love of his life.

Okay please don't kill me for killing Gabriella. Just stick with me for at least one more chapter before giving up on me. This is just the beginning. Anyways, if you have made it this far in your reading please let me know what you think. Review!