Troy dropped the useless arm and turned to Chase Barker. The man was already sprinting forward, trying to return the favor of being knocked down. Troy smiled as he sidestepped again and stuck his foot out, tripping the older man. Chase flew forward, hitting the ground and rolling, finding the hill that had been to their backs. Troy watched as he came to a complete stop at the base of the small incline. Troy's eyes were sent in a grim slash of determination as he advanced down the hill.

He was going to kill Chase Barker.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Troy advanced on Chase, kicking out at the older man. He grunted and rolled away, lengthening the empty space between them. Troy paused, smiling at the man's pained breath.

"You're going to regret ever hurting her," he promised, taking two steps closer. His anger rose as the man let out a barking laugh, his whole body shaking. Chase whirled around so fast, catching the blue-eyed boy off guard as he threw mud and dirt into the young teen's eyes. With a roar of pain Troy collapsed to his knees, his hands sweeping over his injured eyes.

"You know Troy, I don't regret hurting her," Chase Barker's voice sounded out to his left, "I was going to torture her in front of your helpless eyes, cause her to suffer unendurably, not just for seconds, but for minutes, for hours, how long would you have been able to bear her agony, Bolton?"

"You're a monster," Troy threw back, blinking his eyes trying to get the dirt out.

"Hardly," he replied from the right, " I'm just human."

Troy couldn't help but laugh, a swift kick meeting his chest as he did. His body collapsed backwards, his lungs screaming for air. Is this what if felt like? He thought to himself as he tried to crawl away from his attacker. Is this what she felt every time he had struck out at her? Troy took a deep breath, marveling at how strong she had been.

Chases heal found his side, knocking him off balance. He stumbled forward slamming into a tree that had been blocking his path. He collapsed to the ground, cursing his luck. A moment ago he had been coursing with adrenalin, his mind dead set on killing Chase Barker. It's funny how one's situation can change in the blink of an eye.

"I have to say," Chase's voice seemed to come from right behind, "this whole situation is rather amusing."

"Shove it for a couple seconds," he rounded, as he made it to his knees.

Troy blinked, tears streaming from his eyes as the dirt was washed out. His eyesight became blurry, a big improvement as the shapes of trees and bushes entered his vision. He realized as he tried to look around, that they had wandered farther than he had thought. Troy no longer recognized the area. He panicked. Not being in close proximity with Gabriella was bothering him; he couldn't be there for her, again he had been pulled away. He took a deep breath, calming his racing heart and faced Chase Barker, the man's blurry outline making his blood boil.

"Your sight back?" Chase asked, his voice shaking only slightly.

"Enough," Troy bluffed, a fake smile playing across his face, that constant raindrops making him blink.

"Well then," Chase's tone changed, he sounded almost excited, "Time to get serious." Troy watched as his shape lunged forward, Chase's fist flying towards his face. Troy tilted his head slightly, dodging the blow as he felt solid knuckles brush his cheek. He then burst forward, forcing his fist into Chases unprotected sternum. He heard the man gasp, the chest bone cracking slightly under the force of the blow. Troy didn't let him recover as he continued to advance forward; sweeping the older mans feet out from underneath him. He crashed to the drenched earth, it somewhat cushioning his fall.

With a smile on his face, Troy advanced towards the blurry shape of Chase Barker His smile vanishing when he found himself flat on his back as well, Chases foot catching one of his knees in a painful kick. Chase lunged at him, both sets of arms wrapping around the opposites torso. They rolled, the soaked earth squishing and shifting under the weight as fists and knees shot out, trying desperately to land a blow.

They separated after a few unsuccessful attempts to immobilize each other, both men panting heavily.

"Are you going to kill me, Troy Bolton?" Chase asked between breaths. Troy knew he was smiling, though he couldn't really see that far in front of him. He thought about the question. Would he really kill Chase Barker if he were given the chance? His mind said yes, but his heart said no. What would Gabriella think of him? His eyes softened, he couldn't do it. No matter how much he wanted to, he knew in his heart he wouldn't be able to finish this man. Even after what he had done to Gabriella, she would never forgive him. Her feelings were his; her feeling had always been his.

"Yes," he replied, his voice fighting to stay strong. There he was again, bluffing. He felt Chase pause, the rain melting into the silence, then that barking laughed filled the area.

"Your blind eyes lie, Bolton," Chase laughed out, "You will not kill me because she would not want you to."

The moment Chase even had the courage to mention her, Troy's anger rose to its peak. With a vicious yell he punched forward with his right, leaning everything into this last blow. The hairs on his arms stood up as Chase sidestepped just in time, grabbing the young teens outstretched wrist. Troy's jaw dropped as he felt the older man's open palm on his locked elbow, a scream caught in his throat as the join collapsed in on itself. Troy instantly dropped to the wet earth, an agonizing scream washing over the dense forest.

"Although you have a problem finishing the job," Chases voice made Troy turn his head, his right arm hanging limply against the unstable ground. The older man had a long dark shape in his right hand. When did he get that? An annoyed voice screamed in the back of his mind. He watched as the thick branch was raised over the towering mans head, "I do not."

Troy shut his eyes, Gabriella's smiling face entering his fear filled mind. He waited for the blow that he knew he couldn't stop.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Sharpay paused, her head whipping around, blond hair covering her face. That was the third yell from Troy. He was still alive. She started back up again, her sprint landing her right behind Taylor. She knew what was going through all their minds, Troy was alive and yelling, but where was Gabriella? Were they too late? No. She was determined to find her friend alive. Friend? Is that what they were called now? Going on a life or death rescue mission obviously puts you past being acquaintances. Sharpay smiled at the word. Friends. Not that much thought had gone into the subject over her high school career. Yet here she was, running through a forest in a torrential downpour, the science nerd in front of her and the pianist turned traitor behind. What an unexpected turn of events.

She nearly ran into the back of Taylor as the dark girl came to a screeching halt. They had come to a small clearing, hiding behind some trees. The end where they were positioned was flat and very dense, the far end dropped off into a slope.

"What?" Sharpay hissed out, feeling Kelsi's questioning hand on her back. Taylor turned, her eyes flicking towards the clearing.

Sharpay looked, didn't see anything, then paused, doing a double take. Three bodies inhabited the open clearing, two in black, probably males by the build. The one in the center, however, was just the opposite. Gabriella! Her mind screamed, as her eyes grew wide. The dark haired girl was lying on her stomach, her head facing away from the group. Sharpay paused, surveying the situation. Were the men really down for the count? Or where they only setting a trap?

She searched for her phone, praying to god that it wasn't soaking wet. Her hand shook as she dialed the number 911 into her red chocolate. The operators voice sounded female, calm. She was probably sitting at her desk, cleaning her nails with her pencil, never even caring about or giving a second thought about the people who called.

"What's your emergency?" the calm voice radiated from the other end of the line.

"There's been a kidnapping, were at Red Wolf Lake, on one of the far left islands. You'll see our boats. Our friends injured, Hurry," she hung up, taking a deep breath. She had been whispering, her voice cracking in every sentence; she knew the operator had taken her seriously.

Taylor gave her an anxious look. Sharpay nodded, back up was on the way.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Taylor was the first one to sprint out into the clearing, dropping to Gabriella's side in an instant. Her hand hesitantly went to her friends shoulder, rolling her body over to her back. Tears immediately met her eyes at the sight of Gabriella's condition. Although the right side of her face was no longer covered in blood, the falling rain was dyed red as it ran down the side of her face. Blood also came from her nose and mouth, a bruise already forming on the left side of her cheek. Gabriella's shirt was not longer whit, but a tie-die of dark brown and red. Taylor shook the unconscious girls shoulders as tears dropped onto her face, Kelsi and Sharpay dropping down beside them. The three girls grew silent as Gabriella's eyes opened ever so slightly.

"…taylor…?" she questioned, her voice barley above a whisper. Taylor choked, a sob caught in her throat.

"Yeah, I'm here," she glanced to Kelsi and Sharpay, "were all here."

Gabriella blinked, her eyes growing duller, "…help…troy…"

"Chad and the others went after him," Taylor assured, brushing the hair out of her friends eyes, as she placed Gabriella's head on her lap, "we have to worry about you right now."

"You have to promise us," Kelsi cut in.

"To stay awake," Sharpay finished, placing a firm hand on the girls shoulder.

"…tried…so long…can't," she whispered out, her chest slightly rising. Her eyes were getting closer to closing every second, the fighting spirit fading.

"No, you have to stay awake," Taylor demanded, her voice cracking. She watched the words 'I'm sorry' form on her friend's lips as her eyes fell completely shut. Taylor let the tears freefall as Kelsi sent a hand to Gabriella's neck. Time seemed to tick by. Thirty seconds. A minute. A minute and a half. Kelsi's voice finally breaking the silence.

"I have it," she assured, her voice shaking slightly.

"How strong?" Sharpay asked, glancing down at the unconscious girl in Taylor's arms.

"We have to get her out of here," Kelsi responded, "soon."

Taylor was only able to get out a nod before she was jerked backwards, strong arms wrapping around her small shoulders. Kelsi let out a scream as Sharpay was knocked backwards, rolling helplessly away from the group. Taylor realized, as the arms tightened around her shoulders, that they had blindly run into a trap.

A/N: So this story is turning out to be longer than I anticipated, but whoever said that was bad! Bare with me on the fight scenes, there kind of hard to write, him punching this way, the other blocking and then retaliating, its all very confusing, but I like the way it turned out, getting hit in the sternum does hurt by the way, in case you all were wondering.

Again, I like that you like to review, so if you feel up to it, Review!

I'm glad you all like it so far; I really enjoy writing this story!