Outbreak


15. The Gun


"What do you mean 'he wouldn't stop'?" Taylor asked again, staring seriously at Gabriella from where she stood at the door.

After what Troy had done, Gabriella had sought solitude in one of the many bedrooms of the house. It just so happened that it was the same bedroom that Taylor had left her hairbrush in and, upon entering to retrieve it, she had found Gabriella sobbing on the bed. Gabriella had reluctantly explained her dismay to her best-friend, something she was beginning to regret.

She sniffed and wiped the damp from her cheeks. "I shouldn't've told you, Tay." She dismissed suddenly. Taylor felt a tinge of offence. "I'm exaggerating. It was nothing."

Taylor shook her head furiously, angry at Troy and disappointed in Gabriella for playing it down. Though she could never imagine Troy doing something like this, she wasn't going to let it slide as if he hadn't. "He hurt you." She reminded Gabriella. "That's not 'nothing'."

Compliantly accepting the words that she'd tried so hard to block out, Gabriella finally came to the terms with the fact that her best-friend was right. She hung her head in an attempt to hide the tears that brimmed in her eyes but only succeeded to encourage the water from her tear ducts and send little droplets onto the bed sheet she sat on. Taylor saw this and her heart melted with sympathy. She realised that, as she often did when she had a strong opinion, she'd gotten ahead of herself and not taken the time to be sensitive and consider how Gabriella was feeling.

With remorse and difficulty, Taylor crossed the room and perched on the bed beside Gabriella. "I'm sorry, Gabi." She apologised sincerely as she wrapped an arm around Gabriella's shoulders.

Gabriella leaned into her hold. "No," she answered, burying her head in Taylor's neck. "You're right."

It was a hard thing to admit. And now that she had acknowledged it, Gabriella was unsure of where they were going to go next. She knew she had the capacity to forgive Troy. In actual fact, all she wanted to do was forgive Troy. She wanted to forget it all and move on as if it had never happened. But she also knew that it could never be that easy. Something was happening to them. Something had changed. She couldn't only hope that it would soon change back.

"We can fix this." Taylor reassured, resting her cheek on top of Gabriella's head. Her voice was certain, but in her heart she was far from confident.

In a somewhat selfish way, she was glad that Troy was the one exhibiting strange behaviour and not Chad. Of course, she'd much prefer it if neither of them had changed, but she was relieved to find that, if anything Chad had changed for the better. She felt nothing but sorrow for Gabriella as she tried to put herself in her best-friends shoes. She couldn't imagine how it felt. But at the same time, she did wonder if they were making a bigger deal of it than it actually was. Maybe their separation from the boys had put this idea in their heads that an eventual reunion would be flawless. Such high hopes were destined for disappointment.

"He's changed." Gabriella stated sadly.

The world she thought she was entering with Troy had been shattered. He wasn't the compassionate guy she remembered. He wasn't patient and kind and caring. He was different. Wrong.

Taylor nodded with an equal amount of woe. "We've all changed." Just, perhaps, not for the better.


Apart from the constant, threatening crackle of the fire, the lounge was completely silent. Chad sat uncomfortably upright on the same settee with Troy opposite him on the matching chaise-longue. They both stared into the entrancing, yellow flames, ignoring the multitude of judging eyes on them from the old-fashioned, painted portraits that hung on the walls around the room. Thinking hard, their faces were identical in their concentrated and solemn expressions.

Since Troy had told Chad what had happened, what he had done, neither of them had spoken. They were both trying to let the idea sink in that Troy was transforming. It was an unbearable thought.

Chad thought he had prepared himself for this. He'd known it was coming. He always knew what he would have to do about it. But now that it was real, it all seemed so daunting. Considering his best-friend as one of those creatures was something he could not quite come to terms with.

Troy couldn't beat the guilt that was gnawing away at his insides. He would never hurt Gabriella. But he had. And he knew that it was only going to get worse. There was only one way he could stop this.

He got to his feet so suddenly that Chad jumped slightly in his seat. For a brief moment, there was genuine fear in Chad's eyes as he expected his best-friend to pounce at him. It was only a momentary reflex, but Troy saw it. And it only enforced his confidence in what he was about to do.

Chad watched in silence as Troy walked out of the room. His initial thought was that his best friend was seeking some time alone, unable to remain in such judgemental company. Because, no matter how he tried not to, Chad was assessing Troy. Almost condemning him. In his mind, he was going over how wrong what he'd done had been. Forcing Gabriella to a point that she literally had to flee from him. Of course, he couldn't control it. Or so he said. But he seemed to be fully in control now. Chad struggled to believe that the infection would come and go in waves like that. And if Troy was telling the truth about these bouts of uncontrollable behaviour- and Chad was sadly beginning to doubt these claims- then surely he could return to the room any second, partially and momentarily transformed, to unconsciously inflict all sorts of pain on Chad.

Troy returned to the room. Chad tensed and looked closely at his friend to assess his condition. He was standing up straight, breathing normally and there was only a slight hint of hunger in his eyes. Chad's gaze fell to Troy's hands which hung at his sides. He was holding a gun.

Sharpay had left it behind. Now, it had a purpose. Chad knew immediately what Troy was doing. He stood from his seat, not registering the pain that pulsed through his midsection. He stayed silent until Troy stopped walking and stood right in front of him.

Without words Troy took Chad's hand in his, prised his fingers open and placed the gun in his palm. It was heavy and clammy from Troy's sweaty hold on it. It's bulky, black shape looked professional and effective and the stiff trigger was undeniably menacing.

Still not speaking, Chad shook his head in answer to Troy's unasked request. He dropped the gun back into Troy's hand and attempted to turn away. He was stopped by Troy's grip on his wrist. It pulled his hand back up while the gun was shoved back into it.

"It's the only way." Troy spoke finally. His voice cracked almost at once. "I'm changing." He explained with regret. He glanced down to his hand which still enclosed Chad's wrist and couldn't help but notice the unusual length of his nails. "I don't know how long I have left."

A mental battle began to surge through Chad's head.

This was the only way he could protect himself, Gabriella and Taylor. If anyone was hurt, it would be Chad's fault for not taking this opportunity.

But why couldn't Troy do it himself? Was he too afraid? Or did he not trust himself?

They could find a cure. If they held on long enough, they could figure out a way to fix this. Troy didn't have to die.

Chad looked from the gun to his friend. Troy's eyes were more grey than blue now. His skin was close to white. His teeth chattered hungrily. He was barely the same boy.

And it dawned on Chad that, by tomorrow, he wouldn't be the same boy. He wouldn't be Troy. He'd be a killer. And by then it would be too late.

Hand trembling, Chad raised the gun. He rested the barrel on Troy's temple. He shut his eyes to make Troy's vulnerable face disappear from sight.

Troy's heart raced. He was glad he'd found Gabriella before having to die. He felt sorry that she'd have to say goodbye to him. He wondered if he'd go to heaven. He felt sorry for leaving on such a bad note. He wondered if there was a heaven. He felt sorry for Chad, who he knew would never forgive himself for this. He wondered if he'd feel the bullet tearing through his brain.

It was a strange and excruciating feeling, the waiting. Knowing that he was going to die and just standing there ready for it. He'd never been one to give up, always thought he'd hold on to life for as long as he could. But now all he wanted was for Chad to hurry up and pull the trigger.

Chad's stomach did somersaults. Bile rose in his throat as his heart threatened to explode. He was dizzy from his spinning thoughts. His head was pounding. His ears were ringing. His entire body shook. No matter how many unsteady breaths he took, he would never be ready for this. He gulped down the vomit that sat at the back of his mouth. He squeezed the tears from his closed eyes. His sweaty hand tightened around the gun. His finger gingerly hovered over the trigger. He counted down in his head.

3…

Troy clenched his fists, digging his sharp nails into his palms.

2…

Chad clicked the security off the gun, just like they did in the movies.

1…

A tortured wail escaped Chad before he sent the gun hurtling across the room. It shattered an antique vase with a deafening crash and rattled to the floor before the room was left in silence once again.

Breathing deeply, he stared into Troy's vacant eyes. His entire body shivered so intensely that it seemed he was wracked by a constant tremor. "Don't…" He said quietly, his voice quivering through his clenched teeth. "Don't ever do that to me again." He blinked the tears from his eyes. "Never ask me to do something like that."

He turned his back on Troy and stormed lividly out of the room. For the second time that day, Troy could do nothing but watch as one of his best-friends fled from him. He stood where he was, listening to the sound of Chad retreating, slamming doors behind him.

Then, he crossed the room and picked up the discarded gun. He'd have to finish things himself.


A/N: I really didn't like that chapter. It's terribly written I think but necessary for the story's progression so I had to upload it anyway. Sorry there was only a brief bit of Gabriella and Taylor-ness and sorry Troy and Chad were so… boo. Sorry there was no Sharpay. I promise she'll be the focus of the next chapter but, as you'll see from the preview, things are not running too smoothly for our blonde friend. Uh-oh!

Coming up; The road was gone. In its place was nothing more than a sea of abandoned cars which stretched as far as she could see in a messy, crammed line. Dirty and motionless, the vehicles had evidently been there for a very long time. Some had their doors open. Some were even tipped onto their sides. Many were touching each other. They created an impermeable barrier from the rest of the road. Vegas was starting to seem a very long way away.

Thanks reviewers and everyone who added me to alerts. Don't forget to drop a line on your way out!

xX M Xx