Troy. Now.

How could life turn out this way?

How could it turn from pure ecstasy to uncontrolled fear in a matter of minutes—seconds?

A deep feeling was growing in the pit of my stomach. The flashing lights drew something from the innermost part of my being, granting the monster life. The emptiness was uncontrollable and it crawled its way around my heart and chest. Goose bumps appeared on my arms as my breath escaped me. I watched, not comprehending.

Red. Blue. Red. Blue.

"Mr. Bolton?" the voice brought me out of my stupor. "Can you answer the question?"

I blinked, shaking my head to clear the mist and cobwebs. Clear the denial. "What?"

"The question." The cop stated, eyes soft. "When was the last time you saw Miss. Montez?"

My throat tightened and I suddenly forgot how to talk—how to breathe. Her smile flashed in my mind and I felt her just over my shoulder. But I knew she wasn't there because no one knew where she was.

"Um," I thought, the memories hurting. "Yesterday after school. We went out to lunch before my basketball practice."

He scribbled something down on his notepad. "Is there anyone who would want to take her? Did anyone hate her? Did she have any enemies?"

So many questions drew me to one incomprehensible question. Someone wanted to hurt Gabriella? For some reason I laughed at the subject.

"No." I rubbed my hands frantically over my face. "She didn't have any enemies. No one hated her. She was the one person that everyone liked."

The officer nodded his head and wrote more words down. That's all they were. Meaningless words that weren't going to get anyone anywhere. But I knew it was as much an interrogation to find where Gabriella was as to prove my innocence. "I didn't take her and I have no idea who would." It was the most overused statement to protect ones self.

"It's just protocol, son." He gives me a soft smile and I know that he believes me. "We'll start the investigation right away," he paused and found my depressed eyes. "We'll find her."

I just nod my head because the thought of her being somewhere alone kills me. The officer turns and leaves while I take a deep breath, my back hitting the closest wall. I slid down it; my shaking legs no longer able to support my suddenly weak body.

I put my head in my hands and cry silently for a while. It makes me feel better, I'll admit it, but it still doesn't change anything. I look up to the wall opposite me; the hanging pictures making my heart skip with loss.

There we are. The both of us. She's smiling, of course. And it's so innocent that it makes my blood boil to think that someone has tried to hurt her. The picture was taken during the Musical, and the flashbacks hit me full force.

"Just call me freaky callback boy." I whisper through the memories.

Gabriella. Somewhere. Now.

"Just call me freaky callback boy."

It sounds so familiar, but I can't remember.

I'm in darkness. A cold darkness, and it's to constricting for me. Instead of crushing, it just wraps around me, infesting me with the inability to think coherently. Something's holding me down; to the point where I can't even move a finger.

The darkness moves, slightly, shifting. I can feel everything around me start to fall, falling, but I still can't move.

My stomach plummets.

"Just call me freaky callback boy."

The words surround me, escaping the infinite darkness. They dance, exhibiting some kind of force that pulls at my body. I still can't move. I try to fight anyways.

The darkness is stronger.

Then, the darkness I'm in hits rock bottom, the empty space shakes with a bone-jarring crash. The words around me shatter into a million tiny pieces, then fade away. But through the tiny rifts in the darkness that they've created comes light. And for the briefest of moments I think I can hear something.

It's depressing, the sound, and almost mechanical.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

But it's faster, more like a soft thunder that has broken through the darkness for a millisecond. Its falling fast, all around me, and it's cold. Freezing. And wet.

Rain!

Where am I?

Help me!

Find me!

Troy. Now.

"Find me!"

I hear her voice in my head and I know that she's desperate, lost and alone somewhere.

She's calling for me.

"I will."

Author Notes: I stole the format from Waves by Sharon Dogar. I will update this when I can, so that's going to be whenever.