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softgothsweetheart · 5 years

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Colors {Polarized}

The dark room was silent. Mark had left Paisley tied up next to his desk. Only until I get back. He promised before he left. She hadn’t been counting the minutes he was gone but she was awake for a while. There were sounds and she knew it was Max, wiggling and struggling to get free. “Is anybody out there?! Please, help!”

She had half a mind to tell her to shut it. Nobody could come for them, they were too far underground, behind a locked door and in the middle of nowhere. I’m gonna die, we’re gonna die. The only thought that had crossed her mind. Victoria would too. They were too young to even have lived a life; life had just begun for them. Mark wouldn’t be angry if Lee managed to free herself to dose Max again. It’d be a favor.

They’d be meeting their maker soon enough and all the rewinds would be for naught. Victoria groaned and Lee managed to stand up and grab scissors. She tried hard to cut through the rope but didn’t know if it did any justice. There was a squeak and her green eyes flickered over to the trolley closer to Max.

“Don’t do that.” She warned, finally getting her hands free before reaching down and cutting her legs loose too. With finally being free, she walked over and stood behind the couch.

“Paisley, when did you get here?”

“He’s my uncle.” She shrugged, trying to be indifferent. It was different when it was girls she didn’t know from her classes or ones from off the street. But Rachel, Kate, Max, and Victoria… There was a line and he had crossed it. These girls were girls she knew and was friends with.

“You kidnap girls. You do this with him.”

“Do you think I do it willingly? Hurt them willingly?” Max shook her head and focused on the photo; Lee felt her head hurt. “Damn it, Max, really?”

A bright light passed over and she closed her eyes to avoid it. When she blinked, Mark was leaning over Max and taking her photo.

“This angle highlights your purity, see? The slight unconscious model is often the most open and honest. No vanity or posing just pure expression.” He bent down, fixing Max’s leg. The hipster girl looked over Mark’s shoulder and saw Lee’s terrified expression.

“Oh Christ… Look at that perfect face.” The girl tries to move her head and he smacks her, yelling. Paisley wants to scream, to hit him. To make him feel the pain she felt, the pain she feels spreading in her chest whenever a flash goes off. When her mind registered that he was speak about Nathan and Rachel, her hands curled into fists. She couldn’t move outside the highlighted photo boundaries. Mark moved Max’s shoulder, continuing to snap the depraved photos.

“It’s just too bad you’re so goddamn nosy, Max! But, this room… Is under 24/7 surveillance, so all I had to do was have Nathan text you, and you fell right into my hands. You really should have focused on schoolwork, not ‘private detecting’ with your little... friend.” He sneered.

“Chloe…”

“Chloe, right. Yeah, I’m sorry that I killed – that Nathan killed her in self-defense. But she had a troubled history like most Arcadia Bay dropouts.” His little speech continued as he crouched down to take pictures. Fuck cameras. Expensive, cheap. Fuck his fucking Nikon cameras.

Max moved her head; Paisley cursed under her breath and Mark sighed. He pulled the trolley over, standing up, while he filled the syringe with the drugs in the vial, Max kicked the trolley and spilled a vial all over the folder with her recently printed photos. He yells at the girl on the floor. Lee hates the way she thanks the merciless God above that it isn’t her there. Mark moves to the floor once more, the girl struggles against the restraints, shaking her head frantically.

“No…”

“Remember my number one rule. Always…take…the shot.” Mark injects Max who hardly struggles before falling limp.

“Your turn.” His sights are set on Paisley. Oh no. Please no.

When Lee returns to her body, Victoria is awake and panicked. Mark still hasn’t returned.

“Max… Oh, God, where- where are we? Oh, what’s happening?”

“You’ve been drugged and kidnapped like Kate… and me. Do you remember how you got here?”

“No… I don’t know… wait… you warned me. You warned me about Nathan. Then I went to Mark for help, and he was acting so weird… That’s the last thing I remember. And I can’t move my hands! Help me, Max! Please, I’m sorry for everything!”

“Listen carefully, Mark Jefferson kidnapped us. He’s using Nathan as well. Jefferson is very dangerous, so we have to get out of here before he comes back.”

“Max…” Victoria began to cry out. It was ironic considering how much she hated the female’s guts.

“Let us loose, please.” Max begged lightly, and Paisley shook her head.

“You know I can’t. He’s gonna kill us all, Max.”

“You… Paisley – where’s Nate?!” Victoria shouted.

“Nathan is dead. He’s dead, he died. The only way you’ll leave here is dead in tarp.” Her voice wavered, and Max knew she had the young teen.

“Why are you helping him if you know you’re going to die?” Victoria sobbed uncontrollably.

“Tori, don’t you think I tried? I did try. I found out you were the target and I was trying to find a way but then I thought if he got busted we’d be fine. Mark must’ve gotten to Nate after I left him to dress.”

“Then scoot the trolley over.”

“You don’t wanna see your photos. Trust me, you don’t.”

“I do, I need to see. To focus.” Max blurted, and Paisley shrugged, kicking it lightly so it stopped in front of her. They both went through the photo this time, Max was in the chair wide awake and a while ago apparently. Mark stood behind her, angling the camera, looming over her. Lee looked around inside the boundaries, anything she could use to help them was most certainly better than nothing. The pristine room held nothing she could use to subdue her uncle.

“You’re trying too hard, I know you’re scared… You all have the same doe-eyed look when you wake up here. Replaced by fear as you realize what’s about to happen.”

“Mr. Jefferson why are you doing this?” He steps away from the tripod and approaches Max. Maybe if I hit him with the tripod? He’d still beat the shit out of me.

He was talking to Max as if he were a cat, playing with a mouse.

“Yes, you’re a psychopath. And this is your last session.” Mark outright laughed contently.

“Au contraire, Max. I’m so sane that nobody knows what’s happening to you right now.” He turned his head, giving Paisley a look. One that told her she’d best do what he said, or it would end badly for her. So, she sat at Victoria’s feet, biting her tongue and holding her breath. They talked excessively but all she could wonder was why nothing was changing.

Stay brave, even in the face of danger, Paisley.

All she had to do to live.

“I cared more about Nathan more than you did!” Max shouted. Paisley wished she wasn’t a half decent person, or she would’ve smacked the words out of her mouth. That wasn’t true. Mark yelled but he must’ve heard her scoffing in the background.

“Looks like you and Lee here need to exchange some words.”

“Where is Nathan now?” Idle talking, she needed action, but the surveillance cams wouldn’t do her any good. When she looked at the tripod, Mark had caught her. She only realized when feeling cold metal press against her temple. The thought of instantaneous death made her mind feel less clouded by nothingness.

“Dead and buried.”

“Can I have my diary?”

“Sure, but you could’ve done better on these shots, Max! You have more talent than that.” He threw it onto the floor, roughly and it opened to Max in class. The selfie she took with her polaroid camera. The gun left her temple and she leaned into the couch, sinking into it. Paisley asked for his whiskey and he didn’t object, and when she asked for a cigarette, he gave one to her. Saying he’d indulge in her a little since it was her last request. She took a few sips as Mark sat at his desk, playing music in the dark red lighting, another request of hers. A few hits of the cigarette and a headache pulled at her. Lee had a nose bleed but drank the whiskey in one shot and smoking the cigarette before being pulled through.

Back in the photography lab, Paisley was dizzy, leaning onto the table. She wasn’t intoxicated and for that she was thankful. That meant she could still travel. All she had to do was focus on Max. The class ended sooner than she anticipated but she played with her mother’s necklace as the classroom emptied out save for the four girls. Max pulled out the Blackwell pamphlet and her phone, obviously texting. The teenage girl hugged Kate and Paisley stood, stumbling over to them.

“Are you okay, Pais?” Max asked.

“I don’t know. I think I’m fine?” She nodded, and Max continued to go to Mark and Victoria, giving a surprising speech to the girl. Something along the lines of inspiring people, not scaring them away. Victoria storms out of the classroom after scoffing at Max’s suggestion, then she turns in her photo. It faded out, and they knew what had happened.

The way Max had done things, Mark had gone to jail and named Nathan, and Paisley as his associate. She was determined not to be a threat and a victim, same as Nathan. While he had been sentenced to a few years in a psych ward, Paisley had been released on her own recognizance. Her aunt hadn’t been happy to hear it.

Now the storm was still here, only difference was that she was here with Chloe, here on the cliff at the lighthouse, the storm towering over them. It was intimidating.

Get home. Now.

That had been all her aunt texted, Paisley knew she wouldn’t go home. Her aunt was probably leaving for Seattle. Despite having a home in Oregon, they kept the one in Seattle as a vacation home. Paisley had been home according to the memories but the pain and deep blue, purple, and black marks on different spaces on her body showed why she wasn’t currently there. Prudence had made sure she mad Paisley’s life the worst, beating her up when she was pregnant because she knew Paisley wouldn’t hit back. Not if it meant possibly injuring her unborn cousin.

The police in this timeline didn’t believe her stories, her truths. When she told them about her aunt Prudence, she must’ve played the concerned aunt. She seemed to play it so well that no one saw through it, she had everyone fooled.

As Paisley looked up at the storm, she wondered what it would be like to be sucked up by it – dead by a storm she caused. It made queasy.

“Chloe – call Max!” The female called her best friend, but the call didn’t last for long. Long enough that Max understood that the storm was still here – destroying Arcadia Bay.

“Fuck! The storm, it—it cut the call. I can’t.”

The bright light flashed, letting her know what she’d missed.

Max traveled again, Lee knew so when she had because they were back in the dark room, Mark re-entering flashed in her mind. Paisley watched Mark cross his arms and glare at Max.

“Oh, fuck!” Mark stands over Max, his arms crossed.

“What did you say, Max?” Max gives a clueless look, examining the space around them as he grew more unhinged and angry.

“Jesus. It's like you're back in my class. You're still...spacing...out. It might be cool if you took one or your patented selfies now... The transformation between the old Max and the new Max...

Max's right foot is shown to be free from the restraint. Max's fearful and confused expression turns to a scowl.

“Anyway, answer my question, please.

“Eat shit and die.” Max spat at him.

“Good answer, good answer.” Max's nose begins bleeding. Mark leans in to inspect it and holds Max's head as she struggles, then steps back.

“Hey...your nose is bleeding. Probably gave you too big a dose. Sorry about that, Max. But considering you're about to die, a nosebleed is a first-world problem.” Max looks over to where Victoria was previously lying on the floor, only to find it empty.

“Oh. I had to let Victoria Chase go.”

“You let her...?”

“Don’t be stupid, okay?! She's exactly where she deserves to be.”

“No...” Max seemed horrified at the thought of Victoria being dead.

“Oh, as if you care.” He scoffed at her, taking notice of her eyes. “Your iris... That...dilation like a shutter...the pictures you're taking of me now. Too bad you pissed away your gift. You could have won the contest, but you destroyed your own beautiful photograph. What a waste. Sorry. I burned all your stuff. I got a little carried away.” Max looks over to see the burned remains of her journal in a tray on the trolley. Her glare at Mark intensifies but he doesn’t take it to heart.

“You know, I always believed in your vision.” He began, “Especially since you've developed from nerd to hero within a week. There's something...weird going on with you.” The lights in the room flicker and thunder can be heard outside. Mark looks at the ceiling and then back at Max.

“Whoa! Did you see how crazy it is outside? Like I said...something weird... There's that fear... Oh, Max... It's an honor working on you with these final sessions. I hope these images will be appreciated for what they truly capture. The loss...of youth.” Mark chuckles like it’s funny. “At least...that's the last lecture you'll ever have to hear from me. And I promise you...no more nosebleeds.

“Mr. Mark... Please...don't do this. You don't know what's happening.” Max cried shakily.

“Sh-sh-sh-sh-sh... Quiet...quiet, Max.” He cooed, walking away. The girl struggles against the tape, sobbing.

“Please! Don't do this!” Mark fills a syringe and walks over to Max.

“I promise. This final dose won't hurt.” He tilts Max's head to expose her neck, about to inject her with the needle. Noises are heard outside the room.

“What?” He runs over to hide behind the entrance, putting down the needle and grabbing a tripod. David enters, holding a gun.

Mark knocks the gun out of David's hands with the tripod who takes a fighting stance and tries to punch him but gets hit in the stomach with the tripod. David doubles over, holding his stomach, and Mark hits him in the head, knocking David unconscious.

“No, David! No!”

“Jesus... David Madsen! He's out cold... Good. I always hated that fascist fuck. Everybody at Blackwell did, right, Max?” He drops the tripod and picks up the needle, approaching Max again.

“Okay... Let's try this one last time...” Max rewinds to before David enters. Lee manages to remember – if this is the way she’s getting out. She’s going to help.

“David, watch out!” Max warns too early, Mark doubles back with the tripod and ready to swing it like a bat, “Time to shut the fuck up, okay?”

The tripod almost hit her, but Paisley was quick to rewind, she kept rewinding until her vision appeared like a burned photo, stopping then. Max tried talking to him this time. Lee’s eyes flickered to where his gun was and she stepped closer to it, making it seem inconspicuous.

“And I promise you...no more nosebleeds.”

“Wait! Hold on! Can I... can I please ask you for one last...request?” Max was hoping he’d take the bait or Lee would help David, but she didn’t know how to. Grabbing the gun would result in Mark killing her or worse. He’d notice too quickly.

“Oh, you got me, Max. How can I deny that face?”

“Uh...excuse me, but my throat is scratchy... Can I please have some water?”

“Of course. I don't want you to be uncomfortable.” Mark moves the trolley closer and pours Max a glass of water, holding it to her mouth so she can drink it. He goes to the trolley and prepares the syringe and approaches her. His feigned kindness has Paisley’s stomach turning.

“I promise. This final dose won't hurt.” There’s a noise, they all hear it. “What?”

As Mark and David fight, Max pushes the trolley with her foot. He’s distracted, and David punches and slaps him, knocking the tripod out of his hands. They face each other in fighting stances.

“No gun...no balls...”

“Mark! It's over!”

“You are not going to stop me!” Mark runs over to a cabinet, shoving Paisley to the ground. David chases him, but he grabs a gun and shoots David, and he falls onto the couch behind him.

“David Madsen...of course. Well, this is what you get for playing cop—a real bullet.” Max rewinds to before Mark grabbed a gun so she can warn David. Lee counts her lucky stars.

“He’s hiding a gun over there!” Mark and David run over to the cabinet. Just as David reaches him, he gets the gun and shoots David twice.

“Sorry, Madsen. Okay... Deja vu.” Max tells David to use the bottle instead.

“Grab that bottle!” David grabs the bottle and throws it at Mark, but he ducks, then shoots David.

“Sorry, Madsen. You should have stuck to harassing students. Okay...” Max tries to tell David to use the gun knocked out of his hands.

“Grab your gun now!”

“Got it...” Just before David reaches his gun on the floor, Mark shoots him.

“Oh, Christ! David Madsen, you are one stupid son of a bitch, so don't blame me.” She even tried the table.

“David! Kick that table!” So many rewinds, so many methods but no way to subdue Mark.

“Yes, sir!” David kicks the table at Mark, but he kicks it back, then shoots David.

“David Madsen... I always hated that mustache...” He chuckled, “You hated him too, Max?” Max uses her foot to pull the cord on one of the lights, knocking it over and distracting Mark. David punches Mark's face twice, knocking off his glasses and knocking him to the floor. He rushes over to Max and undoes her restraints.

“Oh, Lord, Max... are you okay? Are you alright? Can you move?” She nods.

“Yes... Thank you, David...thank you...” Max thanked him.

“Don’t thank me... You brought me here.” David notices Mark move his head.

“Let’s wrap up this son of a bitch first.” He holsters the gun on the ground, then punches Mark in the face again, knocking him unconscious. Max gets out of the chair.

“He won't be going anywhere when he wakes up.” David turns the teacher over and puts duct tape around his wrists.

“Except you are going to prison forever. Or worse.”

“Mr. Mark? Now it's your turn to be captured in a moment... Save Chloe...”

“Shit! No signal.” Max curses after trying and failing to use her cell phone.

“It’s a fucking bunker, Max.” Paisley scolds, walking over to his desk, opening a drawer to find her bag and personal items. Max spots and grabs the car keys on the table.

“Thanks, Mr. Mark, but...you won't need this anymore.” She says, taking the keys from him and pocketing them.

“David?” She asks and he stands up.

“Are you okay?”

“Look at this place...it feels like hell.”

“Mark was...was going to kill me...like he did to Victoria Chase...”

“Oh, no...”

“I always suspected that son of a bitch.”

“I never did...until too late.” Max looked at Paisley and then down at Mark’s unconscious body on the cold floor.

“You shouldn't have to suspect your teacher.”

“He wasn't a real teacher. He just...wanted to lecture. It was part of his sick plans.”

“I guess I looked just as suspicious when you told Principal Wells that I was...harassing Kate Marsh...and I don't blame you.” David admitted, setting his pride aside. “And, Max... I treated Kate like shit... I know she's a good person, but I'm not. I hope I get to tell her that soon.”

“Me too. I think that would make her very happy.”

“I knew Nathan Prescott was a threat. I just waited too long to neutralize him.”

“Mark already did. They had some weird father-son thing going on. But...Nathan killed Rachel, and Mark had to use him as a scapegoat.”

“That pervert was pulling all this shit right under my nose, too... I could've stopped him and Nathan if only...I wasn't so stupid.”

“No. I should've told Principal Wells Nathan had a gun and... almost used it. I put the school in danger.”

“We all make decisions we regret. But I have to admit, I'm impressed by you...and Chloe, and your investigation. I had all the high-tech toys, while you had each other.”

“We...we are a great team.”

“That’s one of my problems…” He sighed, “I'm not good at teamwork. Never was. Even in the service.” David shook his head disapprovingly.

“I can't even imagine what you went through...”

“I’m not gonna make any excuses for my behavior. I tried to be a good soldier, but...I wasn't so great. I tried to be a good father, too...”

“But...you saw how that went.”

“You tried. It's obvious you care, even if your methods are...”

“Fucked up. I know.”

“I'm glad I stood up for you.”

“I try not to use my service as an excuse, but... It's hard to come home after war. Most people don't know or care what it's like...except Joyce. She gave me hope. A new life.”

“And you saved mine. Chloe, she...she would be proud of you.”

“I just wanna see her safe with her mother. I promised Joyce I would go see a family counselor...and I'll start by apologizing to Chloe. I don't expect her to call me dad, but maybe she'll stop calling me ‘step-douche’.”

“So, where is Chloe?” He looks around to see if he can find her. If Paisley had told them last night or had told Max when she began her search – this wouldn’t have happened. Chloe wouldn’t be dead.

“David, um... She was pretty stressed out, so, um... She went to go, um...medicate before I ended up in here. So, she's okay.” Max lied expertly to him. Thank God he believed it.

“Oh, thank god. For once I'm happy Chloe's a stoner.” He laughs, obviously relieved.

“David, I have to go outside and get some real air...and use my phone. “

He puts a hand on her shoulder, “Of course. Go on, Max. You're a brave soldier. I'm glad Chloe has a best friend like you. Go on, now. You've seen enough of this room.

David sits down at Mark's desk, looking at his computer. The girls ascended the stairs, the door closed behind them.

“Max, I need to go to my house.”

“For what?” She snapped.

“I need my gun. If we’re doing this, I need my gun.” The hipster scoffed.

“A gun. You’re fourteen, you don’t need a fucking gun.” She explained and Lee was growing frustrated. If they didn’t want to die, she needed her gun this time. She’d know what to expect now.

“Max. You’ve put me through hell with these headaches this week. The least you can do it let me have my gun for safety.”

“Safety? How do I know you won’t kill me?”

“Max, we’re fucking time travelers. I wouldn’t kill you. You took me to a reality where my parents were alive. My mom – she told me great things. I have a future, there is a future, Max. Right now, our priorities include rescuing Chloe, Nate, and Victoria.”

“Yeah if Nathan doesn’t try to take our heads off.”

“I’ll explain it to him. I’ll get him.” Max nodded, opening the barn door to reveal Mark’s car. The rain outside was uncontrollable, it came down heavily. Definitely the end of the world. Paisley thought, following Max’s lead.

“Freedom. Holy shit! The storm is real, we need to find Warren.” The dark sky resembled the blackness of the night, the tornado was huge and ready to wreck anything in its path. This is what they’d caused by using their powers to save Chloe. Max takes out her phone and dials a number.

“Yes! Warren! Can you hear me?” Lee checked her phone; it was charged still surprisingly. It said she had a voicemail.

“Never mind… Listen, do you have that photo you took last night in the parking lot?” She checked her phone for messages and shit, ignoring the voicemail. It was probably from a scammer.

“Yes, it is, and I want it! Where are you?” Paisley’s eyes flickered over to Max, watching her talk to Warren. The storm, it was gonna kill everyone. She was sure of it. That’s if they didn’t succeed and save the town.

“I’m on my way.” They climbed into the car after Max hung up. She drove quick enough that they were on the main roads and in town already.

“Max, we can’t keep doing this. Stop the storm. We have to. We go back and let Nate shoot Chloe.”

“Why are you being so negative?” Max asked, driving through the town.

“You don’t think they hurt when we play with their futures like dolls? Their fates and destinies? Messing them up for what? So, we benefit?”

“You were eager to save Nathan a few minutes ago. The hell is wrong now?”

“My mom – she told me we have destinies, fates – I don’t want to kill everyone if it means we have the four people that matter to us.”

“That’s—”

“You have one new message. Message received yesterday at 9 PM.” The automated voice said. Paisley was angry. Max was playing a fucking voicemail over listening to her.

“Max, it’s… it’s Nathan. I… I just wanted to say I’m sorry. I didn’t wanna hurt Kate, or Rachel, or Paisley – or… didn’t wanna hurt anybody. Everybody used me!” Nathan crying triggered something inside Paisley, a renewed sense of determination. Rebellion? The biggest fuck you to destiny? Maybe all the above but this boy—he didn’t deserve what he got. “Mr. Jefferson is coming for ME now. All this shit will be over soon. Watch out, Max… He wants to hurt you next. Sorry.” Nathan needed to live. Max looked over at Paisley, giving her a saddened look.

“I didn’t know he sent this.”

“Just after I left him in the dorms. Fuck, Max, I left him to die.” She cried. The rain seemed an extension of her tears, ones she couldn’t cry. They hit the car roughly and Lee felt something snap inside her again. Logic and reason. They stopped in the middle of the road, Max put the car in park, and they left it.

Paisley left Nathan’s jacket open but closed the one she had under it. Together they walked the destroyed streets of the town, avoiding certain death with their destructive powers and helping those they could to make up for it. It was their penance. Once they saved Alyssa, they almost entered the diner, but it blew up. Max rewound and put sand on the line of gas. This time, the diner didn’t blow to smithereens and they entered safely through the side entrance. Through the storeroom, they entered, and Warren shouted for them when he saw them.

"Max! Paisley!" Warren shouted.

"Max! Oh Jesus, I am so glad to see you, sweetie! Are you okay?" Joyce asked Max, checking her briefly.

"Yes. What about you guys?" The female asks.

"The Two Whales is barely standing now... I don't know if it’s going to make it through this tornado. Poor Officer Berry and all those people out there…" She tsked, shaking her head disapprovingly.

"I know." Max agreed.

That's the reason we're in this mess. You rewind cuándo tú quieres.

"Okay, get your ass inside... I have to get back to this gentleman on the ground... Warren has been gathering all the first aid…" Joyce pointed out.

"It’s not much, Joyce. But it’s all we have." He sighed. Max turned to Warren, "You okay, Warren?”

"How the hell did I ignore all those warnings, Max? The snow, the eclipse…" Warren had a disappointed look on his face.

"There’s nothing you could do about it, Warren." Max comforted.

"I’m so stupid... I should have seen it coming…" Warren sulked. Max walked over to Frank.

"Okay, Max, excuse me while I go help this other gentleman." Joyce walked away, leaving her.

“Frank... I'm so glad you're here…”

“That makes two of us. Now if I only had Rachel back… Now Max, what about that info I gave you? Did you and Chloe find out what happened to her?”

Max: “Frank, I don’t know how to say this, so... I just will. Rachel is dead.”

“God, no, please... Please, no... No, not Rachel... She can't fucking be! Are you...? Are you sure? I mean, how do you know?”

“We used the names you gave us to track down a farmhouse. My professor, Mark Jefferson, has this creepy photo torture room... and we found out he was using Nathan Prescott to drug and photograph Blackwell students.”

“Prescott? Fuck! Fuck, I knew it! I should never have hooked up with that sick punk! Pompidou hated him! You saw... you saw Rachel?”

“Yes... I wish I didn't. I'm so, so sorry, Frank. Nathan wanted to impress Jefferson, and he... he killed her.”

“How? How did he kill her?”

“He used some drug... and gave her an overdose…”

“An overdose? The only way Nathan could've done that is... is if I sold it to him. I killed my lioness! No... What have I done?”

“Where is this motherfucker Jefferson?”

"He's going to jail. He won't be hurting anybody anymore…" Max assured.

“Rachel... Oh, God. She was the one good thing in my life, Max. I know she was too young, and... I expected her to leave me, just... just not how it happened. I would never have stopped her from going after her dreams.”

“I know. She obviously cared about you, Frank…”

“Rachel cared about a lot of people... especially Chloe…But, uh... now I see why Rachel dug her... and Chloe was man enough to ask me for help after all that shit, we went through.”

“Chloe would appreciate that…”

“You know, the one time I met my dad, the bastard quoted the bible and said he wanted to ‘enter his house justified.’ In other words, to do the right thing... me too. And maybe you're helping me get there, Max. Don't get me wrong, kid. I still think you're weird... but you're cool.”

“Come on, Max. Let's talk over here and give Frank some resting space.”

“Joyce, how are you doing?”

“Just when I think I've already been through the ringer... Where's Chloe?”

“She's... safe, Joyce. She just sent me a text before my phone died.”

“Oh, thank God... I was torturing myself before you showed up. Oh God, if something happened to Chloe while I ended up stuck at this diner again…”

“I'm sorry about all this, Joyce.”

“Don't be, honey. It's not like you whipped up this tornado on your own…”

“Um... I mean, I’m also sorry about everything with David.”

“You don't have control over any of that. David is an adult and he has a lot more age and experience under his belt. Even if he doesn't always show it…”

“Well... I didn't mean to take David's side against you or Chloe…”

“I know you try to see the good side in everybody... and David needs to try that, too. But that's not important now.”

“I just want our lives to be normal again…”

“With all the shit going on this week, I think you're right. And look at me, trying to keep my family together... again.”

“Joyce, you've gone through so much for Chloe and David. If you were my mom... I would be so proud.”

“Oh sweetie, thank you. But your parents should be prouder of you. Even David told me how tough he thinks you are... and he doesn't give out many compliments, as you know.”

“David is a real hero. I don't know what he's gone through in war, but I can imagine... and he even showed me how to find my own strength under extreme conditions.”

“I'm so glad to hear you say that, Max... I know he's not always an easy person to defend... Most people only see him at his worst... You've seen him at his best. And that's the man I want in my life.”

“I hate to say I'm glad to see you, but I'm so glad to see you.”

“That's okay. The important thing is that you're safe... and I know you can take care of yourself, after Nathan.”

“Should have done that a long time ago. But damn, Max... I can't believe you actually drove down here in the middle of a fucking E6 tornado, just for one photograph... I mean, I know you didn't come for me.”

“Warren, I came for all of you. Just tell me you do have the photograph.”

“I just want…”

“Now shut up and listen.”

“Oh yeah, you’re finally going to tell me what you never did in the parking lot…”

“I wish I would have. So, I'm just going to tell you without any explanation. Trust me, okay?”

“I always do. You should probably tell me quick…”

“I had a vision in Jefferson's class of a tornado destroying Arcadia Bay. I went to the bathroom and saw my best friend Chloe get shot by Nathan Prescott...You with me so far?”

“Where else could I be? Go on!”

“Then I found out that I could rewind time... And, long story short, Mark Jefferson is insane and dangerous.”

“Whoa... Is that all?”

“I think that this storm started... everything started... when I found out I could rewind time... There's no way this is just a coincidence, right?”

“Max, not only the storm but the eclipse, the birds, the whales... everything!”

“All because... because of me? How?”

“I'm not a real scientist, even though I play one at school, but this seems like pure cause and effect, maybe Chaos Theory... Uh, what happened with Jefferson? Did... Did he hurt you?”

“Nathan accidentally killed Rachel Amber trying to impress Jefferson… Nathan just needed mental help... Now he's dead... and Jefferson is done.”

“Jesus, Max! I want the whole story, but... I guess we really are out of time.”

“But I can still change things. What do you think will happen?”

“For every action, there's... there's a reaction... Whenever you reversed or altered time, maybe you caused a chain reaction... even in the environment.”

“Warren, I know this all sounds insane... but you're the only other person who I can count on now... I wish we had more time together... Do you believe me?”

“Max, of course I believe you. You're the most amazing person I've ever met... and I'm glad you trust me.”

“Always. I just wish I could trust my powers…”

“I guess we'll never know if it's magic or science…”

“Even if it's from a wizard or a wormhole... You're part of something bigger. I don't believe in fate or destiny, but after this week, I realize I don't know shit.”

“That makes both of us, Warren…”

“I do know you're here for a reason... and I guess it's up to you to find out why. Max... I'm sorry you got stuck in this... in this... I don't have a fucking clue what's going on. But I have total faith that you'll do the right thing when the time comes. I'm so proud of you, Max. How could there be a more important moment in history? And I'm in the middle of it with you? So, thank you for trusting me.”

“Thanks for being here. Always.” Warren takes out the polaroid and places it in front of Max.

“Hey... Be careful out there.”

“For luck.” Max kisses Warren.

“Just in case we don’t get out of this... I wanted to say…”

“I know, Warren…”

“Of course, you do.”

“I’m going to make the right choices from now on... I swear.”

“That's why you're Super Max.” Max focuses on the photo and travels back in time, Lee willingly in tow.

Paisley is back in the dorms with Nathan, but she calls Warren and Victoria first, telling them to meet her at the lighthouse.

“Why the lighthouse?” Nate asks, his eyes red and puffy.

“So, we’ll be safe, Nate.”

It fades out of the photo and back into reality. When it does, Max looks around, inspecting her surroundings. Chloe is standing in front of her, watching the tornado with Paisley who is only more confused. Nathan, Warren, and even Victoria were standing with them. That worked better than she thought.

“Oh, Chloe!”

Max runs up to Chloe and hugs her tightly. Chloe turned around. “I see that the real Max is back... So, how was your time trip, dude?”

“Shut up. Oh, you're alive! You're alive, oh... Both of us! I did so much to bring you back, Chloe... and it worked. It actually worked. You're with me again.”

“It looks like even fate doesn't want us apart. And... you traveled through multiple realities just to... save my ungrateful ass over and over. I hope it was worth it, but... I don't blame you for wanting me out of your life, after all my drama.”

“Come on. I'm the official Drama King and Queen of Arcadia Bay this week. Just look at what my powers have caused in... just a short time. I mean... I'm nobody.”

“You're Max-fucking-Caulfield, Time Warrior. Even if you weren't, you're kind and caring. Nobody could have a better best friend... Nobody. You didn't ask for any of this to happen, but it did. You need to accept how awesome you are.”

“Maybe I willed it subconsciously, or something. I always wanted my life to be special... an adventure... but not without you. And it didn't happen until I moved back here, so... without you, my powers wouldn't even exist.”

“Then for whatever scientific, mystical reason, that we'll obviously never figure out... We were meant to be together at this exact moment in history. I have to think that Rachel was somewhere behind the scenes, fighting for justice…”

“I'd like to think that, too... We all owe Rachel Amber. Now tell me everything that happened. You... You remember, right?”

“Well, we... we left the party and made sure Jefferson couldn't find us. For once, I was glad I lived in an actual fortress. Then the storm got hella crazy and... and you said we would be safe at the lighthouse.”

“Chloe, look! The storm is getting bigger now. It's coming closer. I... I can't even believe this is real, but this is happening because of me.”

“Stop it! Stop beating yourself up, okay? We've both paid our dues already on that. Oh, God, look at that! Look at that monster! Who knows...? This could be Rachel's revenge... Our revenge. The lighthouse is out of the way of the tornado. Come on!”

“Oh... What... Chloe…” Max collapses and Chloe holds her up.

“I've got your back, Max.” Paisley helps Chloe keep the girl steady as it all fades away.

Chloe and Max fall to the ground but Paisley stands there, glancing at Nathan, Warren, and Victoria over her shoulder. They were miserable in the storm, but she was glad to see Nate faring well and even Victoria for what it was worth.

"Max? Max, can you hear me? Please, say something." Chloe called.

"Chloe? I... I must have passed out... Sorry." Max apologized to her best friend.

"Oh, thank God... Don't you ever do that again, okay?"

"I swear... but that nightmare was so real... was so horrible…"

Chloe takes Max's arm and they stand up together, she watches the storm she created in horror.

"This is my storm. I caused this... I caused all of this. I changed fate and destiny so much that... I actually did alter the course of everything. And all I really created was just death and destruction!"

"Fuck all of that, okay? You were given a power. You didn't ask for it... and you saved me. Which had to happen, all of this did... except for what happened to Rachel. But without your power, we wouldn't have found her! Okay, so you're not the goddamn Time Master, but you're Maxine Caulfield... and you're amazing. Max, this is the only way."

Chloe hands Max the photo she took of the blue butterfly. The one from the bathroom, it was undamaged, looking like it’d been taken recently.

"I feel like I took this shot a thousand years ago."

"You... You could use that photo to change everything right back to when you took that picture... All that would take is for me to... to…" Chloe grabs Max’s face and holds it.

"Fuck that! No... no way! You are my number one priority now. You are all that matters to me." Max yelled.

"I know. You proved that over and over again... even though I don't deserve it. I'm so selfish... not like my mom... Look what she had to give up and live through... and she did. She deserves so much more than to be killed by a storm in a fucking diner. Even my step... father deserves her alive. There's so many more people in Arcadia Bay who should live... way more than me…" Chloe cried. They had a right to be melodramatic about it. This decided if someone lived or died. Paisley would hate it if Chloe was killed by Nate and she survived a week in hell, being brave, just to be locked up.

"Don't say that... I won't trade you." Max said.

"You're not trading me. Maybe you've just been delaying my real destiny... Look at how many times I've almost died or actually died around you. Look at what's happened in Arcadia Bay ever since you first saved me. I know I've been selfish, but for once I think I should accept my fate... our fate…"

"Chloe…"

"Max, you finally came back to me this week, and... you did nothing but show me your love and friendship. You made me smile and laugh, like I haven't done in years. Wherever I end up after this... in whatever reality... all those moments between us were real, and they'll always be ours. No matter what you choose, I know you'll make the right decision."

"Chloe... I can't make this choice…" Chloe grabs Max's arms.

"No, Max... You're the only one who can. Max... it's time…"

"Not anymore." Max tears apart the polaroid and it blows away in the storm. The five teenagers watch the tornado. This was it, this is the end.

"Max... I'll always be with you."

"Forever…"

Chloe holds hands with Max and they watch as the tornado hits Arcadia Bay. Max shakes her head and Chloe wraps her arm around Max. Soon enough they left the lighthouse and by morning Chloe was driving through the town. Lee gave it a look, it made her nauseous, but she had to be selfish once in life. Maybe she’d been selfish all along. As they leave the town, they see an Arcadia Bay sign, Warren and Paisley exchange a look, the same as Nate and Victoria. It hadn’t taken a long time to get on a cliff far from Arcadia. But it did destroy them inside just a little bit.

“What do we do now?”

“We go to the police, somewhere else in Oregon. David – he’s not in the bunker here. Is he?”

“What if step-douche fails?” Chloe asks through the open truck window.

Lee shrugs, looking out the back of the truck, “Then we’re done for.”

#life is strange #max caulfield #maxine caulfield #chloe price #victoria chase #Mark jeffershit #mark Jefferson x oc #mark jefferson #nathan prescott x oc #nathan prescott #warren graham #rachel amber #writing #fanfics

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