Life Is Strange

Child Of Time

Part 1

She opened the door to her dorm room and entered into further silence. She flopped her book bag onto the floor and went to her stereo and pushed play. She didn't care what was playing. She couldn't stand the silence any longer. She dropped herself onto her bed and listened. On recognizing the song, she winced.

Chloe loved this song.

That was her reality now. Mentioning Chloe Price in the past tense. Max Caulfield had no choice. She already made her choice. And so did Chloe.

It had been three days since her funeral. Because of the trauma of the death at their school, Blackwell gave its students a few days of bereavement. Three days of no classes. That was actually three days of torment for Max. She wanted to be busy. She just walked around the campus to take some photos. It wouldn't matter even when classes started again. There would be no photography classes until they could find a replacement for Mark Jefferson.

Mr. Jefferson, she cursed. Psycho, tormentor, murderer. At least he had been arrested as soon as Nathan Prescott ratted on him about Rachel Amber. His trial would begin soon. But because Nathan was a minor, he couldn't be tried as an adult. Yet, he still murdered Chloe.

And I let him. This time.

For the past few days, Max could not get over the fact that her friend for life was no longer living. By her own choice. Max didn't want to think of the moment after she heard that gunshot in the bathroom. Everything in Max's world went silent after that moment. Noises, speech, music, all were muffled in sound thereafter. She would always hear that gunshot. It wasn't a large gun. Yet, the sound of it would be eternally deafening. The bullet hit Chloe straight in the heart. She had no time to recover. And Max sat in the back of the bathroom motionless.

Even when the body was found, Max didn't move until spoken to. She told the police her side of the story. She waited until the coroner took away the body before Max could exit the bathroom. The body that had once been her friend. Her fellow pirate.

She reached over at her bedside table and into the drawer. She pulled out a photo. Not just any photo. The culprit that started it all. The image of the blue butterfly. She kept it away from her everyday things on purpose. The pull of looking into it and changing time and reality again was too strong. Yet, here she was staring at it. She could try it again. Maybe if she prevented Chloe from entering the bathroom altogether. Could she do that quick enough after she took this photo? Could she interact with Nathan first before Chloe entered? So many different possibilities. But one eventual outcome.

It was Chloe's time to die. And Max interupted Death itself.

She suddenly decided that she didn't care. Fuck Arcadia Bay. She needed Chloe back. Maybe she could save some of the residents from the impending storm this time. Get them to shelter first. She laid the photo on her bed and stared at it with purpose. She was just reaching the specific focus that would send her back. The 3D effect was just beginning. And then it suddenly stopped. The effect was gone and it was a normal photo again. The edges started reverting into nothing. It started to shrivel and shrink as if were aflame with invisible fire. It slowly folded in on itself until it finally disappeared.

Max stared at the empty space on her bed where the photo had once been. "What the fuck," she muttered. She then looked up and noticed something. There were changes in the room. She twisted around her room to see them. Her book bag was now on the futon across from her. Pictures she had up were in different places. The screen saver on her lap top was different. The music on her stereo was suddenly playing an entirely alternate CD. Then she looked down at her wrist to see the biggest change.

A thin blue fabric bracelet now adorned her wrist.

Like Rachel's.

Did she change time again? The lack of pain in her head told her otherwise. Was she so used to changing time that she no longer would feel pain? And how did the photo disappear? As always, she was confused whenever something new occurred with her power. She was so deep in wonderment that she jumped at the knock at her door.

Time has changed. Who could be on the other side?

She opened the door to see the most unexpected person she could imagine.

"Mom? What are you doing here?"

"Hi, honey. May I come in?"

"Uh, well, sure." She allowed her mother, Vanessa, to enter the room. Her long black hair flowed down her white shirt. She wore simple jeans that kept with a same style that told Max that her mother didn't change. She wondered about other changes that she may find. There was only one reason that Max could think of why her mother would visit. To comfort her.

"I guess I know why you're here."

Vanessa turned to her daughter and said, "I don't think you do. We have to talk."

"What about?"

"You seem to have had quite a week."

"Yes, I...wait, week? You mean three days."

"Honey, let's not kid ourselves. It was three days for everyone else. A week for us."

Max gulped. "Us? Mom? What are you saying?"

"I think you better sit down, Max."

Max sat down on the futon behind her and her mom sat at the chair by the desk. "OK, mom, you're scaring me a little. What do you know?"

Vanessa let out a long sigh. "Ohhh, where to begin?"

"Let's start with why you hinted about my time powers."

Vanessa chuckled. "You make it sound like a comic book story."

"Is it?" Max's voice reached a mix of frustration and betrayal. "Did I get hit with massive gamma rays or got bitten by a radioactive spider as a child?"

"Nothing like that. You simply inherited them. From me. And my tribe."

Max gasped, "You? Tribe? Of course. Your Native American heritage."

"Frankly, I was hoping I wouldn't have to explain it at all. It usually skips a generation or two."

"Apparently, not this time."

"No. Yet, in all instances of the power, it doesn't manifest until eighteen full moons cross the sky of the ninth month."

" 'Eighteen moons cross the sky...' ? Is that how your tribe says eighteen years? Which I turned in September. The ninth month. And I came back here to Arcadia Bay where I was born. So there is a power here."

"For centuries. It is a sacred land where nature and spirit animals combine in tranquil harmony."

"God, it's been ages since I heard you speak like this. You used to tell Chloe and I stories of your ancestors. You always mentioned your Native American ties. Your great uncle was a Holy Man, right?" After a nod from her, Max went on. "I never expected anything like this."

"I know, hun. I'm sorry that I couldn't come sooner."

"What? No time? Guess you can't make that excuse anymore." Max chuckled. "Well, dad got me a gift for my birthday. Guess this is yours."

"It's more of a curse than a gift, believe me."

"So, you know what I've been through in the past week?"

Vanessa nodded. "Every detail."

"How is that possible? How could you know?"

"Max, the people of my tribe have a connection to Time and Fate like no other."

"Wowser," Max uttered. She then asked, "Then, you know what I did. Or rather, didn't do in this time."

"Yes, I know about Chloe, Max. In every timeline that you altered. Oh, sweetie, I could have never faced the choice you and she made. You should have never been placed in that situation. It's my fault. I should have told you sooner. Regardless if you had possessed them or not. I didn't prepare you. We tried so hard to avoid it. I should have shown you how to use it and use it wisely."

"Well, you didn't, mom! And I was confused, terrified, and always unsure what was happening and how. Why didn't you tell me?"

"We simply didn't know if you would gain the power. Like I said, it usually skips a generation. But your eighteenth birthday was spent here in Arcadia Bay, in the area of the most power. That could have set them off. It was why we moved to Seattle."

Max's mouth gaped. "What the fuck, mom? I thought we moved away because of dad's job."

"We did. Partly. He actually asked for a transfer to the Seattle office. We also moved away from here hoping you wouldn't have the chance of gaining the same power of time like I did. We were in Seattle and everything was fine. Then you got the scholarship to Blackwell." Vanessa sighed. "I tried everything to stop you from coming back here. But, in the end, we couldn't stop Fate."

Max recalled the day she left Seattle for Arcadia Bay. "That was why you were crying when you were packing my stuff. And here I thought you were just sad about me leaving."

"Max, I was. But I was also worried that you might gain these powers and I hadn't said a word about them to you."

"A worry that you could have easily avoided. You could have shown me your power and mention the fact that I might have them someday."

"I know, honey. I was thinking more like a mother than a member of my tribe. I...I didn't play it right."

"You think?" Max got up and started pacing around the room. Her hands brushed through her hair. "I can't believe this! All this time I spent wondering how the fuck I got these powers and how they even work. Never thought the answers would come from my own family." She finally landed hard on her bed.

Vanessa leaned in her chair towards her daughter. "Honey, I know you're upset. I can only say sorry so many times. In truth, we weren't aware what you were doing until we saw the weather report here. Snow. The solar eclipse. The tornado. Had I known sooner, I wish I could have changed things."

Something struck Max as odd. She sat up and looked at her mother questioningly. "You wish you could change things? You still have this power, right?"

"Yes, but I-"

"Then why didn't you change things?" Max snapped.

Vanessa replied softly, "Because I don't use them anymore. And there is a reason, but that is a story for another time. Honey, there's so much you don't understand. But there were some things you were right about. Abusing the power can disrupt the flow of time and fate. When that happens, fate sort of...compensates for the mistake."

"The storm," Max whispered.

"Yes. I don't have to tell you that there are consequences to your actions."

"Tell that to Chloe." Max caught a slight smirk on her mother. "Whatevathefuck, mom. What is it?"

Her smirk disappeared and she said, "One thing at a time. And when did you start swearing so much? Oh, wait. You spent a week with Chloe. Defense rests. I was always glad we never had a swear jar like the Price's did."

"Are you cereal, mom? Dad swore enough for the both of us."

"Well, he is Irish."

"Mom, I know you're not here just to tell me our family secret. What else is there?"

Vanessa smiled with pride. "You have such great instincts, Max. I'm so proud of you. My whole tribe is impressed, too. Ironically, we don't have the time to go into the mechanics of our powers right now. Expect a long explanation, maybe some training sessions, and several warnings of overuse at Christmas break." Vanessa surrendered her seat and stood in front of her daughter on the bed. "We know what you had to decide at the end of this week. I cannot imagine the heartache you must have felt. I remember how you and Chloe were inseparable when you were kids. To see her die. Twice."

"Oh, more than twice."

"Oh, yes. I forgot about the junkyard incident. Anyway, we saw how you handled the choice. You were so strong."

"I didn't feel strong."

"People who possess great strength rarely do. And you did show your strength, Max. You sacrificed your best friend to save the people of Arcadia Bay. You knew she was tied to the storm by Fate."

"She figured it out, too. She demanded that I change the picture, knowing what would happen to her."

"I can promise you that she didn't know exactly. She only guessed that it would mean her death. But she faced it anyway. That endeared our tribe to you and her only more. Both of you risking to face the unknown for the sake of others. That is what heroes do, Max. That showed more maturity and wisdom than any lesson you could ever learn at Blackwell."

"So your tribe was impressed. Lot a good that does. Chloe's still dead. All because of me."

Her mom kneeled down on the floor and took her daughter's hand. "Oh, my child. You take the blame for the Fate of Death. You don't realize that nothing can control Fate. Yes, you changed some things. But they each had a cost. And Fate followed it's path anyway through a detour."

"You mean, Chloe was destined to die regardless of whatever I did to save her?"

Vanessa shrugged. "If that was Fate's plan. If you hadn't have intervened the first time, Chloe would have died anyway. Because you did intervene, a multitude of discrepancies disrupted Fate's original plan. The storm was the answer to all those changes you made. And you made a ton of them for Fate to use a storm to compensate. The act of stopping one death could stop a thousand deaths. A bit of overcompensation, if you ask me and my tribe. But we're not Fate. You corrected everything yourselves by surrendering your lives and happiness so that others may live. Even the Warriors of my tribe could not even imagine that level of bravery." She finally stood up and said, "And that is why they want to reward you."

"Reward?"

"Yes."

"How?"

Instead of answering, Vanessa went back to pacing around the room. "You can't deny that something changed here right before I arrived. Can you?"

"No. I mean, yes. I did notice some things change." Max looked immediately to her wrist and the blue cloth bracelet. "This was Rachel's." Her eyes widened. "Rachel!"

"No, Max. I'm sorry, but her fate was already written."

Max suddenly jumped up off her bed and stood in front of her mother. She almost couldn't speak the name. "Chloe? Was she not shot in this time?"

Vanessa sighed. "Yes. She was shot."

"Mom, stop being so cryptic. You sound like a Twin Peaks character."

Vanessa smirked. "At least I'm not like the Log Lady. You will get your answers, Max." She grinned. "In time."

"And here we go with the time puns."

"And before you ask, we don't have Dr. Who in our tribe."

"Damn."

"Trust me when I tell you that you only scratched the surface of what we can do. My tribe can do much more together. But, Max, I beg you to limit your power until we can discuss it further. If you can help it."

"I believe I can."

"Really? So that wasn't you who tried to change the butterfly picture again before I came in?"

"Uhhh...maybe."

"You have to be strong again, Max. I know it will be hard. By the way, the butterfly photo no longer exists. To take away your temptation. Remember, we can't control Fate. But we can negotiate with her. Try not to create any more storms. My tribe will be watching. You've already had nature as your guidance."

"Guidance? How?"

Vanessa pointed to Max's Jane Doe shirt. "Your spirit animal. Don't tell me you couldn't see it guide you this week."

"The doe. Why a doe?"

"The doe symbolizes compassion and kindness. But it is also quick and resourceful. Just like you."

"I don't know. I'm not sure if I'm compassionate."

"Oh, that's a power you have all your own, my dear. Kate Marsh knew your compassion in one time. And it saved her, if I recall. Now, I have to get back. And you have some friends to see. I promise I will tell you everything, sweetie. In due time."

"And more time puns. Guess I'll get used to those." She went to hug her mother. "Thanks for telling me, mom. A bit too late, but you did eventually tell me."

"You are welcome, ayoliei yu quu."

Max pulled back from her mother. "What was that?"

"Your new name. It had been mine when I was growing up. Never understood it until my eighteenth birthday. And now, it has been passed down to you."

"What does it mean?" Vanessa translated it for her daughter. Max smiled. "I like it. How do you pronounce it?"

"A-yo-li i-yu-quu. Say it like this: Eye Yo Lee Eh You Qua." Max practiced it over and over. "Very good, Max. Don't tell your dad you can speak our language. He still thinks you're fully Irish."

"Mom, I can't stand the taste of alcohol."

"And there goes your claim to the Irish throne."

Vanessa left Max in the parking lot after they hugged again. She climbed in their old Dodge Caravan that they had ever since Max could remember. There was so much Native American power here that the van could probably navigate itself through Arcadia Bay. As Max watched the van leave, her mom stuck out one arm out of the window in a wave. Max instinctively waved back. Now that her mom was gone, Max had to process everything she had told her. She was still mad at her for not telling her sooner. But she placed herself in the role of a mother. Especially one whose daughter was moving away to go to school. If she had told Max about her powers just before she left, that would be an additional worry on top of grades and making friends. Motherly instincts.

Like I had with Chloe.

Fate certainly played a huge hand during the past week. A week that now never happened. Max looked down at the blue bracelet. Was it the same as Rachel's. She was still dead in this new time that her mother's tribe had placed her in. And Chloe had still been shot. Where was the reward? Max thought. She looked around the campus and saw only minor changes here and there. As she looked, she saw Kate Marsh coming up to her.

"Hey, Max! Was that your mom?"

"Hi, Kate. Yes, it was. She came by for a visit."

"That's so sweet. My parents and sisters are coming up next weekend. Wish I could have met yours. If only I was here a few minutes earlier. Dad always tells me I'd be late for my own funeral."

For a fraction of a second, Max thought to use her time rewind so that Kate could meet her mother. But she stopped herself as she promised her mom she would. Would she and her tribe know if she used her powers?

They will be watching.

"Maybe next time. And don't talk like that, Kate. It's kinda creepy talking about a funeral right now."

"I get it. You've been through a lot in the past few days. I can't imagine what you felt when you were in that bathroom with Nathan and that girl. And I really can't believe it about Mr. Jefferson."

Max's rage against her former mentor and torturer returned. "No shit. I thought he would be an inspiration. Turns out he was a psycho."

"That poor Rachel. Hate to think what she went through before she died."

Max thought that ignorance was truly bliss. She was glad she didn't have to retell her experiences with Mr. Jefferson in the Dark Room. That didn't happen in this timeline. She wished she could make the memory of it go away. "We'll see what the trial holds for Mr. Jefferson. We may be called as witnesses...Kate, what's wrong? Your face just went white."

"Max, there won't be any trial."

Ah, a change in the timeline. "Oh, yes. I must have forgotten."

"You forgot that Mr. Jefferson is dead?"

Max gasped, "Dead?"

"Yeah, right after Nathan accused him of kidnapping and killing Rachel Amber, the cops tried to arrest him in class. He tried to escape and use Victoria as a hostage. They shot him dead first. Don't you remember?"

"I...well, I uh..."

"Oh, you might have been with the cops explaining abut what went on with Nathan in the bathroom. That poor girl he shot. That must have been traumatic for you."

"Chloe. Chloe Price. She was my best friend when I lived here years ago."

"Oh, man, I'm sorry. Well, she's at the hospital if you want to go and see her."

"Who? Victoria?"

"No, silly. The girl you mentioned. Chloe."

Max didn't know what hit her. It was definitely a spark of something. A good spark of sudden joy. You have friends to see, her mother said. Yet, Max was still in doubt. "But you said she was shot. She's dead."

"Max, they don't take you to the hospital when you're dead." Kate considered. "Well, I guess they do. But on a whole different floor. She was only shot in the shoulder. How could you not know? Hey, where you going?"

"Kate, I love you, but I have to go!" And Max turned to head toward the bus stop. The one that took her to the hospital.

And Chloe.

Part II coming soon.

Please share your thoughts on what you think of my story so far. Thanks for reading.