Chapter 1 - Adrift
Max glared at the six bottles lined on the rackety wooden shelf in front of her. It had seemed like a lifetime ago since she had last seen those bottles. Lined up the same way as back in American Rust with her best friend there beside her, impatiently waiting for the opportunity of testing Max's power. The thought of the punk chick filled Max with determination. She wouldn't, no couldn't allow Chloe to die ever again. This time it would be different, it had to be. Max took this chance to photograph the bottles, sliding out the trusty polaroid camera that Chloe had gifted to her essentially a week ago. After a click and a flash, the bottles shattered, just like what had happened once Chloe had shot the tire of the rusted old car causing a tremendous crash and caught the attention of Frank. A shiver shot down her spine at the thought of that moment, when she pulled the trigger, going blind with love for the punk. Coming back to reality, or well the closest to it for Max at this point, she continued onwards towards a familiar structure. A singular wooden bench, held together by two worn metal joints, next to a towering lighthouse overlooking the void in which she was contained. As Max approached the bench, memories from her whole life surged through her mind. Chloe and her when they were little pirates and the start of this crazy week stood out from the others. Max now just wished that this week would finally come to an end. With that thought she sat, resting gently against the familiar surface behind her, allowing time to progress. The environment around her started to shift, showcasing a comforting location. Chloe's living room. However with this Max's eyelids began to betray her and forced themselves shut. Urging to resist, Max fought the wave that had washed over her, but it was to no use. She fell, lifeless head landing on the other side of the bench.
Chloe stared down at the petite brunette that she held in her arms dearly. Swiping her own blue hair out of the way as it fell, not allowing her eyes to leave Max's body. Chloe limped over to the bench, where it had all started, setting Max down before allowing herself any comfort. The punk looked up at the tornado rapidly approaching the bay. Not like this, Chloe hadn't wanted Arcadia to just end like this. She may have cursed it on the outside, but it was the only place she has ever known and the place where she was her happiest. True happiness, despite William passing away, Max leaving her for Seattle and finding Rachel dead at the junkyard. Arcadia Bay was still the only place that she could call home however shit it may be.
A sudden squirm from the brunette laid upon her lap whisked Chloe back to reality. Her eyes shooting open, eyebrows raised and a gasp escaping her mouth. Max was slowly fading, beginning with her feet, subtly disappearing into thin air. Panicked and confused, the punk freaked, scared for her friend unsure of what was taking place. She shook Max attempting to bring her around, but it was too late, the brunette had vanished. Just like that, in a matter of seconds, Chloe's whole world was gone. Taken from her just like everything else in her life. Why could it never just go her way? A harrowing scream pierced the whirring of the tornado, as it hit Arcadia, taking the rest of Chloe's life with it. The punk dropped to her knees, sobbing. What did I do to ever deserve this... This fucking town had taken everything from her and a part of her rejoiced at the sight of the tornado. But that gut wrenching feeling from all her loss tore at her more than anything. First William, then Rachel and now Max and the rest of fucking Arcadia Bay. Why haven't you just ended me yet... Chloe laid, curled on the wet mud continuing to weep as the tornado ravaged the town.