The room is filled to the brim with darkness but with sudden flashes of light that fills it revealing where it is. On the ground is Chloe Price who appears to be in a drugged up state as Nathan Prescott continues snapping photos of her. He suddenly runs out of film so he decides to reload an extra can then snaps again...only to see that Chloe is gone. Nathan's eyes widen upon seeing this knowing he would be in big trouble that someone got away that easily so he goes to turn the lights on. He hears a sudden slippery and gooey sound causing him turn around to see that nothing is there so he goes to turn on the switch again...Nathan soon hears something behind him causing him to turn on the lights quickly. The sound is like escalating footsteps coming from the ceiling. He stops for a moment as the sounds stop but hears dripping and breathing then slowly turns around...
In front of him is a black figure with white eyes and sharp teeth pouncing towards him while giving off a bone chilling screech.
Max Caulfield opens her eyes on the ground upon feeling the cold wetness of it then gets up. The place she's in is the lighthouse her and Chloe used to go to when they were kids much to her confusion on how she managed to get here in the first place. Rain pours heavily around her as she looks around but hears voices and shuffling even gunfire! Animal-like screams are added which gives her a good reason to make a run for it in the process. Her sneakers become muddy as the sounds draw nearer than ever as she makes a run for it even more towards the lighthouse. Explosions are heard next as a helicopter crashes into it thus destroying the structure. A figure is flies over her and crashes into a tree while making a clear heavy snapping sound causing Max to look down at what was thrown.
What in the world...?
In front of her is a dead police officer with his body mangled and face bloody as if he was mauled by a large animal and spin snapped in half. Max gulps down her vomit to prevent herself from throwing up then continues up to the lighthouse to get a better angle of what is going on as more gunfire is heard too. After heavy trudging through the mud, she finally makes it to the hill at a sight that is burned in her mind: A giant tornado that is heading towards the town much to her terror. Max hears something landing behind her causing the girl to turn around and see a black crouching figure with cartoon-like eyes looking back at her.
"Max." It hissed in a female voice merged into a gravely one.
She awakens again but this time in the same classroom as once was. Jefferson is doing his typical lecture as always with students awing at his radiance like with Victoria which makes her sick that she's trying to get in his pants for no reason, the man is older than her for gods sake. The image of that...beast is still in her head as if the entire thing was real to the point like she was there. She could still its face or if it had a face for that matter though since all she saw was some kind of evil cartoon makeup. Max breaths heavily to calm herself...
Whoa! That was so surreal...
"Alfred Hitchcock famously called film "little pieces of time" but he could be talking about photography, as he likely was." Jefferson lectured to them as Max continues looking around. Stella drops her pen nearby while Max convinces herself that demon she saw was just some bad dream conjured up by eating the morning special in the cafeteria. It was strange though but she shakes it off immediately upon thinking of it and dismisses it as a strange dream.
Everything's cool... I'm okay...
"These pieces of time can frame us in our glory and our sorrow; from light to shadow; from color to chiaroscuro..." Max sighed as a paper ball is flung at Kate Marsh causing her to roll her eyes. It's been already hell enough for her but that video just made it worse and its sad that a sweet girl like her gets bullied for an accident. She wishes she had the courage to stand up to Victoria and her cliques but it'll only land her in hot water.
"Now can you give me an example of a photographer who perfectly captured the human condition in black and white? Anybody? Bueller?" Jefferson asked while making a Ferris Bueller reference causing some to chuckle even Kate. Victoria as always raises her hand since she's mainly involved with class and answers most of the questions. Max always believed that she was wasting her potential by brown nosing Jefferson and it annoyed her to no end.
"Diane Arbus." Victoria answered pretentiously.
I didn't fall asleep, and...that sure didn't feel like a dream...Weird.
"There you go, Victoria! Why Arbus?" Jefferson complemented her. She could feel herself being watched for some reason but its probably still fear from that dream...or was it?
"Because of her images of hopeless faces. You feel like, totally haunted by the eyes of those sad mothers and children." Victoria explained pridefully. Max still has that image of that creature burned in her mind so she pulls out her notebook to sketch it and writes a log on it to help her control her dreams. It was strange what she saw and how quickly she became obsessed with it.
Way to give yourself nightmare fuel Max. Definitely won't be sleeping tonight when I'm thinking of that thing watching me outside of my dorm.
"He saw humanity as tortured, right? And frankly, it's bullshit. Shh, keep that to yourself. Seriously though, I could frame any one of you in a dark corner, and capture you in a moment of desperation. And any one of you could do that to me. Isn't that too easy? Too obvious? What if Arbus chose to capture people at the height of their beauty or innocence? She had a brilliant eye, so she could have taken another approach." The blonde said. Max looks at her entry photo she made for the Everyday Heroes contest, a simple back shot of herself looking at a collection of polaroid photos in her room.
"Me too, Victoria. He captured the essence of post-war, beat America. And there was honesty about the economic conditions of the era, but a beauty in the struggle. You don't have beauty without a beat. Which explains why Frank was Kerouac's photographic muse and both were great chroniclers of the 1950s. Well... We've all seen that iconic shot of Kerouac on the balcony —and if you haven't, shame, shame— capturing the romantic urban solitude of the 20th century poet. You dig? Now, contrast Frank's stark Americana with Salvador Dali's surrealist photographs. Like Cocteau, he was a true renaissance man, and his famous self-portraits are famous early examples of that truly awful word you pesky kids love so much, the "selfie". And it's a great tradition, and I wholeheartedly fight for your right to self-expression. Or selfie-expression. Heh, sorry, I know. So if anybody wants to question the portrait as modern narcissism, they could go back hundreds of years to blame society. Speaking of questions, I bet you thought I'd talk all the way until the bell rang. It's your turn to lecture us. Now, based on the chapters I have no doubt you all memorized, who can tell me the name of the actual process that led to the birth of the self-portrait? Anybody? ... This does not bode well. Just jump right in with an answer. This was in the chapters you read. You did read the chapters, right? Your silence is deafening. If this were a photo, I'd call it a still life." He went on.
Look at this crap! How can I show this to Mr. Jefferson? I can hear the class laughing at me now.
Max realizes she can just tear up the photo upon realization and replace it with a better and less laughable one. She pulls out her camera and aims it at herself for a moment then takes a selfie causing the flash to gain the attention of Mr. Jefferson.
"Shh, I believe Max has taken what you kids call a "selfie"... A dumb word for a wonderful photographic tradition. And Max... has a gift. Of course, as you all know, the photo portrait has been popular since the early 1800's. Your generation was not the first to use images for selfie-expression. Sorry. I couldn't resist. The point remains that the portraiture has always been a vital aspect of art, and photography, for as long as it's been around. Now Max, since you've captured our interest and clearly want to join the conversation, can you please tell us the name of the process that gave birth to the first self-portraits?" The photographer asked. This catches Max off guard as she tries to come up with something.
"I did know!...But I kind of forgot." Max replied.
"You either know this or not, Max. Is there anybody here who knows their stuff?" Jefferson asked before Victoria joins in.
"Louis Daguerre was a French painter who created "daguerreotypes", a process that gave portraits a sharp reflective style, like a mirror. Now you're totally stuck in the Retro Zone. Sad face." Victoria mocked as Taylor laughs.
"Very good, Victoria. The Daguerreian Process brought out fine detail in people's faces, making them extremely popular from the 1800's onward. The first American daguerreotype self-portrait was done by Robert Cornelius. You can find out all about him... In your textbook. Or even... online." Jefferson said before the bell rings much to Max's relief.
"And guys, don't forget the deadline to submit a photo in the "Everyday Heroes" contest. I'll fly out with the winner to San Francisco where you'll be feted by the art world. It's great exposure and it can kickstart a career in photography. So Stella and Alyssa, get it together. Taylor, don't hide, I'm still waiting for your entry too. And yes Max, I see you pretending not to see me." He notified everyone. Max walks towards Kate who looks depressed as always.
"Hi Kate." Max gently greeted.
"Oh, hi Max." Kate replied
"You seem quiet today."
"Just thinking too much."
"I hear that, wanna go grab a cup'o tea and bitch about life?" The brunette asked nicely. She knows Kate loves that stuff and its the only way to cheer her up...by her definition if that can cheer her up
"Thanks, but not today. I have to go over homework."
"No worries. Let's hang later."
"Sure." Max walks over to Mr Jefferson while sighing in disappointment that she has to turn in a photo. Of all the people, she wonders why did he choose the introverted one among the class of all people. She hates it when she's involved with something by force unless she was interested it in. Sure she's interested in it which she is but believes she can't live up to greatness. Max spots Victoria with Jefferson causing her to roll her eyes again at the two and sighs seeing that she still wants Jefferson as more than a teacher.
"Yes Victoria, you still have to do your homework this week, even if you're submitting your photo for the competition. Everybody in class is turning a photo, so you see the dilemma." Jefferson spoke to her as Max came in a middle of a conversation to which she has no part of. All she needed to do was wait.
"I know, Mr. Jefferson. I just worked so hard on this shot, and I'm sure you know what it's like to be consumed by your work. I just really think "Everyday Heroes" is an important cultural event and I want to represent Blackwell Academy." Victoria replied causing Max to sigh knowing that she's faking it.
"You have just by participating, by putting yourself out there in the world. Well, no matter who wins, this is just a bump on a bigger road. I don't want anybody to feel excluded from this process. But I also want everybody to know that this photographic world is not for everybody. I had my moment in the camera eye and everybody should have that chance, right?" The teacher advised to her as Victoria takes it to heart. Max decides to talk to him.
"Excuse me, Mr. Jefferson, can I talk to you for a moment?" Max asked.
"Yes excuse you." Victoria grimaced at Max before Jefferson stares at her with slightly annoyed eyes.
"No, Victoria, excuse us. I'd never let one of photography's future stars avoid handing in her picture." It was nice for Jefferson to stand up for her though. Max always heard stories of where this happened and how Jefferson would intervene. Victoria leaves the room thus giving them time to talk as it's only her, Kate, and him left inside.
"Do I have to? I just don't think it's that a big deal." Max asked as Jefferson sighed again.
"Max, you're a better photographer than a liar... Now I know it's a drag to hear some old dude lecture you... but life won't wait for you to play catch-up. You're young, the world is yours, blah blah blah, right? But you do have a gift, you have the fever to take images, to frame the world only the way you envision it. Now, all you need is the courage to share your gift with others. That's what separates the artist, from the amateur." He said before he concludes his lecture with Max leaving and heading into the halls of Blackwell.
Welcome to the real world...
Max walks in the halls of Blackwell pondering her meaningless existence and everyone around her. She spots a poster about the science club investigating a meteor that crashed three years ago and also the cryptozoology looking for Arcadia Bay's famous cryptid known only as Black Globster which appears in the woods at night. Apparently there are rumors that it attacks people to which Max doesn't want to go near it if it exists. Things like those are best left alone to avoid harm like with many animals. But of all the people she thinks about, she thinks about Chloe and how she hasn't contacted her yet nor the fact she probably doesn't know she's back in Arcadia Bay at all. One of these days she'll need to contact her and apologize to her for everything. She passes by a couple of students while one gives a nod to her to which she nods back. Max passes by the Vortex Club recruitment poster to which she ignores since she would never join them, they say evil can spread so she doesn't want to catch the Vortex Club miasma. The girl spots the bathroom and opens it then takes off her headphones.
Empty. Good. Nobody can see my meltdown. Except for me.
Max washes her face to relieve that tension in herself that personifies itself as heat on her face which makes her partially red. She looks at herself in the mirror for a moment trying to calm herself down at the moment in an attempt to regain her thoughts right now. Her anxiety issues make things worse most of the time thus lowering her confidence. She wonders if she even has confidence in the first place or maybe everything was just luck or fate that led her here. Max cools herself down.
Just relax. Stop torturing yourself. You have "a gift".
"Fuck it." Max hissed and tears the photo apart. She continues looking down at the sink while contemplating on her incompleteness or lack of enthusiasm that the fact she's in the most elite school on America. Max wishes that Chloe was here to tell her that everything is okay. Suddenly, a blue butterfly flies into inside and lands on a bucket behind a stall which gets Max's attention as she goes towards it.
When a door closes, a window opens... Or, something like that. Okay girl, you don't get a photo op like this everyday...
She approaches the blue butterfly and takes a photo of it but it takes off and lands on a sink. Suddenly she hears the door behind her open causing her to hide behind a stall. Max leans to see that it's Nathan Prescott but with a scar resembling a claw mark on his face. Telling by his body language, something has spooked him to the point he's almost pale now from fear and his colors faded. He breaths heavily.
"It's cool, Nathan... Don't stress... You're okay, bro. Just count to three... Don't be scared... You own this school... If I wanted, I could blow it up... You're the Boss...Oh who am I kidding, how can you just say that when a freaky alien goo chick just tried to rip your face off as a warning? Jesus..." Nathan cowered and on the verge of tears as if he was scared out of his mind. Max hears the keyword which is alien chick and wonders if he's just tripping balls as usual or he's being dead serious right now. The door opens again revealing a girl with blue hair, black jacket with a sleeveless shirt underneath it and jeans that go with her boots.
"What do you want?" Nathan asks sternly in an attempt to feign bravado.
"Oh you have some serious balls talking to me like that, especially when I have the big stick in the room. I hope you checked the perimeter like my step-ass would say. Now let's talk bidness-" That voice sounds familiar to Max as if she's heard it before somewhere. She wants to run but she'll get caught so she stays put in an attempt. Max hears a strange slurping noise coming from the girl as she checks the stalls.
"I got nothing for you." He replied defiantly before she turns to him.
"Wrong. We know you got hella cash." The girl growled with a demonic echo behind her as it grabs Max's attention.
"That's my family, not me." Nathan sarcastically spat back but the girl can smell the fear in him. He continues looking down at the sink and tries to ignore her as half of her face is overtaken by a black mass as sharp teeth and Spiderman-like eyes begins to form on the side of her face to scare him even more.
"Oh boo hoo, poor little rich kid. We know you been pumpin' drugs n' shit to kids around here...We bet your respectable family would help me out if we went to them. Man, we can see the headlines now or we can just have a repeat of last time except it ends with you getting a fucked up cause all we see is a punching bag." She taunted him.
We? Is this girl working for somebody? Is she human?
"Leave them out of this bitch." Nathan growled.
"We can tell everybody Nathan Prescott is a punk ass who begs like a little girl and talks to himself—" To that comment, the boy pulls out a gun on her causing the girl to back off immediately as the black goo fades from the side of her face as if it were a living thing. Nathan smirks triumphantly that a scary black goo would be able to run away from a gun. He corners Nathan against the door.
"Not so tough huh with that black shit on you huh!? You don't know who the fuck I am or who you're messing with!" Nathan threatened as the girl's hand begins to twitch as if something is acting up.
"Where'd What are you doing? Come on, put that thing down!" She pleaded for her life with that demonic echo in her voice but it begins to overtake her.
"Don't EVER tell me what to do. I'm so SICK of people trying to control me!" The rich boy roared at her as he aims the gun at her stomach.
"You are going to get in hella more trouble for this than drugs—" He continues to corner her against the door as she presses against the door.
"I'll be doing the world a favor by shooting your alien ass back to space. Nobody would miss you would they?!" Nathan asked. The girl attempts to push Nathan.
"Get that gun away from us, you psycho!" He pulls the trigger...only for nothing to happen to the girl much to Max's surprise. The sound blocks the shots of the gun which means no one has heard it. Suddenly, a bullet spits out from her stomach revealing some kind of slimy texture covering her body as if it was alive with Nathan slowly backing away while looking down. Nathan looks up at the girl who clearly has a pissed off look on her face right now or at least a cocky smile. She speed walks towards Nathan and grabs him by the throat.
"We told you that you'd be in hella more trouble for this than drugs but you didn't listen. Now give us the money." The girl demanded as the demonic echo grows behind her voice as if she was a demon.
"W-What the fuck are you?!" Nathan yelled right before the black goo overtakes her entire head giving the same design she had on the side of her face except now complete. Her eyes are now completely large and white with no pupils and her mouth has been replaced with a demonic grin that has a row of teeth on it.
"We..."
"...are Venom." She introduced herself and extends a long serpentine tongue before Nathan gives a loud scream that causes her to panic and smash his face against the mirror causing it to get smashed. Nathan falls on the ground as glass pierces his right side of his face nearly unconscious from the hit as the goo goes back to her shirt.
"Shitballs! Nathan? Nathan are you okay? We're sorry!" She kneels on the ground with tears visible on her face and shakes him in a panicked state. Nathan cries from the amount of damage he just took to the face as the girl uses the goo to take his wallet to check for any money but she steals a couple of hundreds from him to make sure he pays for the medical bills.
"Fuck...I'm so sorry. I should've listened to you...I knew he was bad news from the get go and you should've stopped me. This is like Eliot over again..." The girl begins sob frantically knowing what she has just done to him as she curls into a fetal position. Max quickly goes back to cover but kicks the bucket thus getting the girl's attention. She walks towards the source of the noise as Max covers her mouth in an attempt not to scream and grabs the broom. The girl leans in on Max's cover causing the student to panic.
"NO!" Everything begins to fade into blackness.
Max Caulfield wakes up again in the same classroom she was in back then. She looks around in panic and confusion at her surroundings trying to comprehend just happened. A monster just attacked a fellow student and badly injured him in cold blood to the point of near death, it may sound surreal but it felt real like she was there and the fact she's back in the classroom where she once was makes it all true. Nathan Prescott is going to get badly injured by some monster girl and possibly die of his wounds and even though he was a huge jerk, he didn't deserve that at all.
"Alfred Hitchcock famously called film "little pieces of time" but he could be talking about photography, as he likely was." Jefferson lectured as Max gets a sense of deja vu and feels like she's heart this lecture before. It was strange enough but the fact that there is a real monster in Arcadia Bay tops whatever is happening. Max looks around her surroundings.
I already heard this lecture.
"These pieces of time can frame us in our glory and our sorrow; from light to shadow; from color to chiaroscuro..." He continued. To make sure, Max looks at Kate who is being hassled again causing her to raise an eyebrow seeing how she knows what will happen again. Taylor tosses a paper ball at her to which Jefferson ignores in the process thus annoying Max of how indifferent he is to her. Max despised how everyone isn't helping her which shook her to the core.
Now Kate is being hassled again... And if Victoria's phone rings... This is real.
To that thought-Her phone rang. The realization hits Max like a freight train causing her to jump and knock down her camera which then drops and smashes on the ground much to the ire of Max since that was the camera she got from Chloe and was the last thing given to her. She grimaces at the sight but the imaginary light bulb goes off in her head although she has doubts.
Shit! Man, I cannot believe this... Okay, if I'm crazy, I might as well go all the way... Can I actually reverse time?
Max gulps knowing she doesn't want to hear the same conversation over and over again but bites the bullet then reaches her hand out. Time begins to rewind around her as the camera then magically lifts itself up from the ground and reassembles itself back together as if nothing happened. Her jaws drops at the ability and smiles knowing her camera is back to normal now.
I did it... I actually did it! I'm a human time machine...
"Now can you give me an example of a photographer who perfectly captured the human condition in black and white? Anybody? Bueller?" Jefferson asked again before Victoria raises her hand.
"Diane Arbus." Victoria answered. The rest of the conversation goes along accordingly as Max refrains herself from panicking at the sight of her powers to take it in that she could possibly fight this thing although she has next to no clue about its weakness. But she realizes that she can rewind time now which means it'll give her more prep time than ever to take it down easily.
Max, don't freak out. Not yet. I could fight it now, time powers over alien goo thing. All I need to know what its weakness is...maybe fire? Usually in movies, comics and TV fire is always the weakness when it comes to these things. So maybe fire is the go to weapon...or a flamethrower. You're not Ellen Ripley Max, you need prep time to take it down.
"Because of her images of hopeless faces. You feel like, totally haunted by the eyes of those sad mothers and children." The blonde continued. She wants to hurry this up to save Nathan from that thing but she can't, all she needs to do is follow the sequence. Max remembers what she did to get Jefferson's attention and pulls out her camera then snaps a photo of herself.
"Shh, I believe Max has taken what you kids call a "selfie"... A dumb word for a wonderful photographic tradition. And Max... has a gift." Jefferson went on as usual.
I know I'm not dreaming this. It's real. I can tell.
"Of course, as you all know, the photo portrait has been popular since the early 1800's. Your generation is not the first to use images for selfie-expression. Sorry." Max rolls her eyes again seeing that she heard this comment before. If this sequence is before the attack then it'll mean Nathan is okay and that girl with the goo didn't get him yet.
So I can go back in time... What if Nathan is still okay? Is that girl still there?
"The point remains that portraiture has always been a vital aspect of art, and photography, for as long as it's been around." He turns his attention to Max.
I need to go to the bathroom quickly and check it out!
"Now Max, since you've captured our interest and clearly want to join the conversation, can you please tell us the name of the process that gave birth to the first self-portraits?" The teacher asked.
"I'm sorry, I feel sick. May I be excused?" Max asked.
"Nice try, Max. But you're not going to get away that easy. We can talk more after class." Jefferson replied as Victoria smirked.
Oh shit, Jefferson wants to keep me after class. And I need time to save Nathan...
"Is there anybody here who knows their stuff?" The former photographer asked much to Max's annoyance that this is the same sequence as before. She wishes she can gesture the blah blah blah face on her hand to emote what it feels like listening to Victoria again. Max has another idea since she can rewind time now and it's brilliant already like Biff's plan from Back To The Future. She rewinds time once more to where she screwed up at.
"Now Max, since you've captured our interest and clearly want to join the conversation, can you please tell us the name of the process that gave birth to the first self-portraits?" Jefferson asked.
"The Daguerreian Process. Invented by a French painter named... Louis Daguerre. Around 1830." Max replied.
"Somebody has been reading, as well as posing. Nice work, Max." Jefferson complemented with Victoria shooting an annoyed look at her. It's one of those small victories that give Max a needed moral boost in the long run.
"The Daguerreian Process made portraiture hugely popular, mainly because it gave the subjects clear defined features. You can learn more when you actually finish reading the assigned chapters. Max is so far, way ahead of everybody." The man explained before the bell rings. Jefferson gets up from his table as everyone packs there bags.
"And guys don't forget the deadline to submit a photo in the "Everyday Heroes" Contest. I will fly out with the winner to San Francisco where you'll be feted by the art world. It's great exposure and it can kickstart a career in photography. So Stella and Alyssa, get it together. Taylor don't hide, I'm still waiting for your entry too. And yes Max, I see you pretending not to see me." Max gets up from her seat ready to use whatever she can to fight it but realizes that she doesn't have the tools to take it down. She remembers seeing a fire alarm in the bathroom though...
Max, you are not crazy. You are not dreaming. It's time to be an everyday hero.
Max walks towards Jefferson and Victoria then waits for there conversation to end while tapping her foot so she decides to step in. She wonders if she can forward time to which she does causing time to go foward as the conversation accelerates to Jefferson now engaging a conversation with Max.
"I'd never let one of photography's future stars avoid handing in her picture."
"I'm not avoiding, just..."
"Biding time, waiting for the elusive "right moment"?"
"Exactly." Max sighed in defeat.
"Max, don't wait too long. John Lennon once said that "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans." Go on now, don't let me stop you." She feels a little bad that Jefferson had to endure all of that so she rewinds once more to revise it all.
"No, Victoria, excuse us. I'd never let one of photography's future stars avoid handing in her picture." Jefferson spoke again.
"I'm on top of it. I think John Lennon once said that "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans." Max responded knowing what he would say.
"Max, you are on fire today. All the right answers. Good. Make sure you finish working on it by today. I have faith in you." She nods at him then opens the door of the classroom. Max finds herself in the same hallway of Blackwell causing her to speed walk in an attempt to compose herself upon knowing that a monster inside a bathroom. She quickly moves at a pace to make sure she gets there in time to which she does get there with Nathan not entering. The brunette prepares herself as the butterfly comes in...
Five years prior...
Despite man's advances in technology, we never knew what was truly out there in the reaches of space nor we knew what kind of life there is. They always expected life to be little green men but they think too linear. Orbiting the Earth is an asteroid that begins to hurl itself towards the blue planet and into Oregon as if it was guided by something unnatural and yearning to look for something on the planet. It crashes towards the planet thus crashing on the ground near an old mill house with rock music blasting inside it. Coming outside is a black goo-like mass that slips out and forms a human-like shape then observes the area...she sees two girls head out of the place and senses something within the blonde one with short hair...a bad attitude yet good heart deep down inside. She wonders if she should attach herself to her and wonders...
The alien hides behind an RV as it slithers towards the two who begin to walk away. She looks at the party goers and decides to attach herself on the blonde's cellphone.
Present...
Max Caulfield waits in the bathroom for Nathan to arrive to which he does indeed as the sequence goes the same way as it did before. She looks at her surroundings like she did before to find a way to save him and looks around as she waits for the girl to arrive. The door opens as the the sequence begins with Max looking at the emergency alarm knowing what to do but doesn't know how to open it. She taps her foot as the conversation between them becomes a timer on a bomb so Max needs to find a way to break the alarm. Max looks at the maintenance cart then moves it revealing a hammer underneath. She smashes the fire alarm button thus giving her space to turn on the alarm.
"We...What was that? Did you bring someone with you!?" The girl accused Nathan in her form hearing the glass break. Nathan turns around in confusion as Max realizes that she's been caught and thinks about stalling but she knows that thing will get her like it with Nathan. She presses the alarm button as the ringing causes the girl to scream in pain with Nathan smirking then running off.
"Come back here asshole!" She yelled at the retreating Prescott as the black goo dissolves from her face.
Five years prior...
Chloe Price wakes up irritably albeit feeling better than before for some reason. Her room is the typical pig sty as usual although she could feel herself having some form of strength inside her as if she can take on ten men or stop a speeding train. She drank some beer which means she should be feeling groggy but she doesn't, she feels...better now. Chloe raises an eyebrow at the sensation she's feeling right now but disregards it in the process knowing she needs to move out soon otherwise her mom would throw a fit at her.
Strange...I feel better. Hell, stronger for that matter when I should be shit faced and struggling to move. I feel like I could take on the world. Either my alcohol tolerance got better or maybe the beer was laced in some kind of caffeine mixed with steroids and testosterone. I haven't felt this great since...Max. Maybe seeing Firewalk made me feel better or being with that girl...was that Rachel Amber?
"Chloe! Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey!" A voice called Chloe causing her to sigh again. That feeling is gone the moment her mother's voice is heard causing her to get up from her bed ready for a jog or lift weights now. She looks around her surroundings to stall some time and get caught up in what happened last night...until she realizes her outfit smells from last night.
I smell like beer and cigarettes. Better change my clothes.
Chloe walks towards her drawer and checks her clothes inside. They are all folded up in a proper order as she decides which one to pick so she picks the hot dog man one with the black sweater since she can never go wrong with the classics. After a couple of seconds, Chloe has a brand new outfit to wear now and it's pretty stylish. She looks at herself in the mirror...only to see her right eye blackened by something.
"SHIT!" Chloe cursed and bounced back in terror seeing the sight. The blackness begins to dissolve as she stares at it wide eyed.
Either that weed from Frank was bad or I'm possessed. Must be that beer though...yeah, it's the beer...please let it be the beer.
She pretends that she never saw that although the image is still burned in her mind as of now then heads off to the door. Chloe realizes something...her phone, it's on the table conveniently placed as if it was waiting for her so she takes it then leaves her room. The Price household is the same as always but it feels sterile and hallow ever since William died years ago and David is making it worse than ever. She feels a sense of unwelcoming presence now, especially when her mother favors David over her.
"Chloe, breakfast! Bring my purse down with you, please!" Joyce ordered her as Chloe rolls her eyes. She walks over to their bedroom thinking it's probably there to which it is and takes it with her. Chloe thinks about what she saw in the mirror and what caused it wondering if she should see a doctor although she dismisses it as some weird hallucination. She feels so much better than her usual self that is angry or depressed. The blue haired girl heads to the staircase and slides down then lands on the floor. Chloe can smell the food cooking which makes her feel happier than before for some reason.
Is this...what happiness is like?
Chloe whistles a tune from a song she heard in class before which she finds strange that remembers that thus getting Joyce's attention. Joyce turns to her which gets Chloe's attention. Of all the people in Arcadia Bay, Joyce was the least hated person to Chloe since she always knew what was right although saw her as weak since she always kept kissing up to David who had no reason to take her father's place.
"Finally! You can put my purse on the dining table. Might still have time for breakfast if you hurry." Joyce said as Chloe goes to the table then sets down the purse in the process. She turns to her mother again as if she wants to talk to her about something.
"Chloe, I don't have all day. Would you get over here already?" She ordered before Chloe walks towards her. The woman is making pot roast which she finds suspicious since she always hated pot roast. Chloe walks over to Joyce while sighing thinking it would be another lecture again with the same old morals and the same old stuff to talk about how her relationship with David isn't good or whatever. She wishes for the day she would say she broke with David so she can jump and cheer.
I should see what Mom wants before she strokes out.
"Hey, Mom. You wanted to talk?" Chloe asked her causing Joyce to stop cooking and turns to her as her expression in a willing face as if she wants to talk. Most of there conversations were always something serious and also a lecture or two from her. She sighs and braces herself for another lecture...but she feels something in her head right now as if someone or something is inside it. Joyce observes Chloe's body language for a moment and can sense something is off.
"You seem pretty happy and looking pretty better than usual even more lively too. Something happened yesterday?" Joyce asked her.
"Took a walk. That's all." She replied. This tingly sensation goes through her body as if she's becoming more stronger than ever...and she likes it. Chloe thinks about getting more of that weird beer despite that hallucination she got...or if it was a hallucination that is.
"A walk huh? Well maybe you should walk more these days cause I like what's going on with you." Her mother smiled to which Chloe smiles back. Joyce's face turns serious again much to Chloe's annoyance as she braces herself again.
"When I send you a text message, Chloe, like last night, I need you to answer." Joyce said.
"Sorry. I hear you. I'll do better than replying." Chloe apologized to her.
"Thank you." She thanked her. A moment of silence falls between them as Chloe could feel her senses heightened as if she was expecting something or reading her mom's body language. Chloe taps her fingers on her arms while they are crossed as she tries to think of something to say.
"Is that what you wanted to talk about?" The blonde asks her.
"What is it with you and David? Always cutting to the chase. Why can't we just have some pleasant conversation before school?" Joyce irritably asks as Chloe sighs. To her, David was always an ass and the fact her mother went for another guy after her dad died made it worse than ever. Her original father could never be replaced at all, not even by him.
"You do realize I hate your boyfriend with every fiber of my being, right?" She responded.
"Chloe! You don't hate him." Joyce countered.
"He calls me "girlie". He's a dickhole." Chloe spat back at her mother.
"Nah, I'll just...grab something later." The teenager sighed. She has no idea what Joyce sees in David at all, unlike her dad, he had that warm feeling to him while David was so disconnected with her and even had moments of being a pure jerk. Joyce sees an opportunity in this conversation to make Chloe change her mind and smiles.
"Oh, you'll enjoy this. The other day I made four eggs, two for David, two for me. And just before I served them, he says, "What are you gonna eat?"" Joyce told while impersonating David and giving a brief laugh. Chloe could see this as an attempt to get to understand the veteran to which doesn't phase her at all with his attempt at humor.
"I'll enjoy that, huh?" The girl replied.
"You don't seem tired at but I'm quite you've learned a lesson in breaking curfew for a midnight walk. I know what time you came home last night. And don't think you can get out of school just because you missed the bus again." She said catching Chloe off guard in the process. There was always that phenomenon called mother's senses as they can see through the eyes of a child to which she feels her mother just did that.
"Why would you assume that?" Chloe pathetically asked.
"Who do you think your principal calls when you skip? Do you think I enjoy lying for you, saying you're sick just so you don't get expelled? Between your grades and your disregard for my rules... I see you slipping. I'm worried." Joyce sadly spoke seeing that her daughter is going down a bad path. She knows that it's been through for Chloe ever since William died but it doesn't give her an excuse to do something stupid or letting her slip up, especially with there current situation.
"But Mom... The whole point of lowering expectations is so you won't be disappointed in me ever again." Chloe proudly replied with no sense of shame in her voice but a pang of sadness hits her inside since she knows she's hiding it. She always hated seeing her mom disappointed in her.
"You're happy doing what you're doing? Fine. Keep at it. Just let me know so I can stop fighting with Blackwell to keep you on scholarship. Money's tight enough as it is." She spat back at her in annoyance.
"Maybe I just need to be left alone."
"Maybe you're sixteen and don't know what you need. David thinks you need discipline." Joyce grimaced. Chloe could feel something gnawing at her right now, some kind power that could make her say the words she needs and feeling that it'll have no confidence, it's not courage but it's adrenaline and it's affecting her head in the process. Her thoughts are slightly becoming irrational now as it begins to rush through her body.
"His version of discipline only leads to more heartbreak in his definition." Chloe replied with a slightly deep voice causing her eyes to widen.
Woah...that wasn't my voice. What kind of beer was that?
"Excuse me?" She asked.
"I mean David needs to mind his own business." Chloe corrected herself. She remembers what she saw in the mirror wondering if that was a hallucination she saw but Chloe knows that wasn't her talking at all. Fear rushes through her body besides adrenaline running feeling as if she isn't in control of her body but she soon feels like she's back in causing her to calm down.
"I think it's great David's taking an interest. He's a good man. Maybe he can help." Joyce suggested.
"Your boyfriend is an asshole." The teenager spat at her.
"He's been good for me. Maybe he rubs you the wrong way because you've been rude."
"He's still breathing. That means I've been more than fair." She said. Chloe may respect vets but doesn't respect David in every chance of the way, she sees him as some poor substitute for William and she was better off if her mom dated some white collar every man to which can actually respect. David is none of those aspects, not one bit and Joyce has been normalizing him for a long time even though there is something clearly wrong with him in the head. To her, David is an example that war changes men mentally.
"David's had some hard times, too, you know. If he's kind enough to share his experience, I expect you to listen..." Before Joyce can speak, Chloe's fight reflexes kick in with the same rush as she had before as if she can't control herself at all. It feels so empowering to her and she could feel like she could get away from anything without any consequences.
"Like I'd let him get within fifteen feet of me." Chloe countered feeling that rush...and that rush felt good.
Watch your tongue child. It's best you don't speak lest you want to make the situation worse.
Chloe's eyes widen upon hearing that strange demonic voice as if it was tired of her bad mouthing Joyce. She seals her mouth shut for a couple of seconds trying to comprehend what she heard in her head. She doesn't know if she's going crazy or hallucinating right now or maybe it was too much weed from Frank but it was a voice in her head telling her what to do. Chloe knows she doesn't have schizophrenia and has been sane for quite sometime. Her lips tremble for a moment as she musters the courage.
"Scared now? You don't have to be, when he takes to you school."
Are you fucking kidding me!? Now is the time talk back! Child, please. Who the fuck are you!? Your mother is suffering, perhaps it's best to play along with her and not give her a hard time. Fuck you voice in my head, you're not telling me what to do. I'll explain everything...until you decide to play along. You're a very hard to control host, I wasn't expecting this at all.
"Yeah...school." Chloe replied much to Joyce's curiosity. The fact some voice is in her head just made things a whole lot scarier and even frightening, just she thought she would have a good day. Cold sweat runs down Chloe's forehead as she tries to keep her cool at the thought whatever is...in her to please it out of fear that it will burst out of her chest and kill her. Chloe places her hand on the table and taps it with her fingers as Joyce observes.
"Chloe, are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost or something." Joyce observed her body language.
"No, I'm fine. Perfectly fine! I just remembered to...attend the school play. I am a thespian after all." She continued to lie in the process fearing something will happen to her. Something horrible as if she's being held hostage at the same time. Chloe gulps again for a moment then makes a forced smile knowing she needs to play along.
"Want me to get the keys?" Chloe asked.
"Sure thing." Joyce nods in confused approval. Chloe walks over to the stand behind her in controlled walks fearing that one step will be the end of her. She grabs the keys from the ashtray and heads towards the place entrance of the house while nodding at her mom. The girl pauses for a moment knowing that she just played along with the voice in her head. Time slows down for her as if she was no longer in control of her body.
I chose you for a reason. My people...have an interest with your types and I believe you're a worthy host so long as you know how to control yourself. Chose me? What for? I'll explain more on the way, no need to fear from me.
Chloe opens the door of her house seeing David repairing his car or at least modifying it. She wants to think he has the smallest penis in Arcadia Bay but the thing inside her knows what she's thinking of so she needs to know how to act right now. Chloe wonders if someone put something in the beer as she walks over to David obediently.
"Why do you women always take forever to get ready?" David asks and looks at Chloe.
"I was...taking a shower." Chloe explained to David causing him to raise an eyebrow at her. Her body language screams fear of something as Chloe calms herself down again in an attempt not to run to David for help. The thing inside her appears to be peaceful though which gives Chloe an edge of having free will. David looks at his car.
"Electrode insulator's probably cracked. You know what a spark plug does?" The veteran asked her as Chloe normalizes her footsteps towards him and composes herself.
"Y-Yep. Totally." She awkwardly responded causing David to tilt his head. Silence fills the air for a moment as David watches her.
"...Want me to get the tools." Chloe broke the silence as David squints his eyes at her.
"Sure." The girl walks towards the garage in a normal yet forced walking position and spots the tool box nearby. She picks it up with ease and feels like there is less weight to it. Chloe wonders how did this thing get inside her or if she's crazy right now or this is some bad weed she smoked but she isn't seeing anything takes the cake proving that this is no trip. She hands the tools to David as he repairs the car back to good use causing the engines to hum again. He offers Chloe a fist bump to which she does forcefully as they get inside the car.
So are you going to tell me or what? Yes, I am a symbiotic lifeform called a Klyntar from the Andromeda system in fact. We attach ourselves to hosts we consider-
"I want to talk to you about something." David interrupted there internal conversation. Chloe slowly turns to David.
"Chloe, are you okay? You don't look so good yourself, almost sick looking...you sure you can head to school?" The man asked her.
"Ye-Yeah. Just had some problems in the morning, girl stuff. Like always...heh..." She gave herself a forced laugh.
"Anyway, we don't have to like each other, but you will respect me. You've enjoyed enough of a vacation from having a father figure. So there's some things I want to be real clear about..." David sternly spoke.
"Uh-huh..."
"Joyce... your mother... she's hurting, Chloe. Hurting for you. You've had it rough, no doubt about it. But all this staying out late, ignoring her command, drinking... drug use? It's making everything harder. For her. You need to shape up, get your act together, and put someone else first for a damn change. Am I making myself clear?" Silence again...
"Do you need to go to the hospital? You're getting pale and sweating hard now." He asked as Chloe looks at herself at the side mirror seeing her slightly pale appearance but she doesn't want to tell David.
"I'll be fine. I'll sleep it off..." Chloe answered. David hesitantly looks at her before accepting her answer then focuses on the road.
Chloe wakes up in the back of someone's car hearing that old country music that her real dad loves to hear. She hums for a moment to the tune and looks around at her surroundings. In front of her is William who is driving the car and singing along to the music and other nostalgic belongings. Chloe smiles for a moment then turns to her left...sitting beside her is a black haired version of herself.
"You want me to continue?" She asked causing her eyes to widen realizing who it is.
"Yes, definitely and what do you want." Chloe responded.
"I am a Klyntar from the Andromeda galaxy. We're a symbiotic life form that attaches ourselves to the host to form a symbiotic relationship for our host become heroes while granting them powers. And I have chosen you, Chloe Price, to be my host and partner for life." The alien being introduced herself.
"Become a superhero? Seriously? You have no idea who I am." She never saw herself as a superhero. Chloe imagines her being like Hancock or something, super yes but hero would be a definite no.
"I see potential in you Chloe. You need to embrace that potential and use it for good which I can see. There's a reason why I chose you." The symbiote argued.
"Just get out of me alright?! I'm not some hero or some...some kind of chosen one, I'm a major fuck up and you don't see that! Just leave!" Chloe yelled.
"Chloe, you need to listen-" Before she can say a word, a train came crashing towards them.
She wakes up again inside the car feeling better as usual but she knows what is inside her now. A delusional alien that thinks she's some kind of superhero candidate, oddly enough, it reminded her of Max in someway. Chloe wonders if there is a way to get rid of it through surgery but the doctors wouldn't believe her. This entire morning feels like something straight out of a cheap comic book. Likely this thing bonded with her when she was a asleep. It wouldn't surprise her though and now she has to live with it. Maybe do nothing all day and make it leave is the best strategy.
Chloe heads out of the car while wobbling a little then turns to David.
"Are you sure you want to head to the hospital?" David asks.
"I'm okay alright. Just head on back."