A/N: So, this is a new and improved version of chapter 1! I'm basically re-editing the hell out of this fic because the early chapters make me... cringe. Hope you guys enjoy!
Cold rain seeped into her clothes, the wind continued to howl as it continued to whip at the soft skin of Max's face. The sky coloured grey; the sort of grey only found between two extremes. Yet none of this mattered except for the weight of the Polaroid picture nestled in her front pocket.
In this moment, nothing mattered except for that photo. A photo that would decide the fate of those in Arcadia Bay or Chloe Price.
The beat of her heart thundered in her ears as Max desperately tried to search for any answer in the face of the person that mattered most.
That face merely looked back at Max in resignation. A resignation that spoke of selflessness and acceptance. An acceptance that a part of Max didn't want to believe in.
But with one gaze, both of them knew what had to be done. They understood the consequences of their selfishness.
Max couldn't tell whether the wetness on her cheeks was rain or tears. Her words came out in quiet defeat. "Chloe… I'm so so sorry… I… I don't want to do this".
Arms encircled Max as she buried her head in the junction of Chloe's neck, as if Chloe could shield her from whatever happened. Max relished in the embrace, desperately trying to memorize the feel of Chloe against her and the quiet thrum of Chloe's heart, the very beat which signified life.
Even if Max could protect Chloe, Chloe couldn't protect herself from Max… or possibly fate. Rips in time, sacrifice after sacrifice. This moment was proof that the culmination of Max's actions were meaningless.
All too soon Chloe pulled away, leaving only the sudden chill of wind and rain. Chloe's usual care-free now only carried solemn acceptance. Teal eyes that filled with hope only held tears now.
Chloe's voice cracked at the end. It was as if each word stripped away Chloe's strength and only left the vulnerable girl Max loved. "Being together this week… it was the best farewell gift I could have hoped for. You're my hero Max".
Max couldn't say anything. All she wanted was time but even something she could control wasn't on her side.
Her hands gently reached out and cradled Chloe's head and soon Max's mind blanked out with the gentle pressure of lips against hers. This kiss was different, nothing like the rushed and spontaneous the one they first shared in Chloe's room. The very memory made Max's chest ache further, the details of that first kiss etched into her mind.
Max tried to convey all the emotions she felt. The kiss was tinged with sadness but also the love that grew. A love that culminated from childhood and, despite the 5 years, all the emotion and nostalgia came surging back in merely 5 days.
Deep inside, Max knew she was a coward in the past. She couldn't face Chloe, not when Chloe needed her most. Instead Max hid away and purposefully lost herself in Seattle. But in this moment, she was almost courageous.
In this instant, Max faced her emotions. She faced Chloe in what was the only way; through the last moment of contact before Max would be forced to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Warmth blossomed spread across Max's form, the cold of the storm forgotten with the push and pull of that kiss.
Softly, as if one touch would shatter the temporary peace, Chloe's hands framed Max's sides in a light hold. Simply relishing in the last moment of human contact.
Yet this was still a moment, destined to fade. The arms that held Max went slack when Chloe pulled away. The warmth that was once there was now cold emptiness.
The words left Chloe as the distance between them grew, her voice cracking at the very end. "I'll always love you… Now, get out of here, please! Do it before I freak."
Before Chloe could disappear behind the foliage of the trees, she turned around and met Max's gaze. Chloe's voice came out resolute despite her fate. "And Max Caulfield? Don't you forget about me."
Max's voice coming out a broken whisper. "Never."
Chloe's form retreated behind the whistling trees, her form lost in the storm. With Chloe's every step, the dread within Max continued to rise; soon she would have to make a choice.
Deep inside Max knew why Chloe left. Chloe needed to disappear. Not because she needed to be strong but, so Max could have the freedom to choose. They both knew that with Chloe's presence, their resolves for the greater good would crumble and already, Max wanted to just run to Chloe.
To just hold Chloe and never let her go.
A selfish part of Max just wanted to let the storm pass through if it only meant for Chloe to be here once more. Even just one more moment would have been enough.
Max's hand shook as she took out the butterfly picture from her pocket. The weight and texture was so familiar yet it left Max nauseous.
It's time.
Max closed her eyes briefly, trying to calm the conflict of emotions that brewed in her form. With one last deep breath, she focused on the faint presence of time as it coiled in the palm of her hand. Time was almost alive; weak as it bent itself one last time.
The familiar pressure that started in her temples gradually spread, the image blurred and refocused in on itself and all too soon Max was back in the washroom.
The click of a camera and the accompanying flash brought Max back to the moment that started everything. The very memory was haunting, a sharp reminder of what was to come.
A blue butterfly fluttered from the bucket to the sink. In the near blue light of the washroom, the butterfly looked almost ethereal, its wings moving languidly.
The very scene was tranquile; a sharp contrast from the chaos that would ensue.
The sound of approaching footfalls cut the peace of the washroom. Max knew what would happen next. She knew of the confrontation that would result in a loved one being taken. She knew that she was helpless; the loss of one life was necessary for the thousands at stake.
Nathan entered the bathroom and gazed at his reflection. He leant against the sink as if to steady himself. "You own this school Nathan. Don't be scared… If I wanted, I could blow it up. Remember, you're the boss."
The washroom door opened once more, Chloe's sure steps echoed in the washroom. With every step, Max's heart plummeted even further. Even if she knew what was going to happen, anxiety gripped her heart. IN the impossibility of it all, Max hoped that things would change. That maybe Chloe would live through this.
Nathan couldn't look at her. Even if his tone was a casual challenge, his body language spoke volumes. It was as if he was a cornered animal, ready to lash out with the faintest provocation. "So, what do you want?"
"I hope you checked the perimeter as my step-ass would say." Chloe was casual, unsuspecting as she checked each stall before she faced Nathan; defiance shining brightly in teal eyes. "Now let's talk bidness."
"I got nothing for you." Nathan's tone was menacing, aggression seeped into his voice.
Max's head started to hurt. What was once a slight pressure became a searing pain that started at her temples only to encompass her body. Max clutched at her head, a wave of nausea washed over her but it was different this time.
Max's vision became splotchy as the walls started to blur; the ground spinning beneath her feet.
Chloe's words were distant despite the proximity. "Wrong. You got hella cash."
That was it. That was the straw that broke the camel's back.
With 5 words, Nathan exploded in fury. "YOU DON'T KNOW WHO THE FUCK I AM OR WHO YOU'RE MESSING AROUND WITH!"
"What are you doing? Come on put that gun down!"
Max didn't have to see the fear in Chloe's voice was evident. This was it. Max buried her face in her hands, her legs gave out slowly as she curled inwardly and slid down the wall. She sat down, helpless to fate.
"DON'T EVER TELL ME WHAT TO DO! I'M SO SICK OF PEOPLE TRYING TO CONTROL ME. NOBODY WOULD EVER EVEN MISS YOUR PUNK ASS"
The gun went off. And with that, the pressure in her head escalated to an unbearable pain so much so that Max cried out.
After what felt like an eternity, the pain faded as the world steadied beneath Max, her vision slowly clearing.
In front of Max, the butterfly stood still on the sink, its wings as stiff as a board. Even after a couple of moments, the butterfly didn't move. The washroom was now eerily still, a vast contrast from the erraticism Nathan emanated.
What? Shakily, Max stood and peeked from behind the wall.
Chloe had her hands in front of her as she tried to calm Nathan down. The bullet floated ominously in the air, a mere inch from piercing the flesh of Chloe's stomach while Nathan's face remained contorted, stuck in a fit of rage.
Time was frozen.
Max didn't realise she was moving until she stood merely a foot from the scene. Just one more touch before everything falls apart…
Timidly, she reached for Chloe, fingers brushing the face of the only person she couldn't save. That familiar warmth met Max's palm. Before Max could relish in the heat, Chloe jumped at the first bit of contact.
Max's eyes widened, she pulled her hand back as if it burned. Did time start again?
Teal eyes met blue. A gradient of emotion crossed Chloe's face, from fear to shock. Chloe's words came out a whisper. "What are you doing here?"
Max couldn't answer. Moments passed as she stood agape, speechless at the events.
A beat passed before Chloe realized her surroundings. "What the fuck is going on?"
Max stammered, finding it hard to find her words. "I don't—I barely touched you and now you're actually moving but time is still frozen and—"
"Time is frozen? What—" Chloe paused when something grazed against her stomach.
Teal eyes travelled downward only to find a bullet poking at her stomach. Overcome by a sudden curiosity, Chloe nudged the bullet that touched her, yet it didn't move. No matter how much force Chloe exerted, the bullet was stagnant in mid-air.
Chloe met familiar blue eyes, a small frown made its way to her face, just trying to understand what happened in the small span of a couple minutes. "What's going on Max?"
"I don't even know anymore" Max looked just as incredulous. "I thought time stopped but…"
"You can stop time? No way, this has got to be a dream or—" A searing pain suddenly wracked Chloe's temple. Blindly, Chloe reached out for something, only to clutch the sink beside her, the only support that kept her from doubling over in agony.
Memories and visions rushed through Chloe in fragments. A fire alarm being pulled before Nathan shot her, a train almost running her over, being shot in the head by a man that could barely be seen. But in each memory, Chloe didn't experience the sensation of pain. Instead Chloe could seeherself being killed 3 times and yet she was still alive.
Chloe could recall time rewinding itself with each outcome differing. All this eventually lead to the storm that destroyed Arcadia Bay, but for a moment it didn't matter. What only mattered was the girl in front of her.
With each memory, a range of emotions went through Chloe; the most prominent emotion being happiness. The intensity of that feeling was so foreign, the same sort of happiness that hadn't happened since she was a child. It didn't matter how bad the situation was, there was always a shared content between the two.
Chloe could sense the love that spoke in Max's every action and rewind. The care that Chloe thought would never exist, came rushing back. For a small moment, she didn't feel abandoned or angry. Instead, Chloe was at peace. So much so, that she willingly would sacrifice herself for the greater good.
In the chaos of all these memories, one thought struck Chloe.
Max loved me.
It wasn't until a hand rubbed her back when Chloe realized she was hunched over, blood trickling from her nose.
"Are you okay?" Max's voice slowly became less distant as the pounding behind Chloe's eyes gradually receded.
Chloe finally looked at Max, recognition clear in teal eyes. Nothing had changed. Max still wore the same chlorine bleached jeans and a hoodie, yet the picture of a butterfly was clenched tightly in Max's grip.
Chloe wiped the blood with her sleeve as she stared at the girl who managed to bend space and time out of love. "I was supposed to die… Why did you save me?"
"Chloe, I—" Before Max could finish her sentence, her body gradually became translucent.
"MAX WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING TO YOU?!" Chloe screamed.
"No… " Max's shook her head, refusing to believe the truth. Max's eyes focused on her hands, the flesh already fading into nothingness.
"You can't disappear on me. Please. I just got you back!" Desperately, Chloe tried to latch onto Max's forearm as if she could keep Max with her for just one more moment. They needed to talk. They needed each other. Even that gesture was in vain as Chloe's hand fell right through, as if Max was never there.
"I'm sorry, Chloe." Max whispered before disappearing completely.
This was it. That was the last time they'd ever see each other. As quick as Max came, she faded into existence and with her disappearance, the butterfly picture swayed down slowly. It landed quietly on the tiled floor, the only sign that Max had been here.
Chloe bent down to pick up the photograph, her hand tracing the wear and tear. In her hands was the event that started everything, both the beginning and the end. Yet before Chloe could even think, the world started to fade to a blinding white until nothing remained.