November 18th, 1984
8:53 pm
"Hey, Max, what time is it?"Mike asked while Dustin was attempting to beat her high score on Dig Dug. "It's… um…"she stammered as she checked her watch."8:53. Oh, shit! I gotta go… Bye! See ya tomorrow, losers!"Max picked up her skateboard and ran towards the arcade's exit, not even looking back to see her friends reactions. The door slammed behind her as she hopped on her board and skated towards her house. If she was lucky, she'd make it there by 9:05. Max worried because the later she got home the worse Neil's beatings would be. She tried to think about something else, and she tried not to wonder whether or not he would get the belt but she couldn't resist it. After a few minutes of fear and anxiety, she finally arrived at her house and snuck in through her bedroom window, hoping not to be noticed. Cautiously, she placed the skateboard under her bed and began to put on her pajamas.
An hour later, she was awoken by Billy screaming. Her stomach twisted and she felt sick - wondering what Neil could be doing to him. Ever since she had threatened him with the sedation drugs and the bat with nails he had stopped being a dick. They had also formed an "I hate Neil" club that had daily meetings hosted in Billy's car. Max headed for the door to see if he was okay before realizing that if she tried helping she would make things worse. For both of them. She headed back to her bed before she heard her mom scream, "STOP! Get off of him!" There was silence for a few seconds before Max heard, "Let me go! You're... you're choking me!" Warily, she opened her door and walked towards the screams. She turned the corner and what she saw frightened her. "Let her go! Stop it! Dad! LET HER GO!" Billy screamed. Surprised that he actually cared Max assumed he was drunk or maybe high. "Neil! Let her go!" she screamed as she saw her mom struggle to breathe. Then a plan began to unravel inside of Max's brain, a dangerous one, but it would distract Neil long enough that her mom could escape his wrath. Trembling, she picked up the full wine bottle and rushed towards her mom and Neil. Next thing you know he was soaked in wine and had a few shards of glass stuck in his hands and feet. Pissed, if that is a strong enough word, he stormed towards Max. "What did you just do?" She didn't reply. "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU JUST DO?!" "You… you were killing her," she responded as her body continued to convulse. Neil grabbed Max by the shoulders which were soon accompanied by Susan's screams, and then Billy's. She began to sob as her body was pushed against the kitchen cabinets. "You were killing her." She endured throbbing pain throughout her whole body as he thrust her against the cabinets again, and then again. The next time he pushed too hard. "You were..." Max's world went black as her neck fell back and her head slammed against the counter. Billy gasped and Susan screamed as she lunged towards Max's lifeless body as it collapsed to the floor.