Chapter FOUR: The survivors
The word 'survive' is subjective. You could make it through a large and horrific war and still come out of it injured to the point where life itself seems a losing battle, a never-ending reminder of what happened and what never was. On the other hand, you could also come back from such horrific events and use that horrible period of your life as a brand new starting point to something bigger and better! Once you have 'survived' enough of these events, you become a survivor…a warrior, someone who knows what it takes to make it through anything and everything life may decide to toss at you. That is how Chloe Price knew her mother and step-douche were still alive and kicking and she was determined as fuck to find…
Wait did…Max just say…nah she probably just meant it as a way of saying 'thank you Chloe for the hella badass speech you just gave… Chloe's thought suddenly interrupted her in her mental trance as if it was a fire alarm warning everyone of a large and ferocious fire heading their way. She turned to Max, who was now looking away with a mix of intense embarrassment and shock over what she had just said sprawled across her face.
Chloe didn't know what to say. Should she carry on lecturing Max about being a hero? Should she drive on and pretend nothing happened? Should she lean over and give the cute hipster a huge kiss…holy shit really Chloe, you seriously just thought that about your best-fucking-friend. I need a cigarette! Chloe gently reached into her pocket and produced a pack of cigarettes and whippet one out. At this very moment she kind of wished it was a joint so she could 'medicate' and relax but she settled on the crumpled collection of tobacco and began to put it in her mouth before being interrupted by the sweet and oddly calm voice of her hipster friend.
"I'm sorry for just…saying that Chloe. Things have just been intense. Everything you just said was right, I can't let what happened to the town ruin who I am. We should head further into town, maybe to the Two-Whales, see if Joyce is okay!" Chloe was about to ask how Max knew that Joyce was at the Two Whales however made peace with herself that she didn't wanted to know and it probably would only make her worry more.
"You got it Maxi-pad. Two-Whales it is, I sure as shit hope my mom is okay Max and yeah…even David I guess" the sentiment about David made Max smile a little, for the first time in a while.
Max knew the relationship between Chloe and her step-father, or step douche as she called him, was rocky at the best of times and two often would get into fights or arguments no matter how little the cause but she always sensed that there was a deep understanding between the two of them, an un-spoken truce of mind that they both understood what they were going through. David came back from a war and was in some ways still there and found it hard to adjust to regular living and Chloe was still angry over William's death in a car crash years ago. In a weird way, the arguments and the shouting was there way of communicating with each other, as if they had their own unique language.
"Let's do it Chloe and I promise we will find them!" with this declaration, Max put her hand on Chloe's knee and the blue-haired girl looked up and smiled at her.
"Thanks Max, let's do this shit!" with that, Chloe once again started up the truck and carried onto into the unknown.
They didn't get very far when they were greeted with something neither one of them secretly expected. Good news!
ANY AND ALL SURVIVORS!
PLEASE HEAD TORWARDS THE OUTSKITS OF THE TOWN!
MEDICAL ATTNETION WILL BE PROVIDED!
Both girls immediately began grinning with joy, shock and suspense as Chloe stomped hard on the accelerator, leaving the makeshift board in the dust. The girls presumed the sign set up by some safety group who had obviously set up camp on the outskirts of the town in order to bring in as many survivors as they could.
The atmosphere in the truck was immediately lightened due to this amazing discovery, with tears running down Max's face as she leant forward with intense anticipation. Chloe managed to hold back the tears for the time being, although she felt the exact same way Max did.
"FUCK YEAH" Chloe exclaimed, making Max jump.
"Calm down Chloe, we don't know what we're going to find. What if we are the only ones?" she asked, fearing the outcome if she was right.
"No way Max, they only set up those stupid fucking signs when they actually have people there already. David told me. It means it's not as bad as we thought otherwise they wouldn't waste time with a small sign and just launch like a thousand search and rescue choppers. What if it's mom Max or Kate or Justin or…I don't know…like your other billion friends at Blackwell!" Max chuckled due to both her massive over-exaggeration and at Chloe's happiness. She replied very simply.
"Yeah you bet Chloe" once again the two looked at each other and smiled. They looked into each others eyes and Chloe now wanted to say how much she thought Max was awesome and a totally amazeballs friend but instead uttered something else, something perhaps she had wanted to say for a hell of a long time now, buried deep in the back of her mind this past week behind thoughts of Rachel's safety and now that of her mother and even David.
"I love you too Max!"
Well there we are, chapter four is out! I really liked this one and I hugely apologise if it is kinda short. The next one will be a long one as we finally see who survived the tornado and who perhaps weren't so lucky.
P.S The final scene of episode 5 shows Max and Chloe looking sadly at the wreck of the Two-Whales and departing Arcadia Bay. In this version, as I do want to make a little more happier, the same thing happens however instead of looking bleak, the look semi-confident and they head out in search of where the survivors might be
