WARNING:

All characters and the story upon which this fanfiction is based are property of Dontnod Entertainment and Square Enix. I don't own anything.

As this is my first story to be published here, I will be happy about every reviews - both good and bad as only so I can know what I have to improve. :)

Rated M for crude and strong language at times, violence and mature content in later chapters.

-A Song for the Deaf-

As Chloe smiled as she pulled up near the academy to let Max out of the truck. The ride had been rather uneventful if you didn't count the light banter they had made all the way. Joking and talking shit about this and that, content to be just in each other's presence. This day had started out weird, but she couldn't remember a time in the whole period since Rachel disappeared that she actually had felt this alive or this happy. 'Maybe even before that…' On came a very quiet voice in Chloe's head that she quickly shut up, by hitting the breaks and making the truck come to a full-stop.

"Thanks for the ride, Chloe. Right on time to get some shit done in art class that I haven't finished yet. But, man, I can't stand the teachers." Max asked after giving the girl at the steering-wheel a tight hug.

"Yeah, they can give you some pretty bad shit." Chloe returned the hug before letting go of the other girl. "But I doubt you really pay them any mind anyways." The girl with brown and red hair just stung out her tongue at her and grinned mischievously. "Thanks for coming with me. Sorry for being so boring…"

"Your 'boring' I'd take any time of the day over the lessons at Blackhell. Especially from Jeffer-creep." Max replied bumping fists with Chloe. "Besides, nothing exciting ever happens to us, right?" She added with a sarcastic look. Chloe turned a bit more serious at that notion.

"Listen, your powers must be somehow connected with that snowfall yesterday." She said. "That might explain the tornado vision…"

"And here I was starting to believe it was all 'a daydream'…" Max replied, mocking her friend a bit. "But if you are thinking along the lines of 'Butterfly Effect' and Chaos Theory, I can see why you might think that, Miss I-hate-Math. Shit, I think I even scribbled something back on some pages in my room yesterday."

"Five years, asswipe. Some people change. But yes, your situation is like the perfect storm for quantum physics." Chloe replied in mock-anger. "You're like the perfect example for 'strange attractors'. I mean, we have a tornado incoming, rewind powers with you changing destiny at the whim and freak snow… 'Hello Armageddon'?"

"Well, could party with my powers a bit, eh, Professor Price? And as you said – a superhero needs a faithful sidekick." Max said grinning, guessing what the blue-nette would have said.

"How can it be such a shitty week and yet one of the best in my life?" Chloe asked playfully.

"Well, that is obviously because Max the legendary and epic Warrior of Time and Space has graced this town with her presence again." Max rolled her eyes as if stating the obvious, before bumping Chloe's shoulder lightly and adding with a bright smile on her face that made the interior of the truck light up in Chloe's eyes, completely making her forget that it was raining outside, "But seriously, it's 'cause we're back in action again." She winked at the punk-girl and blew her a mock-air-kiss in her direction. "Ok, player, gotta get shit done or I'm gonna have to use my powers for something as crappy as studies." Max grinned and got out of the car, waving at Chloe as the still stunned girl drove away from the Academy.

Back in the Academy Max quickly went to her locker and took the few pages she would need for the class. She had filled out only three of five and had. She would have to make haste if she wanted to give in the assigned papers so that Mr. Jefferson wouldn't have a reason to give her any shit. She just didn't want to deal with any more of it than absolutely unavoidable on one day. Just as she turned to go to the classroom she saw the security guard, Chloe's stepdad, walk over to her. 'Would you give me a break, Karma? Or you want your fingernails be removed with pliers?' Max groaned inwardly.

"Mr. Madsen?" she kept her voice flat and without any anger in it. She would get back at the prick, but now was definitely not the time.

"Look, Max. I know things got a little heated in Chloe's room yesterday… As a combat veteran I know what traumatic experiences such as a near-death situation can do. I have seen many of my friends from the army in the recent years and what PTSD has done to them…" The man said in a serious, but surprisingly mild manner, having the look of a man who really knew how cruel and hard to bear the world could be. "I'm sorry about yesterday. And I won't bust you. Even I am not that much of an asshole. I was wrong, but upset. While you might need it for your nerves, it has been quite an issue for Chloe." He continued truly apologetic.

"Chloe can be a handful, but she is no threat to you." Max said surprised at seeing the man she had thought to be just another security-freak with issues show a caring side.

"If I didn't care about her, I wouldn't care at all, Max. When I was your age I was out raising a lot more hell… She is better than that. All you kids are. So is Kate Marsh." The man said with a sincere expression on his face.

"What about Kate?" Max asked, immediately sharpening her ears and getting a bit on the defensive. From what David had just said, he probably cared about the students at Blackwell, but the memory of him yelling at Kate was still fresh in Maxes' mind, so she didn't really know what to think. 'Option A: He just doesn't know how to deal with people and makes it worse even if he means good.' Was the optimistic outlook Max could think off. 'Or option B: He is a twofaced bastard and I will still beat the crap out of him, if he troubles Kate any longer.' - was the angry reply from Maxes' more dark side.

"You stepped in between us at a pretty bad time. She is an entirely other matter." Chloe's stepfather said, not without concern in his voice.

"Look, Kate has done nothing wrong. She has been through a lot and really doesn't need to deal with more shit, okay?" Max was not convinced by his answer and it must have been visible on her face, because the security guard continued.

"Max, this isn't about just Kate Marsh. My concern is about the safety of all the Blackwell students. Including you." David said earnestly. "It's just that it will take more than just surveillance cameras, or Ms. Grant's petition to find missing students. It is my duty as head of security to get to the bottom of this and to keep the students safe." He said clearly looking pained that his efforts so far had proven in vain. At this Max had an idea and promptly reacted on it.

"Do you know something about Rachel Amber?" She asked, not really sure if she asked on Chloe's behalf or even if she wanted to hear the answer. "Something nobody else knows perhaps?" It came out angrier than she intended.

"Look, Max. I don't want to fight with you anymore. I don't want to fight with anybody anymore…" The man said, his shoulders slumping a bit as if he felt hurt at the hostility he faced. "That is all." He turned to go on his patrol, but turned around once more. "But should you ever want to talk about what happened to you or if you need advice how to deal with the after-effects of it all, know that you can always turn to me. It is the duty of those who have experienced the hardships of life to show those who experience them right now that there is still something good to look out for." With that said the stern man walked away.

Max was stunned by the last statement from the soldier-turned-security guard. She wouldn't say she would trust every word he said right away, but something in the man's demeanour said that maybe the things before were really just that – misunderstandings and complete miscommunication caused by the clash of personalities and the lacking ability to express ones' thoughts or questions truthfully. 'Wow… Okay, I definitely didn't expect step-douche to be less of a douche and more of an actual person. Not to even mention the fact that he apologized.' Max thought. 'However, this doesn't clear you from my target-list just yet, Mr. Madsen. I will keep an eye on you.' After dealing with so much stuff in her previous schools Max was rather weary of security guards even if she could fabricate convincing lies on the spot and not let anyone step on her.

She was still pondering about the strange conversation with Chloe's stepfather, when she nearly bumped into Kate, who looked thoroughly miserable.

"Whoa there. Kate, are you alright?" Max asked, instantly shifting her whole attention to the girl before her.

"Just a little headache." Kate said weakly, before elaborating when she saw the rock-girl's worried expression. "I just don't feel so good, so I asked Mr. Jefferson if I might be absent for todays' class so I can go see the nurse in her office." The pained expression on Kate's face made Max wince.

"I'll accompany you, Kate." She offered. "Or we could go to my room, if you don't want to go so far as to the nurse's office. I should still have some aspirin and some painkillers. Got a small med-kit with me for myself, back there, you know." She tried to take the other girls hand so she could steady her if needed.

"No, Max." Kate shook her head. "Please, I'll just go to the nurses' office, lay down a bit and be back in the next lesson. You shouldn't skip this class just because of me. I know that you worry and I really appreciate it, but you haven't even finished the assignment that we had for today and you need those if you want to end the semester with good grades." The other girl shied away a bit hugging herself, but trying to put on a small smile for Maxes' sake. "I left you my notes on the table before I went to Mr. Jefferson, but I will need you to take notes for me on this lecture in return. Could you, please, do that for me, Max?" She added in a small voice, sounding somewhat absentminded.

"Well, the grades can go to hell for all I care, but damn, you are as sweet as Mother Theresa." Max said taken aback by the care Kate showed her. They had looked out for each other regarding assignments since the beginning of the semester; but that Kate would do her assignments and make extra notes so that Max could get through a class without Creep-for-Pros getting in an argument with her at a time when Kate herself had hit rock-bottom moved her deeply. Nobody had ever done something like that for her before. Not even Chloe as back in the days it had been Max, who was the smartass helping Chloe with her homework even as the other girl was one year older.

"Please, Max. Can you do that for me? I will talk to you later and you can bring me the notes, okay?" Kate asked in a pained voice, barely audible, but still holding on to the faltering smile on her face. Max couldn't help, but feel like Kate was desperately trying to put a brave face on for her sake.

"Kate… I sure can do that. That is the least I could do, but are you completely sure, I shouldn't come with you?" Max asked. She just had to. Something just didn't feel right about the whole situation. Could she really leave Kate right now just for some lessons she herself was not even interested in? Wouldn't it be better, to make sure that Kate went to see the nurse?

"Yes, Max. Please, now could you let me go? I'll just really want to rest my head for a while." Kate pushed by the other girl, as she walked briskly along the hallway in the direction of the nurses' office, leaving Max in a little pinch – to do as Kate said or to run after the girl.

Her thoughts however were interrupted when Mr. Jefferson came up to her from where he was standing next to the door to the classroom.

"Max?" He startled her a bit when he spoke up, too close for Maxes' comfort. "I know you must be worried about Kate Marsh, as you clearly are friends, but you seriously need to put more effort in your work during the photography classes." He sighed. "I know we have our differences, but I believe you really have a gift for photography, which you shouldn't squander. Have you thought about the competition 'Everyday Heroes' that I mentioned in class last week?"

"Seriously, that is the last thing on my mind now." Max answered with a sneer still unsure, whether or not to go after Kate.

"Please, Max. Take this more seriously. I can understand your worries about Kate. I am worried too, if you believe it or not." Jefferson exclaimed, sounding somewhat sincere, which made Max doubt him even more. She didn't like him one bit. Something about his personality just seemed wrong, but she couldn't really put a finger on it.

"Yeah, right. Like any of the teachers, with maybe the exception of Ms. Grant, pay the students any mind if it isn't connected to their subject of class." Max sneered, she was becoming quickly sick of the conversation with Mr. Creepy-bastard. "Like anybody here is even concerned about the missing students, such as Rachel Amber."

"What has this to do with Rachel Amber? I thought you were worrying about Kate Marsh here." Jefferson stated raising a brow at the rock-girl before him. "Have you talked to Kate? Do you know if she might have brought this on herself? She means well, but maybe she doth protest too much. She seems like she was holding back the truth, when she talked to me earlier, after all." The teacher inquired.

"The fuck?! Brought that on herself?" Max was shocked by the ignorance Jeffer-creep displayed. It might have just been show, but it still shocked her. "She is being bullied and tormented by her schoolmates and is dealing with some seriously heavy shit, and you think she brought it on herself?" She practically spat at the teacher. "Wow! No wonder nobody notices and doesn't even lift a finger, when students go missing!" For Jeffersons suggestion alone she wanted to break his jaw.

"Look, Max! Calm down, okay? I know how that might sound, but it was just a question. As sad as it might be not all students confide in their teachers and we are left in the dark about what is happening." The photography teacher put up his hands in a placating gesture and stepped away from the girl, who had already balled her fists and seemed ready to hit anything that was in her path. "That is all I meant. I believe Kate to be a good girl and it is tragic what is happening to her, but if my students don't tell me what exactly is happening, I can't be there to help them. You have to understand my position."

"Now, please, if you would excuse me, I have to take this call and you should be on your way to class. Kate Marsh left her notes on your desk, but I believe Nathan and Victoria have already entered the classroom and judging from the looks they gave Kate today, I would be grateful, if you could stow Kate's notes away for even if I don't know what exactly is happening I can imagine it to have to do something with those two. And I will have a stern talk with them, if that sets your mind at ease. Especially Nathan whom, I believe, you have accused of bringing a gun to the school." He said before Max could answer anything as his phone started to ring and he had looked at who was on the other side of the line, before picking up and walking a bit further away to talk to whomever was calling.

'Yeah, right. Like hell you will!' Max highly doubted the teachers – especially Jeffer-creep – would do anything to stop the other students from tormenting Kate. She was still fuming, but practically flew to the classroom anyway. As much as she would have loved to run after Kate right now, the teachers' words reminded her that the two people probably responsible for Kates' plight were already in the classroom and Kate had left her notes on Maxes' desk. She wouldn't let them lay a finger on them. 'I will break every fucking digit on their hands if they have even laid so much as an imaginary finger on Kate's notes!' Max thought anger boiling in her as she stormed into the room where the other students from the class where still goofing around while the teacher was not in yet.

-Alone I break-

She spotted the duo in question immediately when she entered the classroom, not really paying any mind to the other students. Nathan and Victoria were at her desk, or to be more precise, Nathan sat on her desk, on the notes Kate had placed there, while a bit weary looking Victoria was leaning against it. They were clearly enjoying their little talk though it did seem that Maxes' actions from this morning had a certain effect on Victoria, for as soon as Max came into her view she jumped up from the desk as I she had burned herself looking nervous.

'Now that is a sight I can enjoy.' Max thought with a grim satisfaction. She knew she was in some ways even worse than Victoria, but like she cared. Life hadn't been very kind to her, so why should she be kind to those who made the lives of others even more miserable?

"Better be quiet, Victoria. We have a master snitch and liar here." Nathan sneered when he saw the reason for Victoria's reaction. A bruise just over his brow seemed like it would hurt very much if touched. 'And here I thought nearly cracking your skull would have taught you not to mess with me.' Maxes' anger at the young man was reflecting in her eyes.

"Nathan, don't you think we could continue our conversation at another place. I'm growing sick of just looking at her." Victoria said putting on a disgusted expression as if she had stepped in shit, but the slight tremble in her voice was evidence enough that she was actually scared of what Max could do. Not all of the bullies in Maxes' old school had learned so quickly as Victoria apparently had.

"Listen to Queen-bitch, fucktwad. Now move." Max growled.

"Or what?" Nathan was the sort, who didn't learn so fast it seemed. Max didn't even bother to answer. A simple vicious kick to the man's shin sent him sprawling on the ground as the kick had also sent the chair on which he had placed his feet sprawling. He hissed sharply as the pain registered in his brain.

"You bitch!" Nathan grunted, but fell silent as he realised Max was leaning in to beat him some more. Though Nathan falling had caused a commotion, from the perspective of the other students in the class it might have looked like he had fallen. Maybe Max had just kicked away the chair under his feet and he had lost balance. After all he had been hunched forward, when he addressed the girl in the leather jacket and a burning man depicted on her shirt. Even if they had seen what had really happened they either did not care and went back to what they were doing paying the young man on the floor no mind or they were too scared to blab. Besides, it was Nathan Prescott, who gave many off them a hard time from time to time, so… maybe he deserved it?

"Max. What is going on over there?" Mr. Jefferson asked as came into the classroom and saw Nathan sprawled on the floor with Max looming ominously over him.

"Nothing. He's just being a clumsy and I was just about to help him up." Max stated flatly before turning gracing the man on the ground with an evil smile holding out her hand out to him as if to help him pull himself up.

"Now is that right?" Jeffer-creep didn't sound entirely convinced and raised a brow at the class, who pretended to see the scenery for the first time.

"Yeah. By the way, Mr. Jefferson, can I ask you a question about today's assignments?" Victoria piped in, going over to the teacher and actually asking something trivial about the assignments, which caught the older man's attention, though he still didn't look all too sure what to think about the whole situation.

"One of these days you might accidently fall and really hurt yourself." Max said as she unceremoniously grabbed Nathans hand and yanked him to his feet. The subtle threat not being lost on the man, who shot her an angry glare as he pulled away from the girl, who had grabbing his elbow rather painfully.

"Ok, now that it seems everyone with exception of Kate Marsh, who has excused herself for today's lesson, is here, could we, please, begin?" Jeffer-creeps' question was not a question at all. "Miss Chase, Mr. Prescott and Miss Caulfield, I would like to have a talk with you after class." He stated a bit more sternly. The class quickly settled in their respective places. Max lazily set up her chair and sat down brushing over the slightly crumbled notes. Oh, she would so make sure her threat would not be empty. Smouldering over the incident mere moments ago, Max completely overlooked the small note scribbled on the bottom of one of the pages Kate had left her, which simply stated 'I'm sorry, Max.'

As the teacher began to talk about the various topic he wanted covered in this lesson, Max started to go through the notes Kate had left for her. She was spacing out a bit at some point still thinking about Kate and the uneasiness she felt built up in her stomach, when she looked out of the window to see Kate walk by in the direction of the girls' dorms.

'Did she forget something? Just what is going on.' Max wondered before her gaze wandered and she noticed David following a small distance behind Kate. 'Ok, David, I think stalking is neither the best approach if you care for the students, nor your best ability.' Max thought a bit puzzled as she saw him take out a camera and shoot a photograph of the girl he followed.

Mr. Jefferson was still rambling on about the black and white effects in photography and how to best use them, when Maxes' attention slipped again and she looked out of the window again. First she didn't think anything, but then a small blue fluttering insect in the corner of her vision caught her attention. 'Oh, no, no, no, no! This is bad! Something bad is going to happen! Kate. I have to get to Kate! And I probably should call Chloe, just to be sure.' Max thoughts were frantic as she scrambled to stand knocking over her chair in the process.

"Max, what-" The photography teacher started to say something to the girl who was fast on her way to leave the classroom, when Zachary, one of the boys from another class and Juliet's boyfriend, raced into the room.

"Yo! Some crazy shit is happening at the girl's dorm! Check it!" He yelled and was nearly thrown to the ground, when a certain brown and red haired girl pushed past him. Maxes' heart had sunk to her stomach and it seemed the fear for her friends, boiling up in her, was going to overwhelm her. The rest of the class followed suit and ran out of the classroom leaving the teacher behind, who managed to just mutter 'Dismissed' defeated by the situation.

As Max ran to the girls' dorms a small crowd had already gathered below the tower, which was also the stairwell connecting the two stories of the dorms. Some girls were clearly shocked at what was happening asking no one in particular 'Is this for real?'. Some jocks were thinking this all a prank shouted 'Bitch flipped out!'. For a second the fear in Maxes' stomach turned to burning rage, but she supressed the urge to just tackle the guys and bash their non-existent brains out, for when she turned the corner she finally saw what Zachary had meant. Kate stood on the roof of the tower, right on the edge. Some of the students were pulling out their phones in order to photograph or film how the whole event unfolds.

The sight of that caught Max so off guard in her worry about her friend, that it made her halt for a second, not being able to believe, how cold people could be. 'Even here. Even in my fucking hometown!' A voice in her head screamed. And then some girls screamed prompting Max to look up just at the moment where Kate let herself fall over the edge.

"Oh, God! No!" She screamed as she reached out to whatever source her powers came from and tried to rewind. But when she had rewound she was deeply disturbed to find out that it was just mere seconds before Kate leaped from the tower. She rewound again as Kate jumped from the roof. 'No, no, no, no! Why is this happening?' She felt the sharp sting of pain in her head and knew almost instantly that her nose was probably bleeding. 'Not now! Don't do this now! Oh my God, I won't be able to rewind again and again!' Rewinding to the point where Kate was back at the roof was unbelievably painful.

And then it felt like something had broken in her. The scenery around her seemed to blur and shift in place, as if not knowing what to do – move on or not, as time itself crept to a halt. It coiled around Max like a python and she felt sick to a point of throwing up, but she supressed this urge and tried to move as she was still in control of her mind and now tried out the motor functions of her body. She had to get to Kate somehow. 'It is like I'm drowning in syrup or thick pudding.' She thought as she made her way through the crowd at a pace so slow she was overwhelmed by the despair of failing to reach the girl on the roof in time.

Somehow she made it to the door at the foot of the stairwell and was surprised at what she saw. David Madsen was running up to the door. From all the people on the campus he was the only one who acted. However, she had not the time to dwell on the thought though as she still had to get up to reach Kate, which seemed to take her another eternity.

And then, just as something had clicked into place time started to 'flow' again, for the lack of a better word, just as Max had reached the top of the roof and had made a few steps in Kate's direction. Somehow Max immediately understood that she couldn't rewind. Whatever had 'broken' was staying that way and the finality of the situation and the next few moments, the things she could and would have to do, what she would say, was nearly too much to bear. The sharp pain in her head made her groan loudly, which startled the girl on the edge of the roof and made her turn to see who was behind her.

"What are you doing here, Max?" The girl asked not believing that the rocker-girl was really there. Despite the rain Max could clearly tell that the girl before her was crying. Max lurched one step forward, but Kate cried out at that.

"Stop! Don't come near me!" The young woman said despair in her voice being evident. "Max, seriously don't come near me. I'll jump."

"Okay, okay. I'm right here. Kate, please…" Max said feeling weak.

"Oh, Max. I know you want to help me. You already did. And I lied to you." Kate was visibly pained by that thought. "I loved how you stood up for me against David and how you encouraged me to tell the police about everything, but it doesn't matter now. Nothing matters…"

"You matter, Kate. And not just to me." Max said, stepping a bit closer to Kate. "Your life is still yours and we can get through this together, just let me help you. I already beat Victoria for what she said to you back in the bathroom this morning. Literally! And by God I swear I will make her push up the daisies so fast the world would be overgrown by them in a minute, if she ever gives you shit again. Or like I erased the crap people had written on your room plate…" Max said, not sure if this was making things better or worse.

"I'm glad to hear that you worry about me… and I would have never thought that I would say this, but violence against Victoria is not the right answer, Max." Kate had a stern look on her face for a second there. But it melted away just as quickly to bring back the expression of pure sadness. However, for another small moment, which was gone as quickly as the first one, a small smile made it to Kate's lips as she said: "It does make me feel better, though, to know that you care."

"I'll always be there for you, Kate. You are one of the only people I can call my friends and I'll never abandon my friends in their time of need!" Max said slowly walking a few steps in the direction of the crying woman. She felt pain and was loathing herself for she knew one friend she had once abandoned, even if not on her own accord. 'Never again! You hear me, Fate and Destiny? You hear me, Karma? You hear that, world? And if you try to stop me I will make you regret that you allowed me to have ever been born!' Max thought spiteful and angry at herself and the world. She meant it. For all she knew, she might even have the power to realise her threat and why not make good on her word, in the case the world turned against her or her friends?

"I did feel better talking to you on the phone." Kate sniffled. "I always feel like you really listen."

"Kate, please trust me. Come stand by me, okay? I can really help you. I know I can!" Max pleaded with the woman. "I am gathering proof that Nathan Prescott drugged you and you're not the only victim, but I need your help to take him down." Max said. "God knows I would love nothing more than to cripple that asshole so badly not even his mother could love him anymore, but that would not bring you or anybody the justice you deserve." Max added with rage and logic wrestling over the control over her thoughts.

"Nathan Prescott? That makes sense… He is a scumbag." Kate said surprising herself with the anger in her voice. "Do you have proof now?"

"Soon and then we go straight to the police, so I don't have to turn myself in for murder." Max allowed herself to grin a bit, trying to make the other girl smile too. "Think of it like we're purifying this shithole of a school."

"You always have my back, Max." Kate did smile a little at this. "This is the first time in a week I've felt something like hope again."

"You can count on that, bible-girl." Max stepped yet a bit closer. "So, please come with me now… You don't have to do this."

"Max, I'm in a nightmare and I can't wake up… unless I put myself to sleep." The despair was back in the other girl's voice. "Then everyone in Blackwell can post pics of my body… I'm already on the internet forever. No wonder they call it a 'web' – nothing can get out of it. Like my video…" She sobbed. "I wish I could go back in time and erase everything."

"Everybody will forget. Kate, the internet is a scary place, but there are billions of videos and it will vanish like white noise." Max said and felt pained by the memories that floated up in her head. "Although for different reasons, I do know how the looks or laughs you get feel like." She took a steadying breath before she continued. "I do understand how you feel. I have been bullied too. More than I would like to recall. But you can get through this. Someday this will all seem like a blip..."

"Yeah, my life is a blip, Max. Blackwell taught me that. Could as well prove it right now." Kate said angrily.

"No, Kate! You can't do this to the people, who care about you!" Max pleaded. "Think of your father! I saw the postcard in your room. He clearly loves you - no matter what!"

"Dad does care… even though I hurt him. He's the only one I know, who believes in me…" The young woman answered weakly, still not reassured.

"I believe in you too, Bible-Kate! You are not alone, see?" Max said stepping a bit closer. 'Only a few more steps!' she thought. "And if anybody down there wants to see you up here, I'll bury them alive! This isn't how it has to end! And if you think God has brought you here, you're wrong!" Max added remembering a passage from the bible the religious girl had told her about just a few days before all of this shit happened. "Remember Matthew 11:28."

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." The religious woman said sniffling, lightly in disbelief. "I can't believe you mentioned my favourite passages."

"Like I said – I care about you. I know how much this passage means to you." Max said as she stretched out her hand towards the girl on the ledge. It took one tense moment, but then the other girl took hold of Maxes' hand and let herself be pulled back away from the edge of the roof and being crushed in a hug from the rocker-girl, who whispered soothingly in her ear 'It's all right. It's going to be alight now.'

As Max eased the crying girl, who was trembling in her arms, from the shock of the experience, the fear, pain and trauma of it all, not to even mention the cold from the rain, down to the floor, she said in a very low, distant sounding voice: "I know how it is like to be at this very dark place, where you see no way for turning back, but there is! Believe me, when I say how much I would have liked for someone to say these words you just spoke to me back in that day. Maybe… when you want it, I'll tell you more about it." She doubted, however, that the girl crying on her shoulder had heard what she had said, as it was drowned out by the exited shouts from down at the campus and by David's voice, as he was racing up to them and asking if both girls where alright.

-Hurt-

Nearly everything after that became a blur. Max registered when they brought Kate away, first to the nurse's office and later to the nearby hospital. She couldn't come with the girl as she was first questioned by the police, who had arrived at the scene, when David had called them just to make sure that really everything was fine and after that she had been told to go to the principal's office.

By the time Max and apparently everyone else who had been summoned by the principal were standing outside of his door, while he finished the needed paperwork and the calls he had to make because of the incident, it had already stopped raining and the sun was setting over Arcadia Bay.

When they, that is – her, David, Nathan Prescott and Mr. Jefferson – had been requested to enter the room, Principal Wells turned to them immediately.

"Now, I know today was difficult for everybody, but I'm proud of the way Blackwell pulled together to save a young girl's live." He started.

"That is bullshit and you know it!" Max growled at the principal, who seemed to be taken aback by the aggressiveness and disrespect Max showed him. "Except for David, I didn't see anybody even lift a finger to stop this from happening! Where you, maybe, running to catch Kate in case she decided to jump after all? I believe fucking not!"

"Now, I know how this must look to you, as you had to experience quite the traumatic situation, but I can reassure you that everyone was doing their part." The principal replied, but the lie remained just that – a lie. "Of course, you yourself are quite a hero for getting Kate to come down from the roof, Max." Somehow even this statement managed to upset the rocker-girl as it felt like mockery. She refrained from any comments, however, and settled glaring at the principal with such intensity, that he was certain – if looks could kill, he would have been dead at least a million times over by now.

"She's modest. Like a real hero." Offered Mr. Jefferson apparently mistaking the silence from Max for modesty. Max nearly snapped at him then and there.

"As principle of Blackwell Academy, I take my duties seriously. I take the well-being of every student more seriously." The principal started again. 'Like hell you are, you bastard!' Max wanted to scream. "What happened today should never happen in a hall of wisdom and knowledge." He continued, before turning to the security guard. "Mr. Madsen, as head of our security here, those roof doors should always be locked. That's just standard operating procedure. They were not. And that is indeed your responsibility."

"Mr. Jefferson, I know you can't be expected to know what your students are going through, but Kate was assisting you in class, so you should have known something was amiss." The principal said turning his attention to the teacher in question. He then turned to the youngest son of the Prescott family. "Mr. Prescott, since you are responsible for the Vortex Club parties and since Miss Marsh did attend your last party, you'll have to answer some more questions."

At that Principal Wells sat down in the expensive looking leather chair and turned to Max.

"Miss Caulfield, why exactly were you on the roof with Kate Marsh?" He asked. "Did she tell you her plan? Or anything at all? Please, tell us everything."

"All I know is that Kate was at the party and that Nathan dosed her." It took all of Maxes' willpower not to explode on the principal right then. His tone was infuriating her beyond belief. "She got wasted and kissed some boys on a viral video without having a clue over what was happening or control over what she was doing."

"I dosed her? Without a clue? Have you even seen the video?" Nathan laughed and tried to play innocent. "Whatever. Kate was loaded and playing the field-"

"You miserable fucking cunt! You fucking lied to Kate that you took her to the emergency room!" Max yelled at the young man, startling him with the rage in her voice and making him shift so that it would not be so easy for the girl to lunge at him if she tried to.

"Max, please-" Principal Wells started , but was interrupted, when Nathan spoke up.

"I said I was going to take her to the ER. She sobered up eventually." He said pointedly.

"Bullshit! Something happened to her and you know it!" Max was now seriously losing her temper and nearly tore off one of the armrests of the chair on which she was sitting. "How about we talk about you waving a gun in the girl's bathroom, huh?"

"Hey, that's total slander! I could sue you and this school so fast!" The young man went on the defensive immediately. "I already have a personal lawyer."

"Careful, ." To Maxes' surprise the principal sounded sincere and angry at the young man before him. "I have been told about this alleged gun incident. An I have to admit that the video in question was sent to me by multiple sources."

"Including me." David spoke up for the first time during the whole conversation.

"And since Mr. Prescott does prominently appear in the video and was responsible for the party, I have no choice but to suspend him until further notice." The principal continued.

"Whatever. See you in court." Nathan just threw his arms up.

"Excuse me, I believe Max and Nathan need a break before we grill them further." Mr. Jefferson spoke up again. "A friend and student just tried to kill herself… they don't need this forum right now…"

"Yes, I'm kinda devastated right now. I'd like to be with my family." Nathan jumped right on the train there, smiling smugly.

"Alright, Miss Caulfield, please sign here to confirm what you have told us." Principal Wells handed Max the paperwork in question and a pen. "I'll continue this investigation from here." Max signed the document and practically threw the expensive looking pen on the desk so she wouldn't throw it at the principal directly.

"Well, I think we know less now than when we started." The Principal stood up and caught the pen skidding over the desk. "We will be assisting the police with further inquiries. I know this has been a stressful day. I wish I had the power to change it all for the better… so thank you for coming in." He said indicating that the meeting was over.

Max went out of the principal's office slamming the door behind her, nearly hitting Mr. Jefferson in the face, but she couldn't care less. What she needed now was booze, music and someone to talk to.

On her way to the girls' dorms Warren tried to intercept her and offered to watch the sunset together and chill, but one look form the angry rocker-girl shut him up and back away. He probably didn't deserve such a harsh treatment from Max, but today had reopened too many doors in Maxes' head. Doors to memories Max had been trying to bury. And now it all felt like it had happened yesterday all over again.

She went into her room in the dorms slamming the door shut behind her, but being slightly surprised to see that not a thing had been touched and it hadn't seemed like someone else had been in there.

While she threw her bag and jacket carelessly on the bed, she was already typing away in her phone.

'Get your ass over here. Right now.' She hit the sent button and was notified almost immediately that the blue-nette she had sent this was typing away on her end.

'I heard about Kate. I'm sorry, Max. You ok?' Chloe's text read. 'This eclipse is freaking me out. Do you see it?'

'No. And I'm definitely NOT ok! Get moving! U. My room. 30 minutes.' Max replied, not really caring if the blue-haired girl had other plans for the evening, but she desperately needed to see her right now. 'bring booze!:(' she added after seeing that her own little storage was probably not going to last through the evening.

'On my way, Mad Max' Chloe's answer came nearly immediately. Max threw the phone on her bed and booted up her laptop before hitting the play button on the music player. The first song to come up was 'Hurt' form Thousand Foot Krutch.