The ambiguous silence that hung around Max was deafening.
As Max's sapphire blue eyes opened, she expected to see the dull, grey walls of the girls' bathroom, with the distinct confrontation between Nathan and Chloe echoing in the background.
What greeted Max, was pure darkness. As if the space that encompassed her was devoid of any light. Max glanced around, petrified by her unfamiliar surroundings. She couldn't even see herself. She was lost, unaware of where she was.
"Hello! Is anybody there?!" cried Max, into the sea of nothingness. The faintest of echoes reverberated back into her eardrums, sending a chill down her spine.
Max took a few steps forward, like a blind person trying to make their way around.
Suddenly, a blinding white light blasted itself into Max from above like a stage light, the shock causing Max to stumble backwards and fall onto her sides. She shielded her eyes from the light, trying to readjust to her new surroundings. Her breathing intensified.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?"
Max spun around in a panic, trying to locate the source of the voice. She directed her eyes towards the sound of footsteps, as they grew louder and louder, as if approaching her.
The footsteps stopped, and another spotlight was cast, a couple hundred feet in front of her.
Max's heart stopped momentarily as she realised who she was looking at.
"We meet again."
It's… me.
"It's you." Max said with a quivering voice.
"It's me?" Maxine replied, gesturing at herself.
"Where am I? What is this place? Did you do this?" Max asked, struggling to stand up from her seated position.
"Where are we? I don't know, why don't you tell me?" Maxine responded, sarcastically. Max stared into her reflection, lost and confused.
"You really haven't learned your lesson yet, haven't you? You want to back, and save her. And destroy everything again." Maxine crossed her arms, tapping her foot against the bleach-white floor.
Max shook her head, as if in denial.
"GOD, why are you so stupid!" Maxine screamed, the walls surrounding them vibrating vigorously.
"I KNOW you're better than this Max. You can't save what's already lost. Why do you even care for this good for nothing girl anyway? You are just going to bring pain and suffering to everyone, including us."
Suddenly, the room illuminated. Max was suddenly standing on top of the cliff, overlooking Arcadia Bay as an E6 Tornado began to wreck havoc through the entire city. Rain and debris began blasting her body, as faint screams for help and panic echoed behind the whistle of the wind.
The room then plunged into darkness, as two spotlights shone onto the two Maxes once more. Maxine approached Max and placed her mouth against her ear.
"Do you want to, again, be the reason for the death of more than a thousand people and the destruction of Arcadia Bay?"
Tears began to stream down Max's face.
"DO YOU?" Maxine screamed, causing Max to recoil in fright.
"Get away from me you freak!" Max cried, pushing Maxine forcefully, causing her to stumble and fall.
The room was overcome by silence, except for the breathing of both girls. Max watched her reflection with caution and fright, her heart thumping hard in her chest.
"Heh, you call me a freak? Look at yourself, first." Max blocked out her words.
All of a sudden, a channel of thoughts began to flow in her mind. Max stood up determined, and stalked towards her reflection.
"You are afraid."
Maxine looked at her incredulously, her eyebrows pointed downwards.
"You are just trying to intimidate me, because you have no power. You can't do anything. You are just a voice in the back of my head. You can't, and you will not stop me."
As Max said this, the familiar orange tint began to surround the walls of the room. A transition through a photo. Max watched as blood began to trickle down Maxine's nose.
"No, NO, that's not true!"
The walls continued to change.
"Max, stop. You are not thinking clearly."
As Maxine said this, the walls froze. Max looked around, worriedly.
"I know that dealing with Chloe's death isn't easy, but you are just lost and confused. You are just doing all this, to just save her. That's it. Why would you readily give up the lives of thousands of people, just to save one that matters to you when the opportunity presents it?" Maxine said, this time putting up a sympathetic voice.
"I thought you already made up your mind on top of that cliff with the butterfly photo we took. Why do you, right now, want to change that?"
Max continued to stare at her reflection, her mind going in multiple direction.
"Max, answer me."
"I...don't know. I miss her. I really do." Max sobbed, fresh tears began streaming down her cheeks. Maxine looked on, but didn't move an inch.
"I feel what you feel, and going through this is hard. But, going back in time and saving her once again, is just gonna repeat that week all over again."
Maxine took Max's hands into hers.
"Please, stop this. There are better ways than this. You can… talk to Kate, maybe visit Joyce and David or talk to Mr Forster, if you want."
Max swallowed hard, her eyes nearly bloodshot red.
"No."
"What?"
"I will save Chloe."
"After everything I just said, about the town, th-"
"There is no proof that it will happen again. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. That storm happened because of why I did that week. Everything will play out differently, this time."
"You. Are willing to bet. THE LIVES. Of people. On some dumb, retarded theory you spontaneously came up with?!"
"Yes, and there is nothing you can do to stop me."
Maxine flailed her arms, noticeably exhausted.
"Fine. I'm just trying to protect you, protect us. If that's what you want, go ahead. You're right, I can't stop you. Not now. I'll let you go on your little journey. I don't care."
Maxine said, as the walls began to fully change the room illuminating further.
"Just remember one thing: Quid me nutriet,"
By now, the room was blinding white, the intensity obscuring her view of her reflection.
"me destruit."
The blinding light began to fade, giving way to the familiar surroundings. The fire alarm, the bucket and the washing materials. All seemed to be in order, nothing out of the ordinary. Max let out a sigh of relief, but panic began to rise as the confrontation between Nathan and Chloe began to escalate. She carefully peered over the safety of her stall, and swallowed hard.
You've made it this far. You only have one shot at this. Make it count, Max.
Max appeared from behind the stall, standing in front of the duo, confidence radiating from her body.
"Nathan, stop!"
The orotund tone to Max's voice surprised them all, even Max. Nathan spun around in a fit of panic and pointed the gun in Max's direction, much to Chloe's brief relief.
"Who are you? Stay right there!" Nathan cried, haphazardly aiming the gun at Max, whilst constantly turning towards Chloe.
"Nathan, please. Put the weapon down."
"Shut up! Don't tell me what to do."
Max ignored his warning and advanced slowly towards Nathan.
"Didn't your parents ever tell you not to meddle in other people's business?" Nathan said, the gun swinging precariously in his grasp.
Chloe recovered from her initial shock and found her voice again.
"Max, please, this is between both of us. I can settle it myse-"
"Hey, BITCH. Why don't you just shut the hell up you stupid slut!"
As Nathan uttered those words, Max froze. Those words would have hurt Chloe but in reality those words stung Max's heart. Anger and pain began to pulsate within her veins. It was if an unknown force began to take over her body.
You do not talk about Chloe like that.
That's enough.
Chloe watched as the next few seconds transitioned into a realm of confusion.
Reality had become a distant blur. Voices slurred, sound dampened and senses diluted.
The sound of running water.
The sound of screams and shouts.
The sound of fabric rubbing against fabric.
The sound of a gunshot.
The sound of a lifeless body thumping against the stone-cold floor.
The sound of another scream erupting against the walls of the bathroom.
The sound of a gun as it clanked against the cold floor.
The sound of a panic male voice as he shook the seemingly lifeless body.
Chloe cupped her mouth, pain striking forcefully onto her heart. Tears streaked down her cheeks as the pain began to engulf her.
Lying there in the pool of her own blood, was Max, her best friend as the room began to transition into a familiar white colour.
A.N : Jesus, these chapters are getting shorter and shorter...
Anyway, I want to apologise if this chapter is late and much shorter than usual, cause life sucks balls and fills with plans I don't want to be in.
I promise that the next chapter will be longer and more interesting, and hopefully you all will be here to still enjoy it.
Actually a retard,
-Z.