"How much time do we have left?" She asked him as they made their way towards Blackwell.
"I said I could see the storm. I don't know exactly when it hits. I have no fucking idea." He told her
"Oh… right" she replied, peering round the side of the building.
"Wait Max" he whispered urgently behind her as they looked out over the front of Blackwell. There were a few students dotted about. "What are we going to tell them?"
She shrugged "The truth?" She suggested, before walking round the corner.
He sighed "Are you fucking serious?" before reluctantly following her towards the boy's dormitories.
As they walked across she looked in wonder around her. How could a place that felt so familiar suddenly feel so different? She'd never felt so old.
She headed for the boys dormitories. She knew one person who would definitely believe them.
She knocked on his door, Nathan fidgeting and jumping about behind her. When was the last time he'd had any drugs? He clearly wasn't used to feeling this sober. Every little sound was making him jump out of his skin.
Finally, the door opened and Max felt relief wash over her at seeing his face. After the past day or so, she felt like she'd lost everybody.
"Warren" she beamed, falling into him and squeezing him tight. She breathed into his chest "You're here".
Warren looked wide-eyed at the sight of Max and Nathan in his doorway, before wrapping his hands unconsciously around her. "Hey" he answered, staring straight at Nathan, confused. Nathan looked down, scratching the back of his head, not knowing what to say. He wished they'd thought this through. He was used to people calling him crazy, it wasn't that. He'd gotten so used to being alone with Max and so relieved to finally be able to talk to somebody honestly and without judgement. Now he faced the dawning realization that what they shared up on the lighthouse was over. After all the years of seeing it, it was gone.
"Warren, we need to tell you something, something important" Max urged, stepping away and looking up at him.
Warren looked between them again. We? Since when were Max and Nathan a 'We?'
"Max, where have you been? I tried looking for you after the party. You look…. terrible. No offence" He gestured at her now dirty clothes and messed up hair. She couldn't remember the last time she'd looked in a mirror. Nathan, if anything, looked worse with his dishevelled hair and bloodied face. His eyes still slightly bloodshot. His usually pristine jacket streaked with blood and dirt.
"It's a long story. Listen. You have to help us."
Warren was still staring suspiciously at Nathan, his arms now folded, "Did he do something to you?" Warren asked, an edge to his voice she didn't know he even had.
"Wha..?" Max began, forgetting that last time she'd seen Warren, she'd told him to stay away from Nathan. That he was dangerous. In fact. She'd said it to pretty much everybody. She squeezed her eyes shut, frustrated with herself. Oh shit.
"No. Warren. Listen to me. I was wrong about Nathan." She threw Nathan a nervous glance backwards, guilt rising through her stomach and up into her voice. He didn't look up at her, and that made her feel a thousand times worse.
"This. This is bigger than that" She began. Not knowing how to start. How do you tell somebody the world's going to end?
"The apocalypse right?" Warren asked her. He'd had his suspicions. He was, after all, an expert in this area. The animals, the weather. The double moon and the eclipse. None of it made any sense. It was Chaos.
He sighed sadly before looking her in the eye. "It's real isn't it?"
She nodded at him. How many people was she going to have to tell? How many times would she have to see that look as she brought their world crashing down around them?
"Okay. I'm listening. Tell me everything". He unfolded his arms, gesturing to them both.
"I'll tell you on the way. Come on" She said, pulling his arm.
"Wait" he stopped, running back inside to grab something. She huffed. What could possibly be more important than the end of the world?
He'd grabbed their photograph of them both from the party.
"For prosperity, you know?"
She allowed herself a small smile "Come on Warren" she said warmly, tugging at his sleeve.
They ran to Victoria's room. Knocking on the door. She opened it, staring at them in disbelief. Staring at Nathan.
"What the fuck?" She snapped, looking him up and down
Max watched his frightened face struggling to find the words and her heart sank. She'd never asked him how many years he'd been like this. It was okay for her. She only discovered her powers when she was in that bathroom. She'd known what life was like before she felt crazy. The way he spoke to her earlier. "I've seen you here a thousand times" How long had the visions been going on for? How did he feel now that they'd stopped? Did he feel normal, or did it make him feel even crazier without them? How many times had he tried to get people to believe him? How many times had they just told him he was mad?
"We need to tell you something" She stepped in. She was supposed to be his hero, right? That's what he'd said. "and it's going to sound crazy"
"You look like shit Max" She told her plainly, her eyes scanning them.
"I thought you said Nathan was dangerous? Those were your exact words, right?" Victoria asked her, twisting the knife in.
"I was wrong. I was so wrong. Please just listen to me" Max begged her, stepping forward.
"I know were not friends, but this is bigger than that" She touched her arm and Victoria stared down at Max's cold hands on her skin.
"Nathan?" She asked him "Where the fuck have you been? Everyone has been looking for you?"
He stared at her, his bloodshot eyes looked frightened, like a rabbit caught in the headlights.
"The storm…" he began, his eyes pleading with her.
She gave him a knowing look "Have you taken your meds recently?" She asked him, her eyes saying she already knew. Her voice was caring though.
"Victoria" Max urged her "Please, just listen to him. He's not crazy. You know deep down he's not. The animals, this crazy weather…" She began. Victoria's eyes were boring into Max
"What kind of game are you playing Max?" She shot at her, her eyes like daggers "Because whatever it is, it isn't fucking funny. You've crossed a line." She pushed past her, reaching for Nathan
"Nathan, sweetie, it's okay, let's just go get you sorted yeah?" She cooed at him, mothering him.
A tear rolled down his face "Victoria, please just listen to me"
"It's okay" she shushed him, rubbing his arm
"No its not." He whispered to her.
Victoria snapped her head back at Max "Is this a fucking joke to you? What the hell have you done to him?" she was practically shouting at her now.
"Victoria will you just listen…" She began, but she didn't want to know
"Everyone thinks you're just some poor, innocent little girl but you're not. You're an evil bitch Max"
"Victoria just stop!" Nathan was shouting at her now.
Everyone stopped. Everyone was standing still. The other girls were out of their dorms and watching them all, eyes and mouths open.
"Please, just come with me" He begged her.
"Nathan I…" She began
"Erm, listen…" Warren perked up shyly, stepping in front of Victoria "I don't know exactly what's going on either. I just. I believe them okay? I'm probably like, the biggest science nerd here and this weather, it scares me. I think… I think they might be right."
"You really think he can see into the future?" She asked him bitchily "Oh Please"
"I don't know." Warren answered back clumsily. Truthfully "I can't tell you whether he can see it or not or even why. I can't even tell you why the animals are dying. Which, for a science geek, scares the shit out of me, a lot." Max glanced up. She'd never heard Warren swear before. "I just, feel it, in the pit of my stomach. Don't you? Who cares about anything else?" He stood there, waiting for her answer. Max stared up at him then. He really was a good guy. The type where you can see it, all the way down to the bone.
Vicorias eyes softened and she looked up and down the hallway, a dozen eyes all watching and waiting on what she was going to say. Did they look scared? Did they all feel it?
Victoria gave Warren the smallest nod, before wrapping her arms around Nathan. "Okay" she whispered into his ear. "Okay I'll come with you".
Max mouthed a silent 'thank you' at Warren. He looked around at the people staring at them, then cupped his hands around the sides of his mouth, before yelling "Well, you heard them right? Are you coming or what?"