Prescott Dorms
Standing at Max's dorm room, Chloe tilts herself a bit towards Kate "Kate, see if you can find the room keys on her?"
Kate nods and rummages through Max's pockets and finds the keys tugged one. She quickly inserts the key and twists it. The door unlocks with a click. She opens the door, enters and moves aside to make room for Chloe, who follows her.
Chloe slowly lies Max down on her bed and sits next to her. She starts to take her hoodie off but remembering her scars and two other girls being in the room, discards the ideas.
She fixes some loose strands from her face and caresses her cheek, and kisses on her forehead, 'You did good love, I always knew you were strong. But you hella overexerted yourself'
Kate closes the door and beams at Chloe's display of affection sharing a meaningful look with Dana who also has a knowing grin on her face.
Chloe gets up quietly and turns around to face the two girls. Seeing that they are smiling, she asks them inquiringly "What?"
"Nothing," she smiles "Anyways, good to see you again Chloe"
"Yeah, you too, Katie-pie. Make yourself at home. I'm sure Max won't mind." she grins at Kate, and looks at Dana "You too Dana, long time, huh?"
Dana, bubbly as always, plops on the sofa, while Kate seats gracefully fiddling her fingers.
"So, can you guys tell me what Max been up to? Katie? You were with her right?" Chloe asks the Christian girl with a fixed inquiring gaze and her tone had a hint of accusation.
Kate flinches and fidgets at her gaze, she doesn't know what to answer. 'Should I tell her about Max's breakdown? Maybe Max wants to tell Chloe herself. She called for Chloe while she was crying'
Chloe's face softens when she sees Kate's uneasiness "Sorry, Katie-pie, I didn't mean to be hard on you. I am worried about Max, it's her first day and already in the bed, hella passed out after a probably fending off an attack" she breathes deeply to dissipate the rage boiling in her.
"I don't know Chloe," Kate starts slowly. "We were only together in photography class when…" She trails off. Chloe looks at her again, waiting for an answer.
Dana pipes in "When Victoria tried to hassle her after the class and-"
"Victoria! Again! That fucking bitch" Chloe cuts Dana off and clenches her fists. "I told her, I told that fuckin' bitch she will get it if she harasses Max again. Where the fuck is she?"
Kate winces at Chloe's repeated swearing. Dana raises both her hands in defense "Whoa, Chloe, calm down! Let me finish first and please pipe it down when Max's sleeping right behind you."
Chloe again takes a few deep breaths, it's an exercise she does to control her anger. She moves towards the desk and leans on it, crosses her arms and looks at the girls again. She's somewhat calm but her steely eyes still make the other girls uneasy.
"Okay, Dana, speak, and quick. Before I go out there, find that bitch and pound her pretty face in" She seethes.
"Nothing bad happened, Chloe. In fact, I'd say it's was awesome" Dana grins. Chloe looks at her with a flat face but her eyes show a bit of confusion. Kate, who was solemn and quiet, wiggles a bit and also tries to stiffen a giggle.
"Okay girls, what happened? Tell me now" curiosity grips Chloe. Dana and Kate alternatively tell Chloe what happened after the photography class. About Victoria trying to mock Max for her stammering, and Max telling her off in a threatening way and Victoria scurrying off with her cronies.
For a first time, since Chloe entered Max's room, she grins "Hah! Atta girl!" 'I am so proud of you, mafia Max'
Dana giggles "Told you, she is something. Even after her breakdown last night"
"Dana!" Kate almost yells at the brunette, who winces, mouthing a sorry.
"What!? What breakdown? Kate? Dana? You not telling me something?" Again, her mood swings into agitation.
"Sorry, Chloe. I wanted to tell you, but I thought Max will not like it. She might want to tell you herself." Kate says in a meek apologetic tone
Chloe sighs, "Okay fine, I'll ask her this time. But Katie," she looks towards Kate "Max is stubborn, she may not tell me if something is bothering her. But if something happens, please tell me next time. I don't want her to get hurt again by anyone."
Kate nods but asks "Again?" Chloe curses inwardly "Eh? No, nothing"
"Chloe, we saw the marks on her hands last night." Dana says softly, in almost quiet voice and she continues "Also, she was crying and screaming last night, about someone hurting her. She was calling for you." Dana's looks at the sleeping red hair oblivious of everything.
Chloe mutters a fuck again, earning a grimace for Kate. She looks towards Kate apologetically "Sorry Kate, bad habit." She pauses for a few minutes to formulate her words 'I should not be the one to tell them about Max. It should be her, it's her life, and her right, if she wants to disclose it or not. But they are not gonna let it go if I don't say anything… maybe… yeah, okay.'
She nods to herself "Okay, guys, uh… thanks for taking care of Max last night," Both girls nod at hers and smile, Kate replies "Don't mention it Chloe, and don't you worry Max is our friend now. We will take care of her" Chloe's face softens 'Maxi, you are already spreading your wings and making friends'
"Thanks. Max… It's, uh… her parents died in a car crash when she was 15…"
Kate's gasps and her hands cover her mouth instinctively as her breath hitches. Dana's brows furrows and her expression turns sad.
"She was all alone in Seattle when this happened and had to see her parent's bodies, all alone and traumatized. We…we didn't even know about this until six months ago," Chloe's voice hitches. She loved Ryan and Vanessa as her second parents, just as Max loved Joyce and William, they were a happy big family but the move to Seattle destroyed both of their lives and the hell Max had to go through.
Kate, who was the softest and kindest soul, couldn't hold her tears and she chokes a sob and sniffs. Dana who was equally teary-eyed rubs Kate's shoulders.
Chloe's eyes show a hint of sadness but she coughs and clears her throat to show no sign of weakness in front of these girls. She doesn't want to bare anymore of Max's torments.
The next few moments are spent in silence. Kate and Dana were processing what they heard. Chloe, with a solemn expression, looks at her feet. That's when they hear a groan and a shifting sound and all three, tilt their head to see Max's waking up groggily and calls for Chloe.
"C-Chloe…"
"Max!" Chloe jumps towards the bed and lands on her knees on the bed right next to Max.
Max's eyes tear up and she snatches Chloe in a tight hug "Chloe!" She moves closer to Chloe, albeit still groggy and buries her head in her shoulder.
"I was scared Che. I was so scared!" Her body shivers from dry sobs. Chloe rubs on her back.
"It's okay babe, you are fine. You did well. You did great"
"Max! Thank God you are okay!" Kate chimes in.
"Hey, Kate. D-Dana" she tries to grin but winces "Ow!" Max groans because of the pain
"Easy there, Max" Dana smiles at her.
"Max, you okay?" Chloe's voice laced with concern as she rubs Max's back.
"Apart from feeling like being hit by a truck, and my leg sore, yeah, I am good," she hisses when she touches the back of her head.
"Lemme see, Max" Chloe turns Max and looks at the swollen bump on Max's crown.
Kate quickly gets up and out of the room, after a few moments she returns with a wet towel "Here, use this Chloe" Chloe takes the wet towel and presses it on the bump which makes Max hiss. Chloe apologizes again "Sorry Maxi, it's hella swollen. Did they hit you in the head?"
"Ssss… N-no, actually I hit him on his jaw" she tries to grin but hisses again.
"With the back of your head?"
"With the back of my head"
"On his jaw?"
"On his jaw. He was holding me from behind"
Chloe grins at this "My girl, smart move!" but gets no response from Max, she calls for her "Max?"
"I-I was afraid Che, they were m-mocking me" Max starts stammering as she starts recalling the event. Chloe, sensing Max's stuttering, grimaces, and worries she's going to have a panic attack again. She quickly hugs the smaller girl and wraps her arms around her.
Dana and Kate who were sitting with a grin on their face, their grin fades and worry appears in their eyes, also get up and sits on next to the two hugging girls. The bed got crowded but none mind, they were more concerned about Max. Kate and Dana already witnessed Max's break down understood she needs consoling. They start rubbing on her back.
"One of them h-hold my wrist, he said, his friend has the h-hots for me, th-they want to have a g-go with me. Che, they wanted to do t-those things again. I-I was afraid. I… I didn't want them to h-hurt me again. I d-don't want to be h-hurt again. David took them away but I'm scared Che, t-they will come for me. T-they will h-hurt me again." Max starts sobbing.
Chloe knew she's not talking about her recent harassers anymore. She's going back there. Her heart breaks but she tries to console the love of her life. "Shh, shh, babe, but you did well. You showed them that they should not mess with you. You are stronger than before. No one will dare to touch you anymore.
"NO! T-they will come again. T-they will take me back t-there, they will take me back to that d-dark place. I don't want to go there a-again. Bill will hurt me again. He always h-hurt me. I cry, I beg him not to h-hurt me. But he does. He's a monster, Chloe. Please, don't let him take me there." She's not here anymore. Not in the safe cocoon, her room, or in her lover's arms, but in the dark, hellish nightmare of hers. She buries herself in Chloe's chest like a scared lamb to hide.
Kate and Dana who are confused at the beginning what Max was talking about slowly connects the dots. Like a sign, they understand everything. Max's breakdown, her screams and cries, the burn marks, the stammering. They understood everything.
Kate's lips begin to tremble and her eyes brim with tears. She rubs Max's back with one hand and put her other hand over her mouth to stiffen the crying sobs that she is unable to hold. 'Such a sweet girl, she's been hurt by a monster. May God banish him in eternal fire. I will never pray for forgiveness for such a monster' Kate thinks through her tears.
Dana, with her trembling body, gets up from the bed, and move towards the sofa. She says nothing but she understands everything. Her eyes are sad and full of tears while looking at the broken girl.
Chloe speaks softly in Max's ear "Max, you will not go there. Nobody will take you there, we will be here and ready for them if they come. Me, David, Joyce, Kate and Dana. We will be here. Nobody will touch you. Nobody will hurt you. Even you, my beautiful, even you will be ready for them this time. You are not the weak girl from before. You are a survivor and you are strong, babe." She kisses on the sobbing girl's head, who still has her face buried deep in Chloe's jacket to hide. Chloe rocks Max's body in her arms to soothe her, but her eyes even through brim with tears show a tinge of blood in them.
Her rage boils and this time she channels it, let it boil 'Those motherfuckers, they tried to break my Max. It's always somebody. What did she ever do to be tormented so much? She just wants to live her life. Let her live. I was helpless before, I couldn't help her before, I didn't know, but not anymore. Wait for me. You fucking assholes. Just wait for me…' she grinds her teeth as her blood boils and tiny spittle of foam forms in the corner of her mouth.
Chloe looks down again at Max who's shaking and sobbing subsided, she passed out again. The pain, the fatigue, and anxiety were too much for the poor redhead. Max unconsciously still clutching on Chloe's arm, makes it hard for Chloe to move but she reluctantly takes Max's arm off her and lies her down on the bed.
Once Max started breathing deeply, Chloe slowly gets up and sits on the couch next to Dana. None of them talks about anything. There is a heavy silence in the room. Chloe feels suffocated tries to break the silence "G-Guys, there's food here, pro'ly gone cold. But help yourselves. Two-Whales hella good"
But none of the other girls replies. They sit silent, solemn. Chloe sighs and mutters a curse, even Kate don't mind her cursing this time. Chloe sighs, clenches her fists and starts talking.
"When her parents died in the accident, Max was taken to a foster care, she stayed there for a few months. She told me she lost parts of her memory, something called diso... deso something amnesia"
"Dissociative Amnesia" Kate adds in softly in a low voice as not to wake up Max.
Chloe nods "yeah that, dissociative amnesia, she forgot about Arcadia Bay, about us, my family and me. So, they never knew about us or contacted us" She takes a deep breath.
"She was adopted by one of her father's friend. Bill Ernest" she swallows the bile that rises in her stomach, she hates his name, she detests it. She detests that a man by the name of Bill Ernest exists.
"He…" Chloe pauses again, she takes a sharp breath from her nose as her voice hitches, anger and pain she felt for Max tries to break her hard shell, so she takes a few deep breaths, her exercise to control her emotions, but it didn't help this time.
The helplessness, the anger, the rage, the pain, the guilt, all of the emotion she felt for Max pounds her on the hard barrier she made for the world, she breaks down, in front of the two girls she barely knows. She cries for the girl she loves so much that her heart breaks even imagining the ordeal she had to go through.
Through her tears and sobs "That fucking bastard, that motherfucking monster, he raped her! He and his fucking sons, they fucking raped her for months!" Her eyes we so red with all the emotions, so full of agony she felt for the girl.
Kate, one of the kindest of all people, almost screams, but she quickly puts her hands to clench her own mouth. Still, a few choking sobs escape from the spaces between her fingers. She gasps and tries to breathe but her breathing hitches and chokes. Her face turns red from the pressure.
Dana's face was all white, she was not breathing at all. She had heard of this stuff, she had seen on the TV, in the movies, in the news. But to imagine, something like that happened to someone so close. She remembers how bravely Max faced one of the bitchiest person in the school, who everyone avoids. She didn't see the fight but think how bravely she defended herself, yet she is so broken and have so much grief and trauma in her life. Finally, she takes a shuddery breath and her eyes wells with tears. She says nothing but only put her arm around the punk, the usual strong, calm and funny punk, now reduced to a sobbing broken girl herself. She rubs her arm and tries to calm down the crying blunette.
"They have hurt her every day Dana. They tortured her and abused her every day. Like a game, like fucking inhuman monsters, they preyed on my Max. The tried to break her" Chloe sniffs.
Dana hugs the blunette and rubs her arm "But she came out stronger from it, right, Chloe?" She says in a soothing voice. The Blunette who looks at Dana and nods "I have seen it with my own eyes, she defended the mocking from that bully Victoria"
Kate, who was sobbing silently, sniffs and sits next to the blunette and holds her hand "And she even defended herself from those fuc-, bad guys that harassed her" Kate almost swears, she also felt a surge of emotion she never felt so strongly.
Chloe snorts through her tears "I knew you had it in you, Katie-pie" Dana also giggles at this "Watch out, Chloe, Kate is a closet bad ass, she's deceiving us all" Kate replies with a mocking hmph!
After a few minutes, Chloe calmed down and sniffs "Kate, Dana. I have a request"
"Yes, Chloe?" Kate asks and Dana nods with her. "Please take care of Max for me, when I am not around. She's stubborn, she won't rely on anyone, these breakdowns happen when she bottles everything too much. I want to be with her to support her and protect her, but I cannot be here all the time. So, please look after her"
Both girls nod affirmingly, "Of course Chloe, that goes without saying. Kate might joke that I am the mother hen of these dorms, But for Max, I'll literally wear a feather costume and become one and cluck around her" Kate giggle and Chloe grins, imagining the tall brunette in a chicken costume.
"Also, one more thing," Chloe speaks again "Please, don't tell anyone or even Max about what I told you. I feel like I betrayed her trust but baring her past like this, but I trust you guys and in time she will trust you too. Dana especially you, please don't tell this to Juliet, you know how she is"
"Cross my heart, we never had this conversation, as for Max, we will treat her still the same, nothing changed" Dana smiles at the blue haired girl and Kate also nods in affirmation.
Chloe nods in reply and gets up "I gotta do something, I'll be back soon, can one of you can stay here with Max?"
"I'll stay," both girls say simultaneously. They look at each other and again at Chloe, "We'll stay"
"Thanks, I'll be back soon. If she wakes up tell her I went to get smokes" The girls nod and Chloe leaves the room.
Kate sits and sighs, "Poor Max, she went through so much, she's same age as us. How can someone be so heartless?" Dana only sighs, she has no words to express the disdain she felt for the monsters that tortured the poor girl.
Chloe closes the door slowly and starts walking towards the dorm exit. She wanted to pay Victoria a visit first, but she doesn't want to create a scene so close to Max. So, Victoria comes later. First, she needs to do something which she hates, calling David. She groans but her eyes still full of anger.
She takes out the phone from pocket, looks at it for a moment but sneers "Fuck it, not him! He'll create more scene than I do. I know where to find them" She grins maliciously "I am coming for you, motherfuckers!" She walks out of the girl's dorms and towards the boy's.
Chloe has been in more fights in her four years than any seasons MMA fighters could have been in officially. She had to, her anger after her father's death and Max's departure from Arcadia Bay had overwhelmed her. It all started small. Bickering, arguments, shoves, pushes and in next three years, it escalated to punches, kicks, head butts, boots, occasionally anything that takes her out of the binds. She was a young girl, she had to play dirty to be on the safe side, the winning side, she didn't always win, but the streets hardened her. She had a reputation, a very bad one. She grins remembering something. She clenches her fists even harder.
It's been a long time she had let loose of her rage. Last time she went out of control is when she caught a guy trying to spike her drink in a club which didn't card her. She was really pissed that night, though a usual day for her, a fight with David, who she couldn't touch or fight back thanks to her mom backing him up, and for her happiness, she never touched David. The only respect she had for David that he cared for her mother.
But she could touch the guy who tried to drug her. Chloe caught him putting the drug in her beer. She shoved him and he slapped her, then it was darkness. All she felt and heard were punching sound. Her hand was hurting but she was punching someone's face which resembled a face. She almost faced jail time if some other club patrons didn't vouch for her, the fight being a self-defense against a forced drug induction.
But today she felt it's well placed and will be well earned, she just need to find the ones who harassed Max and triggered her attack.
She scans the yard in front of main building, looking for her prey, who Max probably have already marked. But couldn't find anyone. She sees one of her skater buddies, Trevor. She walks towards him.
"Trevor, Buddy!" her voice was so agitated and hoarse, that Trevor's face turn white as a sheet and gulps loudly, "H-Hey Chloe. What's up?" He says with a trembling voice. Trevor has known Chloe through her Blackwell days and beyond. He knows here very well and He knows her looks. 'Somebody's gonna die today' He thinks to himself.
"Dude" She grins, "Have you heard anyone got his ass busted from Blackwell?" She asks him
"T-today?" He asks 'Oh boy, Logan and Zachery. They were busted up, every guy laughed that a chick busted them. But I heard David broke the fight. Did she? Oh boy, is she here to finish them off? Somebody's really gonna die today'
"Yeah, Today? Know anything?"
He nods 'Why would I lie to Chloe fucking Price? I don't get my ass beaten by her'
"Good, tell me" She puts her hand on his shoulder. He flinches and blurts "LoganandZachery"
"Who?" She asks again and squeezes his shoulder slightly, "L-Logan and Zachery, I heard they were harassing a chick in front of girl's dorm and got their ass kicked"
"Thanks, man! I owe you" She pats him and turns to leave
"What are you gonna do Price?" He asks
"Oh, just a chat, nothing much" She grins at him, winks and leaves for the Boy's dorms.
Trevor's takes his beanie off with his trembling hand and thinks 'Somebody's gonna die today'
"Laugh all you want but I am telling you, man, that bitch is crazy. She caught us off guard" Logan says while a compress is pressed on his temple sitting in front of the dorm stairs with a couple of guys, who were snickering at him.
"Yeah right, just tell us the truth dude, you got your ass handed to ya by a girl. Dude look at your face, that's no off guard. She beat your ass." One of his friends says
"Fuck off, told you I was off guard"
"Pfft! Dude, she fucking kicked Zach's balls and broke his nose. He's wiped out and lying in his room. You were not even conscious when they took you to the nurse's office" Laughs Hayden lazily while smoking his joint.
"Serves yo' right, though, you fucked up in your mind to harass a girl of our own school. Girls should be chill, fun, and willing. What are you, fucking perverts and rapists. Hah! No wonder you got your ass handed to ya" He continues in his lazy stupor.
"Fine, I know I made a mistake, but dude she was hot. She made this pose on her phone for her boyfriend maybe, telling you she's a slut, just pretending hard to get" says Logan stupidly
"Pretending? Dude you are an idiot and delirious, she fucked you up and you still think she's pretending?" Hayden laughs again at him.
"Get off my back dude!" He scowls at Hayden who laughs harder. He feels humiliated "Just wait, when I find that bitch again, I will fuck her, I will fuck her so good she will squeal like a howling bitch she is"
"Oh Yeah?" She grins
EN: Okay! Back with a chapter a day late from my daily release schedule but I am trying to squeeze some free time out of my office project which is gonna break my back anytime now. But, I'll survive.
So, this chapter. Previous I mentioned to a friend in the comment that my idea of an AU is not just a story change. It also affects characters, their behaviors, growth everything. Dc's Flashpoint have been the biggest influence on me on how I see AU. I am looking at you, Martha and Diana.
So, introducing a border-line psychotic Chloe, I wanted to keep this side of her for late. But let me in you in a secret. She has to be ready for what's coming next to her. And she would do anything to protect Max. That's for another time.
Also, you have noticed I fluctuated the characters in the initial part. From Max's almost mellow back and forth between her and Chloe her panic attack and even the hard-boiled Chloe's breakdown, I just want to show my character interpretations as humanly as possible. Sometimes, even the hardest falls when grief struck and cannot cope with the situation. This is from personal experience :)
Anyways, I hope you liked this chapter. Please review as I love to listen to you friends and rethink of plots and plans which I think will work in my fic.
Cheers