Life is Strange: My Unusual Journey

Chapter 20 of my Life is Strange novelization, enjoy.

Reviews

Boris Yeltsin: Well, we can only wait and see :)
Marina Ka-Fai: Well, probably, but the tone in which she said that made it sound more like she was simply making a statement, not complaining, plus if you check her other dialogue, she's pointing out that Max at least DID make some form of contact with her, compared to everybody else save her parents.
Wolfgirl2013: Thanks :)

Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Life is Strange or its characters.

Dark Room – Back to Normal

As I recovered consciousness I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming, that I really was back. I was. I couldn't help but grin as I sat up on Chloe's bed, seeing her, the way she really was, blue hair and all, sitting at her desk, working away. I couldn't admit that I didn't know what was going on, I'd have to piece it together quickly. But right now I was just so happy.

"Chloe..." I whispered.

I was so happy to see her, alive and okay, that I leapt to my feet, rushed over and hugged her. "Oh Chloe, you're okay!"

She reacted in surprise and pushed me off. "What dude, you wanna kiss me now? Too late, you had your chance."

Relieved to her tone was joking I just laughed, I guess she truly had calmed down after finding out about Rachel and Frank.

I shook my head. "Sorry, I'm just, happy to see you."

"Happy, dude, you were here all night, unless you were messing with time again?" Chloe shot back.

I just shook my head again, relieved, I decided I'd keep what happened to myself, the last thing Chloe needed right now was more heartache.

Instead I set my mind on focusing on picking up what I missed. But before I did, I took out my camera, a little surprised that I now thought of it as such, and snapped a picture of Chloe. Grinning I put the camera and picture away and quickly focused.

Searching the room I observed a large cork board resting against the wardrobe, on it was everything we had gathered about Nathan, David and Frank, adding to that was Chloe actually researching stuff on her laptop relating to Rachel and other disappearances.

'Okay, so we're investigating our evidence, trying to get answers for what happened to Rachel...I wonder...' I was slowly piecing it together.

I checked my phone and was surprised to see texts from people I'd never texted before. I bit my lip as I saw Warren's texts; it was clear that not only did I not talk to him about my feelings, messing around so much with time had wiped even the plan to talk to him out.

I almost groaned at that. 'I can't believe this, not only that, I still, think about that other reality, seeing him, with Stella...Urgh...'

It did wonders for my confidence; I quickly checked the others. They were mostly texts from others, Justin and Juliet for instance, one from Courtney too, a couple from my parents. All in all, it was clear I had been asking around for info about Frank; clearly we didn't have enough on anyone.

Chloe then piped up. "Hey, if you've got your thinking head back on straight, there's gotta be more shit in Step-Douche's bunker."

"You really think that's a good idea for me to go snooping there, what if he..." I began.

Chloe waved a hand. "Oh c'mon, Mom kicked his ass out remember, he's leaving, like, right now. Mom's out too, working, so we've got plenty of time."

I rolled my eyes. "Of course, so, better get my ass in gear then."

Chloe just nodded and I sighed before leaving her room.

Out on the landing I stopped briefly and did my best to prepare myself. Before I could move my phone beeped again. I checked it and grinned, it was Kate.

"Dear Max, I want to thank you again from the bottom of my heart for saving me. if you want to stop by, I'd be happy to see you. I miss you all, and my bunny."

I couldn't help but laugh softly, before replying. "I'll see you soon Kate, your bunny misses you too."

I smiled at her enthusiastic reply and noted the messages from Chloe; thankfully detailing how we managed to patch things up after yesterday. Okay yeah, everything had been really messed up, but things were back on track now. Time to start looking forwards, no more dwelling in the past.

'If only I was so confident about talking to Warren.'

I shook my head; not the time, sadly. I turned and headed down the stairs. At the bottom I stopped as I saw David standing there, a rucksack at his side, looking at the pictures of Chloe, from before William's death. He had a distant wistful expression on his face, so unlike how I've ever seen him look.

"Max..." He said, realizing I was there.

I shifted awkwardly, this wasn't a conversation I wanted to have right now. I couldn't just rewind out of it either, I wasn't sure if I could trust my power anymore, after what happened.

David sighed and spoke, he actually sounded, broken.

"Well Max, you broke up my family...I, I wanted to, just make things..." He shook his head.

I bit my lip. "David I..."

He cut me off quickly. "No Max, you bested me and I salute you for it...Enjoy your victory, soldier."

With that he picked up the rucksack and left. I couldn't deny I felt suddenly awkward again, recalling that argument, I had sided with Chloe, should I have done that. True what I found had me freaked out, but was it worth, well, this?

I shook my head, David was still acting suspiciously; even if he wasn't our culprit, I knew he was a one-man surveillance army, he just might have inadvertently picked up the real culprit, one of our other suspects?

Making up my mind I quickly got to work, I headed for the garage, the first thing I noticed was that the car David had been fixing was gone.

'Which means I can get to that locker, that's the only place I've not seen, there's gotta be stuff there.' I noted, but my elation quickly died. 'But of course there has to be an obstacle.'

The door was shut with a heavy duty padlock, one I remembered seeing on David's desk in here, just yesterday. I didn't know the code, so I had to find another way.

Searching the garage left me only one option, brute force, a crowbar. Shaking my head I listened for any sounds of Joyce coming home early for something she might have forgotten. Not hearing anything I got to work, using the crowbar to force open the locker.

I quickly searched it and found the motherload; actual coordinates, likely part of David's surveillance. I'll bet, imputed into an online map would show actual locations.

'Score, you are up to something David, question is, what. No matter, I'll be taking these, just what we need. I'm sure these'll help.'

Smiling I slipped the documents into my bag, only now noticing my attire. I had gone back to my usual style of a pair of jeans, fresh, a black T-shirt with a white moth design on it, my usual hi-tops and grey hoodie.

Compared to what I was wearing in the alternate reality, this was way more comfortable, no wonder I didn't notice it at once. Shaking my head I quickly left the garage and called upstairs.

"Chloe, you ready yet, let's get outta here!"

Within moments Chloe came downstairs, her boots and leather jacket now on.

"Alright, what did you find?" She asked.

I smirked. "Jackpot, a whole list of coordinates, we're on the right trail Chloe, I'm sure."

Chloe nodded. "Great, let's go, we need to get stuff on Nathan next, so, to Blackwall?"

"Wait, I wanna go to the hospital first, I promised I'd come see her." I replied.

Chloe nodded, still smiling and together we left, getting in Chloe's truck and heading for the hospital.

The ride to the hospital was mostly silent; I couldn't help but notice that Chloe was more focused than usual. She was no doubt eager to find Rachel and would desperately do anything to accomplish that. In a way I was glad, it meant she was less likely to blow up and rage at everything.

"So..." Chloe said, breaking the silence. "How did it go with lover boy?"

I groaned. "Chloe..."

She smiled sympathetically. "It didn't happen huh? I...guess our little heated discussion kinda push it outta your mind?"

"You, could say that I guess. It's alright, I'll find a way, if not today, then definitely at the movies." I replied.

Chloe just laughed. "Well, it's good to have back-up plans."

I shared in the laughter, although I noticed Chloe seemed to be contemplating something as we finally parked in the hospital's parking lot. Getting out we headed inside and approached the desk.

"Excuse me." I got the attention of the woman behind the desk. "I'm here to see Kate Marsh."

The woman looked at me for a moment then her eyes widened. "Wait, aren't you, the girl who saved her?"

I sighed and bowed my head. "Kate saved herself, I just...reminded her..."

The woman just smiled. "Don't worry; she's on the third floor, ward sixteen, room 23."

I thanked her and we headed to the elevator, heading up to the third floor.

We were soon walking down the corridor when Chloe spoke again.

"Man, hospital's always give me the creeps."

I nodded. "Imagine how poor Kate feels."

We reached the door, I stopped. "This is it, I hope, I hope she be happy to see me, I mean..."

Chloe shook her head. "Max, you're letting your nervousness talk again. She will be seriously glad to see you, she said so herself, she wanted you to visit."

With that she sat down.

"I'll uh, wait out here, let you two catch up." She explained before adding. "Max, I...I acted like a total brat when you replied to Kate's call that day, I never thought, about how much she was hurting...I'm sorry."

I just smiled and nodded before turning back to the door, I wondered how I would find Kate, before I opened the door and stepped in. To my delight, Kate look great, she was sitting in the chair next to her hospital bed, clad in her pyjamas.

She was busily drawing on a sketchpad, something which struck me as a good thing, that she'd taken up drawing again. When she looked up, hearing me come in, her already cheerful expression brightened even more.

"Max!"

I grinned as she stood up meeting me as I approached and we hugged.

"Kate, you look great." I replied. "Is it a stupid question, to ask how you're doing?"

She shook her head. "I'm better now...Everybody's sent something, they all seem, really sorry. Even Victoria sent a card and I'm pretty sure she meant it. I gave most of the flowers to other patients, they needed them more than me."

I nodded and Kate grinned before adding, in a semi-joking voice. "I'm keeping the balloons though."

We both laughed softly as she sat down again.

I looked around and noted some of Kate's finished drawings as she continued speaking.

"One of the nurses gave me these." She said, gesturing to the drawing materials. "I thought I'd get back into drawing, it felt nice...My pictures did get a little dark for a while, but I think I'm past that now."

"They look great." I replied truthfully.

She looked thoughtful as she spoke again. "You know, I was thinking about doing a children's book about bullying...Maybe help people, so they don't end up like me. I was hoping to have some stories, drawings, even some photos in it."

Smiling playfully I quipped. "I hope that's a subtle hint you want me to take the photos."

"Oh you better." She replied in a similar tone. "My family will be here tomorrow, then, I'll be going away for a while, back home...But I'll be coming back, I know that."

I nodded. "How, are you're family?"

Kate sighed. "They're pretty shook up, I'm not surprised; but they'll all just glad I'm alive...They're all grateful to you."

I felt my face heat up at that and I found myself fidgeting again. "Um, have you, had any other visitors?"

"Stella and Alyssa came by, they were here the moment the nurse said I was able to have visitors again." Kate explained, brightening up again. "Oh and Warren also came by, dropping off what I'd need so I'd be able to keep up with what I missed in class."

I grinned at that. "Sounds like Warren."

"Yeah, he can be a bit of a goof-ball at times, but he's sweet." Kate replied. "I think its great you and he are going to the movies together."

I smiled and thanked her. We talked some more about other plans and such, when finally, I pondered, wondering if it was wise to ask this.

I decided I would; I had to test the waters after all.

"Kate, listen, I've been trying to figure out exactly what happened to you. What with Nathan and all..." I began hesitantly.

To my surprise Kate's eyes flashed fire and she spoke in a stronger voice than I'd ever heard her use.

"Nathan Prescott should pay for what he's done."

I nodded. "I agree, I just need to find more proof, but to do that, I'd, need to search his room."

Kate's eyes widened. "Oh, Max, let me help. I...I know some people to ask, I could find out Nathan's room number for you, make it easier for you to find it."

"Kate, that's perfect, thanks." I replied with a grin.

We hugged again and Kate smiled. We said our goodbyes and, relieved that Kate was doing so well, I left the room.

Outside Chloe stood up, smiling widely.

"So, how'd it go?"

I returned the smile. "Pretty well, we better get to Blackwall; see what we can dig up, for Kate's sake."

Chloe nodded and we left the hospital, heading for Chloe's truck and to Blackwall to continue our search. Time to dig up more dirt on suspect number two, Nathan Prescott.

End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.