Pushed along by the entity, Max stepped off the school bus at the stop just down the street from the Two Whales, which looked exactly the way she'd last seen it five years ago. Talk about going back in time...the diner looks exactly the same. The entity ignored the yellow-haired woman and the old man in dreadlocks who were waiting at the bus stop, and turned Max towards the Two Whales diner. Approaching from the other direction was an orange-haired man with a mustache, in blue jeans and a jacket.

Max sighed internally to herself as the entity walked Max directly into the mustached man's path instead of stepping aside to let him walk down the sidewalk. The entity walked Max straight at the man, yet the man strangely paid her no heed, never slowing his pace.

Max braced herself for a collision – but instead, she seemed to bounce right off the mustached man as he continued to walk forward completely unimpeded, not even staggering. What the fuck? As Max wondered, she realized, I've been thinking that a lot since yesterday…

The entity, undaunted, charged Max's body toward the man over and over, as if trying to block his path, only to bounce harmlessly off the man each time. Resigned to this farce, Max waited for the entity to tire of its amusement, knowing the futility of trying to exercise any control herself.

Finally, at long last, the entity began to walk Max toward the diner… and then abruptly turned her to the left into the parking lot. There's that dirty RV from the other day, Max noted as the entity sped her around the front of the RV and turned the corner to find a man sleeping in a chair leaning on the side of the RV and a dog just rising up from its haunches. The dog rose up and started to bark. "Stop that, stop!" the man groaned, in an annoyed tone. "No barkie."

There was something creepy about that guy and his dog... Max thought as the entity turned her around and jogged her back across the parking lot to enter the diner.

...or so Max thought. Max found herself jogging down the sidewalk past the diner entrance, and after making one attempt to stop and turn which the entity overruled with a firm invisible grip, Max gave up and allowed the entity to jog her all the way around the corner, where a homeless lady sat on a flattened cardboard box on the ground. Poor woman. I hope there's a shelter for her.

"Hello," the entity said in Max's voice. The woman looked up.

"Aw, look at you. A fine example of youth. I bet you're a senior student."

"Yes, I go to Blackwell Academy."

"I could tell you're a wise young woman. I know all about Blackwell and this town…"

Tell me more, Max pleaded in her mind. Do you know anything about Chloe, or Rachel, or Nathan? But the entity had other ideas. "I have to go now. Goodbye," the entity said, turning Max away from the woman. Max shrugged internally, realizing the entity would do as it pleased regardless of what she wanted.

But then a moment later the entity turned Max around again. "Hi, I'm back again," Max's voice sounded. "Sure looks that way," the woman said, looking up. "I bet you have dirt on the Prescott family," the entity said.

"That whole family is dirty," the woman spat. Now we're on to something, Max thought, as she sat back and listened while the entity proceeded to pump the homeless woman for information about the Prescotts, then about Joyce, Chloe, and Rachel, but ended up with little in the way of specific information. "I have to go now. Goodbye," the entity said, again terminating the conversation.

And then, the entity entered into another one of its weird repeated conversations.

"Hi, I'm back again," the entity said in Max's voice.

"Sure looks that way," the homeless lady said, looking up at Max.

"I have to go now. Goodbye," the entity said. Then, a moment later, while standing in front of the homeless lady the entire time: "Hi, I'm back again."

"Sure looks that way," the homeless lady answered again, not missing a beat, nor appearing perturbed in the slightest.

"I have to go now. Goodbye. Hi, I'm back again."

"Sure looks that way."

"I have to go now. Goodbye. Hi, I'm back again."

"Sure looks that way."

What are you doing? Max internally shook her head at the entity, as it continued the loop.

"I have to go now. Goodbye. Hi, I'm back again."

"Sure looks that way."

Max began to tune out everything around her, letting her mouth move without any effort on her part and relaxing back into the entity's grip, deciding to see if it would let her sleep standing up. She certainly felt tired enough to fall asleep right there after being up all night…

"I have to go now. Goodbye. Hi, I'm back again."

"Sure looks that way."

And then, after the umpteenth time, the entity suddenly changed tack, leaving Max reeling and scrambling to wake up her brain and follow along. "How long have you lived in Arcadia Bay?"

"A thousand years," the homeless woman said sagely. "I've gone through the same changes as the town..."

"What changes to the town?"

"Ones it takes a lifetime to see," the woman answered cryptically. "There's a lot of beauty here, but a lot of darkness too. Greedy bastards that ruined this town, put people out of work...out of home. Like me."

"I'm sorry... Have you ever lived outside of here?"

"Where the hell would I go? I hate the sun and love the mist. I might be homeless, but Arcadia Bay is still my home."

"I have to go now. Goodbye." Max had said it so many times already, but this time, it felt different.

"Come talk to me any ol' time you want, young lady."

I bet she's seen Arcadia Bay go through a lot of changes… and secrets… Max thought as the entity finally turned her away from the homeless lady and walked her back towards the street and the entrance of the diner.

But on the way, the entity stopped to talk to a man reading a newspaper while standing at the corner of the building. "Excuse me, sir?" the entity said, exactly the way Max would have if it had been of her own volition.

The man gave no more useful information than the homeless lady. "Can you believe this town?" he griped. "The world is on fire and our big headline is 'Snow!' I can hardly wait for next week's big story: 'Clouds!'"

"The snow was pretty odd," Max pointed out. "It was right in the middle of a warm, sunny day."

The man was unimpressed. "Oh, global warming bullshit. It's the Northwest, snow happens."

Max would've turned away at this point, but the entity was undaunted, continuing to try to make conversation. "I keep reading how Arcadia Bay is booming," it made Max say.

"The paper can only talk about that or about missing girls," the man responded, still irritated.

"You mean, Rachel Amber?"

"I guess. I bet she ran away because she was bored. Who wouldn't be here?"

The entity tried further, but after that the man would only repeat, "Excuse me, I have to read my horoscope." After a few repetitions, the entity seemed to get the message and turned away.

But then the entity forced Max to walk past the diner once again, back to the bus stop… where the entity tried to strike up a conversation with the dark-skinned man with dreadlocks she had passed by earlier. He wouldn't bite. "No time for chitchat. I'm a millionaire, yep. Got my lottery ticket right here. Waiting for the bus so I can cash it in." Good for you, then. The entity kept trying. The man said, "You can't have my lottery ticket. Buy your own." I wasn't asking for your ticket, Max wanted to say, but the entity kept her silent.

The entity then turned to the blonde woman in a purple shirt standing next to them, who bore a strong resemblance to Joyce. She looks busy and stressed, Max noted, but the entity still insisted on talking to her.

"Hi, you look...lost."

"Close. Do you know if the bus has come yet? The online schedule isn't working."

"I just got off the school bus, but I'm sure the regular bus is coming too." No you aren't, Max chided the entity in her head. How would I know if the bus schedule has changed in the last five years since I left?

Fortunately, the woman didn't know what Max did about this town, and bought the entity's reassurance. "Oh, that's a relief. I can't be late for this job interview. I can't believe I have to take a bus all the way to Newport just to find a second job."

Max felt a moment of pity for the woman that was shared by the entity. It seemed Arcadia Bay had gone downhill since she'd moved away five years ago. "Are things that bad here?"

"Where are things good? I can't even afford to live here."

"Well, good luck!"

"Thanks, I sure need it!"

As usual, the entity tried to talk to the woman again, but to no avail. "I'll just keeep waiting and hope the bus comes," the woman said resignedly. And repeatedly.

The entity's next stop was the fisherman standing outside the diner handing out flyers. He looks like a photo of the classic Arcadia Bay crusty fisherman, Max thought as the entity began to speak with her voice.

"Good morning. Looks like you're ready to catch some serious fish."

"I wish, young gal. Arcadia Bay just isn't the same fishing town I grew up in."

Hearing this saddened Max yet more, and she wanted to ask what had changed in her five years' absence, but the entity pulled her away. "I'd love to learn more, but I have to get going. Happy fishing out there!"

Max thought the entity was going to walk away, but instead the entity spoke again as if it hadn't just ended the conversation. "Good morning again."

"You have a question?" The fisherman crossed his arms, sounding slightly annoyed by Max's apparent change of mind.

But this time the entity actually did what Max would have. "Has the town changed much?" it asked the fisherman.

The fisherman seemed to come alive a little at her question. "By Neptune's beard, it has! Seems like a lifetime ago when I was king of the harbor."

But just as Max sensed an opening to get him to talk more, the entity slammed it shut, again forcing her to say, "I'd love to learn more, but I have to get going. Happy fishing out there!" And after that, the entity's attempts to resume the conversation were answered with, "I think I've talked my quota for the year."

After a few more repetitions, as usual, the entity turned Max away and began to walk her around the corner.

Finally, Max thought, as the entity walked her into the diner… where Chloe would be waiting for her.

Man, that smell of breakfast and the sound of clanging silverware… makes me feel thirteen again…

Max saw several people seated at the bar, and even from behind, quickly recognized Joyce working behind the bar. Fortunately, Joyce's back was turned, freeing Max from having to come up with something to say to her on the spot. The entity walked Max to the table just to the left, where a fisherman sat in silence with a can of soda and a plate of eggs.

"Did you catch any big ones today?"

"If by 'big' you mean 'none,' then, sure, I caught a lotta big ones today. Now let me mourn over my eggs."

Max wanted to say "I'm sorry" or otherwise express her sympathy somehow, but the man brushed off all further attempts at conversation. "Still mourning. Thank you."

I always wonder what people think about when they eat alone, Max thought as she passed by the corner table where an eccentric-looking woman sat looking out the window. The entity did not try to talk to her, however, instead tilting Max's head up towards the TV playing the news.

The TV had been muted, with a green mute icon in the lower left corner, but seemingly the moment Max started to pay attention to what was on the screen, the TV almost magically un-muted itself as a news anchor started talking. "Coming up at noon, KBAY 7 News will explore the mystery of yesterday's unusual snowfall on a warm and sunny late afternoon that confused and delighted Arcadia Bay residents. We'll be talking with Portland meteorologists in the area and look at some of your fun video reactions to the odd snow flurry. Who knows, maybe Mother Nature was pranking us all? So, stay tuned to KBAY 7 News for the real story..."

Max looked away, but a moment later, the entity directed her attention back up to the TV screen…

…and then, the exact same broadcast repeated itself over again.

This time, when Max looked down again, she realized something odd: the sounds from the TV stopped as she did so – she looked back up, only to see that the green mute icon in the lower left corner was back – the TV was muted again.

Max tried to look around to see if anyone was muting the TV with the remote. The entity let her – and she was able to see that no one else in the diner was looking at, or controlling, the TV.

Yet, when the entity turned her head back to the TV screen and had her look at it again, the TV once again un-muted itself, and the same broadcast repeated itself.

What the fuck is going on? Max wondered. The TV's on a loop, and it's changing from muted to not, with no one controlling it?

The entity forced Max to watch the same broadcast four or five times before finally turning away and propelling Max to the back of the diner, towards the bathroom. On the way, she passed by a promotional poster of Blackwell on the wall. "Global Excellence In Arts & Science For Over 100 Years And Counting," the caption proclaimed, with smaller print under it: "Free Campus Tours Every Third Saturday." The poster doesn't mention whacked students with guns, Max thought sarcastically.

In the mirror, the entity ignored the various graffiti on the wall, and just as Max started to realize she actually did kind of need to pee, the entity was already marching her to the sinks on the right, where someone had scratched a message onto one of the mirrors: "FIRE WALK WITH ME". Max allowed the entity to pull her Polaroid out of her bag and take a photo of it.

Then, despite Max's protests, the entity turned Max around and walked her out of the bathroom. Max silently hoped the entity wasn't planning to embarrass her later, though she wouldn't put it past this evil alien.

Back in the diner again, Max walked with the entity's gentle pushes up to the first man seated at the bar. Ew, that guy looks unpleasant, she thought, although it was perhaps his strong body odor more so than the dirt and sweat stains on his white shirt that made her think so. Maybe his jeans being pulled down so low that his butt crack was showing also contributed. Despite this, the entity tried to strike up a conversation, as usual one that Max wasn't interested in having.

The man didn't want to talk any more than Max did. "What do you want? I feel like shit. Too much beer. So spare me, please. Just let me suffer quietly." The entity, undaunted, tried again. "Leave me alone, or I will vomit on you." After being threatened a few more times with the same words, the entity moved on.

The next man sitting at the bar was a police officer. That officer looks nicer than wannabe cop David Madsen, Max thought. "Hello, sir," her voice said, the entity pushing the words out of her mouth.

"Hi, young lady," the cop said. "You look a little lost."

"No, I've been here many times. It's like a fourth home." Max was slowly getting used to the strange feeling of involuntarily talking.

"Wish I could make the Two Whales my first home. Joyce makin' rocket coffee and juicy burgers anytime...mmm!" Then the officer seemed to look more closely and notice something. "You look about Chloe's age."

For some reason, this made Max slightly anxious, and the entity agreed. "I have to go now," it said for her, "enjoy your breakfast."

"By the way," the cop hurried to say before Max turned away, "one thing I can tell you for certain is to stay away from that RV outside."

"I usually stay away from sketchy parked vehicles," the entity said. Of course I do. You're the one who made me go to that RV, Max sniped in her head, though no one could hear her real thoughts about the issue.

"Wise policy," the cop affirmed. "The guy who lives in it, Frank, is pretty sketchy himself. That's all I can say for now... I should finish up my coffee and get to work."

Max turned away, only to run into pressure from the entity again, who turned her right back and again words came tumbling out of her mouth. "Hello again, officer."

"Yes?"

"So, you know Chloe?"

The officer sighed. "Sadly, we all know Chloe down at the station. Poor Joyce." The cop turned away, as if trying to avoid being overheard by the aforementioned Joyce who was standing only a few feet away, but then he spoke so loudly that he might as well not have tried – "…Just heard she even just got busted with pot in her room."

The anxiety started to rise in Max's chest, and seemed to bleed through into the words the entity spoke in her voice. "Uh, who told you that?"

"I didn't hear it on the police scanner. Joyce said the weed belonged to Chloe's friend, but...I highly doubt that." This only made Max even more nervous, knowing exactly who "Chloe's friend" was.

"Joyce didn't tell you who?" For once Max was glad for the entity's help as her heart pounded in her ribcage.

"She wouldn't." The tension drained out of Max, replaced by profound relief. "Afraid I'd go arrest somebody. As if I would." The offlcer chuckled. "I'd just tell that loser to stay the hell away from Chloe. Or else... Just kidding. Besides, David Madsen is watching over them." Excuse me!? Max almost tried to scream, fortunately being restrained by the entity. 'Watching over', is that what you call it!? The officer, unable to see Max's internal reaction, continued talking, unaware of anything being amiss – and clearly unaware of how David was treating Chloe at home, too. "Is she a friend of yours?"

"Not really…" The entity lied for Max, for which Max was unwillingly grateful though she still felt a little guilty about not sticking up for Chloe a little. She stole a glance at Joyce, silently thankful that Joyce had at least tried to protect her after that terrible incident.

"That's good. She's not a bad person, she's had hard times, but there's no excuse for burning things."

"I know her dad died..."

"My dad died when I was 13. I never burned garbage cans or tagged signs. Joyce is a great mother, Chloe just isn't paying attention."

Yeah, but you probably didn't have David Madsen as your stepdad, either, Max wanted to retort, but wisely kept silent. "How well do you know Joyce?"

"I know her delicious grub. Everybody at the station comes here. We take care of this place like it's our own kitchen. And Joyce like she's our...our mother."

Max was glad to hear that at least they were being nice to Chloe's mom, if not to Chloe. The entity continued speaking for her. "I guess you're friends with David Madsen?"

"I wouldn't use that word. We know each other. Why do you ask?"

"He kinda has a reputation at Blackwell."

"I have respect for David. He served his country. He found his calling at Blackwell. At the station, we're happy David is exactly where he is... Not everybody can be a cop."

Max was glad David wasn't a cop, too, though she didn't say it. The entity meanwhile tried to keep talking but was shut down. "I'd love to lecture you over coffee, but I prefer to drink in silence and solitude."

Next down the bar were two truck drivers. Max understood the entity was probably going to force her to talk to everyone, and did not waste any effort resisting.

The first trucker was gruff and unapproachable. "I don't feel like talking right now. I gotta deliver a load of breakfast to my stomach. Over and out." The entity, as usual, would not give up easily. "I said, over…and out!"

The second trucker was no friendlier, answering Max's "er, hello?" with "Pardonne-moi, but you're in my eyesight." The entity recovered smoothly. "Oh, sorry," Max heard herself say, and the truck driver seemed to soften a bit. "That's okay," he said, "I just need to see my truck out there in the lot. Been a long night on the road and I have to make sure my baby is sleeping right."

Fortunately, for once, the entity took the hint and did not try to hassle him any further. The entity turned Max slightly to glance at Joyce one more time, finding her still working with her back turned, burgers and hot dogs on the grill, completely ignoring Max. Then, Max found herself being spun around towards the empty booths in the diner and soon sitting down in one of the booths. She recognized Trevor and Justin in a booth further down by the door, but the entity did not allow her to greet them.

As if by magic, the moment Max sat down at the booth, Joyce seemed to suddenly become aware of her presence, emerging from behind the bar with a pot of coffee in hand. "And there she is! A lovely young woman." Joyce walked up to the table. "How are you doing, Max?"

"Hi, Joyce, it's nice to see you again." Nice was an understatement, considering that Joyce had been Max's second mom for so many years. "You look the same."

"Like I'm still a waitress at Two Whales after all these years?"

"No, like you still look pretty." Max was glad the entity didn't seem to be sabotaging her so much today. She hoped it was starting to become more like she wanted to be, though she stayed on alert.

"Nice save, kid. You're still smart. But I wish you had been here to help save Chloe…She got busted yesterday smoking out. Again."

The entity kept Max's poker face even though she cringed inside at the reminder of yesterday's incident. "I know. Her stepfather hit her."

"I am sorry that was your introduction to David. I hope you get to know him on your terms, not Chloe's. He's a good man... He just—"

"Yeah, I'm sure he is, since you married him, but...don't be so harsh on Chloe."

"It's good you're here. I was hoping you could be a good influence in her life now..."

"I will be. Promise. I know things were hard for you and Chloe. I feel… bad I didn't call… Now my folks are in Seattle and I'm all alone at Blackwell. It's my karma."

"You did the right thing. You moved forward with your life. I did, after William passed on. Chloe..." Joyce trailed off, looking into the distance for a moment. "Chloe chose to stay angry... Anyway, I hope we see more of you. Chloe needs an old friend again."

"Joyce, I am so sorry about William. I have great memories of him."

"I'm glad, Max. That was his gift to us...wonderful memories. Even if Chloe doesn't understand yet."

"Chloe understands, she just needs...time. I know that sucks for you."

"Oh, she hit all the phases...expulsion, running away, drugs, bad boys, tattoos, piercings, blue hair... Now she's gotta rebel against her stepfather."

"I see why... I mean—"

"Didn't you rebel against your best friend by letting her twist in the wind with that joint?"

Not me, this alien did! Max wanted to say, but what she said instead was, "Wish I took blame for the pot. None of this might have happened..."

"But Chloe does push David and it's not fair. He paid his dues in a war. He does care about her, along with all the students at Blackwell."

And suddenly, once again, was another jarring disconnect between Max's thoughts and the words spoken by the entity using her voice. "I get it, Joyce. I know Chloe still likes to stir things up..." what!? That's no excuse to hit a girl! He's an adult! Max could see the entity's (and Joyce's) point, but this was too much for her to just let go, and only the entity painfully squeezing her throat to remind her of its absolute control made Max stop trying to vocalize her thoughts on Chloe's behalf at this moment. Forced back by the pain, Max sat back and allowed the entity to continue, though resentment welled up in her like bilious vomit.

"Yeah, she does provoke people," Joyce agreed, remaining oblivious to Max's internal struggle. "Especially David. I just want us to be a family soon. I guess it's all about time...

"I think you're right, Joyce." Blegh. Max didn't even try to hold back the vomit this time; only the entity painfully squeezing her insides kept her from puking her disgust out, right on the table in front of Joyce. No, no, no! Max screamed at the entity, not grateful in the least for having been saved from public embarrassment. This is not okay!

"So," Joyce continued on, still unaware that the Max in front of her was not the Max she thought it was, "Now let's get down to the nitty-gritty. What do you want to eat?"

Momentarily depleted of her willpower and pain tolerance, Max mentally checked out and let the entity order for her. "The last good Belgian waffle I had was here when I was thirteen years old. So, bring it on."

"Now finish your coffee," Joyce said, turning away with her order. Max dimly registered Joyce announcing to the kitchen "One Belgian waffle for the hungry girl. Pronto!" and a man in the back responding "One Belgian waffle at 12 o'clock high!"

Now that she finally had a moment without someone in front of her demanding her attention, Max suddenly realized how tired she was, and her gaze drifted to the cup of black coffee on her left. Oh yes, black coffee, you will be mine…

…but her arms simply would not move to bring the coffee up to her lips. Quit it, 'Max', she thought tiredly, but the entity only chuckled evilly in response, leaving her immobilized. In resignation, Max allowed herself to zone out though the entity would not let her take a nap…

"Order ready!" a voice came distantly from the kitchen. "Incoming!" Joyce called shortly afterwards, though Max didn't really pay attention until she saw Joyce was coming her way. "I can hear your stomach rumbling from here, Max," she said as she brought Max her waffle topped with a blob of whipped cream. "Here. You'll love this."

"I'm drooling like a baby," Max distantly heard herself say as she accepted the food.

"Still can't believe you're a woman. When I look at pictures of Chloe…" Max's hands were moving to cut the waffle and fork the pieces up to her mouth, Max's mouth was opening and chewing and swallowing, but Max wasn't thinking about any of it, as the entity ate on her behalf; instead, Max was listening to Joyce as she trailed off, overcome with maternal affection for both of her daughters – real and adoptive. Max enjoyed the chewing of the waffle in her mouth while letting her heart melt a little…

By this point Max had almost forgotten her real reason for being at the diner – but remembered again with a thrill when the diner door popped open and Chloe sauntered in, almost on time and in no hurry at all. "Speak of the devil," Joyce commented, seeming to realize in that moment that Max hadn't come just for breakfast by herself.

"Mom and Max, together again!" Chloe was in a good mood, for which Max was momentarily glad…

"And Chloe, looking for a free meal," Joyce said with a hint of disapproval, but enough to dramatically dampen Max's spirits. "You've put your whole damn college fund on your tab." Crap, she probably has, Max realized.

The entity, fortunately, said exactly what she wanted herself to say. "I'm treating Chloe for breakfast." Thank you, 'Max', she said to the entity.

"No, you're not. This is my treat," Joyce replied. "To you, for coming back to rescue my daughter."

"Nobody needs to rescue me," Chloe blustered, in blatant contradiction to her own words to Max the day before – though somehow Max only found this more endearing. Come on, Chloe, didn't I just rescue you yesterday?

Unfortunately, Joyce didn't see her daughter the same way Max did. "Unless you set your room on fire smokin' out."

"Oh, God, here it comes." Max sighed internally as she watched Chloe roll her eyes and stick her hands behind her head with an annoyed expression. As much as she hated to admit it, Joyce was right about Chloe's habit of provoking people. "Didn't you and Sergeant Pepper already read me the riot act last night?"

"Call him David if you don't want to be lectured. You only get one damn slice of bacon today." Joyce went back to the bar with Chloe glaring at her back the whole way.

"You guys are still the same," Max found herself saying with the entity's control. Max knew how much Chloe loved bacon; she always got at least four slices whenever William used to take them all for a treat at the diner. Presumably, she still did, on the days she wasn't pissing off her mom…

"Another reason to blow this town," Chloe said. "What is this shit on the jukebox?" She stalked over to the jukebox in the corner, changing the tune, then returned seeming as if that one change somehow magically took away all her upset feelings. "Now that that's out of the way…" She jumped onto the seat across from Max, then sat facing her, as excited as Max had ever seen Chloe in her life. "Let's talk about your superpower!"

"I don't have any explanation... And I can't explain why I saw that crazy fucking tornado."

"Come on, that's just a daydream. I want proof you can rewind time!"

Max knew that, of course… but had not yet thought of how to prove her powers to Chloe. "This is all happening so fast..."

"We'll start slow. Right here. Now."