Well…

I can certainly say that I done fucked it up. And fucked it up good, I did indeed. As Chloe and I stroll along the beach path in a comfortable silence, I internally berated and screamed at myself for what I'd done. Not only have a screwed the lives of so many people I care about, but I made Chloe's so much worse than it already was. She lost both of her legs, her left arm is completely paralyzed, and worst of all…

Joyce is dead.

I had to call on every fiber of strength in my being to keep from breaking down when Chloe mentioned that, casually adding it into the conversation on the drive here, as if I should know it already. Which, technically, I should. I wanted to rage, to scream, a part of me even wanted to cut again, but I bottled it up in favor of spending the day with Chloe. It was about 13:00 when we arrived at the beach.

"It feels so weird hanging out with you again." Chloe told me, using her right hand to control the joystick that directed her wheelchair, which I helped her get into from out of my car.

"It does." I agreed. "I'm glad we are though. I've missed you so much." I said softly.

"Me too." She put on a small smile. "It's nice that you sent me actual letters. It's more than any of my other friends have done." She said with a small amount of bitterness in her tone. "And you even write on that cool parchment paper." She added.

"Hey, I love that stuff." I defended, seeing her grin. "It makes me feel like a little closer to my English roots." I huffed.

"So does your improvement in accent." She snickered, making me roll me eyes.

"Well, you deserve the best." I said, sadness creeping in.

"Probably easier to write than to visit." She grumbled. Seeing my grimace, she quickly spoke again. "I don't mean that in a bitchy way, not completely." She told me honestly.

"Chloe, I live on the other fucking side of the planet. It's not exactly a trip to Portland and back." I told her, getting a little defensive.

"Alright, I'll give you that one." She conceded. "You probably wanted to avoid awkward conversations like this." She deduced.

"You don't know the half of it." I gave a humorless chuckle.

"Look, the worst thing anyone can do is treat me like a baby, and you've done none of that." She told me, looking up at me with a smile. "I still want to laugh and talk shit with my best friend." She said with a small breath. "Can we stop?" She asked as we passed a bench. I nodded, and she strolled the wheel chair next to the aforementioned bench, and I sat down at her right. "You should see this place in the evenings; the sunset is beautiful." She told me. "What do photographer's call that?" She asked.

"The Golden Hour." I answered. "It refers to the brief period of time right before sunset or right after sunrise where the sky is at its reddest and softest." I explained.

"No need to mansplain." She gave a playful glare, making me roll my eyes. "Still, if you weren't here, I'd have no clue. Bet you take some amazing shots." She gave a light sniffle. "Those beached whales are so sad… I kind of know how they feel." She whispered sadly. "But, at least I'm alive here with you." I placed my hand on hers, the one that wasn't paralyzed.

"I cannot begin to think how strong a person has to be to be able cope with this Chloe." I gave her a reassuring smile. "You're a real survivor, you know that?" I asked.

"Unlike my Mom." She whispered, sniffling. "My Dad still feels guilty about buying me that car." She sighed. I swallowed a lump in my throat.

"Do you… blame him?" I asked hesitantly.

"For getting me the Hybrid I wanted for my birthday?" She asked with a raised eyebrow. So this Chloe is a little more reasonable, check. "No. I blame the bitch in an SUV who cut me off and sent me into a ditch." She said bitterly.

"Do you want to talk about?" I asked, again, hesitantly.

Chloe shrugged. "What's there to talk about? I flew into a ditch, got a thousand gashes in my legs from the glass that warranted amputation, and the tendons in my left shoulder were torn to shreds." She sighed. "When I woke up in the hospital, I literally couldn't move a muscle. It was a miracle in itself that my right arm still works perfectly." She shook her right hand in the air for emphasis. "Sometimes, I can still feel my legs." She gave a humorless chuckle. "The worst part is when they start itching." She said with grim amusement.

"Fuck, Chloe…" I breathed out. What have I done?

"It's OK, you don't have to say anything." She stopped me before I said anything else. "It could be a lot worse; I could disappear from the face of the earth like that girl from Blackwell." She told me.

"Girl? You mean Rachel Amber?" I asked, confused. Is she still missing here? "Did you ever meet her?" I asked.

"Uh, no. I didn't even know her name until just now. Why?" Chloe asked in confusion.

"Don't worry about it." I told her, waving it off. I suppose it's one less thing for Chloe to worry about right now… I'll let you decide how dark such a train of thought is. "This place feels like a completely different world to when we were children." I told her, standing up.

"With that snow and eclipse, it feels more like the end of the world." Chloe responded.

"Not mention the dead birds and whales." I agreed. I still need to think about that stupid storm. "Chloe, listen, I'm sorry I didn't come by sooner. You're my oldest friend, my closest friend. It was wrong of me to avoid talking to you." I told her, guilt eating away at my heart with every word.

"Well, it's not like I did much more." She responded. "I may be handicapped, but that's no excuse to not initiate contact." She admitted. Well, seems this Chloe is a lot more reasonable than I thought.

"I know things seem out of control…" I started after a moment of silence. "But when I'm with you, I don't feel afraid." I told her sincerely.

"Being here with you makes me feel like a kid again." She returned the sincerity. "You have no idea how great it is to have my best friend back." She told me, smiling happily.

"The feeling is mutual." I smiled back. All of a sudden, a breeze blew by us, making us both shiver. "Maybe we should head back to your house." I suggested.

"You read my mind." She agreed.

"We can stop at Starbucks on the way. I need coffee." I told her. "My treat."

"That sounds awesome." Chloe gave a wistful sigh. I smiled as we walked/rolled back towards my car. Again, I assisted her in getting into the driver's seat, and folded her wheelchair into the back. She seemed ecstatic to experience the wind in her face as I drove the convertible through the town. It's amazing how she can still smile after all she's been through.

So, after driving past Starbucks to pick up a coffee, I drove Chloe back to the Price Household. Giving William the coffee I'd bought him, which he reheated in the microwave, I assisted Chloe in getting upstairs. William managed to have one of those stairlifts installed for her so that she wouldn't have to move out of her room. She rolls her wheelchair onto a small platform, and the the stairlift elevates the platform, with the wheelchair, up the way of the stairs. It's quite brilliant. Of course, she needed help in getting to and from the bathroom and getting dressed, but William has done his best to make this all as easy as possible for her. He even works two jobs.

Have to give credit where it's due I suppose.

"Wow, nice room." I said as Chloe and I entered her room. It was much tidier than it was when I woke up in it this morning, with blue-haired Chloe. It'd been completely teched out. A TV with several media players, a desk on wheels that rolls over her bed so that she can use her computer, and an intercom that goes directly to the living room or William's room. "A high-tech lair for Captain Bluebeard." I gave her a grin, which she returned. Her old pirate name from when we were kids and used her couch as a pirate ship.

"It feels like a high-tech cell sometimes." She told me honestly. "But, with Dr Doom Silver by my side, I think I can a ship on the horizon." She said with a wide smile. That was my pirate name; inspired by Long John Silver and Chloe's nickname for me; Damon Doom. The 'Dr' bit was added after we watched Fantastic Four for the first time. "I'm lucky my Dad busts his ass to get all this for me. I know it's hard on him, especially without Mom around." She gave a depressed sigh.

"I'm sure he's grateful you're still here Chloe." I assured her. "You're the only thing keeping him going." I added.

"Is it sad that I sometimes act like a total teenage brat, just to give him an excuse to yell at me?" She asked.

"The worst thing anyone can do is treat you like a baby." I quoted her earlier words. "I guess it must feel like you're always being treated like a baby in these conditions. And when William yells at you, it doesn't feel that way." I said thoughtfully. "So, whilst I do think that's a little unreasonable of you, I don't find it sad, no." I told her.

"You sure know how to make a girl feel better." She said dully, making me chuckle sheepishly.

"Sorry." I apologized. "I really need to learn to put a filter on it." I said with a sigh.

"Nah, it's OK. I know you're only trying to help." She told me.

"A bit of a habit that I need to drop." I frowned.

"You sound like an adult now." She said with a nostalgic smile. "It seems like another life since we've been kids." She sighed longingly.

"I know." I smiled at the memories that came to mind. "CD wine tasting, watching power rangers, wrecking the kitchen." I gave a small chuckle.

"Oh, God, Mom was furious!" Chloe laughed. "There was flour everywhere! Even on our parents!" She remembered.

"Mum and William were doing everything they could not to laugh whilst Joyce tore us new ones." I snickered. "It was hilarious." I grinned.

"And so long ago." Chloe smiled brightly, wiping away a small tear. "You're the only person who I grew up with that still visits me." She sighed. "As you can see, I can't keep everyone else away." She snarked. Wow, mood swings much?

"I'm here." I told her firmly, gripping her not-paralyzed hand. "I left you alone for five years with only letters. That was wrong, and I'm going to make this up to you." I promised her.

"Damon, you're not Superman, please don't try to do too much." She pleaded with me.

"I won't, but I'll do what I can." I assured her.

"I appreciate that, more than I can put into words." She responded, squeezing my hand. "Hey, is it too much to ask that you put on a movie?" She asked out of nowhere. "Like when we were kids?" She added in a whisper. I smiled at her.

"What do you want to watch?" I asked, walking over to the shelf where all the DVDs were. I also saw that she had the picture I took of her and William framed on it, which made me smile.

"I think I'm in the mood for Blade Runner." Chloe told me. "I always cry at the end, and you know I've always wanted colored bangs like Pris." She grinned.

"You would look amazing with blue hair." I said, smiling at her as I retrieved the DVD. "And please don't fall asleep. You always do." I said with a tired sigh.

"No promises." She grinned cheekily, making me roll my eyes as I prepped the DVD player. Slipping the disk in, I readied the movie to play.

"Blade Runner, coming right up." i told her, walking over to her.

"Sit in my wheelchair." She told me before I could sit down on the desk chair I'd been using since we arrived in her room. "It's ergonomic; better for long-term sitting." She explained. "Evidently." She added dryly.

"You sure?" I asked hesitantly. Isn't it considered rude to sit in a handicapped individual's wheelchair?

"Damon, it's OK. I'm giving you permission." She assured me. I was still hesitant, but I conceded and sat in the wheelchair at Chloe's right. She wasn't kidding; it is a comfortable chair.

"And, play." I said, using the remote to play.

As expected, Chloe fell asleep a ways past halfway through the movie. I wasn't surprised; she always falls asleep when we watch movies together. At least, she did when we were kids. This is the first time we've seen a movie together since we were children. Checking my watch, I saw it was 6pm. Chloe and I spent the entire afternoon just hanging out, talking, and watching Blade Runner. It was nice, but… This is not the Chloe I know. Not from the past, or the present. I groaned and massaged my temples. I don't know what to do!

Normally, I'm a very decisive individual. Even as far back as when I was a kid. I enter the candy store, and I automatically know what I want. I open the DVD drawer, I automatically know what I want to watch. My Mum asks me what I want for dinner, I thought about it for a minute at most. But this… This is a much bigger decision. This is a choice that affects the lives of so many people. I was willing to make said choice when I saw happy William and Chloe were five years ago, but now…

My head shot up.

"William…" I whispered. That's it! It's a gamble, and I'll have to reveal everything, but maybe William can help me. My choice made, I stood up, quietly, and slowly stalked towards the door. However, I stopped when I heard Chloe speak.

"Damon?" She asked groggily, still half asleep. "D-Damon?!" She exclaimed, all of a sudden in a panic.

"I'm here." I said quickly, approaching her. "I'm here." I told her, putting my hands on her shoulders. She visibly relaxed, letting out a sigh of relief.

"I thought…" She gulped. "I thought you left me…" She shivered.

"Hey." I snapped, making her look at me. "I am never leaving you again, you feel me?" I asked firmly. She smiled slightly, and nodded, clearly happy with what I said. She took a deep breath and let it out calmingly.

"Do you…" She trailed off, suddenly seeming very vulnerable. "Will you… promise me? You'll be here when I wake up?" She asked softly, looking up at me with pleading eyes. Smiling softly, I leaned forward and pressed my lips to her warm cheek.

"I promise." I whispered. She smiled briefly and closed her eyes, ready to fall into a peaceful slumber. Smiling at the sight, I left the room, leaving Chloe to her sleep. It's only 6pm, but I imagine today was a little taxing for her. With a deep breath, I walked down the stares and to the dining room, where I found William working on his bills.

"William?" I called out to him, gaining his attention. "Can we talk?" I asked of him.

"Definitely." he said, pushing the papers aside. "I could use the break." He said as I sat opposite him. "Also, thanks for the coffee, I needed it." He told me.

"Anytime." I smiled. "So, I need to talk about Chloe." I informed him.

"Finally ready to admit your feelings?" He asked with a raised eyebrow, making me blanch.

"Ahem, excuse me?" I asked in bewilderment.

"Damon…" He sighed my name out tiredly. "I have watched you be in love with Chloe since before you knew the difference between boys and girls." he said dryly.

"I, you, she, i mean…" I stammered out, my cheeks darkening. Then what he said really clicked in my mind. "Aw fuck…" I groaned out, burying my face in my hands. This is ridiculous…

"So, that's not what you wanted to talk about, I take it?" He asked, disappointed.

"No…" I let out through gritted teeth.

"Oh, alright then." He sighed in disappointment. "What can do you for?" He asked. I took a deep breath. Here we go.

I opened my eyes to see William's disappointed face. "Oh, alright then." he sighed in disappointment, again. "What can I do you for?" He asked, again. I narrowed my eyes, and leaned forward.

"In your pocket, you have your wallet, your keys, and your cell phone." I told him, making him raise an eyebrow in confusion. "Your wallet contains thirty eight dollars in cash, your credit and debit cards, a bus card, and a photo of Joyce when she was pregnant with Chloe. Your cellphone has two emails, one from your brother, and one from the hospital. The wallpaper is a picture of Chloe and I as 10 year olds. Your keys have a panda key-chain." I went on, making him look at me with surprise. I gave him a 'go on' gesture, and sat patiently. Looking at me weirdly, he emptied his pockets, and put everything in front of him. His eyes widened as he went through his things, finding everything I said to be true.

"How…" He started, but stopped when I held up a hand.

"You're about to get another email from the hospital, notifying you of Chloe's upcoming checkup." I narrowed my eyes again. "Then, a bird is going to slam into the glass door, my phone will receive a call from my friend Nathan, and Chloe will use the intercom to tell you that she needs help getting to the bathroom." I went on. "She'll tell you to tell me that I didn't break my promise, as she actually hasn't fallen back asleep yet." I added.

William was about to talk again, but his phone bleeped. Hesitantly, he picked up his phone and paled when he saw the email was indeed what I'd predicted it to be. Then, as he put his phone down, a blue-jay slammed into the glass door, startling him, and catching his attention. I've never seen anyone so pale. It didn't help when my phone rang, showing Nathan's name, and the intercom buzzed. Gulping, clearly overwhelmed, he walked over to the intercom and pressed the speak button.

"Chloe?" He asked, his voice thick.

"Hey Dad, do you mind helping me to the bathroom?" Chloe's voice came out of the intercom. "Oh, and tell Damon he didn't break his promise. I haven't actually fallen asleep yet." She told him coyly. I had to smile, even though I already heard it before.

"Uhm, sweetie, can it wait, 15 to 20 minutes?" William asked, clearly shaken. "I'm in the middle of a serious conversation right now." he said.

"Sure, no problem." Chloe responded nonchalantly. "I need to go, but my back teeth ain't floating yet." She told him.

"Good, good…" William breathed out, releasing his hold on the intercom button. He strolled back to the table and fell into his chair, looking at me with wide eyes. "What the hell was that?" He asked in a breath.

"I can rewind time." I told him, looking at him seriously as I held out my hand. "And if that wasn't enough, I can prove it further." I told him. He looked at my hand and shook his head.

"That… won't be necessary." He told me, gulping slightly. I guess I'm not surprised. William has known me since I was a child; he knows I wouldn't make something like this up. Also, he seems to be more satisfied with the proof I showed him already than Chloe was back at Two Whales. "Why are you telling me this?" he asked. I let out a sigh, and buried my face in my hands.

"It's all wrong." I whispered. "I tried to do something good, I tried something I thought would make Chloe happy, but…" My breath hitched. "I made everything worse, and I don't know what to do." I let out a shaky breath.

"Damon, calm down." William whispered soothingly. His voice was always able to do that to both Chloe and myself. "Tell me everything." He instructed. Nodding, I took a calming breath and looked him in the eyes.

"You're not supposed to be here." I finally said, shocking him. "Joyce isn't supposed to be dead, Chloe isn't supposed to be… like that, and I'm not supposed to be a cliche High School jock." I gestured to myself. "Do you remember the day Joyce needed a ride from the grocery store, and you couldn't find your keys, so I suggested you take the bus?" I asked.

"Yeah." he nodded. "I later found the keys outside." He looked at me with narrowed eyes. "That was you wasn't it?" He asked. Bowing my head, I nodded. "What happened?" he asked under his breath. "What was supposed to happen?" His voice was thick with dread.

"You died." I choked out, my eyes stinging. "You got T-boned by a drunk trucker." I wiped the tears away before they could fall. "Chloe and I dug up our old time capsule, found your message." I said with a humorless chuckle. "It was about 15 minutes later that Joyce walked in with a Police Officer, crying her eyes out." I held back a sob. "I'd never seen Chloe so distraught." I took in a shuddering breath.

"You saved me…" He whispered in realization. I nodded.

"Without you around, Chloe fell into a pit of despair." I told him. "Expulsion, running away, drugs, tattoos, piercings, bad boys, blue hair, all of the phases." I repeated Joyce's words from the Diner. William's eyes were wide. "And the worst part; she and I didn't talk at all in those five years. Not even a fucking text." I clutched my hair. "It wasn't until Monday, when I used this rewind for the first time, that I saw her again. I saved her from getting shot." William's eyes were wider than I've ever seen before. He was so overwhelmed, but he was keeping his cool. This man was so much stronger than I am.

"If you only had this rewind for two days, how did you save me?" He asked, confused.

"This morning, Chloe and I had an argument." I sighed. "I went to my dorm in Blackwell and just stared at an old photo of us. All of a sudden, I found myself back in that day." I told him.

"You used a photograph to jump back five years?" He asked. I nodded. Despite the situation, he allowed himself an amused chuckle. "That suits you perfectly." He said with a small smile. I allowed the corner of my lips to tug up before his face turned serious. "What about Joyce?" he asked. He almost seemed afraid of the answer.

"She stayed a waitress at the Diner, and got remarried. To David Madsen." I answered.

"David?" William was surprised. "He's a drinking buddy." He explained, seeing my questioning look. "He admitted to having a thing for Joyce a few years back, but he never acted on it because she was married to me." He whispered.

"David and Chloe never got along. She calls him 'Step-douche' and other variants." I said with a small chuckle.

"Again, why are you telling me all this?" He asked. Something tells me that he already knows the answer.

"I don't know what to do." I told him desperately. "Everything is messed up, even this version of me." I gestured to myself. "This is not the person I grew up to be." I said. "This guy is a Grade A asshole! He's bonking with the Queen Bitch of Blackwell, cheating on her with a School reporter AND a Cheerleader, the latter two are best friends by the way, his relationship with Jennifer is horrible, and he's best friends with a fucking Prescott." I put emphasis on the last word. "That's not me." I let out through a breath. "That's not me…" I repeated. "But the alternative…" I trailed off, shaking my head. "I can't do it." I said, desperation oozing out of me.

William didn't say anything. He narrowed his eyes at me before standing up. I didn't know what he was doing, but he walked off towards the TV cabinet, opened one of the drawers and pulled out a photo album, making me pale. He pulled out a single photo, setting it down on the cabinet, before putting the album away. With that done, he came back to the dining table, with the photo in hand, I have a sneaking suspicion of which one it is, and sat opposite me again. Without a word, he slid the photo he held across the table, making me pale as I saw it; the very same photo that Joyce gave me. The very same photo I used to jump back five years in time.

"William, I…" I let out a shaky breath, my words getting stuck in my throat.

"This is not a choice you're making Damon." he told me before I could say anything else. "This is my choice, and if you have any respect for me, for Joyce, then please do this for me." He said firmly.

"But, I-"

"You're not a parent." He cut me off. "Not yet at least. When you are, you'll understand this choice a little better. Until then, I've made my choice. You're just giving it the final push." he assured.

"How can I do that when I know that 'final push' will kill you?" I asked incredulously.

"That doesn't matter Damon." He shook his head. "My life has caused a butterfly effect that messed with so many lives, from what you told me." He looked out the glass door, at the now red sky. Sunset… "As a father, you do everything to keep your family safe. This is not an exception." He looked at me with stern eyes. "Joyce being alive and in love again, Chloe walking and having a real life, you being with Chloe, hell, even David being with Joyce, are all worth the price I have to pay." He said. The look in his eyes, the intensity of his expression, his hard, stern body language… He really means everything he says… Bowing my head in resignation and shame, I nodded. I picked up the photo, ready to do something I know will haunt me for the rest of my life, before I paused.

"William…" I trailed off, looking at him. "I never got to say this, and even if this moment won't technically exist anymore, I need to get it out." I said with a sigh. "You were the closest thing to a father I have ever had." I told him, making his eyes widen. "My father left my mother and I just days after conceiving my sister, and you were there. I don't know if it was intentional or not, but I can never thank you enough for all you did for me in my childhood." I said with tears in my eyes. "Goodbye… Dad." I sniffled, looking at the photo again. In seconds, I had the focus on the photo, I heard the voices, and I saw the bright light, just like last time.

I didn't hear William's response, if he gave one. I'm not sure I wanted to.

"Someday, Dad'll get one of them newfangled computers."

"Sorry Damon, I hope the flash didn't scare you."

As soon as I regained my bearings, I tuned out the rest of the conversation. I was a huge part of it, so all I did was input what I remember saying in the original course of events until I was no longer needed. Once I was sure everything was going smoothly, I walked over to the glass door and looked outside of it, just staring at the golden light that surrounded us. It reminded me too much of a sunset, and the conversation I had with Wheelchair Chloe on the beach path. That's been ingrained in my memory forever.

I actually fucking froze when I heard the phone go off.

"Hi honey! Just making a wonderful breakfast with CD. I didn't know you were going to get groceries. Of course I can pick you up! I'll be there in 20 minutes. I now have an excuse to get a Mocha. Love you. Sorry kids, gotta go pick up my Queen. She doth have a bag full of delicious grub for us to devour."

"You're ridiculous!"

"You'll be thankful for that someday! Shit, where are my keys?"

"That's a dollar for the swear jar!"

"You mean your college fund!" Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder; William's. "Of course it was intentional." He whispered in my ear, making my pale. "Take care of my girl Damon." He told me, letting go. "I'm headed out, try not to destroy the house. And no CD wine-tasting session."

"Daaaad!"

I didn't hear much else of the conversation, I was too focused on what just happened. I was paler than I think I've ever been, frozen in place. What William just said proves that he remembers everything that happened in the alternative timeline, the one I am erasing from existence right now. He's willingly going to his death to save Joyce and Chloe…

"Oh, he's never leaving me!"

"That makes all of us." William, please stop… This is difficult enough, don't lie to your daughter!

"Hey Damon, you OK? You look like you saw a ghost." Chloe said as she approached me. William was gone…

"That's not too far from the truth…" I whispered under my breath. "Chloe, I want you to know that you are one of the most important things to me in the world." I said to her as I took her hands. "I might not always be there for you, but I swear I'll always be someone you can rely on, someone you can depend on. I'll always have your back." I swore to her.

"Damon, you're scaring me." Chloe said, taking a step back. "You're being really fucking weird right now. What brought this on?" She all but demanded.

I grimaced. "It's a long story, but it'll make sense soon enough, I promise you that." As I finished my sentence, the scene around me began to collapse. If Chloe gave a response, I didn't hear it. I was engulfed with the golden light, my consciousness at least. I can only hope what I just said to Chloe doesn't affect the timeline.

Just like last time, I see the image in my minds eye. A picture of Chloe, Joyce, and William shifts into one of Joyce and Chloe in funeral garb, sobbing over William's casket.

An image of William and Chloe posing happily in a selfie turns into one of Chloe sitting in a forest, a backpack on her back, with her hair short, and her knees tucked to her chest.

An image of William and Joyce on an anniversary date turns into a wedding picture of Joyce and David.

An image of young Chloe, happily holding up a car key, turns into one of her and David arguing, both of them leaning over a birthday cake.

A new image appeared, one that didn't last time. A red truck, the one that William bought for Chloe I'd wager, all banged up and beat. Probably at the crash site. The image turns into one of Chloe, about 17 years old, looking so happy with another person beside her. I can't see the person's face, but she wore a white dress, and her long blonde hair covered her face. Rachel Amber, most likely. The both seem to be really happy.

Another new image, this one of Chloe in the wheelchair, just sitting in said wheelchair in the middle of her house's lawn, her hair looking recently dyed black. The image shifts into the blue haired punk Chloe that I know standing in the Blackwell bathroom, with Nathan on the ground.

Finally, and image of Wheelchair Chloe and Quarterback Me, sitting in her teched-out bedroom, watching Blade Runner, shifts into a picture of me, the real me, laying on the bed in my real Blackwell dorm, a scowl on my face as I looked at my cell phone. Chloe was calling or texting, and I had my earphones in.

And just like last time, there was a bright flash of light in my mind's eye as I woke up.

And there we have it. The first chapter of Dark Room. Like last chapter, a shout-out to anime-death-angel for the idea of Joyce's death and Chloe's different handicap. I think that really put a different spin on the story than the game. Here, Chloe still has one arm working. She can feel everything in her body, except her arm, and her respiratory system isn't deteriorating, so she wouldn't cost William so much money, and she wouldn't feel the need to have Damon end her life.

Also, you'll notice that unlike in the game, Damon didn't spend the night in the Alternate Timeline. Like I said before, he's quick to think, and quicker to act. He knew something needed to be done, but he wasn't certain what the right thing to do was, so he consulted William. What did you guys think of that, huh? And the whole thing with William remembering? I thought it would be a nice touch. Truth be told, I'm surprised I fit the entire trip to the Alternate Timeline in one chapter.

Anywho, please tell me what ya'll think about the diversion from canon! Also, just to get you all riled up, there's going to be some explicit content next chapter. :P

Ciao!