* Monday Evening, Looking For Answers, After the Funeral *

The phone's flashlight cuts right through the night, only stopping once it hits the cotton wall in the woods. Not truly cotton, the light doesn't soften and absorb. Not crystals, the light doesn't reflect. It just illuminates.

I wish I could get some illumination right now.

The fog behaves... like fog. Slowly flowing in the currents of the wind. There is nothing unnatural about it's behavior.

Except for the invisible wall it refuses to pass.

Right at the totem pole. Not an omen. Not a clue. Just a coincidence.

'Anything, Victoria?'

A call from across the quad. 'No. Nothing news worthy. Except how the whirlpool is suspected to be the culprit.'

How right they are.

'Okay. Let's get back ins-'

Two figures, indistinguishable in the darkness, are walking straight for Max. Can't see who they are, but Max knows.

Vicky talked to them. Without me knowing. I hope.

A bee line wouldn't be as straight as their path. Without pause, they walk right over the edge of the path, stopping a few feet from Max. Victoria covertly slips behind Max, lending strength and solidarity.

Maybe she didn't talk to them.

Warren starts. 'Max, I... Okay. I'm not sorry about anything. And neither is Kate. But we get it. We get what's wrong.'

Oh. Oh thank dog.

The petite blonde steps in. 'But we aren't done. You can't keep doing this. It isn't the first time. You can't snap at us all the time. I won't stand for it.'

Guys...

'Dammit. I'm going to cry.' Max takes a step forward, hoping for some sort of affection but patient, so as to not break this moment. 'I'm so sorry. But I can't promise I won't be a bitch again. This thing my head... I can't control it. I can't always tell when it's there. I can only promise one thing. I will listen. Talk. Yell. As long as you are talking, I will keep my ears open. You guys have the same carte blanche as Victoria to kick my ass.'

The pair look at one another. Without a word, Kate giggles and steps into an embrace with Max, Warren placing a hand on the brunette's arm.

Victoria takes over. 'Okay. Done with the lovey-dovey. Warren, you said you had news.'

Ha! She was talking to them.

'I, uh, did the math. The swirl, the faux time power in the Bay. I know about when it will end.'

Max and Warren speak in unison. 'Friday.'

'Wait, you had a vision?'

'Nope. There's just a... symmetry. To this stuff, I mean. Taking one step towards the destination puts you one step towards something else as well.'

'You mean, you can, like, predict the future now?'

I wish!

Really?

...Eh, maybe not. I have enough problems with time.

Yes you do.

'Nope, but here's the theory I have. First, Storm versus whirlpool. Both cyclones of doom. The former was abrupt and immediate, the latter is slow-burning. Both are in the Bay, and both visions had me on the cliff by the lighthouse. Next, Monday. Last week, a snow storm in eighty degrees that became nothing almost as soon as it stops. Now we have a persistent fog bank that won't leave and it's chillier than normal. Both freak weather for this time of year.'

'So next, what? The sun blows up?'

Wow, scary. 'No, but if I'm right, something with the sun or in the sky will occur. Then, animals go weird. The double moons... I don't know? Maybe something repetitive? Then, Friday, the whirlpool.'

Boom, drop mic!

'Uh, Max? Where's all this confidence coming from?'

Oh. Uh? I don't know.

'Um...'

No one wants to field that question. Not when the answer may be the possibility they've all been dreading.

Warren speaks. A credit to his growing character. 'Is it future talk?'

I think he might be ready to headbutt someone by Friday at this rate.

'No. No this is me. All conscious thought, all in first person.'

Lies.

Not really, I thought it all up.

But it wasn't straight conscious reasoning. It's all subconscious connections while listening to music.

Yeah, but still me. You said yourself, you ain't my subconscious.

The trio look much relieved, though they also notice the inward, pensive look on Max's face. Without hesitation, Max confirms it.

'Yes, I'm talking to "her". I know. I mean, I really know I'm talking to a future voice version of me that might be insane and by replying, I am further going crazy. I also know you guys know all this. So.'

Victoria picks up. 'So. Where does that leave us?'

'With a deadline.'

Wrong word.

Shush. Distracting.

They head inside, still discussing the timing, theories, even motives of FM. Future Max. Warren even brings up aliens.

'I'm just saying, time control would be within the realm of beings that can travel through the galaxy. Relativistic effects would play hell with beings popping around space.'

'Warren, Max isn't an alien.'

You were going to suggest the same thing.

'Kay, fine.' He finally grabs the handle of the door to the boy's floor. 'I need sleep. Or a bunch of video games. Pick this up tomorrow?'

Goodbyes and promises are exchanged, as the girls head to their own sanctuary.

Victoria is the first to get to her door, though it's the furthest down the hall. 'So? Slumber party?'

I'm too wired to sleep.

'Sure. Coming Kate?'

A look of trepidation, but resolve as well. 'Yeah. Let me change into PJ's.'

'I didn't really mean a sleep over. Just, let's hang out.'

'Oh, I know. I just need to get some clean clothes on.'

Good idea. 'Gimme five minutes too.'

Entering her room, Max quickly changes into her favorite sleeping ensemble. Hawt Dawg Man FTW. Thinking it through, she also grabs both her camera and her guitar.

Victoria's door cracked slightly open and walking right in, Max immediately about faces and pulls the door mostly closed again.

Shit! She should have closed it if she was getting changed!

You didn't look all that hard.

Yeah, but... It's the principle.

What? Like a sport's bra and pajama pants are that revealing. And her back was turned.

But still. Should have knocked.

Don't worry, she didn't hear you.

Kate walks over, holding a stuffed rabbit instead of Alice. 'What's wrong, Max?'

'Uh, Vicky's getting changed.' Beet red, from ears tips down. Loss of eye contact. All the signs of guilty.

'Oh. Did you, like, rewind... or something?'

What?! 'What? Why would I do that? I'm just waiting.'

A solid prissy-girl mmm-hmm issues from Kate. Like she's been practicing. Without further delay, she knocks. 'Vicky, you ready?'

A very slightly muffled "come in" is heard.

Thank dog she's dressed.

'So, ladies, any gossip that has nothing to do with the weird?'

Blank stares answer the pixie blonde.

'Fine. What do you want to do now?'

Kate's suggestion leads the conversation. 'Max, can we...talk about it? The voice? Like, can we ask it questions?'

That is so... 'Uh, yeah? She's being cooperative, right now.'

You good with this.

Right now, sure.

Wait, just right now.

You both are very synced right now. You are close, relatively, right now.

A completely solo WFT? resounds in Max's head, but no response if forthcoming.

'Shoot, Kate. Just, ask me anything?'

'Um. What's it like?'

'Okay. Well, it's just me, in here. I have thoughts, and counter thoughts. Like when you are arguing with yourself, or trying to figure out a problem. I feel like I'm just thinking. But.' A pointed look at Victoria, Daring her to question word-choice. 'But it's also a conversation. Just like you don't know how someone might respond to something, I don't always know what she might say.'

'That is so shitty.'

'Vicky, language.'

'Sorry. Doesn't change that I'm right.'

You are not kidding. 'I'm getting better at telling when she's here.'

'Still...'

'Yeah, still sucks.'

Hey, it's not exactly pleasant for us.

'What's it, I mean she, talking about?'

'Mostly, she's being a sounding board. Especially recently. Since this afternoon...'

dammit

'Can we... talk about that, too?'

'Uh, yeah Kate.' Bracing herself, Max just bulls through the pain. 'I had a... vision. Not like the, uh, whirlpool. Just, you know, a normal hallucination.' Wow, that sounds really screwed up.

'Is it so screwed up that, when put that way, I'm okay with it?'

'You read my mind, Victoria.'

Wait!

No, we are most certainly not Victoria.

Kate voices the shared concern. 'But, you knew it wasn't real?'

'Yes.' Dammit, the parking lot. 'I knew, but... But I wanted it to be true. I knew I was just imagining... Chloe.'

See, not too bad.

'It's why I went off like that.'

Kate both backpedals and pushes forward. 'If, you know, if you think about it... It's like you have... PTSD.'

'Yeah. Vicky brought that up.'

'So, what? You'll just ignore it?'

'No! But... what can I do? Really? I can't explain it to a shrink. I can't explain it to anyone. I barely got the people who know me to believe me.'

Victoria looks... guilty. 'I have an idea but it's... not a good one.'

And?

'Self-medication.'

'What, like hit up the local drug dealer and grab some weed?'

'Um, exactly.'

That's a really bad idea.

The other, non-habitual drug user of the group chimes it. 'Vicky, that is a really bad idea.'

'Yeah, I know. But Frank should be able to get us anything.'

'Frank.'

Kate knows who Frank is. What services he provides. Who he provided for.

'I really hope the answer to our problems is not filling Max up with barbiturates.'

'It's not like I want her turning into a drooling mess. I mean, just something to calm her down. Hell, the stuff I take daily hits harder than weed.'

'Wait, you're on drugs?'

'Yes, doctor prescribed and everything. Xanax. Social anxiety and mild OCD.'

'Yeah, Kate. Imagine if she didn't take the drugs.'

'Quiet, Caulfield.' She refocuses. 'I'm talking about something like Zoloft or Prozac. Nothing recreational. Just, you know, the stuff you drive to Canada for because it's cheap.'

The petite girl pauses, gathering strength for... something. 'i have zoloft.'

Huh?

'Wait, Kate. You're taking meds?'

'yeah. since tuesday. my parents got me to start. i haven't... been very diligent with it.'

Her mom? Trying to help, or control? 'Are you okay with that? Are you, like, upset or something?'

A shake of a head, her hair coming a bit undone. 'I'm fine. They kinda know everything, after last Tuesday. It's just another attempt by Mother to control me.'

Not done yet. 'But, won't it help? Even a little?'

This thought seems to be a new one for Kate. 'But, they want me to act like their Kate. Not like me.'

Max pushes. 'I like the old Kate. The one who love tea time and drawing cartoons. The one who always smiles, real, genuine, loving smiles. Though.' Dramatic pause. 'New Kate does tell her father to get pissed in public.'

'Max!'

Holding up a hand, Victoria silences them both. 'No. Freaking. Way.'

Bashful again. 'i just... i was just so angry.'

'Katie, that is amazing. But, in context, I don't think it really works. Next time, tell him to get bent.'

'Vicky!'

A few hours later, well past midnight, Kate lies slumped over in the couch. Careful not to wake her, they spread her out and blanket her up.

'Okay, time for bed. See you in the morning, Victoria.'

'Max, you wanna... stay over?'

Huh?

The pixie blonde refuses to look at Max, instead idly scratching one elbow and looking down. She continues.

'I just. I don't want to sleep alone tonight.'

'Kate's right here.'

'No, I mean I don't want to sleep alone.'

Oh.

...

OOOOOOH!

'Um, Victoria, I don't want you to-'

'Forget it, Max, I'm fine.'

'No Vicky! Just don't know-'

'Max, it wasn't supposed to be sexual.'

Wait. Confused.

'Then, it was...'

'I just... feel safer sleeping next to someone.'

'Um, I'm not getting it.'

'It's just... Okay. I've never been, like, in love with someone but, you know. I'm not... inexperienced. And when I do... that, the best, um, part can be. You know. Just sleeping next to them. Or even without the, um...'

'Sex.'

OHMYDOGOHMYDOGOHMYDOG! She's going to explode!

'Yeah. I just... sleep... better, when there's someone I trust. In bed. With me.'

'Vicky.' DON'T LAUGH! 'I would love. To sleep. With you.'

'...'

'Oh, babe, don't be like that.'

'I am going to fucking murder you Caulfield.'

'I get little spoon.'

Sharing sleep with someone you trust, whether through love, lust, or friendship, is cathartic. It heals. It calms. Like a nightlight from childhood, just the knowledge of someone there can be enough to salve the soul. The breathing you hear. The tactile brushes of their presence. The little things that chase away the monsters and nightmares.

Max worms onto her side, back to back with Victoria. Before the blonde could ask if she was comfortable, Max is asleep.