"He just..." Victoria said, her head slowly moving left in right in confusion, "he kept going on and on about some kind of...storm?"
Beside Chloe, Max sucked in a sharp breath and lurched forward, clutching her head. Before Chloe could even fully understand, Victoria recoiled in shock.
"Oh my god, Max," she said, reaching for the napkin dispenser, "your nose is bleeding!"
"What?" Chloe turned in her seat, grabbing hold of Max and bending forward to try and get a good look at her. "Max? Max!?"
...no. No.
Max didn't respond. She only continued to hiss in pain. Chloe yanked her upright and grabbed her wrists, roughly pulling her hands away from her head. She then put a hand under Max's jaw, turning her face toward her. A squeak of horror left her throat.
Fuck. No. No, no, no.
"Max! Max! Are you okay!?" She feverishly wiped the blood away from Max's face with her bare hands. "Fuck! Fuck! Max!"
"Chloe...?" Victoria was still holding out a handful of napkins, though her expression was now uneasy. "It's just a nosebleed..."
Fuck! Fuck!
"Max, please say something," Chloe begged, swiping her thumb under her nose once again. Her hands were now almost completely coated in blood. From the corner of her eye, she could see figures moving to their table and turned to face them.
"Hey, is she okay?" the trucker asked.
Gotta get you out of here.
"She's fine," Chloe said, biting down on the word. She stood up from the booth, pulling Max out with her. She was relieved to see that the girl could still stand, but she remained lost in a daze.
"Wait, where are you going?" Victoria asked, starting to get out of her seat.
"Stay there, Vic," Chloe barked, freezing Victoria, "it's fine."
"What? She's hurt!" Victoria started getting to her feet once more.
"Seriously, do you need us to call someone?" another customer asked.
"It's alright," Chloe said, trying to sound more reassuring. She turned to Victoria. "We'll talk to you later, okay?"
"What the fuck?" Victoria glanced at the people around her, then shook her head. "No! I'm coming with y-"
Fuck! I can't deal with this right now!
"Victoria, shut the fuck up," Chloe snarled, backing away to kitchen door. "I said we'll talk to you later."
"I..." Victoria looked down at the napkins in her hand, then frowned, "did I do something?"
"No, it's fine," Chloe said, shifting her hands to get a better hold of Max, "seriously. I'm sorry. Just please, alright?"
"Uh...alright," Victoria replied, but they were already gone, leaving only a swinging door.
"Pete!" Chloe called, then very quickly planted a kiss on Max's temple. "It's okay baby, it's okay. You're okay," she whispered, then turned back to her boss. "Pete, I need to leave, okay?"
"Woah, woah," he said, hurrying over to them, "what happened?"
"She gets bad nosebleeds sometimes that...uh, with migraines," Chloe said, making an involuntary sound of relief as Max stood upright on her own.
Oh thank god. You're back. Thank god.
"Chloe?" she asked, turning to look at her. Immediately, she burst into tears, throwing her arms around her.
"Should I call an ambulance?" Pete asked. "Max, do you need medical attention?" Max only shook her head, her face buried in Chloe's chest. His jaw moved in search of words before finally finding them. "Okay... Uh, get her out of here, alright? Your shift's up in ten minutes, I can cover until Janice gets here."
"Thank you so much," she responded, kissing Max's forehead several times, "I'm sorry."
"It's okay, Chloe," he said, "just keep me updated. Please." Chloe nodded and turned, guiding Max through the backdoor and out into alleyway.
"Sweetie," Chloe said quietly, steering Max around the front of the diner, "are you okay? Please, tell me what happened."
"Something's wrong," Max mumbled, dragging the back of her hand across her face. She looked at the blood and whimpered.
Yes. I understand that.
"What do you mean?" They reached her truck and Chloe pulled open the passenger door. Instead of getting in, Max spun around and looked across the parking lot. Apparently not seeing what she was looking for, she sobbed and shook her head.
"He's not there!?" She brought her hands to her temples.
"Who?" Chloe asked, hating how aggressively she forced Max into the truck. She stood in front of the door, blocking it in case Max tried to get back out. "Who, Max? What do you mean?"
"The...the fisherman?" Max flailed her hands, crying harder.
But that asshat Jim was just yelling at him?
"He...he was inside?" Chloe leaned forward, kissing her on the forehead. "Talk to me, Max."
"I..." Max shook her head, audibly swallowing, "I saw her again. She was there."
"...who?" Chloe asked, though she was fairly certain she knew the answer.
"Her," Max repeated, "me? The other me!? I don't know! But she...she was there!"
"Max..." Chloe took a deep breath, "come on, okay? Let's get you back to my place." Max didn't answer, instead turning away and pulling her legs up onto the seat to hug her knees.
There's no fucking way this is happening right now.
Chloe started the truck and pulled out of the parking lot with a screech of tires, the speed causing them to fishtail as they got onto the road.
"What did she say?" Chloe asked, not taking her eyes off the road.
This can't be happening again.
"She just...just repeated something she said before," Max replied, her voice ghostly and far away. "But she...finished it this time. She said that I still thought the storm was my fault."
The storm?
"What?" Chloe shook her head. "What does that even mean?" She growled in frustration. "No. No, it's not real, Max."
"How can you possibly say that?" Max asked, turning to her with a crazed look. "Didn't you hear Victoria!? Nathan knows about the storm!"
Wait, what? I...I was so focused on other shit and then Max, I guess...I didn't hear that.
"He could have been talking about anything," Chloe responded, her foot pressing down harder on the gas. "It doesn't mean they're connected."
"Chloe..." Max's eyes were pleading, "I saw...two of the same fucking person. The fisherman. He was...in two places at once."
"He was inside," Chloe repeated, "he wasn't in two places."
This is bad. She's really freaked out.
"Do you..." Max pressed her back against the door and looked Chloe up and down, "do you seriously not believe me?"
"I believe you believe it," Chloe said, "and that's okay, alright? We've done this before. It's okay."
It's okay. It's okay...
"I'm not just being crazy, Chloe!" Max shouted, then clamped her eyes shut as she began to cry once again. "I'm not, I swear. Something is really wrong. I think...I think she was r-"
"Max," Chloe said coldly, "she wasn't right. Nothing is happening, okay? We're going to go to my place and rest. You're tired." Her foot grew heavier on the pedal.
"Why are you being this way?" Max asked incredulously. "Why don't you believe me? How could you not believe me?!"
Because I don't want to...
"I'm not trying to like, minimize how you're feeling," Chloe replied, "I'm just saying we need to take a minute and think about this. It's been so long since you've had a nosebleed. But we've dealt with it before. This could all be just some freak coincidence."
"Chloe, I..." Max started, then just closed her eyes as she fell back into the seat, electing not to speak further.
"Come on," Chloe said, her voice now carrying a far more soothing tone, "we have to get you washed up." She slid the shower door open, then carefully pulled Max's shirt over her head.
A quick shower will help. That's all she needs.
"Will you stay in here with me?" Max asked.
"Of course," Chloe hugged her and planted a kiss on her temple, "of course. I'll be right here." She helped Max out of the rest of her clothes and turned on the water. She held her hand in it for a moment, then nodded. "It's warm. Get in, okay?"
"Uh huh..." Max stepped into the shower, then pulled the door closed. Chloe sighed, flipping the lid of the toilet seat closed and sat down.
This is fucked up.
"Did, uh..." Chloe puckered her lips, "did Vic really say Nathan knew about the storm?"
"I knew you didn't hear her," Max said sharply. "Yes, Chloe. She did."
Just a coincidence...
"I still don't think," Chloe looked around the room for aid in formulating her words, "I don't think they're connected. I think maybe just that word sort of stirred it back up, you know?"
"I saw two of the same person," Max responded icily. "You don't believe me, I know. But I know what I saw. Something is not right."
"I know that," Chloe said, "you being like this isn't right. It's not okay." She tapped her fingers on her knees anxiously. "But...but we already know this whole 'other you' thing is in your head, right? That's how we figured it out last time. We just...we need to..."
"Need to what?" Max asked, jerking open the shower door just enough to stick her head out. "You can't take my virginity twice."
Oh... That...hurts...
"Dude..." Chloe shook her head and held up her hands, "that's not cool."
"I'm...I'm sorry," Max said quietly, slinking back behind the door. "I just don't know what the fuck is going on."
"Me either," Chloe said, rubbing her face roughly, "but it's just...it's just another thing, okay? We'll take care of it."
"And your dreams?" Max asked.
"Those are almost over," Chloe replied, "they'll be done soon. Just a few more."
Oh, the train. Right.
"And the animals...and the Prescotts..." Max continued, ignoring Chloe.
"None of that matters!" Chloe said, "it's just dumb bullshit. Nothing's happening. The fucking world isn't ending." Max snorted and Chloe could see her silhouette shake its head.
"Timelines collapsing, then crashing," she said.
Fuck, Max. Give me something to work with.
"Argh," Chloe buried her face in her hands, "Max, I'm really trying, okay? I'm trying. But you have to let me fucking try to calm you down." She pulled her hands away and stared at the blood on them, frowning. "Please..." The water abruptly stopped and Max pulled open the door.
"I need you on my side, here," Max said, her gaze harsh but wounded, "if you aren't going to believe me, then I have nobody. And I know I can't handle this by myself."
"Max, I would never let you face anything by yourself," Chloe assured. "You...you know that."
"Please act like it," Max responded, a mixture of pleading bitterness. Chloe grunted and stood up. She took the towel off of the rack and handed it to Max.
Max, please...
"I'm sorry, okay?" She glanced at the floor, then back to Max. "I told you I was trying. You have to...let me fumble through this as best I can. I'm not..." she shook her head, "I'm not trying to make this about me, but you don't understand how much seeing you like this hurts."
"I know," Max said, releasing the tension in her shoulders and hanging her head, "I know. I just don't understand what's happening. It was always because of my insecurities before and...I'm not insecure about anything. Not really." Dragging the towel across her back, she finished drying off, then stepped into Chloe's arms. "I just want this to be over," she said, "when will it be over?"
Not soon enough.
"Soon," Chloe said quietly, "we'll fix you up, I'll be done with my dreams, and then we'll be done. It's that easy."
"You make it sound like you really think it's easy," Max said, wrapping her arms around her.
It'll be easy. No problem.
"Are you serious?" Chloe asked. "What's not easy for us? We've conquered fucking everything at this point." Taking hold of Max's hand, she led her out of the bathroom and into her bedroom. "We've got this, okay? Let's get you some clothes."
She dug through her drawers, picking out the most comfortable clothes she could, and handed them to Max. As she got dressed, Chloe felt a buzz in her pocket. She pulled out her phone and huffed.
Of course.
"Hey," she said, keeping her eyes on Max.
"What's going on? Is she okay?" Victoria asked.
"She's fine," Chloe responded, walking over to her desk and picking up Max's phone. She rolled her eyes when she saw Victoria had called it multiple times. "She's always had this nosebleed problem. Some kind of condition. I was just scared because I forgot about it."
"Are you...sure?" Victoria pressed. "You made a fucking scene, you know? Everyone kept asking me what happened."
Oh, boo-fuckin'-hoo.
"I'm positive," Chloe reiterated, "she's okay. Here..." She held the phone out for Max.
"Hi Vic," Max said, sighing as she pulled her pants up, "I'm okay. Sorry to scare you."
"It's alright, it was just freaky," Victoria replied. "Are...you guys coming back to Blackwell?"
"Probably not tonight," Chloe said, "we're just going to chill out."
"Ooookay," Victoria said, a disappointed tune in her voice, "just uh, let me know if you need anything, alright?"
"Will do," Chloe replied, "later, Vic."
"Bye guys," she said.
"Well, not as secret as before, huh?" Max flopped face first onto the bed, then groaned. "Fuuuuck."
"No, but it's fine," Chloe said, sitting down on the bed. She scooted until her back was against the wall, then patted her thigh. Max crawled to her and laid down, resting her head in Chloe's lap. "Just a little mental hiccup. We'll have no problem getting over it this time."
"I really, really hope you're right," Max said. Chloe ran her fingers through her hair and she closed her eyes. "I'm sorry for being mean."
"You weren't mean," Chloe chuckled, "you're just freaked out. I understand." She kissed her fingertips, then touched them to Max's lips. "Trust me, it'll take a lot more than that to get a rise out of me."
"Still..." Max slipped a hand over Chloe's knee and pulled, keeping her as close as possible.
"Don't worry about it, babe," Chloe said. "Just get some rest."
Not long after, Max was asleep, purring quietly and still holding on to Chloe. Chloe let her head rest against the wall and she took a deep breath.
We'll be okay. We'll be okay. We'll be okay...
"I double dare you," Chloe said, smiling mischievously, "kiss me now." With no hesitation, Max went onto her tiptoes, put her hands on Chloe's shoulders, and pecked her on the lips. Chloe took hold of Max's waist and tilted her head, coercing the girl's mouth open. As their tongues met, Max jolted in surprise. Chloe backed away and looked at her with horror stretched eyes. "I'm sorry!" she said, her cheeks turning red. "Sorry! I just, uh..." Flustered, she spun around and took a step toward her bed. She stumbled and banged her knee hard on the floor, yelling 'fuck!' as it made impact. Max gasped and held up her hand, pulling Chloe back over to the closet.
A bubbling pond of orange rose up from the floor, disassembling the entire scene.
"I don't wanna die here!" Chloe screamed, yanking at her ankle desperately. "Please, get me outta here!"
Max was panicking, circling around a small building on a hill just off the tracks. Finally, she picked up a crowbar and hurried to the door. The whistle of the train grew louder, sparks shooting off of the tracks as it tried to stop. Max disappeared into the building and Chloe continued to pull on her leg. The train bellowed once more and she turned to it, her eyes growing wide.
"Max!" she screamed again. The train gave one final roar of warning, then it was past the building, speeding down along the tracks until it was no longer in sight and the screech of its brakes faded.
A bubble of orange appeared in the middle of the tracks, then expanded outward until everything was different.
"You'll walk the plank!" Max shouted, wooden sword raised over her head as she chased Chloe through the woods. Chloe laughed in response, skillfully leaping from rock to rock.
"You'll never take me alive!" she responded, "I'm Captain Bluebeard!"
"Okay, who cares!?" Max cut around a tree sharply, appearing in front of Chloe. She pointed her sword at her threateningly. "The whole purpose of this is for you to walk the plank so I guess it doesn't really matter if you just die now."
"Oh yeah," Chloe giggled, "I guess that's true." She shrugged, then leaped off of the rock, tackling Max into a pile of leaves.
"You broke my back!" Max wheezed, flailing her hands and scattering leaves into the air.
"Wait, seriously?" Chloe asked, getting off of her. "Are you okay?"
"I'm..." Max sat up and looked at her, then grew a small smile, "I'm a good actor!" She whacked Chloe on the arm with the sword, then pounced, dragging her back down into the leaves.
There was a bright flash of orange, plucking it all apart. Then Max was on the roof of the dormitories, soaked in the pouring rain. She took a small step toward Kate.
"What about your mother, Kate?" Max asked. "You'll destroy her! She doesn't care about a video! She loves you..."
"You don't know my mother. At all," Kate said angrily. "She already thinks Satan has me on the fast-track to Hell. Let's prove it..."
Max reached out for her, but Kate turned her back. Another second later and she was gone over the edge.
"No!" Max screamed, her voice being drowned out by orange racing over the world.
"Don't you ever tell me what to do!" Frank growled, gripping Max by the throat. "Get it, bitch? Get it?"
"Step the fuck back, now!" Chloe shouted, pointing the gun at him. He let go of Max and back away, but the RV door burst open behind him. Pompidou charged out, barking wildly as he ran toward Chloe. Panicked, she aimed at him and pulled the trigger.
"Pompidou!" Frank shouted. "You fucking killed my dog!" He pulled his gun out and began to aim it, but Chloe was quicker, shooting him in the chest. He fell to the ground, unmoving.
Chloe stared down at the gun in her hand, already looking like she'd begin to cry.
"Oh no..." Max turned to her, "Chloe..."
"I just shot a man and his dog..." she said, her voice hollow, "I killed Frank Bowers..."
The memory was reorganized until Max was sitting in The Dark Room.
She watched as David crept around the corner, instantly ambushed by Jefferson. He smashed David over the head with his tripod, and David crumpled to the floor.
The orange waved back and forth as it bled from the walls, tearing everything down.
"Nobody would ever even miss your punk ass, would they?" Nathan shouted, pinning Chloe against the bathroom wall.
"Get that gun away from me, psycho!" She pushed him and the gun went off as he stumbled backward, puncturing her stomach. She fell to the floor, bleeding out in seconds.
The aura sank from the ceiling, reworking the world.
"Chloe! Look out!" Max warned, her voice weakening with every syllable.
"What the fuck!?" Chloe spun around, reaching for the gun at her back. A boom rang out and her neck snapped backward, her lifeless eyes staring up into the night sky.
She was gone before she hit the ground, the fluctuating orange wall collapsing in on the area.
"And we're obviously connected since without me you would have never discovered your power, right?" Chloe asked, slowly kicking her feet in the water.
"Absolutely," Max said, resting her chin on her arms, "you make me feel like I know what I'm doing..."
"And you make me feel like I still have a reason for being in Arcadia Bay," Chloe responded, earning a small smile from Max.
"I hope so..." she said.
The water of the pool turned orange, then rose over the sides, overtaking the memory.
"And then...a dolphin here!" Max said, pointing at a spot on the board. Chloe gasped.
"Yes! Like, jumping out of the water under the sunset!" She leaned forward and excitedly picked out a new crayon, then started to draw it. "I think there should be another horse, too. And one of us can be pointing at it like we're going to ride them!"
"Oh man, that'd be so cool!" Max shifted over a little, then began making the second horse. Her hand knocked against Chloe's. "Move your dumb hand."
"What? Move yours!" Chloe giggled, hitting Max back.
"You're gonna make me mess up!" Max complained, then she sighed dreamily. "You think we'll ever be able to see something like this?"
"Yeah, of course," Chloe said as if it were a silly question, "we'll spend like, all of our time at cool places like this when we're older."
"Cool," Max said casually, nodding her head as she was reassured.
Everything shifted around, pieces being moved, removed or added.
"You can just rewind time in your hand and stick that barrel right up Frank's ass!" Chloe laughed as she and Max walked on the rails of the train tracks. "You have the power!"
"You're gross," Max said, then took hold of Chloe's hand, "don't fall!"
They walked down the tracks hand in hand, smiling at each other with increased shyness.
Orange swept Max off the tracks and repositioned Chloe on to them.
"Max!" Chloe screamed, then her voice was pulled under the train.
The world morphed again, rerouting them to the junkyard.
"Okay," Chloe said, a bit of irritation creeping into her voice, "you're too busy to help, so I'm going to kill the car bumper." She pulled the trigger, then almost immediately recoiled, clutching her chest. "Jesus, I shot myself! I shot myself!" She fell to her knees and her head drooped forward. "Back up! Back up!"
Another flash revealed a new scene.
"Chloe..." Max whispered, managing just barely to lift her head off the floor.
"Chloe," Jefferson chuckled, "right. Yeah, I'm sorry that I killed... that Nathan killed her in self-defense." He slightly repositioned Max, then stood back up. "But she had a troubled history like most Arcadia Bay dropouts." He turned his attention to the camera. "Nobody will be surprised. Or care." He stared back down at Max coldly. "Though, I promise people will care when you die tonight, Max. I wasn't lying when I said you have a gift." He got down onto one knee. "Okay, now this looks good..." Then he laid on his stomach. "Maybe a few more close-ups..."
Max moved her head just the slightest amount.
"Max, please do not move so much," he said, getting back to his feet. He pointed down at her. "I need you posed and framed my way! Maybe..." he looked to the side, "a new dose will calm you down..."
"No, no, no..." Max whimpered, wriggling as much as she was able to. Jefferson dragged his cart over to her.
"Now, don't move. Or this will hurt...much," he said, filling the syringe. Max summoned the strength to kick at the cart, sending it rolling backward followed by the sound of glass breaking. "Stupid bitch!" he shouted. "You just don't listen, do you!? In fact, you never did hear much in my class. If you had, you might have seen this all coming." He knelt down again and surveyed Max with something close to admiration. "God damn, you are a fighter, though. I've had my eye on you and I've noticed you've been more...fearless this week than maybe your whole life." He sighed, then loomed over her. "Remember my number one rule... Always. Take. The shot."
Flash.
"Why don't you get off my crack?" Chloe snipped. "Stop taking your war rage out on high school girls!"
"You haven't seen rage, you little-" David began.
"Fuck you, pig," Chloe interrupted, taking a step toward him. He swung at her, whacking her on the cheek with the back of his hand. Max yelped and came to her side.
"I... Listen, you asked for that," he said, "you know exactly what you're doing."
Flash.
"She's never leaving me!" Chloe proclaimed happily.
"That makes all of us," William said, walking out the door.
Flash.
"I'm so proud of you for following your dreams," Chloe said weakly, her eyes already fluttering closed, "don't forget about me."
"Never," Max responded, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I love you, Max..." Chloe's head began to fall to the side, "see you soon..."
Flash.
"Max!" Chloe screamed, the train barreling forward without stopping.
Flash.
"He's hiding a gun over there!" Max cried. David took off toward the shelves, but Jefferson grabbed the gun. Before David could overpower him, Jefferson unloaded two bullets into him.
"Sorry, Madsen," Jefferson said as David toppled to the floor. "Okay..." he started walking back to Max, then gave a dizzy chuckle, "deja vu."
Flash.
"After five years, you're still Max Caulfield," Chloe said, glancing at Max before returning her gaze to the road. When there was no response, she looked at her again to find her staring down ashamedly. "Don't give me the guilty face," Chloe moved her arm as if nudging Max, letting a little bit of laughter into her voice, "at least pretend you're glad to see me."
"I am seriously glad to see you," Max replied with a smile. "Oh, and thanks, Chloe. It makes perfect sense I'd see you today."
Flash.
"Max!" Chloe tugged at her ankle. The train didn't stop.
Flash.
"Well, Max," Ryan said, gesturing to the house, "this is our new home."
"It's...big," Max said, looking over it with wide eyes.
"A far cry from Arcadia Bay, that's for sure," he replied.
"Far..." Max said quietly, her lips quirking sadly.
Flash.
"I double dare you. Kiss me now," Chloe said. Max went onto her tiptoes and their lips met, then Chloe stumbled away. "Damn, you're hardcore, Max! Now I can text Warren and tell him he doesn't stand a chance..."
Flash.
"And, um," Max looked around the classroom nervously, "Christopher Columbus was actually wrong. He sailed to America in-instead..."
"Max, you got this!" Chloe yelled, raising her hands. All the other students turned to look at her and she furrowed her brow. "Hey, pay attention to her presentation! She worked really hard on it!"
Flash.
"I double dare you. Kiss me now," Chloe said. Max went onto her tiptoes and clumsily clinked her teeth against Chloe's. She recoiled in embarrassment and quickly held up her hand, reversing the scene once more.
Flash.
"I'll always love you!" Chloe shouted, backing away as the rain soaked through the world. "Now, get out of here, please! Do it before I freak!"
Flash.
"I'm Chloe!" the tiny girl said, grinning brightly at an even smaller Max and revealing a missing front tooth. "Do you want to be friends?"
Flash.
"Get that gun away from me, pscyho!" Chloe shouted, followed by a bang.
Flash.
"What the fuck!?" Chloe spun around.
Bang.
Flash.
"...so I'm just going to kill the car bumper."
Bang.
Flash.
"Max!" Chloe screamed. Just a second later, there was hardly anything left of her.
Flash.
"I love you, Max," Chloe said sleepily, "see you soon..."
Flash.
"Get that gun away from me, psycho!"
Flash.
"Rachel...?" Chloe began to cry. "Oh, Rachel, no, no! Please, not her!"
Flash.
"Get that gun away from me, psycho!" Chloe shouted after moving just a hair to the side. The gun went off and this time, she fell differently.
Flash.
"I double dare you..."
Flash.
"What the fuck!?"
Flash.
"No worries," Chloe said, "once you get over yourself, you're going to make the world bow."
"As long as you're there with me..." Max responded.
"Don't look so sad," Chloe said, "I'm never leaving you..."
Chloe shrieked, toppling over to the side, jolting Max awake. She clutched her head and screamed, her cheeks wet with tears. A red stream ran from one nostril, then the other as she writhed in agony. She jerked to the side and began gagging, hacking up a small burst of blood onto her blankets. Her body convulsed and she fell off of the bed.
"Chloe! Chloe!" Max screamed, jumping off of the bed and hurrying beside her. "Chloe, what's wrong? Did you have a dream?"
She didn't respond. Instead, she rolled onto her back, still holding her hands to her head and continuing to scream. The blood flowed heavily from her nose, running down either side of her face. She coughed, spraying a mist of blood into the air.
"Chloe, oh my god, please!" Max tried to collect her into her arms, but she squirmed away. She beat one fist hard against the floor before bringing it back to her head. Suddenly, a red stream appeared amongst her tears. "Y-your eye!" Max tried once more to hold her.
"Make it stop!" Chloe wailed. "Please, make it stop!" She sobbed. "Stop! Stop, please!"
"Chloe..." Max was crying too, at a loss for what to do. She ignored Chloe's resistance and finally took her in her arms.
"Max, please!" she screamed again. "It hurts! It hurts!"
"I...I don't know what to do!" Max sobbed. Chloe coughed out more blood, then fell limp in her arms. "Chloe?! Chloe, please, stay with me!"
"M-Max..." Chloe's chest was heaving wildly, her face a complete mess of red.
"Chloe, oh my god," Max tugged her up from her lap and hugged her. She kissed her all over, leaving lip marks in the blood. "Are you okay? Please, please, talk to me!"
"I'm..." Chloe cried harder, wrapping her arms around Max in a vice, "I'm s-sorry..."
"What? Why the hell are you apologizing?" Max asked, adding another storm of kisses.
"For...for..." Chloe trembled in her arms, "for everything! For fucking everything!"
"You didn't do anything wrong," Max said, rubbing Chloe's back, "you didn't do anything..."
"Oh my god," Chloe said, "oh my god..."
I'm so fucking stupid. "I wish I could just get them all over with."
"Babe...please. What happened? What was the dream?" Max asked, still crying. It was so, so horribly painful to see Chloe this way.
"All of it," Chloe mumbled into Max's shirt, "all of it. Too much. It was too much..."
"What...?" Max tilted Chloe's head up to look into her eyes. "What do you mean 'all of it?'"
"It was too many," she replied, "too many."
No...no. God, there's too much.
"Chloe, I'm so sorry," Max said, "are you...are you better? Does it still hurt?" Chloe shook her head. "Good, okay, um..." she sighed, kissing her on the head, "now we need to clean you up, okay? There's...there's too much blood." Max's lip quivered as she looked at the floor where a sizable puddle had built up. Chloe nodded, and Max got to her feet, helping Chloe to stand with her.
Supporting Chloe, they made their way back to the bathroom. It felt like it had recently become much more of a 'clean off blood' room. Max set her down on the toilet and turned on the water. She took Chloe's towel off of the bar and dampened it, then went to work on cleaning Chloe's face.
"I'm sorry I couldn't do anything," Max whispered, lightly scrubbing at the girl's upper lip. "I feel so useless..."
"The train..." Chloe muttered, "the train, the train, the train..." Her eyes tightened shut as she cried again. "I saw the Dark Room again, Max..." Max froze.
"You...did?" she asked.
"Yes," Chloe said, "I saw it again. I saw you all...barely conscious and..." she sobbed, "I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry."
Why that? Why did it have to be that again?
"Hey, hey, no," Max said, resuming her cleaning of Chloe's face, "no, we talked about that, okay? It wasn't your fault."
"And Jefferson killing me and...Nathan killing me and me killing Frank and Dad leaving and..." Chloe lurched forward and shook with tears. "Too much..."
"It's over, Chloe," Max hushed, "it's over. I'm here, okay?"
"Is it?" Chloe asked. "Why...why the fuck did I see things I already saw? It's never... That's never happened!"
"I...I don't know," Max replied. She rested her forehead against Chloe's. "I don't know. I think...I think something's really wrong, Chloe."
Please... things can't be wrong again.
"Maybe it was...maybe it was, uh..." she didn't bother to finish the sentence. Suddenly, her eyes went wide and she ripped the towel out of Max's hands. "No..."
"What's wrong? What is it?" Max asked, backing away.
"No, no..." Chloe frantically shook her head, holding it out for Max to see and jostling it in her face. "Max, this is...this is not my towel!"
No! She can't be right. She can't be...
"What are you talking about? It's your pirate to-" Max stopped and stared at it, her brow furrowing. She gulped. "Chloe, your towel is...is green, isn't it?"
"This isn't...this isn't my towel..." Chloe responded, pointing to an unbloodied spot of blue.
"Chloe," Max stood up and slowly shook her head, "I don't...I don't understand what's going on..."
"Max..." Chloe squeaked, her eyes looking past the girl.
Max turned around and stumbled backward. The door to the bathroom was flickering, as if it were only a projection. Slowly, from the bottom of the door, brown began creeping upward, overtaking the white paint. The slats in the door disappeared, replaced by the brown. Once it had reached the top, the flickering stopped, and the door was solid once again.