Life is Strange: End of Nightmares

Chapter 8 of my Life is Strange story, enjoy.

Reviews

Boris Yeltsin: Oh, afraid it's worse than that :(
Wolfgirl2013: Yeah :(
Holywoodunderfed: Thanks, yeah, well, here's the answer.

Now onto the story.

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

Chapter 8

It had been two weeks since that call Rachel had received and ever since then, she had begun to worry more and more.

'Chloe isn't, God, what is she…?' She found herself wondering. 'It's like, something's changed, I don't even know what to say to her anymore. She's just, not opening up.'

It was true, Chloe seemed to have become closed off lately; ever since the short second session. Apparently, after only half the session was through, Chloe had, after being reticent throughout said session, walked out. It was clear within moments of their talk afterwards that Chloe's reasons were private.

Rachel shook her head, fretting. 'She's not saying the therapy isn't working, or that there are problems with the therapist...She's not expecting some miracle cure, it's like...I don't know, she doesn't want it to work, but that makes no sense.'

She sighed as she continued to fret over this, wondering what she could do. Chloe's therapy was stalling and yet Chloe offered no explanation. She bit her lip, looking over at Chloe who sat sullenly at her desk. It was clear the nightmares and insomnia were still affecting Chloe, possibly now more than ever.

They were starting to affect her daily life, she was slowly slipping back into the way she had been before meeting Rachel. Being more aware of the differences in her behaviour now, the teachers had all noticed it and were beginning to worry. But Chloe didn't like that, she was becoming short tempered with almost everyone.

'I tried to talk to her, to help her, but she just pushed me away. Chloe, what is wrong with you and why won't you let anyone in?' Rachel wondered.

She wasn't the only one and she was afraid something terrible would happen.

Making her way back home, Chloe scowled as she parked the truck. She had dropped Rachel off at her place first, the drive had been rather quiet.

'Urgh, can't believe this.' She thought as she stifled a yawn. 'I'm exhausted but can't sleep, it's making me so...frustrated, but...urgh everybody is on my case, but they wouldn't understand.'

Shaking her head she got out of the truck, closing and locking it, before heading inside.

"Chloe?"

She tensed. "Mom?"

"Are you…?" Joyce began.

Chloe sighed. "I'm fine mom, really."

She was glad David wasn't home yet, the last thing she wanted right now was an argument. Nevertheless, her mother wasn't exactly letting things go either.

"Chloe, please. Something is clearly bothering you, otherwise you wouldn't have walked out on your therapy session, nor would you keep trying to avoid it." Joyce remarked. "I want to help you Chloe, we all do, but you're not letting us in."

Chloe sighed. "Maybe I don't need that, maybe I just need...to be by myself, I..."

Joyce shook her head. "We've had this talk before Chloe, you know when and why, please, don't do this again."

Chloe groaned and shook her head. "You wouldn't understand, mom...nobody understands."

"Then help me understand." Joyce insisted.

Chloe just bowed her head before turning and heading for the stairs. "I can't."

With that she hurried up, not wanting to see the look of disappointment on her mother's face.

Lying in bed that night, Chloe sighed. She hoped her current state of exhaustion would help her sleep. All the while she reflected on her current state, on the issue of her stalled therapy, her worsening insomnia and nightmares.

'It could work, it could help, but...that would mean, I wouldn't...be able to...' She thought. 'Urgh, how could I tell anyone that and expect them to understand, to get it. They'd just accuse me of...I don't know.'

Letting out a slow breath, Chloe rolled over and pulled the blankets tighter around herself, trying to drift off to sleep, praying that tonight she would manage it, to sleep peacefully, as she finally drifted off.

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