Episode 11

Shadows

Max's heart skipped a beat as she closed her eyes the loud ringing in her eyes. "Ah shit, Fuck Max rewind now" Max's eyes shot open as she heard the words. "Oh shit, what happe.." Her thoughts trailed off, She was at the Junkyard and Chloe was on the floor clutching her side. "Oh shit Chloe" She heard herself shout, Accept it wasn't her. She watched as she saw herself run to Chloe's side and rewind the incident. "Err Max whats going on" She heard Chloe's voice from right beside her, She turned to see her blue haired friend standing next to her and became aware of her still gripping her hand. "Chloe are you.." Max said confused. Chloe turned to face her, "Holy shitballs am I trippin" Max stared at her, "If you are then we both are, She turned to face the scene, watching as the scene played out. "This is when we went to play with your new" Max became aware of Chloe's grip tightening as she saw Max's other self collapse on the ground. "Hay don't sweat it, I just over did it a little" Max said reassuringly. looking up at Chloe.

The sene changed showing herself, Chloe and Frank standing in the junkyard, "Oh god," Max said quietly as she felt herself go a little red. Chloe just stared as the sene played out, And let out a small yelp as she watched other Max pull the trigger on frank. Chloe looked down at Max with a look of surprise on her face. The sene changed again, Other Chloe had her foot stuck in the rails. Max buried her face into Chloe's jacket, "I can't watch this one" She said. All she could do was listen as other Chloe screamed and the sound of a train came thundering down the lines, The sene repeated itself several times until she heard the Other Chloe say "You just hella saved my life"

And just like that, they were both back in Chloe's back yard, Max looked around taking a second to get her bearings. "Did that.." "Just happen" Chloe finished Max's sentence. "Holy fuck Max, did that really just fucking happen" Chloe turned to Max holding her hand tightly looking both shocked and exhilarated at the same time. Max looked at Chloe "Did you jus..." She stopped as she spotted something behind Chloe that didn't look right. "Chloe" max said slowly, "Dude that was hella awsome, weird and shocking all at the same time," Chloe said almost bouncing up and down. "Chloe," Max said a little more earnest as she turned her friend around and pointed with her free hand. Chloe's gaze followed Max's direction as her jaw dropped open. Not 15 feet from them was a bird suspended in mid-flight. Chloe leaned towards Max, "Are you doing that," Max thought for a second, she could feel a familiar tugging in her head, "I..I think so" She said as relaxed herself and time began moving again.

"And that's how it's done," David said as he turned to the girls he looked at them with his mouth open. "er maybe another time, Max are you alright" He continued as he sided the gun and walked over to two girls who still firmly had hold of each other's hand. Max cleared her head by giving it a little shake and looked up at David walking across the grass. "Yeah I'm ok" trying to sound unphased. "Max your bleeding again," Chloe said as she brought her finger up to her friend's lip and wiped some of the blood off showing Max. Max brought her own hand up instinctively "Fuck, again really" she muttered to herself.

Back inside Joyce was mothering Max's nosebleed while David was sat on the sofa drinking a beer he looked round at the girls noting that Chloe had not let go of Max's hand the whole time. "Maybe in a few days, ya know when ya ready," He said trying not to sound pushy. Max and Chloe just stared at each other having a silent conversation. "There good as new" Joyce proclaimed as she too also noticed both girls reluctance to let go of each other. "I think were going up to my room now," Chloe said still sounding a little shocked as she led Max towards the stairs. David and Joyce just watched as the girls left. "If you need anything let me know" Joyce called after them. Chloe waved her hand over head signaling a thankyou.

"Holy shitballs Max" Chloe exclaimed as they entered her room and shut the door, "What happened" Max shook her head as she released her friend's hand walking slowly over to the bed letting herself collapse on it. "I honestly have no clue, That's the first time that happened, Usually I see those from my own perspective but that was like.." She trailed off trying to wrap her head around it. Chloe walked over to her desk pulling a joint from the back of her drawer and perching herself on the window ledge opening the window and dangling a leg outside as she sparked up and took a drag.

Max's mind was swimming on the why and how, But she did notice that the after effect, headache was notably less than usual. Chloe chucked to herself quietly, "Whats funny," Max asked half curious and a little annoyed, "You just watched some of the scariest events that I've witnessed" She shot at Chloe. Chloe looked at Max feeling a little sheepish, "Sorry Max, But I was just thinking I'm such a dork for shooting myself, And the fact you saved me twice." She scratched her head, "Make that 3 times" She looked out the window not wanting to meet Max's gaze, "And I'm sorry I pushed you so hard in the junkyard, That wasn't cool," Max got off the bed and walked over to Chloe putting a hand on her shoulder, "Chloe, If you hadn't of pushed me I might not have been strong enough to get here, for all I know you did me a favor. she smiled as she rested her head on Chloe's shoulder. "Ha you so woulda shot Frank to protect me" Chloe chucked as she let her head rest on brunettes.

"You actually did shoot him, And pompadoo," Max said glumly. Chloe chocked a little as she was taking a pull on her joint, "What" she spluttered, "It's ok the final version didn't play out that way, But you did it to protect me, Chloe, At the time I honestly though he was going to hurt me," Max breathed the last part as she squeezed her arm around Chloe's waste. "I think," Chloe started, "I think I would you know," Chloe said trying her best to hide her emotion. Max smiled to herself, "I know" she thought as she let go of Chloe and walked back to the bed thudding down on it with her backside. "Max!" Chloe spoke in a different tone. Max mumbled a hmm, in response turning to the blue haired girl, "How was it I went, saw it with you" Max shook her head a little, "I'm not sure, It wasn't a normal rewind or a photo jump, More like just going over old memories," Max sighed. "As for what set it off, Probably the gunshot, A similar experience to the junkyard," Thinking for a second she continued. "But I didn't even know I had stopped time, it's like it's instinct now, my goto when sommin happens, All I know is, It's much less taxing than full rewinds the nosebleeds are still a pain, though," She finished

The pair just sat there for a moment in silance when Max was struck with an Idea, "Chloe," She looked at her friend. "huh" Chloe looked up at Max. "Still wanna go for that dive, I.." She paused for a moment. "I got an idea but were gonna have to make a quick stop at the shop first" Chloe raised an eyebrow intreiged "Sure" She replied as she spung to her feet.

So what do we think of the twist on Max's power. Next time, max relives her painful moments and Chloe gets somin she didn't have before, An insight into Max's head. But are things being read correctly and why is Max avoiding the elephant in the room.

As always, Comments and Critique are welcome