Life is Strange: My Unusual Journey

Chapter 14 of my Life is Strange novelization, enjoy.

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Now onto the story.

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

Chaos Theory – Partners in Crime

We entered the main lobby, it was completely dark so I turned out the light on my phone. I bit my lip, Blackwell looked a lot different at night, somewhat eerie, especially due to how quiet it was. That only heightened my agitation, along with the knowledge what we were doing was illegal.

"Maybe this isn't such a good idea." I said to Chloe. "I mean, we aren't kids anymore, this is illegal Chloe, we're breaking an entering."

Chloe just scoffed. "Oh come on Max, how can we be breaking in when we have keys, it's not like they can charge us for just...entering."

I sighed at that but Chloe turned to face me.

"Look, we just need to take a peek inside the Principal's office, that should have everything we need. Now c'mon, just through here and we're done." She said, trying to sound reassuring.

I nodded indulgently and she unlocked and opened the door to the last room before the Principal's office; another office, for the secretary. We immediately headed inside and approached the door to Principal Wells office.

I bit my lip, holding the light steady while Chloe examined the large key ring. Her expression changed to one of distress as she did so.

"Fuck, nothing...The security chief should have keys to the Principal's office." She remarked angrily.

I sighed. "He's hiding something, like everyone at Blackwell."

We both looked to the door, I was positive we were thinking the same thing, what now.

Chloe came up with an answer first, retrieving a couple of items from her pocket.

"Well, I do know how to pick a lock, thanks to, you know, Frank." She remarked awkwardly. "I'll work my Thief skill, see if the key's hidden in this room somewhere?"

I nodded and, leaving Chloe to try and pick the lock; which somehow didn't surprise me that she knew that stuff, I began searching. It wasn't a long search, the room was compact, aside from a phony red hunting hat, there wasn't really anything of interest. On a more important note, no key.

I sighed as I returned to Chloe. "Well, no key for thee."

Chloe growled. "Urgh, shit, guess I didn't spend enough time learning from Frank. Well, got any other plans?"

An idea suddenly occurred to me, I knew just who to turn to in a situation like this, who could come up with a solution. I opened my phone's contacts page and scrolled down.

As I hit the name and then the call button I informed Chloe, smirking. "My plan has a name..."

I lifted the phone up to my ear and waited.

"Yo Max, what's up?"

I grinned, doing my best to ignore that fluttering feeling again; I needed to focus. "Hey Warren, you busy?"

I could tell from his energetic greeting that I hadn't woken him up.

Warren replied at once. "My Paladin is getting his ass kicked as we speak."

I almost laughed, that explained it, a late night World of Warcraft session. "Just Bubble-Hearth, you'll be fine."

"Sure, so, what can I do for you?"

I thought for a moment, how to phrase my question, no doubt giving Warren time to do as I suggested.

Finally it came to me and I spoke at once.

"Say, if someone needed to, say, gain entry to an office, but didn't have a key or lock-pick...Would you, kinda, maybe, know how to do it?"

Warren laughed at that. "Are you serious, are you actually…?"

I quickly spoke. "No, no, just...theoretically, of course."

"Well..." Warren replied, I could tell he was grinning again, just picturing that grin made my face grow hot. "Theoretically you could blow the door open with a mini pipe bomb..."

I smiled as I listened. 'Even his voice is now making me feel...Ah, focus Max, focus.'

Warren was still talking. "Luckily I know how to make one from pretty basic supplies; want me to come over to wherever you are and help you?"

"No, no, stay there, we may need you as backup." I replied at once, I definitely didn't want Warren to get into trouble because of me. He already took a beating and a black eye for me, that was more than enough. "Just, text me the instructions."

"Sure thing, oh, we still on for the movies this weekend?" He replied.

I grinned. "Oh yeah, we're definitely still going, can't wait."

I wondered if my reply came off as a little too enthusiastic, but truthfully I didn't care. I was sure the movies would be the perfect time to finally reveal my recent epiphany to him, if I could wait that long.

We finally hung up and I turned back to Chloe, briefly noting a strange expression on her face before she turned back to trying to pick the lock.

My phone beeped and Warren's texts came through; I turned to Chloe.

"Okay, I'm gonna go fix this up." I told her.

Chloe glanced over her shoulder, a sly smirk in place. "Bet I'll pick through this lock before you manage that."

Grinning I turned to leave the secretary's office. "Oh yeah, the race is on."

Once outside I checked Warren's messages properly.

'Now pay attention, 007. You have to find FOUR objects:

1. SUGAR

2. A SODA CAN

3. DUCT TAPE

4. SODIUM CHLORATE

Here's how you'll do it:'

He then provided a diagram, somewhat cartoonish but I was able to follow it, although one of the objects confused me completely.

'Any questions?' Warren then texted, I instantly replied with my confusion.

'Sodium chlor-WTF?'

'It's just a powder used to create chlorine dioxide.'

I rolled my eyes as I texted back. 'Shit, EVERYBODY knows that.'

'So you really going to try this?' I could almost see Warren's incredulous expression, smiling I replied.

'Key word is "try." I bow to your wisdom.'

I then put my phone away and decided to begin my hunt; accepting the keys from Chloe when she handed them to me. I thought about possible locations for these items, considering what I knew of the school and where things would likely be kept.

'Okay, Soda can's obvious, glad I brought money with me...I'll find the tape in Mr. Jefferson's classroom, good thing I have keys.' I thought to myself. 'Same for the science lab, I'm sure that's where I'll find sugar, weren't they using it as part of that experiment I helped Warren with? Also that Sodium...stuff, will definitely be there.'

I smiled, ready to begin.

Making my way over to the vending machine I inserted the money and pressed the button. Once the soda can dropped out I picked it up and opened it. Taking a small sip, I decided to check Mr. Jefferson's class first, I only had one item to retrieve there. Making my way over to the door I unlocked it and entered.

'God, this is like a scene in a horror film' I thought, feeling a little strange being in the empty classroom so late at night.

Shaking my head I downed the last of the soda and, after a quick search, found the roll of duct tape which I stowed in my bag. Before I left the room my eyes landed on something else.

'Victoria's cigarettes...I'll bet Mr. Jefferson is very impressed.' I thought sarcastically before leaving and locking the door behind me, now, onto the science lab.

I entered after unlocking the door and immediately went to one of the sinks and rinsed out the can, once that was done I stowed it in my bag along with the tape. It also didn't take me long to find another of the items, for the sugar was right there on Ms. Grant's desk.

I bit my lip, I'd have to carry it, it was too heavy for my bag. It was then my eyes fell on something else on the desk. It was the results paper of Warren's experiment, a sold A minus.

I couldn't help but grin. 'Wow, I actually helped Warren out, not bad.'

Still smiling I looked around, now I had to find the Sodium Chlorate, whatever that was and wherever the hell it was.

Looking around I couldn't see much that could help me, until my eyes fell on a science textbook, it was on one of the desks. I had nothing to lose so I checked it, luckily I only had to turn two pages before I saw my answer.

I sighed. 'So, Sodium Chlorate is basically weed killer...huh, you think Warren would've told me that little factoid.'

I blinked and shook my head, I was doing it again, even thinking about Warren brought those awkward feelings to the surface, knowing how I felt but feeling unable to vocalize them.

Now wasn't the time, I had to focus. Continuing to look around I finally spotted what I was looking for on a shelf in the back of the classroom. I was about to reach for it when I remembered.

'Whoa there, you know you're clumsy Max, don't waste your rewind, use the damn chair.' I chastised myself.

I did just that, successful retrieving the Weed Killer. I set all the items on a nearby desk and pulled out my phone, it was then I saw I had received messages from Warren.

I checked them, the first one said. "You still there?"

Followed by: "Did you blow up?" And "Max?"

I couldn't help but smile, I could understand his concern, considering what I asked him and the long gap of silence, especially as I hadn't replied to any of these messages. I did so now.

'Still here, didn't blow up, not yet. I need to concentrate now, TTYL.'

With that I got to work, using Warren's diagram I soon had the mini bomb constructed.

I walked casually back to the Principal's office, smirking, I had put away the stuff I no longer needed and locked the science classroom. I held the completed device in my hand and approached Chloe who was still trying to work on the door.

"Hey Chloe." I called out. "Don't stress your lockpicking tools; here, let's try this."

Chloe's eyes lit up as I showed the mini bomb.

"Oh yes, BOOM, literally."

I attached the bomb to the lock and nodded to Chloe. "If you'd care to do the honors."

Grinning Chloe used her lighter to start the fuse and we hurried to take cover behind the secretary's desk. Before long the bomb blew and the door was blasted opened; we both grinned, unfortunately our celebration was cut short by something I forgot, the alarm system.

"Oh man, we're toast, here's comes the entire Arcadia Bay police and fire department." I groaned.

Chloe looked around worriedly. "What do we do?"

I knew of only one way. "Leave it to me."

So, I quickly darted out from behind the desk and hurried inside the Principal's office.

Once inside I took a deep breath and began to rewind; I continued to do so until I was sure I had gone back far enough. When I stopped, I was standing in the office, the bomb still in my hand, and Chloe still outside, muttering as she tried to pick the lock. Best of all, no alarm, we were in the clear.

I carefully disposed of the bomb in the waste bin before approaching the door.

"C'mon, need to get this open so she can't cheat with her rewind." Chloe muttered.

I grinned and shook my head. 'Oh, too late.'

I unlocked and opened the door, announcing. "Welcome to my domain."

Chloe looked startled before grinning.

"Well, well, Super-Max strikes again, let's go."

I nodded and we began to look around the Principal's office properly.

Chloe shook her head. "Ugh, look at this tacky shit, Principal wants everyone to know he's got money but no taste, I'm glad I was expelled."

"Yeah, if the Principal had a Picasso or a Monet, you'd still be at Blackwell." I replied sarcastically.

Chloe rolled her eyes at that before walking over to the main desk and turning on the lamp. Her eyes then fell on the bronze eagle statuette on the desk.

"Again, more tacky shit, never trust anyone who has a bronze eagle statue in their office." She muttered before sitting down.

Her expression brightened as she did so. "Whoa, it's ugly but man, this is one cozy chair."

Grinning I continued to observe the room; Chloe got to work on the computer, so I decided to get to work on searching the office.

"Alright, I'll look around, see if I can find anything like...files on Rachel or that." I explained.

She nodded and we got to work.

I immediately began looking around, searching for any of the files that would be relevant. It did not take me long to find. I picked up three files and opened the first one, I read it.

'Nathan Prescott's file, let's see...' I thought to myself. 'GPA: 3.7...continues family's historical legacy...stellar academic record, homeless fund, popular...No way, this asshole has a spotless record?'

Shaking my head I putt he file to the side and checked the next one.

'Oh, like I'm not going to check my own file.' I thought rolling my eyes as I read my own name on this one. 'Uh-huh, 2.8 GPA, quiet...too nervous and nosy, sad but true.'

Aside from a more recent update regarding me saving Kate there didn't seem to be anything else, so I sighed and put it aside, checking the last file.

'Victoria, oh this will be so spotless I'll projectile vomit.' I thought with a groan, I was right about one thing, it was spotless, with a high 3.9 GPA and no mention of what she was actually like.

Putting away all but Nathan's file, which I stowed in my bag, I continued my search. I came across another trio of files and decided to check them out. A small smile worked its way onto my face at the first file.

'Let's just make sure Warren doesn't have a criminal record or something.' I thought jokingly. 'Whoa, 4.0 GPA, nice...yeah, this is all Warren.'

Smiling I put it aside and read the next one.

I felt a jolt as I saw it was Rachel's. 'This is it, Rachel...Whoa, she doesn't seem troubled at all, despite what people say, good grades, same GPA as Warren...so little is said about her disappearance or the police investigation however...damn.'

I dejectedly put that file aside and checked the next one.

The next file was marked by a red stamp in two places saying the word 'Expelled'.

I read it carefully and then it hit me. '1.7 GPA, causing trouble in class, attached police reports...No wonder Chloe was expelled, bad Chloe.'

I let out a sigh and put Warren and Chloe's files away, putting Rachel's in my bag. One step closer, one more to go. It took a bit more effort to find the last file; I found it on a small desk in the corner of the room. I had to turn the lamp on to be sure it was the right file.

'Here we are, Kate's file...GPA 3.9, a lot of note about her work both in and out of class...' I observed; then my eyes widened. 'Okay what the fuck, these notes, they already knew Kate was having problems, why did nobody lift a finger to help her, urgh, this is so messed up.'

Glaring I put Kate's file away in my bag too and let out a slow breath; calming down. I had found what I could, nothing else useful jumped out at me.

Satisfied with my work I returned to Chloe.

"Okay, got everything I could." I said.

Chloe looked worried however. "Max, you better see this."

I moved around to look over Chloe's shoulder at the screen. It was showing Nathan's record, but it looked a lot different from the file I found.

"Looks like Nathan's family has been using their major bank to cover up what he's really up to." Chloe stated. "Look at it, his record reads like a like a rap sheet, and I was the one expelled?"

It was then I noticed something that worried me. "Wait, take a look at that."

Chloe shook her head. "What, it's just some wacko drawing."

"Not a drawing, look at it..." I said before reading. "Rachel in the Dark Room, Rachel in the Dark Room. Over and over again. What does that even mean?"

Chloe shuddered. "I don't know, but I don't like it. C'mon, we found what we came for, let's get outta here."

She leaned back in the seat, switching the computer off, before grinning.

"Although, perhaps we shouldn't leave without a gift..." She trailed off suggestively.

I sighed. "No, you are not taking the cozy chair."

Chloe looked exasperated. "Oh come on, I wasn't gonna...unless I tried to and you just rewound to stop me. I'm confused."

"I just know you." I replied casually.

Chloe nodded at that; before smiling again. "Well, let's see...whoa..."

She opened the drawer and inside was an envelope, practically bulging with money and clearly labeled as handicapped fund.

"No way, cha-ching, check this out."

My eyes were wide when I saw it. "Wow, that's a lot of cash for the handicapped fund."

Chloe almost laughed. "Tell me about it; with this I could pay Frank off and still have money left over for me and Rachel...Are you going to make a big deal out of this?"

I almost winced at the accusatory tone she used. I sighed however, I honestly couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"You're serious, you want to steal from the handicapped fund?"

With an exasperated sigh Chloe put the money back and stood up. "Yeah, okay, fair point, let's go."

With that she turned the lamp off and left the office. I couldn't help but bite my lip; this wasn't at all what I expected. Shaking my head, I went to follow her.

When I exited the office, I was relieved to see Chloe didn't look pissed; although her expression was far from comforting. She had an almost evil grin on her face as she stood, holding the key ring again, isolating one key.

"That impish look scares me." I remarked blandly.

Chloe held the key up before remarking. "Care for a late night dip?"

It was then I realized she was holding the key to the school's swimming pool.

"Are you for real, you wanna do this now?" I almost groaned. "We just spent most of the night sneaking around, breaking into the principal's office and you wanna go swimming?"

Chloe shook her head. "C'mon Max, you've have a hard time with everything going on, this was a tricky situation, you deserve to unwind. So, what do ya say, splish-splash?"

I smiled; when she put it like that, I couldn't deny she was right. "Why the hell not, splish-splash, it'll be hella fun."

Chloe really did laugh as we began to leave, locking up behind us as much as possible.

"Did you just say hella? I'm a good bad influence on you."

I also laughed as we made our way to the Blackwell Swimming Pool, home turf of the Blackwell Otters.

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