Life is Strange: My Unusual Journey

Chapter 21 of my Life is Strange novelization, enjoy.

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Marina Ka-Fai: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it, yeah :)
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Now onto the story.

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

Dark Room – Investigations

We soon arrived at Blackwell and Chloe parked the car. We wasted no time and began making our way towards the dormitories.

"Okay, we need to hurry, we need to figure out where Nathan is and if we have a chance, sneak into his dorm room." I summarized. "If there's anything else to help us get more dirt on Nathan, it's there."

Chloe nodded. "Right, so, um..."

Before we could finish our planning I spotted Mr. Jefferson, having just finished talking to Principal Wells, turn and see us.

"Ah, Max." He greeted, smiling.

We stopped and I replied. "Uh, hi Mr. Jefferson."

He nodded and continued smiling as he glanced over at Chloe. "Who's your friend?"

"Oh, this is Chloe Price." I said at once, finding myself getting nervous and stammering all over again.

"Hi." Chloe replied simply, giving a brief wave.

Mr. Jefferson nodded and continued observing Chloe as he spoke. "Chloe, hmmm, why isn't someone as cool as you here at Blackwell?"

Chloe laughed slightly. "I was too cool for this school."

"I see, so, will you both be attending the party tonight?" He asked curiously.

"I um..." I hesitated; but Chloe answered for us.

"Sure, we'll be there, any excuse for a party." She explained.

Mr. Jefferson nodded at that. "Ah good, I'll be there to announce the winner of the contest; although I'm disappointed you didn't enter Max, I understand, you can't force an artist to work."

"I; thanks Mr. Jefferson." I replied quietly; feeling awkward all over again.

I still felt bad about that.

I just couldn't understand why I was unable

Chloe just laughed and joked. "Yeah, I'll be there as Max's date, so you better dance with both of us."

Mr. Jefferson laughed again as I rolled my eyes. "Nobody should have to see me dance, you don't an old hipster like me trying to keep up with the kids, I still have my pride."

With that he left and I sighed, turned to look at Chloe, raising an eyebrow.

Chloe just grinned and said. "Hot for a teacher."

"Ew gross." I groaned, shaking my head. "You are out of control."

Chloe shook her head and laughed. "Not yet, just wait till the rager tonight."

I playfully shoved her. "Shut up."

"Don't get jealous just because Mark Jefferson thinks I'm cool." She shot back with a grin.

I sighed, exasperated and continued onwards. "I am so ignoring you now."

"Fine." Chloe relented. "Since I'm here, I'll see if I can get any dirt from Justin, I haven't talked to him in a while."

I nodded and Chloe hurried over to where Justin was standing. I looked around, seeing who else was around I could talk to.

I spotted a few people around as I walked around the courtyard outside the dorm building, searching for anyone who might be able to tell me where Nathan was. When I passed Brooke who was flying her drone again, she gave me a look that could've curdled milk. I cringed and did my best not to pay too much attention to her.

Instead I saw someone I knew who could help me; I walked over to the bench where Ms. Grant and Samuel were talking.

"Hi Ms. Grant." I said, greeting her.

She looked up and smiled. "Funny, you always show up whenever I'm thinking about you Max, I just wanted to thank you for helping me with my petition. Principal Wells took note and agreed to stop the surveillance camera set up."

I grinned. "That's great."

"Are you okay Max, you do look a little, distracted?" She asked.

I nodded slowly, thinking about how to phrase my query. "I'm fine, just thinking...Um, Ms. Grant, how well do you know, Nathan Prescott?"

To my surprise she sighed and actually looked sad. "That poor boy needs help and just isn't getting it. I offered to help him once, his father didn't like that. Seriously though, I'm worried about him, saw him leaving the dorms a short while ago, he seemed really worked up about something. Why do you ask?"

"I'm; just curious." I replied; relived to hear that Nathan had actually left.

So, saying my goodbyes to Ms. Grant I turned and began to make my way towards Chloe, who was still talking to Justin. I also spotted Daniel sitting by a tree, looking down again.

'Poor Daniel; I wish people would stop giving him a hard time...I wish, wish I could help him, but, what could I say?' I thought to myself.

With a sigh I shook my head and gestured to Chloe. She said goodbye to Justin and hurried over.

"Okay, Nathan isn't here, this is our chance."

She nodded and headed into the dorms, heading to the boys dorm.

We approached the door and carefully opened it, I peeked in, nobody was around. I nodded to Chloe and we slipped inside.

"Great, now we just need to find Nathan's dorm, uh..." She said, looking around awkwardly.

I smiled. "Leave this to me Chloe; you stay here and keep watch, signal me if you see Nathan, alright."

"Alright, just, don't take too long." Chloe replied quietly.

I nodded in agreement and while she stayed by the door, I approached the notice board. I couldn't help but note that, in general, the boy's dorms were even messier and more heavily graffitied than ours. This sadly included the room allocation map, the only rooms where I knew who was in them, despite them also being vandalized with graffiti was Daniel's room and Hayden's.

'Guess I have to do it the hard way, unless, please tell me Kate has...' I thought hopefully.

I checked my phone, nothing yet. I looked around, trying to determine if I could deduce the occupants of any of the rooms. The room right by the door, judging from the writing on the room slate, was Evan's. As I reached the next room down, I heard the occupant of the room talking and then, surprising a female voice replying.

I recognized both and realized what they were doing. 'Urgh, hello Trevor...and Dana...'

I shook my head, not wanting to think about what they were doing.

Just then my phone beeped and I quickly checked it, it was Kate, I quickly read it.

"Super Max, in case you still need it, Nathan's room number is 111."

I grinned; perfect, thank you Kate. "Kate you are AWESOME. Thank U."

I could almost see the grin on Kate's face as she replied. "I love that you bring out the rebel in me."

"You're already a rebel, trust me."

We exchanged some more texts until I finally put my phone away and smiled, I now knew my destination. I began to make my towards where Room 111 would be, some of the room slates I noticed made it easy to guess who was in that room.

I stopped however, observing the room almost opposite Nathan's. The room slate told me right away all I needed to know.

'Warren's room?' I realized, smiling, yet feeling that fluttering feeling again. 'I...I couldn't tell him, now things are moving too fast for me to find time. I said I'd tell him at the movies, but...That doesn't mean I can't hint it, maybe he'll...'

Smiling I picked up the pen and, although I felt bad doing it, I erased the message on Warren's slate, instead I left him a message of my own. Using an old periodic table joke, one he'd definitely get.

"Are you made of Copper and Tellurium. Because you're CUTE."

I grinned as I put the pen back. 'Hope Warren doesn't think it's too dorky. I mean, not like he isn't, but...'

I shook my head and instead made my way across the corridor, to Nathan's room.

I tried the door only to find it locked, I suppose I should have suspected it. But honestly, practically nobody locked their doors, which was why it was a surprise. I had no time to get creative either, so I simply grabbed the nearby fire extinguisher and got to work, hammering it against the lock until the door opened. I dropped it and entered.

'Shouldn't leave such obvious evidence.' I thought to myself before pulling a quick rewind.

Once the door was fixed I stopped and looked around, Nathan's room was, cold. It was true, the room seemed to be at a lower temperature; it also had signs of his wealth, yet was darker and less gaudy then Victoria's for example.

There were also quite a few strange things which made me question Nathan's mental state and worried me greatly. Pictures with models tied up for instance. Yet there were other things too, things which made me realize that Nathan wasn't just some psycho, he was a troubled kid, a rather bulling e-mail from his father on his computer for instance.

I sighed as I checked another e-mail, from his sister.

'If only she was here, from this is seems like she's really close to him, yet far away physically...I'll bet she could cut through the crap and get him the help he needs.' I thought, reading the e-mail.

I shook my head, useful as all this way, I needed something more, something that would actually help me unravel the mystery of Rachel, I knew Nathan was involved somehow. He was connected to Frank I knew that, but where would I find proof.

It was then my gaze was drawn to something, I almost didn't notice it before, there were scratch marks on the floor, I hurried over and examined them.

'Hmmm, these are from...' I wondered, looking to the sofa they led to.

Clearly Nathan was in a habit of pulling it out, but why. I decided to emulate his actions and pulled the sofa out. I checked behind it, nothing on the floor or wall. But there, on the back of the sofa was a plastic bag, I grabbed it and checked it.

'Score.' I thought, grinning.

It was a cell phone, kept in a plastic bag and hidden, this had to be Nathan's means of communicating with Frank. Perhaps he used it in other ways too that might hold more evidence. Satisfied I slipped the plastic bag into my bag and shoved the sofa back where it should be.

I carefully left Nathan's room, although this meant unlocking it. I had to hurry, I quickly took one more glance at Warren's room, at the message I left, feeling a little lighter. Smiling I quickly hurried back to Chloe. Seeing me she moved away from the door, to meet me halfway down the hallway.

"Max, thank God, I was getting worried." She said breathlessly.

I nodded. "It's alright Chloe, here, check this out."

I pulled the phone out, showing her. She observed it with interest, likely drawing the same conclusions as me, but then, the worst thing possible happened. The door opened and entering the dorms was none other than Nathan himself.

He took one look at us and glared, I sheepishly tried to stow the phone back in my bag, praying he didn't actually see it.

"What the fuck are you doing in my dorm!" He yelled, approaching us angrily.

"Hey now..." Chloe began.

I shook my head but Nathan growled. "You shouldn't be here, sneaking around, maybe I oughta teach you a lesson about..."

He was cut off; mainly by the fact that, as he tried to get in my face, someone appeared next to me and shoved him back. I started, then I realized that someone was Warren.

"Max, I got this." He said quickly.

I was worried, remembering what happened last time Warren was face to face with Nathan, his black eye was still healing after all. Yet strangely I had a feeling something was different. I knew Warren put up with a lot of shit, I also knew a person could only take so much before something snapped.

Looking at Warren, at how he seemed to be trembling, but not with fear, I wondered if that time was now for him.

Nathan was singularly unimpressed as he approached Warren. "Get outta my face."

Then, shocking us all, Warren grabbed Nathan and suddenly head-butted him, almost exactly like what Nathan did to him. I gasped in horror as Warren staggered back, clutching his head and groaning. Nathan sprawled on the floor, clearly in shock.

What happened next, I almost couldn't believe; it was like someone flipped a switch and everything that was all pent up inside Warren came loose. It all started with Nathan's next action, he suddenly pulled out his gun, yelling as he did so.

"You are so fucking dead!"

But Warren was faster than that and actually kicked the gun clean out of Nathan's hand. But he didn't stop there, before our very eyes. Warren practically blew up on Nathan, punching him in the face several times and even kicked him.

"Lay off me bro!" Nathan cried out, his voice strangled.

I knew I had to stop this, I had to stop before things got out of hand. But I couldn't move, I felt frozen, shock causing every muscle to stick solid.

Warren didn't let up his attack and I swear, if ever there was a definition of seeing red, this had to be it.

"You like to pick on people huh, like Max, like Kate!" He yelled, then adding, almost as an afterthought. "Like me!"

Nathan's cry was pitiful and I think that was what finally spurred me into action. "Stop, please!"

But Warren's rage had burst forth, all the years of bullying and suffering had boiled up to the surface. "How do you like it motherfucker, huh!"

I finally unfroze and rushed forwards. "Warren, Warren enough!"

I grabbed him and pulled him back; as if my touch had flipped the switch back, Warren didn't struggle or fight, he let me pull him off easily, a dazed expression on his face.

"It's over Warren, he's down..." I said as softly as I could. "Let's get outta here."

Warren just nodded and slowly left, as did Chloe, grabbing Nathan's gun before she went. I cringed at the sight of Nathan, lying on the floor, his face was a mess and he was definitely no longer the spoiled rich kid who thought he owned everything. Still shocked at what I witnessed, I left the dorms too.

By the time I finally recovered from the shock of what I had seen, I was standing next to Chloe in the main campus, Warren stood opposite us, he was fidgeting, looking down at his sneakers. He kept picking at his nails, a look of horror on his face as his mind seemed to finally register just what he had done.

"Are you okay Warren?" I asked worriedly.

He bit his lip and shrugged. "I guess, that was, I never, felt like that before...It was like I just, lost it and, and..."

Chloe couldn't help but grin. "Dude, that was so badass."

Warren clearly didn't share her sentiments. "It's just, I'm always the one getting my ass kicked. I was fed up with it, I tried to stand and, and I just...I never wanna experience that again."

I felt bad, more awkward than ever, I had to stay focused on the investigation, but being so close to Warren, especially after what just happened; my feelings for him appeared to be in overdrive and I just wanted to hug him.

"It won't Warren, it's not like you enjoyed it, you just, lost control." I tried to reassure him.

"Yeah, but how often will that happen now, now I know that...capability is inside me."

I shook my head. "It won't, now you know, you won't let it."

He sighed but nodded. I couldn't help but feel uneasy, one thing about that stuck with me, when he was getting in Nathan's face about picking on people; he added himself as an afterthought. He put Kate and me ahead of himself in terms of importance and probably wouldn't have even mentioned himself.

'Does he truly have that low an opinion of himself; is his self-esteem really that bad?' I wondered worriedly.

I also suddenly realized something else; which said a lot about Warren.

Those thoughts however, I'd dwell on later, instead I focused on what was happening.

"What's going on anyway you guys, why where you there?" He asked.

Chloe hesitated and I quickly replied. "We, can't say too much Warren; but...Maybe later okay."

He nodded. "Alright, well, I'll see you later, good luck."

"You take care, we'll tell you about it later." I replied.

He made a weak attempt at a grin and a joke. "You better, I'm feeling pretty alpha right now."

I smiled as he left; I then saw the look Chloe was giving me and braced myself.

Sure enough. "That dude is so fucking in love with you."

"I know." I replied. "Like I said, I will tell him, I've already, given him a good hint, trust me. Now we need to focus, what now?"

Chloe nodded and pulled out her phone, texting as she spoke. "We need to go see Frank, we need his account book, in order to get the info for all his, coded, deals."

"What makes you think he'll agree to meet?"

Chloe's phone beeped and she grinned. "Because I just asked him too and he's agreed, we're going to meet him at the beach, let's go."

I nodded and followed her to her truck. As Chloe drove I filled in my journal, more out of habit than anything else and also to keep track of what had been going on, in case I needed to refer back to it later.

As we did I considered my recent realization about Warren; namely the people he choose to hang out with. It was odd, but Warren's friends seemed to consist of not only me, but also Stella, Alyssa, Kate and Brooke.

All girls, at least three of us known to be non-combative, it was like Warren perhaps in some misguided way was seeking friends who were least likely to hurt him. He didn't even associate with Luke and Daniel, also victims of bullying, it actually seemed sad to me and in a way, actually made Warren look somewhat lonely.

'Well, who knows, maybe after all this, I'll find a way to help him, make things better.' I thought, before almost laughing. 'Oh, that'd be good, me, Miss Socially Awkward, although...lately...'

I couldn't help but note that, apart from a few things here and there; I hadn't been as nervous talking to people as I did before. I concentrated however as Chloe parked the truck, Frank's RV was up ahead and I saw Chloe checking Nathan's gun.

"Chloe..."

She shook her head stowing it in her belt, behind her back. "Don't worry Max, I don't intend on using it, unless I have to, alright."

I sighed. "I don't like it, but let's go."

"I promise Max, gun, last resort." She told me as she got out of the truck.

I followed her out and we began walking along the beach front, towards the RV. We soon reached the door, I heard the barking inside and knew Frank wasn't alone, his dog was with him.

I glanced nervously at Chloe, she nodded and knocked on the door before stepping back. Frank opened the door, looked at both of us and sneered.

"Oh look, it's the wonder twins." He drawled before speaking sharply towards Chloe. "You should've come alone."

Chloe scowled. "She's my partner, dude."

Frank sighed. "Fine, fine, whatever, where's my money?"

"You'll get it."

Frank shook his head. "You said you had it; you..."

"Frank please." Chloe said desperately. "We need your account book, we believe we're close to finding Rachel. The information in that book is the final piece we need."

Frank rolled his eyes. "You've gotta be kidding me; that's the best you come up with. Sure, why don't I just give you the keys to my RV while I'm at it..."

I stepped now. "Frank, I know you loved Rachel, you owe it to her, we need to..."

"You don't know anything about me, you shouldn't make assumptions." He snapped.

I recalled what officer Berry told me. "I do, I know you care about dogs, I heard how you rescued a pack of fighting dogs, including your dog, right?"

Frank seemed taken aback by that.

He shifted uncomfortably at that and then muttered.

"Well, yeah, I did, that's how I came to own Pompidou, but what's that matter to you, you like dogs?"

Sensing a possible opening I smiled. "I love them, I'm not the only one, Rachel must've liked dogs too, right?"

Frank sighed. "Look, I don't know what makes you punks think you can find Rachel, but seriously, you should just..."

"Frank please, I know you care for Rachel, you showed me that picture of her." I pressed desperately. "Please, we're this close to finding her but we can't without your help. You owe it to Rachel."

Frank sighed and shook his head. "Ah, where did you find this girl Chloe, fine, here..."

He held out a small book, I guessed it was the account book. I was about to reach for it when he suddenly pulled it back.

"My number's in there, add it to your phone and text me, and you two keep me in the loop, alright." He said seriously, but without any malice.

I nodded in agreement and he handed the book over before heading back into his RV. I grinned and turned to Chloe who was also grinning.

"Max, I swear, I don't how you do that; but it's great, c'mon, let's go."

I nodded and together we headed back to Chloe's truck and she began driving for home. We were so close now, I was sure we had all the pieces we needed, now we just needed to fit them together and find out where they led. We were nearly there, soon I was sure of it, very soon we would find Rachel Amber.

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