Life is Strange: My Unusual Journey

Chapter 22 of Life is Strange Novelization, enjoy.

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Now onto the story.

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

Dark Room – Is This Hell?

Back in Chloe's room, I examined the board carefully, I had set up everything we had gathered into three rows, one row of David's clues, one of Nathan's and the last of Frank's. I let out a sigh and leaned back on the bed, we had a lot of stuff, now we needed to sift through it and find out if what we were looking for was here, if we truly had the clues we needed.

All the same, I was anxious, Chloe was leaning back on the bed, next to me and seemed edgy.

"Chloe, are you okay?"

"I'm glad things worked out okay with Frank." She admitted at last, sitting up. "It's nice to have one less enemy in Arcadia Bay."

I could privately agree with that, everything I was seeing convinced me of one thing, we no longer had three suspects, we had one, Nathan. David was up to something, but it was clear he wasn't responsible for what happened, and his admitted strange behaviour may actually help us.

Frank we were now certain wasn't guilty either, he was hurting over Rachel's loss, as much as Chloe.

"Amen to that." I agreed.

By now we had both stood up; Chloe went over to her laptop and began her work. I meanwhile headed over to the board. It was time to try and make sense of things, I had to go through the clues and pick out what was most relevant, hopefully, by the end, everything would make some sort of sense and we'd have what we needed.

As I stepped towards the board my phone beeped, I had two messages, one from Frank and another from Warren. I quickly checked Frank's and reassured him we were getting closer before checking Warren's. I bit my lip, noting he clearly still wasn't over 'going ape' on Nathan earlier.

"I didn't realize beating the shit out of somebody would bruise my fists! Of course, I bruised his face worse, he had that coming. That whole fight was so insane."

I sighed, Warren was right, Nathan had that coming, but it was clear he still felt guilty. "Yes, is so was. How are you doing?"

He replied at once. "Amped up, I wouldn't want to do I again...Unless I had to."

I smiled lightly at that before texting back. "You paid your hero dues."

"Now we just need costumes. Speaking of, I hope you're coming to the party tonight so we can celebrate." He replied shortly afterwards.

Grinning I replied. "I'll let you know, promise."

When he responded to that, I couldn't help but grin, realizing he had seen my message.

"Cool. Now I have to get back to striking super poses. And thanks for leaving your mark on my door, I'll never erase it."

Grinning I texted back. 'You better not, it's permanent."

Still grinning I put my phone away and returned my attention to the board. I decided to start with the clues I'd gathered from Frank.

Starting here I decided to check out the deals Frank made during the week of the party where Kate was drugged. I needed the account book and anything relating to code names he gave his deals, I could see he was ensuring that, unless someone had both items, they wouldn't be able to tell just what he was doing and with whom.

'Pretty clever move, here me go...this oughta do it, I'll need that list if I'm looking for Nathan...Any deals he did with Nathan, let's see.'

I continued to look carefully as I set everything out, making another section on the row of Frank's clues.

I sighed and observed carefully. 'Okay Max, concentrate, really gotta get my Nancy Drew head on.'

I observed the relevant pages from the account book I had tacked to this section of the board, along with the list of names, it seemed Frank codenamed his customers with dog names, Nathan's was Rottweiller, or Rott for short.

Looking through the pages I laid out, I finally picked out three sheets of paper with that name on them, Nathan was doing some serious business with Frank it seemed. I quickly extracted the info, all the times and places Frank did deals with Nathan. I attached them to a smaller noticeboard next to the large one I was using.

I was pretty sure I wasn't going to get anything else out of Frank's clues. Time to work on David's. I examined the next row, where I had gathered everything we had got from investigating him.

It was time to use David's own investigation to our advantage, find out what Nathan was doing during that week, see where things tied in. I couldn't shake the feeling, whatever happened to Kate, was connected to whatever happened to Rachel.

Which was why I was sure, if we solved one mystery, we'd solve the other. I examined the clues relating to Nathan and any hint David was searching for, or following, something. I soon found it, David's list of co-ordinates, a series of pictures showing a red truck, notably its license plates and also, photos of Nathan, including one from that time on Monday where he assaulted Warren in the parking lot.

I quickly took them and set them up, ready for the next stage. I ran my eyes over the clue critically, determining their value. I soon noted a list of co-ordinates on the fourth page that noted the same license plate as the red truck, I picked that, and the picture of the truck's license plate, as well as spotting a photo of Nathan driving said truck.

'Getting closer, I'm sure of it, these all fit together somehow, I just need to some more evidence.' I thought to myself.

But I still had to make sure. I turned and hurried over to Chloe.

"Chloe, let's plug these numbers in and see if they lead to an actual address." I told her, showing her.

She nodded and got to work, replying. "Aye-aye captain."

We managed to gather some info from that which I copied out and soon we had more clues on the smaller board, the picture was beginning to form, I was sure we were nearly there.

It soon dawned on me exactly what we were picking up here, a location, more than likely the same location Kate was taken after that party. I was willing to bet money it was also where Rachel had been taken when she first disappeared, hopefully there was clues there that would show where she went after that.

'Nearly there, so close, so close...Just Nathan's clues to go.' I told myself.

I knelt down and began to examine them. I needed to unlock Nathan's hidden phone, to do that, I needed anything with a relevant number, I grabbed the three items that contained numbers, Nathan's student file, a piece of paper with several numbers scribbled on it and a card which had a PIN code on it and a PUK number.

Hopefully one of these would be the actual number. I set them up on the next part of the board and thought for a moment. I sadly pulled a blank.

'Guess I'm doing it the old fashioned way, I swear, if this works, I'll believe anything.' I thought to myself, going for the first and most commonly used PIN code.

I inputed the date of birth, given on Nathan's student file, 0829. I almost laughed out loud when, lo and behold, that was the right answer.

I quickly checked through Nathan's messages, realizing with a jab of anger Nathan was the one sending me threatening texts, but everything I read had all the answers I needed. I quickly made copies of what I needed and set them on the smaller board. This was it, the final step.

It was at that moment Nathan suddenly texted me, clearly irate about what happened earlier. Well, he could just suck it up, he'd have bigger problems once we were done. I quickly got to work analysing the final clues, putting everything together.

It took a while, having to carefully read and re-read everything, but finally, I found what I needed. It was a strange barn, which matched David's co-ordinates, Nathan was saying he'd give Frank exact directions and Frank's transaction that day all fitted, I needed to find out more about this place.

I brought the clues over to Chloe.

"Chloe, this is definitely the place. "I told her.

She nodded. "Let me dig up some more clues here."

She did some checking on her laptop and shook her head. "Nope, nothing Max. There's nothing there, just some shitty old barn."

But I was sure there was something, something which would confirm my thoughts, that this was the place.

"Let's keep searching and find out who owns this haunted barn."

Chloe sighed but obliged. "I am on this, hold on...Somebody named...Harry Aaron Prescott."

Bingo, there was the paydirt.

"I'm shocked." I replied nonchalantly, before worry seeped into my gut again. "Should we call the police?"

Chloe shook her head vehemently. "Fuck that, you know the police here are like Nathan's private security, we have to do this ourselves Max. We have to go out and check that old barn by ourselves."

I nodded. "Alright, let's go."

Chloe needed no encouragement and we soon were back in her truck, making our way to the location.

It was a good job we had the co-ordinates, Nathan wasn't kidding about giving Frank directions. This was was well hidden, right in the middle of nowhere. Nevertheless we finally arrived, I looked carefully at the building and shook my head.

"Well, certainly fits the bill, creepy barn in the middle of nowhere." I muttered.

Chloe just nodded. "Yeah, c'mon, we've gotta find Rachel, let's go."

Together we exited the truck and made our way to the doors of the barn. Unfortunately, although old, the doors were closed and secured with a heavy duty padlock.

"No dice, we're not getting through here." Chloe said sadly.

I however was more interested in something I just saw on the ground, beneath the doors. "Chloe, look at these."

She knelt down too and her eyes widened, we were looking at a fresh set of tire tracks, going into and coming out of the barn.

Chloe looked up at me, determination rock solid in her eyes again. "Someone has been here, recently. We're definitely on the right trail. We need to find a way in."

I nodded. "Let's get looking."

So we split up, searching for a way inside. I had gone along the side of the barn and found that parts of the wall were reinforced with corrugated iron; one of the sheets seemed loose. I bit my lip; praying my strength would be sufficient.

It took some effort but I slowly managed to pull the sheet away from the wall, revealing a hole; big enough for me and Chloe to fit through.

"Chloe over here, I found the entrance." I called out.

She hurried over and I climbed in through the space.

"Yes, Super-Max strikes again." She quipped as she followed me.

I just laughed and soon we were inside.

The interior was musty, creepy and on the whole, a bit of a let down. There was nothing we could see except things you'd normally see in a barn, a rusted old tractor, wooden beams and platforms leading to higher parts, a few ropes attached to pulleys, for pulling up hay bales.

The floor was covered in hay as well. Here and there were old worn wooden chests, the one nearest us opened easily as Chloe lifted the lid.

"Junk." She muttered. "Vintage junk. Still, might be something hidden around it, I'll check this out right away."

I nodded and began to explore the rest of the barn. As I walked around, taking in everything and searching for clues, I began to notice something odd. The sound of my footsteps. There were parts of the floor where they sounded different, compared to the rest.

Intrigued I began to walk around and, when the sound of my footsteps changed, I immediately brushed that spot clean.

Nothing happened, nothing was found, until I reached the corner directly opposite the one we entered by. When I brushed the hay away from this part of the floor I uncovered a trap door, securely locked with another heavy duty padlock.

'Man, this is crazy, there's definitely something here. I just need to, find a way to open it.' I told myself. 'No way can I break that lock myself, doubt the key is here, hmmm...'

Looking around I saw something that could work. One of the ropes for the pulleys was loose. I hurried over and pulled on it, it moved easily. I quickly pulled it over and tied it securely to the padlock. Now I just needed to get to the upper level.

No easy task as there was no ladder or anything to get me up to that ledge, just out of reach. Luckily I wasn't alone.

"Hey Chloe c'mere." I called out. "Give me a boost."

I gestured to the ledge as she approached and she nodded. "Be careful now, don't fall."

I laughed; Chloe, telling me to be careful. With Chloe's help I made my way to the first ledge, needed to get higher still. However again, no ladder. I wasn't out of luck yet however. There was an old generator on the upper ledge, a strap attached to it was hanging over the ledge, just within reach.

I pulled on the strap and moved sideways, just as I hoped, the generator fell on its side and provided a step up. I climbed up, I was now where I needed to be. I soon realized however, as I found the other end of the rope, that I was nowhere near strong enough to simply pull the padlock off. Luckily I saw the perfect way to make this work.

I quickly pulled a rewind and brought the generator back up to this level. With that in place I detached the rope from its pulley and instead attached it to the generator. Then, with a quick prayer this would work, I pushed the generator off the ledge with my foot.

It fell and I heard the loud clanging, I carefully glanced over the ledge and saw that the padlock had indeed been shorn clean off.

Still grinning I jumped down carefully to the lower ledge, then again to the floor.

"Chloe, over here." I called, getting her attention.

I led her over to the trapdoor.

"Whoa, dude, you…?" She gasped.

I nodded. "C'mon, help me open this, this has gotta be it."

She nodded and together we opened the trapdoor; immediately struck by the smell. The barn was musty and old smelling, but this area, which actually looked more modern, with plain white walls and steps leading down to a corridor of sorts, smelled clean, almost sterile. I felt as if we had just opened the jaws of the abyss, there was no going back now.

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