Chloe parked in Blackwell's parking lot, her eyes staring a hole through the pool house where the party was taking place. "I hope Nathan enjoys his last party…"

"Chloe, we can go to the cops," Maxine pleaded, knowing what her friend was feeling.

"The cops that are in the Prescott's pocket? Screw that."

"Even they can't ignore the evidence we've already dug up," Maxine insisted.

Chloe gave her a cold look. "I hope that wasn't a joke."

Maxine shrank. "It was a poor choice of words, is all. Sorry."

"Chloe," Ruby cut in, "we can't kill him."

"Why not!?" Chloe shouted. "It's what he deserves!"

"We can't take that into our hands here! He's not a good guy, but he's not a Darkness user either. We have to work by the local rules," Ruby explained. "Would Rachel want you becoming a killer?"

"That's a low blow, Ruby," Chloe scowled.

Ruby stood firm. "I think you could use a low blow right now."

Chloe scoffed, her knuckles turning white as she gripped the steering wheel. "Fine!" she finally shouted. "What's the plan, then, Master?"

"There's still a girl in danger here. We do need to stop Nathan, but only with necessary force," Ruby emphasized.

"Then what?" Maxine asked. "Even if we manage to… subdue him, we're just a couple of teenagers. It'll be our word against his."

"So we need an adult on our side. Someone other adults will listen to…" Ruby climbed out of the truck. "You two go inside and protect Victoria. I need to make an errand."

"You're picking up David, aren't you?" the ever-perceptive Maxine clued out.

"David? Really?" Chloe questioned.

"Yes," Ruby nodded. "He's an adult, ex-military, and for all his faults he cares about you, Chloe. He might be the only capable adult in town that could be on our side."

Chloe groaned and ran a hand down her face. "I hope you know what you're doing…"

"Me too," Ruby admitted. "So… where's the bar in this town?"

Of all the places to get a strong drink in Arcadia Bay, Ruby could only think of one place David would be. Depressed people don't go to fancy restaurants alone, after all. They go to dive bars like the one by the edge of town. The inside was smokey, dark, and sparsely populated. The place likely catered to drifters more than anyone who actually lived here. As such, David was easy to spot.

It was also easy for David to notice Ruby's approach. "Bit young for this place, aren't you?"

"I'm not here to drink," Ruby stated.

"Then why?"

"I'm here for you."

David narrowed his eyes at here. "Going to have to elaborate on that, young lady."

"You were right that something dark is happening in Arcadia Bay," Ruby explained. "Chloe, Max and I have been looking into it. We found proof, but we need an adult. Someone other adults will listen to."

David was interested, but skeptical. "And what exactly have you found?" he asked.

"Pieces that connect Nathan Prescott to an underground photo lab. Binders full of pictures of girls who were drugged and posed against their will, girls like Kate and Rachel. And Rachel's body."

David's eyes widened. While he didn't have many of the pieces himself, that fit what little he did have. It wasn't impossible… and there was something about Ruby he trusted. Something in her eyes. "You're a soldier too, aren't you?"

"Huh?"

"I can see it in your eyes. You're fighting your own war. Is Chloe a part of that war?"

"…Yes."

"Is she in danger?"

"Chloe can take care of herself, trust me. But she could use your help."

That was all he needed to hear. He pushed away his half-full glass and stood straight and tall. "Where are we going?"

"The party at the school. Nathan is going after a girl named Victoria tonight, Max and Chloe are already there to try and protect her."

No more words were said as Ruby followed David out to his car. He drove quickly, the pair arriving at Blackwell in record time. From there they sped-walked across the quad and towards the pool house, which the students had turned into a nightclub complete with bright flashing lights, dark corners, and deafening music. Ruby looked but couldn't pick Maxine or Chloe out of the crowd. It was difficult to see faces in the light, so she didn't get discouraged.

"There's Victoria," David pointed the girl out, surrounded by a mob of admirers. "She's safe for now."

"But I still don't see Max, Chloe, or even Nathan."

"Max and Chloe?" A voice beside them questioned. "Oh, you must be Ruby!"

Ruby turned to look at the newcomer, a scraggly thin boy with a week-old bruise on his cheek. He seemed vaguely familiar, but too much had happened this week already for Ruby to recall. "Who are you?"

"My name's Warren, I'm a friend of Max's! She told me you might show up."

"Do you know where she is right now?" David asked.

"She told me to tell you something… what was it?" Warren shook his head and stumbled a bit.

"Warren, this could be really important," Ruby insisted.

"Right! She got a text message, something about someone getting rid of evidence? Are you guys in some hardcore murder mystery larp or something?"

"Yes, exactly, whatever that is. Thank you," Ruby waved Warren off, and the clearly drunk teenager stumbled away. Ruby turned to David. "This isn't good."

"Where's the evidence?" David asked.

"There's two places, we'll have to split up. The photo lab is in a converted bomb shelter in an old barn owned by the Prescott's-"

"-on the other side of town," David finished. "I think I know where that is. What about you?"

"The junkyard, where Rachel was buried."

"Are you sure it's a good idea to split up?" David asked.

Ruby stared the man down. "Look me in the eyes and tell me I can't handle myself."

David did look, and quickly nodded. "If you see Chloe, you keep her safe!"

"I promise."

Ruby found the junkyard to be a very different and foreboding place in the dark. Especially in light of everything they knew now. She trusted her memory to lead her to Rachel's grave. When she arrived, she saw a bleeding Chloe lying next to it. "Chloe!" Ruby dashed to her side and rolled her over, not allowing herself to think of the worst.

Then she saw the bullet wound between Chloe's eyes.

"No!"

Ruby collapsed over her friend, holding her close. This couldn't be how it ended for Chloe, after everything they had been through this week! How could a Keyblader even die to a single bullet?

How can a Keyblader die to a single bullet…? Chloe's defenses were down earlier this week, but after everything we've learned….

Ruby calmed herself down and checked Chloe again. She tore her eyes away from the bleeding wound to focus on Chloe's chest and mouth. She saw a shallow but steady rise and fall, and heard faint gasping. Chloe was alive! Mentally assured, Ruby checked the wound again to properly address it. Now that Ruby looked closer, she could tell the bullet had only broken Chloe's skin.

The force of the shot must have still knocked Chloe out, which may have saved her life. Whoever shot her would have believed the same as Ruby had at a short glance. With her panic subsided, the young wielder held her hand over her friend's head. "Cura." A short flash of green light saw the wound close.

Chloe opened her eyes after. She was conscious, but groggy. "Ruby…?"

"What happened?" Ruby asked calmly, trying not to startle Chloe.

"He shot me…" Chloe groaned.

"Nathan?"

"No… Jefferson…"

"…Max's teacher? That seems to be out of nowhere…"

"I knew I didn't like him," Chloe grunted as she stood. "But yeah, there were no clues about him being a part of this."

"He's not as sloppy as Nathan," Ruby concluded. "I mean, think about how many folders were in the Dark Room."

"The Dark Room!" Chloe suddenly shouted. "Max!"

"What about Max?" Ruby asked.

"She was here with me, she got a message from Nathan, or at least his phone! Then Jefferson ambushed us… My memory is hazy, but I think he drugged Max! She's probably in the Dark Room with that creep!" Chloe started sprinting away.

"Chloe, slow down!" Ruby called after her.

Chloe turned back, her face adamant. "I've already lost Rachel, I'm not losing Max too! Do you think he'll let her go once she knows?"

"Chloe, David is already on his way there," Ruby informed her. "Everything will be fine."

"I can't know that. Not without seeing Max safe myself," Chloe insisted. "After everything… I have to see her alive. I need her alive, Ruby."

"Okay, Chloe, okay… but calm, right? If things aren't going well, barreling in blindly won't help Max."

"There's no time for calm!"

The headache hit them before their argument could continue. The worst one yet, it seemed to stretch for minutes as the world shifted and quaked around them. Ruby swore she saw Chloe disappear and reappear, though with her splitting head she couldn't be sure. When it was finally over, Ruby and Chloe still lay where they fell, in the junkyard in the dark.

Ruby wondered aloud, "what changed?"

"A lot, I think? But also nothing?" Chloe groaned. A horror began to dawn on her face. "Wait, Ruby, if Max used her power that much…"

Ruby's eyes widened. "We have to get to the barn."

The Darkness was already converging by the time Ruby and Chloe glided over. A black tornado was gathering in front of the Dark Room, slowly taking shape into something massive. Spindly arms and legs protruded from a massive camera lens. The heartless symbol was painted right onto the glass.

Chloe and Ruby touched down and activated their armor, not taking any chances. "Is that Jefferson?" Chloe asked.

"I don't think so…" Ruby observed.

"Then why does it look like that?"

"It's this place," Ruby theorized. "Jefferson wasn't touched by Darkness, but he was still a dark person. The things he did here… it must be enough to give that thing its shape."

The Heartless, later designated Shutter Beast, finished forming. It let out an ear-piercing shriek, that coincided with a clash of thunder as rain began to fall. Its camera lens 'eye' scanned the area, passing over the Keybladers and settling on the barn.

On the Dark Room, Chloe realized. "Oh, hell no!" Chloe cried. She bolted forward, taking a might leap as she wound back her weapon arm. "You stay away from MY MAX!"

Before Chloe's attack landed, the eye swiveled quickly to focus on her. There was the sound of a shutter as a bright flash drenched Chloe in blinding white light. It stung, too, clearly a unique attack from the unique creature. Chloe bounced off the creature without inflicting any damage. One of the creature's arms swung at her as she fell.

"Chloe!" Ruby sprinted forward and jumped between Chloe and the oncoming claw. "Reflaga!" Shutter Beast's hand bounced off the barrier and reeled from the damage. "Thundaga!" A bolt from the sky struck the monster, further damaging and unsteadying it. Ruby noticed Chloe had run out of range by now and leapt backwards, launching a "firaga!" from Crescent Rose as she did so.

"Holy crap, Rubes, how are not already out of magic power?" Chloe questioned.

"I've gotten a lot of training in in the past six months," Ruby answered.

The thunder and rain could be heard from within the Dark Room, but Maxine didn't notice. She was too busy starting down her captor, her beloved photography teacher, Mark Jefferson. She felt like she had been here for hours already, though her timeline jumping may have had something to do with that… I can't do that anymore, though, Max internally bemoaned. Jefferson had burned her journal with all of her photos in a fit of rage after the consequences of one of her attempted changes.

Her burnt journal meant she was trapped in the original reality once more, the one where Jefferson shot Chloe in the head and used Maxine as his latest model… All Maxine could do now was stare at Jefferson with all of her remaining fury. The man did all of this out of some sick fascination of capturing the moment innocence was lost. Maxine certainly didn't feel innocent anymore. All she felt in this moment was rage.

Jefferson seemed to take the hateful glare in stride. "Your iris... That dilation like a shutter... The pictures you're taking of me now. Too bad you pissed away your gift."

"You're insane," Maxine growled.

"Please. I'm so sane that nobody knows what's happening to you right now," Jefferson refuted calmly.

"You will not get away with this," Chloe muttered, knowing Ruby was out there, likely with David by now.

"I know how much you claim to hate cliches, despite being one, but do allow me to indulge," Jefferson teased. "I've already gotten away with it. All the evidence points to Nathan, and in a few moments, no one will be left to say otherwise."

"Not even Nathan…?"

"Not even Nathan. After the moron gave Rachel an overdose, I knew I couldn't keep him as my protégé forever. Now the police will never find his body. The main suspect has escaped town… what a shame."

"More like a sham…"

"Oh-ho! You must be getting more lucid by the second to have stingers like that. I think it's time for your medicine…"

Jefferson was momentarily interrupted by another violent thunderclap. The lights to the bunker flickers. "Whoa! Did you see how crazy it is outside?"

Maxine noticed now and recalled her tornado visions. Was this the night it happened?

"There's that fear..." Jefferson noted. "Oh, Max... It's an honor working with you on these final sessions. I hope these images will be appreciated for what they truly capture. The loss of youth."

Jefferson took up a syringe and started walking toward Maxine. "Mr. Jefferson, please don't do this! You don't know what's happening!"

"Sh-sh-shhhh… quiet Max."

"Please stop!"

"I promise this final dose won't hurt…"

CLACK

Jefferson's head whipped around at the noise from the next chamber. He dropped the syringe, picked up a tripod, and quickly hid himself against the wall. Maxine prayed that it was Ruby, a tripod wouldn't do much more than annoy her… unfortunately, it was only David.

Jefferson attacked before David could notice him, knocking the ex-soldier's gun away. David raised his fists, but Jefferson's tripod had more reach. He jabbed David in the gut. David doubled over, exposing his head to one more strike. Jefferson took the chance, and David fell to the floor.

Jefferson exhaled. "David Madsen! Out cold. Good. I always hated that fascist. Everyone did, right, Max?" He set down the tripod and retrieved the syringe. "Let's try this one more time?"

Maxine watched the syringe get closer as Jefferson drew out the moment, savoring it. Just before the needle broke her skin, Maxine stretched her rewind hand.

"David, look out!"

Chloe and Ruby suffered a simultaneous momentary headache. It didn't last long, nor did anything seem to change for them. It was when they refocused back on the Heartless that they saw what it meant for them… the fresh dose of Darkness swirled around its arm, transforming it into a syringe it handled like a blade.

"Max, if we die here, I'm breaking up with you," Chloe muttered.

Ruby cocked her head. "You two aren't together yet?"

"Keyword 'yet'."

"Ha! So you admit it!"

"Fine, yes, I- uh oh!"

The two dodged the syringe at the last second by diving in different directions. "Time and place, Rubes!"

"No, you're right, that one's on me," Ruby responded quickly before charging.

Shutter Beast swung its syringe arm wide, scattering a strange liquid Ruby's way. Chloe was far enough from Ruby to remain safe while Ruby got drenched. She felt the effects immediately, a heavy fog settling on her mind as her muscles relaxed against her will. The Heartless thrust the point of the syringe directly toward Ruby, who was too out of it to move out of the way.

Chloe sprinted toward her friend, tackling her out of the way at the last moment. The younger wielder tried to recover, but wasn't able to muster her strength. "What… happened….?"

She looks like Max did when Jefferson jabbed her, Chloe noted. Are we sure this thing isn't a part of that creep?

Shutter Beast pulled back it's syringe to thrust again. Chloe couldn't move Ruby, so instead she brought up Rebel Soul to block the attack. The syringe connected and continued to push, pitting its strength against Chloe's. Chloe grunted, holding out with her arm while the opposite hand patted the ground behind her blindly. It eventually found purchase with its target, and Chloe's fingers wrapped around Crescent Rose's handle.

With a scream, Chloe swing Crescent Rose at the syringe. It detached from Rebel Soul and buried itself into the ground next to the two wielders. Chloe continued to act quickly, hopping onto the syringe and sprinting up Shutter Beast's arm. The Heartless whirled its eye toward her and flashed. Chloe screwed her eyes shut and pushed through the pain of the attack, leaping off the arm in the process and swinging Rebel Soul directly at the lens.

CRACK

Chloe kept up the offense, throwing a vicious and relentless air combo with both Keyblades and all her strength. Shutter Beast retaliated with it's still clawed hand, catching Chloe off guard and snatching her out of the air. It gripped her tight and slammed her into the ground. It raised her up to slam her again. Chloe used a cast of "fire!" to loosen the Heartless's grip and the momentum carried her higher into the air.

Chloe threw Rebel Soul. It spun in an arc toward Shutter Beast's arm, slicing into it as it passed. Rebel Soul continued to tumble and arc, turning back to return to Chloe. Chloe used a mental command on her Keyblade and instead of catching her weapon in her hand, her feet locked onto Rebel Soul's long-board style glider form.

Shutter Beast jabbed its syringe arm upward, intent to spear Chloe as she fell. Chloe boosted her glider's thruster, barrel rolling around the syringe as she flew right past the attack. She held out Crescent Rose in her right hand, digging it into Shutter Beast's arm as she flew downward. As she got close to the lens, she swing Crescent Rose hard, keeping her glider as speed, and shattering Shutter Beast's 'eye'. Chloe braked hard and turned to face the monster as it finally collapsed, a crystalline heart rising into the ether as the heartless faded away.

Crescent Rose vanished from Chloe's hand, startling her into looking Ruby's way. The younger wielder had dispelled her armor already and was using Crescent Rose as a cane while she struggled to find her feet. Chloe flew down, dispelling both her Keyblade and armor and landing in front of Ruby. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Ruby assured, "just shaking off the last of that stuff… I think you have someone else to check on."

Ruby was right. The Heartless was gone, but the storm raged on and Maxine's status was still unknown. Things weren't over yet. She gave Ruby one last visual scan before sprinting into the barn and toward the stairs to the Dark Room. A hope, a prayer, played over and over in her head like a mantra, synced to the beat of her heart. Please be alive.