A horrible dread filled Victoria. It sank to her stomach and made her feel sick. Then an idea snapped into her head, a terrifying idea. Nathan. He would be in the Hospital if he wasn't already transferred to a better facility. Max had already broken his spine. Maxine must be finishing the job. Victoria burst out of her car and began sprinting to the front entrance. She didn't even bother to close the door to her car and thanked herself for wearing flats.
Maxine made her way to the hospital, pistol in hand and out for the world to see. She used her free hand to force open the automatic door, one downside to stopping time. She wished she written a note for Victoria. She knew Max would never let her out again after this. Maxine loved this town, she wouldn't let Rachel's wrath destroy it.
As she climbed the stairs to the floor Chloe was on she began to feel an itch in her head. One she immediately recognized. Max was trying to take back control. "You know we have to do this." Just as she reached the top step her hand involuntarily let go of the revolver and it tumbled down the steps.
Maxine scowled and turned around, going back to retrieve the gun. "Nice try." She reached down to pick it up but her right hand was balled tight into a fist and she couldn't extend her fingers. With a sigh she just picked it up with her left. Quickly she stored the gun in the pocket of her hoodie. "I don't need a gun to kill her. You want to turn my hands into fists then go ahead. I'll beat her to death."
The gnawing in her head exploded into a massive headache at those last words. Maxine had to steady herself against the wall but also found she had regained use of both hands again. "You can kill my Chloe but I can't kill yours?" She pushed off the wall and made her way back up the stairs. Her jaw was clenched to try to manage the pain and she had to rely on the handrail for support.
Maxine reached the top of the stairwell. As she took a step into the hallway she was stopped by her hand still clenching the handrail. She yanked her body away from it but she couldn't break free of the death grip she had on the metal pole. She pulled the revolver from the hoodie pocket and put the end of the barrel against her right wrist. "There's 6 bullets in here. I only need one for Chloe. Think 5 is enough to ruin this hand. Let. Go."
Maxine waited for a moment to see if she was about to have to try to shoot off her own hand. Her grip lessened and then let go of the handrail. She turned to go down the hallway, eyes raising to read the room numbers. 237. That's where she was headed. Soon it would all be over. The town would be safe. Her friends would be safe. Victoria would be safe. But Maxine would be gone.
"I told you I would ruin your life. I meant it."
The closer she got to Chloe's room the more intense the pain in her head became. She read the room numbers as she walked, she was getting closer. Maxine turned a corner and finally spied the room that Chloe was in. She took a moment to brace herself and then swallowed down any thoughts of turning back.
She took one step and it felt she had been struck by a freight train. The world had began to shake around her. Her vision was going blurry and a deafening high pitched ringing was all she could hear. Each step became a marathon effort. Blood had started to drip from her nose. "You're going to have to kill us to stop me."
As Maxine staggered down the hallway she began to hallucinate. Memories. Memories Max had never let her access. Chloe's beautiful laugh. Sounds of everyone cheering at Max and Victoria's wedding. Chloe handing them their wedding bands. An endless stream of 'I love you' in Victoria's voice. Suddenly a blonde toddler ran passed her from behind. He was holding Max's polaroid camera and giggling to high heaven. An adult Chloe chased after him. 'Hey you little bugger, gimme that! Your moms will kill me if you break it.'
Maxine closed her eyes to try and hide from it all. That only made it worse. She saw the blonde toddler now as a young man. A proud Victoria was helping him straighten his bow-tie as he wore a tuxedo. Another young man was standing in front of the fireplace next to him and they were holding hands. The prefect example of young love ready for prom. She heard her own voice say 'Babe he looks great, just let me take the pictures.'
"Stop it." Maxine pleaded and grabbed her head. Tears had begone to streak down her face. "This isn't fair!" She fell against the wall and slumped down. She dropped the gun to cover both of her ears. "Please! Stop it!"
All at once everything did stop. The pain, the shaking, the noise, the memories. Maxine didn't dare move though. She sat there huddled up, head in her hands as she cried.
It felt like hours passed before she felt a hand gently lay on her shoulder. Tentatively Maxine opened her eyes. She wasn't in the hospital any longer. She was in the Two Whales and Max was crouched down in front of her. A sad but loving expression on her face.
"Maxine… I'm sorry."