TW: Suicide Attempt

(Aiden's POV)

I jolted awake in my bed, shouting, "Chloe! Max!" The blankets slipped off me as I broke into a sweat from the nightmare I just experienced. My heart pounded in my chest, and I glanced over to see my girlfriend still peacefully asleep beside me. How could Max not have woken up from my scream? I had no idea.

Max had also shown signs of trauma after we left. She also had nightmares about it and had flashbacks of everything that happened. Chloe and I were there for her though and we always would be.

Chloe was nowhere to be found, so she must have stepped out. I hoped she was okay. The three of us had been staying at a motel a few miles from Arcadia Bay for the past few days, using some of the money we got from Frank.

This was the second time I had that goddamn nightmare, filled with images of the storm, the dark room with Jefferson, and everything else that haunted me. It was hard to process, but I felt a bit better knowing Max was there with me. I grabbed my phone and noticed a text from Chloe.

C: Hey, I'm getting food for us. Then we can talk about what we're gonna do next.

A: Ok, sounds good 2 me. Max is still asleep.

C: ok. If she wakes up be4 I get back, let me no.

A: Ok. C U later. Don't take 2 long.

C: alright, dork.

I couldn't stop myself from grinning at my cousin, but the smile quickly faded as the scary thoughts from my nightmare returned. My chest began to feel tight, and I realized I was about to have another anxiety attack. Goddammit, not now...

I leaped out of bed and rushed to the bathroom, closing the door behind me. The room felt cold, and I realized I was just in my sweatpants and no shirt. I sat on the toilet and began to rock back and forth to help myself relax.

I couldn't stop thinking about the town being destroyed. The image kept coming back to me over and over. A voice in my head kept saying, "It's your fault, Aiden Price. You and Maxine Caulfield made the storm happen. You took innocent lives for Chloe."

As I stepped outside, I clutched the sink so tightly that my knuckles turned white. I cried out, "Get out of my… fucking head!" as I collapsed to the floor, overwhelmed by my anxiety attack. It felt unbearable. I kept thinking, "No, I can't do this. I just can't," while a ringing filled my ears.

Max's screams haunted me from that dark room, and I could almost feel the sharp sting of the needle in my neck. Tears flowed down my cheeks as I shook, my mind spinning with confusion. It felt so wrong that those people had to die; it just didn't seem fair at all.

I was huddled on the floor, gasping for air. My fingers were tangled in my hair as I thumped my head against the wall, desperate to erase the memories. The ache in my head and heart intensified, causing me to tremble even more. I couldn't handle it any longer. This feeling of survivor's guilt was just too much to bear.

I let Jodie and Uncle William die, even though I promised to keep my sister safe. Then Chloe died, but Max and I used our powers to bring her back. Max almost died in the Dark Room, Kate commiting suicide, and now so many people have lost their lives because of the storm, including Aunt Joyce. It really hurt…

I glanced at the bathroom counter and noticed an orange prescription bottle next to the sink. Suddenly, a voice echoed in my mind, but it felt different this time. "Those pills will ease the pain, right? They'll work, but not how you think... It'll all end soon," the voice mocked me.

My hands trembled as I stood up and grabbed the bottle, squinting through my blurry vision. It felt heavy, and I knew choosing this path was selfish, but I couldn't bear the guilt of losing almost everyone I cared about because of my actions. I could tell Max was feeling just as guilty, and it hurt to see her suffering like this.

I pushed the thought of being selfish aside and returned to the bathroom, closing the door behind me. I struggled to open the bottle, my hands shaking with frustration. "Come on, just open!" I shouted, finally managing to twist it off. I poured the white pills into my palm and stared at them, unsure if I should go through with it.

The voice urged me again, saying, "Take them, and you'll feel no guilt." Each word made it sound more appealing. Just as I was about to make a choice, I heard someone call my name from the bedroom.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and I jumped, causing the pills to slip from my fingers and scatter everywhere. Looking up, I saw Max with a shocked look on her face. "M-Max…?" I whispered, feeling embarrassed for being caught.

My heart raced, and I struggled to catch my breath. "Aiden, what're…?" she gasped, quickly realizing what was happening when she noticed the pills on the bathroom floor.

"What are you doing…?" she asked, looking really worried about me. "I-I'm sorry, I… I didn't want to disturb your sleep," I said, caring more about her rest than my own emotions. She moved closer and held my hand. "It's alright, Aiden. What's wrong?" she asked, gently squeezing my hand. I glanced at her and noticed the tears in her eyes.

"What are you doing…?" she asked, her face showing real concern for me. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," I replied, thinking more about her sleep than my own feelings. She came nearer and took my hand. "It's okay, Aiden. But… why?" she whispered, squeezing my hand gently. I noticed tears starting to form in her eyes.

I couldn't keep my feelings inside any longer, and I began to cry again, warm tears streaming down my face. The tears stung as they fell from my chin onto my sweatpants. "I-I can't handle it, Max! I thought… I thought… I-I thought if I…" I cried, feeling panic rising within me.

My legs felt so weak that I dropped to my knees, unable to keep myself upright. Max and Chloe had only witnessed my anxiety attacks a few times, but they were always really intense when they did. Before Max and I entered the alternate timeline, I had almost forgotten about my anxiety.

Since Jodie and Uncle William passed away, my anxiety has worsened, leading to dark thoughts. Thankfully, Chloe helped me through those moments. "Aiden, look at me," Max said, gently turning my face toward hers. I gazed into her beautiful blue eyes.

"Please, Aiden, don't do this. Don't take your life… I can't imagine living without you, and neither can Chloe. We both care about you so much and can't bear to see you in pain. Just please listen to me," she said, her voice so sincere that it made my heart hurt. It was like hearing a fragile glass shatter.

Suddenly, I felt Max's lips on mine, and it turned into a bittersweet kiss. It was gentle and made my heart flutter. In that moment, all my dark thoughts and anxiety seemed to fade away, leaving me feeling calm and at peace.

I kissed her again, shutting my eyes tight. She gently wiped my tears away with her hands on my face. As she ran her fingers through my hair, I couldn't help but feel a sense of peace. When we finally pulled away from the kiss, I felt a rush of excitement in my stomach.

We looked into each other's eyes, and she gave me a smile that felt special. "Max..." I said softly. She leaned her forehead against mine and whispered, "Aiden... I love you." My heart fluttered at her words; they felt so real and full of care. I kissed her gently, keeping it sweet and simple.

"I love you too, Max..." I replied quietly, "I promise I won't leave you or Chloe again..." She wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me close, and I held her tight, enjoying the warmth between us. I lifted her and carried her to the bed.

I knew we couldn't do anything further than just kissing because Chloe would be mortified. Or not. 'God, Aiden, get those thoughts out of your dirty head. Max wouldn't be ready to go that far anyway and I wasn't going to force it. She'll let me know when she's ready,' I thought to myself, laying with her in my arms.

All that was left was for Chloe to come back so we could figure out what the plan for us was next.