Life Is Strange: After The Storm (Chasefield)(Discontinued)

12

Three Years Later

I flick on the light to my bathroom to give some warm light to the place that was so dead by the horrible weather outside. I open the mirrored cupboard and take out my medicine to swallow them dry. The light flickered and buzzed but it only lasted until I started running the tap to brush my teeth. I finish and look to the mirror with a heavy sigh. My hair looks a mess but I'm too lazy to fix it. My facial scars are still faded. All but my left eye. Blind, burned and scarred diagonally. Cloudy and grey too, making it look like a pearl of some sort. I've hid it most of the time behind sunglasses, meaning no one has really seen my eyes.

Three years ago, my ex commited suicide and it still haunts me to this day. I took a heart attack about a week after her death and after that, I quit the band. I then met a guy who I thought I was attracted to and he fortunately understood that I didn't find men attractive. A good friend now and actually gay himself. Two years ago, I met a woman. I thought I loved her. I fell for her flattery and good looks. The woman she pretended to be fooled me. After a month or two, things kicked off. Her kinks were too much and her aggressive side made her almost abusive. Telling her I didn't like it only angered her, so the abuse started and so did her lies and beliefs.

I leave the bathroom and head downstairs to the kitchen, flicking on the kettle to brew myself a coffee. The silence wasn't comforting at all but I don't want to listen to music. Not while I'm depressed as hell and nearing a point of losing the will to live. You know, if it wasn't for Valerie's suspicion, I would've bled to death in the kitchen of the abusers house. She had enough of my "bull shit lies" and intended on murdering me. She beat me, pepper sprayed me, threw alcohol in my eye and set it alight before she clawed at me. She became an animal that needed put down. Val was right to shoot. She saved me.

Valerie is always so busy now with her police duties, I've not seen her for a while. She demanded her chief to inform me first asap if she died during work hours. Not sure why but I guess she doesn't want me to worry. I wouldn't mind a hug from her right now... I was wanting to end myself more than once and she's saved me every time with a hug or a simple small talk. It's like every time I hear her voice, it heals me or numbs what pain I feel. I move to the living room with my coffee and sit on the far left of my sofa. A few moments of painful silence passed until the front door begins to be unlocked. The only one who owns the second house key is Valerie.

"Hey, Victoria!" She exclaims when she enters. She wraps her arms behind me and over my shoulders to then peck my cheek. "How's you?" She asks. I sip from my coffee cup and smile ever so slightly. "I'm good, thank you," I reply softly. "Awesome. I got you a little something last night to see if it'll cheer you up. Wanna see it?" "Do I have a choice?" I ask rhetorically. She chuckled as she sat on my right, taking a bracelet from her pocket. It was made of maroon string and some lovely beads of many colours. Some were solid, others transparent. "It's not much but I thought you'd like it." I slide it onto my scarred left wrist with a bigger smile and give her a hug.

"I love it, Val. Thank you." She returns the hug and rubs my back gently. "You're welcome, Tori. Want me to make you something to eat too? You look a bit pale on it." I nod reluctantly but I made it clear to her that she should cook for two of us. Even if it's just a sandwich. "Mom and David are finally getting married. Next Friday, if you want to go with me." She goes into a cupboard that made a very unique squeak, causing me to tense up a little and breathe in weakly. "Victoria," she said with a disappointed tone. I don't reply, fearing she might snap. She's never yelled at me in anger or frustration. She's always remained calm with me.

It scares me to think she might be bottling up anger she won't use on me. "I've told you not to buy more for at least another three months." She then sighs and returns a moment later with two sandwiches and a can of alcohol, placing the can in front of me. I just stare at it and then look to the sandwich. I begin to consume once she had started and then I start sipping from the can. "Promise me you'll take it easy on them," she says quietly. I nod and reply with my promise. "You've had a lot of time to think in this silence... When are you next going out somewhere?" She asks. "I don't know... Never, I guess," I reply with a whisper.

"Come on, Victoria. You need to get out of the house and do something you'll enjoy. You've been inside for months. You've not used you're wings either, I assume." I sigh and lean into her arms. She understands and knows why I refuse to leave the house. It's a simple reason that everyone should understand. That reason is fear. Fearing the actions or words of society. Fearing another breakdown. Fearing that life will just take something away from me again. Fear of being reminded of my shit life.

However, if it makes her happy, I'll do it. "Okay... Maybe the art gallery will be interesting. I'll also go to the wedding with you. As long as I'm at the far back or something." She hugs me tightly with a smile. "Thanks, Victoria. Perhaps the gallery will motivate you to do more photography."

For some reason, I'm feeling somewhat lighter. Funnily enough, the idea of going to the art gallery sounds like it's been planned since the day I was born. It causes me to smile a little and finally, after three years, I kiss Valerie on the cheek. I could literally feel the heat in her cheeks and hear her heart beat quicken. "You kissed back," she stuttered. "Yeah... I'm feeling a little better now," I reply softly. "Wait, really? Does that mean we can finally go for a cruise or something?" she almost jumps asking that. "Maybe. You should get going before your boss goes on a rage."

Later in the night, I decide to do something I've always wanted to do: show up at a random party or club. I slide on my black skinny jeans and punk top. When sliding my jacket on, I shove my feet into my high top boots polished like mirrors. I then head out to the car and climb in while lighting a cigarette. It took a moment but I finally got Andrew started. I decided to name the car after it's original owner. I still don't know how he died but I won't question it. I just speed down the street instead. The radio plays some Avenged Sevenfold, making this moment somewhat good. It's near the summer so clubs should be thriving.

I pull up to one called Embers. The club is owned by that gay friend of mine. I pull up and climb out and walk up to the bouncer who was tall, muscular and black. He looked like he was hella serious with his job. "Miss Chase, you're... Here. A meet with the boss?" He asks in his intimidating deep voice. "No, just wanted to come get a drink and maybe cheer up," I reply quietly. "I see. Perhaps it'll work. On you go, I'll make sure your car is safe." I nod and walk pass him and through the double doors. This place was more like a school gym hall used for a party and I like it. Only problem is the music reminds me of the night I was kidnapped and used as a subject. It sickens me that someone would do that to anyone.

I look around to see that I'm not the only punk here. This club was made for all people of any style, sexuality, race, type and so on. I move to the bar and sit on a stool to face the nice blue lit underside of everything. On my left was a woman sobbing about her ex boyfriend and my right was a guy waiting for someone, I assume. "Evening, stranger! What can I get y'?" The barman asks as he leans against the counter. "Something strong." He nods and hands a glass of dark brown liquid. I throw it back and pay before turning to face the dance floor and the DJ. I look at all the people dancing like it's their last night on earth but my eyes soon land on a girl in the distance.

She wore all black and was short. Her black lipstick and possible tattoo under her left eye tells me she's a goth. Her black voluminous hair was just passed her chin but I could see a lighter colour where her roots are. Her skin looked so clear and soft, and if the epileptic lights weren't a problem, I'd say her skin was as white as snow. These shades also make it difficult to see. I decide to take this chance of confidence to go greet her reluctantly but as I grew closer to her, she became anxious.

She was crying and holding a black leather shoulder bag close to her. The assume tattoo looked to be make-up painting a black cross upside down and her black eye shadow looked very much like sleep deprivation. I also see a necklace of three bullets hanging from her neck and I swear I've seen it before. I swear I've seen her before. She walks away with her head low, being quick at it too. I just sigh and decide to go see Adam, the manager of the club. I might as well let him know I'm doing alright even though I'm not. What sucks is I now have her beauty burned into my mind. Something about her is... familiar. Was she a member off a band I listen to? Probably, now that I think about it.