Max Gates

Chapter 7 : A Dance with Destiny

Maddie stood frozen, a veil of unreadable emotions masking her face. The air was thick with tension as she surveyed the aftermath – a tableau of chaos. Her eyes moved like a detective's, inspecting Ethan, his companions, and the wreckage that lay in a straight line before her.

A sharp gaze locked onto Max, who quivered under her scrutiny. He was a fragile figure, shaken to his core, and Maddie's steady voice cut through the silence, "Did you cause this?" Her calm demeanor belied the storm of questions within her.

Max, struggling to find words, stammered, "I-I don't know." Maddie extended a gentle hand, navigating the chaos with grace as she approached him, her concern palpable. "Max, are you okay? What happened here?" Her words were a lifeline thrown into the tumult.

Max face flushed with emotions, unraveled the inexplicable events, Maddie's eyes flickered between the unconscious boys and his trembling form.

Then, a resounding groan echoed across the room, breaking the eerie silence that had settled. "Ughh," a voice cried out, signaling life in the aftermath.

Ethan, seemingly impervious to the chaos, brushed off debris with casual nonchalance as he strolled towards the unfolding drama. "I don't remember signing up for anyone to get hurt," he remarked, his tone oddly unfazed.

"Didn't expect the quiet Gates to have such tricks up his sleeve," he remarked, a hint of amusement in his tone.

Max, caught between confusion and apprehension, replied cautiously, "what the hell, how are you, what just happened!?"

Maddie, urgency in her voice, interjected, "We can't stay here. We better leave now."

Ethan, seemingly unaffected, raised an eyebrow. "Leaving so soon, Max? We were just getting acquainted."

Before Max could respond, a mysterious figure entered, disrupting the tense atmosphere. The newcomer's voice carried an air of authority as they declared, "unfortunately, no one's going anywhere."

Max exchanged a puzzled look with Maddie. "Who's this?" he whispered.

Maddie's expression tightened. "We don't have time for this."

The enigmatic figure approached, their presence imposing. "Max Gates," She stated, a subtle threat in her voice.

Max, wary yet determined, nodded. "Who are you. What's going on?"

The lady's lips curled into a cryptic smile. "Who I am is not important. As for what's happening, you just stumbled into a world you're not ready for."

Ethan, ever the provocateur, chuckled. "Oooh, real intimidating,"

The lady's gaze shifted to Ethan. "Hmm, Ethan Snow I presume. Your bravado won't protect you from the truth now,"

Ethan's frustration mounted as he demanded answers from the mysterious lady. "Who are you, what's this about?"

The lady, maintaining an air of enigmatic amusement, corrected him. "Wrong question Ethan. What you should be asking is, what do I want?"

Ethan scowled, "Cut the games. What do you want?"

With a mischievous smile, she replied, "Him," pointing directly at Max. "He's coming with me."