Gone Forever - Chloe And Max

Forget the Horror

Max felt as though her chest was going to break open as soon as she woke up into a nightmare that was horrifyingly reality. She didn't expect this day to come, not yet. The biggest hurricane she's ever seen was inches away from the town, slowly sweeping over it. Her breath quickened as she panicked and looked around herself. "Oh god. Please no."

"C-chloe..?"

"Max, MAX!" Chloe screamed, trying to get her attention. "Chloe, oh my god!" Max ran toward Chloe and hugged her tightly. "What the hell..?" Max questioned.

"It's... its the hurricane! Jesus Christ Max, what the fuck do we do?!" Max had never seen Chloe this nervous before. They both were sobbing uncontrollably, completely oblivious as to what to do. "Uh, uh, what... what do we do to stop it?!" Chloe questioned yet again.

"This is my storm. I caused this... I caused all of this." Max heaved out, breathless and at a loss for words. "I changed fate and destiny so much that... I actually did alter the course of everything. All I really did was create just death and destruction!"

After a long silence, Chloe finally spoke out. "Fuck all of that, okay? You were given a power... you didn't ask for it... and you saved me. Which had to happen, all of this did... except for what happened to Rachel. But without your power, we wouldn't have found her! Okay so you're not the goddamn Time Master, but you're Maxine Caufield... And you're amazing."

Max looked at the storm for a while, then Chloe. Chloe did the same. She then hesitated, but then opened her mouth slowly. There was a sad look in her eyes.

"Max, this is the only way."

Chloe took a photo out of her pocket and handed it to Max. Max immediately recognized it. It was the picture of the blue butterfly she had took God knows how long ago. "I feel like I took this shot a thousand years ago." Max stepped forward a bit, still eyeing the photo with an indescribable look in her eyes. Her emotions were really everywhere right now. So were Chloe's.

"You..." Chloe began to gasp out. "You could use that photo to change everything right back to when you took that picture..." It was obvious she was struggling to get her words out correctly.

"All that would take is for me to... to..." Chloe looked as though she was going to have a mental breakdown at this point. As soon as Chloe started crying, Max immediately recognized what she was thinking about.

"Fuck that! No... no way! You are my number one priority right now. You are all that matters to me."

"I know. You proved that over and over again... even though I don't deserve it. I'm so selfish... not like my mom... Look what she had to give up and live through... and she did." Chloe sobbed out as Max looked at her with such sadness in her green eyes. Chloe continued after a short moment of silence.

"She deserves so much more than to be killed in a fucking diner. Even my step... father deserves her alive. There's so many more people in Arcadia Bay who should live... way more than me..."

Max was extremely hurt by her words, Chloe meant so much to her. "Don't say that... I won't trade you."

"You're not trading me. Maybe you've just been delaying my real destiny..." Deep down, Chloe always knew she was always meant to die a lot earlier than hoped, Max was just protecting her from all of the forces that were a threat to Chloe. "Look at how many times I've almost died or actually died around you. Look at what's happened in Arcadia Bay ever since you first saved me. I know I've been selfish, but for once I think I should except my fate... our fate..."

"Chloe..."

"Max, you finally came back to me this week, and... you did nothing but show me your love and friendship. You made me smile and laugh, like I haven't done in years. Wherever I end up after this... in whatever reality... all those moments between us were real and they'll always be ours. No matter what you choose, I know you'll make the right decision."