Bullet with Butterfly Wings

Episode 3: Complicated

I wake up once again crying out Chloe's name in a blind panic.

It's just a dream, Max I tell myself, you're okay.

I take a few deep breaths to calm myself down before settling back in my chair. I sigh and dig my phone out of my pocket and check the time, seeing that it's not even 12 . o'clock. I finally decide to check my messages, which, like time, are infinite. Both my parents have been trying to contact me but I ignore their texts along with all the ones from various classmates.

I know I should be feeling... something, anything at all, but... I don't.

I mean, I feel like I should be feeling something more than just... emptiness.

I sigh again and stretch out as I stand up, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. I seriously need some fresh air, my room feels so small, and cramped... suffocating, So, I decide to go take a walk outside.

But if I'm going to do that, it means I'm going to need to break curfew, something I've never done before. It's not like it really matters if I get into any trouble, well... it's not like I'd care.

I sigh and pick my tote back up off the ground and grab the photo of me and Chloe that was left on the desk. I put it into one of the side pockets of my bag, stopping when I feel another photo already in there.

"What the-".

I put my bag down on my bed and pull out the second photo, jumping back in surprise when I realize what it's of.

I slowly walk up and pick up the photo I dropped, seeing the bright blue wings of a butterfly resting on the edge of a bucket. I swallow hard, realizing that this is the photo I took moments before Chloe's murder. As I hold it, my hands start shaking again, forcing me to stop and take a deep breath to steady myself. I sigh, looking at the photo again, catching sight of my reflection in the bucket.

It's... it's actually a really good photo, might have even had a chance at winning the Everyday Heroes contest, but right now... it feels like I took a picture of death itself.

I go to leave the photo behind, but... I can't bring myself to do it. I sigh once more and put both photos back in my bag before heading out. I shuffle to the door and quietly step out into the pitch black hallway, tip-toeing my way out of the building, hoping I won't seen.

"Max, you know I can see you... right?".

Shit.

I stop and sigh, walking back to Dana's room. She's sitting on the small couch across from her bed, staring at me standing in the doorway. "Um... hey, Dana. What... what are you doing up?" I ask, rubbing at my neck.

"I could ask you the same thing. Max, it's almost midnight".

"I know, I just needed-".

"No need to explain or make excuses. You- you deserve a break from all this bullshit, especially with what happened with Jefferson".

I raise an eyebrow, "What did happen with Mr. Jefferson? I mean, I know he got arrested yesterday but... I'm kinda in the blue on why,".

Dana sighs and shakes her head, "I- I don't know much but apparently the sadistic bastard had Nathan targeting female students at all the Vortex Club parties just so he can drug them, kidnap and take perverted pictures of them half-conscious".

I swallow hard and take a small step back.

"You okay, Max? You look a little pale".

"Um, yeah... sorry. The, um... I overheard the police saying something about a... bunker in the woods with binders. I um... I guess that was Jefferson's doing,".