Life is Better

Chapter Thirty Two - Tornado

"Max, you got a voice message" I said, picking up her phone. "Play it"

"You have one new message. Message received yesterday at 9PM" The robotic voice of her phone said. "Max, it's... it's Nathan" What? Tears immediately formed in my eyes, knowing that he is dead now. "I just wanted to say.. I'm sorry" His voice. He was desperate. It was breaking my heart to hear him like that. "I didn't want to hurt Kate or Rachel, or... didn't want to hurt anybody. Everybody... used me. Mr. Jefferson... is coming for me now. All this shit will be over soon. Watch out, Max... He wants to hurt you and Clare next. Sorry. Tell Clare I love her"

"I love you too, Nathan" I whispered, crying my eyes out silently. "Are you okay?" Max asked me, keeping her eyes on the road. "I'm fine" I replied, looking out the window. I wasn't fine. I wasn't fine at all. No matter how much I tell myself that I don't love him anymore, I still do.

After a while she stopped the car. "This is as fast as I can drive" She said. "Then let's get that photo from Warren and save my sister's life" I said, ignoring that my mom could be there. I climbed out of the car and into the storm. I didn't have a jacket with me, but right now I didn't care.

"Up there. There's Alyssa. You go help her and I'll help Evan over there. That idiot is taking photos in this storm! Is he crazy?!" I asked and hurried off, running over to Evan.

"Evan, what the hell are you doing?! Get the hell out of here!" I yelled at him. "There's no way I can pass up these images! Just look at it!" He said. God, I'm going to kill that guy if he gets himself killed. "You can't take a picture when you're dead! Now move your ass!" I said and pulled him forwards. I didn't have the patience to wait until he moves on his own. "Whoa. You just saved my life" He said. "Don't mention it" I said to him. "Get out of here!" "Come with me" "No, I have to do something first!" I said and met up with Max again.

"God, the road is blocked!" Max said. "There, there is a hole in the wall" I said and hurried over to it and climbed through. Max followed me and we walked further in. "How can we get past that fire?" I asked and looked around, so did Max. "Sprinklers. Turn on the electricity" She said and I listened, The electricity turned on and the sprinklers started. Unfortunately I didn't see the fisherman, who was electrocuted.

Max and I hurried onto the other side and she rewound time again, causing the fisherman to be alive again. Max went in to get him and we all climbed out together and ran towards the diner. Just seconds before we reached it, it blew up. Max and I stopped. "MAX!" I yelled and she rewound time, while I took some of the sand, stopping the fire from spreading. "Frank is here" I said, being a little relieved he seemed fine.

"Let's find the back entrance" Max said. "Follow me, Super Max" I said and walked around the back entrance. "Open sesame" I said and pulled it open. Some male voice came over the speakers as we walked to the front.

"Max" Warren said and hurried over to her, hugging her, then hugging me. "Max" Mom said and walked over to her. "Clare" She said shocked. "Mom" I said and hugged her. "Oh Clare" She said, crying her eyes out. "I'm so sorry mom. For everything" I apologized. "No, Clare, baby, I'm sorry" She said, cupping my face, wiping away the tears coming from them. "Let's just forget about it" I said. "Let's talk about it later" She said and I nod. "Are you guys okay?" Mom asked. "Yeah.. yes" We replied.

"What about you guys?" I asked. "The Two Whales is barely standing now... I don't know if it's going to make it through this tornado. Poor Officer Berry and all those people out there" Mom said and my eyes caught Frank. I was glad to see him well. "I know" Max said. "Warren has been gathering all the first aid..." "It's not much, Joyce. But it's all we have" Warren replied.

"I'm gonna talk talk to Frank, you take Warren" I said and she nod, letting me go to my boyfriend. "Hey" I said and nod in front of him. "Hey" He replied. "I'm so glad you're here.." I said and wrapped my arms around his neck. "Are you okay?" I asked him. "Define okay" "Alive, for a start" "Then I am" He said and I let go of him. "Are you...okay?" He asked. "I will be" I said and sat down, facing him. "There is something I need to tell you" I said to him. "What?" He asked.