Saving BlackHell Town - A Life is Strange Fanfiction (Pricefield)

Episode 3: Chaos Theory

I must have fallen asleep in Chloe's arms because I feel her shaking me awake.

"I just texted Max," she informs me. "We're breaking into BlackHell for answers. Let's go. Oh, and by the way, you missed the eclipse while you were sleeping. It wasn't scheduled, which means that nature is f*cked. Goes along with that freak snow yesterday."

We get into the truck and drive to my old school. The ride is silent: no conversation, no music playing. We wait for Max in front of the main hall. She arrives after a couple of minutes.

And of course, Chloe has to scare her. "Boo-yah!" she shouts. Max jumps. "Get it, boo-yah? Like I'm a scary punk ghost..."

Chloe has an interesting sense of humor. I do not think Max appreciated the joke.

"More like a scary, insensitive asshole," Max corrects. "Chloe, it's been a long day. My friend almost tried to kill herself. I don't think you need to prank me tonight."

"I'm-I'm sorry, Max," Chloe stutters. "I... I wasn't even thinking. I suck. But it's your badass power that's going to bring this all to a close. We just need to connect the players."

"And find out who almost killed Kate," Max adds.

"And find out if my theory is accurate," I add in a determined tone. "We cannot allow this to happen to anybody else."

"Oh yeah," Chloe agrees, "and somehow stop that tornado from wiping out Arcadia Bay... right?"

"Didn't you say it was all about 'Chaos Theory'?" Max reminds the punk. "I don't see any control over this chaos..."

My gut tells me that the tornado cannot be stopped or controlled, but only its full power restrained. However, to minimize the damage, a sacrifice must be made. I do not yet know what must be sacrificed, but I am working on it. As of yet, Chloe and Max cannot know of this.

"Oh right, except for your ability to, oh yeah, manipulate time and space," Chloe says. "No biggie." She fails to mention my own abilities, because Max does not know about them. I know that eventually she will have to, but I am delaying that until the latest time possible.

"Chloe, I just feel weird about some of my decisions..." the hipster tells her. "Especially after Jules somehow got expelled..."

"Dude, do not even torture yourself like that," Chloe says. "Let's focus on looking for clues, okay?"

"We need to find out more about who Rachel was involved with around here," Max agrees.

"She was able to blend in with everybody," I say casually. "Even with people who Chloe and I hated. And those who bullied me... But I have noticed that there is too much coincidence between the people around Kate and Rachel."

"Like step-prick and Nathan Prescott?" Chloe asks.

"And Jefferson," I add. "Both were in his class."

"And even though I don't know her," Max says, "It feels like Rachel is guiding us to the truth..."

"F*ck the truth, I just want to find my friend right now..." Chloe snaps. "It scares me to think where she could be... Do you think she's..."

"Dead?" Max asks. "I'm sorry, I hate even saying that, Chloe."

I know Rachel would never have left BlackHell Town without Chloe. Without me, perhaps. But she was closer with the punk; almost romantically involved, I thought at the time. I have long accepted Rachel's death. But I know that Chloe still believes she might be alive, so I say nothing.

"Not as much as I hate thinking it," my friend says. "Jules, Max, we have to find Rachel soon. We have to..."

"I promise you we will," Max tells her. We might find her body, but Max also believes Rachel is alive. "Like you said, it's time to start the search for clues. Now tell me, what's your secret?"