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Max
The sound of thunder startled Max. Where am I? What’s happening?. Moments ago, Max was half paying attention in class, but now… now she was trapped in the middle of a storm. It just didn’t make any sense. There wasn’t even a storm scheduled for this week.
I’m trapped in a storm? How did I get here …and where is here? Max took a moment to establish herself with her surroundings.
Okay. So I’m in a forest pathway in a storm. The way behind me is blocked by a tree, there’s a picnic table next to a fence, a sign that says... Lighthouse! I'll be able to see what is happening if I can make it there... I hope... Please let me make it there… Max started forward, arm raised to protect her, with the wind howling in her ears and the occasional crack of thunder.
Step after step, Max trudged closer to the top, the wind pushing against her movements. Max passed the drop-off warning sign, with the occasional lightning strike illuminated the area.
Come on Max, you can make it... As Max passed the logs, she spotted the source of the storm.
“Holy shit”.
Max walked the rest of the way to the edge and saw the monstrosity itself, a tornado of massive proportions, heading straight for Arcadia Bay. Gripping the map of Arcadia Bay, Max collapsed to the ground.
This can’t be real, this can’t be real.
The storm seemed to think otherwise, and a boat, caught by the tornado, flung itself into the lighthouse, shattering it. As the upper portion of the lighthouse broke off and headed to the ground, Max’s thoughts drifted to the map she was clinging to. Looking away from the destruction around her, she noticed red skull and crossbones drawn onto the map, marking a spot. Gasping, Max shifted he gaze over towards the tree that they had carved into all those years ago, ‘Max + Chloe BFF Pirates 2008’.
Chloe…
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Kate
“Alfred Hitchcock famously called film ‘Little Pieces…” Tuning out Mr Jefferson, Kate turned to Max, who had suddenly sprung to life. It wasn’t like Max to completely zone out like that, maybe it had something to do with their conversation last night.
Zoning out herself, Kate thought talking to Max about the Vortex Party had been the right thing to do. What happened wasn’t her fault, she didn’t choose to make out with those guys, she didn’t get drunk, and she certainly didn’t choose to be drugged up. Max also convinced her to go to the police today after class, they would know what to do. Even if the police were on the Prescott’s payroll, they were still police, and at the bare minimum, would be able to take down the horrible video.
Erasing the horrible thought from her mind, Kate turned her attention back to class, just as a paper ball hit her face. Cupping her hand up to her face she looks across the room at Taylor, grinning at her, making it super clear that she was the one who threw the paper ball. Looking down at the ground, Kate spied the projectile. A small paper ball, no doubt containing a horrible note in regards to the video. Shuddering with the thought, Kate immersed herself back into the lecture.
“There you go, Victoria! Why Arbus” Thinking to her textbook, Diane Arbus was a photographer who took pictures of people who were often considered by the general populous to be ugly or surreal. While her photographs were usually quite interesting to Kate, her personal life was one of tragedy, especially in her later years.
Noticing Max in the corner of her eye, Kate turns slightly to observe what she was doing. By the looks of her facial expression and the way she was holding her photo, Kate assumed it was the photo she had decided to submit for the everyday hero’s contest. Kate sighed. Max doubted herself so much when it came to her artistic talent, even when everyone around her (Victoria and her goons aside) told her that she was good. Max could take photos with a polaroid camera that others would struggle to do with an expensive camera and photoshop.
Looking away from Max, Kate turned to the clock. Three fifty-two, only three more minutes, then she and Max would be heading to the Police station.
“I have to admit, I'm not a big fan of her work. I prefer... Robert Frank.” Victoria, as per usual, trying to suck it up to Mr Jefferson. And Victoria just loves my video. Imagine if the Vortex club received a video of her talking to Mr Jefferson when they weren’t around. Then she could be the laughing stock of the School. Giving away the hint of a smile, Kate’s lips twitched upwards. A nice thought, but she could never pull it off. Besides, she knew what it was like, and never wanted anyone in that situation. Kicking herself for getting distracting from the lecture yet again, Kate once again turns back to Jefferson.
“Well... We've all seen that iconic shot of Kerouac on the balcony” Out of the corner of her eye, Kate noticed something worrying. Max had grabbed her camera, no doubt to take a selfie. Unfortunately for her, Mr Jefferson had also noticed, and was studying Max while lecturing. Kate tried to get Max to notice, but unfortunately, she was too late. The flash and the whirling of the camera doomed her fate.
“I believe Max has taken what you kids call a "selfie"... A dumb word…” Poor Max. Forced into the centre spotlight by her own doing, she had fallen for one of Jefferson’s trap questions. One that he would be sure that she didn’t know the answer to.
“Sorry, I couldn’t resist. The point remains…” Max had taken to the Deer-in-headlights look and started to look around the room for help, for an escape, anything. Max’s eyes locked with Kate’s. All Kate could muster was a sad smile back.
“Now Max, since you've captured our interest and clearly want to join the conversation, can you please tell us the name of the process that gave birth to the first self-portraits?”
Freaking out, Max managed to mumble out “You're asking me? Let me think... Um...”
“You either know this or not, Max. Is there anybody here who knows their stuff?”
Sticking her hand up like a rocket, Victoria answered, “Louis Daguerre was a French painter…” Kate turned away from Victoria to look at Max. Poor Max, she was completely embarrassed from the attention. She looked like she just wanted to hide away from the world.
“Now you’re totally stuck in the Retro Zone. Sad Face.” Victoria stated with a smirk.
‘Really? You seriously couldn’t resist, could you Victoria?’. Sighing internally, Kate turned to the clock. Realising that there was only about ten seconds left, Kate tuned in for the rest of the lecture.
“The first American daguerreotype self-portrait was done by Robert Cornelius. You can find out all about him... In your textbook. Or even... online.”
The Bell rang.
Finally.
Mr Jefferson started going on about the contest, but seeing as Kate had already handed hers in, she tuned him out, and packed up her stuff. Finished packing up, Kate went over to Max
“Hey Max”.
Max looked up “Oh, Hi Kate. Ready to go?”
“Yeah, I just want it done. Let’s go.” Together, they made their way over to the door. Unfortunately for them, Mr Jefferson had noticed Max was leaving.
“I see you, Max Caulfield. Don't even think about leaving here until we talk about your entry.”
Busted. Max stopped, horror all over her face. She then turned and walked over to Mr Jefferson. It just wasn’t her day today. At least Victoria seemed annoyed at being interrupted from her conversation with Mr Jefferson so, it’s something, Kate guessed.
“I'd never let one of photography's future stars avoid handing in her picture.”
“I didn't have any time... Way too much homework.” Kate gave Max a weird look for that. Not enough time? She already had her photo in her bag, why was she hesitating?
“Max, you're a better photographer than a liar... Now I know it's a drag to hear some old dude lecture you... but life won't wait for you to play catch-up. You're young, the world is yours, blah blah blah, right? But you do have a gift, you have the fever to take images, to frame the world only the way you envision it. Now, all you need is the courage to share your gift with others. That's what separates the artist, from the amateur.” Mr Jefferson turned back to Victoria. Ouch. I know how much Max looked up to him.
Having him shun her like that must have been rough.
“Are you alright Max?”
Max glanced towards Kate “Yeah, I guess so. Let’s go.” With that, they left the confines of the classroom.
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Stepping out into the hallway, Kate and Max were greeted by typical Blackwell behavior, Juliet and Zachary talking about something no doubt inappropriate, Courtney and Taylor putting down another student, Justin and Dana talking about what appeared to be Justin’s addiction to weed, Brooke playing a game, and unfortunately, what appeared to be Logan and one of his goons threatening Daniel.
“Welcome to the real world” Max mumbled.
“Just what I was thinking.” Kate responded.
They started down the hallway, passing the aforementioned people. Reaching the end of the corridor, Kate had started to turn to face the exit doors when Max spoke up.
“Um Kate? You don’t mind waiting for a few minutes? I need to use the bathroom.”
“Sure Max, go on. I’ll wait by the trophy cabinet.”
Max headed in, leaving me to deal with the real world. Samuel was muttering something about loving his mop, but Kate wasn’t really paying attention. Kate started pacing back and forward while waiting, when I noticed something odd. Nathan Prescott was heading into the girl’s bathroom.
If Nathan is heading in there, it can only mean trouble. I should hang by the door, just in case... Kate moved away from the trophy cabinet, slipped in between the wall and Juliet, and started to look at the noticeboard, while keeping an ear out for any sounds of trouble from the bathroom. Trouble just seemed to be following Max around today.
Looking at the noticeboard didn’t reveal too much that Kate didn’t already know. An ad for Two Whales Diner, someone looking to form a band, another one of those missing person posters for Rachel Amber, and what seemed to be a notice by Warren for a Chess Team. Poor Warren. He was so obviously infatuated with Max, but unfortunately Max was oblivious to it. ‘UGH! Max is so hopeless when it comes to things like this. I swear, she wouldn’t even realise if Warren blatantly asked her out on a date.’
Apparently, the girl’s bathroom was a popular place today, because a girl Kate had seen before at the diner with blue hair also walked into the bathroom.
‘This is just becoming weirder and weirder.’
Turning back to the noticeboard, Kate inched a little closer to the bathroom door. Something told her Nathan was in the girl’s bathroom not for Max, but for that girl. And she looked pissed. This wasn’t going to end well.
Hearing muffled words, Kate inched even closer to the door, now, leaning up against the door frame. Unfortunately, it was still a little too muffled for Kate to pick up on every word, but she could now hear most of it. “…pumpin’ drugs n’ shit to the kids around here…”
Gasping, Kate raised both hands to her mouth, and flung herself away from the door. That rumour of Nathan pumping drugs is true? Maybe… Maybe he was the one who drugged me? Oh no, he offered to take me to the hospital. What really happened?’ Turning back to the door, Kate continued to listen in.
“You don't know who the fuck I am or who you're messing around with!”.
Confused, Kate continued to listen in, but she was ready to jump in case it was serious. “Don't EVER tell me what to do. I'm so SICK of people trying to control me!”. Leaning away from the door, Kate felt like she had to do, something fast. Not seeing any other quick solutions to the problem, Kate decided to barge in. The first thing she saw when she burst into the bathroom was Nathan holding a gun.
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Chloe
“What the fuck?” Looking around confirmed Chloe’s suspicions, she was back in her truck, in the Blackwell carpark, not in the bathroom.
“WHAT THE FUCK? What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck? How the hell did I get back here? Wasn’t…” Chloe, having gone a ghostly white, slowly looked down at her shirt, and slowly peeled it up.
“Oh, thank GOD.” Relieved from finding no trace of a gunshot wound, Chloe’s thoughts turned back to her current situation, and trying to identify what on earth happened.
Keep it together Price, figure out what happened, then meet up with Nathan. Again. Possibly. Sighing, Chloe’s thoughts started out with the obvious causes.
Whatever that was felt extremely real. So, that rules out being drugged, dozing or daydream. Don’t think even I could have imagined that. Maybe, it was time…. NOPE. Don’t even go there, Price. Your life is not a movie. Unfortunately, Chloe’s brain kept finding connections to validate the claim.
The butterfly that landed on my arm when me and Nathan were talking looked so bright, almost like it was glowing… URGH! STOP IT, STOP IT, STOP IT. YOU of all people would NEVER get powers. Chloe felt herself going insane with the thoughts, so she reached for a cigarette, when an idea struck.
I’ll prove it. I’ll beat up that kid over there, then try to rewind, and if it doesn’t work, then it proves that I’m going crazy. Leaving the confines of the truck, Chloe stormed over to the kid in question. He appeared to be a nerd by what he was wearing, but he seemed pretty into whatever game it was on his phone.
Just a punch to the gut, that’s all. Then I’ll walk away like it didn’t happen.
“Hey, you!” Chloe shouted at him. The boy turned around and immediately received a sharp punch to the stomach, just as intended.
Okay. Now, what did I do in the bathroom? Nathan had a gun to my stomach, and I reached out… Chloe followed her actions as she had done previously, and felt reality shift around her.
Holy Shit. Looking around was difficult, but Chloe could see the through the blur, her previous self, retracing the punch from just a few moments ago. Chloe lowered her hand at the point where she was just about to punch him.
“Oh. Um, hello?” The boy muttered out, turning back to the game. Chloe was still freaking out, but she just had to know if it worked.
“Did I punch you?” Shocked, the boy turns around.
“Dude, you haven’t punched me. But if you’re going to punch me, could you please just wait till I reach the save point? It’s a rather hard game and my last save was far too long ago, and I’d hate to have to… UGH!” The kid collapsed and fell to the ground, clutching his stomach. Walking around him, Chloe had a massive grin.
I HAVE POWERS. OH MY GOD I HAVE POWERS. I’m literally getting chills all down my neck. But if I have powers, that means what happened in the bathroom really happened. Nathan… shot me? FUCK NO! HE IS SO GOING TO PAY FOR THAT! With that, Chloe the tornado stormed off to cause havoc in the girl’s bathroom, not even pausing to reread the text message from Nathan that just came through.
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Chloe had managed to make it into the school building without injuring anyone in her way. Right now, she was nearing the girls bathroom.
Ok Chloe, you have mad skills now. Rough Nathan up with words first, then when he goes for the gun, make him point it elsewhere, then knock him out, loot him and run. Simple. Taking a sharp breath, she entered the bathroom.
Nathan didn’t move like last time, but asked “So what do you want?"
Not bothering to look around this time, Chloe simply asked “You don’t want an enemy out of me. I’m here to talk bidness with you.” Feeling overconfident with her newfound abilities, Chloe started getting ready for the events that would come next.
“I got nothing for you.” Nathan started gripping the sink harder.
“Bullshit. You get hella cash from your parents.” Chloe walked around to his side “Your precious family owns most of the town. I bet they would help me out if I told them you were pumping drugs n’ shit to the kids around here. Just imagine what the headlines would read!”
“Leave them out of this, bitch.” Nathan was visibly shaking now.
Jackpot.
“I can tell everybody Nathan Prescott is a punk ass who begs like a little girl and talks to himself!” Chloe gave Nathan a shove just like last time, and in response, just like last time, Nathan pulled a gun and pointed it at her.
“You don't know who the fuck I am or who you're messing around with!”
“Oh look! Punk ass brought a gun! Gonna shoot me with it on school property?”
“Don’t EVER tell me what to do. I'm so SICK of people trying to control me!” Nathan was clearly unnerved by Chloe’s comment, he obviously had expected her to back down.
“You are going to get in hella more problems for this than drugs."
Ok, he shoots me soon, so let’s push it away while he is talking.
Nathan went to speak but something different happened. The door opened. Nathan looked away at the door. Chloe took this chance to move the gun away from her.
Nathan fired.
Realizing that she wasn’t shot, Chloe went to knock him out, when she noticed the shock on his face. Turning around in slow motion, she saw Kate Marsh, who had already begun her descent to the floor, with the first signs of blood leaking through her white shirt, and a blue butterfly on her wrist. The same one Chloe had seen earlier.
Time then, began to stop, before reversing all the way back to the truck again.
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Kate
“Alfred Hitchcock famously called film ‘Little Pieces…”
What. Just. Happened?
Looking around, Kate realized that she was back in Mr Jefferson’s lecture. Exactly where she was about 10 minutes ago.
I shouldn’t be here… how did I get here? I was entering the bathroom, I saw… Nathan… with a gun… and then… and then… The colour completely drained from Kate’s face when she realised the truth.
Nathan… he shot me… How am I still alive? Or… is this what Hell looks like?
The paper ball that hit her face proved otherwise. Cupping her face and looking around, Kate noted that, just like last time, Taylor was grinning at her.
That paper ball, just like last time. Everything is happening again, exactly the same… why?
“There you go, Victoria! Why Arbus?” Looking around, Kate noticed the little details she had missed the first time. Max freaking out, for some reason and Victoria making eyes at Mr Jefferson. None of this was making any sense to Kate.
Okay. So, I’m not dead, everything is repeating itself over again, like Groundhog Day. So… what happened? What caused me to end up here again? Kate started to think back to the moments around when she entered the bathroom.
I remember barging in there, seeing Nathan with that gun, the bang… then… there was a butterfly that landed on my hand, just as I began to fell, reaching out… then… I ended up back here… Out of the corner of her eye, Kate noticed Max was staring at the photo again. Remembering what Kate had previously after this done, she looked to the clock with an idea forming inside her head.
Okay. This is completely crazy, but… what if I can rewind time? Maybe that’s how I ended up back here? Kate began to eye the clock, trying to justify her current theory more to herself
“I have to admit, I'm not a big fan of her work. I prefer... Robert Frank.” Victoria stated in the background. Kate continued staring at the clock, trying to unlock her time travel secret.
So, I defiantly didn’t have these powers before today. What could have caused it? Maybe, that bullet Nathan shot me with was magic? No, too stupid. Kate sat for a little bit before another idea popped up.
That butterfly that landed on my hand, just as I was about to start falling to the ground. Maybe, that butterfly was a gift from God! Now, I need to prove this theory… Looking around the room for something to try it out on, Kate couldn’t find anything interesting.
Oh well, the clock will do…
“Well... We've all seen that iconic shot of Kerouac on the balcony.” Jefferson was talking about Robert Frank still, however, that was all about to change…
“Go rewind!” Surprised, the class, including Mr Jefferson all turned to look at Kate after her outburst.
“Back!” Kate tried again.
“Ummm… Miss Marsh…” Mr Jefferson tried.
“Time-reversal powers, activate!” Kate noticed Victoria in the laughed while holding her phone up to record her.
This isn’t working, what did I do at the bathroom? The butterfly landed on me… then my arm reached out! Kate tried this instead, and timed slowed to a halt around her, before reversing.
Backward dialogue surrounded Kate as time reversed around her, noticing she was about to reach the point where she was earlier, she lowered her hand. Time then resumed.
“…Kerouac on the balcony.” Amazed, Kate looked around, only to notice what she had interrupted earlier. Max had picked up her camera. Frantically, Kate’s brain searched for a way to avoid Max having the attention put upon her, without drawing unwanted attention towards herself like she had moments ago. Unfortunately for her, nothing sprang to mind, and she was forced to watch the same events play out again. Looking away instead this time, Kate stared outside.
Don’t freak out Kate. You have powers. TIME TRAVEL POWERS! You can really make a difference with it. That butterfly must have given them to me. This must have been a gift from God! Just like Samson and his strength, God has given me this power just in my moment of need! Unable to contain her joy just in her thoughts, turned her attention to her pad, and started to draw the butterfly in question.
The exact moment Kate had finished the drawing, the bell rang, reminding her of the events that happen next.
That Girl is going to enter the bathroom and put herself in danger, along with Max! I can’t let that happen. Packing up her things at an extraordinary speed, Kate then headed over to Max again.
“Hey Max”.
Max looked up, just like last time “Oh, Hi Kate. Ready to go?”
“Yeah.” Kate noticed Max trying to secretly slip her everyday hero’s contest photo into her diary.
She has to enter that photo…
“Are you going to give Mr Jefferson your entry?” Max froze, and stopped packing up.
“I… I don’t think it’s good enough, I need to try something different for it.”
Sighing, Kate pulled the photo entry back out. “You spent hours on this photo Max. Don’t try to tell me that it isn’t good enough. To have been able to capture that on a polaroid is a feat within itself. Now, go give him the photo.” Kate stated, pushing her towards Mr Jefferson.
Sometimes, all we need is a little push.
Standing around, Kate ended up looking at the Everyday Hero’s Contest poster.
I’m glad that I pushed Max into submitting that photo, I hope that she doesn’t hate me for it.
Receiving a light tap on her shoulder, Kate turned around, seeing Max was ready to go, they both left the classroom, together.
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As they stepped out into the hallway, Kate began to realize that they were a little bit later than last time. Juliet and Daniel were already down the other end of the hallway, instead of just passing in front of them.
It shouldn’t matter too much. It’s probably only 30 seconds, tops. Unbeknown to Kate, it was significantly later, around two and a half minutes later.
The pair walked down the hallway, when she realized that she might be able to prevent Max from being in harm’s way. All she had to do was convince Max to avoid the bathroom.
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Chloe
Stepping into Blackwell, Chloe’s head was a mess. She didn’t want to see that ever happen again. That poor girl was shot because of her actions. Chloe herself caused that girl to die. No one deserved to die just over some money. Stopping in her tracks, Chloe contemplated not even going to the bathroom, turning around, and leaving Blackwell.
While Chloe was lost in her thoughts, she happened to notice that the girl that was shot in the bathroom and some hipster girl, had just appeared around the corner
SHIT!
Chloe immediately ducked into the principal’s office, fearing to be noticed by the two, until it dawned on her.
I’m an idiot. She won’t remember me… Time travel, duh!
A voice behind her spoke up, “Can I help you miss?”
Smirking, Chloe turned around to face the office worker
“Nah. I’m just a figment of your imagination.”
Chloe raised her hand, she rewound time, but stopped it… realizing something… something amazing…
“Can I help you miss?”
This time, sporting a Cheshire cat grin, Chloe turned around.
“I don’t have TIME, for the likes of you…”
Chloe raised her hand again…
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Kate
“Um Kate? You don’t mind waiting for a few minutes? I need to use the bathroom.”
Something wasn’t right. Kate knew that for a fact. This was the tenth instance time had rewound to this exact moment. Time flowed, stopped, then rewound and repeated. It was just the exact same line over, and over again.
“Um Kate? You don’t mind waiting for a few minutes? I need to use the bathroom.”
Clutching her head, Kate fell to her knees. For whatever reason Kate was given this power, in this moment, she was sure it wasn’t from God.
“Um Kate? Are you alright? Are you hurt? What’s wrong…”
Noticing that Max was now saying something different, Kate remembered that she had the power to stop this, and everything in the bathroom. As time rewound again, Kate rose to her feet.
When time had finished rewinding, Kate raised her hand, and rewound further back.
Looking up, Kate let her hand fall back to her side. She had gone further back than she had anticipated. Max wasn’t even in the corridor yet.
Kate started to head back to the classroom when she noticed something wrong. Something was rolling down past her nose. Kate raised two fingers to her nose to see what it was, only to look down at her hand and see blood.
As soon as she identified the blood, Kate’s vision went shaky, fading in and out of focus. Voices surrounded her, saying words she couldn’t understand. A building pain in the front of her head caused Kate to drop to her knees. All her senses were in overdrive but Kate couldn’t turn away from her hand.
Suddenly, she felt a hand grip her shoulder, forcing her out of it, and back to the present. The headache was still there, but the rest of it was gone. She looked up and saw Max, concern written all over her face.
“Kate! Are you ok? Your nose is bleeding!” Max asked, panicking.
Looking around to confirm where she was, Kate noticed she was still at the vending machines, with a small crowd of concerned people around her.
“Yeah, I’m ok. Just a migraine. Can you help me to my room Max?” Kate struggled to say.
“Sure”. Max replied
Wrapping her arm around Max, she rose to her feet, and the pair of them headed towards the dorms.