Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Chloe stood in front of the fenced-off gate again. She raised her axe and came down on the lock, easily breaking it. She picked up the two broken pieces and tossed them over a cliff, getting rid of the evidence. The door was already open, officer. She brought up her radio. “I’m in.”

Angel replied quietly, “Jesus Christ Chloe, please be careful.”

Chloe walked down the path seeing a mailbox on a post. She opened it to see a clipboard. “There’s a clipboard with a notification.”

“What does it say?”

“Wapiti Station Personnel

If you are trying to reach Dr. Simmons, he will

be on-site from July 22 - September 21.

University owned equipment is the responsibility

of Dr. Johnson of the Dendrology department.

Government-owned equipment is under the purview

of Colonel Kat Ferdinand AOC 60W. Remember this

is a controlled area and any issues, malfunctions

or violations should be reported immediately.”

Angel whispered, “Why is the military out here?”

“Ah, you’re asking me?” Chloe replied.

“Sorry, just thinking out loud.”

Chloe walked over to the hidden pack and opened it up. “Yeah, I can’t find a name. The pack has a first aid kit in it, some medical gloves, rope, and towel.” Chloe then looked into the front zippered pockets and took out a wristband. “I found a Lollapalooza wristband from this year. The doctors or the Colonel don’t strike me as fans of Snoop Dogg or Tool.” Chloe took the coiled rope out of the bag. There, on the bottom of the pack, was a small black box with two extended pieces and four metal bolts attached to each corner.

What is this? She put it back in the pack then saw a black canvas, zipped up case. She opened it and froze. Her hands started to shake. There were three needles and two vials of clear fluid.

The investigation reported that the young woman was drugged and lewd… Chloe dropped the case back into the pack. “Th-there’s needles and vials of stuff, Angel.” The young woman was drugged...

“What? What type of vials?” Angel asked.

Chloe didn’t answer right away, lost in thought. “It’sss, I-I don’t know.” Chloe looked up at the trail leading into the area. She stood up to fast and became dizzy, she leaned over for a moment and waited for her head to clear. “I have to go in.”

Chloe came to a gap in a ridge. She jumped over without issues and took her time, moving down into the forest, always on the lookout for someone and a place to quickly get to for cover. She turned down the volume on her radio so that Angel’s voice wouldn’t attract attention. As she got further in, there was a small clearing. The area had a generator next to a twenty-foot metal rectangular framed structure.

Chloe quietly spoke, keeping an eye out, “I don’t see anybody around so far. There’s a communication tower here. Like, wireless stuff.”

“What do you mean?”

“There’s, like, a twenty-foot tall transmission tower. They can probably listen to whoever the hell they want. And it’s short enough to be hidden in the trees; you and I or anyone around wouldn’t see it.”

“Chloe, please, you don’t have to do this... please turn around.”

“I can’t. Just stay off the line. I’m going further in. I’ll let you know what I see.”

Chloe slowly moved forward and down, listening to everything around her. When the path opened up ahead she decided to move off the trail and stealthily continued forward. She waited for a few minutes, watching. There seemed to be no one around the short grassy area. She walked out of the brush and toward the encampment.

Chloe quietly spoke, “There’s another monitoring tower half the size of the other one.” She walked next to what looked like a locker with a round device on top with green flashing lights. Next to that was a tripod with another device that was beeping. “There’s all sorts of contraptions and shit out here; there’s a couple of gas cans, I guess for the generators.”

“What are they? The contraptions, I mean?”

“I dunno, it’s like a metal box on a tripod. There’s wires all over the place.”

“Could it be, I don't know, weather equipment?” Angel asked.

“This would be the weirdest weather equipment I have ever seen.” Chloe took out her disposable camera and started taking pictures “There's a large, burnt patch of land here that's been gridded off.” Chloe took another picture. 

“What burned the ground?”

“I don’t know, it’s like maybe twenty by fifty feet. Why would they do that when there’s a fire ban in the park?”

“Are there any digging tools there?”

“No. None.”

Chloe turned and looked at a big canvas tent in the area. The lights were on but no one seemed to be around. She stood at the opening of the tent and looked behind her, then inside the tent again. “There's a large canvas tent here…" She took another glance behind her shoulder. "Their tent has been trashed like my tower. Cans of food have been tossed to the ground. There's three cots and their bedding has been messed with. A clothesline with clothes hanging from it and paperwork all over the floor, too.” Chloe looked over her shoulder again before she stepped in.

“Chloe, Jesus, I’m shaking here.”

Chloe let out a nervous breath of air. “I am too.”

“Is there any indication that the girls were there?”

“No, none so far.”

Chloe placed her hand on the cast iron stove. It was barely warm. Probably used this morning. “Everything has been left behind. All their camping equipment n' food.”

Angel replied, worried, “That is kinda normal, you don’t want to drag stuff back and forth to a site, right?”

“Yeah, but wouldn’t you make sure to turn off your generator’s timer so the electricity wouldn’t turn on and close the canvas tent before you left?”

“Y-yeah.”

Chloe looked at the work desk that was there. “There’s a desk with paperwork scattered around and stuff knocked over like someone was looking for something in a rush. I have never seen this type of electrical equipment they have here, this isn’t stuff you get from Radio Shack.” She took another picture then looked behind her for anyone coming. "It's I dunno recording stuff."

Angel asked, “Does it look like some type of monitoring device?”

“Yeah, maybe, but monitoring what? If someone attacked me then there's something they’re trying to hide.”

“Are there any type of logos or indication of what it is? I would be a hell of a lot happier to see a NASA sticker somewhere.”

“No.” Chloe picked up a clipboard. “I’ve got a clipboard with another report here…”

Chloe looked at the chart. There were five columns with information, her eyes widened. “Jesus, th-they been tracking our movements?!”

“What?!”

“Angel, I’m looking at a chart that says ‘Subject, Location, Frequency, Sex, Social Role and Description.’”

“C-Chloe, get out of there.”

“Listen to this; ‘Subject 4002: Female, Frequent departure from Two Forks. Note: monitoring has been halted. Subject 7331: Female, Stays in Thorofare area. Note: monitoring has been halted. Subject 4938: Male, Unreciprocated desire to copulation. Left the Two Forks and Thorofare area. Note: monitoring has been halted.’ There’s more. ‘Subject 4793: Female, In Two Forks, Jonsey Lake area with Female 3890.”

Angel asked. “I-is that us and the teens?!”

Chloe didn’t answer, she was looking at a bulletin board with a map on it and thumbtacks placed in certain areas in Two Forks. There was a red string tried from thumbtack to thumbtack. I was in all these places. “There’s a map that has all sorts of paths and areas marked off on it. There are lines that look like some of the paths I normally take.”

“Jesus, Chloe, are you positive it’s you?!”

Chloe looked back out the tent door and replied, “This is fucked up.”

“Chloe, get out.”

“Where the fuck are these guys? What are they doing?”

Angel loudly whispered, “I don’t want you running into them! Get. Out!”

Chloe turned to leave and saw a military box on the floor. She opened it. “Hey, I found a handheld device. It has a small antenna by the side of a square box with a handle. It has a toggle switch and a button.” Chloe flicked the toggle switch and clicked the yellow button a few times. It turned on and started beeping. “There’s a digital display that tells you the direction and it beeps with a bunch of flickering lights.”

“Yeah, I hear it.”

“I know it is some type of compass, but what it is beeping for?” Chloe turned around and the beeping quickened along with the pitch. “Auuh, it’s beeping faster and higher.”

“I can fucking hear it, I don’t care... get out!”

Chloe didn’t listen and she walked to where the device was leading her, back into the tent and towards the desk. Chloe cleared off the paperwork. “There’s another small black box like the one in the plaid backpack. I don’t know what it is... there’s a switch.”

“Don’t touch it.”

“I clicked the switch and the beeping stopped.”

Angel replied angrily and loudly whispering her words, “What the hell did I just say?! I said don’t touch it. And what do you do? You fucking touched it! Chloe fucking Price you are to turn your butt around and leave now that is an order!”

Chloe didn’t leave she never even heard Angel’s remark. Her full attention was on a binder she just found on the desk. It had masking tape stripped across it and labeled. 

Subjects:

Angel

Chloe

Chloe’s hands shook when she opened the ringed binder. “Jesus... th-there, there’s a binder with our names on it...” Chloe opened the binder and turned the pages, she slowly spoke, “It’s a report about us, an observation report.”

********************OBSERVATION REPORT********************

SUBJECT: Chloe / Scout

AGE: 19 Unconfirmed.

PROGRAM STATUS:

1 week    4 Weeks     6 Weeks    12 Weeks     25 Weeks   Annual

OBSERVATION:

• Blue hair
• Easily angered
• Attitude
• Hard worker
• Recreational Drug use (Marijuana)

PERTINENT OBSERVED FACTS:

• High school dropout
• No children
• Single (Previous relationship Rach/Rachel)
• Jealousy issue (Rachel)
• Weak relationship with mother and stepfather
• Loner
• Town lifestyle
• Seeks physical retaliation when wronged.
• Has gone through trauma concerning a friend/lover Rachel (Murdered)
• Talks with Lead Watcher Angel about trauma

SUSCEPTIBILITY TO MANIPULATION

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

OTHER:

Distracted if angered and will not listen to orders

The subject had a relationship with a female, Rachel, who went missing and later found murdered

The subject has distanced herself from her immediate family

*Ideal candidate. Has developed a relationship with Angel (Boss / BossLady) The subject is opening up to what has happened to her. Will keep under monitor

**CAUTION**

The subject is now carrying a hunting knife after the Two Forks tower break-in.

Chloe couldn’t believe what she had read. She whispered, “There’s stuff in here about Rachel.”

Angel quickly replied, “What does it say about me?! You said there was one about me.”

********************OBSERVATION REPORT********************

SUBJECT: Angel / Boss / BossLady / Real name unknown

AGE: 18

PROGRAM STATUS:

1 week    4 Weeks     6 Weeks    12 Weeks     25 Weeks   Anual

OBSERVATION TRAITS:

• Reliable
• Observant
• Helpful
• Communicator
• Resourcefulness

PERTINENT OBSERVED FACTS:

• No Children
• Single
• Fear of closeness
• Loner (No friends in high school)
• Pet turtle (Leo)
• Plays acoustic guitar
• Draws
• Rarely hikes or leaves immediate surroundings
• Has gone through trauma concerning a friend
• Possibly self-harm from guilt from trauma
• Talks with Chloe (Scout) about trauma

SUSCEPTIBILITY TO MANIPULATION

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

OTHER:

Ideal candidate. Has developed a relationship with Chloe (Scout) Subject is opening up to what has happened to her. Will keep under monitor.

“Chloe?”

Chloe furrowed her brow. “This is fucking insane! What the fuck is going on here?”

“Chloe?”

“Why is someone doing this?”

“Chloe, do you hear me?”

“What gives them the right to fucking look into my life!? Those motherfuckers!”

“Chloe Price!!”

Chloe stopped then looked at the radio. Angel continued with a calm voice, “Chlo, if you didn’t find the girls then I want you back at the tower now. You are to leave now, you hear me? You are in danger if these people have been tracking us.” Angel’s voice became harsh, “Get back to the tower now or so help me, I will come down there and kick the shit out of you myself.”

Chloe took the observation sheets and left. “I should burn this place down, motherfuckers!”

Angel quickly replied, “Do it, whatever, I don’t care, just get back to your tower, now.”

“I’m leaving.” Chloe had left the tent and didn’t realize the sun had gone down. Fuck! She left at a quick pace, leaving her flashlight off.

-----------------------

“K, I’m outta the fenced area. I’m gonna head up through Thunder Canyon. Fuuck, I don’t want to go through that cave now.”

“I’m here with you. I’ve tried to get a hold of Spruce station to start a radio tag but they’re not answering their damn radio. There’s a group of college students that are camping in his area. He’s probably checking them out. Jesus, gonna get an ear full when I get a hold of him.”

“Yeah, but what are you going to say? If you tell them about this stuff, they, whoever that is, will know that I found their site and that they know that we know what they were doing. And will he even believe you?” Chloe closed her eyes hard trying to wrap her head around what she was thinking. She put her hand on her forehead and trying to rub away another headache coming on.
“Jesus, Chloe, what do we do?”

Chloe pressed the radio button to reply. There was the sound of a loud pop behind her and she turned in the darkness to see what it was.

“What was that?!” Angel asked.

“I don’t know. It kinda sounded like a-” Chloe’s eyes widened, they reflected an orange fireball explosion that went up in the air before her. “Jesus, there was just an explosion that went off in the fenced area!”

“Chloe, I was kidding when I said you could burn it down!”

“I didn’t do it!” Chloe snapped back.

“Sorry, sorry, I... fuck. Just go, keep going, be careful! I have to get a hold of someone to report the explosion. Jesus Christ, what’s going on?!”

There was a sound of a tree branch breaking and Chloe looked in the direction with a hand on her knife. “I’m going, I’m going.” Chloe picked up her pace, every few yards she would look over her shoulder to see if she was being followed. The trees swayed in the wind and with the low light, she found herself looking at shadows unsure if it was a tree or someone behind her. When she got further away from the fence only then did she turned on her flashlight.

-----------------------

Chloe hauled out her knife when she got to the cave entrance. She could hear her heart rapidly beating in her chest. She took a deep breath looked behind her with her light, not seeing any movement she turned and looked inside. Fuck Fuck Fuck . Then took a step forward.

Chloe made it through in half the time, fighting her fear to turn around and check to see if she was being followed. She left the cave coated in sweat and ready to throw up from stress. By the time she got back to the tower, she was all but exhausted and light-headed. She had informed Angel she was back.

Angel asked, “Can you see the fenced fire from there?”

“Yeah, barely.”

“Okay, use the Service radio and call it in.”

Chloe went to the Osborne Fire Finder to determine the fire’s location and picked up her yellow radio. “Ah,” Chloe tried to calm herself before she spoke again, “Thorofare tower, this is Two Forks tower, come in.”

“Hey, Two Forks, what’s up?” Angel replied.

“I’ve spotted a new fire…”

Chloe reported the new fire, playing along for the moment. When her performance was over she took off her pack and got two glasses. Her mind was racing over scenarios driven by fear. She wrapped two glasses up in a towel and broke them with the bottom of her boot into tiny pieces, then grabbed a bag of trail mix. She quickly went outside and placed glass shards and trail mix on some of the steps going up the tower in different areas. If anyone were to come up she would hear them. Chloe went around and closed all the weather shutters so that if the person got to the top they wouldn’t be able to see in. She then took the sheets off her bed and nailed them over the door window. Chloe shut off her generator and her tower went dark. She closed and locked the door and once again put her desk in front of the door. She unlatched her axe and placed it on the floor by the bed, then took out her hunting knife and sat down on the floor. There she remained still in the complete darkness and listened to the world around her.

“I’m with you, Chlo,” Angel whispered so quietly over the radio.

“I’m with you too, Angel,” Chloe whispered back.

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DAY 21

Chloe woke with a start. Her body had leaned too far to one side on the floor and she almost fell over. She jumped, holding on to her knife and looked for an intruder before her. Chloe came to her senses, she turned on her flashlight and pointed it at the wall clock, seeing that it was early morning. Chloe winced in pain from a headache, pain in her back and the numbness of her butt and slowly got to her feet, feel sore everywhere.

She peered out through one of the slits in the planks of wood that she had nailed to the window frame. It was dark outside. She leaned back and looked at the clock again to see if it was working. The second hand was moving. Chloe picked her watch up from the desk in front of her, it was indeed early morning.

Chloe pushed the desk back to its original spot. She then went to the bed, sheathed her knife and picked up her axe. She unlocked the door and was met with smoke. Does it ever fucking stop? Just as she had the thought, the handheld compass she had stolen last night from the fenced area started beeping. Chloe went to the secret radio. “Angel, this compass thingie I got started beeping again. There’s smoke everywhere and it’s dark... I can’t see the sun. The new fire has spread.” She let go of the radio button as she kept looking at the device. Chloe was red-eyed with dark circles around her eyes from barely sleeping again. She still wore yesterday’s clothes, her hair was a mess and she slowly swayed on her feet from her head, tiredness and lack of food. She pressed the radio button again. “Good morning, by the way.”

Angel replied on the official services two-way radio, “Good morning, Chloe, can you give me a report of the fire in the Mule Point area?”

Chloe looked at the secret two-way then at the yellow one, then back at the one in her hands confused for a moment. She leaned on the desk and slowly blinked as she pick up the Service yellow radio. “Fire has grown and it’s moving toward me. It’s irritating my throat and eyes.”

“Okay, if you need a mask and goggles, check the Fire Services box in your tower. I’ll relay the condition.”

Chloe stared at the beeping device. She then slowly walked to the Fire Service box and opened it. Inside there were masks, a pair of work gloves and goggles. She put them on and held the side of her desk, feeling dizzy once more. She walked to the small fridge under the counter and took out a sports drink and drank half its contents. Then she ate a can of tuna, staring at the fire and listening to the beeping sound of the device. What did it find? Is it the teens… Is it picking up the black box that was in the plaid pack... It's not pointed in the direction of the fenced-off area. Someone has the pack and is moving.”

Chloe stumbled while changing her clothes, think about the contents of the pack. Medical gloves, rope, needles. She put on a pair of cargo pants, a shirt, then a wool flannel long-sleeved shirt. She tied a bandana over her head covering her hair then strapped her axe onto her pack and knife onto her belt. I have to find them. She put her pack on and left the tower, hearing the crunching sound every few steps she took on the way down. When she reached the ground she headed west, letting the beeps guide her.

-----------------------

About ten minutes onto the trail she veered off and headed in a southeast direction off the path. After two minutes on the new path she was forced to stop. “Angel? Thhhere’s a rockslide on this path that I took.” Chloe spoke in a monotone voice.

Angel replied immediately, “What?! You’re out of the tower?!”

“The device is beeping, it found something.”

“I don’t care what you found, get back to the tower!”

“I can’t, it could be one of the teens. They were tracking us, this thing could find them.”

“Chloe, we don’t know for sure.”

Chloe furrowed her brow and tried to ignore the dizziness she felt again. “I have to know… Rachel was in a bunker for days, drugged.”

“Chloe…” Angel stared at her microphone, unsure what to say.

“I’m on a path heading south and north of the Ruby River. The trail leads almost east.”

“That’s the Thorofare Trailhead.” She’s moving away from the fire.

-----------------------

Chloe listened to the beeps of the device quicken. She followed the audio trail into some deep, dense bushes and came to a rock wall. There, leaned up against a tree and some large rocks was a tan backpack. Chloe picked up the pack and was frightened from a loud pressure alarm that was tied to the tree and was set off. She swore and hauled out her axe and smacked it, breaking the shrieking alarm.

“Jesus Christ!” Why the fuck, why is this here? What the fuck is this?!” Chloe opened the dropped pack and searched it finding another black box. Another one. She switched off the device and her stolen tracker stopped beeping. She rubbed her neck, trying to clear her fuzzy head and ringing ears and took one last look in the pack searching every pocket finding a key. Is this the key to the fence? The key was engraved with the number 452 and was attached to a strange metal peg. “Angel, I found what was making the beeps.”

Angel quickly replied, “What was it? Are the girls around?”

“Nnno... I found another pack with a black box inside. There’s a key with a weird peg thing attached to it. It’s black n’ steel. It’s, like, half the size of my hand and thin. It’s folded lengthwise with a loop at the end and it’s stamped with a ‘4’ and under that, it says ‘L14.’ On the side, it has a diamond with another diamond within it and stamped with, ‘CE0333.’”

“That’s a double black diamond climbing peg. You hammer them into the cracks of rocks and loop your rope or use a carabiner to clip on n’ climb up or down.”

Chloe left the area as she spoke. “K, the key attached says ‘452.’”

“452?”

“Yeah, 452.”

.
..

“Chloe, that’s the key to the cave in Thunder Canyon.”

Chloe stopped in her tracks. “Did th- did they take the girls and bring them to the cave?”

“Chloe… Chloe, that’s insane. There's no proof that the girls are there.” Angel’s voice was not convincing enough for Chloe.

“The black box was in her plaid pack; they were tracking them, I saw the report.” Chloe stopped and her eyes darted around, thinking. She immediately took off her pack, opened it and dumped everything to the ground, looking for a black box. Are they tracking me!

"Chloe, I need you to go back to your tower for your safety, please.”

“Yeah-yeah, look through your stuff for a black box!”

“Why?”

“The report said they were tracking us, and the map I saw showed where I was going. It even said that you never leave your area. There has to be a black box in your pack that they use to track you. It can fit in your palm.” Chloe tossed things out of her pack that hadn’t fallen out when she turned it upside down. She then started to look through every pocket.

“Chloe, I didn’t find one.”

“Fuck, I don’t have one, either.”

“Chloe, you’re not thinking straight.”

Chloe coughed a few times as she thought then came back on the radio, “The report I read said that our monitoring was halted.”

“I-” Angel looked down at the notes she had taken. “‘4002: Female, Frequent departure from Two Forks. Note: monitoring has been halted. Subject 7331: Female, stays in Thorofare area. Note: monitoring has been halted.’”

“They’re only tracking two people now,” Chloe stated.

“Chloe, it can’t be the teens.”

“Then what is it? Why does this person have a key that has been lost for years in their pack and a tracking device?”

“I-I don’t know. I really don’t know. None of what you’re telling me makes sense.” Angel sighed with frustration. “Okay, at least you listened to me and you’re back in your tower, so stay there.”

Chloe stopped walking and looked at her radio. “I’m not in my tower, I’m still on the trail.”

“What?”

Chloe looked in the direction of her tower. “Angel, I’m not in my fucking tower!”

“W-who the fuck is in your tower?!”

Chloe ran. “I don’t know, but I’m gonna find out!” Motherfuckers! Not going to get away with it this time!

“Chloe, don’t!”

Chloe turned down her volume and ran through the trails. She was about a five-minute walk to her site... a two minute run away.

Chloe crouched in the bushes and looked up at her tower. She quietly whispered, “Are they still there? I’m just hiding outside the tower.”

“No. They’re gone. They fell down the stairs. It looked like they were limping away.”

Chloe left the bushes with her hunting knife in hand and walked to the staircase. She saw drops of blood. “Whoever it was, they’re bleeding.”

“Oh shit.”

“I covered most of the steps last night in trail mix and broken glass so that I could hear someone walking up the steps.” As Chloe climbed she saw where the person had fallen; there was a clearing of the stuff she had laying around. “Fucker fell and cut themselves. It looks like it was pretty bad, too.”

Angel opened her mouth to speak and stopped, trying to take in what Chloe had done last night. She didn’t know if it was crazy or smart.

Chloe got to the top step and cautiously walked forward. When she reached the door, she stopped. There, taped to the door, was a portable cassette player.

What the fuck?! Chloe sheathed her knife and looked down at her surroundings, searching for any movement. She removed the cassette player and put the headphones on, then pressed play.

The Punk listened to a bad recording; it was her and Angel’s conversation from last night.

‘I should burn this place down, motherfuckers!’

‘Do it, whatever, I don’t care, just get back to your tower, now.’

‘I’m leaving.’

Chloe froze and her heart pumped rapidly. She tore off the headphones and they fell to the ground. Her speech was slow as she spoke into the radio. She was trying to understand what was happening. “There was a Walkman taped to my door. It’sss... it’s a tape of us from last night, our conversation. Th-they know our frequency.”

Angel replied, floored, “What, I...”

“A-Angel, they made… it makes us, me... it makes me look like I’m the one that started the fire in the fenced area and that you were okay with it.”

“What?!... No!”

Chloe looked on the ground at the headphones she dropped. She grabbed the wire, hauled them up and placed one earpiece on the two-way radio. “Turn up the volume and listen.” Chloe rewound the tape then clicked the radio button and the Walkman play button at the same time…

.
..

“Did you hear it?” Chloe asked.

.
..

“Angel, did you hear it?” Chloe rewound the tape again, thinking that the woman didn’t hear. “Angel?! Did you hear it? Fuck we- I’m screwed… Angel?!”

“Y-yeah,” Angel replied quietly. “This is not happening... this can't be happening!”

Chloe didn’t have a response; she just looked out at her surroundings. She didn’t know what to do.

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Day 22

Chloe watched the wall clock minute hand move again. She slowly got to her feet and held onto the table and closed her eyes waiting for her head to stop spinning. Why won't this go away? She coughed and cleared her throat then pushed the desk back from the locked door. She opened the weather shutters once more and stood in her tower with the headphones on, looking at Angel’s tower. Angel had gone quiet, not answering any of Chloe’s questions or remarks after yesterday’s discovery. The sound of the tape rewinding played in the Punk's ears. She listened to the recording again. Once it was finished she rewound it again and pressed play. She kept doing it over and over, letting it play out as she thought.

Why were the teens being followed? ‘I should burn this place down, motherfuckers.’ <<<<< ‘I should burn this place down’ <<<<< Why were we? ‘I should burn this place down, motherfuckers. Do it, whatever, I don’t care, just get back to your tower, now.’ <<<<< ‘ Do it, whatever I don’t care.’   <<<<< They followed them to their campsite. Did they attack them there and drug them? <<<<< ‘ Do it, whatever, I don’t care.’ <<<<< and fake the note? Did they make it look like the site was attacked by a bear? It has to be more than one person, how could they carry two drugged girls? ‘I should burn this place down, motherfuckers.’ <<<<< I haven’t heard an all-terrain vehicle. Chloe’s eyes glazed over. ‘I should burn this place down, motherfuckers.’ <<<<< Their parents reported them missing, where are they? ‘I should burn this place down.’ <<<<< ‘this place down’ <<<<< ‘place down’ <<<<< ‘down’ <<<<< ...the teen was taken into an underground bunker, underground bunker, underground Chloe! Help me! Please help me! I never left you!

Chloe’s eyes burned from staring for too long without blinking. Her body stood, unmoved. She dropped the Walkman and the headphones came off her ears and fell to the floor. She picked up her pack and left with one destination in mind.

“Chloe, I see you leaving the tower. Where the hell are you going?!” Angel asked over the secret radio, speaking to her for the first time that day.

.
..

“Chloe, answer me. Where are you going?”

When Chloe reached the ground she brought up her radio and unemotionally replied, “They’re in the cave.” She put her radio on her belt and walked forward with Angel telling her not to leave.

“Chloe, you don’t know that!”

Chloe didn’t answer. She moved quickly down the path.

-----------------------

A few minutes later Angel came back on the radio, “I just got a report. Someone claiming to be C.Price in Two Forks radioed another watcher and said that I knew who caused the fire.”

“I don’t care,” Chloe replied.

“Chloe, they think that there’s an arsonist out there!” 

“Angel, I have the key to the cave and I’m going there. I can find out if they’re... what’s down there.”

“No, you need to go back.”

“I can’t leave her.”

"Her?… Chloe, you need to stop."

Chloe had climbed down into the cave and walked toward the gated locked door.

She turned on her flashlight that was strapped to her pack then took out the key. She opened the heavy, squeaking door and walked through, leaving it open. “The key worked. I’m in.” 

Angel didn’t reply. Chloe put the radio back on her belt and walked further in, listening for anything. She wondered if she should call out to the girls. Maybe not there could be others around. Chloe walked around a corner; to her left, the tunnel was caved in. Light peeked in from a crack in the ceiling, enough to help her see better. There, at knee level, was a black peg hammered into a rock. It was the same type that was on the cave key. Chloe looked down in front of her at the long drop below. “Jesus, that’s a long way dow- what is that?” She knelt and squinted then took her flashlight off her pack. There, far below, was a piece of red fabric.

Her attention changed when she heard something slam from behind. “What the hell?!” She turned and ran back. The door had closed and locked. Chloe tried to put the key in and found that something was jammed in the keyhole. “What the fuck?!” She tried to pick at it with her fingers but couldn’t get it out. “Angel!” Chloe panicked. “Angel! Someone locked me in, there’s something jammed in the lock, I can’t get it out!” There was no reply. Chloe took out her axe and placed it in between the door and the gate. The heavy, thick steel didn’t budge. She tried to swing her axe but found the cave was too narrow in height and width. “Fuck!” she yelled out. “OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR!” She tried over and over to wedge open the door with the axe. The thick steel didn’t even bend a centimeter. “Fuck!” Chloe took a step back. The light! She turned and ran back into the cave, where the cave-in had occurred. She was careful to walk over by it to bypass the long drop.

She wedged her axe in between two rocks and hauled back letting them fall to the ground. Over and over she slowly opened up the passageway. More light came in. Her heart quickened at finding a way out. She moved more rocks away and, when she could, climbed up, only to see that the tunnel continued further in. The hole that the light came from was out of reach and too small to climb out of. “Fuck fuck fuck!” Chloe made the decision to go through. 

----------------------

Chloe’s body had cooled enough in the cold cave that she began to shiver. She climbed up and over small ledges and was guided with light from cracks in the cave’s ceiling. A few tense minutes later she saw a small tunnel opening and light coming in. She quickened her pace. “Oh, God! She crawled on her hands and knees. She took off her pack, wedged herself through and escaped the cave.

She scurried through to the outside then leaned back on her knees and breathed in a lungful of smokey air. She coughed over and over and placed her mask and goggles back on. “Angel!”

“Chloe, where the fuck are you? I’ve been calling!”

“Someone locked me in, they jammed something in the lock so I couldn’t use the key. I couldn’t get it out. I had to dig through a cave-in and I followed another tunnel through to a small exit.”

Angel was almost in tears. “Chloe… Ch…” She couldn’t speak.

Chloe looked at the radio. “I’m out, Angel. I’m out...”

“Please come home.”

“I saw a piece of red fabric in a shaft that went further down.”

“What?”

“Yeah, someone is down there.”

“Where are you, exactly?”

Chloe looked around. “I dunno where I am, I don’t recognize this spot.” She stepped up on a rock and walked to an overhanging boulder. There she made a discovery. One of the walls was covered in chalk drawings that looked like bricks to make it look like a castle. A dragon flew overhead, blowing fire at the wall. “I found a… fort? Someone made a fort out here.”

“Like a treehouse?”

Chloe looked around the small area, picking up and inspecting things that were left behind. “No, no, there’s, like, old Batman comic books here and handmade cut-out flags. Crayons… D&D player sheets.”

“A kid’s hideout?”

“Yeah.” Chloe picked up a journal with a name on it and thumbed through it, seeing superhero doodles. “It’s Brian Goodwin’s, the pack that I found with the ropes had that name on it.”

“Oh, okay. It's not really important right now Chloe.”

“This was his hideout.” Chloe looked around more. “There’s a lot of his stuff left here.” Chloe moved an old square piece of plywood with a drawing of a family crest. “Oh wow, there’s an old Game Boy here."

"Chloe, you have to go back to your tower, please."

Chloe wasn't thinking straight. "His dad must have been pissed that he left it behind.” Chloe looked at the other items on the table. “I found a Ham radio manual, a small canvas bag of those climbing pegs and a note Brian left for the Rangers.”

“I… What does it say?” Angel asked.

Dear Ranger,

Hi my name is Brian Goodwin. If you found this note it should be with a 

bunch of climbing anchors I hope. Could you do me a favor and return

them to me Brian Goodwin in the mail. My address is 55 Foxtrot Lane

Eugene, Oregon 69101. If you tell your name and address I will give

you a reward for this. You are probably wondering why I left them

here. Well they are my Dads and I don’t want him to lose them but I 

don’t want to do any more climbing on this trip. He gets mad that I can’t

do it because I am not strong. He told me I have to build muscle. But I 

don’t like to climb so I thought I would pretend to lose them. If you give

them back he will be happy.

Thank you for your time

Thank you, Ranger.

Brian

P.S The Reward will be good.    

Chloe added, “Looks like the kid didn’t like climbing.”

“It’s been a few years, but from what I remember, his father, Ned, was strict with him, saying that he had to learn outdoor camping and survival. He liked doing some of it but, like any kid, there’s a limit and he would just play his games.”

Chloe scoffed, “His dad wouldn’t happen to have a crew cut and a stupid mustache.”

“Yeeeah, how did you know?”

“Hmph, the jerk that my mother hooked up with and married had the same cut and ‘stache, must be a military thing.”

“Come to think of it, Ned’s pack was an army one, along with some of their gear.”

Chloe looked around the hideout for a few minutes to calm herself. She didn’t like what her conscience was telling her to do. She picked up the bag of pegs and took a deep breath. “Angel, I’m going back in.”

Angel replied harshly, “No! No way! You just said someone locked you in there!” 

Another Watcher spoke on a different radio, “Spruce to Thorofare…”

Chloe spoke, “Angel, there’s someone down there. I’ll be okay.”

Angel retorted, “Bullshit! Someone fuckin’ locked you in there!”

“Spruce to Thorofare, come in,” The man called out again.

“Chloe, just wait. Give me one second, please.”

Chloe replied, “You have two minutes.”

“Spruce to Thorofare, come in,” The man repeated.

Angel pleaded, “Just wait, one of the towers is calling, just hold.”

Chloe waited on her knees by the small entrance to the cave. She lifted her goggles and wiped her eye, feeling so drained. She put the goggles back on and sat still with her thoughts. She slowly blinked and then closed her eyes.

I’m so tired.

A soft loving voice guided her. It’s okay, Chloe, it will be over soon.

K.

You have to be strong, it’s almost over.

Chloe slowly nodded.

Chloe, go down there, please. I need you to go down there .

Chloe opened her tired eyes and crawled back into the cave.

.
..
...

*Radio static*

“Chloe, I just talked to Spruce tower, they got word from the Ranger that the two teens were found. They went to a friend’s cabin just south of here… Chloe?... Chloe!... Angel to Chloe, come in… Angel to Chloe, come in. Chloe Price, come in…” *Radio static*

Chloe arrived back at the drop. She put her goggles on top of her head and lowered her mask. She checked to see if the peg that was already hammered into the rock was in there good enough to hold her weight. She took a steady breath and tied the rope through the loop then lowered herself down.

When she reached the bottom she went over by the red fabric, finding that it was a bandana. She pocketed the item and continued on, listening for anything.

The air became colder with every few yards she walked. She climbed down two ledges and walked around a corner. She stopped and froze.

Sunlight from high above shone down into the dark cave, illuminating a body on the ground. 

Chloe’s adrenaline spiked. She immediately took out her knife and listened for anyone around. She looked behind her, seeing nothing but darkness. She turned again at the body on the ground about thirty yards from her. She took a cautious step forward with her hands shaking and heart racing. 

When she got close enough, she noticed the shorts and a Batman shirt. Her heart dropped and the words barely got out of her mouth, “Oh no…” She took a step forward and sheathed her knife. “Oh God… no.” She moved closer within feet of the small body. She put a hand over her mouth to fight the tears and sobbed. “Oh God!” A frayed climbing rope laid next to the body of the child, whose head was covered by a few rocks. The body was somewhat preserved from the cool and dryness of the cave. One of their sneakers was off and lay a few feet away with a name written on the tongue of the sneaker. Your rope broke. Chloe looked up to the ledge where the boy had repelled from, then back down at the body. Oh God, I am so sorry.

Chloe took a moment to try and compose herself. Her hands shook as she pressed the radio button and looked up the long shaft to the lights above beaming down upon her.

Chloe's voice was strained, “Angel?... Angel, I need help.” Tears fell and she sobbed once again. "Angel, please…" Chloe tried to stop herself from another sob. "I need help." Her call was not being heard.

Chloe looked down into the darkened cave. The climb back up where she repelled was going to be long and hard and knew she didn't have the strength anymore. She cautiously stepped over the body diverting her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she whispered then walked into the darkness hoping to find light and a way out.

The pathway led upward and she noticed the tunnel was a little worn. She found an old pop can, a sign that people had been here. She kept moving and twenty minutes later Chloe climbed a ledge and came to a small opening. She wedged herself through and found herself above on the outside of the locked, closed gate door. Chloe carefully lowered herself down and shuffled towards the exit, feeling numb.

*Radio static*

“-oe come in!”

“Angel?” Chloe replied, exiting the cave and made her way slowly to her tower.

“Chloe! Jesus, I told you to wait! Those two teens were found safe and sound. Though I know their parents are gonna be yelling at them. Why didn't you wait? Are you okay?!”

Chloe replied quietly, “No… no, I’m not okay.”

Angel replied concerned hearing Chloe's tone. “What happened, did someone hurt you?!”

“Y-you might want to sit down.”

“What... what did you find, Chlo?”

.
..

Angel asked again, worried, “Please tell me you’re okay...”

Chloe leaned over on her knees, suddenly feeling dizzy and nauseous. It took her a moment to reply.

.
..

She spoke quietly, “Y-you need to call the Rangers or S-search and Rescue.”

“Search and Rescue? Why?”

Chloe gritted her teeth and found with her emotions. “There’s a body in the cave.” She put a hand over her mouth to stop herself from sobbing. “It’s a kid.”

“What?!” Angel was shocked.

“It's Brian...Goodwin. His rope broke and he fell. The body has b-been there for a long time.”

There was silence between both of them.

Angel eventually replied quietly, “Hike back to your tower, Chlo, please. I’ll pass along the information.”

Chloe didn’t object. “Yeah… yeah, okay.” 

-------------------

Chloe walked into her tower without closing the door behind her. She slipped off her pack and let it drop to the floor. She walked to the bed, laid down then wrapped herself in a blanket. She curled herself up not able to hold on anymore and let go of months and months of emotional turmoil.

Angel spoke to the nearest Watcher to pass along the message. She watched Chloe through her binoculars when she reached the clearing to the Two Fork’s tower. She saw the girl slowly climb the stairs and collapsed onto the bed. Angel quietly spoke, “I relayed the message... Chlo, I’m sorry you had to see that… I’m so sorry.” Chloe didn’t reply. Angel looked away from her binoculars and didn’t push for Chloe to talk. With the lack of sleep, stress and emotional build-up, Chloe had let go of everything. She was lulled to sleep by an acoustic guitar.  

-------------------

Into the late night, she heard a soft voice once more. Hey, Chloe. Chloe’s eyes just barely opened. She could almost smell her perfume and feel the way she would curl up behind her at night. Thank you… I know it’s been hard... and I know it still hurts. It’s okay. Chloe slowly blinked and a tear trickled from the corner of her eye to the bridge of her nose. You will be okay, I promise you… She felt the warmth around her. It’s time to let yourself heal, Chlo, it’s okay to move on... I will always be with you… Chloe felt a light pressure on the side of her neck just below her ear. Someday, get yourself down there... put your toes in the ocean for me, okay? And watch the sunset with her by your side. I love you. Chloe’s heavy eyelids closed again and her tower remained still and silent.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day 23

Chloe woke up with an airplane flying over the tower and someone calling out to her on the radio. She looked outside, seeing the color of yellow and orange with black smoke. She coughed and put her mask on and was around her neck. She sat up in bed and looked around her tower. The winds that came through the doorway that she hadn’t closed last night were strong and warm. The fire had come closer and worsened overnight. Chloe lifted the secret radio, finding that it was dead. She painfully got to her feet, went to the desk and took the other out of the charger. She groggily called. “Aangel?”

Angel's voice was soft and carrying. “Hey Chloe, sweetie, you have to listen to me. I need you to pack up your things, quickly. The fire has worsened and it’s time to go.”

“Okay,” Chloe simply replied.

“I need you to hike north. You remember the supply food cache you got up there?”

“Yeah.”

“K, I need you to get up there. You remember the thing you found that you said it looked like a big clothesline?”

Chloe nodded and leaned on the desk. “Yeah.”

“Good, I need you to use the tram to get across the ravine and get to my tower.”

Chloe replied again with another nod, “Okay.”

“Good, I’ll be watching you from my tower, let me know when you’re leaving.”

“Okay.” She replied again with a single word.

“I know you’re tired but you can make it, I know you’re strong, Chlo.”

Chloe slowly blinked, “Okay.”

Chloe looked around her tower. She didn’t have the strength to carry everything she came with. She grabbed some clothes, water, beef jerky and some trail mix and placed them in her pack. She then grabbed her journal, cameras and took the two pictures off the window and desk of loved ones. Chloe looked at them for a moment before she put them away. After placing the Walkman in her pack, Chloe took one more look around, then closed the door and left her tower behind. She re-tied the bandana over her head to protect herself, then lowered her goggles over her eyes and made sure her mask was in place. She braced herself against the warm winds and walked down from the tower. She used a hand to steady her tired body as she descended. “I’m leaving now.”

Angel replied, “K, I’ll watch you till you’re out of sight in the woods. Be careful, please, Chlo… you’re important to me.”

“K.” Chloe replied. Each step she took physically hurt her body… her mind was running on autopilot.

-------------------

Chloe kept a steady pace as she walked in the strong winds created by the forest fire. Hearing radio static on her two-way, she took it off her belt and attached it to her pack and turned up the volume so that it was louder than the wind around her.

“Chloe?” Angel’s voice was loud.

Chloe matched her voice for her to be able to hear it over the wind. “Yeah, I’m here.”

When Angel replied there were multiple radio conversations in the background. “I’m coordinating with the evac team. It’s official, all towers are to evacuate. Keep moving north to the tram. I’m still around my tower, talking with the other Watchers, Rangers and the evac team to get the campers out of the park.”

“Okay, I’m about halfway or so.”

“Okay, keep moving.”

“K.”

-----------------------

A few minutes later a male voice came over Chloe’s radio, “Chloe Price. This is Ranger Thomas, I need you to go east to Hawk’s Rest. There is a rope for you to climb.”

“What?” Where’s Angel?

“Hawks Rest, turn on your device and follow the beeps and get to the rope.”

"Where’s Angel?” There wasn’t a reply. Chloe took out her map and turned on the tracker she had stolen.

-------------------------

Chloe reached Hawk’s Rest and walked toward the high rock wall. She spotted the rope hanging down, as she got closer she saw her name written in chalk on a rock a cassette tape attached to the line and a leather collar with two black boxes bolt to it. She paused for a moment and looked around. “What the fuck?”

Chloe placed the headphones over her ears and pressed play to listen to the new tape. She looked for any movement around her in the smoke. The man’s voice on the tape drew her attention away. “Yeah, hi, Chloe. Hope you found this before it burns up.” The man scoffed, “We’ve been causing each other a lotta headaches. Now I gotta go stake out a site that’s as fit for livin’ like the one you’re about to find. You’ll get it when you see it, just climb up and follow the path... You can’t blame me for keepin’ an eye on ya. Not after bumpin’ into you your first night here, down by the cave... For fuck’s sake I’ve been up here for three years... and you fuck everything up in less than a month. I kept it cozy y'know. Winters are harsh as hell and I ran out of books. But I got an antenna rigged up and I would listen to everyone. I got too comfortable, I stopped worryin’ about you findin’ anythin’ out and that’s right when everythin’ went to shit with you two." He scoffed again. "Jesus, you two and your theories of what was going at the fenced off site. Lay off the weed and learn more will yah. Then again, you were partly right. It was a research site; they were studyin’ the Serotinous cones and how long it takes for the seeds to actually sprout when the ground and the seeds are burned.” He scoffed again, “The friggin’ back boxes are for tracking deer that have been collared. One of the scientists was keeping track of a few of them in the area, they weren’t keeping track of you two at all.”

“However, you were close to the other thing; the military.” He swore, “Don’t ever join the military, it will leave you fucked up and you will never recover…. You were right, there was someone listenin’ to you and Angel’s conversations. It was me and the military, neither of us knew the other was listenin’ to you two. I just wanted to make sure you stayed out of the cave. My stupid mistake of leavin’ my shit out by the lake… sorry for hittin’ you. I wrecked those girl’s campsite, hoping that you would get blamed for it and fired since you tossed their radio into the water. But I guess those two idiots didn’t report you when they left. I fucked up and forgot to take the key out of the pack when I went to your tower to leave the Walkman… I thought I could scare you into leaving... when I locked you in the cave… Jesus Christ, you went back again. Do me a favor, listen to Angel or you’ll get yourself into more trouble than what you can handle... As for the military, it was a project they didn’t tell you or anyone at the park about. They're listening and documenting… they wanted to know how strangers interacted with each other when they are physically alone for weeks at a time; the effects of isolation. From what I read in their report I found, it’s a big project they have going on in other parks across the states. They’re even listenin’ to a research station up in the Arctic. God knows what the fuck they're actually doing… I have their documents if you want to report them…” He scoffed, “Yeah, like the fuckin’ military will account for what they do to people.”

His voice angered at his own change of subject, “You two don’t have any idea about raising kids. Nobody knows nothin’. It ain’t all sunshine and fuckin’ rainbows. There are things that we have to do as a parent because it’s the right thing to do. We have to teach you stuff and you gotta just listen... you gotta know I didn’t kill Brian, alright? We were climbing, he was a thin kid, and small for his age. His mother never looked after him right, she was more worried about her next fix. I wanted him to get strong, y’know. I was teachin’ him to push himself, to take care of himself. He just didn’t check his equipment. I told him multiple times to always check…"

"I thought about goin’ back, having to answer questions and havin’ to get him put in the ground, and I didn’t see the point. They would’ve blamed me and tossed me back in the mental... Don’t come lookin’ for me, I’m long fucking gone… I’m sorry about Rachel, no one you care for should die like that.”

The recording ended.

---------------------

Chloe stood at the top of the ledge, staring at the Walkman, not believing what she just heard. Jesus Christ. She walked ahead through the dense tree path that thinned out to the top of a high hill. There were high boulders around to give the area protection from the wind but also from watching eyes.

There was a pile of rusted metal trash to one side, discard rusted propane tanks that were the same kind that the towers had, old lawn chairs and other things that were scavenged throughout the years. Chloe spotted a door made of the park’s signs on the ground. She lifted it and saw that it was a bunker that led underground. She walked down.

Chloe stood and looked at what was in front of her. Over the years, Ned had stolen from the park and from campers. Chloe noticed new camping equipment packed to the side. It was some of the teen’s stuff. There were stacks of novels and magazines; a clothesline was drawn across the room with clothes on it. Chloe took out the disposable camera and started to document what she saw.

There were packs and boxes against the wall. Ned had stolen just enough that people would think that they had lost it somewhere or that another camper might’ve taken someone’s gear. Ned had a workbench off to the side and Chloe noticed the radio she had tossed into the lake was there and taken apart. He was fixing it. There was a car battery with two big white propane tanks next to it along with a camping stove. 

The natural bunker on the far side was an opening to the elements from the other end. 

Ned had never built a wall to close the bunker off on the far end. Chloe stood at the edge of a ledge looking out over the forest and then down at drop off from the mountain. A lawn chair was set up to look out over the area. Next to that was a table with a ham radio on it. That’s what you used to listen to us. Next to it were the notes Ned had taken since Chloe had arrived and a binder with what the military was doing. She placed it all in her pack and looked out toward the forest seeing that the winds had picked up and the smoke was becoming thicker. Chloe turned, took out her camera, and took as many pictures as she could then left the bunker and headed north at a quicker pace.

-------------------

“Chloe, where are you?” Angel asked worriedly. In the background, there was the sound of a helicopter.

Chloe, in a jog, breathed heavily. She pressed the radio button, clipped to the shoulder strap of her pack, “I, ahhh... *Heavy breathing* by where the line- *Heavy breathing* went down.” Chloe stopped and covered herself as the hot winds gusted around her and the trees to her side lit on fire. She started running, gasping for air. Fuck, everything is going up!

Angel talked to the pilots on a different radio as Chloe overheard, “Yeah… no. There’s one more. Yes. Here, yeah. She’s coming. Go get them and come back around.” Angel came back on Chloe’s radio. “Helli’s are here doing their final pickups.”

“Angel, you get on that helicopter, you hear me?!” Chloe stopped for a moment and stronger winds blew, she sidestepped to keep her balance. “You get on that helicopter!”

Angel replied, “Chlo, I’m not leaving without you.”

“Angel, you get on it now, don’t you stick around for me!” Chloe shielded herself again from the winds as Angel replied, “I’m -ot -eavin -ou --ain!”

Chloe, with her arm up by her face, watched some small tree debris fly by. She winced as she felt the fire’s heat close in. “AArrRHhh, fuck, that’s hot!” Then watched as a helicopter took off from Angel’s watchtower area. She’s going to be okay.

-----------------------

Chloe reached the tram, finding that the basket had been hauled over for her and she got in. She hauled herself, hand over fist, above the ravine as the wooden and metal basket swung side to side in the strong winds. “Jesus, please don’t fucking break.”

“Chlo, keep goin- it -ill -old.”

“Angel?! Goddammit, why didn’t you leave?!”

Winds blew again. “-m no- lea---g till yo-’re --re!”

The basket swayed and bounced with the added weight. “Oh fuck.” Chloe looked back and forth at the cable on both sides of the ravine as they groaned.

“I -ave a choice -ow. Back -hen I --dn’t, but I do now.”

“What?” Chloe replied she braced herself from another gust of wind blowing debris and fire embers. Chloe winced at the heat. “Fuck!”

Angel continued, upset. “-- I’m sorry f-r -eav-ng -ou.”

Chloe started hauling again, she couldn’t directly hear Angel over the winds. “What? You have nothing to apologize for.”

“I sorr- fo- -eaving -u -hat day… I plea--d -ith mom and da-…”

The muscles in Chloe’s arms burned as she moved the basket and her across the gap. “What are you talking a-” Chloe stopped. The tram swung back and forth, she stared wide eyed thrown back into an old memory…

She stood next to her mother, staring at her father’s coffin. Her mother, by her side, quietly mourned. Chloe felt so much sorrow and needed to be comforted. Her best friend stood off to the side. It was happening again and Chloe couldn’t make it stop. Someone else was leaving her. She heard the girl’s mother whisper that they had to leave, and this time it was for forever.

Her smaller brunette friend, dressed in a black dress, paused for a moment and looked at Chloe. Chloe wanted to be held by her and be told that she wasn’t leaving, that she would stay and be there for her. Her friend tried to speak but no words came out to comfort Chloe. She looked at her parents and whispered as her tears fell. “Please,” she pleaded, hoping they would change their minds. They didn’t. In the corner of her eye, Chloe watched as her best friend, her pirate partner in adventure, the girl she had known all her life, look at her one last time... and then she was gone. 

Joyce put her hand out to touch her daughter, to give her and herself some comfort. Chloe made a small step to the side, away, not wanting anyone to get close to her heart ever again. She closed her eyes and squeezed her fists. It was too much, all too painful. The world of a child had slipped away...

Angel watched the tram rocking side to side. Chloe had stopped moving. “Chloe, you have to keep moving-” Chloe didn’t move. She stared at her hands holding the tram's cable. It’s not her. A water plane flew close to the treetops overhead. “Chloe, please, you can hate me all you want. I know what I did is not forgivable. Please start moving, it’s just a little more!”

Chloe furrowed her brow, confused, She knew my last name.

Angel pleaded, “Please move.”

She knew my birthdate... Because she has my paperwork for the job, the Services probably gave it to her...It’s not- Chloe shook her head. “It’s not you,” she spoke quietly.

Angel softly replied with a known nickname, “Captain…”

Chloe’s stomach clenched and her knees almost buckled.

Angel pleaded once more, “Captain, please start moving again... please, Chloe, you need to keep moving, the fire is right behind you.” As the girl spoke another radio called in. It was another helicopter. “Thorofare, this is N0921 we are here for the last pick up, you need to be at the platform. The fire is too close. If you don’t get on now you have to make a run for it down the mountain. Over.”

Angel replied, “If I’m not there, leave. I’m not leaving her behind!”

Chloe heard the voice again. “Chloe, it’s just a little further; you’re almost there, a helicopter is on the way. Please come, please.”

Chloe hauled the wire to move ahead a little.

“There you go, keep moving, you’re only feet away from the ledge. Then follow the path…”

Another water plane flew overhead. “K, you’re there, step out… and come to the platform. I’ll be there waiting. Chloe, I’m not leaving, not without you, I promise you. We’re getting off this mountain together.”

Chloe stepped off the tram and onto the other side of the ravine. A gust of hot wind pushed her forward. She turned to see the fire with thirty-foot flames engulfing everything on the other side. Go to her, Chloe. Another gust of wind pushed her back, Chloe raised her hand to shield herself from the fire embers. She turned and walked up the hill as old memories came flooding back...

A short brunette tween looked up at Chloe standing on the bed. “That was truly amazing. Why are explosions so awesome?!”

Chloe, with her long blonde hair, looked down, hopped excitedly. “That's like asking why are puppies cute? Some things just are.”

Chloe’s feet moved quicker on the trail.

'Permission to come aboard, Captain Bluebeard.'

Chloe went into a jog going up the steep rocky hill.

'You know what, Max Caulfield?'

Chloe ran around the watchtower built on large boulders.

'What, Chloe Price?'

Chloe came around from the other side of the watchtower.

'You're the frickin' best. That's all.'

Chloe stopped for a moment at the top of the hill, looking down at a girl wrapped in protective goggles and a mask, looking back up at her, twenty yards away. The girl’s pack that was on her shoulder dropped to the ground.

Chloe ran forward.

Chloe stopped in front of the girl. Her short brown hair blew wildly in the wind. Chloe looked down at her, past the goggles. I know those eyes. Chloe slowly lifted her own goggles and placed them on top of her head, then lowered her mask. Her face that wasn’t covered was layered in black soot. The girl standing in front of her sobbed and reached out but didn’t take hold of Chloe. She drew her hand away, scared. Chloe reached forward and carefully raised the girl’s goggles to her forehead. She looked back and forth into those deep blue eyes. Chloe’s slowly lowered the girl’s face mask, seeing tears fall. With her hand quivering it hovered over the girl’s cheek, afraid to touch it, afraid that it was all just a horrible nightmare. That she would wake up in the junkyard hideout or on her truck’s seat, hungover from a night of drugs and drinking. 

Glassy deep blue eyes looked up at Chloe. The girl’s voice was a whisper that was taken away in a gust of wind. Chloe watched the girl say her name, “Chloe,” as another tear fell. Chloe’s hand gently touched the face with the spray of freckles across her nose and cheeks. She felt her heart clench. You’re here, this is real. Chloe slowly lowered her head against the goggles resting on her childhood friend’s forehead. Her thumb caressed the freckled face. It's you. She wiped one of the girl’s tears away for her and saw lips tremble. Chloe slowly took a small step forward, wrapped her arms around the smaller frame and held the girl close. Her head leaned down and she whispered in the girl's ear, “Max.”

“Chloe,” Max sobbed, wrapped her arms around and held Chloe tight as her body trembled.

A helicopter flew close overhead and hovered for a moment, then started to descend. Max winced at the strong winds and Chloe turned herself along with Max away from the helicopter winds to act as a barrier, protecting Max.

Once on the ground, the pilot motioned for the girls to board. The side door slid open with a few campers already seated inside waving at them to come. Both girls turned, Max felt a hand in hers as they stepped forward.

Chloe helped Max get onboard first then she followed. The two sat on the floor as the helicopter doors were closed and the aircraft elevated. They stared for a moment then Chloe held out her hand and Max took it and crawled over, sitting sideways between Chloe’s legs. Chloe wrapped her arm around Max for a second then leaned back and took off her own goggles and removed her mask entirely. She paused for a moment, looking at the big blue eyes watching her. Chloe gingerly took off Max’s goggles then helped the girl take the mask off over her head. The two looked at one another... five long years. Chloe, wide-eyed, was trying to comprehend everything at that moment. A tiny smile briefly appeared. She then lowered her head once again and Max leaned on her. The side of the taller girls’ jaw rested against Max’s forehead. Max guided her arm around the side of Chloe’s ribs and grabbed the girl’s shirt and held on. Chloe wrapped her arms around Max to keep her close. The two remained silent during the flight; their bodies jostled around with the movement of the helicopter and the winds. Chloe felt her body relax and her heartbeat slowed. She closed her eyes and let herself feel the love that she had never forgotten.