Work Text:
A Moment in Time, a Life is Strange fanfic
Life is Strange © Dontnod Entertainment & Square Enix
October 7th, 2013
Blackwell Academy.
The sun was out and the air was cool and crisp for this October morning. The trees, once green and full of life, had transformed into red, earthy tones and leaves almost completely fallen to the ground.
For 17-year-old Chloe Price, the change in the season didn't mean anything to her. Heck, it could start snowing a dozen inches of snow and she wouldn't care. For her, every day seemed to be exactly the same. Wake up late in the day, have a smoke, hang around town, figure out another way to avoid Frank and his never-ending phone calls regarding her debt.
Rinse and repeat.
Life hadn't been the same since Rachel Amber disappeared without a trace years ago. No phone calls, texts or emails from her. Had Rachel really ended the relationship and moved on? Had Los Angeles really changed her to the point where she had forgotten her old life?
Chloe didn't know.
All she knew is that life fucking sucked.
First, her dad dies, her mother then remarries a complete and utter douchebag, Max moves to Seattle and then Rachel ups and leaves her?
Chloe was so broken and without a direction in life, she just kept waking each day thinking, what was the point in anything? She felt nothing but dissatisfaction and loneliness.
And that looked like it was never going to change.
Chloe parked her truck around the back in the car park. The area seemed pretty quiet, only a few students milling about the place. Blackwell had been a part of her life at one point in time, now it only seemed to remind her of everything she had lost over the years.
Her goal today was simple; shakedown Nathan Prescott about the drugs he had been dealing around the school and if he didn't comply, blackmail the boy into giving her cash. It was all a part of the revenge plan she had conducted for a while now. Nathan had spiked her drink after a night out where she attempted to get him drunk to steal his money. Upon waking up hours later and seeing him crawl to her with a camera, she swore she could have murdered him then and there.
What a disgusting lowlife piece of shit! If he thinks he can keep getting away with this, he's got another thing coming.
Chloe exited her truck and slowly made her way to the backdoor of the school. No sign of David Madsen, her overbearing stepfather; a man who she swore she would never accept into her family. His attitude, his rules, the way he had just walked into her life. She hated his guts through and through.
And to find out he had taken a job as a security detail at this shithole of a school? It was like the world was out to torture her constantly.
Chloe's eyes navigated the area hoping to find Nathan. She was not going to let him off easy at all today. Her ears were then drawn to the sound of someone chatting loudly on a cellphone nearby.
"I told you before, I'm not cutting any more parts of our deal! It's either seventy-thirty or nothing at all!"
She turned her head to see Nathan by the backdoor of the school. She hit behind a nearby wall, hoping to hear the rest of the conversation.
Nathan was pacing back and forth, angry that one of his clients was trying to mess him about. He told himself he had the perfect setup; buy a crapload of drugs from Frank Bowers, cut them down with laxatives, then sell them off again for more money. He had a business to run, why should he deal with any of this nonsense?
"Fine, I'll give you one more day to make up your mind. If you don't want my product, don't call me again!" He hung up, slamming his fist against the wall. He didn't deserve any of this bullshit. It was bad enough he was in therapy sorting out his own problems but now having stuff like this pile on top too? Enough was enough.
Chloe's eyebrows furrowed. What is this dickhead up to? If he's got enough cash to cut deals with his shitty clique, he's got enough to give me some.
She appeared from behind the wall, ready to face the boy head-on.
"Nathan."
The boy looked up from where he was to see the blue-haired tomboy, arms folded and looking to do business.
This goddamn bitch! What does she want? His heart began racing, and his palms became sweaty with anxiety. Had he forgotten to take his medication today? No, he was all good for today. It was most likely the stress brought on by his father this morning when Nathan was questioned over breakfast yet again about his future with the Prescott hierarchy.
More conversations, and never one about his own mental health. Nathan's father was the worst. But as long as he kept pouring money into his life, he'd feel content.
Nathan hated himself and everyone around him. To him, life was hell. Lately, though, he had been seeing Mark Jefferson, his Photography teacher; unlike many other adults in his life, Jefferson had actually shown genuine empathy and care towards him. He had convinced Nathan that his talents for photography stood out amongst his peers and that he could make a career out of it. However, lately, Jefferson had asked for strange and macabre requests from the boy.
A few months ago, something terrible had happened, which he had now had to deal with all the guilt from. Nathan had sleepless nights, restless moments and panic attacks, knowing that he could never let go of what he had done.
Nathan stared her directly in the eyes. What the hell could she want? And why now? Bitch probably wants to cut more drugs from me.
He looked around, his heartbeat getting faster. No sign of the Principal, Madsen or any other kind of teacher. Without another second's hesitation, he power-walked towards the doors and into the corridor.
"Little shit!" Chloe muttered underneath her breath. She followed on after him, being careful to avoid drawing attention to herself.
Nathan entered the hallway. He did not need this right now. He felt his fingers twitch, his brow lining with sweat. He had to get away from her. He looked to his right and noticed the girl's bathroom.
Not the most ideal of places, but I'll take my chances.
He dashed in quickly when no one else was looking. Outside Chloe looked on, seeing the door of the bathroom shut.
He can't be serious. She shot in after him.
Inside the bathroom, Nathan checked his surroundings. The coast seemed to be clear, no one in her. His eyes darted back and forth, rubbing his forehead to try and remove the sweat from it.
"It's cool Nathan...Don't stress… You're okay bro. Just count to three..." Words that his therapist had reminded him all too well of. A lot of good that did him nowadays. He walked over, clasping the cold hand basin, his own reflection staring him back in the mirror.
"Don't be scared… You own this school… If I wanted, I could blow it up… You're the boss..." His own mind was racing a million miles an hour. His thoughts were a jumbled mess. His emotions were running high.
He was at breaking point.
Suddenly the door opened again. Nathan turned his head slightly to see Chloe walk in.
"So what do you want?" He asked darkly. He wasn't in the mood for any of her bullshit today.
Chloe closed the door behind her and started checking the individual stalls.
"I hope you checked the perimeter, as my step-ass would say. Now, let's talk bidness-"
"I got nothing for you."
"Wrong." Chloe shot back. "You've got hella cash."
Who was this girl to try and demand money from him? She had no right!
"That's my family, not me."
"Oh boohoo poor little rich kid!" Chloe was not going to take this from him. She needed that money to change her life and finally leave this dump.
"I know you been pumpin' drugs n' shit to kids around here…" She walked over to his right side, getting closer to invading his personal space. Something Nathan hated most of all.
"I bet your respectable family would help me out if I went to them. Man, I can see the headlines now-"
Nathan's grip on the basin grew tighter, his anger slowly rising. "Leave them out of this bitch!"
Chloe inched closer to the point Nathan could smell the tobacco on her breath. The smell irritated his nose. "I can tell everyone that Nathan Prescott is a punk ass who begs like a little girl and talks to himself-"
For Nathan, that was the final straw. His stress levels had peaked, and he wasn't going to take anymore. He stepped back, reached into his jacket and pulled out a 9mm handgun.
"You don't know who the fuck I am or who you're messing around with!" He shouted, now feeling more in control of the situation.
Chloe stepped back, anxious and scared. Why was Nathan walking around armed like this? "
"Where'd you get that? What are you doing!?" She cried scared, Nathan walking closer, slamming a hand next to her, caging her in like a wild animal. "Come on, put that thing down!" She grabbed his wrist, hoping to wrestle the gun from him.
"Don't EVER tell me what to do!" Nathan snarled. "I'm so SICK of people trying to control me!"
Chloe remained scared stiff. Was this it? Was he really going to kill her?
"You are going to get in hella more trouble for this than drugs-"
Nathan seemed completely unfazed by her words. He owned this school, and he was going to prove a point. One way or another.
"Nobody would ever miss your "punk ass" would they?"
The fire alarm went off suddenly, causing Nathan to drop his guard.
"No way…"
Seeing this moment of opportunity, Chloe kneed him in the crotch and made a run for it.
"Don't EVER touch me again, freak!"
The boy fell on his back, only wondering what the hell just happened. He picked up the gun that had fallen out his hand, not before he felt his shoe scrap against something on the floor. Upon closer inspection, it was a torn photograph.
A polaroid photo? No, that geek...Caulfield? How did she….? He shook his head
"Another shitty day…" Nathan muttered, quickly getting to his feet and leaving the bathroom.
Chloe had gotten a few seconds headstart and darted out the door straight to her truck. She reached her vehicle, entered and closed the door. She took a deep breath, resting her head in her hands. She couldn't believe it, she had almost been shot there and then!
But had someone saved her? Had someone pulled the fire alarm in the nick of time just to save her?
Little did she know that that one act of luck was going to be the start of something extraordinary.
FIN