Another chapter already?! It is a miracle for me to write this fast. Jokes aside. What's wrong with the stories lately? They're so depressing! Can't someone just read a pricefield story without crying these days? Why are you doing this to me?! Mini rant over, this is a kinda sad chapter too, you knew it was coming anyway. But no worries! Next time, less sadness, more plot!

And thank you Time Dragon for reviewing the last chapter, your question is going to be answered soon!

The road never felt this long before. The bus seemed slower than usual, and the fact that David was driving it didn't ease her mind.

A part of her wished she'd never reach her destination, it meant that she was going to see Chloe again, tied to a wheelchair, with a tube on her neck. It hurt too much that the pain became physical for her.

The bus stopped and Max felt her heart stuck in her throat. She stepped out and started walking towards her destination.

"Why are we doing this? I don't get it."

"I need the photo to leave, isn't that what you want?" Max answered the voice in her head. It was the last thing she wanted to hear right now.

"That's not what I meant. Forget it."

She shrugged and continued walking. Her counterpart's tone was strange and without its usual bite, but that was the last thing she wanted to worry about. She had to go back. This reality was starting to drive her crazy. She took a deep breath before knocking on the Prices' house.

This time, it was Joyce who greeted her. "Max! It's great to see you! Come in!"

"It's great to see you too, Joyce." Max smiled and stepped inside. "Is Chloe awake?"

"No, not yet. You can check on her, I'm sure she'd be pleased to see you."

Max nodded and entered Chloe's new room. She walked quietly hoping that she won't wake her up. She took a moment to stare at the sleeping girl. Her chest rising up and down, a small proof that she was alive. Her face looked peaceful.

"Could you just get over with it?" Maxine's annoyed voice startled her.

She sighed and looked for the photo album. She beamed once she found it. She flipped through the pages, looking for the right photo. She stared at the photo. It was a happy one, filled with innocent smiles.

She wondered what happened to these kids. When was the hope in their eyes gone? When did those smiles fade?

What happened to the kids who used to play by the lighthouse without a care in the world?

She missed those times. She missed the childhood that was long gone.

"Max?" She was startled by her friend's weak voice.

"Good morning, sleeping beauty." She gave her a small smile and put away the photo album. She took the seat beside her.

"I thought that sleeping beauty is supposed to be awaken with a kiss." Chloe said and smirked when she saw the photographer turn into different shades of red. "Oh! I made Maxine blush!"

"Oh shut up." Max said, embarrassed and tugged a stray hair behind her ear. She remembered their kiss yesterday morning. She wondered if the punk felt that way about her, or if it was just a joke.

"I'm glad you came to visit again." The blonde started, her eyes glued on the brunette. "Being with you again is… great. Why did we even separate?"

"I don't know." Max looked down at her palm, wishing that she could change all this. "We were inseparable. I should have done something to stay."

"It's not your fault. You couldn't do anything about it."

"It was the worst mistake, Chloe. I felt so lost for the last five years. I should have never left you." Max said, gripping her right wrist –the one that held the worst curse one could ever have- so hard that she was sure it would leave a mark. "But I'm here now, I won't leave anymore."

"Can I ask you a favor?" Chloe's voice sounded urgent.

"Of course."

"I heard them talking the other day… they thought I was passed out, but I heard everything." The blonde paused. "My respiratory system is failing. I tried to keep the 'happy' act but I can't. I'm dragging my parents down with me. This isn't how I want it to end."

"What are you saying?" Max felt her heart stop.

"I'm saying that, being with you again has been so special. Seeing you again made me feel as if nothing changed, as if we were still kids running around Arcadia bay, playing as pirates. I wanted to see you again, before ending it." The blonde's eyes started to water. "I want you to be the last person I'll see before I die. I want you to be my last memory. All you have to do is turn the IV to eleven."

Max felt numb. The world was falling around her.

Everything she touches dies.

"I can't." She whispered, looking back at the blue eyes staring at her. "I can't kill you. I can't make this choice."

"It is my choice, Max. I'm an adult, I have the right to decide. I'm at everyone's mercy, and I don't want to die that way." Chloe answered, desperate for her request to be accepted. "You're the only one who can help me. If you still see me as your best friend, if I still have a place in your heart, then please help me."

Max shook her head. That's what her help did to people. It hurts them. It kills them.

The blonde frowned then looked away. "You won't do it. You're just bailing on me life everyone else. How about you leave? You wanted to ever since you got here, right?"

Max just stared blankly at her palm.

Maybe her counterpart was right, maybe she shouldn't help anymore. It was useless. Maybe everything she did so far was for nothing.

What was she supposed to do? What was she supposed to believe in? Why did she get these powers if she couldn't help people?

"You might not want to hear this but the reason I can't do it is because you still have a place in my heart. It is growing bigger every day." Max stated, and watched as the blonde turned to face her again, confused. "I don't want to be your last memory. I want to be more than that for you."

"Stop." Maxine's voice appeared after a long silence. There was pain behind her words. "Don't make this any harder."

She felt the pain come back again, stronger than last time. That force pulling her out, as if it was trying to rip her soul apart.

"Your nose!" She heard Chloe say, but she couldn't see clearly anymore. She left as quickly as she could, ignoring the blonde calling for her.

It hurt too much. It only took her few steps before she passed out again.

"Max! Wake up!"A familiar voice called for her, but it sounded too far away. She saw a faint light, and blue hair. She saw lips moving, talking to her, but she couldn't hear anything anymore.

Max opened her eyes, greeted by the sight of Joyce and Chloe –who was in her wheelchair now- looking at her in concern. She was in the living room.

"Max! Oh thank God! I'll get you some water!" Joyce hurried to the kitchen and poured a cup of water.

Chloe was just staring at her silently.

Max closed her eyes for bit. She felt so tired. Whatever happened to her must have drained whatever energy she had left in her body.

"Maxine Caulfield. I have a status report."

"What do you want?"

"I think I just woke up in your universe."

If anyone reading this story, happened to read my other ones, I'd like to say, thank you so much! And I also was asked about a sequel for Polarized and My ghost queen. The sequel for Polarized is coming, as for My ghost queen, I'll let you know as soon as I figure it out!