Blur. Everything was a blur. Max couldn't see anything. Where was she? She felt as if she was floating, floating in different timelines. She saw William smiling and making pancakes. She saw Kate on the roof. She saw Warren beating up Nathan. The worst, was her seeing Mr. Jefferson sat on the table opposite her teaching her about Louis Daguerre with a strange glint in his eyes. What was going on? Where was she?

Suddenly, she heard a faint buzzing sound. Then another buzzing sound in a different pitch. Was it people talking? Maybe she should concentrate on them. As she focussed, the buzzing grew clearer and clearer until she heard two voices. Chloe was one of them… and Warren was the other.

"How long do you think it will be until she wakes up again?" asked Chloe.

"I don't know. It's been a couple of hours already", said Warren. Max could feel something on her hand. Who was holding it?

"I can't believe I almost lost her", sighed Chloe.

"I know. I don't know what I'd do. I don't know what I'd do without her. I can't thank you enough for texting me and telling me what was going on", said Warren.

"Don't mention it. I can tell"

"Huh? You can tell what?"

"I can tell that you're in love with her", said Chloe.

"I am. I love her. She's an incredible, beautiful person", said Warren.

"Yeah. That's Max. She certainly has that power over people", sighed Chloe again.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm in love with her too. More than Rachel, which is saying a lot".

"I always thought I was cast aside for you. I guess when it comes down to Max making a choice between us, she'd choose you", said Warren, sadly.

"Well, the difference is… She didn't kiss me. I dared her to kiss me and she wouldn't. But she kissed you. I could see when you came to her, she wanted you there. She wanted you to kiss her. I couldn't compete with that", said Chloe.

"I guess it's her choice to make".

Max stirred. She could feel herself coming back to reality. Her hand twitched and she slowly opened her eyes and squinted into the light.

"Max!" exclaimed Warren.

"Hey, Super Max", said Chloe, smiling.

"Hey…" said Max, weakly. The drugs still had an effect on her, but at least she could speak and think properly. She slowly looked around. She was in a hospital bed, with an IV drip in her arm.

"What happened?" she asked. She had no idea what happened after she passed out in Warren's arms.

"You were drugged and passed out", said Warren. "We took you to the hospital to try and get the drugs out of you. It took a while and the doctor said you'd probably still feel the effects for a bit, but at least you're conscious now. We were so worried!"

"Yeah and the police found the Dark Room. They made their way inside and found Nathan lying curled up in a ball on the ground crying. He was shouting himself crazy. A full mental breakdown. He's being referred to a mental hospital and his father was arrested and taken into the station for questioning. He can't worm his way out of that", said Chloe. "Not with all the evidence in the Dark Room".

"What happened to Jefferson?"

"He got what was coming to him", said Chloe, angrily. "When he… drugged you, the police showed up and David was with them. He grabbed a police bat and knocked Jefferson out cold. Jefferson was immediately thrown in the police car and taken to the station to be interrogated. David was in the Two Whales with the cops when they got the call. He was adamant that he came. He saved us, Max".

"Wowser, I wouldn't have though David would have been the hero in all this. I'm shocked you're even calling him David!" said Max.

"Yeah, well, while the doctors were working on you, David and I were sat in the waiting room and we had a mature conversation… and… we're going to work on our relationship. He's not a total stepdouche. We've both got our problems and we suggested having family counselling".

"Chloe, that's great. We should have known that David wasn't the bad guy. He was just trying to help".

"Yeah. At least that'll keep Joyce happy! Anyway, Max, I'll give you some alone time with Warren", said Chloe, as she got up from her seat. She gave Max a big hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"I'll see you soon, Chloe", said Max, as Chloe walked out of the door.

Max turned to face Warren. He smiled sadly at her with his big, brown eyes.

"I'm so sorry you had to go through this, Max", he said, squeezing her hand. "Chloe actually texted me telling me what was going on and I was so horrified over what could have happened to you, I ran there immediately. Turns out I wasn't as drunk as I thought. I guess the shock of it all caused the adrenaline to flush the drunkenness out of me".

"Thank you for being there for me, Warren", said Max, smiling up at him. His brown eyes were looking into hers, his cheeks slightly pink, his soft lips in a little smile. Max had never truly appreciated his handsomeness before. Why would he choose her?

"Always. For you, I'd do anything. So what's been going on?"

"Warren, it's a pretty long story".

"Well, we've got time here. They'll release you tomorrow, after they've checked you over".

"Okay, Warren. I don't know where to begin. Well, it started with this dream…"

Max told Warren everything: how she got her rewind power, how she saved Chloe multiple times, how she stopped time to save Kate, how she broke into Principal Wells' office with his help, how she found the Dark Room, how she and Chloe investigated everything, about Rachel Amber and, finally, about Mr. Jefferson. Throughout the whole thing, Warren was listening intently.

"Warren, do you believe me?" asked Max.

"Of course I believe you! You're the most amazing person I've ever met", said Warren.

Max smiled at him and squeezed his hand.

"We're still on for Go Ape, right?" she smiled.

Warren's face broke out into the big grin that Max loved so much.

"Hell yeah, we're not damned dirty humans!"

Max giggled. Warren was always able to make her laugh, even with his cheesy jokes.

"Right, young man. You've stayed long enough! Time to go", said the doctor, coming into the room.

"Ohh okay", said Warren, groaning. "I'll be back as soon as I can, Max".

He leant over and placed a kiss on Max's forehead.

Max's heart fluttered as she watched him reluctantly leave. She sighed as she closed her eyes. She was so tired. So tired.

Suddenly, she felt someone sit in the chair next to her. Who could that be? Did Warren sneak back in? Max opened her eyes.

It was Kate Marsh!

"Kate!" cried Max.

"Ssssshhhhh, Max" whispered Kate. "We can't wake the doctors".

"Sorry", whispered Max. "What are you doing here?"

"We're in the same hospital, silly. Warren came by my room earlier and told me you were here. He told me about what happened with Mr. Jefferson and… God, I'm so sorry that happened to you, Max".

"Oh, Kate, you're so sweet. But do you know the whole story?"

"That Mr. Jefferson tried to kidnap you?"

"No. I found out what happened to you, Kate", said Max. "Can I tell you?"

Kate took a deep breath. "Sure. I need to know. It'll probably help me heal".

"You were drugged, Kate. Nathan dosed you at the Vortex Club party. Then he took you to the Dark Room, a bunker in a barn owned by the Prescotts. You were taken down there and tied up with duct tape, where… Mr. Jefferson took photos of you, all drugged up. He wanted photos of young girls at the height of their beauty and innocence. The vulnerability of them, dosed up and fragile, is what he wanted. So he did everything he could to get it. Even if it resulted in tragedy, like what almost happened to you". Tears were forming in Max's eyes. She couldn't have imagined what it would have been like to have no idea what happened to you. But Kate took Max's hand.

"Max, thank you for telling me this. I know now that Mr. Jefferson has been arrested and hopefully Nathan will get what he deserves".

"Chloe said that the police found him in the Dark Room having a mental breakdown. I saw all these notes and letters to him from his father pressuring him to be better and belittling him. I feel like Nathan was used in all this and he was just the pawn that the masterminds controlled. I think he just couldn't take it anymore", said Max.

"Poor Nathan. Although I'm still hurt by what he did to me, I forgive him. God would encourage me to forgive him. I do believe that he needs to be punished for what he did, but he needs help and guidance. I'll pray that he gets that".

"I don't know how you stay so strong, Kate. After what Nathan has done to you, you still want him to be saved".

"I told you yesterday that I believe in forgiveness and redemption", said Kate.

"You are truly a saint, Kate", smiled Max.

"Not really. You solved the whole mystery! You'll have saved the lives of so many girls out there".

"It wasn't just me".

"Stop being so modest, Max!" said Kate. "You deserve to be praised. We're all so proud of you. Warren especially. Although he was so worried when he came to see me, his heart was bursting with pride when justice was done. It made me believe in justice again, Max. Just like in Proverbs 21:15: When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to the evildoers".

"That makes me so happy to hear you say that, Kate", said Max. "I'm so glad you came to see me. I have Warren to thank for that".

"I'm so happy that you're both okay. Are you still going to the drive-in?"

"Yeah, definitely! I can't wait", said Max, unable to stop smiling.

"Awww, that's so adorable! You two are so cute together! When we both get out of hospital, we have to go out for tea", said Kate.

"Definitely", said Max.

"I'm going to go now, before we get caught. Have fun with Warren at the drive-in!"

"I will, Kate. See you soon and enjoy your time with your family".

Kate tip-toed out of the room as Max's phone buzzed. She unlocked it and read the text. It was from Warren!

"I'll come by your dorm to pick you up so we can go to the drive-in. I'll be there at 5pm on Saturday. Xx"

Max's heart skipped a beat. She was so excited for this! She quickly replied:

"Awesome! I can't wait! Xx"

Max settled down into her bed and dreamt of her being in Warren's arms. Soon enough, she'll be in them soon. She wanted to stay in them forever. Those strong arms protected her from everything. She was always safe. Always safe with him.