Chapter 16 The Moment of Truth

Max

April 16th, 2014

7:00 AM

Portland, Oregon

Chrysalis HQ

I am wide awake. The alarm clock going off in my cell is an exclamation mark for the big day finally underway. I snooze the alarm, stretch my arms, get off the bed I slept on in my cell, and yawn. I don't believe today's the day. The day I finally show the people of Arcadia Bay who I really am. The day I show the world what it means to be the girl on fire.

I was expecting the guards to arrive in any minute now. Ready to cuff my hands and take me back to Arcadia where I stand trial. And not a minute too soon, the guards open my cell door and walk in to take me away.

"Turn around and face the wall with your hands above your head, ma'am," the guard ordered.

I do as I'm told and the guard cuffs me. Then they walk me out of my cell and escort me down to the prisoner truck waiting for me outside the compound.

Back at Rachel's lodge, Rachel was passed out on the couch hung over with beer bottles laying on the floor and an empty pizza box sitting on the living room table. When Rachel gets up, she's sees that Chloe isn't with her. Then she turns behind her and sees Chloe dressed up for the trial. Chloe was dressed up in a vest and slacks for the trial. Ready to support Max's defense with Crosby.

"I'm running late Rachel. The trial is about to begin in less than two hours and I've got to be there early. I'll catch ya later."

"Hey, Chloe."

"What?"

"Good luck. You and Max are gonna need it."

I'm loaded onto the prison truck. Once I'm on board, the door shut in front of me and a guard knocks the doors with his fist to signal the driver I'm ready for transportation. Meanwhile, my tribunal was being televised on the news with Brock Kent the Arcadia News anchor and May Valhalla the Arcadia News reporter covering the story.

"It is a day of truth for the people of Arcadia Bay today as Max Caulfield prepares to face charges against the manslaughter of the six-hundred victims killed in the tornado storm, claimed to have been caused by her so-called supernatural power, as well as the killing of forty-five task force soldiers serving Chrysalis during the Blackwell shooting. While some believe Max's criminal offense to be less than doubtful, others believe it to be unjustified."

There were people being interviewed on the news for public feedback relating to my conviction of my crimes being just or unjust. One person being interviewed was a woman who lost her husband to storm leaving her children without a Father.

"When I lost my husband in Arcadia Bay to that storm, my children were crying for hours all because of the actions of this quantum terrorism they're all proclaiming it to be."

Back at Chloe's house, Joyce and David were getting dressed for trial as well. They had both agreed to let Chloe aid Max's defense and so they both decided to attend the trial to make sure their daughter would do well. David got his coat and tie on while looking at himself in the mirror. Joyce walked into the bedroom where she and David slept in and her husband was getting dressed to check on him. She had already got her formal clothing on when she walked.

"You still worried, David?"

"I'm fine, Joyce. We can save it for the trial."

"No, David. I mean this innocent Chloe got herself into with-"

"We can save it for the trial. No matter what this innocent was all about, Chloe has every right to Max. That I can respect."

My parents were too getting dressed for the trial as well. They had rented a motel room in Arcadia Bay when they heard about what I've done. That were both at their motel room getting dressed in their formalwear. My Mom put her jacket and gown in the mirror while my Dad walked over to her dressed in his suit and tie.

"Hey V, you ready for this?"

"I'm ready when I'm ready, Ryan. Don't rush me."

"Vanessa, listen. Just so you know-"

"Ryan, please. If your going to give me another speech about me settling down-"

"Vanessa, just listen. Just remember what I said when we get there, alright? We don't want to sound like idiots ourselves in front of our own daughter if we have to say something to everyone in court."

"I haven't forgotten, Ryan. And I never will."

A college kid was being interviewed on the news for his opinion on my case.

"I move away from Arcadia Bay to get a college education in Portland and not a month later, I lose my family to the storm that was supernaturally caused by terrorist. I lose my Mom, my Dad, my sister, everyone. Would I believe this Max Caulfield to be the one with my family's blood on her hands? That I can't decide."

Back at Blackwell; Warren, Kate, and Victoria got themselves dressed to attend my trial as well. Kate walked into Victoria's dorm dressed for the trial while Victoria herself was just finished dressing herself for the trial while looking at herself in the mirror.

"Victoria? You ready?"

"I'm ready, Kate. Go look for Warren. Make sure he's ready."

"Hey, Victoria."

"What?"

"Thanks for letting me help with the protest rally. I'm glad I could help. You're good person."

"Don't mention it, Kate. Your a good person too."

Warren too had been getting himself dressed in his dorm. He did manage to get his coat on, but had to practice putting on his tie a couple time too. Did it all in the mirror also.

A man on the news was being interviewed on his opinion on my case.

"Six months ago, I had moved to Arcadia Bay and then I moved out all because of a tornado storm claimed to be an act of terrorism. Whether Max Caulfield would be the one at fault or not, I want to live in a place that doesn't attract terrorism and where I could keep myself well out of harm's way."

Frank had been back in his caravan parked on the beachside who had too decided to attend the trial. I understood Frank was never an entirely caring person enough to have the passion to go to a trial of mine, but I was granted his forgiveness for aiming an unloaded gun on him in a dump. If I hadn't rewound to make sure Chloe didn't pump lead into his heart or to his kneecap. Rachel also advised him to be there at my trial just to return the forgiveness he showed.

Frank managed to get himself an expensive jacket and slacks in order to dress professionally for the occasion. Once he was dressed, he fed Pompidou some of his dog food he had left and poured it on Pompidou's bowl before leaving for the trial

The truck I was being transported in reached Arcadia Bay. While I sat inside, I could hear the sound of crowd which I assumed were gathered by the courthouse my tribunal would be held. I knew I was close. Close to not only coming to a complete stop, but close to absolution.

"This is May Valhalla. Live from Arcadia Bay. I am standing near the courthouse where Max Caulfield is now arriving to stand trial and where the people of Arcadia Bay reluctantly ask the same question. Did Max Caulfield - She's here! Get a shot of her! Quickly!"

The cameraman working for the news journalist gets a shot of the truck pulling over by the crowd. When I'm about to walk out, two bailiffs open the back doors to let me out and seize me by the to walk me over to the courthouse. When I walk down the path to front steps of the courthouse with the bailiffs behind me, there is a massive crowd of people waving picket signs and shouting out my name in hatred. There are barrier fences that keep everyone out of path. The crowd waves around signs that say 'Arcadia Killer' or 'Quantum Freak'. As they're all hollering over one another, a majority of the crowd would shout out 'murderer', 'destroyer', or 'destructor'. They even throw garbage at me with all their civil hatred. They abhorrently shout out every possible insult at me that signifies my monstrosity for the killing of these people's families and friends.

This was it. This had to be the worst kind of nightmare I could ever dream of. I couldn't believe this was remotely occurring. These people actually hate me for what this town has become. For what I made it become. It was the true definition of what Chloe meaning more to me than this whole town looks like. I was now a victim of civil hatred. I was now worse than Adolf Hitler. I was now the next Osama Bin Laden. I feel like my wants to explode just to end my public misery. I might as well be back in my nightmare I had before waking up on the cliff with Chloe. I have never been so capitally hated in my whole life. I was now the eye of the storm all over again.

"The trial of the people of Arcadia Bay versus Max Caulfield is now in session," said a bailiff in the courtroom.

I now official enter the courtroom. This is where it begins. This is where hearts start beating. This is where to moment of truth rises. And now...here I am.

Next time on Life is Strange...

I am back. Back to when I first acknowledged the end of time. Back to the frozen forest and back to the giant tree with bolts of lightning striking and a giant heart pumping. And the spirit of the heir to the Prescotts.

"Welcome...Max Caulfield," said the ghost of Nathan.

End of Episode 3!

Note: I know it's been a disappointing episode for you guys, but trust me. Next episode should be far better than this one! That I'm hoping for! We're only halfway through this story with only three more episodes for me to write. Once again, if there are any theories or predictions you have for the upcoming episode, write it down in the reviews please.

Will Max Caulfield win her case? Will Rachel and Chloe find out who really destroyed Arcadia Bay? Find out in Life is Strange Season 2 Episode 4 Time Trial. In the meantime, you Pricefield fans all have yourselves a merry hella Christmas and a hella new year.

Until next time, stay golden!

P.S. I've decided to add a little song for the credits. Thank you.

'Work Song' - Hozier

Life is Strange After the Storm

Episode 3: Quantum Crisis

Voice Cast

Max Caulfield... ...Hannah Telle

Chloe Price... ...Ashly Burch

Rachel Amber... ...Erin Yvette

Warren Graham... ...Carlos Luna

Kate Marsh... ...Dayeanne Hutton

Victoria Chase... ...Dani Knights

Joyce Price... ...Cissy Jones

David Madsen... ...Don McManus

Vanessa Caulfield... ...Tasia Valenza

Ryan Caulfield... ...Adam Harrington

Frank Bowers... ...Daniel Bonjour

Derrick Crosby... ...Peter Jessop

Sean Prescott... ...Keith Szarabajka

Raymond Wells... ...Eric Morgan Stuart

Karen Carter... ...Rebecca Henderson

Burke Johns... ...Julian Gamble

Clayton Cage... ...Chris Fries

Riley O'Donohue... ...Philip Anthony-Rodriguez

Kristine Prescott... ...Laura Bailey

Secretary Brown... ...Claudia Christian

Sebian Sorenson... ...Dwight Schultz

Jack Divine... ...Chris Hardwick

Written and Edited by

WickDaLine

Based on the Characters by

Christian Divine

Music by

Jonathan Morali

Soundtrack

Blue Bird - Foals

Heartbeats - Jose Gonzalez

Sleepwalking - Chain Gang of 1974

Come With Me Now - Kongos

Work Song - Hozier

Special Thanks

Dontnod

Remedy

Michel Koch

Luc Baghadoust

Christian Devine

Sam Lake

Hannah Telle

Ashly Burch

Xemtlenc

and you!

Disclaimer

I don't own anything. All copyrights and property belong to Square Enix and Dontnod Entertainment. Thank you.