Don't Mark My Grave Til You Know It's Filled

by SaturnSpaceSquid

Summary:

For such a great photographer Jefferson is a lowsy shot.

In the perspective of Chloe Price (and occasionally David Madsen), experience what could've happened if the bullet hit somewhere less fatal.

Notes:

I'm gonna be honest with y'all. I wrote this completely at random at 2am and most of this just kinda sprang to life without my knowledge, so my bad if there's mistakes.

This is kind of a rewrite of the end of the game in some senses.

Chapter 1: An Extremely Shallow Grave

Everything feels hot, especially under her skin. A wet fire filled with the smell of iron and rust, along with the cold mud clinging to her arms and face.

She's breathing, so she's alive. She knows she's breathing due to the fact of how fucking loud it is in her ears, the only sound that isn't muffled and grainy.

She wonders if somehow she's not in the universe right now, maybe time doesn't exist, because she can't tell how long she's been breathing or how long her shoulder has been on fire.

She knows where she is, these smells and the blurs in front of her are familiar, she just can't reach the name in her cloudy head at the moment. Even with the familiarity, an underlying panic clings to her, forcing her heart to keep racing, another sign that she's alive.

There was something important that was happening before this, she was with someone. They were finding someone else. It was important, something dangerous…

Chloe's eyes widen as her heart lurches, the panic rising tenfold, adrenaline spiking as the fire seems to cool, a chilling dread overtaking her body instead.

Max.

Max is hurt.

Rachel is dead.

Chloe rolls to her side, the back of her brain screaming to remain still, that the injury is still there. She digs her nails into the mud, feeling the fear push her body up to a sitting position.

Nathan didn't shoot her.

Jefferson did.

Jefferson hurt Max.

Bits of info seem to recollect in her mind as she forces her shivering body to move. Rachel is dead, Max has been taken by the same monster.

Chloe rocks to her knees, ungracefully attempting to stand up. It's dark still, she doesn't know how much time has passed. Breathing deeply, she glances to her shoulder, the glistening sight of dark blood soaked into her white tank immediately causing her to grab the nearest object for support as she vomits.

She almost wants to cry, the images of Rachel being brought back with the onslaught of recent memories.

What if Max dies?

Chloe wipes her mouth with the back of her hand before reaching into her pocket, finding her phone.

3% battery remaining, she could manage a quick phone call, it would be fine. A broken laugh escapes her throat as she attempts to navigate her phone with her shaking hand.

She finds the contact she never thought she would need to use, the one her mom forced her to have in cases of emergency. Major guilt tripping ended up being needed to have her mom win that argument.

She calls, her phone dropping to 2%, the adrenaline making her feel dizzy and nauseous again as she listens to the ring.

"Chloe, where the hell are you? Your mother has tried calling you who knows how many times, you can't just-"

"David, please…" Chloe feels her body lean heavily against what she thinks is a washing machine as she sighs in relief.

"Chloe? Where are you?" David doesn't sound mad anymore, that's almost worrying, but she has better things to focus on right now.

"Jefferson…at Blackwell…" Chloe gags again, holding the phone away from her face as the feeling of fire begins to return. She hears yelling on the phone, her quivering hand bringing it back to her ear.

"Where are you?! Are you okay?" Chloe laughs a little at that, it feels like a stupid question.

"At the junkyard…" Chloe lets her legs fail again as she slides back to the mud, avoiding her vomit from before. It hurts so fucking bad, her eyes immediately filling with tears.

"We found Rachel…" Chloe covers her mouth as a sob breaks through. Everything fucking hurts, she's so tired, why is this happening?

"I'm on my way. Are you hurt?" David never sounds like this, Chloe doesn't know how to take it. She looks at her shoulder again, just seeing the wound seems to amp the pain up.

"It hurts really bad." She can hear David swear on the other end.

"Just stay awake, Chloe, that's a goddamn order." Chloe shakes her head as she sighs.

"I'm not good with orders." She puts a hand on her chest, feeling how quickly her heart is beating. She wonders if it'll explode, that maybe too much pain at once will just end her. She thinks she would have ended a long time ago though if that were true.

She can't understand the words on the phone anymore as the sound of her heart seems to fill her head with cotton. She's still breathing, she's fine.

A shadow runs to her, its hands immediately grabbing her shoulders as it tries to communicate. She doesn't understand, her eyes staring, unfocused, on this thing. She hopes it doesn't kill her too.

Chloe feels tired, her body feels weak and ready to sleep, so she tries to follow its requests, she really does try.

That is until something presses on her wound, HARD, causing her to scream and jolt back to consciousness. Her gaze immediately snaps to David who is pressing gauze against her shoulder as hard as he can.

"You are very lucky here, Chloe. Another inch and you would've already been dead." Chloe isn't sure if that's entirely reassuring, she's not sure of much at the moment except for the blinding pain coursing through her.

"Fuck, David, can't you be gentle?" David smirks lightly as he continues wrapping bandages tightly around her shoulder.

"You've been shot and you're still mad at me, at least you're somewhat coherent." Chloe huffs as she's pulled up into a sitting position, goosebumps appearing on her arms from the night chill.

"David." Chloe feels the panic gripping her again, her breathing choppy as she stares at the ground with widened eyes.

"Hey, it's okay, you're safe now. I know you don't trust me, but I won't let anything else hurt you." David says firmly as he finishes the bandaging. Chloe looks up, her eyes meeting David's, practically boring into his skull.

"He took Max. He hurt her." David looks back with surprise, nodding slightly.

"I know where he'll be then." David responds, a flicker of fury in his eyes.

"He's at the Prescott barn." Chloe adds quietly.

"How do you know that? God, why did he even target you two?" Chloe smiles lightly.

"You know me, always finding trouble." David sighs, shaking his head as he checks Chloe's bandage again.

"Do you think you can walk?" Chloe nods as David helps her to her feet, silently slinging her arm over his shoulders. It was an odd image, a step-daughter who hated her step-dad with every fiber of her being, now practically being carried to safety without a complaint.

He helps her sit in the passenger seat of his car before he sits behind the wheel, immediately driving out of the junkyard. Small flashes of war invade his mind, but he pushes past it. This isn't a battlefield, this is his daughter.

As they drive, Chloe frowns, her eyes staring out the window.

"We're going the wrong way." David shakes his head.

"You're going to a hospital to be checked." Chloe turns, eyes wide.

"We don't have time! Max is in trouble right now and no one knows, but us!" David grips the steering wheel tighter.

"I don't know how long you were out there like that, Chloe. For God's sake do you know how many infections you could've gotten from that place from just a scrape let alone a bullet wound?!" Chloe looks to him pleadingly, the usual look of anger and rebellion locked behind a familiar look of panic and grief.

"David, please, I can't fucking lose her, she's all I have now." David ignores her, eyes glued to the road so he won't see her face. "David, I swear, I can't lose anyone else!"

When David continues to ignore her, even as her heart rate picks up again, her eyes wild and scared, she looks to the steering wheel.

She inhales, before grabbing the wheel, jerking it to the side immediately, the car turning sharply and skidding, David attempting to regain control as he swears.

He pulls the car over once he's regained control.

"Fuck, Chloe! Do you ever think?!" Chloe is breathing harshly, her face close to his.

"We have to save her." David feels at a loss as he stares back. She's always been stubborn, he knows nothing can change her mind right now.

"If I take you with me you have to stay in the car, okay?" David suggests. Chloe nods quickly, flinching slightly at her wound moving. David sighs loudly.

"Okay, let's go." He turns the car around, anxiety filling the car as they make their way to the old Prescott barn.

Chapter 2: Rescue and Revelations

Summary:

In David's mind it's simple:
-Get in
-Stop Jefferson
-Save Max
-Get Out

He planned for things to go wrong, but nowhere did he plan for superpowers and several second chances.

Notes:

Sorry this is so late y'all, I've been on bed rest past few days thanks to being my chronically ill self, but I finally had the energy to write some more so here's another chapter.

Once again wrote this at 3am so my bad if there's still mistakes lol

The car stops further away from the building, David keeps insisting that surprise is crucial to this entire rescue. The drive wasn't long, but with the constant worry gnawing at her brain Chloe couldn't stand waiting.

David is next to her checking his gun before he leaves. She isn't sure how she feels about guns anymore, it feels like it's been forever since Max and her had their day in the junkyard.

But then she was shot.

Rachel was buried in their spot.

Max was taken by a psychopath.

If the gun is able to help save Max, then Chloe decides she loves them, even with the burning in her wounded shoulder. David slides the magazine back into place with a click, causing Chloe to look back at him.

They don't say anything, but they seem to understand everything they want to say at that moment. Chloe almost relaxes as she looks at David, he's not paranoid or angry, he looks focused and in his element.

Chloe wonders if they would've gotten along better if they met in a warzone.

David opens the door, before hesitating, looking Chloe up and down. He reaches to his belt and pulls something off it, handing it to Chloe.

"It's not much, but take this for my peace of mind. Use it if anyone tries to come in here." Chloe wraps her fingers around the hilt of the tactical knife, nodding slowly as she takes it. David nods back.

"I'll bring her back." David says as he closes the door, quickly going towards the barn. Chloe watches him from the rear view mirror, the knife held close to her.

"Please, she's all I have…" She whispers.

///////////////////////

David is on guard. His gun in his hand feels like an old memory, his senses heightened as he enters the enemy's territory.

He's canvased this place before, but not as much as he wanted to. He didn't expect so much to happen as quickly as it did. He didn't expect it to come as close to his home as it did.

The thought of finding Chloe any later than he did scares the shit out of him.

And now the thought of what state Max could be in haunts him as he descends the concrete staircase.

He keeps his back close to the wall, in case Jefferson happens to not be behind the door he's facing. The door is already opened a crack, the room beyond it looks dark, but he can hear muttering further in.

He sneaks through the entryway with ease, his gun held steady in front of him as he goes towards where light and sounds of soft speaking are coming from.

He breathes in deeply as he spots Max. Her ankles and wrists bound to a chair in the middle of some photo shoot setup. She looks tired, her eyes alert, but her head drooping slightly. He takes another step.

Max's panicked eyes immediately shoot to him as something heavy hits his forearms, immediately knocking the pistol from his hands. He turns, Jefferson standing above him, hitting him in the ribs with no hesitation.

He sputters, his body colliding into a sofa in the middle of the room as he tries to breathe through the pain of several cracked ribs, while also attempting to stand and fight his attacker.

"David Madsen, you're making this almost too easy, although I enjoy your efforts at playing hero." Jefferson says sadistically, his foot coming down on David's injured ribs, knocking him flat to the ground.

David's vision swims as he tries to breathe, tries to do anything except curl towards the agony in his chest.

And he must've done something, because suddenly it's better. The pain leaves, he can breathe.

His head spins as he blacks out momentarily, before finding himself standing around the corner again, gun in hand, Jefferson nowhere to be seen.

Only difference now is Max is staring straight at him, blood slowly trickling from her nose, her fingers stretched towards him.

David makes a note to talk to Chloe's friends more.

His eyes wander the room before moving again. He notices the syringes and the bottles of clear liquid. Max has been drugged, but not very recently considering how alert she seems to be.

He knows that still means getting her out of here could be difficult, meaning he's going to have to fully incapacitate Jefferson to get her out.

He's about to make his move again when he hears footsteps coming from behind him. He turns quickly, gun pointed at the door, before he feels something, once again hit him from behind.

It happens again.

The pain leaves before it really starts, he's at where he started, Max staring at him, more blood on her lip and her eyes wider.

Somehow, Max is doing something, and he's sure that something has to do with time travel.

He almost wants to laugh at how ridiculous his thoughts sound, but he's not sure how else to piece everything together.

He hears the footsteps again, this time he puts his back completely against the wall as he waits near the entrance. He looks towards the corner where he is well aware Jefferson is hiding, before preparing for a possible second attacker.

Tension rises as someone slips through the door, his gun immediately aimed at them. He doesn't have time to fully react as the sound of a gunshot rings loudly in his ears and the sound of yelling comes from behind him.

He lets his instincts and reflexes take over as he turns fully around, aims, and shoots, Jefferson falling to the ground with an agonized yell.

"David." David jumps, his gun trained back at the second intruder, before easing up and aiming the barrel back to the floor.

"What the hell are you doing here? I could've shot you!" Chloe looks back at him, her face pale and terrified.

"Yeah, I thought you were going to." Chloe takes a deep breath. "There's a fucking storm outside, it's really fucking bad. The car didn't feel safe."

David feels his heart drop. A huge storm out of nowhere in Oregon?! He doesn't disbelieve it though, with the sudden realizations he's come across in the past few minutes. Time travel and freak storms were things he never considered putting in his files for his investigation into all of this, seeing as he would've had himself institutionalized if he thought these things yesterday, but here they were.

David runs to Jefferson, using zip ties to keep his hands behind his back as he moans in pain from the two non-fatal bullet wounds in his body.

"You sick fucker, you shot my wife's child. You kidnapped her best friend. You fucking drugged Kate Marsh too didn't you?" Jefferson chuckles at the mention of Kate as he looks up at David.

"I've done more than you'll ever be able to wrap that small brain of yours around, Madsen. I've captured so many pure souls before they soured. I am God, Madsen." David growls as he steps against one of the wounds, causing Jefferson to cry out.

"I could shoot you now. You're lucky my stepdaughter's here and I don't want her to see that." Jefferson keeps quiet this time.

"David, I need your help!" Chloe calls out. David turns away from Jefferson, seeing Max cut away from her binds, but her body shaking in Chloe's arms.

"I can't lift her, but she can't walk. Her heart is beating so fast." Chloe holds her protectively in a gentle embrace as Max's eyes stare at the floor, her nose still dripping blood.

David grabs one of the bottles of clear liquid as he walks to Max and Chloe. GHB, a date rape drug, one he suspected the Vortex Club of having access to. He sighs as he slips it into his pocket.

David kneels down by Max as he looks at her eyes. She's sweating, her skin pale, her eyes dilated, and David can tell she's on the verge of hyperventilating.

"Max, do you remember him drugging you?" Max looks at him as she shakes her head.

"I know he did, but I don't remember it happening…" Max answers quietly as she seems to cling to Chloe. Chloe winces slightly as her injured shoulder shifts. David nods.

David goes to help her up, when Max flinches back, hard. Chloe immediately pulls away in pain from the sudden pulling on her arms. Max looks at both of them with the look of a frightened wild animal.

"Max, I promise you're safe now. I just want to help you get out of here so we can go somewhere safe." Max doesn't calm, her breathing erratic as she looks around the room, almost as if she didn't quite process where she's been at this whole time.

Chloe sucks in deep breaths as she lets her shoulder settle. She can feel it bleeding again, but right now that's not her main concern.

"Max, the storm is outside, okay? We have to go somewhere safer." David watches as Max looks at Chloe, her head nodding as Chloe goes closer to her.

"The lighthouse is safe." Max almost whispers. Chloe moves some of the hair out of Max's face before resting her hand against Max's cheek, keeping their eyes locked.

"Then we'll go to the lighthouse. David is going to help you walk since I can't, it'll be okay, I'll be right here." Max nods, her gaze going back to David as she breathes with Chloe, her panic fading.

They stand, Max's arm slung around David's shoulders and Chloe providing as much support as she can with her arm at her waist.

It's slow, but they manage to make it out, the sound of loud wind and rain greeting them as they exit the basement.

"Shit, that definitely sounds like a storm." David says as they approach the barn exit.

"Oh you have no idea." Max responds tiredly as they slowly open the door to outside

David freezes in the doorway, ice running through his body as he sees why exactly Chloe ran to him.

"Holy shit…"

Notes:

For the past year I've had trouble trying to write and so this story, though more simple than a lot of my other ones, has been very helpful in me trying to get back into something I love.

And I love giving y'all something to enjoy too

Please enjoy!

Chapter 3: Death Rides On Wind

Summary:

The storm has arrived, Max isn't getting better and Two Whales is bringing up lots of hard questions

Also Chloe died...but that's nothing new

Notes:

As always:
1. I wrote this super late at night
2. I apologize for how long it took

Work and sickness and all that, but I was shocked to see how many people are enjoying this sleep deprived fueled fic, thank you so much!

First thing David notices is how harsh the wind is. He hasn't even stepped outside fully and he can feel the power of the storm.

Second thing is the absolute destruction that has occurred in the past hour. Trees ripped from the ground, debris of unknown origin racing through the sky.

He has to get to Joyce, he has to make sure she's okay.

"David." He looks at Chloe, her eyes filled with fear as she looks between what's outside and him.

He needs to find Joyce, but he has a job to do first.

"We have to get to the car." Chloe nods as she looks back at Max.

"You feeling any better, Super Max?" Chloe asks, trying to keep a reassuring smile on her face. Max smiles back, weakly, not exactly reassuring anyone in the barn.

"Max, we need to get to the car quickly. Will you be alright if I carry you?" Max looks to Chloe again who nods in confirmation, Max nods back.

"Alright." David carefully and awkwardly lifts Max up in a bridle carry before looking to the storm again.

"Chloe, I need you in front in case there's any obstacles we need to move."

"Okay, do you want to do a count down or something?"

"What? No, just go out when you're ready, we have to be quick." David swore he could feel the barn shifting around them in the wind.

Chloe looks at Max one more time before she runs forward, David immediately on her heels.

The wind hits them hard, almost immediately knocking them both off their feet and causing Max to instinctively try to shield her face with David's shoulder.

They get to the car quickly, only to immediately see that this wasn't going to be their escape vehicle.

"A fucking tree! Fuck!" Chloe yells as she sees the vehicle, the front crumpled under half a tree. David almost swears too, god he loved that car.

David motions for Chloe to follow his lead as he turns. She runs only for him to see too late the debris flying directly at her.

He hears the slam of metal and sees her falling to the ground, blood already running down her face, before the familiar feeling of lightheadedness and pressure returns.

Chloe's standing, she's fine and she's about to run again.

"Chloe, wait!" Max calls out in panic, her hand stretched out and the wind smearing trickling blood across her pale face.

Chloe pauses and the sheet of metal flies past, her eyes widening in understanding before she runs to them again.

"Jefferson has a car here." David states as soon as Chloe is next to him. She nods and they both run back towards the barn.

///////////////////////

The car is intact and unlocked which is all Chloe can ask for right now. David places Max into the backseat, Chloe immediately climbing in next to her as David climbs into the driver's seat.

Cocky fucker left the keys in the ignition, because of course he would. Chloe would joke about it, if it didn't look like Max was seconds from vomiting or passing out.

Max's head lays against her legs, her trembling body stretched across the back seats. Chloe wipes her hair back, grimacing at the smeared blood drying on her face.

"David, she looks sick." Chloe says quietly as David drives the car away from the barn. He looks in the rearview mirror, worry in his eyes.

"She's probably going through withdrawals. We'll get her help once the storm has passed." Max tenses at the mention of the storm, her hands scratching lightly at the sides of her arms as her breathing picks up slightly.

"It's going to be okay, Max. We're going to be okay." Max shakes her head, trying to catch her breath.

"I did it Chloe, I killed them."

"No, fuck that type of thinking, Max! You aren't responsible, just because you can see things before they happen doesn't make it your responsibility to fix them!" Max sobs as she digs her nails into her arms, Chloe attempting to gently move her hands.

David watches in silence, before he stops the car. A fallen telephone pole and various other pieces of destruction block the remaining road. He can see people running in various directions looking for shelter, many of them students he has seen a few times at Blackwell.

Slightly further down the road is Two Whales. He sighs, if he dares to go see her there's a chance he never leaves. Chloe looks at him, an unspoken agreement between them.

They have to see her, even if it's their downfall.

They open their doors, pull Max out who seems to have worsened since the barn, face the road and begin their walk.

Notes:

This is probably a slower chapter, but I promise shit is about to go down soon

Chapter 4: Storm in the Diner

Summary:

David and Chloe go check on Joyce in the diner. Max isn't doing well.

Notes:

Sorry this took forever to make, work and life have been hectic.

TW//there's a scene with vomiting, the beginning and end of the scene will be shown with ***

The scene doesn't hold major story points in it, so it's fine to skip if needed

They go as fast as they can towards the diner, weaving through fallen debris and the rushing wind and rain. David is holding Max tight to him in hopes of shielding her from the weather as Chloe sprints ahead to the door.

David runs through the door as Chloe holds it open, Chloe immediately following behind. They hear a gasp as Joyce stands from the floor.

"Chloe! David!" She grabs Chloe, holding her tightly, causing Chloe to flinch back and grab her shoulder. Joyce immediately moves her hand and her shirt to see the soaked, bloody bandage.

"What happened?" She looks at David, her eyes falling on Max. "Oh god, what the hell happened, David?"

Before David can speak Chloe answers.

"Fucking teacher at Blackwell, Max's idol, he's been drugging kids and kidnapping them. Max and I found out and he took her and…shot me." Chloe's lip quivers as she huffs angrily. She grits her teeth and shakily takes a breath.

"We found Rachel…she's dead." Joyce stares at her, unable to find what to say as she processes the news. Chloe trembles, her hands trying to wipe the tears away before they can fall. She fails as the sobs escape her throat.

Joyce reaches out to comfort her before Max begins breathing rapidly again, her eyes shooting open as she tries to lean away from David.

***"Shit!" David almost drops Max as he rushes to lay her on the floor as she vomits. Her entire body violently shakes as she hyperventilates, David keeping her on her side while Joyce rushes to grab something and Chloe drops beside her.

"I'm so sorry, Max. It's okay, you'll be okay." David feels his own sense of anxiety and dread as he watches the two injured girls cry and panic. Others in the diner begin to come towards the scene, while some are just starting to take notice.

Just as Max stops vomiting Joyce returns carrying a first aid kit and a stack of cold, damp towels. She puts a folded apron under Max's head as she sits next to her, the back of her hand against her cheek and forehead before she places the towel on her forehead. Joyce frowns as Max tries to move away from her, panic evident on her face.***

Chloe scoots closer to her, adjusting the towel as she moves her hair out of her face, making sure Max's eyes are on her.

"Hey, it's me Max, I know it feels bad, but you're going to be okay, I promise." Max nods as she stares up at Chloe. Chloe gently moves Max so she's laying against her, as she continues to pet her hair. Max still breathes erratically, but she seems calmer, even as the sound of the pounding rain seems to grow louder and the tense environment feels more dreadful.

David and Joyce work on Chloe's shoulder again, but she barely pays attention to it as she looks down at her best friend. The girl who saved her life, the one who gave her meaning in this shit hole of a town. Max's eyes are unfocused, her skin is pale and covered with sweat and still shaking with tremors, but Chloe can tell Max is seeing her.

"I'll make it okay again." Max doesn't move or say anything, but Chloe understands.

They patch up her shoulder and David stands, looking out the windows at the storm. They're running out of time, and he knows there isn't another choice right now.

"We have to go." Joyce looks confused as David steps towards Chloe.

"Go?! Have you seen that damn storm? There's no going anywhere, David!" David picks up Max again, Chloe standing next to him.

Joyce stands in front of the door as she looks at the both of them. "David! Have you lost your damn mind? They're especially in no state to leave! What is wrong with you?!"

"Joyce, I can't explain all of this to you, but we need to get Max to the lighthouse. It's the only way to stop this." Joyce looks at him like he's lost it.

"You can't just stop a storm, David. Especially not with a very sick young woman who should only be leaving to go to a hospital!" David steps back as Joyce gets in his face.

"And Chloe's injured too! I will not let you take my daughter out to get killed because of some paranoid nonsense you've come up with! This isn't war, David, it's bad weather!"

"Mom!" Chloe steps closer, acting as a barrier between David and Joyce. She looks at David for a moment, a guilty look on her face before she speaks again.

"Come with us."

"What? Chloe, there's no way-" David argues before Chloe interrupts.

"Mom, come with us, I can try to explain, but it'll be easier for you to see. The lighthouse is safe, trust me." She puts her hands on Joyce's shoulders as she looks her dead in the eyes.

"It's going to all sound insane, but you don't know everything about Max."

Notes:

I'm glad you guys seem to enjoy this story and sorry it's not updated super regularly. This is one of the few things I really enjoy doing, but have little time for now, so I'm happy to see other people enjoying this with me.

Notes:

I'm not sure entirely when I'll post more, but hopefully I can soon.

Anyways I hope you enjoyed 💜