A/N: I am brand new to writing fan fiction, so please be kind with reviews and criticism. I'd love some advice and feedback. I apologise to all Pricefield shippers, I do love Max and Warren together. Also, I haven't really focused on certain aspects - such as rewinding, or going back in time to fix things (even though I know that's the main plot of the game). It's just a loose interpretation of what I'd like to happen. I hope you enjoy this. :)

Max lay on the ground of the junkyard. Her entire body was numb, she couldn't move at all. But her mind was running at a thousand miles an hour. Her best friend had just been shot in the head. It felt as if it was in slow motion, watching Chloe fall, the life leaving her eyes. Max couldn't believe what was happening. She opened her eyes and gasped in horror to see Mr. Jefferson stood over her with a scary look on his face. He had injected her with drugs. He shot her best friend. Max could feel herself losing consciousness. Her eyes were closing, her mind was losing the sense of reality. She passed out just as Mr. Jefferson carried her and put her into the boot of his car.

*Click* *Click*

The bright, white flashes startled Max. The faint shutter sounds brought her out of consciousness. She was still very weak, but she could see her surroundings. She was in the Dark Room. Against the white background. Duct tape wrapped around her wrists and ankles. Mr. Jefferson was behind the camera, looking for the right angle to capture Max at the height of her innocence and beauty. Upon realising that Max was awake, Mr. Jefferson lowered his camera.

"Hello, Max", he said quietly. "I bet you're wondering why you're here, hmm?"

Max tried to scream, but no sound came out of her mouth.

"There's no point in screaming or yelling for help, Max. There's no-one out here for miles. You're just wasting your breath."

"Why… me? Why am I here?" Max whispered.

"Oh, I've had my eye on you for a while. Your quiet personality, your beautiful face, your talent for photography. A perfect subject for my work. I knew I had to follow you, to see what you and that blue-haired girl were up to. I followed you to the barn, where you discovered my secret projects. I followed you to the junkyard, where you found Rachel's body. I just knew if I could lure you back there somehow, I could have you. Your friend was just collateral damage, I had no use for her. But don't worry, she was easy to hide. I buried her next to Rachel. I made sure that there was no evidence left around."

Tears came to Max' eyes. Now that Chloe was dead and she was stuck in the Dark Room, there was no-one to save her, or find evidence against Mr. Jefferson or the Prescotts. Max fought to stop her tears from falling, but one escaped.

"Perfect! Perfect! That's just what I want", exclaimed Mr. Jefferson as he snapped away on his camera.

Max wiped her tear away and her fear was replaced by anger.

"Why are you doing this? To Rachel, Kate, all those other girls, now me?" Her voice was getting stronger.

"Don't you see a connection, Max? Between you, Kate and Rachel? You are beautiful and you are innocent. Weren't you listening in Monday's class? 'What if Arbus chose to capture people at the height of their beauty and innocence?' That, Max, is what I want my photos to be."

"So you kidnap young girls, drug them and tie them up? How is this right?"

"You have no idea, Max. You and the other girls are at the height of your beauty and innocence when you are most vulnerable. The drugs make you vulnerable, they make you helpless. To me that is when someone looks the most beautiful and innocent", said Mr. Jefferson quietly.

"What is wrong with you? You're fucking sick in the head!"

Mr. Jefferson calmly put his camera down and walked over to Max. Without a word he slapped Max hard across the face, causing her to whimper in pain.

"Quiet! I have to get on with my work and you need to shut up. In fact, I need to inject you again. You're becoming too feisty for my liking."

He walked over to a tray and took a syringe. He then proceeded to fill it with a strange clear liquid.

Max felt as if her face was on fire. She couldn't hold back the tears any longer.

"Please…don't do this"

Mr. Jefferson didn't say anything. He turned back around and slowly walked towards Max. He held her head down and slowly brought the needle to her neck.

Max knew she had to escape, somehow. With all her might she hit Mr. Jefferson in the face with her bound fists. It stunned him for a moment, but he quickly came to. He pinned Max's arms to the ground. Max struggled as hard as she could, trying to kick, punch, anything she could do to get him off her. But Mr. Jefferson was too strong. He had her arms and legs pinned to the ground. His face was inches from hers.

"Stop struggling. There's no way out for you. After I'm done with you, I can't exactly let you go. You know far too much. But don't worry, you won't feel a thing. Once you're passed out from these drugs, you'll never wake up again. This time, I'll make sure no-one finds you, or Rachel Amber, or your friend. Goodbye, Max Caulfield". He injected the needle into Max's neck and started to press down on the syringe.

Suddenly, the weight of Mr. Jefferson was lifted off Max. It took all of Max's strength to get the needle out of her neck. She could see that only a small amount had gone into her system. She could feel her strength leave her. But she could still see. She saw two dark figures fight each other. One had the other pinned to the floor.

"I'll take care of it now. Get her!" one figure shouted. It wasn't Mr. Jefferson's voice. It sounded like David Madsen. What was he doing here? Was he working with Nathan?

Max felt something move on her right-hand side. She turned her head and found herself looking into deep, brown eyes.

"Warren?" she whispered.

"It's okay, Max. I've got you." Warren said as he untied Max. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her up. Max couldn't feel much, but the warmth of Warren's chest and his strong arms tightly protecting her made her feel so safe.

Warren ran with Max to his car. He strapped Max into the passenger seat and ran to his seat. He immediately started the engine and they sped off into the night.

"Warren…" Max could barely speak, "Warren, how did you find me?"

"I wanted to find you and talk to you properly about what happened with Nathan. I just feel weird about what I did and what I could have done. I'm glad you stopped me. But you weren't in your dorm, so I thought you'd be with Chloe. I managed to find out where she lived and went there. I know I sound like a creep. But I saw David Madsen come out and he looked like he was on a mission. I asked him about what he was up to, but he wouldn't tell me. I asked if it was something to do with you and Chloe and his face said it all. I made him fill me in and we devised a plan."

"Wha… What plan?"

"David had been up to Chloe's room and he saw your investigation board. It didn't take him long to decipher your clues, and leaving the location of the barn on the laptop screen was a big clue. He said he'd take down anyone who was in there and I'm there as back-up, or to save you and Chloe while David takes down the bad guy. Where is Chloe anyway?"

"She's dead, Warren", Max whispers, tears falling down her cheeks. "Jefferson shot her".

Warren's face paled as he pulled over.

"What?" he said as he turned to face Max. "What happened?"

"We found Rachel Amber's body in the junkyard. We were lured there by Jefferson. We had no idea. When we got to the body, he injected drugs into my neck with a syringe. I tried to warn Chloe, but as soon as she turned around, he shot her in the head!" Max started sobbing.

"I'm so, so sorry, Max", said Warren. He put his arm around Max and pulled her closer to him.

Max's tears started to soak through Warren's shirt, but he didn't care. Max was safe and that was all that mattered. It broke his heart to see her lying on the floor, completely helpless. He would do anything to protect her and that feeling has become even stronger now. He never wanted to leave her again.

"Max, I'll always protect you. I'll always be here for you. I hope you know that", said Warren softly as he kissed the top of Max's head.

Max's grip on Warren tightened.

"Never let me go, Warren" she whispered.

"Never" he whispered back.

Two days later

It was late at night. It had been a long 48 hours. When David and Warren left to find Max, they had called the police to back them up if needed. Once Warren and Max were gone, David successfully managed to beat Mr. Jefferson into submission. The police arrived and he was arrested. Nathan and his family were also arrested in connection with Rachel Amber's murder and the violation of numerous young girls. Max had to give a statement against Mr. Jefferson and she informed the police of where Rachel Amber and Chloe's bodies were buried. Together with all the information found in the Dark Room, Jefferson was sentenced to life imprisonment and the Prescotts lost all of their power over Arcadia Bay.

Despite the justice done, Max still felt empty without Chloe. Her best friend. It was hard to sleep, as she had so many nightmares. There was only one person who could take all those bad thoughts away. Warren.

It was midnight and Max was in her dorm. After a few days full of drama, endless questions from other students, the police and her family, it was the only time where she could get some peace. Except that time was the worst time because of the nightmares. Every time Max managed to fall asleep, she would wake up shortly after shaking and sweating. She needed someone to hold. She didn't want to be alone.

Max got out of bed and tip-toed to the boys' dormitory. She knew he would be awake. He's normally watching movies all night. Max arrived at his door and quietly knocked. Within two seconds, the door opened and Warren stood before her. Max looked up at him with her big teary eyes.

"Can I stay with you tonight, please?" Max murmured.

Warren didn't answer. He wrapped his arms around Max in a tight embrace. He brought her in and closed the door, not letting her go. They stayed in that embrace for a while, before Warren pulled away and held Max's hands.

"Are you okay? Are you having those nightmares again?"

"Yes. I can never sleep properly anymore. Only when I'm with you", Max looked up at Warren again.

"Come here", said Warren as he laid on his bed. Max laid next to him. Warren wrapped his arms around Max, never letting her go, just like he promised. Max snuggled into him, her head on his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall, hearing his heart quickly pound.

"Thank you, Warren. I can always count on you. You're all I have now", Max's voice shook as her lips quivered. She looked up at him again, looking into his beautiful, brown eyes.

Warren softly caressed Max's lips with his finger. They immediately stopped quivering. Her lips were warm, soft, and beautiful. He slowly started to lean in, one hand cupping her face, looking into Max's eyes to see if what he was doing was okay. She nodded slightly and Warren softly placed his lips on hers. The kiss was warm, soft, deep. It filled Max's body with life and warmth. Warren's heart was nearly bursting out of his chest. They both pulled away slightly and looked into each other's eyes.

"You're going to be okay, Max", said Warren as he stroked her hair.

"I'll be okay as long as you are here with me", Max replied.

"I'll always be here for you. Always", said Warren as their lips joined together once more, his arms tightly around her waist.

Max knew that facing the heartache of losing Chloe and the amount that she had gone through would be horrible, but having Warren by her side made her feel stronger. She knew that Chloe would be watching over her and she would think about her every day.

With Warren's secure, strong arms wrapped around her, Max slowly drifted to sleep. This time, she didn't have any nightmares.