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“Do we have to go?” Winned Nurf, Max had just gone through Harrisons time travel portal.
“David wants to make sure Max is okay and since me and him cant keep you here, you twerps have to come with us” Gwen, arms crossed, shoulders slumped with her usual frown, explained to Nurf.
“I disagree! I think we should have Max have his moment in the past, besides we are adults now!” Dolph responded matter of factly to Gwen.
“I dont give a shit, Dolph, you guys were fucking phycos when you were younger so forgive me for being weary of you little assholes” slumped Gwen annoyingly, David was already doing a head count to make sure everybody was safe before their supposed time travel.
“Alright Gwen! I think thats everybody! Ill go first and lead everyone while you go last to make sure everybody isnt left behind!” David practically cheered for no utter reason, it made Gwen sick.. dont get her wrong! She platonically loved David as a co-counselor but he was just… whats the word? Right.. David was just to much at times.
Gwen nodded with an eye roll, David was the first to go through the portal, then went Neil, Nikki, Ered, Nerris, Harrison, Dolph, Space kid/ Neil armstrong Jr, Preston, Nurf and finally in went Gwen.
When David first arrived through the portal, he was at the entrance of a Hospital and he wasnt suprised to be honest, Max did ask to be sent to this very one before he went through the portal, what did suprise him was the condition of the Hospital, it was indeed a functional Hospital but it was horribly run down, there were bullet holes throught several windows, and the windows that didnt have bullet holes were shattered, trash was littered all around them like it was nothing, the Hospital didnt look like a Hospital it was more like a clinic, one story building that looked like it could be a house, it was made out of bricks that were rusted and all green and moldy, but when David really took in his surroundings…. He notices that the condition of the Hospital wasnt as bad compared to the small town itself, everything looked so dry and empty…almost abandoned if it wasnt for the few shop round the corner that had people coming in and out. David turned back to the Hospital and read the sign that was held by a pole at the entrance of the parking lot, it read: ASPATAAL. David is pretty sure that means Hospital in Hindi, that is Maxes native language, he remembers first hearing the young boy speak Hindi back in the Camp Camp days but, that was nothing but a memory now, David realise that he must be in a town that mostly inhabits indian citizens due to the sign.
After Davids observation everyone was already there, with a quick spell from Harrison, they were all invisable and ready to look for Max, there was only one problem… they didnt know where Max was, yes the Hospital was one floor but the ground floor was wide and big from the outside.
With a few words exchanged they decided to stick together and wonder around until they find Max.
“If they have computers here, then I can access any cameras so we dont wonder around aimlessly! Neil stated matter of factly, Gwen thought it was annoying but the young adult had a point.
“Well lets not just stand here! We need to go find Max” Squealed Nikki excitedly, Nicolette was indeed an adult now and a bit more mature but she still had the same adventurous youth radiating off of her, like in the camp camp years… but that nothing but a memory now.
Everyone trutted inside as a group and kept as quiet as possible.
Preston was hit by a horrible odor that was a mix of nicotine with the smell of barf lingering, he immediately doubled down and gagged, one hand covering his mouth and the other resting at his stomach. Preston was always sensitive, physically and emotionally growing up, thats one of the main reasons he took acting as a hobby. Tears welled up in his eyes because of its the smell, he was extremely Osmophobic.
No one seemes to noticed Preston as they trugged through the building, they headed torwards the main lobby since they seemed to enter through a back door.
Neil was excited to see the computers, be had to be quiet because this building no matter how gross it was still had people occupying it, so he silently jogged to a computer occupied by no one at the current moment.
Neil immediately began typing, the software was horrible but that worked in his favor! All he had to do was gain access to the cameras and he would be on his wa-……. The power went off… The computer turned off and he was left in darkness with nothing but turned a off chromebook….
When the group managed to catch up with Neil they saw his predicament, none of them were happy especially Neil, he had wanted to show the past campers his new hacking skills that he had gained over the years but now he just looked like a fool, sitting at a cheaply made table with a broke computer.
To say Gwen was annoyed would be an understatement, first she was dragged back in time to this ghetto ass town to see some a clinic that looked more dangerous then a haunted house and the place smelt like absolute DOG SHIT, WITH NO WAY TO FIND MAX AND THEIR ONLY HOPE TO SEE HIM WAS ACCESS TO A LAME ASS COMPUTER AND IT BROKE DOWN RIGHT AT THIS VERY MOMENT WHEN IT WAS NEEDED MOST! WHAT A GREAT WASTE OF HER FUCKING TIME.
It took Gwen longer then expected to realize she voiced her thoughts, everyone was now staring at her… she rolled her eyes and tried to brush it off but everyone seems weary of her now… great.
Gwen hopes this trip ends like SHIT ,she curses whatever reason Max wanted to be there for…
“Can we go back to our timeline nowww” groaned Nurf, he already hated being here, it reminded him of his own home which made it a whole lot worst.
“My magic can last us here for 30 more minutes before we are all immediately sent back to our timeline” Harrison replied, this was horribly draining for him, having one person sent back in time was already a pain but having multiple was fucking hell for him, he hid it obviously he didnt want to slow them down but god he wishes that the end goal was worth it.
“W-well lets take a moment to think why Max is here” Stated Nerris, she didnt have braces anymore so her voice was much smoother now, people would always make fun of her for her voice back in the camp camp years, but that was nothing but a memory now…
“Hes probably here to steal some medical drugs, I mean…have you see him!? He lookes homeless and sleep deprived, hes probably on drugs” Ered chimed in, she was the oldest out of everyone, 25…her style changed alot from back then which was a suprise to everyone when they reunited. It made her a bit self conscious.
“Back off Ered you dont look so good yourself, you cant just go around making up stuff about Max when you look like a soccer mom” Neil Jr repiled, now that he looked back on it he hated his obsession with space, he found it embarrassing that when he reunited with the others they didnt know what to call him.
“Woah woah now, lets not fight or make any rumors about our fellow ex campers now!” David stepped in, he had to keep everyone in check now, even Gwen seemed pissed.
Suddenly a strange melody caught all of them off guard, it was a gently rendition of an old nursey rhyme, they all used to sing it around the campfire while David would have his guitar in his lap, the kids would banter but at the time it was all light hearted. The melody brought a taste to Davids mouth, the taste of smores, slightly burnt but still gooey with the cheap off brand chocolate the camp would provide, it was bitter be he couldnt help but miss it, the moon would shine hight above them with a gently glow. Back in the camp camp years, but that was nothing but a memory now…
The melody was coming from the hospital room next door, it was one of those rooms that had a window you could see through, they all peeked through the window and to their suprise… they found Max! But…he was curled up on the hospital bed, his hair being played with by a lady that looked no older then forty.
The lady and Max shared the same skin color, a dark orangey tan with small birthmarks everywhere, her eyes were a bright green, her eyes looked like they once were filled to the brim with life! But now… they lacked it. Her head was covered in bandages which screamed red flags. The voices were a bit muffled but you can still here them.
“Your hair is just like mine dear” said the women, “Im glad its like that” she continued with a small chuckle.
“I-Im glad to….mom” Max let out a dry sniffle, he was having an eternal war with himself not to cry.
Max was a rather jaded kid growing up, he had it really hard when he was younger, living back in India was the worst moments for Max, even if he doesnt remember much he knows he has trauma there, but he does remember small things. He remembers the radiating heat that would burn his skin, he remembers his small wood house that was bulit out of wood, he remembers having to drop out of school to work as a newspaper boy to help his parents, he remembers earing 246 INR at the end of his work day which is equivalent to 3 dollars, he remembers his parents coming home at late hours, he remembers having to pray to be able to eat, he remembers his skinny scrawny body, he remembers having to share a room with his parents, he remembers the countless arguments his parents would make, he remembers pain, he remembers being a traumatized 5 year old… maybe Max does remember a bit more then he originally thought of India…
Max was pulled out of his thought when his mother questioned something that made him loose he breath…
“I die today…dont I?” His mother questioned even though she already knew the answer, “I know your not my current Max, just look at you all grown up. Your probably taller then me!” His mother said with a small laugh.
Max nodded shutting his eyes closed, he wishes he could salvage this moment, almost like a picture.
“Did you make any friends at Camp?” His mother questioned once more, Max wanted to tell his mother all about how his life was going but he knew times was limited and he would soon be pulled out of this timeline.
Ye-Yea mom… I loved camp” Max whispered, he was oh so fragile at the moment, almost like a feather falling in the aky after it was discarded from a bird, falling aimlessly with no intended place to land.
His mom let out a small chuckle out, Max opened his tear shut eyes and looked up at his mother, there she was… she was real, or he thought she was real. His tears made his vision blurry so he couldnt really see her face.
But then, clear as day…was his mothers smile…the same smile she would give to him back then, when she would pet his hair and hum to him to make all his worries go away, back then…
The smile was screaming at him, it was identical to the one in his memories, but it lacked…everything…. Maybe it was the knowing she was gonna die, maybe it was her not seeing her son grow up, maybe it was her life flashing before her eyes, maybe just maybe…it was the knowing she will never seen her son again. Max would still take this small smile over the world.
“I love your hair, it was just like mine” her large warm wrinkly hand carded through his messy dirty black hair, it has yet to be brushed or cleaned, but she was yet to mention it.
“I know mom…I do to” Max sniffled, finally the tears were flowing out and now that it started, it wouldnt stop. He finally reached his breaking point… Pathetic.
Maxes mother brought her son up to hug him. She held him as tightly as she could afraid that if she let go he would disappear, Max did and thought the same.
Behind the window leading to the hospital room was the camp camp crew, all in tears and shambles, none of them had ever seen Max so vulnerable.
David wanted to curse himself, he should have listened to Dolph when he said that Max should have his moment. Gwen wanted to smash her head againt the wall, this kid was hurting so much and she didn’t even notice.
Neil wanted to scream, he was so caught up in showing off his skills he never once considered why they were there. Nikki wanted to cry, there stood her best friend that she had known for years curled up in a hospital bed hurting. Ered wanted to slap herself, here stood a guy she accused of being a drug addict when he just wanted to see his dying mother. Nurf wanted to shoot himself, he was the only one that made a big deal out of this when this was oh so much more serious. Preston wanted to rip his insides out, He was so worried about a god damn smell that he didnt take seriously what they were all doing. Dolph wantes to drink poison, he could have just insisted that they shouldn’t have come and gaven Max the privacy he deserves. Nerris wanted to disappear, this whole time she was shy about her voice that she didnt realise what was going on and the heavyness of this mess. Neil jr wanted to suffocate, he was busy being a prick to Ered and mostly everyone and now look what they witness. Harrison wanted to hang, he was all worried about his magic fucking everything up for them, he could have easily sent them back to not invade this personal moment.
Everyone had something to feel guilty about, because they did this on themselfs, they ignored this hurting boy for years, not once taking into consideration that maybe he had problems to…
Max looked into his mothers eyes, seeing how much he looks like his mom, he hates himself, ever part of himself looked like his mother, a constant reminder of these last final moments.
His mother planted a kiss on his forehead…
She looked him in the eyes and smiled…
She admired his face and saw herself in him…
Her smile never dropping from her face….
“I love you to the moon and back my dear…”
And like that, while looking at her son…
She was gone.