Author's Preface
With her newfound ability to glide through the open air, Chloe flew down closely to sea level and brushed her palm and fingers on the surface, trails of powder-white foam sprouting behind her; it made the inner child in her giggle.
Raising her altitude again, she changed into a daredevil when she decided to practice a few flips and corkscrews; she also attempted a close dive towards the water before pulling back up, which nearly proved fatal.
Settling herself shortly, Chloe turned until she was floating on her back to look back up to the star field above, her arms and fingers spread open to balance herself.
This is what it feels like to be free. This is what it feels like to have power. Hella awesome!
As she continued staring at the night sky like another canvas masterpiece, she brought one hand over her face and squinted when a bright gold aura emerged from that backdrop. Freeing her gaze, Chloe watched in awe as this... spiritual glow ... writhed and steamed like an underwater ribbon.
" Aurora Borealis ." Chloe stated quietly, recalling what her father, William, used to call these kinds of lights. "I guess I'm supposed to go up there, huh?"
Following her instinct, Chloe faced back down so she could shoot straight upwards to follow that northern light, or whatever it was.
When she neared this golden mist, it too began to travel upwards in a straight. This forced the winged bluenette to work her new muscles harder just to keep up.
From the way they continued ascending upwards without any hint of changing course, she had to wonder if she was about to be taken into outer space.
" Don't worry, Chloe." Rachel's voice projected from the aura, as if reading her mind. "We're not taking you to outer space."
"Then... where are we headed?"
" Anyway the wind blows... "
Chloe froze up upon hearing that other voice that answered her. It was a man's, but not only that, there was a familiar sing-song tone in it that sent waves of shivers down her spine; it was one she believed she would never hear again in her life.
" Dad? "
It was a mistake, for it was the voice of William .
In a matter of time, a swirl of pure white energy that appeared to be some wormhole was within sight as they drew closer to it.
"I—Is this where we're supposed to go?" Chloe asked Rachel, getting nervous.
" You tell me. " She simply replied. " Or better yet..."
Immediately, before Chloe could process it, she was already enveloped in this wormhole's brightness. Any semblance of control she had over her path slipped away as she felt herself being towed through this surging tunnel, the outlines of her body disappearing in this whitewash; to her, it was like entering light speed as seen in those space movies.
Normally, she would be panicking and thrashing about, but the voices of her late father and friend provided her with enough comfort to breathe and trust this route she was being taken through.
" Anyway the wind blows..." Chloe repeated. "Whatever the hell that means."
Just as the winged girl managed to balance herself, she felt an unseen surface careening her way, and instinctively, she folded both arms over her face to brace for whatever impact.
"Oh, shit!"
She felt her body shoot out of the wormhole like a cannon before diving into a substance of powder that softened her crash-landing.
Chloe remained prone for a moment before lifting her head to find herself her hands pressed deeply into the sand, white as snow and glittery as diamonds. Since no injury was sustained anywhere, she angled her head over her shoulder to find that she had left a grazing trail from when she skidded upon touchdown.
"Great fucking landing." She commented.
A tower in the distance ahead of where she saw looking got her to scope her attention further to see that it was the same lighthouse again, except this time it appeared somewhat less detailed, even from her distance, as though it was an enlarged miniature model.
"That's another dollar for the swear jar." A manly voice spoke out of the blue.
Chloe whirled her head back in front of her to find a grown blonde man standing over her with a gleaming smile. "D—Dad?"
William lent a hand to help her up, but Chloe instead scuffed to her feet on her own and eyed him up and down with a gaping maw.
"I—Is that r—really you?" She stumbled on her words, long unresolved emotions threatening to break loose again.
William simply raised an eyebrow as he checked out her blue long hair and wings and simply chuckled. "What the hell are you dressed as? I thought you were too old to be trick-or-treating."
"What are you doing here?" Chloe brought a hand up to her father's face, half-reluctant to accept his presence. "Are you really even here?"
William softened his smile and lowered his head a little. "I'm here to help you save your Maxy-poo ."
She stepped back a bit to find that he was dressed in normal clothes consisting of a check shirt jacketing over a white top and a pair of dark jeans; these were the same clothes he wore on the day he... left .
Chloe finally let herself as she fell into his embrace, sobbing hard into his chest.
William held her and rocked back and forth like she was still a child.
"I'm so sorry, Chloe." He said. "I wish I hadn't left to pick up Joyce. I wish I hadn't walked out that door that day. I wish I could take it all back to see you grow."
"It's not your fault!" Chloe replied, taking her face off to look up at him with her glossed blue orbs. "What I said about you in the truck to Max... I didn't mean it! It was never your fault! I was just so angry about my life after you left me! I've lost so much!"
"I know, I know!"
"I miss you so much!"
"I miss you too, but you know you can only move forward."
"I've made so many mistakes!" She sniffled. "One fuck-up after another!"
"So have I, but we have to live with them, don't we?" William assured her. "Even Max."
Chloe couldn't help but let out a sad giggle. "I miss having you boss me around. I used to hate it."
William hummed in agreement and then released her, which was Chloe's queue to get back her focus on Max.
"We should find Max, now." Chloe stated matter-of-factly as she wiped her face.
"Lead on, Macduff." William answered, pointing away to the lighthouse.
Chloe took her father's hand, lacing her fingers comfortably between his, and began lifting him off the ground as she took off with her wings; he was surprisingly light, despite his big frame.
"Let's defy gravity!" William cheered, and they were off towards the lighthouse.
As they flew together with their hands still linked, they couldn't stop smiling at one another like two little children playing in the rain; it was always their fantasy to fly.
Not only that, Chloe was flying with her father . She wanted this to last forever.
"If only we could replay this." William remarked, as if reading his daughter's mind. "Over and over again, it won't have to end."
"Yeah, but it wouldn't be a moment, would it?" Chloe answered.
"I got another question." William's tone was more serious this time.
"Okay?"
William suddenly pointed down, and Chloe followed his finger to find a miniature model of their house with the half-painted blue.
"Could you all do me the kindness of finishing my paint job, please? I just don't like how it was left unfinished."
Chloe swallowed a lump, remembering how he was in the process of painting the entire front area blue before he died.
"I promise." She finally said, empowered with determination. "I'm even thinking of becoming an artist."
William then raised a devious brow. "Are you also thinking of marrying Max?"
"WHAT!?" She shrieked.
Chloe was so shocked by that random question that her broken concentration caused them to barrel down. Luckily, she regained control and managed to land them both safely in front of the lighthouse.
Once they were safely on the ground, William unleashed a howl of laughter and hooked the girl into a headlock to rub her noggin.
"Dad! T—That's not funny!" Chloe protested, trying to remain serious but failing.
"Yes, it is!" He shot back. "You always told me how you never want to be away from her!"
"Dad! We have a mission!"
Finally, William let go and raised his hands in surrender but didn't drop his smugness. "Of course, let's go save your damsel in distress ."
Rolling her eyes, they turned their full attention back to the lighthouse, now as big as the real thing up close.
Chloe pealed her ears wider to hear a noise creaking from up top... it sounded like someone sobbing.
Wasting no time, Chloe flew up with her dad in tow once more. Once on top, William followed closely as she darted from one place to another around the inactive searchlight to search for the source of that cry with high hopes.
Another voice joined the company shortly. "Come on, it's okay."
Chloe stiffened for a split second, recognizing it immediately, and hurried there.
Eventually, there, seated against the railing on the other end was Rachel enveloping her golden essence around another girl, who was shivering and whimpering like crazy.
When Rachel noticed Chloe and William's presence, she turned her head up to them with tearful delight. "Oh my God, you made it!"
The other girl lifted her head from Rachel's shoulder to reveal the drained but unmistakable face of Max Caulfield in the flesh. When her ringed eyes met Chloe's, they steadily widened into circles as her jaw hung loose.
"C—Chloe?" She croaked.
It's her! It's really her!
Unable to contain her joy, Chloe dashed towards her and scooped her thin frame from Rachel into her own arms. She laughed and cried and wailed.
"Max!" She cried. "Oh, Max! My baby! Is that really you?" Chloe pulled back and cupped her face like a cherished artefact. "What happened to you?"
Max took a moment of silence to gaze back at her through half-lidded eyes before raising a hand to touch her face as well.
"I—Is that really you?"
Chloe nodded furiously, more tears breaking loose. "Can you say it, please?"
Confused at first, Max then looked around her in awe at her longer blue hair, her whitened glowing body, and her sheening blue butterfly wings. If she had more strength, she would try to feel them all over.
Now understanding, Max said it.
" Wowser ! You look... amazeballs !" Her voice, though weak, had that same bright flair.
When it was Chloe's turn to check her out, she noticed how much skinnier she had become in her time here, not to mention that she had nothing on her body but a towel.
"N—Nathan." Max suddenly uttered. "Nathan... is... sorry."
The mere mention of that spoiled rich kid caused her to clench her jaw and tighten her hold on Max, unintentionally hurting her. When the shorthaired brunette hissed, Chloe realized quickly and relented.
"I know he is." Rachel answered Max, nodding in acknowledgement.
"What will happen to you?" Chloe asked Rachel suddenly.
Before she could get her answer, William came over and patted Chloe's shoulder. "Better we ask those questions later, don't you think?"
Chloe nodded, knowing he was right, but she had to ask Rachel another question. "What do we do now?"
"For now, we get Max out of here." Rachel stood up, prompting Chloe to do the same while cradling her beloved in her arms. "Take her to a safer haven in her mind. I'll fill you in there."
With that, Rachel dispersed into a glowing gold mist once more that trailed outwards away from the lighthouse, prompting Chloe to follow as well.
Just as she was about to step up off the railing, she paused and looked back to her father, whom was idling back, not looking like he was going anywhere.
"Dad? Aren't you coming?"
William bit his lip and looked down, giving his answer already. Chloe almost wanted to turn back. "I've done my part, Chloe."
"No, Dad!"
"It's been wonderful seeing you again!" He declared.
Chloe shook her head, wanting to rush back over to him, but kept her feet rooted where they were.
"Give Joyce my love, will you?"
Chloe had to swallow another lump before nodding. "I promise."
"Good." William smiled and then waved her off. "Now be off!"
Chloe took off into the sky with Max, daring not to look back, as she followed the golden trail to the next unknown parts of their journey.
"I'm here, Super Max." Chloe hushed to her friend. "I'm not letting you out of my sight anymore."