Chapter 21:Katherine
Max walked back to his office determined and ready for the battle ahead. He was pumped and ready to kill some Red Death. Max went up to his office and took off his shirt, wanting to take a long warm shower. As he opened the door of his office, he saw Katherine sleeping on his couch. She woke up almost instantly and she looked at him with his shirt off.
"I'm so sorry!” Max jumped, as he walked back out into the hall and shut the door. He heard her laughing and she called him back into the room. She looked even more beautiful than the last time he saw her. "Have you ever been with a woman before Max? I know everything is pre-destined but still, I mean, you’re one of the best looking guys in the town and you’re so strong," she blurted out.
Max blushed and managed to reply, “Well I've never really had the time to talk to girls." She walked up to him ever so slowly. Max's heart was beating fast, he could barely stop himself from shaking. She pushed him over to the couch, while taking off her skirt. Max had never been so excited in his entire life. But just as she was about to climb on top of him the door burst wide open.
"Max!” said his mother, “I just wanted to bring over some of your stuff….oh!" That’s when she saw Max and Katherine, on the couch.
"Oh mom,” Max stuttered, his face becoming even more red, “I was just going, um, to um, take a shower." His mother smiled, she put down what she’d brought with her, and walked out of the room. Katherine got up putting back her clothes on, laughing hysterically, “You’re cute Max, you really are." She kissed his cheek and strutted out of the room. Max still was lying down on the couch motionless with his shirt off. "Goddamnit! Nothing ever happens like the way I want it to!" he shouted aloud.
He finally got up and took a shower, but he was still very angry with himself. He kept seeing his mom walk through the door as he made his bed for the night on the couch. "Why didn't I just lock the freaking door?" He angrily threw some pillows and blankets on the couch and lay back down. "Well hopefully tomorrow I’ll get a bit more lucky." Max couldn't fall asleep that night, he kept thinking of Katherine and how he almost had her. But finally he cleared his head, he knew had to stay sharp for the town, and eventually he fell asleep.
Max woke up to the sound of an alarm clock that morning and he was very annoyed and hungry. "Two more days until the Red Death arrive," Max muttered, as he went down stairs. He saw a table at the front desk and saw his breakfast. Next to his plate was a letter that read, "Max I hope you slept well, I sure as heck didn't. I made you breakfast, though, and I hope tomorrow night we can have some alone time in my room on the other side of the town hall. I'll make sure there won't be any disturbances -Katherine."
Max smiled and whispered to himself, “Still got a chance." He then eyed down his plate, which was stacked with buttermilk pancakes. "God I'm lucky people cook for me" and after he said that he wolfed down his plate. Max decided to head off to the training fields after he ate breakfast. Of course he was late as usual, and saw all the groups already preparing.
"Just like you to be late," Rock smirked at Max. "Just like you to say something stupid,” Max replied. “I need to find George. Do you know where he is?"
Rock smiled, “Well I am really stupid, but I think he would be with group C. But hey you can't be sure about what I say Max because like you said I say stupid things." "I know Rock, the first step is always acceptance." Rock stormed off, Max always seemed to have the last word.
Max finally found Group C and saw Mayor George calling the shots as usual. The reason why Max wanted to find George was so he could ask him about Katherine. He didn't know how old she was, where she went to school, and why she didn't have a husband. Max walked over to George and asked, “Hey George I know this is a little random, but who is that girl named Katherine and why isn't she married?" George told Max to sit down and that he would explain the situation. "Well Max, I hate to tell you this, but you were supposed to marry Katherine. You were going to have two kids, and have a family. It was already pre-destined to happen, but after you left we were at an odd number of people so we had to improvise. I told Katherine what happened, and asked if she could work with me." Max sat there, thinking about how selfish he had been. "So she was the only one? What about when Betty died, wouldn't there have been another guy?" "I wish it was that simple Max, the system we created was intended and created for a society with a certain amount of people. Anyway, the man Betty would have married would not have been a match for Katherine." Max was very ashamed of himself, but thanked George for his help. He went to the middle of the field and watched everyone work. "I have to keep my mind focused. If I don't defeat the Red Death, Katherine and everyone else won't be alive anyway."
"Everything okay sir? I heard you whispering something," Clay asked Max. Max chuckled and told Clay, "When you've got as many responsibilities as I have, you get a little stressed." "Stressed enough to have conversations with your self?” Clay replied laughing. "You know Clay some day you’re going to be the leader of this town. Hell everyone looks up to you and you’re only twelve. I'm eighteen and you have more respect than me." Clay beamed at Max and ran off to get his group back in order. "Goddamn I love that little kid," Max said aloud. He went over to group A and showed them a few more battle techniques and formations he had drawn up. "Clay, make sure you guys practice those formations, I'm going to check on the other groups." Clay looked him right in the eyes, "you can count on me sir."
The day went by fast, and before Max knew it the sun was already going down. He didn't call everyone back together that night, and let everyone go home early. "No crazy speech tonight boy?" Rock asked sarcastically. "Not tonight Rock, I'm trying to keep everyone under control and have as little stress as possible. Tomorrow I'll give them a huge speech, and rile them up." Rock agreed with his decision and said, "I guess I'll see you tomorrow then Mayor. Please don't get into any goddamn trouble, or I will lock you up." Max gave Rock a handshake and Rock left the field. Max watched as everyone packed and started to head back home. He realized it might be the last time any of these people got home safe and sound. Max saw George and he slowly came over to where Max was sitting.
"Nice night isn't it Mayor Max?" "It sure is George, it sure is." They sat together not saying a word, looking into the distance. "Well Max, I better head home. Don't want to give the wife a scare." "Thanks for everything sir," Max replied, and George left for his home too. Max decided to finally get back up and walk back home too. His parents were already asleep when he arrived, so he quietly crept up the stairs. He went behind his bed and opened the floorboard very slowly, but nothing was there. Once he put the floorboard back on though he remembered the phrase on the parchment. "You cannot change everything, but the things you can change are the reasons for existence. But sometimes you cannot have one purpose if you want everything to change." Max remembered also watching as the note turned into a small mirror, and recalled looking at himself in the reflection. "You have the power to change the world Max, but first you must believe in yourself," a voice said to him, but he wasn't completely sure who it was. Max went back downstairs and sat at the dining table. He saw a photograph of himself with Betty hanging on the wall, and knew instantly it was Betty who said those words to him. "I'm so sorry Betty, I didn't mean to hurt you." "I forgive you Max, but you have to forgive yourself. You can't keep holding on to all this guilt," the voice replied. Max took a long deep breath as he stared at their picture. He went up to it and put his hand on Betty. "Thank you," he said quietly and he climbed the stairs to go to bed.