A cold wind blew as Jason and Aria walked up the stone steps leading to Radley Sanitarium. He squeezed her hand, trying to reassure her. It was her idea to visit Courtney, but Aria was terrified. The unknown was what scared her. She felt powerless.

Aria stopped walking, "Thank you for being here with me."

"This needs to be done." Jason said.

He leaned down and kissed her gently, before placing his hand on her lower back and guiding her in the door. They walked past a dimly lit cafeteria towards the elevators. Every second seemed to last forever as they waited for the elevator to arrive, and the rickety motion as it ascended with them inside was not reassuring.

A middle aged woman with her hair tied up and glasses at the end of her nose was sitting at a desk when the elevator stopped to let them off. She stopped typing on her computer and looked up at Jason and Aria.

"May I help you?" She asked, in a kind voice that didn't match her frown.

"We're here to visit my sister, she's a resident here; her name is Courtney DiLaurentis." Jason's voice did not falter as he spoke, but Aria could feel him tense.

"Give me just one moment," The woman said, "I'll need both of your names so I can print out visitors passes."

"I'm Jason DiLaurentis, and this is Aria Montgomery." Jason said.

The woman's fingers moved quickly across the keyboard. A few clicks, and moments later she handed Jason and Aria badges that bore their names.

"Just hold onto those and go right through that door, there's a nurse who will take you to Courtney's room." She smiled.

The security guard opened a sturdy looking door and gestured for Jason and Aria to walk into the next area. A few nurses were mingling with the patients. Some were playing cards with each other, others were just talking, and one was sitting at a piano in the corner playing the same repetitive tune. A nurse looked up at Jason and Aria when the door closed behind them, and walked over to greet them.

"Hi, my name's Cynthia, are you two here to visit someone?" She asked.

"Yes, my sister, Courtney DiLaurentis." Jason said.

"Oh Courtney, she's a favorite among the patients in this ward," Cynthia smiled, "She's in her room right now, she wanted to work on a drawing. Let me take you back to see her."

Jason and Aria followed the nurse all the way down a gray hallway, until they reached the last door. Cynthia knocked, before opening the door with her keys.

"Courtney, honey? Your brother is here to see you, and he brought a friend." Cynthia turned to Jason and Aria, "I'll be waiting outside, just come out when you're done visiting, take as long as you would like."

Jason led Aria into the room, where a girl with golden blonde hair leaned over a metal desk.

"Hello Jason," Courtney turned around, "Hello Aria."

Aria stopped in her tracks. The resemblance Courtney had to Ali was unnerving. Her lips were curved in the same wicked smirk. Her blue eyes glistened as she waited for someone to break the silence. Aria realized that this wasn't her first time meeting Courtney.

"Hi Courtney," Jason said.

"It's good to see you," Courtney smiled, "Why haven't you been visiting me?"

Jason's eyes narrowed, "You know why I stopped visiting you."

"But now that your girlfriend wants to talk to me, you can tolerate me again." Courtney stated.

"It's not like that," Jason said, "It's. . ."

"Jason suggested that we both come talk to you," Aria broke in, "He told me that Ali had a twin, and when I didn't believe him he said I could come talk to you myself."

"Well, here I am, not Ali, do you believe him now?" Courtney asked.

"You look exactly like her." Aria said.

Courtney frowned, "We're twins."

"Then why did you always want to be her?" Jason asked.

"Jason I told you-"

"Cut the crap, Courtney!" Jason shouted.

Aria put her hand Jason's arm, "No, I want to hear this."

Jason nodded at Courtney, "Ali made me do the things I did. She wanted me to get sent away. Like you said, we look just like each other. She was scared that one day people would find out what a bitch she really was and I would take her place."

It was unnerving for Aria to see how calm Courtney remained. Her face didn't let on any emotion as she spoke. Aria opened her mouth to speak, but Courtney's eyes met hers and she cut her off.

"I didn't kill Ali," Courtney shook her head, "I hated her. She made me miserable. But she was my sister. I didn't kill her."

"Then who did?" Jason demanded.

Aria could tell this wasn't the first time they were having that conversation. It was just their first time with an audience. Jason's anger was fading into exasperation. Courtney didn't let on, but Aria could hear the defeat in her voice.

"I don't know." Courtney said, "I came home that summer and I thought things were finally going to be okay with our family, and then one day I woke up and she was gone."

"She wasn't gone, she was murdered." Jason said, "They found her body."

"So why did you become Vivian?" Aria asked.

"When Ali went missing, I knew it was only a matter of time before they sent me back here." Courtney said, "I needed to be able to escape. So I found friends on the outside, people who could never get in with Ali, people who didn't even know Ali, and they helped me. Vivian let me escape when I needed to."

"Why Ezra?" Aria asked.

"Oh Ezra," Courtney smiled, "I met him right before I got sent back. He was in a bar, telling me about how he was in love with some girl and he was scared that it wouldn't work out. I knew it was you, of course. I told him I would help him if he would help me."

"You were selfish, and cruel." Jason said, "Stop acting like you're so innocent. You manipulated these people, you hurt people. Nothing that you did was right."

"What's a group of followers without a Queen Bee?" Courtney asked, "Ali wasn't around anymore. Someone needed to keep everyone under control."

"You're sick!" Jason spat out.

Courtney laughed, "Obviously. I'm here."

"Jason, can I talk to Courtney alone for a minute?" Aria asked.

Jason shook his head, "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Jason, please." Aria reached for his hand and squeezed it, "You'll be right outside. I'll be fine."

Jason sighed and walked out the door, glaring at Courtney the whole time. Aria waited for him to strike up conversation with the nurse, and the she sat down on Courtney's bed, inches away from Courtney.

"Did he really love me?" Aria asked.

"Who, Ezra?" Courtney laughed, "I don't know. I controlled what he did, not how he felt. He definitely wanted out. Maybe he loved you, maybe he didn't."

"Why did you really do all of this?" Aria asked.

Courtney leaned closer to Aria, "Want to know a secret?"

"What?" Aria asked, cautious as to what she was about to hear.

"I killed her." Courtney whispered.

Aria gasped, "But you said. . ."

"I said I didn't kill Ali," Courtney said, "And that's true. I didn't kill myself. I am Ali."

"No you're not," Aria shook her head.

"Really?" Courtney raised an eyebrow, "I know you, Aria. I know that in eighth grade Noel Kahn took you to the kissing rock and you made out, then he ditched you the next day for Prudence Finn. I know that you trashed your dad's office when you found out he was having an affair. I know that-"

"Stop," Aria said, "How do you know that? Those are things I only told. . ."

"Only told Ali." She nodded.

"Alison?" Aria's face went white, "You were alive all this time?"

"Isn't it great? You bitches totally fell for it." Ali said, "With Courtney gone, I finally had control over everything."

Aria shook her head, "You killed your own sister."

"She needed to be gone." Ali said.

"This has been tormenting Jason ever since that summer!" Aria said, "Why would you do this to your family?"

"Oh Aria," Ali said, "I wouldn't expect you to understand. But I know you'll let Jason keep believing that I'm Courtney. You wouldn't want him to find out that you're still in love with Ezra, would you?"

"I'm not in love with Ezra." Aria said.

"Then why did you ask if he loved you?" Ali asked, "Admit it Aria. Jason's just a replacement. Ezra will always be the one you want."

"The only person you'd be hurting is Jason." Aria said.

Ali shrugged, "You can let yourself believe that."

Aria stood up, "I'm leaving now. Goodbye, Alison."

"Goodbye Aria," Alison smiled, "And remember, you can't trust anyone."

A/N: Okay I think we all know that I'm absolutely terrible at updating. I'm not entirely sure how many chapters are left in this fic, but I do have the whole thing planned out now. Hope you guys liked it, leave a review!