A/N: Chapter inspiration 'Sleepover', by Hayley Kiyoko. You should check out that song, if you haven't already, it's dope!

Thank you all for returning!

I love you all!

TW: small mention of dubcon

Enjoy

Three Days Later

The ground is soft and uneven beneath her feet. It throws her off her stride and makes her even more unbalanced as she attempts to traverse the wet, marshy earth. I should have worn better shoes, she thinks. Looking down at her moccasins, she can't help but wish she had her single pair of hiking boots on right now.

The thing is, Jupiter didn't plan to do much walking today, but Michael's voice had filled her head. He had somehow convinced her with a quiet whisper carrying along with it memories of different times. It had worried her, at first, wondering why her reaction to his voice wasn't fear or anger this time, but instead fondness. Was her medication failing her or was she getting so used to her own insanity that it was no longer concerning?

Either way, she decided to stop questioning it and try to keep calm. There were much bigger things going on, things that were more pressing matters than the voice in her head.

Primarily, there was possibly a killer on the loose whom no one could identify. Ethan hadn't said a word to anyone once they got him on the stretcher and in the ambulance. The trauma of being attacked by some lunatic with a knife can do that to a person, she thinks dryly. As much as she wants to believe Adam's to blame for all this, she can't quite come to that conclusion because there isn't enough evidence. Either he's more skilled than either she or John could give him credit for, or he's not responsible for all of the unexplainable things that have happened these past few weeks.

Jupiter's not sure what she believes - it's all so confusing. She's not even sure if all of this are just figments of her imagination and she's still in the solitary room at Arkham Asylum, she cringes at that notion, or if it is real and this world is just way stranger than she could have ever figured.

A bird chirps a melody a few feet above her head, somewhere in the distance a squirrel munches on an acorn, and the forest around her comes alive with sounds. The crisp, autumn air fills her senses and she takes a deep breath. Turning around she looks for the trail to ensure she's not walking around in circles and, after realizing that she's on the right track, with even more courage, she takes another step, determined to keep moving.

It's a bright and early morning and usually Jupiter would sleep right through it, but today, guided by Michael's voice she wanted to find their secret place. Out of all the nonsensical things happening in her life, she wanted this place to be real and not just something she made up. At the best of times, her memories were unreliable, but this one was different. It was vivid and so surreal. It made her shiver. She wanted to see for herself if she could have imagined this place, imagined the memories with Michael. What did she have to lose?

After a bit more trudging through the wet fallen leaves and her successful evasion of the tall branches that seem determined to smack her in her face and scratch at her clothes, she can see the old black cross hanging in the center of the church's face. Feeling emboldened and excited that she had found what she's looking for, Jupiter hurries up to the spooky old church.

What are you doing?, the poorly concealed anger in his voice causes her to halt in place, shocked because she's never heard him so crystal-clear in her head before. It's like he's suddenly in high definition. She blinks, frozen, not knowing what to do or how to respond. Her restless heartbeat fills the aching silence. It occurs to her, when he hums impatiently, that he expects an answer. She doesn't know if she should answer him. Would it be wise to talk back to the voice in your head? In the second it takes her to ponder everything, Michael grows even more impatient. I know you heard me, Jupiter. What are you doing here?

"I came to find out if it was real. I-I needed to know," she says out loud. It comes out like a croak. She wonders idly if someone can hear her and her cheeks burn at the idea of anyone in Bishop, who already think she's crazy, seeing her now. In the forest. Alone. Talking to herself.

Well, you've found it, now get out of here, he orders harshly.

She straightens her spine and raises her head defiantly, and answers him, caring less about the possibility of them having an audience. "Why? What are you so afraid of? What are you hiding?"

Nothing. He sighs, sounding suddenly exhausted. I just don't think it's as safe here as you remember.

His warning only makes her more curious. She moves around the church to the small, aging, decrepit cemetery behind it and takes a seat on the cold earth. She doesn't bother to read the gravestones or focus on the biting chill that the wind has suddenly become, instead she sits there and basks in the silence.

"It's fine, see? I'm not losing my mind because of the memories and there's way less pain than I thought I'd feel coming here. Besides, I'm not alone," she whispers.

There's a faint silence and then his voice is back, a little more curious. Do you want to be?

She takes in a deep breath to steady her pounding heart. "I don't know, but please don't leave."

I won't, he promises. Then. . .your medication makes me weak.

"You tried to take over my life. You need to be weak," she says, unthinking. There's a silence and she believes she's upset him, but he simply chuckles. I thought I was making things better for us.

She blinks and swallows the lump in her throat. It takes her a long time to speak, her mind laser focused on the word "Us." "I'm sorry for what I did."

You'll have to tell the real Michael that someday.

"He's in a better place." She sighs. "A place I won't be going when I die."

There's a soft whooshing sound, and then his presence is palpable again. You miss him. It's not a question.

"I don't deserve to," she says, dryly.

Jupe. . . It's another warning, and somehow, his presence in her head prickles with tension. We're not alone.

"You're a bit too far from home, aren't you?"

She turns around to face a blonde girl who couldn't be that much younger than herself. She freezes when her brain reminds her of the girl's name. Jess.

"Maybe she's lost?" A mocking, deep voice murmurs near her. It's so close she can feel his body heat pressing into her back. Jupiter immediately gets to her feet. "Ron, Jess, I almost didn't recognize you without all the blood." A smirk plays along her lips.

Jess' eyes harden and she takes a step closer to Jupiter. "We don't want you in this town." Her words drip with acid.

Jupiter rolls her eyes. "I grew up here. This is my home. You're being ridiculous."

Ron grabs her by the hood of her coat and Jupiter feels a scream building. Michael's voice filters in, aiming to calm her. Don't anger them further. You're pregnant remember?

"If we killed her, no one would care that much. I hardly think anyone would even go looking for the body," Jess whispers, sharing a glance with Ron.

Jupiter swallows, imagining her poor mother trekking all the way out in the woods and finding her daughter's cold, lifeless body. Just the thought of it makes sweat bead along her brow and her stomach turn.

"You're not killers," Jupiter says, trying to convince them that this is a bad idea.

Jess laughs harshly and Ron follows suit. "No," Jess murmurs once she's found her breath. "But you are and there's no room for killers in our town."

Cold, wet lips press against her neck as Ron toys with her and breathes in the scent on her skin. The bile burns as it rises in her throat. "You sure I can't have a little fun with her, Jess? She's awfully pretty."

"Please," Jupiter begs. "Please don't."

Jess' expression lightens, as if the idea is pleasing to her. It makes Jupiter even more sick. "Sure, Ron, get your rocks off. Might as well while she's still breathing," she says with a dismissive wave of her hand.

He reaches for Jupiter's belt, fumbling with it. As his harsh breathing fills her ears, the first tear falls down her cheek. No! Michael screams, but she's the only one who can hear him.

While Ron's distracted, she slams her foot down on his and then punches him square in the face. Blood oozes down his nose and he cries out in pain. As Jupiter breaks free, Jess tries to grab for her, but Jupiter's too fast. Without thinking she heads straight into the woods, running way past her trail, and getting deeper and deeper into the foliage while the sky above grows dark.

A/N: Thank you all for reading! More to come soon!