"Big bro, wasn't that Marie?" Nanako asked.

"Yeah, it was Marie alright." Yu said when his phone started to ring.

"Ok, what's going on?" Chie asked. "First she enrolls in our school and then she's immediately targeted by the criminal."

"I know what you mean, but all we can do is wait until after school and try to rescue her." Yu said calmly.

"Yeah, but still what did she mean, about not being able to remember anything?" Chie asked. "Does she have amnesia or something?"

"It's complicated, the important thing is that we get her out of there before the fog sets in." Yu said.

"Yeah, you're right." Chie said. "See you tomorrow."

"See you Chie." Yu said while hanging up the phone. "Well, I wonder what the others are thinking."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"What's going on, why is Marie on the midnight channel?" Kanji asked. "I thought it was only people who showed up on the TV."

"I know, but maybe there's something else that happened." Yosuke said. "I've got it."

"Yosuke-sempai I doubt the culprit is doing this based on looks." Naoto said. "It might be an attempt to throw us off the trail."

"That's possible, well either way we just need to wait for Dojima to get here." Yukiko said.

"Dad's not coming, he has to work." Nanako said.

"Alright, in that case let's get going." Yosuke said.

"Right, we'll save her no problem." Chie said confidently.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Ok, I can definitely sense a new area." Rise said. "I'll lead you guys there."

"Right, be careful guys." Yu said. "We have no idea what we're getting into."

"Don't worry, you just might be surprised." Chie said confidently.

"You sound confident Chie, are you not telling us something?" Yosuke asked.

"Well, you'll just have to wait and see." Chie said with a smirk.

"Alright, in that case let's go." Yu said.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Wow, this is definitely blue." Kanji said bluntly.

"Yeah, I guess it makes sense since she was wearing that blue outfit, but still this is a bit much." Yukiko said.

"I get why it looks like this, it's part of her inner thoughts." Yu said. "Just like the rest of the places we've created."

"Big bro, did you see that?" Nanako asked.

"See what?" Yu asked.

"At the top, something was glowing." Nanako said.

"Well in that case we should hurry." Yosuke said. "Marie's shadow might be trying to kill her."

"Yeah, Yosuke's right." Chie said as the investigation team entered the blue tower.

"No way, something really weird is going on." Rise said. "This place has no shadows."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Nanako asked.

"No, because if I'm right they're waiting for us." Naoto said. "We should be on our guard."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Dojima-san, what's going on?" Adachi asked. "You haven't been yourself recently."

"What are you talking about?" Dojima asked. "If anyone's been acting differently it's you."

The moment he said that someone knocked on the station door.

"Come in." Dojima said. "Oh, you're that deliver guy, Namatame right?"

"Yes, I came to ask you about the murder case." Namatame said. "Has there been any luck finding the one responsible?"

"Not yet, but I can assure you that we're doing everything we can to solve this case." Dojima said.

"Ok, thank you very much." Namatame said before leaving.

"Well that's another one who wants this case solved." Adachi said. "Maybe if we had more information, but I don't have any idea where to look."

"I might have a lead, keep your ears peeled for anything." Dojima said as he grabbed his keys. I wonder if that woman from the other night knows anything, he thought.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"This doesn't make any sense, I thought you said there weren't any shadows Rise." Yukiko said.

"I don't know what's going on, I don't sense any." Rise said.

"Maybe this place is blocking your persona, it could explain why you can't sense any of the shadows." Naoto said.

"No, because I definitely sense Marie and her shadow." Rise said. "They're both a few floors above you."

Suddenly a flash enveloped the investigation team and they were back at the stairs from the previous floor.

"Ok, anyone want to explain what just happened?" Kanji asked.

"I think you have to get through this floor quickly, otherwise it randomizes itself." Rise said.

"Great, so now what are we supposed to do?" Yosuke asked.

"That should be obvious, find the stairs." Chie said.

"I agree, let's get going before we get forced to start a third time." Yu said calmly.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Pardon me, did you happen to see a blond woman in a blue suit recently?" Dojima asked.

"Yeah, I saw her heading towards your place Dojima, are you back in the dating game?" asked an older man.

"No, but I need to talk with her about a few things." Dojima said. "Police business."

"Well I don't know where she is if that's what you're asking." the man said. "Sorry."

"That's alright, I'm sure she's in Inaba so it won't be that difficult to find her." Dojima said calmly. Maybe Yu knows who she is, I have a feeling she knows about this case, he thought.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Look, it's the stairs." Kanji said. "Let's hurry."

"Right, the sooner we get to the top floor the better." Chie said.

"Persona, Hamaon." Nanako said suddenly.

"What the, oh thanks." Chie said.

"Your welcome." Nanako said with a smile.

"Ok, this is it the final floor." Yu said.

"To be honest, I'm kind of nervous." Yukiko said. "Who knows what her shadow is capable of."

"Well all we can do is work together and try to take it down." Yu said as he opened the blue doors.

"Look, I don't know why you're telling me all this." Marie said. "It really doesn't matter to me."

"You just keep telling yourself that." Shadow Marie said. "The truth is you're terrified that whatever it is you can't remember is going to drive away the only people who bother to talk to you."

"That's a lie, I don't care about that." Marie said angrily.

"Oh, but I can't be lying, after all I am you." Shadow Marie said. "It's simple, I'm just saying what you're thinking."

"Marie, are you alright?" Yu asked.

"You guys, wait a second." Marie said. "I get it now, this is my shadow."

"Wait, you aren't going to reject it?" Yosuke asked. "Man, you're a lot more mature than we are."

"No, I just don't care if this thing is me or not." Marie said.

"Fine, you don't care if I'm you so you won't care if these people die." Shadow Marie said as red clouds enveloped her.

(The investigation team has encountered shadow Marie, and is preparing to fight her. Next chapter Dojima will try to find Margaret, and the battle with shadow Marie will begin. As always any reviews or critique is appreciated.)