Disclaimer: I only own Shadow and the voices in her head.

Note: This isn't meant to be a Mary-sue even though it might sound a little like one. Shadow is her own character and isn't like me. Bold is Shadow's alter personality Clover speaking. Italics is her conscience speaking.

Shadow's P.OV

"Shut the fuck up!" I yelled slamming my hand down my desk.

I couldn't write with those two voices arguing in my head. I thought the meds my mother and my doctor made me take would finally make them stop permanently. I could take all the medicine I wanted for this little 'problem' but no matter what the voices would always come back.

"Shadow?" My mother called. "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine mom," I lied. "The cat is just bothering me."

"Alright," my mom said and then fell silent.

That was a major lie. My cat Roman was lying asleep under my desk.

Maybe I should explain a little before I go on anymore. My name is Shadow Tomp. I'm a 17 year old crazy girl. Or at least that's what the doctors say. I've heard voices inside my head as long as I can remember. When I was little my mom just thought I had an imaginary friend named Clover and didn't pay any attention to it. As I got older it got worse.

By the time I was 15 I was on heavy medicine and it never got any better. After a while I got used to listening to Clover and my conscience argue about stupid shit. The three of us argued sometimes. It usually had to do with writing. When ever I had to do an essay for school and a story for my short story class they would really start fighting.

No like it mattered if I passed my classes anyway. I was going to drop out when I turned 18 and find some crummy job. That would be in two weeks. Maybe if I kept myself busy trying to just get by in life Clover would shut up. I had put an ad out saying that I would do any work except for heavy labor. I hadn't gotten any replies yet.

I was trying to write a short story when I blamed the cat for the distraction Clover and my conscience were causing. Every time I would start to write something Clover would have to tell me that it wasn't good enough and it would find myself deleting it.

"I give up," I said standing up from my laptop. "I'm going to go take a nap and hope you two let me write what I want to later.

Not much of a chance. I know good writing when I see it and when I see you doing good writing I'll shut up.

"Forget you."

That's right Shadow. You tell her. She wouldn't know good writing if it slapped her in the face.

I laughed when Clover gave a grunt. I knew that talking to my voices only seemed to make it worse but when someone says something to me I find it hard not to talk back. I crossed over to my bed and dropped down on the mattress. I would sleep and then try in vain to write again.

Mort's P.O.V

I hate it when they argue while I'm trying to do something. I wasn't even writing but Shooter and...well the second me were arguing about some story I was working on. I was trying to find a new maid. My last one had left quickly after the disappearance of Ted and Amy. She like everyone else thought I had killed them. I hadn't of course but there was no talking to some people.

My house didn't really get that dirty but it really did help to have someone come twice a week to tidy the place up. If it hadn't been for the fact half the town thought I was a murderer I would have been able to find a maid easy. I had to look at papers for towns that were nearby.

I caught an ad that caught my eye. According to it this person was willing to do anything that wasn't heavy labor. That sounded like just what I was looking for. My eyes traveled down to the contact information. Her name was Shadow Tomp and that she was soon to be 18 years old. There was a note in bold that said she wouldn't be able to work for two more weeks but I could wait two more weeks.

"That is bull-shit and you know it," the other me yelled.

"Naw it isn't," Shooter said back. "The gale needs ta be killed."

"Every woman in every story does not need to die," me #2 argued back.

I couldn't take it. I picked up the newspaper and walking down the stairs into the living room. I was headed towards the kitchen. When they are arguing on the second floor you can't hear it in the kitchen. I sat down at the kitchen table and went back to looking at the ad.

"Maybe she's a little too young to be around me," I whispered. "And I don't know how she would react to me talking to myself all the time but it's worth a shot."

I dropped the newspaper on the table and went to make a phone call that I didn't think would change my life.