I am very very sorry I have been so terrible at updating this. Thank you so much for continuing to review and give me feedback. I will try very hard to update more but I cannot make any promises. Well, I hope you like this chapter! I had a little more freedom in writing since Noah isn't with Mara at this time, but I still had a hard time trying to figure out what Noah does in his free time. If you have ideas please let me know! They would be greatly appreciated. Please review and let me know what you think (:

I stare up at my tall, white ceiling, imagining what like would be like without all of this shit. I couldn't shake the feeling that what Mara was just imagining Jude. I mean, the evidence is clearly against all of it. I trusted her though. I can't see her making this up. It is just so beyond anything possible. But I guess so are the things that are happening to both of us.

I sit up and put my head in my hands. What the fuck is going on?

I wish I had an explanation to give Mara. Though I am just as clueless as her when it comes to this. I want more than anything to understand everything and be able to save her from this thing that is haunting her.

I have to do something. I think to myself. I get up off the bed and head to my laptop. Research couldn't hurt, right? I start with the simplest, broadest thing I have and type Jude Lowe into the search engine. Countless articles fill my screen. The titles all say relatively the same thing, Three Teens Killed in Abandoned Building, Old Asylum Collapses Killing Three. All the same. Nothing specific about Jude comes up, other than the fact that he died. One article states what I already know, that remains were found, confirming their death.

I'm obviously not getting anywhere with this search so I close the tabs and sit back. I've never felt so useless. I just want to help. I give up and go downstairs to search for some food.

Katie is leaning on the edge of the center island in the kitchen eating a bowl of salad. I stride past her and open the double doors of the fridge. I can feel her eyes on me but I ignore them as I scan the shelves.

"What, you're not eating dinner at the crazy girl's house tonight?" Katie speaks up behind me.

I pause for a second but ignore her comment. I'm not going to start this argument again.

"Come on, Noah. She was in a mental hospital. Time to move on."

That's it. I turn around and glare at her. Yet, she still looks completely unfazed. She raises her eyebrows in question as she holds my gaze.

"You know what, I really hate to break it to you but you don't have the slightest idea of what is going on with Mara." I say back to her.

"Oh, and I'm sure you do. You are just ignoring the facts. That girl definitely has some serious issues."

I open up my mouth to respond but decide against it and walk out. I know the outcome and it never goes in my favor. This is one of the many reasons I dread going back to Croyden.

"Anna says hi by the way!" Katie yells as I leave. Making me walk even faster. Katie's current attitude towards Mara can surely be attributed to this newfound friendship with Anna. I grab my keys and storm out the door. This house is my own personal purgatory. I am gone so often I can't even call it an actual home. It is just the place that leave my belongings while I am elsewhere. I open the door to my car, jam the keys into the ignition and speed down onto the highway. Leaving my troubles behind, if only for the moment.