Author's Note:

Another chapter is complete. :) I had some help on this one. Thanks to The White Prince :) I have finished details on this chapter.

I hope you enjoy, and tell me what you think, please. :)

Ray-Ray

The rest of the weekend passed by in a blur, Bug slept in and had continued to dream of his friends. It was always the same dream. He could not be sure if it meant anything, but it scared him too much to think about. He tried to push the images from the dream to the back of his mind, but when he fell asleep he couldn't escape it. He resorted to staying up as late as he could. On Sunday, he finally gave into sleep.

Bug was awoken by his sister bouncing on his bed repeatedly.

"Happy seventeenth," she said smiling. Bug thanked her groggily. "What time is it?"

"Six," Leah smiled sheepishly. Bug groaned and turned over in his bed. Leah nudged him, "get up." She giggled.

"Fine, I'm up. Are you happy?" He asked. Leah stood and skipped to the door.

"I will be when you are downstairs eating the breakfast I made for you." She hurried from his room and retreated down the stairs.

Bug got up and walked to the bathroom. He looked into the mirror for a long moment then opened the cupboard. He wasn't sure exactly why he had come in here but he did. Closing the cupboard he looked into the mirror. For a brief moment he swore he saw Brittany's behind the reflection of the shower curtain. He turned, but saw no one. When he looked back, she was standing close to the mirror.

She mouthed something like, 'beware.' Bug couldn't be sure what she had said. He shook his head and shut his eyes.

"You are just imagining it bug." When he opened his eyes there was no other reflection in the mirror aside from his own. Bug left the bathroom and walked downstairs.

"Here is your breakfast." Leah said smiling. A large pancake was placed at the center of the plate, some bacon and eggs were set on the sides. Bug smiled back at Leah.

"Thanks," he said as he took his first bite. Leah sat next to him and placed her head in her arms.

"So that Hayley girl seems to be really interested in you." She was practically giggling.

At the mention of Hayley's name, Bug chocked on his eggs.

"What?" He asked.

"Hayley, she likes you." Leah said.

"What makes you say that?" Bug asked even though he could tell on his own that Hayley held some particular interest in him.

"The way she talks to you, and looks at you. She is bubbly around you." Leah said.

"So she isn't always so bouncy?" He asked, surprised. Leah shook her head. Bug finished his bacon, and then switched his attention to the large pancake that took up most of the plate.

"I think she is a cute little girl." Leah said, approving. Bug shook his head.

"Why are you so interested in being my match maker?" He laughed. "Last year you were making sure girls stayed away from me." His tone was harsh and it surprised him. He didn't know what had overcome him. "I'm sorry." He said.

"It's okay, you're right. I didn't want girls around you. I was mad at you. I am sorry about that, I regret it deeply." She stood up after a moment and walked to the stairs. "Do you want to get a ride to school today?" She asked curtly.

"Yes please," he answered. Leah only nodded as she pounded up the stairs. Bug rinsed his plate in the sink then placed it in the dishwasher. Finally, he settled on the couch and began to relax.

The sun peaked through the breaks between the trees. It was outrageously hot as Bug made his way through the woods. It shouldn't be this hot. He thought. Bug looked down at himself. He was dressed in heavy layers, topped off by a dirt covered trench coat. He took a second look at the coat. He wasn't sure it was dirt that covered it.

Bug's paced increased as he saw someone in the distance. As he got closer, he was sure who it was.

"I found you, you bitch." He spat the words as he came up behind the slender blonde. His voice was unbelievable deep, almost inhuman. She spun around a moment too late. Before she could scream he took his in his arms, lifting her off her feet. Her eyes were wide with shock and horror. Wonderful, I want you to be scared. He thought to himself. This was the pleasurable part. He couldn't get enough of it, but he knew it would only last for a few moments, maybe less.

He slit her throat first, stifling her screams to a mere gurgling sound. Then he stabbed her several times in the abdomen, the blood spurting onto his already dirtied clothing. He felt the warm liquid as it covered his hands and face. He sighed with pleasure, and watched as the blood trickled down her body. How it pleased him to kill a person was twisted. A part of him understood that, but he wouldn't let it stop him. He must continue. He closed the blade with a swift flick of his wrist. Then tossing the girl aside he hurried away from the scene, leaving the girl's body on the ground.

Bug sat up on the couch. He was breathing heavily, his hands on his forehead.

Was that truly how Brittany had died? He asked himself. Why had he dreamt it, in the Ripper's point of view no less? Bug shivered; he was worried about today from the start. It was the most dreaded day in his year.

What if…? No, it can't be. He thought to himself. There was no way the Ripper was still alive. He had killed him, the soul died with Alex. Or did it, some voice in his mind refuted. Bug shook the thoughts away.

"Hey Adam, how are you feeling today?" Aunt May had entered the living room. She sat beside him and placed her arms on his shoulders. "How does it feel to be seventeen?" Bug shrugged.

"I feel the same, but can we not do anything for my birthday this year?" He asked in a small voice. Aunt May looked at him curiously. She must have read his facial expression, because she nodded and agreed with his request.

"Are you ready for school Bug?" Leah had returned downstairs and was walking to the front door. Bug nodded and stood to follow her, grabbing his book bag from the kitchen table. Then he hurried out of the room saying a quick goodbye to his aunt.

"Have a good day at school," she called from inside.

They arrived at school shortly after that. Leah hopped from the car and made her way the front. Bug waited a moment longer before he left the car. He was unprepared for today. He didn't want hordes of people surrounding him to wish him a happy birthday. This was, to him, the saddest day he knew.

"Hi Bug," Hayley said from his right. "Happy birthday," she said tentatively. Bug smiled softly and thanked her. She walked with him into the building then to his locker. Her presence was quiet unnerving. He wished that Hayley would catch on, but she didn't seem to notice his discomfort.

"So I was thinking about what we talked about Friday night," she started in a light tone. "And I thought that you should make it a night to never forget, a good memory." She finished putting emphasis on the word 'good'.

"I don't know." He said hesitantly. He wasn't sure there was a way to make Ripper day, a good one.

"Well, think about it." She said, placing her hand on his arm briefly. Then she turned and walked away, her hair bouncing slightly.

"Why does everyone insist on making this day a good one?" He asked himself. "I thought that you should make it a night to never forget, a good memory." He mimicked.

"What are you talking about Bug?" Seth had snuck up behind him.

"Nothing," he said shrugging his shoulders. Then he continued on to his classroom, thinking about the Ripper.

Throughout the day Bug heard strange whispers. Rumors were going around about the Ripper.

"Did you hear? Melissa didn't return home from the party over the weekend. They found her this morning, in the river." A boy in his fourth hour said. The girl he was whispering to, gasped.

"I don't believe you." She whispered.

"See for yourself, watch the news." He shrugged and turned to the teacher. Rumors like this kept spreading, each one more gory than the last.

By lunch, Bug was sick of all the happy birthdays. He would merely nod his thanks to whoever had spoken. Hopefully I can have a semi-silent lunch. He thought, but of course that was not the case.

"Hey Bug," A shrill excited voice said from behind him, and a moment later Hayley was sitting right next to him.

"Hi," he said. He turned back to his food and finished his sandwich.

"Hey Adam," another girl said. He turned to see Fang.

"Hey Fang," he said with a faint smile. Hayley stiffened.

"Do you want a ride home today?" She asked sitting next to them. Bug nodded, from the corner of his eye he saw that Hayley had begun to eat her food and was avoiding eye contact with everyone.

He was glad when he and Leah were on their way home. He looked out the window silently. In the rearview mirror Bug could have sworn he saw a person wearing a large trench coat and a mask. The Ripper, the voice in his mind said. He returns. Bug fought to remove the thoughts from his mind completely.

About half way to the house, they drove past several police cars and an ambulance. They slowed as they passed by, looking at the sight. Adam knew that what the students had been saying was true.

"Adam, are you alright?" Leah said. Bug looked at her; he noticed that they were home. She had unbuckled her seatbelt and was waiting for Bug to move.

"I'm fine," He said as he unbuckled his seatbelt and stepped out of the car. Leah eyed him cautiously but said nothing else.

As soon as they stepped in the house, Aunt May was asking her usual questions.

"How was your big day Bug?" Bug looked at his Aunt and said nothing. Why was she always curious about his day, it was irritating.

"It was fine." He said shortly. His Aunt looked from him to his sister in wonder. Leah shrugged.

"Did something go wrong?" She asked placing her arm around him. Bug shrugged her off.

"Nothing went wrong. Just, leave me alone for a while." Then he retreated up the stairs and shut his door.

Aunt May and Leah just stared at one another for a moment. They were both worried about him.

"It is a bad day for him." Leah said. She walked into the kitchen and grabbed water.

"Did anyone give him a hard time?" May asked.

"No, they never do. I would know if they did. Besides, they all see him as a hero now." Leah sat down at the kitchen table and motioned for her aunt to sit next to her.

"I guess," she replied though she was still worried. "I hope that this behavior is only for today. It worries me."

"I know," Leah said, staring at her water. "He acted this way last year. I had thought it meant…" She trailed off. She knew she shouldn't think about these things.

"I understand Leah. I don't think that is possible." She said reassuring the girl. Aunt May stood.

"What are you going to make for dinner?" Leah asked.

"Adam's favorite."

"So we are ordering pizza, getting Dr. Pepper and having chocolate pudding for desert?" She laughed. Aunt May nodded. She walked off and dialed the pizza place's number.

Bug paced in his room.

What is going on? He asked. He was so worried. He had exploded on his family for no reason. His migraines were returning and he was seeing things in the woods. All of these things happened while the Ripper was alive.

"Adam, come down to dinner." His Aunt called. He sighed and left the room, looking back at his window. He could have sworn he saw the matted hair and gruesome face of the Ripper.