When Christine got home that day, she finally had time to think to herself. To realize the same boy she'd fallen in love with after the Squipcident was most likely kidnapping people she cared about...

And that he was clearly hurting Michael. She could tell...was Michael's fear...was it Jeremy? She thought on it some more and she realized how true that was.

She had to help him. She had to help him and stop Jeremy but she had no proof. She had no proof of Jeremy kidnapping people...she had to find some proof...without letting herself get caught.

***

Jeremy locked the door and put both keys in his pocket, ensuring Michael couldn't get them.

"Okay Love, now that we're home, you wanna tell me the real reason you questioned me earlier?" Jeremy asked, a smile on his face but his eyes twitching slightly.

Michael didn't say anything and Jeremy grabbed his wrist, causing the slouching male to wince a bit.

"Michael. Why did you question me?"

"C-Christine spoke to me...she was c-crying...you k-killed her cousin Jeremy...I think you're going too far."

"What did you say?" Jeremy's grip got tighter and Michael pulled away, not being able to get out of it.

"I don't think you should have k-killed Nick. I feel like y-you're taking this too f-far..." Jeremy's face seemed to calm and he used his other hand to stroke Michael's cheek gently.

"Love, you know better than to question me. Nick deserved what happened to him. And I don't wanna have to hurt you, and I'm not going to, but you need to stop acting like this. Understand?" Jeremy whispered, his voice sending a chill down Michael's spine. He didn't want to agree with Jeremy but he didn't want to die either. "Michael. Answer. Me... Now."

"I-I....I unders-stand..." Michael choked out and Jeremy let go of his arm, the same calm smile on his face as he kissed Michael's forehead.

"That's my Michael..." Jeremy cooed, not caring that Michael's eyes were tearing up. "I love you." Michael stood there silently, not believing a word of what his boyfriend said. "Michael. Did you hear me? I said I love you." The word "love" was strained and Michael nodded. "Well. Say it."

"..."

"Michael. Say it!" Jeremy's voice was louder and Michael gulped. He didn't want to lie anymore. "Michael!! Tell me you love me!" Jeremy's eyes were twitching and Michael could tell he was unstable.

"I...I..."

"C'mon Michael." Jeremy riched in his pocket and pulled out his pocket knife and Michael began breathing heavily. "Say it now." Michael took a step back in fear of the unstable Jeremy. 

"Jeremy d-do I need to keep t-telling you? I mean y-you should know b-by now that I-" Michael was cut off by a slash to his wrist. He bit his lip in pain as he looked down at the blood.

"You're going to tell me you love me Michael..." Jeremy's voice was dark, and Michael felt tears starting to fill his eyes.

"J-Jeremy please... you're hurting my w-wrist..." Michael whispered through sobs and Jeremy didn't hear it as he grabbed the injured wrist and stared at him, dead in the eyes.

"I'll stop when you tell me you love me." Michael knew he had to lie to save himself.

"I-I l-love you...." Jeremy let go of Michael's wrist and put the knife away. He gently pulled Michael forward and kissed him on the lips, a sadistic smile on his face as he sank into the kiss.

Michael didn't smile into it. He refused to. Ever since he learned about Jeremy's secret he couldn't smile anymore. He couldn't enjoy these moments where he got to kiss his boyfriend. He should be able to but he couldn't.

When Jeremy released, he was smiling at Michael, who was looking down at his feet.

"Aww Micha, what's wrong?" Jeremy asked, acting as if he didn't just abuse Michael.

"...it's n-nothing Jeremy...I'm o-okay I promise..."

"You sure? I can always give you more medicine if you need it." Jeremy pulled the bottle out of his pocket and began pouring it.

"N-No no I'm fine Jeremy I really, really am..."

"Okay. As long as you're safe." Jeremy kissed Michael's cheek and went to put his things upstairs.

"Yeah...safe..." Michael glanced down at his injured wrist. Jeremy just hurt him...physically. Something he never expected to happen.

If he stayed in the house any longer, he'd probably be hurt even more, but the doors were both locked. And if he even considered escaping, he knew Jeremy would find out.

He wiped the blood off his wrist and headed to the downstairs bathroom to clean it up and wrap it in bandages.

He locked the door and sighed, finding the first aid and getting bandages out. He sloppily wrapped his new scar up and pulled his hoodie sleeve down over it. He didn't want anybody questioning them. Cause he knew that that person would be tortured and killed just like everybody else.

Just like Michael's friends. He hadn't seen any of their deaths except for Jared's, and he was still haunted by the sight of entrails coming out of his torso. Thinking about it caused his stomach to get upset but he refused to let himself puke.

He just swallowed it and unlocked the door, leaving and finding Jeremy still wasn't downstairs.

That was a surprise.

Michael decided just to lay down and think of some way out of his hellish reality.

He wanted so bad to just open the door and leave, he wanted more than anything to leave and tell somebody about Jeremy. He wanted somebody to know so he could escape...that, and he wanted Jeremy back to normal.

He missed his Jeremy. The Jeremy that was awkward and precious and wasn't abusive to him. He missed the stuttering, blushy mess of curls and freckles he'd loved for so long.

He didn't want this new Jeremy, even in hopes that he could go back to being what he used to be, which was impossible.

Michael just wanted to leave. He didn't care how at this point...not even if it meant death...just not by Jeremy. If he was dying, it would be by his own hands.