Okay guys, here's the deal. I am so completely stuck on this story that I'm going to just have to end it if I don't get any sort of help. I'm in the middle of a pretty crazy Anatomy class and my brains just dead right now. If you guys think I should keep writing this, please let me know, and if you have any ideas, they're much appreciated and I will give you credit. I'm really sorry it's taken me so long to update, but here's what I have of Ch. 9 so far. Help!

Ch. 9

"What?" she said, her eyes widening.

"You heard me," he said. "If I can lure him here, I can kill him, I'm sure of it."

"Are you freaking nuts? You've lost it!"

"You have to trust me," he said. "You just have to trust me."

"Why? I've known you for a handful of hours and all you've shown me is that you're half-crazy, you're being chased by a man crazier than you, and both of you have tried to kill me."

"I swear," Mort said, his eyes narrowing, "you call me crazy one more time…"

Diane felt her breath catch, realizing the tenuous hold she had over him. "I'm not here to stroke your ego," she said, "but I would like to know what you're going to do if I'm going to put my life on the line for you."

His mood seemed to lighten immediately and he raised his eyebrows, "Because if I can't kill him, he'll come after you anyway."

He's right you know

((How would you know? Shooter acted like he was only after Mort. Why would he care about me?))

If I have to answer that question sugarpie, then you haven't been paying attention.

((You are crazy. I don't even know what you're talking about))

Sure ya do. You just don't want to admit it to yourself. And a little insight honey; if I'm crazy, you're crazy.

((I resent that))

That's fine, but it doesn't change anything.

((Why don't you just leave me alone?))

Because I'm just sadistic like that.

She jumped as Mort snapped his fingers in front of her face.

"You okay?" he asked, "you kinda zoned out."

"What?" she said, "I was thinking."

"Oh," Mort said, "well, I was saying that we need to be ready when he comes. If he catches us unprepared then we're as good as dead."

"Why would he come after me Mort?"

Mort stopped and stared at her for a moment. "I should think that it would be obvious," he said.

"Well it's not to me," she said.

"You've seen him. Up til this point no one has ever seen him. He'll make sure that you're not around to tell about it."

"Would he kill you too?"

"No," Mort said, "at least I don't think so. He'd probably rather see me dead than locked up. Either way I'd be no use to him."

"Is that the only reason he would kill me?" Diane asked, fidgeting.

"Well yeah…he's set out to destroy everyone in my life."

He cares about you after he's only known you for a couple of hours? Why?

She was silent for a moment before turning to look at him. "Why do you care what happens to me?"

His eyes narrowed as he stared at her. "What do you mean? Can't you see the kind of hell my life is right now? I'm screwed no matter what I do, and I'll probably die before this is all over. You're the only person who has ever seen this guy. If we don't end it on our terms, he will." She stared at him blankly for a moment, at a loss for words. He mumbled something about getting a drink and disappeared into the kitchen.

You are just a glutton for punishment aren't ya sweetheart?

((Won't you just go away and leave me the hell alone? I swear to God I've got enough to deal with right now!))