==Don't Touch Me==

Chapter Nine: Fear


"Last time I talked to you,
you were lonely and out of place.

You were looking down on me,
lost out in space.

Laid underneath the stars,
strung out and feeling brave.

Watch the riddles glow,
watch them float away.

Down here in the atmosphere,
garbage and city lights,
you gotta save your tired soul,
you gotta save our lives."
- Somewhere Out There

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I would like to add a small commentary if you don't mind. I would like to apologize for the long delay to my dear readers. Of course, I really have no good reason. And writer's block is of course no good reason for me not to update this story accordingly, since I vowed you all I'd do my best to finish this. Anyways, sorry for my tedious delay.

-CaRtOON

Glacia walked back and forth in her room nervously, playing with her fingers and biting the skin around the nails. She tried to think of what to do.

She felt fear rise in her again. She was wrong, she was not over this. She was still a ticking time bomb, once small hint of alarm and bam, fear takes over her.

Should she go back to Daughters And Sisters?

-Calm down! You're making a mountain out of a molehill!-

Glacia layed down on her bed with a sigh. Yes, she should calm down. Probably Stowik was murdered and it was just a coincidence. It can't be Peter, no its impossible. He wouldn't MURDER anyone just like that. No, he's smarter than that.

-He probably went insane when you ran away..-

She shook off the thought. No, nobody was in danger. She was overreacting. This was all a coincidence, just a stupid coincidence..

She gave a small shriek when someone knocked on the door. She staggered quickly to the kitchen and roamed through her drawers. She cursed silently when she saw them all empty. She opened a drawer forcedly and took out her kitchen knife. She gripped the knife in her hand and silently walked towards the door. She started turning the door knob quietly and slowly, then she swung it open fiercely and gripped the knife harder.

She saw that the people who have been knocking were just Wallace and Brawly, both backed away startled at the knife Glacia held. She suddenly dropped it and laughed nervously, "Oh my God, you guys scared me!" She picked up the knife but held it down as to assure them. "I'm sorry you guys.. I just err..." She did not want to tell them she suspected Peter was after her, she didn't want anybody else getting in danger because of her..

"I was just trying out my new silverware." She stammered, hoping they'd buy that.

"We thought you were going to lash out on us." Wallace said, still staring at the knife. "But it doesn't matter, we heard the dude who helped you was murdered. We just stopped by to make sure you were okay." She smiled at them, and then she looked at Brawly. "Hello, Brawly. Oh my God! You've grown so much!" She clapped her hands together, the last time she saw him he was around fourteen years old. Brawly grinned, "Yeah, my dad's beatings toughened me up." He laughed.

Glacia heard Brawly's father was a heavy drinker, but she never quite believed it. Brawly's father seemed professional, if that's the case, then looks are very deceiving.

"By the way, Brawly, what are you doing here in Jhoto?" she asked him.

"He's living with me," Wallace answered, "Flannery literally forced Brawly to stay with me since his dad was beating him." Brawly grinned, "Yeah. She's pretty pushy sometimes, but she's just concerned." Glacia nodded, "Yes, you should be thankful for having a caring friend like her. You're going to ask her out?" Brawly shook his head, "She's just a friend to me. Besides, I'm not really into girls." He shrugged.

Suddenly, Sidney and Steven came up to the door. Her face lightened, "Hi, Steven!" He waved at her lightly, and she noticed Sidney looked like he was in a bad mood. She didn't ask though, when he was in a bad mood, it meant no one was allowed to talk to him.

"I heard something happened, you okay?" Steven asked her, Sidney glared at him.

"Yes, I'm okay.." she said sullenly, remembering she has to somehow lose Steven. If Peter was really after her, then she'd have to get Steven out of this mess.

"I have to go to work now." this was the fastest excuse she had to get rid of him. Steven looked at his watch, "Its just eight. You go at twelve, you're going earlier?" She nodded, hoping he'd buy this.

As she walked to work, Steven catched up with her. "Are you okay? You seem a hundred miles away.." She stared at him and shook her head. "No, I'm okay, really.." he didn't believe her. "Oh come on, I heard this guy that helped you out got killed. You're grieving aren't you?"

-I wish I could tell you the real reason I'm so scared...-

"Yes. I'm feeling a little woozy.." she replied clutching her head, trying to fool him.

"You should stay home."

She panicked at the thought, she couldn't go home.

-Peter is waiting for you.-

"No! I can't! I have to go to work, or I won't get a raise." she quickly replied. She tried walking past but she stumbled, when she regained her balance, she tried smiling at him to make him know she was alright.

"Fine. But I'm telling you, you look beat. If you feel bad, go home or something." Steven shrugged, turned and left.

Glacia walked quickly to the clothing store. The whole day her mind was on Peter, and she wondered if he really was after her. She accidenllay pricked her finger while she was sewing, then she got yelled at for not paying attention. What a day.

She walked briskly to her house. She was so scared of going there, what if Peter was waiting? He would show her no mercy if he was so pissed off. And what about Steven? He wouldn't show any mercy to him either.

-You're an idiot! How could you? Dragging a loved one down with you?-

When she was walking home, she saw Steven just standing there. As if waiting for her. She walked slowly towards him.

"What do you want?" she asked, forgetting to use her manners.

"You look upset, I just got worried." he shrugged.

She had to get rid of him, somehow. She couldn't drag him down with her too, he'd get hurt if she stayed with him any longer. Peter would kill him if he found out.

"Its nothing.",she lied. "I just have a headache." she stayed silent, and hoped Steven would just go away.

"This is more than Stowik's death, isn't it? Something happened that's gotten you shaken up. You look like Hell."

Glacia shook her head, "I'm just having a bad day.."

"Then why did Wallace and Brawly ound you holding a knife?" He crossed his arms, knowing he had her trapped. "You thought it was somebody else."

"No, it was nothing. I was just.. Its none of your business.." she started walking away from him.

Steven sighed. "Its got to do something with Peter, doesn't it?"

Glacia stopped and glared at him, "What makes you think that?" she hissed at him, and he shrugged.

"Peter is looking for me." she said tearfully, "He's going to stop at nothing to get me, and he's going to hurt you.." She had to tell him the truth, otherwise he'd probably would still be around with her. Hopefully this would scare him away, away from her. Away from Peter's hateful clutches.

"If he finds out you've been with me, and so good to me. And protecting me, he's going to do something bad." Steven stayed emotionless, as if what she had just said made no sense.

"Stay away from me." she whimpered and took small steps away from him. "Because of my mistake, you're going to get hurt very very bad.. Unless you stay away. I won't be able to bear it if something happens to you because of me." She turned and ran as fast as she could to her home.

As soon as she reached her small woeful apartment, she shut the door. Then she tossed her purse across the room with a frustrated scream and leaned on the wall.

She gasped few times and sat down in the floor. She put her face in her hands and started to cry.

...to be continued..