I'm so sorry! I know it's been forever since I posted, but my computers (yes, BOTH of them) were infected with a virus for like the past two months, that mysteriously disappeared on Sunday. But hey, I'm not complaining! Now I can post! Yay!

I'd just like to say a special thanksto ladybirdbuzz, Mia M. Turner, TheAngryPrincess13, and TrudiRose for being awesome constant reviewers! thumbs up

Disclaimer: I wish they were mine. (who doesn't?)

Chapter Eight

For an hour she poked around the tower and the downstairs floor, looking for something to do. Zero followed her around, his pumpkin nose glowing happily. Eventually she took off her sweater, discarding it on the back of a very tall chair.

Finally she gave up and went and sat on the bottom stairs, her chin in her hand.

Zero flew up to her and barked. She jumped slightly, and said, "What?"

He barked again. She frowned. "Do you need to go to the bathroom?" Then, more to herself: "Do ghosts need to go to the bathroom?"

He barked again, this time two in a row. "Do you want to play?"

A very excited bark. She smiled. "Well, Zero, I'm not Jack. I can't just pull out my rib and throw it. Do you have a toy?"

He flew off, searching for something for her to throw. He stopped suddenly, near the widow, and a low growl came from his see-through form. She felt cold all over. "Zero?"

The growl erupted into an angry bark. She caught sight of a purple witch's hat.

She gasped and scrambled up the stairs, looking for a place to hide. The door opened slowly, as if they were checking no one was here. Zero's barks escalated, getting louder and angrier. He let out a little yip as if someone had hit him.

"Quiet," she heard Shock say.

She ran over to the electrical chair and squeezed in behind it, holding her breath. She was afraid they would hear her heartbeat, it was so loud.

Zero was suddenly there, whimpering softly. She patted her knee and he flew toit, easily settling into her lap, even though there was barely any space. She placed a careful hand in front of the path of orange light from his nose, and he somehow dimmed it. She patted his head in thanks.

"Why are we back here?" she heard Lock say impatiently. "Jack said--"

"I don't care what Jack said," Shock snarled. "I think she's here!"

Suddenly there was a gasp, and Barrel said, "What's this?"

Her eyes widened. They had found her sweater.

"She is here!" Shock said. "That's the shirt she was wearing!"

"But where is she?" Lock said. His voice had become greedy.

There was the sound of feet running. They were searching the bottom floor. She bit her bottom lip. How could she have been so stupid to leave her sweater out there?

"Nothing down here," Barrel said. "She must be upstairs."

The little footsteps came up the stairs. Without realizing it, she held her breath. Zero shrank down slightly.

"I don't see her," Lock said after a minute.

"You idiot! Do you think she'd sit here and wait for us?" Shock said. "Let's search!"

There was the sounds of people shifting things around. She didn't know how long she sat there, terrified, as they looked through Jack's things. Luckily, they didn't think to look behind the chair.

"She must have gone with him," Shock said finally. The noises stopped. "Come on. Let's go. We'll come back later."

They went back down the stairs, and the door opened and closed. Zero flew out before she could grab him, but returned a moment later, giving a happy bark. She took that as news that they were gone and pulled herself out from the small space, letting her breath out in a whoosh.

"Good thing they didn't find us," she said. Afraid to go downstairs, she waitedin the tower, watching anxiously out the window for Jack. Finally she saw the tall skeleton man walking purposefully towards his house. He paused and turned to say something to the Mayor, who was dogging him, and the Mayor nodded, turning and walking away.

She glanced away for a moment and heard the door open. She looked nervously down the spiral staircase.

"Tera?" Jack called. Relieved, she ran down the stairs. He took one look at her face and asked, "What's wrong?"

"They were here," she said. "Lock, Shock and Barrel. They came in! They know I'm here, they found my sweater!"

His eye sockets widened. "What?"

"They broke in," she said. "I hid in the tower, and they came up. They almost found me."

His face grew momentarily angry. "Oogie Boogie must really be at them to get you. Otherwise they wouldn't dare come in here."

"Did you find out why he wants me?" she asked hopefully. He shook his head and said, "I really have no idea. I'm sorry, Tera." His expression changed to a curious frown. "Why didn't you go get Sally when they left?"

"I was afraid they'd see me," she said. She felt her cheeks tint slightly. "I know it sounds silly, being scared of kids, but--"

"It's alright," he said. "It doesn't sound silly. They can be pretty scary." She smiled thankfully at him.

His frown deepened. "What I'd like to know, however, is what he wants." He rubbed a skeletal hand over his skull. "And I don't know where you can stay, now. I won't leave you with the Doctor, or the Mayor…maybe Sally will take you in."

"Doesn't she live with the Doctor?" Tera asked. He shook his head. "I helped her build a small house on the outskirts of town. Do you want me to go ask her?"

Tera nodded. He went up to her and placed his hands on her shoulders, kneeling to look her in the eye.

"I need you to stay here," he said. She started to protest, but he said, "Tera, Zero will be here to protect you. You know where you can hide if you need to." She sighed and nodded.

Standing, he said, "Try and get some sleep."

She nodded again. "I will." He smiled at her and turned, his coattails flapping slightly as he left the house.