Secret Garden

Suddenly, Molly wakes up alone in a garden. She looks around and does not think to question where she is. She just stares in wonder at all of the magic and beauty around her. It's so tranquil and colorful.

In this garden, there are many plants and fruits. Mostly brightly colored varieties of flowers and berries. Strawberries seem to be the main fruit, her favorite, and it brings back memories of when she was a kid.

Molly stands up, taking in the lovely colors and smells of the garden. At first she feels dizzy and lightheaded again, but quickly regains her energy. In the garden, she's able to let that feeling lift her up instead of tire her out.

Looking down at herself, Molly realizes she's become a ghost again. She looks around for a mirror and one just appears behind her, so she turns around and smiles at her reflection.

It's Molly, but she's got this pink glow around her and looks almost translucent. She can tell she's fading away, but that doesn't scare her. She figures this is all probably just a dream anyway, so she revels in the fantasy, relieved it's not another nightmare about what happened at Sunnyland.

No. Don't think about that. I'm here in a dream. I've escaped reality, so I might as well enjoy it. Besides, thinking happy thoughts is what helped me the most when I'd get too sad or feel alone. Just breathe in the positivity and let the sadness go…

Suddenly, Molly starts floating off the ground. She looks down, surprised at first, then smiles. That joyful euphoria comes over her as she laughs and starts flying around the night sky filled with colorful shooting stars and neon rainbows.

"This is amazing!" Molly said.

Molly flies around some more, exploring the sky and the garden. It's all so beautiful and magical, like a dream world she's always wanted to live in. Then a feeling comes over her in the vast emptiness of this wonderland.

"I love this, but it is kind of lonely. I wonder where everyone is right now? What happened before I went to sleep and woke up in this dream…" Molly said.

Molly slowly starts floating down to the ground and lands gently on the garden floor. She walks around, looking for someone to talk to. Being alone is starting to make her anxious.

"Hello? Is anyone here? It's nice here, really, but I don't want to be alone anymore." Molly said.

No answer. Only blissful sounds of lofi music.

Molly starts to feel fear taking over. That euphoric joy gone in an instant. Her perfect dream is slowly turning into a nightmare, and she can feel herself falling apart.

Tears start to fall as Molly sits down in the garden. She notices as her rainbow tears hit the ground, strawberries start to grow. She forces herself to stop crying and takes deep breaths.

Looking at the strawberries around her with envy. She's so hungry, but fear holds her back from eating something, desperate to hold onto that lightness.

Why? Why do I want to be small? I guess it's to escape reality, in a way, but there's got to be more to it than that. It was hard at first, not eating enough, but then I started to like the feeling…I thought it was happiness, but it was all an illusion. I know that now. So why is it still so hard to let it go?

Molly ponders these thoughts as she sits there alone. Bright colors, happiness, and sustenance all around her, yet she chooses to stay in this sickness. It confuses her, but also makes her feel so alone.

An intense feeling of anger overcomes Molly as she gets frustrated with herself. She clenches her fists.

"It's so simple. Just eat. Come on, Molly. You can do this!" Molly said.

Running on pure adrenaline, Molly forces herself to reach for the strawberries. Just as she's about to grab some, a vine of thrones pops out of the ground, blocking her path.

Molly pulls her hand away, but not without getting hurt. She looks at her hand, shocked to see a small cut on her wrist bleeding out sparkling glitter. It slowly heals and becomes a scar shaped like a heart.

This freaks Molly out even more as she looks around and starts to see this place for what it really is, a mesmerizing death trap.

Molly gathers her courage and picks herself up off the ground.

"I've got to get out of here." Molly said.

The dream world around Molly starts to realize she's picked up on the fact that this is indeed an illusion and starts to disappear all around her.

"No! Stop! I need more time!" Molly said.

Watching helplessly as everything crumbles, Molly tries flying away, but falls immediately. She feels weak, that lightness is gone.

I can't fly anymore? Figures. This place wants to end me and I fell for the happy facade. Of course I did…I'm just too naive and always try to see the bright side in life, but this happiness is not real. I need to fight back and feel everything in order to save myself. I just hope it's enough. That I'm enough…

Molly closes her eyes and holds onto the little hope she has while letting herself feel everything. Joy, sadness, anger, and fear. But, most of all, alive.

Molly remembers Libby trying to help her before she fell asleep and woke up in this dreamland. Realizing she should have accepted help, hoping it's not too late.

As the garden falls apart around her, Molly opens her eyes and looks up at the sky one last time. Not knowing if she'll make it, but sending one last light out into the universe. To her loved ones to let them all know how much she cares.

Molly holds her hands out and blasts a strong beam of bright pink light into the night sky. Hope in her tearful eyes as she sends out what may be her last cry for help.

"Mom, Dad, Darryl, Libby, and Scratch. If you can hear me, I love you all so much and…I just hope I'll be able to see you all again. But, if I don't make it, I'm so sorry…Please, just don't give up on me." Molly said.

The bright pink beam of light begins to fade as Molly loses consciousness. She looks up at the dark blue sky one last time and falls. Then everything goes black.


Back at the McGee's house, Pete and Sharon finally arrive home. They had to pick up Darryl from school on their way. Knowing this is an emergency, they knew he'd want to be there to help his sister.

Scratch comes through a ghost portal and is shocked to see Pete, Sharon, and Darryl all looking so sad and afraid. He realizes they're heading up to Molly's room and immediately becomes terrified.

Scratch floats there for a second, frozen with fear. But he quickly shakes it off and follows the McGee's up to Molly's room, hoping she's okay.

Once they all arrive in Molly's room, they see Libby sitting by her bedside holding her hand. The bright yellow aura still glowing around Molly as she lies there sleeping peacefully.

Scratch puts the pieces together, realizing what's happening and it nearly brings him to tears.

"No…It can't be." Scratch said.

Pete, Sharon, and Darryl all gather around Molly while still giving her space to breathe.

"What's going on, Scratch?" Sharon asked.

"What's happening to our daughter?" Pete asked.

Scratch still can't believe it, but seeing Molly like this, he knows they can't avoid the truth now.

"Molly's dying…This is what happens when a person's soul is getting ready to leave their body and become a ghost. She's fighting to hold on, but the brighter that yellow light glows, the sooner she'll be gone…" Scratch said.

The family all looks at Scratch, then back at Molly, shocked. Sadness and grief overcome everyone in the room as reality hits them all in a wave.

Libby starts to feel guilty, wishing she would have been more assertive with Molly, but knowing deep down that probably would have only scared her away. So she says her last words, hoping Molly can hear her.

"Molly, I'm sorry. I should have tried harder to help you. Maybe take you to the nurse's office at school or something. I don't know…I'm just so sorry you felt the need to do this to yourself. Please, stay with us." Libby said.

Hearing Libby's words, everyone realizes exactly what she means. Molly overworked herself again and, judging by her tired and thin appearance, probably hasn't been eating enough or sleeping.

Pete and Sharon then slowly and carefully help Molly sit up as they sit in her bed and hold their daughter close. They can feel how light and cold she is and start to cry. She's disappearing, and the best they can do now is help her feel warm and safe.

Darryl, Libby, and Scratch all join in the group hug. Hoping Molly will feel loved in her last moments.

"Don't worry Molly, everything's going to be okay." Sharon said.

"We're all here for you. We love you so much." Pete said.

"Yeah sis, don't worry about us, okay? Just rest, we'll miss you, but we'll be okay." Darryl said.

"You'll always be my best friend, Molly. Even if you're a ghost. I love you." Libby said.

Scratch looks around at all the sad faces and can't help but feel anger, so he speaks up.

"No! Molly's not one to give up. We all know that. She's still here, so let's give her a chance to fight. She'll survive. I just know it." Scratch said.

Everyone looks at Scratch, then back at Molly. Hoping his words of encouragement will help her. They watch with joy and wonder as the yellow aura around Molly turns bright pink and that familiar smile comes across her face. Then, she opens her eyes.

"Woah…I'm back!" Molly said.