Lie
Ollie runs through the dark city of Brighton. He's trying his best to keep his cool, but after everything that's happened it's almost impossible. Holding Molly close, he can feel how cold she is. Although she's trying to hide how much pain she's in, he can still see it in her eyes.
"How are you doing?" Ollie asked.
Molly doesn't know how to respond. She feels like she's slipping away while at the same time she can still feel that chaotic energy rising. It's so contradictory, these emotions, so powerful yet so draining.
"I still feel weak, but I'll be okay. Don't worry, I've been in tough situations before and always found a bright side. I told you before, we'll get through this. We just have to hold onto hope." Molly replied.
There it is. That endless optimism Molly has always had. It's what Ollie loves about her, but it's also what's keeping her from seeing the seriousness of this situation. It hurts to see Molly force a smile like this, but it's also what's keeping her alive.
"Yeah, you're right. You hold onto hope and soon you'll get better. I know you will." Ollie said.
Molly closes her eyes, resting while Ollie brings her home. Just looking at her, how pale she is, the shallow breathing, and the glowing scar still fading, scares him. So Ollie runs faster.
Suddenly, Ollie stops and sees they're right in front of Libby's Mom's book store, Book Marks the Spot. He contemplates whether or not they should go to Libby who is very smart and knowledgeable about the supernatural or Scratch who is a ghost.
Ollie looks down at Molly and figures it's better to get help now. So he calls Libby who answers right away.
"Ollie, oh thank goodness. Have you seen Molly? Her parents called me worried sick. She hasn't come home and they think something happened. They said they tried to call her, then you, then your parents and no one's seen her. Are you with her and are you both okay?" Libby asked.
Ollie can hear it in Libby's voice, she's scared for her friend and trying to hold back tears. He knows it'll be a lot for Libby, but Molly needs help.
"Yes, Molly's with me. I'm okay but something happened and Molly's…Well she's hurt and I don't know what to do! She got attacked by a ghost and somehow has ghost powers! It's a lot to explain…Look, I'm outside of your Mom's bookstore. Can you please let us in? It's an emergency and we need you." Ollie replied.
Libby freezes for a moment, her anxiety taking over. She drops her phone and starts breathing fast, nearly having a panic attack. Then stops and takes a deep breath.
No Libby, don't give into the fear. Molly needs you. Just take it one moment at a time. You can do this.
Libby then gathers her courage and picks up her phone.
"I'll be right down, just hold tight." Libby said.
Libby walks downstairs, continuing to focus on her breathing as she approaches the front door. She stands there, scared but forcing herself to move forward. For Molly.
Libby opens the door and sees Ollie standing there fearful but trying his best to stay strong, holding Molly in his arms.
Suddenly, Molly opens her eyes. They're pink now and look tired, like she's been crying and hasn't slept in days.
Seeing her best friend so broken down, Libby starts to tear up.
"Molly…What happened to you?" Libby asked.
Molly smiles. Though it takes so much effort to do so, she doesn't want Libby to be sad for her.
"Oh this? I just have ghost powers now…It's actually really cool! Ollie and I went flying together and it was fun…I'm just tired is all. Don't worry, I'll be okay." Molly replied.
Libby knows Molly, her tendency to lie to avoid sadness, fear, anger, and loneliness. It's getting to the point where she's hurting herself for the sake of the people she loves and Libby can't watch her do this to herself anymore.
"Get inside. We need to figure out what's going on with you before it's too late. I…I can't lose you, Molly." Libby said.
Ollie nods in all seriousness while Molly just looks confused and a bit nervous. Her survival mode kicks in and she uses that adrenaline to summon her chaotic energy. Emotions running on high, she can feel it, her ghost powers reactivating.
Libby starts walking inside and Ollie follows while Molly starts tearing up. Feeling fear come over her, she focuses.
Suddenly, Molly disappears in a flash of bright pink light and out of Ollie's arms. Her pink aura is back as she floats above Ollie and Libby who stare at her in shock.
"No! These are my ghost powers. After being so close to death, it's the one thing that makes me feel alive. I can't let you take this away from me." Molly said.
Molly puts out her hand as if she's going to strike, a force of pink glowing energy forming around her hand. A smile across her face and tears in her eyes as she gets ready to fire. Then she stops.
What are you doing? These are your friends. Maybe these powers are clouding my mind…I should listen to the people who love me and let them help me.
Molly stops, her hand stops glowing as she lowers it.
Ollie can sense Molly's fear and hurt as she floats there alone.
"Molly, listen. I know you're scared, but you'll be okay. Just like you said, we can get through this together." Ollie said.
Molly remembers. Still the intense emotions are growing stronger with every feeling that hits her like a blast of fire to her already fragile wound. An emotional burn.
Ollie and Libby reach out their hands, smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes. Letting Molly know they're not afraid of her.
Molly starts to reach back out to them, feelings of love and safety returning as her scar, right where her heart is, begins to glow bright.
Then it all fades away as a sudden realization hits Molly. A feeling worse than when Jinx hit her with the scythe that's haunted her her whole life, loneliness. The loss that comes with love. How her clinging to others is a desperate attempt to stop the hurt, but she knows deep down she can't avoid it. Especially when she believes she's the one doing the hurting by holding on too tight.
Molly then backs away, the bright pink glow of her scar fading once again yet there's still light. It's all too much, the feelings. Her endless empathy and sensitivity takes over as she realizes she's hurting the people she loves.
Molly lets herself cry, but keeps smiling through it all. Turning her back as she gets ready to fly away, but not without saying goodbye.
"I…I'm sorry…I'm so sorry! I'll go. I know I'm too much for you and that's okay. Maybe I'm better off alone. And you're better off without me…Love you…Goodbye." Molly said.
Molly looks directly at Ollie as she says this, and suddenly the pink aura around her starts to turn into static as she disappears behind a bright pink flash of light.
Ollie and Libby try to stop her, to reach for her, but it's too late. She's gone.
Ollie stands there frozen while Libby cries silently, both staring up at the night sky where Molly once was. Like a ghost, she only exists in the shadows, a faded memory.
Libby feels it. The pain of being abandoned by someone she loves all over again. It's like what happened with her Dad and she's left wondering if she's the problem. Still, even after everything she's been through, she holds onto hope. That spark of light in darkness that Molly helped her see. Now she has to be that person for her.
Libby wipes her tears away and looks at Ollie with a sad but serious expression.
"Come on, we can't give up on Molly." Libby said.
As hurt as Ollie feels, he knows that Libby's right. He still loves Molly and knows she's just hurting inside, so he nods and keeps moving forward.
"You're right. Molly would never give up on us, so we can't give up on her." Ollie said.
With determination in their hearts, Ollie and Libby start to head out, but stop when they hear a familiar voice behind them. They turn around to see their blue ghost friend who looks sad and confused. They've never seen him look so afraid, not knowing that his fear deep down is losing the overly optimistic girl he calls his friend.
"Where's Molly?" Scratch asked.