Daylight
Molly flies through the dark and starry night sky as fast as she can. She doesn't know where she's going or what will happen next, all she knows is she needs to run away. It's scary, being alone, but she needs to protect the people she loves from the one thing she can't seem to control, her emotions.
I'm too much. They all say they want to help me, but I'm only hurting them…I've figured it out, the reason I didn't die when Jinx hit me with her scythe. It's the same reason Scratch's curse backfired on him. I'm cursed…And now I'm paying the price by living out my worst fear, being alone.
These thoughts leave Molly feeling fear and sadness to such an intensity that she flies through the air at sonic speed. She appears and reappears in different places, her feelings all over the place.
"Come on, you can do this. Like Libby always says when I'm having a breakdown, don't let these feelings control you. Just breathe." Molly said.
Molly takes deep breaths in and out, trying her best to gain control of her powers. It takes a lot of effort, but she's finally able to focus when she thinks about the one feeling that's always grounded her. Love. The feeling that can save her or destroy her, depending on her perspective.
Suddenly, Molly lets herself feel and it hurts but it's also healing. Her eyes glow bright pink as she takes in the beauty of her surroundings through rose colored lenses, calm in the chaos that is her mind. She finally feels in control as she lowers herself down to the ground, her eyes stop glowing but stay pink colored.
Standing in front of an abandoned house on the outskirts of Brighton, Molly opens the door with a creek. She looks back one last time, part of her hoping someone will come and save her from herself.
Nothing. Just an ominous looking forest with the night sky above, lit by the moonlight. The scar on her heart glowing but flickering like a broken light.
With tears falling and a slight smile, Molly finally learns to let go.
"Okay, I guess I'm going to be alone for a while…That's okay! I'm okay…I have my own little haunted looking house here where I can be free. And this way, I won't hurt anyone." Molly said.
Molly's scar starts glowing brighter and burns inside her chest. It feels like her heart is on fire, but she keeps pushing forward.
"Goodbye everyone. I'll miss you and…I love you." Molly said.
Molly walks inside the abandoned house, closing the door behind her.
Suddenly, Molly screams as the realization and fear of being alone consumes her. Her eyes glow as a beam of bright pink light bursts into the sky. One last smoke signal, a cry for help from the ghost girl in the haunted house.
"Okay so let me get this straight…You let Molly get hit by Jinx with a scythe and now she somehow has ghost powers that are hurting her?" Scratch asked.
Scratch looks at Ollie with a serious expression. He's angry Ollie didn't protect Molly, but deep down afraid they'll lose her.
"I'm sorry! It all happened so fast! She jumped in front of me at the last second! I tried to get help, but she ran away and now she's hurting…So instead of yelling at me, why don't we focus on saving her." Ollie replied.
Scratch is just about to respond with a comeback, but stops himself when he realizes arguing won't help.
"Okay, you're right. Where do you think she could have gone?" Scratch asked.
Ollie and Scratch then turn to Libby, knowing she's probably the best person to ask. Molly's her best friend, the one person she's able to confide in when she's feeling sad, which is rare for Molly, but it's a human emotion she can't avoid.
Libby stares up at the night sky at the spot where Molly disappeared and feels overwhelming anxiety and emotional turmoil. In a quiet whisper, she finally speaks her truth.
"Why…Why did Molly abandon us? This isn't like her. She's terrified of being alone. And I've seen what happens when she loses herself in loneliness. It's not good. She could really get hurt!" Libby said.
Libby looks back at Ollie and Scratch with tears in her eyes, but she's still determined to save her best friend.
Suddenly, a beam of pink light bursts into the sky from far away.
Libby, Ollie, and Scratch see it and know exactly what's going on.
"Molly!" Libby said.
"She must be trying to signal us for help. Let's go!" Ollie said.
Scratch nods and uses his telekinesis powers to bring both Ollie and Libby with him as they fly to the light source. They don't know what they'll find. All they know is they need to save Molly and, no matter how much she's changed or tries to push them away, they'll be there for her. No matter what.
Libby, Ollie, and Scratch arrive at the abandoned house. The pink light in the sky finally fades as they reach the door.
"This place is creeping me out…And I'm a ghost! I'm the one who's supposed to do the haunting around here." Scratch said.
Libby and Ollie roll their eyes. Scratch has never been that scary to them, but Molly, she can be pretty terrifying when she's pushed too far or gets too lost in an obsession. Still, they're all here for her.
Libby quietly opens the door and goes inside while Ollie and Scratch follow behind her. Then the door slams shut behind them.
Ollie tries to open it, but quickly finds out it's locked.
"We're trapped. Well, at least Molly didn't lock us out. That must mean, part of her still wants us to help her." Ollie said.
Ollie's optimism helps, but just like Molly, he can be overly positive to a fault.
"Yeah, or she's keeping us here so she'll never ever ever ever be alone again. Just like the theme song…" Scratch replied.
Libby and Ollie look at Scratch confused and a bit concerned, but they decide to let it go.
"Whatever, let's just find Molly so we can save her and get out of here." Libby said.
Ollie and Scratch nod and they all start searching. It looks just like a haunted house you'd find on Halloween, creaking floors, cobwebs, and an ominous feeling all around. But this is real and that makes it even scarier.
The group goes up the worn down staircase and as they approach the attic they hear someone crying softly. Just like the McGee's house, there's a ladder to the attic, so they all start climbing.
Once they arrive in the attic, they're not surprised to see Molly looking out the window alone. She's crying and they can see the pink glow shining, blurring her reflection on the window.
Libby steps forward, unafraid, and just feeling sympathy for her friend.
"Molly, are you okay?" Libby asked.
Molly turns around, shocked to see Libby, Ollie, and Scratch all here for her. She can see the concern and fear in them and it hurts to know she's the cause of all this. She looks different too, her pink eyes make it look like she's been crying endlessly while her scar flickers on and off. She's fading away.
"Go…You all don't deserve to be close to someone like me. I'm cursed and I don't want to keep hurting you. Please, just leave." Molly replied.
Libby, Ollie, and Scratch all look at one another confused. Then Scratch flies next to Molly, trying to understand.
"What do you mean cursed?" Scratch asked.
Molly puts her hand over her scar and flinches like she's in pain. She feels it, the emotional burn getting stronger while draining her.
Ollie then comes over and helps Molly stand up. She's getting weaker and they all know why. She's feeling too much and it's killing her. Still, she goes on to explain what she means.
"I figured it all out, Scratch. Why your curse backfired when we met, why Jinx wasn't able to kill me with her scythe and gave me ghost powers, and why I was able to destroy The Chairman back in the Ghost World. I'm cursed! I'm the crazy villain of this story! I have been the whole time, you all were just too blinded by my happy facade to see it." Molly explained.
Libby, Ollie, and Scratch all look at one another confused and sad. Just knowing this is how Molly sees herself breaks their hearts. She has a good heart and so much empathy for others. She just has to love herself the way they love her.
"That's not true, Moll. If anything, the curse you have isn't to hurt people, but to make others happy. And you saved the Ghost World. You're a hero!" Scratch said.
"Yeah, and when Jinx hit you with her scythe, it must have given you ghost powers because you were protecting someone you love." Ollie said.
Molly blushes and smiles at that. She did save Ollie in that moment and she would do it again.
"I read a few books on supernatural ghost curses. Turns out Scratch's curse on you turned back on him because you have a joy shield. It's also how you were able to destroy The Chairman. It's not a curse. You've always had a superpower deep down, Molly. And your ghost powers change depending on your emotions and perception of yourself." Libby said.
Molly takes a deep breath, taking in everyone's kind words and finally letting herself feel loved and supported. Her scar is no longer flickering but glowing bright pink. Her heart is full and she's no longer in pain.
Molly starts to cry tears of joy, a smile on her face as she finally comes to see herself how everyone else sees her, a light in darkness.
"Thank you all so much! I needed to hear that and I can feel I'm changing, back to myself but stronger, and it feels right…Now, why don't we all get out of this haunted house, being alone in here was starting to freak me out." Molly said.
With that, everyone walks out of the house together. Ollie and Molly holding hands as they leave. They started this journey together, and now they're going to finish it. Getting the happy ending they deserve.
Molly looks up at Ollie, blushing as she tries to hold herself together, but once again her feelings overwhelm her. She's always been one to wear her heart on her sleeve.
"So, our first date was a little crazy, but I did have fun! Why don't we do it again sometime? Hopefully with no ghostly surprises this time." Molly said.
Ollie smiles, glad to see Molly being her happy self again.
"I'd like that. And don't worry, ghostly surprises or not, I'll always be here for you. No matter what." Ollie replied.
Suddenly, a pink aura glows around Molly as she allows herself to feel loved. It's exciting and scary, but just knowing she's accepted for who she is fills her heart with joy. Escaping the darkness and stepping out into the daylight as the sun rises. It's all a part of the journey and she's proud of how far she's come.
With a big smile and endless energy, Molly flies in the air as she embraces her ghost powers as a part of her. The good, the bad, and the balance in finding herself. It's all coming together and it feels so good.
Molly then lands on the ground, feeling calm and at peace. Her pink aura and glowing scar finally fading as she comes into her own.
"Come on everyone! The scary night is over. Let's step into the daylight and let it go!" Molly said.
The End
