Chapter 2: Lonely

''No... No, please... NO!''

Molly woke up confused. It was 2:30 AM and she was very tired. She didn't understand from where this sound was coming from, but that's when she heared it again...

''NO! NO, NO, PLEASE DON'T!''

It was Scratch... He was screaming in fear inside his little dollhouse. She got up and went to see what was going on there and then she saw how Scratch was crying and screaming in his sleep.

''S-Scratch? Scratch wake up!'' Molly said.

Scratch continued to shake and scream in his sleep. Whatever dream he was having, it sure is terrifying... Molly couldn't leave him like that, so she decided to shake his doll house, just to wake him up. But this is when out of nowhere, Scratch's ghost shark appeared right in front of her and she jumped back scared.

''Woah! Ghost shark?''

The ghost shark was looking at her threatening. It had red eyes and it had thousands of sharp teeth, ready to eat her. She wasn't moving from fear... She didn't understand why the ghost shark was looking at her like that, but she was scared...

While she was thinking what to do, ghost shark started to open it's mouth and to get closer to her. Molly was now sitting in the corner on her room and didn't know what to do...

''Ghost shark, no! It's me! Molly! Please don't hurt me! HELP!'' Molly screamed.

It was getting closer, closer and closer... And from Molly's screaming, Scratch finally woke up... He flew from his dollhouse and saw his ghost shark, ready to eat Molly...

''GHOST SHARK STOP!'' Scratch screamed.

The moment he said this, the ghost shark stopped and turned into the usual little cuddly shark. Scratch was confused why the hell his ghost shark was here...

''Ok... Now please go away!'' Scratch said.

The ghost shark flew far away from the attic. Scratch didn't understand how the hell his ghost shark got here and why attacked Molly, but he knew this can't be good...

''I... I must have summoned him in my sleep'' Scratch said.

Molly was getting really worried about Scratch. The whole day he was acting weird, he somehow broke her dad's favorite cup and now he somehow summoned his ghost shark and almost ate her. She got up and grabbed his arm.

''Scratch are you ok? Please this time answer honestly!'' Molly said.

He didn't know what to say, because even he didn't know if he was fine. He had those terrible visions and nightmares and they kept chasing him. He wanted to talk with Molly, but he didn't wanted to worry her. Those were just some dumb nightmares right?

''Yeah don't worry Moll. I just had a nightmare. Honestly I didn't even know I can actually summon ghost shark while I'm asleep. Sorry if I scared you...''

Molly knew something was off. She saw the scared look in Scratch's eyes and wanted to help him. She knew how good he is at bottling his feelings, so she wasn't gonna leave him until he says what's wrong.

''What was your nightmare about?'' Molly asked.

Scratch froze when she asked him that question... His dream wasn't some usual dream with spooky stuff, people easily forget. His dream was actually a memory about... Sins from his life as human. Even when he died, he never talked about it and never wanted to talk about it since... His past was very difficult...

''Doesn't matter... Jeez it's 2:35? Better get some sleep, after all we have a party at Libs's place tomorrow!'' Scratch said as he went back to his dollhouse.

Molly didn't liked the way he escaped... Again. He did that every single time. When there is something that is emotionaly bothering him, he will try to hide it. She wanted her best friend to be honest with her, but he never was truly honest... She went to his dollhouse.

''Well... Listen Scratch, you know you can aways tell me anything! That's for what best friends are about. So if there is something bothering you, you know I'm aways here for you...'' Molly said.

''Uhhhh ok Moll... You have to go to sleep now kid, or you won't be able to even get up from your bed'' Scratch said.

''No goodnight hug?'' Molly asked.

A goodnight hug was something like a tradition Molly made. Before going to sleep, Scratch and Molly hug eachother for goodnight. Even through he never admitted it, that was something he actually liked. Except the 10:30 rule... He hated it from his dead heart. He flew from his dollhouse and embraiced Molly in big hug and she hugged him back. Normally she is the one to hug him first, but this time he was still... Scared from that painful memory, so he really needed to feel the safe, warm hug from Molly. This reminded him how much he wanted to hug her when he died...

''Again Scratch... You know I'm aways here for you...'' Molly said.

''Yeah, yeah, I know Moll... I know...''

...

Libby woke up, more excited than usual. It was because it was finally her birthday! She and her mom planned to make a small party with Libby's friends. She invited Ollie, Molly, Scratch (well of course he will be invincible around her mom), Andrea and their parents. She never thought that one day, she will actually invite Adnrea on her birthday, but nowdays Andrea was diffirent. Not only she was kind, but she saved Leah's bookshop. Libby couldn't even think a way to thank Andrea, so inviting her to her birthday was the least she could do.

When she was ready to put on her green sweater, she looked at her wound. She remembered when... A demon inside her childhood toy, almost made her to commit suicide... She remembered the dream where Molly stabbed her with a branch and when she woke up, she had that big wound on her chest... Even after so much time, the wound was still here. And the most terrifying part was... Every time when Libby was very sad, or feeling down, that wound would start to hurt very much... The pain was unbearable...

She putted her sweater on, opened the door and went to the kitchen, and of course there was her mom waiting for her with a cupcake.

''There it is, my special birthday girl!'' Leah said with smile.

She hugged her daughter and started to kiss her on the cheek. Libby giggled at this and hugged her mom back. She loved her mom, more than anything.

''Thanks mom. I can't wait for today!'' Libby said.

''Oh I know turtledove! So any special plans for today?'' Leah asked.

''Oh me and Molly will go out around Brighton. Oh and mom... Did dad called you back?'' Libby asked excited.

A week before Libby's birthday, her dad called and said there is a chance for him to come and see her. Of course Leah knew Matias will probably once again not show up... But it was worring her how excited Libby was. Libby herself knew her dad cares about his writing career, but Libby still belived one day he will return and be a normall family again.

''Well... Still not... But he did promised me he will call me so...'' Leah said.

''YES!'' Libby said and hugged her mom.

''Oh is that for me?'' Libby asked when she noticed the cupcake with the candle.

''Of course turtledove! Come on make a wish and blow the candle!'' Leah said.

Libby took her cupcake, closed her eyes and made her wish...

I wish dad to come here tonight...

Libby opened her eyes and blowed her candle.

'''Good job Libby! Come on, eat your breakfast before Molly comes'' Leah said.

...

Molly and Scratch were going right to Book Marks The Spot. Molly was holding the yellow roses for Libby while Scratch was eating a chocolate donut.

''You know, I don't get what's the problem with confectionery shops nowdays. This donut for example isn't sweet at all. Where is the sweetness?'' Scratch said.

''Really? Mhm, mine donut was fine'' Molly said.

They finally reached the bookshop and Scratch turned invincible, while Molly prepared her roses. She opened the door and saw Libby on her chair reading a book.

''LIBBY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!'' Molly said as she went and hugged Libby.

''Thanks Molly! Wait... Are those yellow roses?'' Libby asked.

''Of course! The most beautiful roses, for the most beautiful girl on the planet!'' Molly said as she passed the roses to Libby.

The moment Molly said this, Libby blushed. She never thought she was beautiful or pretty, but to hear that Molly finds her the most beautiful girl on the planet, melted her heart.

''Awwwww thanks Molly!'' Libby said as she hugged Molly again.

When they broke from their hug, Scratch revealed himself since no one was here.

''Yeaaah, I don't really have anything, but anyways happy birthday Libs'' Scratch said.

''Well thanks Scratch'' Libby said.

This is when Leah showed up and Scratch imidiately turned invincible. He was getting annoyed to keep turning invincible, but he knew he had no choice.

''Good morning Molly! Oh my gosh, Molly did you gave Libby those? Oh Molly you really are really sweet'' Leah said as she hugged Molly.

''Of course! My best friend, deserves the best!'' Molly said.

''You really are good kid Molly. Anyways, have fun girls, I will be busy here. Also Libby, I love you turtledove!'' Leah said as she walked away.

''Love you too mom!'' Libby said.

The way Libby and Leah were so close... Really was making Scratch feel something sad and strange...

''Alrigh, so today Libby we will give you the best birthday EVER! Right Scratch?'' Molly said.

He usually wasn't paying attention to this, but he really was feeling... Lonely and sad when he saw how close Libby and her mom were...

''Scratch?''

It almost reminded him... The times when he and his mom where that close...

''SCRATCH!''

Scratch turned around and saw the two girls looking at him confused.

''Oh uhhhh yeah, yeah, whatever'' Scratch said.

...

All of the three friends were in the park eating ice cream.

''I'm telling you, the confectionery industry is dying... Even the ice cream doesn't taste right!'' Scratch said

Both girls didn't payed him attention as they were laughing and talking to eachother. This made Scratch feel... That strange and lonely feeling inside. Sometimes he wondered if Molly is gonna forget about him. She has Ollie and Libby, so what if she forgets about him in the future?

''She will Todd... She definitely will forget about you...''

Scratch froze the moment he heared that voice... It was the same voice of the demon... This is when his body started to turn shadowy and he was starting to feel that rage... But he somehow managed to fight it back and was back to normall. And of course Molly and Libby who were infront of him, didn't even saw what was happening with him. Like they just forgot he existed...

''This... Ok this can't be good... Is Molly even gonna notice if I'm missing?''

Molly countinued to laugh with Libby and he was sure they won't notice...

''I gotta visit the doctor... This isn't normall'' Scratch said as he opened a portal and went to the ghost world.