Chapter 15: Monster
Scratch was looking at the door at his old house. He knew, he should go live his life, but... In his head, he couldn't... He wanted to stay here... He had Molly here... But after all, she was the one who made him go back...
''If I don't remember you... I'm sorry''
''Well I'll aways remember you, forever friend...'' Molly said as she started to tear up.
Scratch looked at her and he started to tear up as well. He knew this is the biggest risk, he may ever take... He wanted so bad, just to go back to Molly...
''Dream team? You and me?''
''For all eternity...''
Scratch ringed the bell and waited for his body to come out. He hid behind and was still questioning if he should do this... He really, REALLY wanted to stay here with Molly...
''Hello?'' Todd asked confussed.
Scratch possessed him and... He was back... The lost soul was finally back in it's body... After few seconds, in which he stared at Molly... He just went back inside his house...
Inside it was dark and quite. It has been long time since he saw the old place... Normally, he should be happy that he will once again live his life, but... He was alone... Is he really just supposed to go to sleep, forget about Molly and move on? This was a bad idea... Now Scratch started to get anxious and wanted to somehow, immediately leave his body...
He went to the kitched as fast as he could, grabbed the sharpest knife he can find and... Really was on the verge to kill himself... He can't leave... There is not a single supernatural force that can make him leave Molly...
''Does the puppy wants to go back to it's owner?''
He turned around and saw the shadowy demon behind him...
''YOU!''
''I knew you wouldn't want to live, but seriously? You couldn't even last 5 minutes?''
''LEAVE ME ALONE!''
''But you are, Todd. Right now, you are more alone than ever... Your little angel, isn't here to save you...''
Just few minutes after he was back to living, and he already wanted to die...
''I... I'm not alone!''
''Please don't lie to yourself. I told you... Once the cute little pet is no more fun to her, Molly would throw it out!''
''SHUT UP! She wants me to live my life!''
''You sure about that? Didn't you notice, how she tried so hard to make you go back? You wanted to stay, but... She told you, that you can't stay here... Do you really think, she actually cares about you?''
''YES, SHE DOES!''
''The truth hurts Todd... She doesn't. It's not like that matters... Tomorrow you will wake up and she will be like a dust in your head!''
Then the demon finaly disappeared. Scratch was scared... He was scared that he really may forget her... He started to tear up again, terrifyed from the fact that tomorrow, he may wake up and not remember a single thing about Molly... It will be like, she never excisted in his life...
''NO! I WILL NEVER FORGET HER!''
An idea came. He went to his bedroom, found a little textbook and spended a whole hour, writting everything about his afterlife. How he met Geoff, everything about the Ghost World... How he met the McGees... And every single, little detail about Molly. What's her favorite things, the things she hates, all the adventures he and she had... He didn't know if this will work, but he was desperate...
...
Scratch woke up, scared and tired from this dream. If there is a memory that is painful, as the one where he killed someone... It was exatcly the memory, where he said goodbye to Molly...
''Scratch! Wake up!'' Molly said.
It has been a week since the basement incident. He still refused to tell her, why he has to be outside, but at least she wasn't bothering him about it. He flew outside.
''Morning Moll. How is Libby doing?''
After it was revealed that Leah had to stay in the hospital for a week, there was no way for the McGees to leave Libby spend all this time on her own. For a week, Libby was living with them. She had a very important test coming up, so Molly had to help her with everything she could.
''Well... She understood the first few math problems... But she can't solve anything in geometry.
The moment she mentioned geometry, Scratch shuddered from disgust.
''UGH! I hate geometry! When I was a kid, I had to make a deal with the devil, just to get at least D-''
Molly understood he was just joking, but for a moment even she wasn't sure...
''Scratch... You didn't actually...
''Relax, I didn't... I just secretly cheated, so I can pass it''
...
From few hours, Molly tried evrything she could to help Libby understand geometry... Absolutely nothing worked...
''It's not that hard! Geometry is basically what we've learned about shapes in elementary school, but in grown-ups launguage!'' Molly said exhausted.
''Oh, that's it! I just give up!'' Libby said.
''What? NO! We are not giving up!''
''Molly, I need a perfect 'A+' to pass math class! It's imposssible! That's like expecting a penguin to fly!''
Libby was looking down so sad... No matter her effort, she couldn't understand anything... She really wanted to spend her summer vacation... She and Charlotte already had so many plans for the summer, but by the looks of it, they will have to be canceled...
''There aren't impossible things in life Libby! You just have to believe in yourself!''
That's when Molly's stomach growled and once again, it distracted Libby.
''Yeah, I can't do that... Also that hunger of yours isn't making it easy for me. Have you figured out, what's causing that?'' Libby asked.
''Well... Yes and no... I feel like Scratch is doing something to me, but I can't figure it out...''
''KID I TOLD YOU, I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING!'' Scratch said behind her.
Both Libby and Molly jumped back, jumpscared from Scratch's surpirizing visit.
''Scratch! Seriously, you should work on your arriving skills...'' Molly said.
''Ugh, I know... So how are things with math going?''
''Terrible... I just will have to accept the fact, I will spend the summer in summer school...''
This is when an idea came...
''Hey Moll why don't you let me take it from here? I will help Libs''
''What? Scratch you said you were ho-
Molly's stomach growled louder than ever and it even hurt her little...
''Sounds like you need a little snack break! Trust me, I know what I'm doing, BYE!'' Scratch said as he levitaed Molly and kicked her out the attic.
''Finally! Hard to think with all that presure, right Libster?''
''Yeah... I'm doomed... I really don't know how t-
Libby's wound started to hurt, as she grabbed her chest and was on the verge to cry... Scratch noticed this and was starting to get worried, his secret corruption may be causing this... He tried to cheer her up.
''Hey that's no way for zombie apocalypse doomsday prepper like you! All we need is a new 'angle' to this problem. Get it? Geometry, angle?''
Libby's wound stopped hurting and she chuckled at Scratch's joke.
''That... Was actually pretty funny Scratch'' Libby said smiling.
''Phew! There's a smile! But really, all we need is, to figure out what works for you. You applied everything you've learned in school to upgrading your bunker, don't you?''
''Yes, but how will THIS save me from zombies?'' Libby asked, as she showed him a complex geometry problem.
''Honestly Libs, I don't know. But I'm sure you can figure it out! You're a smart kid!''
Scratch grabbed her textbook and saw the other math problems. He couldn't even understand what it says, but he noticed something.
''I've seen those angles in that ghost trap, Ollie set up during the school dance. Not a memory, I would want to relive...''
''Mhmmm... Designing traps? I think I figured out something...''
...
Scratch was ready to finally go to sleep in his dollhouse. After the long day, he and Libby had solving math problems, he needed to rest.
''Ready to go to sleep?'' Molly asked.
''Yeah, I swear if I see one more triangle again, I'll lose my mind!''
''Well no need to worry, because I don't have triangles! But I sure have hugs'' Molly said with smile.
Scratch realized, she wanted her goodnight hug, so he flew from his dollhouse and hugged her. And then... Molly felt how scared he was...
''Scratch... Is everything ok?''
It wasn't... After the strange dream he had last night, it sure wasn't...
''Yeah, why?''
''Just asking... Please Scratch, just come inside already! You spended so much time in the backyard. Please, please, please come back!''
Scratch wanted so bad, to go back to the attic... However, he knew, he can't. He just doesn't want to risk Molly's safety, but... At this point he was really at his breaking point... Maybe if he spends just one night with her... Just one...
''Ok kid... I will move the dollhouse in the attic again...''
...
It was 3 AM, but Scratch couldn't fall asleep... It was impossible to fall asleep... He didn't know whym but there was just something keeping him awake. Molly was sleeping peacefuly, while he couldn't... While he was still trying to go to sleep, from his dollhouse window, he saw a shadowy figure, standing right next to Molly... It was the smiling demon.
''NO!'' Scratch screamed as he flew from the dollhouse.
''Shhhhh! You don't wanna wake up the sleeping beauty, do you?''
''Get out of here!''
''Not happening! I'm in your mind, there is no escape from me!''
Scratch didn't know what to do... This sick creature was standing right next to his best friend... He then heared a crack and felt huge pain in his arm. He looked at it and... Saw a shadow crack in his arm..
''What the?''
''You really think you can hide it forever? It starts slow, but now... It's finally time Todd... Your body is breaking and soon you will finally become like me!''
''N-No! I'll find a cure!''
''It's not that easy Todd...''
This is when Molly started to toss around and also started to even cry in her sleep. She looked so scared... Then Scratch was starting to feel full for some reason...
''NO! I'M NOTHING LIKE YOU! I'M NOT A MONSTER!''
''That's righ Todd, keep fighting it! This only makes it more fun for me!''
...
Scratch woke up in 10:30 and saw Molly was gone. She was probably gonna come any time soon to wake him up. Scratch was scared from this dream... The fact he is feeding of Molly's soul was scary enough, but... He looked at his arm and saw something that completely terrifyed him... A small shadowy crack...
He didn't know what to do... He was scared... He flew from his dollhouse and somehow tried to make it disappear. He tried to calm down, to only think about possitive thoughts... But then he heared cracking...
It got even worse... It got bigger and it was hurting like hell. Now this was bad... There is no way for him to hide it from Molly... He was doomed.
''Scratch!'' Molly said, as she appeared in the room.
She was first surprised to see he was already awake and then she noticed the crack on his arm...
''Oh hey, Moll! Listen I have some work to do, I'm gon-
''What the? Are you alright?'' Molly asked worried.
''Yeah, yeah, it's nothing serious, just a little... Condition. I will go to the park for a little, okay bye!''
Before Molly could even say something, Scratch was already gone.
...
Scratch was in the park staring at the trees, clouds, the birds, just to calm himself. He wanted more than anything, to make that crack disappear. He tried everything, but nothing worked. It was still on his arm, and was still painful.
He was doomed... There is no cure, no doctor, no shaman, no friends, NO ONE! Absolutely no one, who can actually help him. He was hopeless... He really wanted to somehow cure himself, but he knew there is no way... That's when he had enough and started to cry...
''Wh-Why... WHY! HOW MUCH DO I HAVE TO SUFFER?!''
It was over... His corruption was now really uncurable. If even one little crack forms, it will start to spread and... He will completey turn into a demon...
''Tough time?''
Out of reflexion and anger, Scratch turned around, grabbed the demon's throat and pushed her to a tree.
''YOU! YOU DID THIS!''
''That's riiight! Feel the anger in your body... Let it, overtake you!''
Scratch realized what she was trying to do. He let her go and calmed himself.
''This time, there is no one here for you! Not even your little joy angel!''
''Molly doesn't know about this! I will find a cure, myself!''
''Todd... Let's face it. There is nothing more for you to lose!''
''Shut up! You think your disease will overtake me?''
''This is not a disease. Shadow demons... Become only the souls, which suffered the most...''
Scratch didn't know what to say when he heared this... Sure his life was bad, but... This bad?
''What do you mean?''
Scratch blinked and now somehow he and the demon, were now in a room with a table and alot of pictures... He started to look at the pictures. Those were pictures of a dark haired woman, smiling. On her arms, she had many bruises, like someone beated her... He was first confussed, who this was and then... He looked at the demon... He once again looked at the woman at the pictures... And finally realized...
''Is this... Is this you?''
''In the flesh...''
He was shocked...
''How... Did you became a demon?''
''When I was alive... People used to abuse me alot. My own friends, parents, loved ones... And I hid my pain, behind a fake smile... Everyone who knew me, even started calling me 'Smiley' because of that... At one point I had enough, so I killed myself and... My face stayed with that smile for all eternity...''
Scratch was both sad and... Feeling bad for the poor woman... The fact, she became a demon because of her life was just sad...
''You could've searched for help!''
''Help? Where? Where was I supposed to search for help? The world is a cruel place Todd... That's why we become demons...''
''I'm not a demon! I have happiness and joy in my life! I sure did had few bad periods in my life, but this isn't enough to turn me into a demon!''
That's when everything became black... It was just darkness... Scratch was first confused how that happened, but then...
''You sure about that Todd? Just look a yourself!''
That's when painful memories started to replay in Scratch's head... The time when he and Adia were both bullied... When his dad almost attacked his mom with knife... When he said goodbye to Molly... When his mom got killed...''
''Your whole life, you try to to think positive and to aways look at the bright side... But there was never a bright side Todd! Your whole life, you have been rejected, abandoned, alone, misereable-
''SHUT UP! YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ME!"
''I do know, Todd! You had friends, THEY ABANDONED YOU! You had parents, THEY ABANDONED YOU! You had the perfect one year with Adia, THEN YOU DIED! You wanted to take revenge, IT BACKFIRED AT YOU! Now the Grim Reaper is after you and trust me, he won't be happy when he sees all of this! Can you please tell me, where is the bright side of this kind of life? Where is the solution of those problems? Molly? I'm sorry, do you actually think a kid can somehow change all of that?''
Scratch's whole body started to crack... He tried to control himself, but it was impossible...
''I... I... I...
''ENOUGH! You can't deny the truth Todd! You were aways a nobody, trying to be somethind more, only to fail! You have to stop hiding this rage and anger... LET IT OUT!''
...
Scratch woke up in the park, in the middle of the night... He saw the crack on his arm was now even bigger... He didn't know what to do after this horrible nightmare, because... It was true... All she said was true... There really was no bright side in his life or afterlife...
He flew back to the McGees house and saw something that left him speechless. Molly laying in the couch, barerly keeping her eyes open, pale, sick, exhausted... He parents had a worried look on their faces...
''What's going on?'' Scratch asked.
''We don't know! From afternoon, she was extremly hungry and then, she started to cry from pain. She said her stomach hurted, so I just gave her few pills, but it didn't help at all!'' Sharon said.
Scratch couldn't believe this... He didn't care about himself, he wanted Molly to be safe. She looked like so sick, it broke his heart...
''I... I hope she will get better... Also where is Libby?''
''Libby's mom was discharged from the hospital, so she went home'' Pete said.
That's when an idea came to his mind... He normally won't do this, but he really wasn't gonna risk Molly's safety...
''Sc-Scraatch...'' Molly was trying to talk.
Scratch turned around and saw the tired look in her eyes was driving him on the verge to tear up...
''Th-The... Goodnnighh... hhug...''
Scratch understood what she wanted... He flew to her and gently hugged her, as she hugged him back...
''It's okay Moll... You will be alright...''
...
''Scratch, are you serious?'' Libby asked.
''I'm serious! After I tried to get the doll, I fall asleep and... In my sleep she infected me with something called ghost corruption...''
Libby couldn't believe Scratch hid all of this from everyone...
''How could you not tell us?''
''I didn't know how! Ughhhh... I really didn't know how... If I stay here, Molly will suffer... I can't do that to her Libs!''
''Scratch, I know how serious her condition is, but-
''I made my decison! Tomorrow, I'm leaving Brighton and will quarantene myself!''
''This won't help at all! If we ask the Chens, they may have be able to make a cure or something!''
''Ghost corruption can't be cured Libby... It turns every ghost, into a shadow demon... Just like the one, that tried to kill you...''
Libby didn't know what to do or say... She wanted to help him, but it wasn't possible if he plans to run away like that.
''Listen... Since I don't want to risk Molly's health... Can I stay with you tonight? I warn you, my ghost corruption sometimes cause people to have nightmares, but... Right now, I have no other place to go...''
Libby was thinking about this. Sure she was feeling little scared when he mentioned that she may have nightmares, but Scratch was her friend. She wasn't gonna leave him like that.
''Okay Scratch... You can stay in my room for tonight. But I'm sure tomorrow you will change your mind, and will avtually try to search for help!''
Libby placed few pillows on the floor and gave Scratch a little blanked. Sure, it wasn't like the dollhouse, but he was still feeling comfortable. While he was trying to sleep, he saw how one of Libby's turtles was staring at him.
''No offense Libs, but don't those things freak you out?''
''Nope! Turtles are my most favorite thing! I love my turtles more than anything...''
''Meh, everyone has a taste. When I was 9, my parents bought me a parrot. He was so beautiful and precious... Kinda miss him sometimes...''
''Aw, that's so sweet. What was his name?''
''I named him Tutu. But he used to sing every single morning in 7 AM, it was driving my mom insane... Anyway... Goodnight Libs...''
''Goodnight Scratch...''
Scratch once again was struggling to fall asleep. He didn't know why. He decided to get up and get himself a glass of water. When he got the kichen he... Saw the shadow demon.
''Can you PLEASE LEAVE ME ALONE?!''
''Same old Todd... Trying to run away from his problems...''
Now Scratch really had enough of her. She had the audicity to mock him and now call him a coward? He felt that huge rage coming up...
''LISTEN CAREFULLY, I HAD ENOUGH OF YOU!''
''And what are you gonna do, huh? Should I be scared? Scared from an orphan, who doesn't know what happiness is?''
This is when she crossed the line... Scratch turned into a shadow, felt huge amount of energy and power and... Jumped at her and started to aggresivly beat her... He never imagined, one day he will punch a woman, but now he really didn't care...
''AM I ENOUGH SCARY TO UYOU? HUH? AM I? IS THE LITTLE ORPHAN SCARY ENOUGH? YOU SICK, TWISTED, SMILING, PSYCHO! I WILL END YOU!''
...
Scratch woke up once again in 3 AM... He was feeling... Happy... Happy that he finally beated this freak... He knew this isn't the righ thing to do, but... He really was proud of himself... He was now ready to go back to sleep, since... He have to leave tomorrow...
But then he noticed drops of blood on the floor. He was first confused from where this came from and... Saw that Libby's entire bed was in blood...
''Oh my gosh, Libs!''
Scratch flew and... It was shocking... Her pijama and bed were all entire bloody... He tried to wakr her up.
''Libs! Are you ok? Why are you bleeding? Libs! Libs?''
She wasn't responding... Now Scratch really was starting to get worried. He wanted to check something... He was terrifyed, what the results may be, but... He had to check... He opened her eyes and saw... She had the dead look... The dead look his body had, when he was a wraith... The dead look, the homeless man had...
''OH NO! NO, NO, NO, NO!''
Scratch now tried everything to wake her up. For few minutes, he was just desperate to wake her up... No response at all... He stopped... And noticed, the enitire time, Libby wasn't even breathing...
''N-No... No... NO, LIBBY WAKE UP!'' Scratch cried out.
He was shaking Libby, with all the power he had, just to wake her up... No response... He checked her pulse... No pulse... He realized, Libby was dead... She was actually dead...
''NO, THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING! LIBBY, I BEG YOU PLEASE WAKE UP! I WILL DO WHATEVER YOU WANT, JUST WAKE UP PLEASE!'' Scratch cried out.
No matter how much he tried... Still no response... He realized... Ih his sleep, he must have consumed her soul...
''PLEASE DON'T DO THIS TO ME! WAKE UP!''
He continued for more few minutes... Still no response at all... He realized... No matter, how much he tries... Libby will never wake up again... Because of him...
Scratch now had complete breakdown on the floor, realizing what he did... This was the worst night ever... From all the things he did, he was never gonna forgive himself for that... He hugged Libby's body as tightly as possible...
''I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!'' Scratch continued to cry.
He let her down and flew from there as fast as possible.
...
Scratch traveled all the way to... The abandoned house in Grand Canyon... The whole night, he was crying his soul about, because of what he did... He was speechless... He was disguested from himself... He wanted to disappear... This is when he flew outside and started to scream...
''JUST COME AND TAKE ME! I KNOW YOU ARE AFTER ME, OL' GRIM! JUST COME HERE AND SLICE ME UP! I JUST WANT MY EXCISTENCE TO END!'' Scratch cried out.
He really was ready for the grim reaper, just to come and kill him... After what he did, he really couldn't forgive himself... After all this crying the whole night... He was starting to get sleepy... But then he noticed a figure outside in green robe... Scratch barerly saw him, since his eyes started to close... He recognized the robe... That was a shaman's robe... Which means, this guy must be a shaman... Scratch couldn't keep himself in the air and fall alseep...