Chapter 19: Rage
The first night in the hospital. Molly was feeling... Scared. She was aways finding hospitals little creepy. The last time she had to stay for few days in hospital, she was 10. Right now it was so dark and lonely, it was giving her goosebumps. Her room was so quite... Not a living soul. The news about Libby was giving her a little hope, but she was still feeling scared. She was supposed to fall asleep 2 hours ago, but really it was too hard to sleep... Here.
''Mollyyyyyyyyy''
Molly was scared and confused when she heared that voice. It sounded like Scratch, except... It sounded so twisted and weird. She wanted to check it out, so she got up, opened the door of her room... And got terrifyed when she saw the long and dark hallway. At the end of the hallway, there was a little blue ghost... And she realized this was Scratch.
''Scratch?''
Scratch turned arŠ¾und... And had glowing demonic eyes. His body was in dark crarcks and... Had so many sharp teeth. And a terrifying smile...
''Can't fall asleep?''
Molly was feeling so scared from him. She was thinking what to do... And then the door of her room closed and locked itself.
''Scratch... What's going on?''
She was now in the long hallway with him... And he became an entire shadow...
''COME HERE!''
Scratch started to fly towards Molly with all his sharp nails and teeth, ready to demolish her...
...
''NOOOOOOOOOOO!'' Molly screamed.
Molly started to scream and cry in her bed. It was so loud, it woke up every doctor and nurse in the building. The nurse opened her door and tried to calm her down.
''SCRAAAAATCH! NO, NOOOOOOOO!'' Molly was screaming.
''It's okay, calm down! It was just a nightmare!'' the nurse said.
No matter how much she tried, Molly just continued to cry and scream. This was a nightmare, she will never forget...
...
It was now afternoon. After... Yesterday's accident between Scratch and Axel, today they were alot more quite. Axel managed to calm him down and told him... If Libby isn't swallowed in him when he killed her, her ghost may have escaped before he could consume her. But those weren't good news at all... If that's the case, where could Libby possibly be?
''Ready for tonight?'' Axel asked.
This night, it was the time when... Axel will do the ritual to cure Scratch from his corruption. Scratch was feeling really scared from this, but he knew that was the only way to cure himself...
''Yeah... I think so...''
Axel noticed the scared and sad look in Scratch's eyes...
''Hey don't worry! Ghosts usually don't go far away from where they died. Once you get cure, I'm sure you will find her!''
''I hope so...'' Scratch said.
While Axel was preparing the things for tonight... Scratch looked at the shadow crack on his arm. It became bigger and more painful, but even this wasn't the scariest part... When Scratch woke up, he was hearing Molly's screams in his head...
...
The whole day in the hospital... Molly was curled up in her bed, still scared from that nightmare... And her hunger became even worse.
''Feeling any better?'' The nurse asked.
''Y-Yes... Much... Better''
The nurse noticed how scared Molly was.
''Hey, don't worry it was just a nightmare. We made few tests today and you are alot better! After few hours, your mom come here to pick you up'' The nurse said, as she pat Molly's head.
Molly was feeling little better now. After all yeah... It was just a dream. Not only she was getting better, but she also expething good news from June about her plan to save Libby. Molly started to stare at the bruise on her arm... It was still red and painful, still after so long since... Scratch hurt her.
...
After many experiments... June had no idea what to do. Her plan was to try make the same energy for Libby's soul, but... No results. She spended hours in her lab, trying to recreate the same energy, but it was impossible.
''Any results?'' Ollie asked.
''Not at all... I don't understand, I tried everything!'' June said.
''Ohhhhhh, this is a disaster! If we don't somehow managed to replace Libby's lost energy, she will...
Geoff couldn't even finish what he was about to say, when he realized something...
''She will what?'' Ollie asked.
''If a ghost don't have enough energy... It disappeares...'' Jeff said.
Both Ollie and June had shocked look on their faces...
''YOU GUYS WAITED THAT LONG TO TELL ME THIS?'' June asked angry.
...
Scratch was feeling tired... Even he didn't know why. Axel noticed this.
''You can take a quick nap, before the ritual. I will wake you up. After all, I still have some things to do in the city'' Axel said.
''Alright... I will wait here then...'' Scratch said
Axel opened the door and left. Scratch still was feeling... Weird around him. After he saw that the smiling demon was actually his sister... Scratch was really feeling weird. Was Axel really evil to her? Was he the reason, she killed herself? Was this whole mess Axel's fault?
No! How could it be his fault? He was trying to save Scratch! But still... If he didn't bully his sister, was she gonna become a demon? Was she gonna kill herself? She was probably gonna live a long life, full with happiness... It really was Axel's fault!
While Scratch was thinking about all of this, the front door opened again. He was little confused, but... He saw inside was the dark forest...
''OH COME ON, SERIOUSLY?'' Scratch screamed.
He was getting sick and tired from those nightmares. All he wanted was one peacefull nap... He noticed the shadow demon standing next to a tree...
''You still trust him?''
Scratch was aways scared from her. However... After he realized, she became a demon from her sad and miserable life... He was really feeling sad and bad for her.
''This... Can't be true... Axel is a good man! Right?''
''That's what everyone thinks about him. But only I knew about... His real behavior''
Normally Scratch wouldn't even try to listen to her... But this time, he decided to give her a chance...
''If that's true... Why was he like this?''
''You think, I know? No reason! He just loved to torture me! Our parents and him aways loved to torture me! That's why I became a shadow demon... The pain and suffering was too much for me... It was unfixable!''
Scratch's arm started to crack...
''All of this was just a bad luck! As ghost you could've just moved on!''
''Move on? After an entire life of suffering and trauma, you think it's that easy just to move on?''
''My life wasn't the best either! But I moved on!''
''No you didn't...''
''What?''
''When you became a wraith, you hid like a little rat in the abandoned house. Alone, rejected, abandoned and miserable! You think all of this ended when you met Molly, but that only made it worse! She was using you like a little toy and you didn't even noticed!''
From feeling bad for her, Scratch was starting to feel rageful and angry.
''THAT'S NOT TRUE! SHE IS MY BEST FRIEND!''
''OH PLEASE SHUT UP! You know very well, it's true! She force you to follow her rules, FOR GOD'S SAKE SHE IS DATING A GHOST HUNTER!''
''Ollie isn't like this anymore!''
''But when he was a ghost hunter, did she cared? In the school dance, she was spending the whole night with him, knowing very well what he can do to you! And she still didn't cared! Is this a true friendship? To risk your friend's safety, just because of your selfish dreams?''
Scratch was starting... To think about this. Molly was aways his friend, right? She will never do anything to harm him, right?
''Molly! Please! I'm not cursed to follow you everywhere anymore!
''And you are lucky for that, or else I wasn't gonna let you breathe!''
Scratch was starting to hear flashbacks... He was starting to realize what the demon was trying to do...
''No... NO, I'M NOT GONNA LISTEN TO YOU! I WILL JUST WAIT UNTIL AXEL WAKES ME UP!''
''Truth hurts, doesn't it? You think she is your little angerl, your second chance to live your childhood... You think she is the closest think you have to your mother...''
''SHUT UP!''
''But the reality is that Molly never cared about you! When she grows up, she will move on with her life, forgetting about you AND ONCE AGAIN YOU WILL BE ALONE!''
Scratch's body started to crack... His entire body was now covered with shadow cracks...
''WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT TRUE FRIENSHIP, WHEN YOU NEVER HAD ANY REAL FRIENDS?''
''Axel was the closest thing I had to a real friend! One day he will act as the nicest big brother, but the other he will make me suffer, just for fun! And Molly is doing the same to you! She treats you like a pet! And who knows... What if she starts to abuse you too?''
Scratch started to tear up when she said this...
''ARE YOU INSANE! DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT? MOLLY IS THE NICEST AND SWEETEST KID IN THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE! SHE WOULD NEVER HARM ANYONE!''
''That's how every abuse start... You think you friend is innocent little soul, but then they crush you feelings!''
Scratch's one eye turned red and he started to feel that rage rising up... His teeth also started to get sharper...
''No! She is nothing like this!''
''You sure? Look at this!''
The demon snapped her fingers... And Scratch was now in a strange street.
''Huh?''
He was confused why she did this. Then he noticed a little blonde girl crying on the road. She was surounded by group of kids... And Molly was there... She looked like, here she was 9 or 10, but he still recognized her.
''Awww look at this little crying loser! COME ON MCGEE, SHOW HER WHO IS THE BOSS!''
Scratch couldn't believe what he was seeing. They were bullying the poor girl... But Molly wouldn't do anything right? She will never do anything bad!
He was thinking Molly wouldn't hurt her... But then she picked up a rock and...
''HAVE FUN IN HEAVEN!'' Molly screamed and threw the rock with all the power she had at the poor girl...
''MOLLY NO, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!''
Before he could do anything, he was once again in the dark forest... He started to once again tear up... This wasn't real right? Molly is a good person right?
''Wow, if that's what you call sweet and nice, you have very low standards...''
''This... This can't be real... Molly is the most innocent and caring person... SHE WOULD NEVER DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS!''
''That's reality! Your friend is one cruel manipulator, who will do the same to you! As I said, once her little cute pet is no more fun to her, SHE WILL THROW IT OUT!''
''That's not true! THAT'S NOT TR-
Before Scratch could finish... Axel appeared, holding a strange book and... The whole forest just collapsed...
...
''SCRATCH!'' Axel screamed.
It was now nightime... Scratch was tired and confused from this dream... He saw Axel was holding the same book, once again...
''What happened?''
''You were talking in demonic language in your sleep! I had to get in your head to wake you up!''
''YOU WERE ACTUALLY IN MY HEAD?''
''With the power of that book, yes I can do that. Who was that girl? Is this the demon that infected you?''
Scratch was starting to feel the upcoming rage and then... He felt sick and threw up some kind of light energy.
''Scratch! Are you alright?'' Axel asked, as he rushed to Scratch's side.
When Scratch threw up that energy... From bright, it's color turn darker. It started to fly and with unbelieveble power, it flew through the front door, in unknown direction. It was so powerful, it broke the door, Scratch's body also started to crack...
''Who is she? WHO IS SHE? WHAT, YOU ALREADY FORGOT HOW YOUR SISTER SOUNDS LIKE?''
Axel backed up when Scratch screamed. He was also very confused.
''What?''
''OH YES! SHE IS YOUR SISTER! THE SISTER YOU TURNED INTO A DEMON!''
Axel couldn't believe what Scratch said. He was regreting his whole life how... He treated his sister. But he never actually imagined, she turned into a demon...
''This... Can't be true!''
''IT IS! IT IS VERY TRUE!"
Scratch's one eye turned red and purple aura started to glow from him. He really looked like a demon from hell...
''Scratch, calm down!''
''CALM DOWN? YOU DARE TO TELL ME TO CALM DOWN? ALL THIS TIME, I THOUGH SHE WAS A SICK, TWISTED, SMILING FREAK... BUT THE WHOLE TIME, THE REAL MONSTER WAS YOU!''
For the first time, in his shaman's life... Axel was actually feeling scared. From the state Scratch was in, Axel had no idea how to calm him down...
''Scratch... I know how this looks like, but listen to me-
''I DON'T WANT TO HEAR A WORD FROM YOU!''
''Scratch, let me help you!''
''I DON'T NEED HELP FROM MONSTERS!''
Before he realized what he was doing... Scratch attacked him with his sharp claws. Just for few seconds, Scratch turned into a beast... And pushed Axel to the floor. Axel had a huge mark and his eyes was bleeding... Scratch escaped through the broken front door as fast as possible...
...
Leah was next to her daughter in the hospital. The doctors told her if Libby doesn't wake up tomorrow, they will have to... Pull the plug on her. Libby was already dead, but Leah still had hope... But even she was starting to lose hope about her daughter.
''Come on miss... You can't stay here'' The doctor said.
Leah started to tear up, when she realized... Tomorrow she may never see her daughter again...
''She... Really is gone, isn't she?'' Leah asked.
''I'm very sorry... We did everything we could...''
Leah couldn't believe this was happening. Her daughter was dead... She was actually dead. She will never wake up again... Leah gave Libby one last kiss on her head...
''Goodbye turtledove... Fly high in the clouds...''
When the doctor and Leah were about to leave the room... The strange dark energy from earlier now was in the room. They didn't even noticed it... And it went in Libby's lifeless body... And she woke up.
''MOM!'' Libby screamed when she finally woke up...
Leah and the doctor turned around... And they were both shocked.
''Libby? You are... YOU ARE ALIVE!'' Leah screamed, as she hugged her daughter with all the power she had.
The doctor was standing there speechles. He has seen many things in his career... But he has never seen someone to die and come back to life...
...
Scratch was once again... In the abandoned house close to Grand Canyon. He was thinking what to do... His entire body is in shadow cracks, there is no way for him to go back to Axel and... He was just alone. Molly also wasn't an option...
He started to cry when he realized, he was doomed. He will turn into a demon and there is nothing he can do... It's over... It's actuallt over for him...
''Come on Todd... Get up!''
The demon was in front of him...
''Why are you doing this to me?''
''I try to warn you... You don't have real friends... People are cruel people. I tried to be kind, but everyone abused me. You tried to be kind, but people also abused YOU! We pay the price... But when we become demons, we make the others pay for our suffering! Now it's your turn Todd... Who has aways treated you like a pet?''
Scratch tried to fight back his corruption... But he couldn't. The rage was too powerful...
''M-Molly...''
''Who has never showed any respect towards you?''
Both of Scratch's eyes were now red...
''Molly...''
''Who aways bosses around?''
Scratch's arms were now entirerly shadowy...
''Molly!''
''WHO DESERVES TO DIE?''
Scratch's entire body was now shadowy and his teeth and claws were now sharper than ever...
''MOLLY!''
''WHO WILL PAY THE PRICE FOR YOUR SUFFERING?''
''MOLLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY''
The whole exploded in purple flames. Inside... There was now a dark, predatory creature, ready to tear up every single human being...
There was no more Scratch... He was gone... He was now a shadow beast with the most disturbing red glowing eyes, purple gowling aura from his body, sharp teeth and claws... And huge rage.
He started to fly with all the speed he had towards Brighton with one mission only... To find and kill Molly McGee...