Chapter 11: Worst 3 days
Molly was preparing herself to go to school. She and Scratch once again, couldn't even look at each other. He was now in his dollhouse... Not a single apology or good morning from him... There was also one problem... Since the hoody, she wore yesterday was kinda dirty, she had to wear her usual outfit... Which was revealing the bruise on her arm...
''Bye Scratch!'' Molly said.
He didn't even turned around to see her... She was now feeling very bad for him. Even through he actually hurted her, she was feeling responsible for all that mess. This picture was probably the last memory Scratch had about his parents... And she just lost it...
Molly went downstair, got her backpack and went outside as fast as she could. She just had to be as fast as possible, so her parents won't have to see her arm...
Molly was walking down to school. It wasn't that far anyways, so she had no problem just to walk. But there was another problem... Since the beggining of the morning, she was tired and had this huge hunger in her stomach. Sure, she did skip breakfast, but she was starving... It just wasn't normall. She just wanted to eat something, so she opened her backpack to get her lunch... And realized out of haste to get out fast, she forgot it there...
...
Scratch was in his dollhouse, trying to go to sleep, but it was impossible... He just kept thinking about his lost photo... This photo was like a treasure for him, this photo was one nice memory about his human life... It was the only thing left from his mom...
He never talked about his life with anyone. His dad was a workaholic, never spended any time with the family and aways pressured Scratch to be better. No matter what he did, it was never good enough for his father. However his mom... She was like an angel to him... She was aways kind, joyful, wanting to make the world a better place... Just like Molly...
Scratch was never in his afterlife gonna admit this, but sometimes, Molly really was reminding him of his mom. Because of his dad, Scratch never truly lived the magic of childhood. He was aways forced to study and had to sneack out to play with Adia. His mom was the one who let him go play with her and... Oh boy, she and his dad had alot of arguments about his parenting skills... Because of his work addiction, he overworked himself when Scratch was 10... He never missed him, but his mom became depressed and miserable... She just lost the joy and happines she had... And became overprotective... She never let him go on school trips, was aways worried when he was late and when Scratch was sick from normal flue, she will freak out...
Sometimes, he was thinking that exactly because of her overprotection, he became scared to live his life... This and something else, he just wish to forget... Even through, he aways loved her and understood why she was like this. After all, his mom lost the husban she aways loved, no matter how many times he annoyed her...
''Thinking about the past, huh?''
Scratch flew from his dollhouse scared, the moment he heared that voice...
''FOR F*CK'S SAKE, JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!''
''Ohhhhhh... Now we gonna use big words, huh?''
''Molly isn't here and I'm adult! I can swear, if I want!''
...
Molly's day in school was terrible... She couldn't keep her eyes open, she was aways cold and she more hungry than ever. She was now in math class, trying not to fall asleep. It was impossible, because they barerly did anything and... The teacher's voice was so relaxing.
''Alright, now the next question! Libby, what was your answer on question number 7?''
''Well... Uhhhhhhhh... It is...''
For a whole minute, Libby was just silent. She didn't do any of the questions, she was just drawing turtles in her textbook during the whole class.
''Libby, those will be on tomorrow's test! Remember what I said. One more ''F'' and no summer vacation for you...''
''I... I understand...'' Libby said with sad look in her eyes.
Molly was feeling bad for Libby. Since the beggining of the year, Libby was struggling with math. No matter how hard Libby was trying, she never understood anything in math. She promised her to study with her after school, but now she didn't know if she could... She was just feeling so sick and tired, without a reason... And she was just feeling empty inside... Like someone actually drained her soul...
After math class was over, there was just one more... One more and she is free... She went to the bathroom. After she washed her hands, she started to think of a proper way to somehow apologize to Scratch. Molly knew she shouldn't have to take his photo... In fact, she never actually wanted to look in his dollhouse, it just accidentely broke... When she washed her hands, her stomach growled and felt agonizing pain... The whole day, she didn't eat anything... She still didn't understand why she was so hungry... It really didn't make any sence...
...
After school was over, Molly got home, She opened the door and saw her parents who got home early, who had some kind of argument with Scratch.
''For the last time! IT'S HER FAULT!'' Scratch screamed.
Molly was now scared to go inside. While the door was still little open, she was outside listening what was happening.
''Scratch, what you did was unacceptable! If you don't apoligize to her, we will move the dollhouse outside!'' Sharon said angry.
''Well if she didn't go through my private stuff, I would have never hurted her. I never wanted to, I was just mad. Maybe next time, she will think twice before violating someone's privacy!''
Sharon and Pete were both starting to get angry at him.
''Scratch what she did was wrong, but you can't just overreact like this! No wonder she didn't wanted to go the attic yesterday! If it wasn't for Darryl, we would have never even know, you actually did this! Apologize or you will sleep outside for a month!'' Pete said. Even he couldn't believe he was that strict this time.
Scratch was now furious and was even feeling the rage coming, but he managed to control it. He couldn't believe they were actually doing this. Normally he was never gonna hurt Molly, but he was just angry at her about his lost photo...
''FINE! I don't care, I'm not apologizing! She deserved it and I'm not ashamed for doing this!'' Scratch said as he opened a portal and went to the ghost world.
Molly was feeling more sad than ever. She just wanted to somehow cheer up her best friend, but after she lost that photo... She really didn't know what to do...
...
Bed time... Molly was supposed to fall asleep 2 hours ago, but she couldn't... It turned out, Darryl heared Scratch and Molly's scandal and her screams from pain. She showed her arm to her parents and they said Scratch will get punished (As they didn't realize, Molly actually heared the whole thing).
She was just laying down, thinking about how she could possibly apologize to him. She couldn't even imagine what Scratch must feel like right now... Having to sleep in the cold night, all alone... Molly really wanted to somehow cheer him up. Should she grab the buss, go back to the camp and try to find the photo? Should she just craft something nice to him? Should she bake his favorite cupcakes? Still no idea...
Molly was looking at her red arm. It was painful, just to touch it... She never even imagined, Scratch could do something like this to her...
...
It was 7:00 AM and Molly woke up even more tired than usual. She was now confused, what the hell was happening. Isn't sleep supposed to give you energy? She got up, looked in the mirror and saw how pale she was... And then again, she felt that agonizing hunger...
Maybe all of this was just because of stress? She was still feeling kinda scared from what happened between her and Scratch, but still this isn't enough to cause all of this.
She changed her clothes, had a huge breakfast, picked her lunch and this time her parents drived both Molly and Darryl to school. Molly was watching the streets of Brighton, still thinking of a way to apologize to Scratch. Maybe she can pick up some food for him, from the cafeteria! That's a nice idea... However the moment she started thinking about food, she felt hungry again. Now this really wasn't normall. She ate few stacks of pancakes, which will basically make her feel full for the whole morning, but she was feeling hungry again... Like someone really drained the energy out her body...
...
Scratch woke up in the backyard. Surprizingly, it wasn't that bad. It was peaceful, relaxing and before he fall asleep, he watched the beautiful stars outside.
Still he wasn't thinking to apologize to Molly. She was the responsible one! Normally, Scratch won't even think about hurting her, but... He really just wanted his photo back...
''Still think, she is your best friend?''
Scratch was getting sick from this voice...
''CAN YOU PLEASE JUST SHUT UP?''
This is when on top of the roof... He saw the smiling shadowy wolf... It was just standing there watching him, with hungry and predatory eyes...
''No...''
''YES!''
The wolf made a huge jump, but this time Scratch didn't froze. He flew as fast as he can, out of there. This can't be happening... This really has to be some kind of a sick joke...
He was now flying through Brighton, with all the speed he had. He then got tired and hid behind a little red car.
''Come on Scratch, this isn't real! It's just another hallucination! That thing doesn't exist!'' Scratch was talking to himself.
''Maybe it's real, maybe it's not... You decide...''
''OH DEAR GOD, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME?''
...
After few hours, Molly was feeling like she will faint any moment... She was just so sick and hungry... After she ate her lunch, this only made her even more hungry. This was a disaster... She really just wanted to die at this point...
''Molly? Are you alright?'' Libby asked when she noticed how sick Molly was looking.
Molly wanted to talk with Libby about this... She really wanted... But she didn't wanted to worry Libby about her...
''Yes! I'm enhappifyed and energetic as usual! Everything is totally nor-
Libby placed her hand on Molly's mouth before she could finish.
''Please... Don't give me that line again, Molly! You didn't pull off that facade when your family almost lost the house, and you are not pulling it off now!''
Molly now knew, she had no chance of hiding what's going on anymore. She pulled a deep breath...
''Well... I forgot Scratch's family photo at the camp... He was so mad at me for even touching it, that he... He did this...'' Molly said as she showed her arm to Libby.
Libby was shocked when she saw Molly's red arm. She couldn't believe Scratch could possibly do something like this...
''What? He did that to you!? Molly that's serious!''
''It was my fault! If I just putted it back, he would have never hurted me!''
'Libby couldn't believe what Molly just said... Sure, she could've just putted it back, instead of leaving it on the night stamb, but still this is not excuse to just bruise your friend... This is when again Molly stomach growled, as she was now really that close to faint.
''Woah! Is everything ok?'' Libby asked worried.
''Yes... Well... Not actually... I don't know why, but I'm starving the whole day... Even after the lunch I've had...''
''I still have some protein bars in my backpack. My mom gave them to me for gym class, but now you need them more than me''
''Th-Thanks Libby...''
After Molly ate few bars, it was time for math class... She really just wanted the school day to be over, so she can go home...
''Alright class! This will be the most important grade, so let's start!'' The teacher said as he gave away the tests to everyone.
Molly didn't even read the first questions, since she was really thinking how nice it would be to just lay down on her bed... To fall asleep... And to never wake up... She looked around, just to make sure, she won't fall asleep and... Saw that Libby had the most scared, terrifyed and ashamed face, the moment she saw the test... Molly even noticed how Libby was holding her tears...
...
Scratch was now in the forest, trying to clean his head... He really just wanted this misery to end... Why was this happening to him? What have he done, to deserve this?
''Do you really think you've never did anything bad? Murderer...''
At this point, Scratch just gave up... He knew this voice will never shut up, so he refused to argue...
''Please... Just leave me alone... I'm nothing like you! I'M NOT A MONSTER!'' Scratch screamed.
''Come on Todd. We both know, that you are...''
Scratch just wanted to die at this point... Again. He knew what he did was wrong, but should he suffer all his life and afterlife for this mistake?
''I... I just did, what I had to do...''
''And it was wrong... You have aways been a monster Todd... A MONSTER!''
That's when Scratch strated to turn shadowy... He felt this upcoming rage, ready to kill every single living creature... He managed to calm down, but he knew the next time, he won't be able to...
...
Molly was finally back from school... After the horrible day she had, she can finally rest. Aftert the test, Libby said she did alright... But she noticed the scared look in her eyes... Like Libby actually lied and once again, she couldn't solve a single quesion...
Molly couldn't study with her yesterday... She was just feeling too sick... She still was, in fact now it was even worse... She didn't know why, but she just thought, maybe really all of this is from stress... While she was thinking about this, she noticed a little bird on her window. It was looking so cute. It was small, beautiful... delicious. Molly's stomach growled again and... She started to look at the bird with hungry and predatory eyes... But then she realized how messed up she looks and snapped out of it...
...
The night sky was looking more beautiful than ever... Scratch was watching the stars, as he really needed this relaxation... He just needed a little rest from all this demonic mess...
''Hey... Mom... Long time haven't talked. I don't really believe in prayers, but hey! I never believed ghosts exist. So... I don't know if you are actually somewhere in heaven... But I really need help... I know you probably don't even want to look at me becauase of everything I did, but... I'm hopeless... Please... Just somehow, help me. I love you... I love you more than anything, mom...''
...
''Molly, come on! You have to go to school!'' Sharon screamed from downstairs.
Molly barerly managed to get out of her bed... Not only that, but she was actually running late. She got up, looked herself in the mirror... And she saw actually scared her... She was very pale, she was feeling cold and now she was more hungry than ever...
She queckly changed her clothes, grabbed her backpack and went downstairs.
''There you are! Darryl already left. You have t buy breakfast from school, since I didn't have any time today. Also you have to walk to school today, since SOMEONE broke the car. Also here'' Sharon said as she gave Pete an angry look.
This was a disaster... Molly was barery awake and now she had to walk the whole way there...
15 minutes after she left, she was really going losing her mind... Her stomach won't shut up even for a second, which was driving her insane... She just needed to eat something... Anything... Literly anything... This is when on the road, she saw a diffirent little bird... With the speed of light, she caugh it and started to stare at it with the same predatory eyes... But quickly snapped out of it.
''What's going on with me? I can't hurt such a little, cute and... sweet... bird'' Molly said as she continued to stare at it.
She was now fighting in her head about what to do. Should she free it? Well that was obviosly the right answer. She isn't some savage beast... But then her stomach started to growl again... She really wanted to do it... She was staring at it... And staring at it... While the bird was trying to free itself from her arm... She then did the unthinkable...
Before she realized what happened... Her arms, mouth and clothes were all covered with the poor animal's blood...
