Chapter 16: Rescue
Leah was sitting in the living room, waiting for Libby to wake up. Usually she should be already be awake, but she wasn't. Leah prepared her lunch for school, she cleaned the dishes... Libby still wasn't here. Leah was getting little annoyed by this, since her daughter promised her, she will be more focused in school. Especially now, since she has a math test coming up...
''Libby! Come on, you're late!''
No response at all...
''Libby you promised me something!''
Leah started to walk to Libby's room... She opened the door... And what she saw, left her speechless and terrifyed... Libby's body and bed, all covered in blood...
''LIBBY!''
Leah went to Libby's bed and tried to wake her up... Nothing worked... And then Leah noticed, her daughter wasn't even breathing... She checked her pulse... No pulse at all...
''No... NO, LIBBY WAKE UP!'' Leah screamed, as she started to cry.
She tried everything to wake her up... No results. She didn't know what to do... She was crying her soul out, realizing her daughter is dead...
''No... No, God please no! Don't take her away from me... Bring her back! Please! Bring life back to Libby! PLEASE, BRING HER BACK!''
This sure was the worst day in Leah's life... However, she still refused to believe Libby was dead, so she went to the living room, grabbed her phone and immediately called 911.
...
Scratch woke up tired and confussed in some strange bedroom. He didn't remembered how he got here, but what he remembered... Was how he killed Libby. The door of the bedroom was opened and he saw the kitchen... There was some strange guy, probably in his 40s, chopping carrots. Scratch got up and flew there, expeting to scare him.
''Oh you are awake?'' The stranger said, after he noticed him.
Scratch was confussed, how could this guy not be scared? After all, you don't see a real ghost every day.
''You... Aren't scared from me?'' Scratch asked.
''Not at all, travelling spirit. I saw how you passed out, so I couldn't leave you there... Especially with that'' The stranger said, pointing to Scratch's arm.
He still had that shadowy crack. It even looked like, it got even worse...
''Uhhhhhh, nothing to worry about... Just... Usual ghost things...''
''I'm afraid, corruption isn't a 'Usual ghost things'. It's something dangerous and serious''
Scratch didn't know how to respond. How could this guy know about ghost corruption? Then he saw the green shaman's robe at the couch... And realized this guy must be a shama.
''Are you... A shaman?''
''Yes. I help every single spirit in need... And right now, it looks like you really do need me''
Scratch was trying so hard to find a shaman... But after what he did to Libby... He just wanted to die... Again.
''Thanks, but I'm good!'' Scratch as he tried to ly away.
The moment he tried to fly through the wallls, some strange force stopped him.
''Huh?''
''My house is ghost proven. It keeps evil forces from coming inside''
Scratch tried again to fly through the walls... Same results. Now he was starting to feel little angry.
''Let me out!''
''Apologies, but I can't. Not until I cure you!''
''Listen buddy... You better let me out, or I will possess you and get out!''
Normally, every human should be scared. However, the strange guy smiled at Scratch.
''Go on...'' The stranger said.
Scratch was confused, why this guy still wasn't scared.
''If you say so!''
Scratch tried to possess him... But again, some strange force pushed him away. He was now more confussed than ever.
''What the?''
''Travelling spirit... You may be able to possess normall people... But you can't possess a shaman. A ghost can only do it, if the shaman himself gives them a permission''
Scratch now didn't know what to do. He wanted to get out of here, but this guy doesn't let him... Now he was REALLY starting to get angry.
''If you don't let me out, I WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE A LIVING HELL!''
Once again, the stranger was just smiling at him... This was starting to drive Scratch insane.
''OK THAT'S IT!''
Scratch turned into a giant ghost and levitated the guy.
''I CURSE YOU, YOU LITTLE DUMB SHAMAN! IF YOU DON'T LET ME OUT, I WILL-
Before Scratch could finish his curse, once again a strange forced pushed him so hard to the wall and knocked him out. He was on the floor, slowly closing his eyes...
''Looks like someone will have to sleep a little longer...''
...
Molly and Ollie were walking down the hallway. After the agonizing night Molly had, she was questioning if she should go to school today. But she was feeling better, so she decided to go. However... Scratch wasn't in the attic. The whole night and morning, he wasn't here...
''Feeling any better today?'' Ollie asked worried.
''Yeah, yeah... Feeling like an angel... But Scratch still isn't back...''
''Don't worry, I'm sure he is just hanging out with Geoff'' Ollie said.
While Molly and Ollie were walking, they saw every teacher and student with sad look on their faces... They were all gathered around Libby's locker and... They were all putting notes and flowers on it.
''Uhhh, what's going on?'' Molly asked.
''You didn't heared, kid? A student just passed away this morning in her sleep...'' Mr. Williams said.
The moment when he said this... And when Molly saw how everyone put flowers in Libby's locker... She froze realizing, who this could be...
''Who exatcly?'' Molly asked worried.
''Libby Stein-Torres... Her mom just found her dead... She rushed her to the hospital, so they can put her on life support... But there isn't any hope... She is already dead...'' Mr. Williams said.
Molly and Ollie looked both each other... Since they knew ghosts existed, there was no way for Libby to leave them like that...
''You don't think she has gotten far away, right?'' Molly asked worried.
''She couldn't! I'm going homa and will make Jeff and Geoff try to find her!'' Ollie said as he left.
Molly was now in the school cafeteria, thinking about what she just heared. How could Libby actually die? It doesn't matter, since Molly will find her best friend! She saw Andrea with sad look on her face and decided to ask her what happened. She just needed answers.
''Andrea! Did you heared... What may have caused Libby's death?''
''No! Nobody knows! Me and all my fan-dreas are all saddened... Her mom just found her dead body, covered in blood, as though someone killed her, but the scariest part was all the doors and windows were locked! It's as if whatever caused this could fly through walls!'' Andrea explained.
When she mentioned this... Molly started to wonder... Does Scratch have anything to do with this? No! It's impossible for her best friend to do this! He promised to himself to never cause death again. And also Libby was their friend, Scratch would never harm his friends! Or would he? After all... He did bruised Molly's arm...
''That's... Strange...'' Molly said.
After she said this, her stomach growled so loudly that it got everyone's attention in the cafetera. She blushed from embarrassment.
''Sorry...'' Molly said embarrassed.
''Molly, are you alright? After the large lunch you had, it's impossible for you to be more hungry!'' Andrea said.
''Well... I don't know what's going on with me... Yesterday it was worse and very painful... But I can't go to a doctor, since they are expencive'' Molly said.
This is when an idea hit Andrea
''I think, I know what the problem is. Come with me!'' Andrea sais, as she grabbed Molly's arm.
...
Ollie was now back at his house. He knew Jeff and Geoff are around the street somewhere, so he had to find them.
''Mhmmmmm... I wonder what the best way to spell 'Jeff' is... J-E-F-F, or G-E-O-F-F?''
The moment he asked that question, both Geoff and Jeff appeared right next to him.
''Either is fine'' Jeff said
''Depends on who you wanna talk to'' Geoff said
''Oh thank heaves! I need both of you! Libby just died!'' Ollie said.
Both Geoff and Jeff had shocked and worried look on their faces.
''WHAT? HOW DID THAT HAPPENED?'' Geoff asked.
''Nobody knows, but it's serious! Will you two go to the ghost world and try to find her?''
''Well... We were in the middle of trying to find a shaman for Scratch...'' Geoff said.
''Shaman? Why?'' Ollie asked.
''Wait a minute... Didn't Scratch tell you?'' Jeff asked.
Now Ollie was more confussed than ever.
''Tell me what?''
Both Jeff and Geoff looked at each other akwardly...
''Well...
...
Scratch woke up on the couch. Now it was afternoon and he had a big headache. The strange guy was sitting right next to him, reading a book.
''Looks like someone is awake again. Listen travelling spirit... I know, you and me didn't have the best possible start, but trust me... Your condition is serious! I can't let you out, like this!''
Scratch didn't know, why this guy wanted to help him so much. He doesn't even know him...
''I don't need help! I don't deserve help! Not after what I did...'' Scratch said with sad face.
At first, the shaman was confussed what he meant, but then he understood, Scratch have done something bad...
''What did you do?''
Scratch didn't know what to say... How is he supposed to tell him, that he killed a kid? Not just any kid, but a very close friend of him! Scratch was now looking at the shaman with ashamed face...
''Wel... I had that corruption from quite some time now... I tried to find a shaman to help me, but it was impossible! I decided to quarantee myself, but... I killed a kid... And she was my friend...''
Scratch was expeting the shaman will stare him in disgust. However... He was looking at him with forgivable eyes.
''Ghost corruption... Cause those things. That's why, you need to stay here! I can help you! That's what I do best! I help every travelling spirit! And I promise you, once the corruption is gone, your friend will be saved.
''Say what now?''
''Yes! Her spirit is just swallowed in you! When you get cured, you will just... Well... Spit out her ghost''
Scratch was now feeling little better. If there is a way to save Libby, he will sure do it!
''Well... If that's the case, I'll stay, uhhh... Shaman?''
''My name is Axel''
''I'm Scratch''
What Scratch didn't know was... Exatcly how hard his healing from this deadly disease will be...