Chapter 16: Mothers
Todd was in his room, doing his homework. He hated math with passion... It was just too hard. No matter how hard he study, he never understands those stupid math problems.
While he was doing his homework, he heared someone laughing. It sounded like his dad, but that laughing... Sounded angry and disturbing. He knew this doesn't mean anything good...
''T-Tooodd... Come here, please...''
Todd didn't know what the old man will want from him this time. He slowly opened the door... And saw his dad laughing like a maniac, while there were bottles of beer on the table.
''Is... Everything alright, dad?'' Todd asked scared.
His dad looked at him... With the most terrifying eyes he has ever seen...
''I had to wake up in 6:00 AM to go to work... And I just decided to check on you... Did you know what I saw?''
Todd froze from fear, the moment he said this.
''N-No...''
''YOUR EMPTY BED! Can you please tell me... Where were you so early?''
Todd didn't know how to answer. Like almost every night, he and Adia sneaked out, to play in the park. He was never caught by his dad... But this time, he was...
''I... I... I just-
''Ohhhhhh... HAHAHAHAHA... You were out with the neighbour's girl, weren't you?'' Todd's dad asked, with a creepy smile.
It wasn't just a creepy smile... It was the most terrifying smile, Todd has seen on another human being's face.
''N-No... I was-
''Don't lie to me, kiddo...''
Todd's dad pulled out the belt from his jeans...
''Dad, please-
''Please what? How do you think I would react, if my son is OUT ALL NIGHT?!''
Todd started to step back, as his dad was getting closer...
''I'm sorry... I didn't mean to... I promise, I would nev-
''Sorry won't fix what you did. You know... Your mom isn't here... Which means, I can do whatever I want with you...''
Todd realized he messed up... And no one is here to save him... Not even his mom. Before he could do anything else... His dad slapped him with his belt, as hard as possible...
...
''NO!'' Scratch screamed, as he woke up.
After the meeting with Libby, he just wanted to take a quick nap. And that was a mistake. This nightmare was gonna haunt him all day...
''Scratch? Is everything alright in there?'' Pete asked, outside the attic.
''Uhhhh, yeah, of course. Everything is totaly normal...''
...
Sharon and Molly were getting back from the tattoo parlor. After the artist removed the tattoo, it was time to go back home and get ready for the upcoming turnip festival.
''See? Way better without that thing'' Sharon said.
''Yeah... Definetely...''
Sharon noticed the sad and even scared in her daughter's eyes. She was like that, the whole time...
''Molly... I'm sorry I slapped you. But you can't just get tattoos like that one. Plus, you have to be 18 years old... And even then, you can't get tattoos with dark meanings like that one... Do you even know what it means?''
''No... But it is cool sounding phrase. And it has two ''M's'' just like my name'' Molly said.
''There is nothing 'cool' about it... That's a latin phrase, meaning ''remember you will die'' or something like that. I'd expect to see a tattoo like that one on some goth girl or a mourner, but a girl like you? I was just worried, you would go in the wrong path of life...''
''Sorry mom, I didn't mean to upset you... I just-
''It's ok, Molly, we all make mistakes when we are young... Especially when we try new styles. You should have seen how grandma Nin reacted to the haircut I got at your age'' Sharon said, as she finally parked the car outside their house.
Before they got out, Sharon hugged her daughter.
''But I definitely overreacted... And I'm really sorry...''
Molly hugged her back.
''It's ok, mom... I'm also sorry...''
...
Libby was in her room, as she ate the whole food in the fridge. Nothing... She couldn't taste anything. Every single food or drink had no taste. She even tried food, she normally hates... Even that food tasted like nothing. She even tried a little bit from the wine in the cabinet... She couldn't taste even that...
She was thinking what to do.. Libby was starving, but food wasn't helping her at all. What is she supposed to eat? What is she supposed to do, so this hunger could stop?
''Just eat your mom... I'm sure you would like her taste''
''ARE YOU INSA-
Before Libby could finish... She actually thought about it. Should she do it? Is it right to do it? While she was thinking about this... She actually started to drool from hunger when she realized how delicious her mom looked sometimes...
''Libby?''
Libby turned around and saw her mom with a worried look on her face.
''Y-Yes, mom?''
''Are you feeling better?'' Leah asked.
''Kinda... I can go to the festival...''
''That's good to hear. I would have to stay for little longer in the bookshop, but I will come later''
The moment she said this... Libby had both sad and angry look in her eyes...
''Oh... So you won't even come with me...''
''No need to worry, turtledove. I will just have to install new security cameras and then I will come. Until then, you can be with your friends''
Libby couldn't believe this. She knew, Molly will probably ghost her again. But her mom... Her mom was one of the only true loving figures she had left. And to hear, she won't be able to come with her... Kinda hurted Libby.
''Wait a minute... Libby, can you please open your mouth?'' Leah asked.
Leah noticed something... Her daughter's sharp teeth. Libby opened her mouth... And Leah was shocked. Those were complete fangs...
''Oh my gosh. Libby, how didn't you even noticed? Oh, I definitely will book you an appointment to the dentist''
Libby closed her mouth, annoyed.
''Ugh, don't worry mom... It's nothing serious. Everything is totally normal...''
...
Scratch was in the living room, watching TV. He was also thinking... About the dream he had. There was something off about it... It scared him, really hard. Even the nightmares he had during his corruption, didn't scared him that much.
''Scratch! We need to talk!''
Scratch turned off the TV and saw Molly with an angry look on her face...
''Uhhhhhh, something bugging you, kiddo?'' Scratch asked, confused.
''You know, there is a rumor that the Sweets and Treats parlop was robbed earlier that day... Mostly of their ice cream. And the strange part is that all the doors and windows were locked, and there was no trace of force entry'' Molly explained.
Scratch started to get little nervous when she said that.
''Uhhhhhhh... Maybe racoons did it?'' Scratch said, with a nervous smile.
Molly was now looking very annoyed and angry.
''Oh, then how come the containers from that particular brand be in OUR garbage can?''
Scratch realized, he can't lie his way out...
''Ugh! I knew, I should just throw them away straight in the dump!''
Now Molly was REALLY angry.
''Scratch, I don't know what's worse. The fact that you cheated your diet, or that fact you had to steal to do it!''
''Moll, come on! Eating so much strawberries is getting sickening AND it triggers BAD dreams and memories!'' Scratch said.
''I told you, we can prep them in multiple ways!''
''Except ice cream! Besides, I was doing well in that diet, I deserve a cheat day!''
''Oh-ho-ho, not with your lack of control, no you don't! And because of how much bins of ice cream you stole, WE ARE HITTING EVERY FOOD STAND ON THE FESTIVAL! And you will finish every single dish, so you can balance your ectoplasm out again!''
''HUH? You've got to be kidding me! Molly, you know I hate turnips!''
''I don't care! I do it for your own good, mister!'' Molly said.
Scratch was annoyed by this. After he left the park, he just wanted some ice cream. Yeah sure, it was bad idea to steal that much, but he is a ghost! He aways get away. He also noticed Molly's tattoo was finally gone.
...
It was now afternoon and the whole town was in the park, celebrating the turnip festival. Molly was with Ollie... And of course, she forced Scratch to try every single turnip dish. At this point, Scratch wished to lose his taste again. Right now, Molly got him a turnip soup... And it tasted like he was drinking juice from dead plants.
''Come on, Scraaaaaatch. You have to finish it!'' Molly said.
''Almost done, Scratch!'' Ollie said.
Scratch finally drank the whole thing. It tasted so bad, he wished to die again.
''Gross! I'm never touching another turnip, ever again!''
''Well that will be for a lesson to never steal again, mister!'' Molly said.
Scratch then realized something. Libby wasn't here. In fact, he didn't saw Libby since the beggining at the festival.
''Has anyone seen Libs?'' Scratch asked.
Both Molly and Ollie realized, Libby wasn't here. Molly was also terrified, when she realized something else...
''Oh no... I FORGOT HER APOLOGY GIFT!'' Molly said.
''Seriously, Moll? Ugh, I will just go back to get it. At least that will be little break from TURNIPS!'' Scratch said, as he flied back home.
While both Molly and Ollie were searching for Libby... She was hiding in the crowd. From the beggining, she didn't wanted to even look at Molly. Again, since the begging, Molly was with Ollie. Can she spend even 5 minutes without him? If Scratch didn't mentioned her, Molly was never gonna even think about Libby.
That wasn't even the bigger problem. It has been 1 hour... And Libby's mom still wasn't here. Libby wanted so bad, her mom to finally show up. How long does installing cameras take?
''Maybe your mom just doesn't care about you...''
Libby turned around... And saw the shadow demon in the distance. She got scared and started to walk away. Libby was even questioning if she could just go back home. Why should she be here? To be alone, just like at the party? She didn't wanted to end up like that. She wanted to have some company... To have someone. Charlotte was supposed to come here, but she was gone. Again, no one... No one wanted to spend just few minuted with Libby. She was alone... Like aways, and will probably die alone. Libby started to tear up.
She was now ready to go back home... But something happened. The clouds turned red... She was hearing some strange demonic voices... And all the people started to turn into shadows with disturbing smiles.
Libby froze from fear. It was happening again. All of those shadows were watching and laughing at her. Her heart started to beat like crazy and she couldn't even breathe. Libby grabbed her chest and tried to calm herself... But it was getting worse. This time was worse than ever. She gave all the shadows one look... And she felt hungry.
Libby's stomach started to growl from hunger... She was both hungry and on the verge to faint. She never felt so helpless in her life. She was thinking what to do... How to calm herself and that hunger down. Libby then noticed large shadows, coming right towards her. She couldn't move at all... She was just watching them...
''COME HERE!''
She was just standing there frozen and was slowly dying from hunger. She knew those were just hallucinations... She will snap out of this, any second now... None of this is real.. It's not real, just halluci-
''LIBBY STEIN-TORRES, YOU ARE UNDER ARREST!''
Before Libby realized what was happening, two officers came and pushed her on the ground. Everything came back to normal, but she was both terrified and scared. Everyone... Every single person was watching how the police handcuffed her.
''Wh-WHAT? What's going o-
''NO TALKING!'' Harold shouted.
That's when Molly and Ollie saw what was happening...
''Wha, hey! What are you doing to her?!'' Molly asked.
''Back off, kids!''
After they handcuffed her, the cop grabbed her arms and started to drag her like she is some kind of criminal. Every... Single... Person... Was watching this. Every woman, man, child... The whole town was watching Libby getting arrested.
''I don't understand... What did I-
''I SAID NO TALKING! OH, THAT'S IT! YOU ASKED FOR THIS!''
The cop pushed her on the ground again... And pressed his knee into Libby's neck.
''AHH! NO, PLEASE-
''SHUT UP! SHUT UP, OR I WILL KILL YOU RIGHT HERE!''
Libby started to cry. She tried everything she could, to free herself... Nothing worked. She couldn't even breathe. And the worst part about this, was the whole town was watching how she was getting tortured... No matter how much she was crying and begging for mercy, the cop just continued to basically choke her.
''WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! LET HER GO!'' Molly yelled.
''Back off, kids! Harold, that's too much...'' Naya said.
Harold finally freed Libby... And again started to drag her to the police car. Libby continued to scream and cry for help, as they finally opened the car's doors and pushed her inside. Libby was questioning, what did she do to deserve this. She got completely humilliated in front of the whole town... In front of her friends... Thank God, her mom wasn't here to witness this...