Fever Dream
Molly wanders the graveyard, wondering how she got here, but decides not to question it. She's here, the place where it all happened and she's going to figure out this mystery.
Molly looks around. It's night time again and the moonlight is shining down, giving that blue glow that makes her feel so safe, yet so afraid deep down.
"Hello? Is anyone here?" Molly asked.
Suddenly, Molly sees a shadow creature. It looks similar to the one she saw, but this time it's a lot smaller and looks more like the silhouette of a scared little girl. This girl seems to be crying so Molly goes over to check on her.
Sitting next to the gravestone the shadow creature is standing by, Molly can't help but wonder if this is what's making the little girl sad.
"Hello, my name is Molly. I'm a friend to ghosts and all supernatural creatures. Are you okay?" Molly asked.
The shadow creature looks up at Molly. No face or expressions to read, but Molly can feel its sadness radiating all around.
Molly's always been extremely empathetic and has a big heart, so these feelings she's taking on are intense. Still, she tries her best to remain calm and listen to the shadow creature.
"You're…You're Molly! I've been looking for you. Why did you leave me?" The shadow creature asked.
Molly's confused by this question. Still, she tries her best to listen and respond kindly.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't know I left you…I'm here now though and I promise I'm not going to leave you until I help you." Molly replied.
Suddenly, the shadow creature gets angry and starts to change. It begins to flash between a shadow and a familiar little girl that Molly knows.
"Liar!" The shadow creature yelled.
Molly stands up, frozen with fear as the creature moves towards her in a way she's never seen before, like it's possessed.
Then, Molly feels it, that cold burning sensation in her chest. She looks down, seeing the little girl's hand thrusted through her chest, stealing her joy energy once again.
Then everything goes black.
Molly wakes up shocked and confused. She breathes heavily and grasps at her chest, feeling her heart beating fast, but at least it's still beating. This calms her down, just knowing she's still alive.
Molly looks at her surroundings, realizing she's still in the hospital. She remembers now they kept her overnight for surveillance. Her heart is still weak, so they're making sure she's getting plenty of food, water, and rest before they discharge her.
Calming down, Molly can't help but wonder what that dream was about. It scares her knowing the last one came true in the most horrific way.
Who was that little girl and why did she look so familiar? She's the shadow creature. If that's the case, why is she hurting Ollie? I know I'm the one in the hospital, but I really hope he's okay…
Suddenly, the door to Molly's hospital room opens. She's surprised and happy to see it's Libby.
Libby rushes over to hug Molly and they embrace one another with so much joy. Then Libby sits down by her bedside and takes her hand, trying to hold back her tears.
"Molly, I'm so glad you're okay! How are you feeling?" Libby asked.
Molly smiles, trying to hold back her tears as well. But seeing Libby, her closest friend who's always been by her side and protected her, she can't help but get emotional and tell her everything that's happened.
Libby takes in Molly's story. She listens, both intrigued and scared for her friend's safety. She loves how kindhearted and forgiving Molly is, but that's also what worries her. So, she tries to be as honest as she can to protect her.
"I know you care about Ollie and that he may be being controlled by this shadow creature. You have a good heart and that's what I love about you, but Molly. He hurt you, badly…You're in the hospital because of him. This is serious! We need to tell someone." Libby said.
Molly can see the anger in Libby, although she's trying to hide it. It scares her a bit, but she knows Libby's just trying to protect her from…Well, in this case, herself from making another mistake that could cost her her life.
Still, Molly stands up for Ollie, knowing that there's good in him.
"No, you can't tell anyone it was Ollie. He's just…Not himself right now, and no one's going to believe us if we tell them he's being controlled by a shadow creature. Well, my family and the Chen's will, but not the doctors and nurses. They'll go after him and I don't want that. Please, Libby, promise me you won't tell anyone." Molly replied.
Libby looks at Molly who's on the verge of having another breakdown. So much sadness hidden behind her happy persona. It's heartbreaking, but she can't deny the fact that Molly's right.
"Okay. I promise I won't tell anyone. But, if he hurts you again…Well, let's just say you'll have a ghost for a boyfriend." Libby said.
Molly can't help but laugh at that. After everything she's been through, it's nice to see Libby being so protective and keeping her safe.
Molly nearly gets out of her bed and hugs Libby, holding her friend close in her arms and feeling so safe.
"Thank you so much! Don't worry, I'll find Ollie and we'll get this all figured out." Molly replied.
There's that endless optimism in Molly. Although Libby loves that about her, it still scares her that she puts so much trust in people. She just hopes that one day it won't hurt her in a way she can't recover from, or worse.
With that, Libby says goodbye and goes to do some research of her own into shadow creatures. Trying to figure out if this is a demon or a ghost they're dealing with so they can figure out how to help Ollie.
Once Libby leaves, Molly starts to get tired again. It's morning and she should probably try and get up and have breakfast, but she just feels so weak. So she gives into the fatigue and slowly drifts off to sleep.
Molly wakes up in the graveyard. It's night time and the moon is shining in the sky full of stars once again. She sees the shadow creature, but this time it seems to be shifting forms between the shadow and the little girl.
Molly walks up to it, hoping she can help this time without it hurting her.
"Hello, it's Molly again. Are you okay?" Molly asked.
This time, the little girl looks up at Molly with tears in her eyes and a smile on her face. It's slightly unsettling, but more so sad than anything else.
"No. I'm not okay. I'm hurt. My heart hurts and it's because everyone keeps leaving me. No one wants to be my friend." The shadow girl said.
Molly takes in the little girl's words, knowing exactly how that feels and sits down next to her.
"I understand. My family moved to so many different states growing up. I had to leave a lot of friends too…It's scary and lonely, and makes me so sad to think about. My heart hurt too. It still hurts…But that doesn't mean you can't make new friends." Molly replied.
Molly puts out her hand as the shadow girl looks to her with hope in those sad eyes.
"You…You promise you won't leave me?" The shadow girl asked.
Molly smiles, a genuine smile that the shadow girl knows she can trust.
"I promise." Molly replied.
The shadow girl takes Molly's hand and suddenly, the graveyard around her begins to glow. Ghosts start coming out from the ground and flying around them with joy, lighting up the night sky as the feeling of freedom and peace rushes all around them.
Molly can feel it, hope sinking in and that sense of peace and moving on. The blue glow from the moon begins to change into her golden joy color from the sun rising, marking the start of a new day.
Suddenly, the shadow girl starts to change and Molly's shocked to see who she is when she reaches her full form.
"Wait…you're…" Molly said.
Suddenly, Molly wakes up. This time she's not gasping for air or freaking out. No. This time, she feels a sense of peace and calm wash over her. It's nice, but it's also a bit concerning.
"I know who the shadow girl is." Molly said.
Without thinking, Molly takes out her IV and pulls off her heart monitors, turning the machine off so it doesn't start beeping loudly. She looks out the window and sees that it's night time and it's raining.
Molly slowly and quietly starts sneaking out of her room. She can feel it, the fatigue and weakness of her heart like an ocean wave crashing down on her, but she keeps moving forward. It's scary. Still, she knows she needs to go outside. Someone's waiting for her.
Molly opens the door to the hospital exit and steps outside, feeling the rain coming down on her. She looks up at the midnight blue sky and takes in the blue moonlight.
Nostalgia takes over as she remembers dancing in the rain just a few nights ago with Ollie. She relives those joyful moments, smiling, laughing, and dancing in the rain in her hospital gown as the storm carries on. Thunder, lighting, and water everywhere, yet she doesn't care. She needs this. To feel loved, even if it's just a memory, a fantasy.
I'm free! I'm finally free! That shadow girl who was hurting, she was me and now she's happy and dancing and finally free…Which means Ollie is free too. You're okay now, Ollie. You're safe and I'm…Dancing in the rain alone.
The realization hits Molly like lightning striking her through her fragile heart. Loneliness, the thing she fears most, is her reality. It scares her, but she's not going to let it kill her this time. This time, she's going to be stronger.
Suddenly, Molly sees a figure in the distance. The closer it gets, the more familiar the silhouette of the person is. She starts to feel afraid, wanting to run to keep herself safe, but she just stands there, paralyzed.
Then the fear melts away as tears of joy fill Molly's eyes. A big smile across her face as she realizes it's him. Ollie is here and she's not alone anymore.
Molly rushes into Ollie arms and he catches her, spinning her around like they did the night they danced together.
Then, they stop spinning. Holding each other close and looking into each other's eyes longingly with that undying love they have for one another.
Ollie wipes away Molly's tears but they keep falling like the rain from the night sky. The storm carries on in the dark, but they're safe together, under the glow of the moonlight and a street light.
Ollie holds Molly close, never wanting to let go. Knowing what he did while he was under the shadow creature's control, he can't help but feel guilty, but she's safe now and they're together.
Molly can't help but feel conflicted in this moment. She knows Ollie never meant to hurt her, but she's scared and in love and all of these confusing yet beautiful emotions combined into one experience she can't explain. And yet loves the feeling.
Then, Molly realizes she's still in her hospital gown and that she was dancing in the rain by herself.
"Oh wow…I…Okay, this is a bit awkward. So sorry you had to see that! I was…You know, memories…I had this dream and…Well, this is just the kind of crazy shenanigans you get with me!" Molly said.
Ollie laughs, knowing this is exactly what to expect with Molly. An insane, supernatural, yet beautiful experience that they both get to share. He's going to be here for her, no matter what happens.
"It's okay, Molly. I understand. To be honest, that's what I love about you most." Ollie replied.
Molly blushes, her heart filled with joy and love as she realizes she has Ollie back. The real Ollie, not the one who lost himself to her shadow ghost. She still can't help but wonder what was going on there, but they're going to find out.
Suddenly, Molly feels the exhaustion hit her fast and she can't stay awake any longer. She passes out in Ollie's arms and he carries her back to the hospital, this time, going in with her.
"Don't worry, Molly. I promised I wouldn't leave you. Now, I'm back, and I'm keeping that promise. We'll get through this...Together." Ollie said.