Franken-Mollie Story 13: Old Friend, New Ghost
Things at the McGee/Chen Haunted Home were changing since Molly's extended family moved in a few weeks ago. Emmie loved helping her cousin and her boyfriend with the hotel chores, David shared stories about Asian monster heritage, while Pete was trying to keep Billy and Jilly from causing trouble. It didn't help that Darryl was getting in on it.
Scratch was also getting used to the changes, a lot more quickly than the first time. He actually liked watching all the antics, and it made him feel like more a part of the family than ever.
One day, he was asked to help a new guest take their luggage to their room. He went to the foyer, but when he saw the new arrival, his jaw literally dropped to the floor. She was a ghost, but Scratch immediately recognized who she had been in life.
She floated up to him. "Scratch, is that really you?" she asked. Scratch just flew off in panic.
"FRANKEN-MOLLIE!" he shouted, slamming right into the two-headed pals. They peeled him off their front.
"What's the matter?" Molly asked.
"The new guest in the foyer, is, well…" he gulped. "MY CHILDHOOD FRIEND ADIA!"
"Aw, you mustn't haven seen each other in years!" Molly smiled.
"That's the problem! I'm afraid to talk to her!" Scratch whined.
"Why?" Ollie asked. "I'm sure she'll be glad to see you."
"I never told you how I died before, did I?" Scratch sighed.
"No." Franken-Mollie replied together.
"Back when we were alive," Scratch began, "we always had dreams of travelling the world on all sorts of thrilling adventures. Once we grew up, we started doing that. We went to all sorts of places! Our travel log was packed with information!"
"So what happened?"
"One day, we went cave-jumping in Malaysia. Adia was nervous about it, so I volunteered to go first. I hitched my cable up, and jumped in. That's when it snapped. I fell into the chasm, and BOOM! I was dead. I couldn't bear to go back up and tell her, so I fled here to Brighton, hoping to hide myself, and spare her the misery." Scratch told them.
"That's really sad!" Molly said, tearing up.
"But if she's a ghost now, maybe she'll understand." Ollie said. "Try talking to her. We'll help you.
"I'd appreciate that." smiled Scratch. They went to the foyer, where Adia was waiting.
"Scratch, I can't believe it's you!" she said, hugging him while in tears.
"I'm so sorry about what happened all those years ago." Scratch said. "What happened since that day?"
"Well, after you died, I was overcome with grief, and stopped travelling for a while. Then, after three years of mourning, I decided to keep going, because it's what you would have wanted. Then just a few weeks ago, I kicked the bucket myself."
"How'd you die?" Scratch asked.
"I fell off a whale-watching boat while trying to get a good photo. Not the best decision." she admitted. "Do you work here?'
"I do. And I'd like you to meet my best friends in the afterlife." Scratch told her. Franken-Mollie introduced themselves.
"It's nice to meet you." Adia shook their hand. "Care to show me around?"
"Of course!" Franken-Mollie smiled, and did just that.