Chapter 33: Hope for monsters
Libby was on her bed. After the meeting with Molly, she needed to rest. No more nightmares... No more horrors. A well deserved rest. She was watching and was waiting to finally leave the hospital.
''That was all 101 interesting facts about the turtles, you need to know. Stay on the same channel for our next show ''Super humans!'' The man from TV said.
She still was... Thimking how strange she looks. Her skin was like a snow... Libby isn't supposed to be here, she is supposed to be dead. While she was watching TV, a nurse came with a glass of water... The same nurse that saw Libby laughing in the bathroom.
''F-Feeling any better?''
''Ummm... A little...''
''That's good to hear... Don't forget to hydrate yourself'' The nurse said, as she gave the glass of water to Libby and left the room.
Libby was slowly drinking her water, thinking what would she do when she leaves the hospital. She can hang out with Molly... She can spend time with her mom... She can try to talk with Charlotte, why they broke up.
''Welcome to episode 265 of ''Super humans''! Today, we will see the story of a girl from Brighton, named ''Libby Stein-Torres!''
The moment the man from the show said that... Libby spat out her water in shock...
''Here, we like to call that kid ''the girl who refuses to die''... Because sure thing, this girl simply refuses to die. Few months ago without reason, Libby died in her sleep. She still spended few days in the hospital, but the doctors had no hope... And after few days without any pulse, she came back to life. Now can you tell me, how many people have died and came back from the dead? That's not even the craziest part... She was caught in a large fire, that would normally kill anyone... BUT SHE SOMEHOW SURVIVED THAT! Think whatever you want, folks, that girl is laughing at the face of Death!''
Libby was... Shocked. To see her story on TV was shocking to her. How did they knew? Libby then wanted to check something out. She was scared what the results may be, but she needed to see it. She grabbed her phone and googled her own name... And saw HUNDREDS of news and articles about her.
She had no idea how to react to this. Yeah, it was sweet that people care about her... But the introvert she was, seeing that the whole USA knows about her story scared her.
...
Scratch was in his dollhouse, telling Molly what happened. After what happened last night, Axel had to take him back home. He also made a strange ritual of salt and... Fired the salt with blue flames. it turned out, this was some kind of ritual that heals bites from skinwalkers and other entities.
''She said she wants to eat you, Moll... I couldn't let that happen, so I had to somehow stop her. She was... Mocking me and calling me your pet. If it wasn't for Axel, I was gonna be dead... Again'' Scratch explained.
Molly was shocked to hear all of this. To see her friend being hurt so bad, was breaking her heart. That skinwalker crossed the line...
''Oh, this is personal now!'' Molly said, as she started to walk to the attic's door.
''What are you doing?''
''I will find that skinwalker! NO ONE MESSES WITH MY BEST FRIEND!''
''WOAH, WOAH, WOAH! Molly, I'm not letting you do that. She can easily kill you!'' Scratch said, as he stood up in front of Molly.
''We can't just let her walk around Brighton, hurting people! Not only she uses MY LOOK, not only people go missing because of her, BUT SHE HURTED YOU!''
''It's kinda my fault for going after her alone. Please, I'm not risking your safety!'' Scratch said, worried.
''I already made my choice! That skinwalker will pay!'' Molly said, as she opened the attic door and headed downstairs.
Scratch had no idea what to do. When Molly has an idea, nothing can stop her. But this was too dangerous for her. Scratch was not gonna let her go kill herself.
''Ugh, sweet baby corn! Why didn't I made a curse that can also summon her and pull her back, like she aways did to me?'' Scratch asked, as he flew downstairs.
Before Molly could open the front door, Scratch once again stood right in front of her and created a wall out of his own body to keep her inside the house.
''NO! Sorry, Moll, you are not going anywhere!''
''Scratch, I already told you this... Ghosts make terrible walls'' Molly said, annoyed.
Molly tried to go through him again... And before she could get out, Scratch turned back to normal and grabbed her from behind.
''I said you are staying here!''
''What, HEY! LET ME GO!'' Molly said, struggling to free herself.
''This is literaly a suicide attempt! Once she sees you, she will eat you alive! Even I can stop her, why do you think you will?''
''Because I... AHHH!''
The moment Molly screamed, Scratch freed her and she... Collapsed on the floor.
''Molly? Molly, are you alright?'' Scratch asked, worried.
''My... My head...''
Molly still wasn't fully cured from her headache. Scratch had no idea, how bad she actually fall when she tried to open the trap door in her room, but it sure was a bad fall. She looked so weak... Which was another reason she isn't leaving this house.
''See? You are still hurt!'' Scratch said, as he gently stand her up.
''I... I'm fine... I just... Need to...
''Enough! You are going straight to bed, kid...'' Scratch said, as he grabbed her once again and carried her to the attic.
Scratch placed Molly in her bed... And she was looking at him with sad eyes. He understood she wanted to help. But that was just too dangerous for her. He and Axel were gonna catch this skinwalker... Some day...
...
John and Leah were at the hospital, ready to finally see Libby. After the bookshop exploded... Leah had to sleep in John's house. She was trying to find a place, so she won't bother him, but he didn't wanted her to spend money on motels.
''Ugh, what is taking them so long? I just want to go and see my turtledove!'' Leah said, annoyed from how long it was taking them to wait.
''Don't worry, I'm sure they'll be ready any time soon. Also... Remember what I told you, right?''
He told Leah about... How he found Dahmer's body in his house... And about all the murders in town. He warned her to be extra careful, since no one knows who is doing all of this.
''Yes... Don't worry, I can handle myself''
''Alright! Leah Stein-Torres, your daughter is in room 72'' The nurse said.
Leah got up and started to walk towards that room. She was so happy to finally see her daughter. Once she stood in front of the room, she took a deep breath and opened it.
''Libby!''
''M-Mom...''
Leah hugged her daughter. She waited so long to finally hug her little girl... After all Libby was put through, she really deserved the warm hug from her mom.
''I was so worried. I'm glad you are finally... Oh...''
Leah was shocked and worried when she saw Libby's pale skin. It was white as snow... For some reason, Libby's eyes were also slightly red...
''I look horrible, don't I?'' Libby asked with sad look in her eyes.
''No! It doesn't matter how you look, the most important thing is that you are alive!'' Leah said, as she kissed her daughter's head.
''M-Mom... There is something you need to see...''
Libby showed her phone to her mom... And Leah was shocked to see all the articles and news about Libby. So many... Libby's story was trending in every social media...
''That's... That's great!'' Leah said with smile.
''GREAT? Mom, the whole country knows about me! How is that great?''
''Turtledove, right now you are inspiration! Inspiration that everything is possible! The world deserve to see this''
''I didn't do anything... I just had luck. For the first time in my life, I was lucky enough to survive...'' Libby said, as she hid under her covers.
''And how many people do you think have that luck? Definitely not many, that's for sure. You are a miracle, Libby... My miracle...'' Leah said, as she took Libby's covers away and hugged her.
Leah was right... Libby really was increnibly lucky to cheat death... Twice.
''You crossed the line...''
For a moment, Libby heared the voice of... The voice of the grim reaper in her head.
''Ms Stein-Torres... It's time to go...'' The nurse said.
''Ugh, those short visiting hours... I'll be back tomorrow. Just stay here and rest'' Leah said, as she gave Libby one last kiss.
''Okay... Bye mom...''
Leah was sad that she had to leave her so soon. She left the room and was ready to leave... When the nurse grabbed her arm...
''Actually... There is something you must know...''
Confused from this, Leah stopped... And the nurse explained what she saw. How in the middle of the night, Libby was just staring and laughing at her own reflection in the bathroom.
''I'm telling you, she looked completely insane. I know there are cases where people who wake up from coma question if they really are in the real world or not... But that was just unnerving...'' The nurse explained.
Leah really didn't know what to say. After discovering Libby's secret room in the bunker, it was clear something was happening with her daughter... But that was just starting to get tragic.
''Oh God... Thanks for telling me. Please... Keep an eye on her... When can I actually pick her up?'' Leah asked, worried.
''This afternoon actually. Once we make sure everything is alright with her, we will let her go. But seriosly... Her mental state doesn't look very good...'' The nurse said, as she walked away.
This was getting worse and worse... How bad was Libby going to get? Now, there really wasn't anyone here in Brighton who can help her... If Tedd Dahmer was dead, there was no psychologist for Libby...
...
''Are you serious?'' Ollie asked, worried.
Without any other good options, Scratch visited the Chens family. They were ghost hunters after all, so maybe they could do something about the skinwalker.
''Dead serious... Funny, because I really am dead! That was a horrible joke... Anyway, it's true there is a skinwalker around Brighton that looked exatcly like Molly! That's the reason for the murders the last few days!'' Scratch explained.
''Oh sweet baby corn, that's bad. Alright, we can set traps around Brighton, so when she tries to-
''Yeah, that ain't working... Skinwalkers are very hard to catch. No offense to your traps, but they are... How do I say it? A little... Unprofessional''
''Hey! My mom and dad worked very hard on them! They gave their soul to make them... Not literaly, you get my point... Besides, at the school dance you got trapped in one of them'' Ollie said, offended.
''Kid, I was too sad to pay attention to them... But you have a point'' Scratch said,
''Anyways... If those won't work, what are we supposed to do?''
''That's exatcly what I try to figure out! That thing is way stronger and smarter than us...''
''Not smarter than me...'' June said, behind them.
Both Scratch and Ollie jumped back from June's surprise apperiance.
''Jeez, now I understand what it feels like to get scared like this...'' Scratch said.
''I knew about the skinwalker... In fact, I was secretly studying and spying on her. I have to say, what I found was interesting'' June explaiend.
''Say what now?''
''Follow me...''
June took Scratch and her brother to her room. It was so dark, Scratch could barely see... Almost as dark as the basement in the abandoned house...
''Haven't you heared about something called ''lights''?'' Scratch asked.
''The darkness make it easier for me to work and study'' June said, as she turned her computer on.
For a kid at her age, she really was smart. Some might even say too smart. Right now, the light from her monitor was the only light in the room.
''So, I noticed those dark feathers around Brighton, and I knew something was wrong... Because they were from fish craw!'' June explained.
''So?''
''So, there can't be fish craws in Brighton, since they are normally in wetland habitats in eastern and southeastern United States! When I saw the feathers of that bird, I knew something was wrong. And then... When the murders started, I knew there must be something supernatural going on here. I studiet those feathers and... There is a human DNA on those things!''
''Huh?''
''Yes! It took a while for all the tests, but they are done!'' June said, as she prepared the files with the results.
''And who is that skinwalker?'' Ollie asked.
June then opened all the files... And then a whole page appered about a 8 year old girl...
''A girl named Samantha Tracer. She used to live in a small town somewhere in Florida. Actually, she is quite popular. In 2016, she ran away from her family. The police in the whole town tried to find her, but with no success'' June explained.
The girl in those pictures... Was exatcly the girl Scratch saw when she revealed her true form...
''Why did she ran away from her own family?'' Scratch asked, confused.
''Nobody knows. Her parents did everything they could to find her, but she was gone. She is actually considered dead...''
It was both scary and heartbreaking that a kid just ran away from her own home and family... And turned into a beast.
''This doesn't make sence, how could she turn into A SKINWALKER?'' Ollie asked.
''Axel told me those guys are basically people who use their supernatural powers for evil'' Scratch explained.
''So... How are we supposed to catch her?''
''I do know few things about skinwalkers. We know who she really is, which is great! We know... Actually, we don't know where she hides, so-
''WAIT! There is huge mantion in the woods! She hides there! Trust me, I know it...'' Scratch said, remembering the awful night...
''GREAT! We know who she is, we know where she hides, we know how to stop her! If we reveal her as an impostor, use silver, and try to tell her who she once was... We will be able to cure her!'' June said.
All of this was... Coming together. If they just think of a plan to somehow catch her, then cure her, the poor girl finally be back to normal. All they needed to do is to work together...
''Well... Alright, gang... LET'S GO CATCH THAT FAKE-MOLLY!''
...
It was afternoon and Libby was laying on her bed... Trying to realize that she is now famous around the whole country. That was just... Shocking. She aways loved to be unpopular... People like Andrea are made for fame, not people like Libby...
While Libby was thinking about that... Her door just opened by itself... And the hallway was in red lights...
''Hello?''
No responce. Libby got up and wanted to see what was going on... And the moment she left her room, the door closed by itself. Libby tried to open it, but... It was locked.
Libby was starting to get little scared from all of this. She started to walk in hope to finally get out of the hospital. She was getting close to the stairs... When she saw one of the doctors dead body...
''WHAT THE?''
Libby was scared from what she saw... The poor man's throath was cutted... And he also had a horrific smile on his face. Libby froze from horror when she realized what that means...
''Did I missed you?''
Libby closed her eyes and started to run back in the hallway, desperate to get out of here. The demon was dead... Libby stabbed her... How could she still be in her head?
She was running and running... But then, she stepped on something so sharp, blood came out from her leg.
''AAAAHHH!''
Libby was screaming in pain and tried to get back up... But she couldn't.
''HAHAHAHAHAHA, I'M COMING, LIBBYYYYYYYY!''
The shadow demon was right in front of her... And she was holding a red knife. Libby started to cry, realizing she never actually killed her...
''NO, NO, NO, PLEASE! PLEASE, JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!'' Libby cried out.
''AAAHAHAHAHHA, DON'T YOU REALIZE? I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE!''
The demon started to fly with all the speed she had towards Libby... And killed her...
...
''NO, NOOOOOOOOOOOO!''
Libby woke up in the late afternoon from this dream. Nothing was over... The demon was still inside of her. She was still inside, waiting for Libby to just fall asleep.
At this point, Libby had no idea how to stop her. There was one rule she must follow... Never fall asleep. Libby wanted to finally rest, but... If she close her eyes, the demon will be waiting to trap her in her nightmare hell...
''Come on, kid, your mom is waiting for you outside'' The nurse appeared in the room.
Libby got up, got her phone and was ready to leave... And never fall asleep ever again...