Chapter 17: Another night with a skinwalker
Ruben unlocked the garage and opened the door. The skinwalker was inside her cage... And the moment she saw the silver axe Ruben was holding in his right hand, she realized what's about to happen.
''No! Please, don't kill me!''
''Sorry... Trust me, I also don't want to do it, but I have no choice...'' Ruben said, as he got closer.
The skinwalker was trying to break free from her chain, but she couldn't. Ruben unlocked the cage... And raised his axe, ready to finally kill her.
''STAY AWAY!''
With tears in her eyes, Samantha grabbed a plastic carrot. It was a toy, but it was sharp enought to defend herself... At least she hoped to. Ruben was feeling so bad. Seeing a kid being so desperate to live, that she was using a little toy... It was so sad and heartbreaking, but he had to kill her.
''WAAAAAAAIT!''
Scratch appeared right in front of Ruben. He was so tired of all that flying, but he at least made it just in time before he kills her.
''Scratch?''
''Ruben, please! We are so close to cure her, please just don't kill her! PLEAAAAASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!'' Scratch begged.
Ruben gave the skinwalker one look. She still was holding the toy carrot, ready to fight for her life if needed to.
''We had a deal! I gave you three days, NOTHING!''
''I know, I know! But we finally figured out how to cure her, we just need to make her remember her human life!'' Scratch explained.
Ruben had no idea how to react. He wanted this whole drama to be finally over, but he really was feeling bad for killing a kid. He decided... Maybe he really should give them some more time...
...
It was now afternoon. Molly was laying on her bed, looking at the cool mad she made. She finally made a whole map of the dream island. She was wondering if she would see that place again... While she was thinking about it, Scratch came back with a worried look and started to look around for old comics.
''Uhhh, Scratch?''
''Hey, Moll, sorry can't talk right now!'' Scratch said, as he grabbed bunch of comics and flew away.
It was strange how worried Scratch was. The fact he skipped work today because of that was making Molly wondering what he was doing. To think about it... Scratch was acting kinda suspicious the last few days. She saw few times how he was talking with Ollie. They both were acting very strange.
It looked like Scratch was so worried, few drops of ectoplasm were on the floor and the window. Molly looked outside and sow there were many drops of ectoplasm on the street.
Could she follow the track to see what was bugging Scratch? Yes... Yes she wanted to do it.
...
''Okay, what about this one?! You remember reading something like this, right?!'' Scratch asked, as he started to go insane.
''No...''
For 2 hours, Ollie and Scratch tried EVERYTHING to make her remember something. They were giving her food, showing her comics, playing games with her... Nothing worked.
''Okay, Ollie, this ain't working! Her human life is completely gone from her head, it's clear!'' Scratch said, annoyed.
''Ugh, don't give up! If we continue, SHE WILL! Come on, there has to be something she has to remember!''
''Sorry... I guess it's just meant for me to die...''
Ollie and Scratch had no idea what to do with her. She also was trying so hard to remember, she even started to imagine what her life may have looked like, but she couldn't remember a thing.
''Okay, what about your sister?! When you attacked me, you said you had a sister, right?'' Scratch asked.
''I don't know, I had few visions of a girl that I assume it's my sister... But I'm not sure...''
Ollie and Scratch were desperate. They wanted so bad to help that poor girl, but she couldn't remember anything, there was nothing else they could do. While they were thinking of what else to do, the door behind them opened.
''Scratch, Ollie? What are you boys doing-
Molly couldn't even finish when she saw the huge cage and the skinwalker behind them...
''WHAT THE-
''MOLL, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!'' Scratch asked, shocked.
''WH-WHAT AM I DOING HERE? More like WHY IS SHE still here?!''
''Oh corn... Okay, Molly, listen! I... I lied. I told you the skinwalker is cured and that we sended her back to her family, but... We had no idea how to cure her'' Ollie explained.
Molly couldn't believe it. Not only her boyfriend lied to her, but Scratch also knew about this and didn't tell her. At this point, Molly just wanted to knock herself out and go back to the dream world.
''You... How could you?! You boys really thought you shouldn't tell me about this?'' Molly asked, angry.
''Uhhhh... Well... We didn't wanted to bother you with this whole mess...'' Scratch said with a nervous smile.
''Excuse me? You didn't want to bother me? Scratch, you know I could've somehow helped!''
Both Scratch and Ollie were looking with ashamed look on their faces. They looked like two kids who were getting yelled from their mom for doing something bad.
''Molly... I'm sorry, but I really wanted to cure her. If we don't, my dad will kill her! That's why I decided to concertrate on her, without telling you...'' Ollie said.
''Ugh... I swear, I can't believe I got with you... I should have tried my chance with Libby first...'' Molly wispered to herself.
''Huh?''
''Nothing! So... In that case, did she remembered something?''
''Not at all! We showed her movies, books, games, toys, food, animals, LITERALLY EVERYTHING YOU COULD THINK ABOUT! NOTHING WORKED!'' Scratch said, frustrated.
Molly was still mad, but she was also feeling little bad for the poor girl. Yes, she did burned down Libby's bookshop... Yes, she did force Charlotte to break up with her, but she was cursed as a skinwalker... She had no idea what she was doing.
''What if... I spend a night with her?'' Molly suggested.
''Say what now?''
''Yes! I can stay here for tonigh! I'll talk with her, enjoy some time with her, try to remind her who she is!''
''Molly... I don't think that's a good idea'' Ollie said.
''Don't worry, I'll be perfectly fine! I guarantee you, she will remember everything about her human life in the morning! We'll have so much fun with her!''
Scratch also thinking this is a bad idea... But he and Ollie already did enough. The skinwalker was behind bars, so she can't hurt Molly.
''Well... Alright, if you say so...''
''WHAT? NO, DON'T LEAVE ME WITH HER!''
''Awww, come on! I'm not THAT scary!''
''I'm not scared from you... I'm DISGUESTED from you! Your positivity is sickening...''
They didn't payed any attention to what she was saying, they all agreed that Molly will spend some time with her... Not the whole night, just few hours. Scratch and Ollie left, tired from all the work they were doing today... While Molly was preparing herself for her night with the skinwalker.
...
Molly gave a piece of meat in a little plate to the skinwalker. She still had the cursed Molly form, which was making the real Molly feel little weird. She had no idea how to make her remember her human life, but she already had some plans.
''So, how is your dinner?'' Molly asked with smile.
''Good...''
The skinwalker was aggresivly eating her meat, avoiding to make an eye contact with Molly. It was clear she didn't like her at all, which was ironic because she used exactly Molly's form.
Molly wanted to keep the conversation with her, but she didn't want to bother her. She just waited for the skinwalker to finish her meal, so she can take the plate back. After few minutes, the skinwalker was done... And started to lick the long bone left from the meat.
Molly slowly unlocked the cage... And went inside to get the plate. Just being inside that thing was making Molly feel sick. Her hands were shacking from looking the outside world from bars...
Molly took the plate, while the skinwalker was watching her with a predatory look, hugging and licking the bone. Molly was seeing this bone as just a junk, so she reached her hand and tried to take it away.
''Oh, you don't need that, why don't you just-
''NO! MINE!''
Molly stepped back. The skinwalker was now hugging her bone, not wanting to leave it for even a second.
''Uhhhh, okay... No problem, you can keep it'' Molly said with a nervous smile, as she left the cage and locked it.
20 minutes has passed. Molly was dying from boredom, while the skinwalker was still hugging and licking the leftover bone from her meal.
''So... Uhhhh... Wanna play something?''
''No...''
''Oookay... Wanna talk?''
''No...''
Molly was getting annoyed from that. She was trying so hard to be nice and polite, while the skinwalker was ignoring her and was just licking this stupid bone...
''Ugh, come on, we have do SOMETHING! You have to remember your human life by tomorrow! If you spend some time with me, maybe I'll manage to unlock some hidden memories of yours'' Molly explained.
''I don't want to remember, leave me alone!''
''But... If you don't, you will-
''I just accepted that there is no hope for me... If it's meant for me to die, so be it...''
Molly was feeling so sad and bad for her. She just gave up on her life, not wanting to even try to remember. How could she do that? Who just gives up on their life like that? Well... Molly did tried to turn herself into a ghost, and she literally wished to die on her birthday, but that didn't matter now...
''Oh, Samantha... Come on, you give up!''
''Sam-who?''
The moment she asked this, Molly was shocked.
''You... You don't even remember your own name?'' Molly asked, sad.
''Your little ghost bud calls me that... I don't know what's ''Samantha'' supposed to mean and why you guys call me that...''
''That's your real name! You are Samantha Tracer!''
''Uhhh... Fine, whatever you say...''
Molly had no idea how to cheer her up, or to make her remember something. The way the skinwalker looked was also heartbreaking. Hiding behind the form of another person, not wanting to even reveal her true identity, expecting to die soon... If that was the plot of a movie, Molly would already burts into tears.
''Ohhh, Sammy... If it wasn't from my cage trauma, I would've hugged you!''
''Trauma? What's that?''
''Oh, you don't know? Well... It's when something bad happens to you... So bad, it makes you scared from the experience'' Molly explained.
''So... It's being scared of something?''
''Uhhh, yes, something like that''
''Why are you scared from cages?''
The moment she asked this... Molly froze from fear, not knowing how to answer. The day when Jinx trapped her inside a cage replayed in her head. How the sobgoblins were draining her joy... How they could've almost killed her.
''We are not leaving this table, UNTIL YOU DON'T DEVOURE IT ALL!''
''It's... Complicated...'' Molly said, holding her tears from fear.
Oh. Meh, it is weird fear you have. I guess I also have trauma, I don't know...''
This grabbed Molly's attention. Maybe this could somehow help restore Samantha's memories.
''Oh really? From what are you scared of?''
''From... This...''
The skinwalker pointed to a toy car in the corner of the cage. It was just a little, red toy car...
''Uhhhh... Cars? Why?''
''I don't know... They creep me out...''
She looked so terrified when she pointed to that car. Molly was confused, but didn't question... After all, she herself has weird trauma of being locked in a cage.
Molly sat next to the wall, close to Samantha. Ollie and Scratch left a box with a bunch of toys, so she wanted to see if there is something Samantha may like.
''Sooo what do we have here. Planes, puzzless... Stuffed animals? Oh, you are gonna love those!'' Molly said, as she grabbed few toys.
There was a stuffed rabbit, penguin and a cat. The skinwalker was looking at those toys, confused. She didn't understand why humans enjoyed such things...
''But those aren't even real animals, they are just objects looking like animals''
''Well yeah, but they look so cute! They are like a mini pillows with adorable faces!'' Molly said, as she hugged the penguin plushie.
''What's a pillow?''
Molly was shocked when she asked this. It looks like not only the skinwalker forgot her human life, but she forgot what's like to be human in general. Molly took a deep breath... And prepared to explain every single thing of normal human life.
''Oh boy... We'll have a long talk...''
And so they did. For 2 hours, Molly explained everything about humans. Things like diffirent cultures, how normal people behave, what they do in their free time... It was hard, but the skinwalker started to understand some things.
''Let me get this straight. There is a thing called ''Magician'', and they scam people by doing tricks?''
''YES! Sweet baby corn, I hate those guys! I know there is a real magic like you, but they only use mind tricks to steal people's money!''
''Wait... Did you just called me ''magic''?
''Of course! You can transform to whatever animal and person you want, that's a real magic!'' Molly said with smile.
For some reason, the skinwalker couldn't held the Molly form, so she showed her real form... A girl with grey eyes, grey hair and a white dress... And she also blushed.
''I... Guess you have a point...''
''Awww, you look so cute!''
The skinwalker was now red like a tomato...
''I... Umm... Thanks... That's the nicest thing someone have told me...''
''I don't even know why you had to use my look, you are even better looking than me!''
''Because... I also find you cute...''
''Awww, Sammy! You are so adorable, you deserve a hug!'' Molly said... As she unlocked the cage.
Even though she was terrified from cages, Molly really wanted to give the skinwalker just one hug. She opened the door, went inside and hugged her. The skinwalker was confused, but also comforted by this loving hug.
The funny thing was, she now can easily kill Molly. She can just kill her and eat her liver... But she didn't attacked her. It was strange, but she didn't want to kill or attack Molly.
''Thanks... That feels nice''
''I know, that's why people do it. It's comfy, lovely and nice!'' Molly said as she hugged her tighter and let her go.
It was feeling so nice, the skinwalker didn't understand why it was so short. Molly was about to leave, when she grabbed her arm.
''Wait! Can we... Hug... For little longer?''
''Awwww, you wanna cuddle?''
''Cuddle?''
''Yeah, it's like hugging, except we do it for way longer'' Molly explained.
''Oh. Well... Yes?''
Before she hugged her, Molly looked the outside world. She was feeling so scared from being in that cage... She wanted to be free. But she and the skinwalker just started to bond, she couldn't just leave her... So she took another deep breath, sat next to the girl and hugged her.
''There you go, little one'' Molly said, as she was lovingly and calmly hugging her.
''Thanks...''
The skinwalker really was enjoying this. It was relaxing, she was feeling like she is about to melt in Molly's arms. It was feeling so good, she started to slowly close her eyes and fall asleep.
''Awww, someone is really tired!'' Molly said, as she noticed how Samantha was falling asleep.
''Little...''
''Haha! Goodnight, Sammy!''
''Goodnight... Tammy...''
Molly was confused and shocked when Samantha called her ''Tammy''. Dosens of questions popped up. Who is Tammy, was she her close friend... Could she be Samantha's sister?
Before Molly could ask anything, Samantha already fall asleep. Molly didn't want to wake her up, so she just let her sleep... Maybe she can ask her more in the morning. Molly started to slowly close her eyes, as she herself was feeling sleepy... And actually fall asleep, cuddling Samantha.
...
The garage door open and Molly woke up... It was Ruben.
''Molly?! Wh-What are you-
''Shhhhh! You'll wake her up!'' Molly said, as she pointed to sleeping Samantha right next to her.
''Please... Come out, quietly...''
Molly very carefuly stood up, walked quetly and opened the door, left the cage and locked it... And Ruben grabbed her hand and dragged her outside.
''What's up?'' Molly asked, confused.
''Molly... I don't know why you are here, or how you learned about this... But I came to finish this once and for all...''
The moment he said this... Molly was watching Ruben in horror and disbelieve.
''Wh-What?''
''Come on, she'll never remember anything! My son is so exhausted from all of this, it's time to put an end to it!'' Ruben said... As he took a silver axe out of his bag.
''YOU WHAT? No! You can't do that, we just-
''Please! You know this is for her own good! When she dies, she won't be locked in a cage like a wild animal! She'll be freed as ghost... And even if the Grim Reaper sends her to hell, this ain't our problem!'' Ruben explained.
Molly was not gonna let that happen. The poor girl was on the verge to remember something, she just called her ''Tammy''. No idea who that is, but it sounded like it's very important to Samantha.
''You don't understand, she starts to remember! She is scared from cars, she remembered something about a close friend of hers... For now that's it, but I'm sure she will remember more in the future!'' Molly said, as she started to tear up.
''And how long will it take? I already waited long enough, she is a lost cause! Listen, Molly, you already do enough for everyone... Some problems just can't be solved.
That's a lie... A HUGE LIE! Molly aways was finding a way to solve her problems, she knew very soon Samantha will remember something.
''But I guarantee, she will-
''ENOUGH! Just... Just give me the key to the cage and let's finish this...'' Ruben said, as he reached his hand, waiting for the key Molly was holding.
The moment he asked for it... Molly realized he was serious, he really wanted to actually kill Samantha. She started to slowly step back...
''Molly... Please don't make me take it away from you''
''You can't kill her! I... I won't let you!'' Molly said, crying.
With the blink of an eye, Ruben grabbed the key out of Molly's hand. She was so shocked and terrified for Samantha's life, she stood in front of Ruben.
''UGH, MOLLY! Even if she remembers and gets cured, WHAT? She is considered dead FROM YEARS! As I said, SHE IS A LOST CAUSE! She isn't Ollie's problem, she isn't Scratch's problem, she isn't my problem, she isn't YOUR problem! Just let me finish this...''
Molly started to think about it... He had a point. Samantha's whole life will be a mess when she gets cured... If she gets cured. Ruben already made up his mind, so Molly... Stepped out of the way. Her tears were now falling like a fountain, realizing what she is letting him do.
Ruben went inside the garabe. The door was slightly open, so from outside, Molly could see everything. Ruben unlocked the cage... And Samantha woke up.
''Wh-What? Molly?''
''I'm sorry, kid... I swear, it's nothing personal'' Ruben said... As he opened the door cage and went inside.
''NO, STAY AWAY!''
Before Samantha could do anything... Ruben grabbed her arm... And hit her with the axe on her chest.
''AAHAAAAAAA! PLEAAASE, NOOO!''
Ruben didn't stop at all. She fall on the floor and Ruben continued to aggresively hit her with the axe, over and over again. Molly was watching the whole thing... How she is screaming... How the whole floor of the cage was now in blood...
''MOLLYYYYYYY! PLEAAASE, MAKE HIM STOP! MAKE HIM STOPP-OOOPP!''
Samantha was scraming and crying, while Ruben was killing her. Her white dress was now red from her own blood. Molly couldn't hold her tears or turn around... She was just standing outside, watching how a girl was getting brutally killed.
The way she was screaming was so... Painful. Her screams and cries were in agony. If a person hears them, they'll be stuck in their head for months or even years.
After few minutes of Ruben hitting her... She finally stopped screaming and moving. She was dead... And she was killed in the most animalistic way possible. Ruben went outside and noticed the terrified look on Molly's face.
''You... Didn't have to see this... Come on, I'll drive you home''
Molly didn't respond at all. She continued to stare at Samantha's dead and bloody body. How did that happened? Just few moments ago, they were cuddling... But now she was dead. Molly continued to cry, as the scene was replaying in her head over and over again. She was never gonna forget this... This was gonna be a trauma till the rest of her life...