Chapter 27: The new phantom in Brighton
It has been 2 days since the talk between Scratch and Molly... The most miserable 2 days in her life. All Molly would do in those 2 days is just cry in her room. She was barely eating, leaving her room, and wasn't even sleeping at all. Scratch, Pete and Darryl tried everything to cheer her up, but nothing worked. Sharon was getting sick of this...
''Well, funny faces didn't work'' Pete said.
''Nor did the confetti cannon... Don't ask from where I got it'' Darryl said.
''Hugs didn't work either... She is even droopier then my human body was when I was a wraith!'' Scratch added.
It was clear absolutely nothing will cheer Molly up, so Sharon had an idea...
''Thanks for you, boys, but I'll take it from here''
Sharon went upstairs, to the attic. She didn't even knock, she just opened the door... And saw Molly, curled up in her bed.
''Molly... Listen, I respect your privacy, but this is getting too far! I barely see your face, you haven't left your room from 2 days! Please... Just go outside and get some sunshine'' Sharon said.
''No thanks...''
Molly was expecting her mom to just go away. She didn't have any energy to see the outside world...
''I'm not asking, young lady... I'm telling you! GO OUTSIDE!''
Sharon grabbed her daughter's arm and started to drag her out of the attic. Molly tried to free herself, but she couldn't. She was begging her mom to let her go, but Sharon didn't even listen. She dragged her in the living room, opened the front door and pushed her outside.
''I don't know what's gotten you so moody, but you've done more than enough sulking! It's time you actually do something about it!'' Sharon said, as she closed the door, leaving Molly standing outside.
Molly was annoyed as hell. All she wanted was just to spend some time alone, but her mom didn't even let her do that. Now what? Molly didn't have time for anyone. Well, she can aways visit the park. At least she can spend time in her favorite place...
...
Ollie, Samantha and Scratch were at ''Joy-Healers''. Scratch did explained what was happening with Molly to Ollie and Sammy. He wanted to follow Molly in the park, but Lecter was gonna call him any moment now, he won't have enough time for her.
''I can't believe Molly would hide all of this from me!'' Ollie said, shocked.
''I had to use a crowbar to make her speek... Not literally, but you get my point. Well, she said Libby was talking behing her back... I don't understand, one day they have foreplays, the other they don't want to see each other... Ugh, teens are the worst...'' Scratch explained.
''Wait a minute... SHE AND LIBBY WERE HAVING WHAT?!''
Scratch just realized he said how Molly was cheating on Ollie...
''Uhhhh... I... I'm sure you and Moll will have alot to talk about'' Scratch said with a nervous smile.
While they were talking, Samantha appeared and sat next to Ollie.
''I ordered myself a regular burger, the soda Ollie wanted, and because I knew Scratch would come, I ordered some tacos for you!'' Samantha said with a smile.
''Thanks, kid, I owe you one''
''Sammy, I told you to get yourself a veggie one. You need more plants in your diet'' Ollie said.
''Well... If we eat less plants, we'll give them more room to grow... Which means more fresh air for us!''
''Ha, clever girl'' Scratch said, impressed.
While the three friends were talking, the new employee showed up with their order.
''Alright, one burger, soda, and dozen of tacos for you guys!'' Tamara said, as she placed the food on the table.
When Tamara walked away... Samantha couldn't tell why, but this girl looked so familiar for some reason. Her smile, her dark-red hair... It looked like her lost sister...
...
Molly was in the park, laying on one wooden bench, surrounded by ice cream sticks. Without anything else to do, she spended all her money on ice cream... Alot of ice cream... Every single penny.
It was kinda calm here. The nice warm weather, the birds singing... The many street cats here. Molly was gwtting sick, just by looking at all those cats. She used to love kittens... But not anymore.
She already is outside... Should she drain some electricity to turn herself into a ghost? Yes... Yes, she should. Molly got up... But saw how the sky was red.
''Huh?''
Just a moment ago, there were so many people here. But now... Everyone was gone...
''Wakey, wakeeeey...''
When Molly heared that voice... She turned around and saw the giant cat, right next to the close trees.
''NO! NOT AGAIN!''
''Do you honestly think you can spend the rest of your life without sleeping? Because of how long I had to wait... TIME FOR A LONG AND FUN GAME!''
Without wasting a second, Molly turned around and started to run. She didn't even know if the cat already started to chase her, but she didn't care, she just wanted to wake up.
A rain of blood started... There were many shadows, smiling and laughing at Molly, with the most twisted and sick laughs Molly has ever heared. While she was running, she tripped... And somehow ended on the dream island...
''Come, Molly! Come on, wake up, JUST WAKE UP!'' Molly was talking to herself.
The cat wasn't here. It was dead silence on the island. Molly tried to think of a way to wake up. Maybe if she screams in her dream, this may cause her to scream in real life? This may grab the attention of someone and will wake her up.
The trees started to burn in purple flames... Shadow cracks appeared in the red sky... And a cage formed arond Molly, trapping her.
''NO! OH PLEASE, JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!''
Jinx appeared in front of her... With an evil and twisted smile.
''Don't worry... I'll make sure you'll never forget me...''
The whole island was caught in a large purple fire. Sobgoblins appeared and started to drain the joy out of Molly... While a shadowy one was replacing her the lost energy and joy the goblins were draining.
This time Molly didn't give up. She was feeling more and more rage coming up. She grabbed the cage's bars... And her eyes turned red.
''LET... ME... GO!''
The cage exploeded, leaving Jinx scared and confused. She aways managed to kill Molly every single nightmare, why wasn't working now? Before Jinx could do anything... Molly jumped at her, with the most predatory, sick and purple eyes.
''TIME FOR REVENGE!''
In the air... Many cages appeared. All the trapped spirits from the failed ritual were inside, begging and crying for Molly to let them out. She didn't payed any attention to them... She opened one empy cage... And trapped Jinx inside, laughing like a maniac.
''HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, WHO IS THE TRAPPED ONE NOW?''
Jinx wasn't scared... In fact, she smiled.
''Spoiler... Not me...''
Huge sobgoblin appeared... It was the most terrifying goblin Molly has ever seen. Jinx flew through the cage... And the sobgoblin grabbed Molly, and with just the blink of an eye, he killed Molly...
...
Molly woke up in the afternoon. She was scared... Sad... Confused... Angry...
''OH, COME ON! I WAS SO CLOSE TO BEAT HER!''
Molly started to tear up. For how long will this happen? To who is she supposed to cry now? Libby? Libby is the most cruel person Molly knows, not a chance! Scratch? Yes... She can tell him what's happening. Or should she? Poor ghost already have so much work, she doesn't want to bother him... She already bothered him enough with the drama with Libby...
Molly didn't have anybody. She was helpless... Cursed for eternity to experience those nightmares and trauma. She was... Alone...
''Hey, are you okay?''
Molly heared... A familiar voice. Kinda diffirent, but still sounded familier. Molly turned around... And saw Hikari. Both girls were shocked when they made an eye contact.
''H-Hikari?''
''Wait a minute... Molly?''
''Is this... IS THIS STILL A DREAM? Is that... Is that really you?'' Molly cried, shocked.
''Y-Yes, it's me... MOLLY!''
Molly just jumped at Hikari and hugged her. That's all she needed... A hug from her past love. She was still scared and crying, but when they hugged, both of them started to chuckle and scream in joy.
''OH DEAR GOD, HOW COULD YOU BE HERE?'' Hikari started to cry from joy.
''I MISSED YOU SO MUCH!''
She wasn't alone... Molly still had a real friend. She continued to cry, but this time out of happiness and joy. Well... Looks like Molly's mom was right about forcing her to go outside. If she never listened to her, Molly was never gonna meet her old friend...
...
Sharon and Pete were preparing dinner, while Scratch and Darryl were playing a board game. Molly came back with a huge and joyful smile on her face.
''Wow, someone's mood is back'' Darryl joked.
''Feeling better?''
''MORE THAN EVER!'' Molly said.
''I told you a day outside will cheer you up! Come on, dinner is almost ready'' Sharon said.
''I'm coming, just... Give me a sec!'' Molly said, as she ran to the attic.
Molly entered her room, layed down on her bed and took a little piece of paper. Just to be sure, she wrote Hikari's email and phone number. She already lost her once, Molly was never gonna lose her again.
From the worst afternoon, it quickely turned into the best one in her life... And soon afterlife. On her way back home, she started to think about something. She still have those cool ghost powers... So, she'll use them to have some more fun.
Molly already wasted 2 days of the summer vacation, soon she'll be in high school. High school means no more fun, she have to use every single second of her freedom!
But there were few problems that even Hikari noticed when they met. Molly's wrists... They looked awful. It turned out some lights in the park weren't working, which probably means Molly drained their electricity in her nightmare. All she needs is to find a way to control them! She can see a doctor about her veins, it wasn't that big of a deel.
But... What about Scratch? Or Axel? If Axel finds out about Molly's powers, he'll try to ''cure'' her. Simple, she'll never tell him. Not him, not Scratch. She was good at keeping a secret, she kept Scratch a secret from Libby for so long. They'll never find out about Molly's cool abilities. She'll have the best summer vacation ever! Being a kid in the day, flying as a ghost in the night. Molly was free... Free as a bird... Free as a phantom...
The End
HUGE shout-out to Chazno-02, who helped alot with the story!