Chapter 10: Besties night
It has been a year since Todd left Brighton. Probably the best decision he ever made. He never felt so alive, all the adventures him and Adia have, all the moments they share. In Brighton, he was just misarable, he was only wasting his life there, he never had any friends there... Or at least he doesn't remember having friends there. He should have left that small town years ago! It was another great day as he and Adia where now in Tokyo, exploring the forest Aokigahara. As kid he could only imagine going around the world and now he can go wherever he wants with his best friend.
''Adia, this is amazing!'' Todd said.
''I know, right? When I visited that forest few years ago, I was also amazed!''
''Everything about Japan is perfect! Especially the food!''
''Haha same old Todd, only thinking about food'' said Adia smiling at him
They were walking around the forest for 2 hours now. How could Todd reject Adia's invitations to come with her for so long? He was amazed and happy at every place they visited. Only for a year they visited so many places together, more than he had ever traveled in his life. He can finaly be with her.
"Hey Todd, wanna know something interesting?'' Adia asked.
''What?'' said Todd smiling at her.
''Did you know this is also called 'the suicide forest' because many people come here to commit suicide''
''Oh... Well... that's kinda sad'' said Todd and then he saw something in the distance.
Between all the trees and bushes he saw a little girl crying. He was first surpriced to see a kid alone in the forest, but he assumed that she probably got lost.
''Adia, do you see that kid?'' Todd asked and when he turned around, Adia was gone.
''What? Adia? Where did you go?''
The crying from the little girl got louder. He had no idea what was going on, but he knew he couldn't leave a little kid alone here. As he started to get closer to the girl, he saw what she looked like. She probably wasn't older than 13, had dark brown hair worn in a short ponytail, wearing ripped jean vest with white shirt, purple-pink skirt and red sneakers. He never met this kid before, but for some reason it looked so familiar to him.
''Uhhhh, kid? Is everythink alright'' Todd asked, as he got closer.
No response. He couldn't tell why, but he had the feeling that girl will jump at him and will cry his name... But that didn't happen... She gave him one look... And ran away.
''Wha, hey!''
The girl was just crying and running, but Todd started to chase her down. They were running past the trees... Nothing suspicious about middle aged man chasing a girl in the woods. He didn't even care about Adia anymore, he wanted to go stop that girl. He was getting closer, but she was still way ahead of him.
''Kid, come back!'' Todd was shouting, as he reached his arm.
Even though she was younger and faster than him, Todd was really close to catch her. So close, he finally grabbed her arm... But then he froze from fear when he saw that the girl had red demonic eyes.
''LET ME GO, YOU JERK!''
...
''MOLLY!''
Scratch woke up in the middle of the night and fall from his dollhouse on the ground. After he came back home and saw his shark was sick, he did everything to make it feel better, but nothing worked. From all that pressure, he needed a nap... But he never even imagined to have that dream again.
Why... Why did this dream appear again? He had that dream just the night before his death day... Also, why was it different? This time Molly didn't beg him to remember her, she just... Ran and yelled at him to leave her...
''What was that all about?''
He then heard yelling downstairs, so he flew to see what's going on... And saw Sharon and Molly yelling at each other.
''WHY? WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME, MOLLY? HOW THE HELL DID YOU EVEN MANAGE TO GET THAT FAR?! IF THAT WOMAN DIDN'T CALL THE POLICE TO SEND YOU BACK, HOW WERE YOU GONNA GET BACK HOME?!''
''UGHHHHH, JUST STOP! SHUP UP, I HAD ENOUGH OF YOU! DEAR GOSH, WHY DO YOU HAVE TO KNOW EVERYTHING?! I'M A TEEN, I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANT!'' Molly yelled... As the kitchen's lightbulb started to flick.
Pete and Darryl were both hiding under the couch, watching how violent Molly and her mom were getting. Scratch also didn't want to even try to get in the way, because he was sure this will somehow make things worse.
''Do whatever you want? DO WHATEVER YOU WANT?! THAT'S IT, GO TO YOUR ROOM! RIGHT NOW!'' Sharon yelled.
''Ohohoho, TRUST ME, I WAS JUST GONNA DO THAT! I'M NOT GONNA STAY HERE WITH SOME MAD SOCIOPATH!'' Molly yelled, as she walked to the attic.
A dead silence filled the room. Sharon was so angry and mad, Pete was scared to even touch her, while Darryl didn't even think about looking at his sister.
''Uhhhh... What just happened?'' Scratch asked, confused.
''She just ran away 18 miles away from Brighton... 18 MILES! UGHHH, TOMORROW THIS GIRL WILL BEG FOR MERCY!''
''N-Now, honey... Let's not get aggressive...'' Pete said with a nervous smile.
''OH, HELL YEAH I'LL BE AGGRESSIVE! I'M NOT GONNA JUST SLAP HER, I'LL BEAT HER UP SO HARD, SHE'LL BEG FOR FORGIVENES!'' Sharon yelled, as she punched the chair next to her from anger.
''Y-You know... I'll just go talk to her'' Scratch said, as he floated to the attic.
Scratch has never seen Sharon that mad, even when he suggested to her to work as a cook. When he arrived at the attic, he saw how Molly was opening her window.
''Woah, what are you doing?''
''What does it look like I'm doing? I'm sneaking out!'' Molly said, ready to jump.
Scratch never even imagined Molly to sneak out like this. First he had a dream where she scared him, then she had a huge argument with her mom, and now she is sneaking out in the middle of the night.
''You can't just run away again!''
''Yes I can, YES I WILL!'' Molly said, as she somehow managed to go down the street without getting hurt. Luckily, her parents didn't see her from the windows.
Scratch just followed Molly and tried to convince her to stay.
''Now, now, I know what happened there was... Interesting... But no need to go THAT far!'' Scratch said, as he grabbed Molly's arm.
''Why? You used to sneak up under your dad's nose!''
''Yes I did, but just because me and Adia couldn't use the playground during the day... Listen, why don't we just relax? We can have a game night or something...''
''I prefer fresh air... AT LEAST I WON'T HAVE TO BE IN ONE HOUSE WITH THOSE CLOWNS!'' Molly said, as she freed herself from Scratch.
Scratch realized that Molly won't go back to the attic. Maybe he can just grab her and carry her there? No, that will upset her too much.
''Okay, okay, you can stay up, but I'm coming with you''
Molly was now even more annoyed, she wanted to turn into a ghost, but she woudn't be able to if Scratch is with her.
''Really? Can't you just go play with Ghost Shark or something?''
''Nah, he is sick... And I don't want you to go far away. How did you even manage to go 18 miles away?''
''Uhhh... I grabbed the bus!'' Molly lied.
''Well, this time you're staying in Brighton... I give you 30 minutes, then we go back home! Understand?''
Molly really was annoyed. She was planning to visit a country like Spain or even Thailand, but because of Scratch she couldn't...
''Sounds... Sounds fair...''
Well... No ghost night for Molly...
...
After so much time, Libby was finally ready to watch that strange DVD. Her mom was asleep, she did all the chores for those couple of days, no one to bother her... FINALLY, she can see what exactly that thing is.
''Kid, what are you doing, you should be asleep'' John came back from work.
''Oh, uhhh... Hi, officer John, I know, but I first have to watch that thing''
''From where did you get it?''
''Ummm... Just found it at the park'' Libby lied.
She knew that DVD belongs to Ollie and Samantha, but she was really curious to watch it. Of course she'll return it, just one play...
''Well, you can do whatever you want... By the way, can I ask you something?''
''Yeah, sure''
''Do you... Use drugs?''
''WHAT? Of course not! Why?'' Libby asked, shocked.
''Just wanted to make sure... After all, you and Molly are close, but guess what! Last night, Molly was high in some suspicious club!'' John explained.
Libby was now even more shocked.
''MOLLY? No, this can't be true! She would never even think about using drugs!''
''Exactly what I thought, but it's true. My partner caught his daughter and Molly in that club... Did you know about this?''
''No... In fact, I haven't seen Molly for like a week or two''
Libby just realized she and Molly barely spent time together... Not just barely, they haven't seen each other at all.
''Mhhh, why is that?''
''I don't know, I can't even call her because she broke her phone''
''Broke her phone? Oh... That's bad. There is some psycho around Brighton again, everyone has to have a phone. I'll definitely have a word with her parents... But first, I need sleep... Goodnight, kiddo'' John said, as he walked to his bedroom.
''Goodnight!''
''Oh, I know that you're grounded, but... There is a hidden chocolate I keep in the kitchen cabinet. You can take it if you want'' John said, as he winked at her and went to his bedroom.
Libbly chuckled at him and walked to the kitchen. She couldn't stop thinking about what he said. Molly was never like this... Oh, Libby will definitely see her tomorrow... She was so shocked, she completely forgot about her DVD...
...
Scratch and Molly were walking in a strange abandoned village, very close to Brighton. Molly was gonna get in trouble if a cop sees her alone, so Scratch took her there.
''What's that place?''
''It's abandoned for decades. Me and Adia used to come here and play hide and seek'' Scratch said, as he remembered the good times from his childhood.
''Here? In the darkness?''
''That was making the game more fun and interesting... And more scary. I know your hide and seek jumpscares are scary, but Adia was the queen of jumpscares!''
Molly loved to do one thing when she and Scratch were playing hide and seek... She would always manage to jumpscare him, the moment she finds where he is hiding.
''Pff, when did we play hide and seek?'' Molly asked, confused.
''Uhhh... Like the other week? Molly, you force me to do this every day, at one point became annoying''
Molly was just staring at him confused.
''No, we never had a single game... Or did we?''
''Of course, very often! You always find where I hide, it's ridiculous!''
''I... I don't know, did we really had a game of hide and seek?'' Molly asked, confused.
''What, you're having an amnesia or something? Maybe one game will remind you...'' Scratch said with a grim smile.
''Huh... You know, I'm in! You seek!''
Scratch closed his eyes.
''Alright... 1... 2... 3-
Molly ran in one of the abandoned houses and hid. She was just giggling at how her best friend was counting.
''9... 10! Ready or not, HERE SCRATCH COMES!''
Scratch started to float through all the nearbly houses, searching for Molly. He sure will find her. No matter how hard it is, he will find her... Just like how he found her when he died.
While searching, he started to think about the recent nightmare he had... The same nightmare he had, just the night before he died in that earthquake.
But why? Yes, then he had some visions of Molly... But why now? What's that supposed to mean? Dreams really are weird... While Scratch was searching in one of the houses, something moved under the table.
''Haha, found ya, Moll!''
He went closer... And a shining butterfly scared Scratch like a baby.
''WHAT THE?!''
It was huge, probably could fit in the palm of his arm. A shining ghost butterfly. He didn't even know there were such things. It looked... Violent. It had red eyes, glowing wings and it looked kinda creepy. Before Scratch could even try to touch it, it flew away.
''BOOO!''
Molly jumped out of the closet...
''AHH! UGHHHH, SERIOUSLY?''
Molly just bursted out laughing at how easily she scared her best friend.
''Hahahahaha, oh Scratch, I know you're the ghost, but sometimes I'm more scary than you!'' Molly laughed.
''Ugh... You sure are. Okay, that place is weird, there are some ghosts here...''
Molly didn't even saw the glowing butterfly... Even when Scratch was looking at it, she was the only one to not even see it.
''Oh come on, I'm just starting to have fun!''
''I don't know, it's getting late... What's behind that wall anyway?'' Scratch asked, as he noticed a huge carpet covering the right wall.
He did it just out of curiosity. Molly was looking outside from the window at the beautiful full moon, while Scratch took the carpet... And was so terrified, he immediately put it back.
''Moll, we have to go away, now!''
''Huh? Why, what's under that thing?''
''WE GO HOME, NOW!'' Scratch said, as he grabbed Molly's arm and dragged her outside from the house.
''Hey, hey, easy now! What's the matter, what did you saw?'' Molly asked, confused.
''Doesn't matter! Just... We really have to go away!''
No idea what Scratch saw. Molly was getting scared and worried about her friend. Just when they were outside, she just noticed the glowing butterfly right next to a tree... Staring at her...