Chapter 26: Keeping secrets

Scratch started to slowly open his eyes and saw he was in a dark room. He had no idea where he is, but he remembered how the ghost trap caught him. He was tied up on a chair with some sort of electrical chain that was making him weak.

There was a figure standing in front of him. Because his vision was still blurry, he couldn't tell what that thing was... It looked like a shadow.

''So, you're finally awake''

It got closer. Scratch had no idea what that thing was or what it wanted from him... But the moment his vision normalized, he saw it was Libby's mother.

''Leah?''

''You know my name? How?!'' Leah asked, confused and shocked.

Scratch just realized there wasn't any shadowy figure. Probably because of his blurry vision, he couldn't recognize her.

''Uhh... I guessed? This doesn't matter! The real question is why am I tied up here?''

''Well, that trap the Chens gave sure works. I have seen you! You're the ghost Molly talks with!'' Leah said, as she showed the picture she took.

She still kept the picture of Molly in her room, talking with Scratch... It made his to freeze to a second death.

''From where do you have that?''

''Doesn't matter... What matters is that you haunt Molly and possibly my daughter!''

''Oh Dear God... I'm not haunting anyone, Molly is my best friend!'' Scratch tried to explain.

''What? She's your friend? Since when is Molly friends with ghosts?!''

''Sweet baby corn... Listen, I used to haunt the old house Adia Williams used to live in. I lived there for years, but then Molly and her family moved in it. I tried to scare then, but for some reason Molly saw me as her friend, leading me to accidentaly curse her, then I kinda got attached to her, then I became friends with Libby... Anything else you wanna know?'' Scratch explained.

Leah was shocked. This ghost and Molly are friends since she moved in town? That means Libby was also friends with a ghost for 2 years, without even telling her mom?

''But how did you met my daughter? And why do you sound like Todd Mortenson?!''

''Because I AM Todd Mortneson! But honestly, I prefer my alias ''Scratch'' as a ghost. Molly was supposed to keep me a secret, but your daughter figured something isn't right, so I was forced to reveal myself'' Scratch explained.

''Hm, typical for Libby. Once she activates that detective persona, nothing can stop her. Anyway, if you had to reveal to her, why didn't you also reveal to me?''

''There's a reason we ghosts don't like to show much... Those guys outside are a real example why...''

Leah knew Scratch was talking to the O.A.S. She couldn't believe the supernatural is real and that right now she is talking to a REAL GHOST!

''I understand. Still, I wasn't gonna tell anyone if you just trevealed to me! Come on, Todd, we were friends when you were alive... Right?''

''I guess? You were probably the only one who was nice to me in this excuse of a town. Glad you were nice even when my body had no soul''

''Wait, what?''

''Doesn't matter! The point is, you really were the closest thing I had as a friend, Leah. But we ghosts can't show off to any second person we meet... Not even loved ones... Molly wasn't supposed to befriend me, but she did'' Scratch explained.

''I thought Libby was just joking when she said Molly has the power to befriend both living and death'' Leah said, shocked.

''Haha, she sure can do that. Now, CAN I PLEASE GO HOME?!''

''Oh yeah, sorry!'' Leah said, as she freed Scratch from the chains.

As Scratch flew to the living room, he saw it was 6:30 AM. He was ready to leave, but Leah grabbed his arm for one last thing.

''WAIT A MINUTE! That means... The crazy dream I had was real?!''

Scratch realized what she was talking about. In the night when the skinwalker attacked her and Libby, he had to save them. At the end, he knocked Leah out and she thought it was just a dream.

''Ohhh, about that... Yeah, it was real. Sorry, it was better for you to just forget it happened...''

''So... I take it that ghosts aren't the only paranormal creatures out there...'' Leah said, too scared to imagine what other creatures there might be.

''I have to admit, yes there are others... Also, ou better keep your mouth shut about me, or I'll have to knock you out again'' Scratch joked.

''No worries, I'll tell nobody''

''Great... Honestly, feels good to be able to talk with you again, Leah... Anyways, gotta go now, bye'' Scratch said, as he carefully flew outside, without the O.A.S soldiers noticing anything.

Leah was smiling. She was happy about the strange meeting she just had. Ghosts are real... God knows what other things are real. And her daughter was friends with that ghost for 2 years? That sure was impressive.

''Oh, this girl will have so much explaining to do when she wakes up...''

...

''LET ME GO, IDIOTS!''

Frank and Molly were standing in front of an old garage with one silver cage in it... The same place where the Chens were keeping Samantha when she was a skinwalker.

''From where do you even know about this place, Joy?''

''I've been here before... If she stays here, at least you won't have to keep her in your house''

''You're right about that... So, how do we ''cure'' her?''

Even though he was hunting skinwalkers for years, Frank never knew they can be cured. He always believed if someone becomes a skinwalker, stays as a skinwalker.

''Uhhhh... Last time I did that I was crying and... That's it, probably? Oh, I was freeing my energy on Samantha!''

''So, you have to electrocute her?'' Frank asked, confused.

''Guess so... Alright, Abigail, this won't hurt! Just relax and-

Before Molly could go inside and try to save Abigail, Frank stood on her way.

''Hold up, Joy! I do trust you about your methods, but I don't think it will be safe to do it with that dark aura''

Molly's purple aura really looked creepy. A bright like the sun spirit with red eyes and purple dark aura... Surely something from a person's nightmare.

''Don't worry! It's not like I'm sick or anything... I hope so. In fact, I feel great!''

''Kudos for making you more powerful, but I don't think it's safe for healing. As you mentioned on the way, it takes 10 years for a skinwalker to lose their entire humanity. That means we still have 9 years and 11 months to think of a more safer way!'' Frank explained.

''Ehhh, I guess you have a point. It will be a lot easier and quicker if I just try to do it. Who knows, maybe there's a chance to give her more strength or something''

''And a possible chance to accidentally kill her... We have to be 100 percent sure we know what we're doing''

''Whatever you say, my dude. I gotta go back at my secret place, I can't be seen during the day. I'll come at your place tonight to see how she's doing''

''Don't worry, I'll guard her with my life!''

Before Molly flew away, she gave Frank and Abigail a worried look. She couldn't believe skinwalkers are capable to turn someone as nice and sweet as Abigail into a deadly killing machine...

''Just be careful, Frank. I'd hate to lose my best friend's only relative... Odds are, you might be the only family he has left outside the Ghost World''

''Best friend? Joy, what are you trying to-

It was too late, Molly already flew away. Frank was alone in the dark garage with the skinwalker inside the cage. Weird how she mentioned he was family to that ''best friend''.

Molly was planning to fly around the woods, like a free bird. She needed some time to think. There are more skinwalkers? Scratch has an uncle? She sure will need time to process all of this.

Her purple aura was glowing even brighter, making her feel more powerful. Oh, she surely likes that new ability. Not only her aura... Her bright eyes were also becoming slightly purple...