Chapter 15: New ideas
The McGees and the Chens were all speechless when they saw the huge swarm of butterflies. Ruben eventually used a vacuum to get rid of the bugs.
''From where the hell did these guys come from?!'' Scratch asked, shocked.
''That's both beautiful and terrifying...'' Ollie said.
Ruben was finally done. The vacuum had a special electrical shield that was holding all the butterflies inside. He wasn't even sure if he got every single one, but at least he got most of them.
''Alright, I think I got them all'' Ruben came out of the house.
''Thank gooddness...''
''Guys... Could the phantom have something to do with this?'' Ollie asked.
''If it has, I'LL MAKE SURE IT PAYS FOR THAT!'' Scratch said, both angry and annoyed.
''You know what, guys, maybe it will be for the best to install a ghost shield around our houses... Just in case'' June said.
It was clear they weren't safe with that phantom flying around. How are the McGees supposed to sleep calmly at night if there's some evil spirit around the streets? A ghost shield sure won't be a bad idea.
...
Hikari was waiting in front of the park gate. Molly was supposed to be here 10 minutes ago, but she still wasn't here. Odd, Molly was never late for meetings...
''HIKARIIIIIII!''
The moment she heard that voice, Molly came out of nowhere and hugged her.
''Of course you had to do that thing again, didn't you?'' Hikari laughed, as she hugged Molly back.
''Yep! I'll do this EVERY time I see you... Because I love you, koibito!''
''Awwww, I love you too!'' Hikari said, as she kissed Molly's cheek.
Molly tried to forget about what happened earlier. Why... Just why and how did she manage to throw up a bunch of butterflies? She was now with her love, she didn't care at all. Molly and Hikari broke from their hug.
''Okay, okay! So, as I told you, I have a new phone. It's not quite modern, but it's still a beauty!'' Molly said, as she showed her purple flip phone.
''Looks fantastic! My mom used to have one, but she lost it somewhere'' Hikari said, impressed.
''I know it is! Honestly, even though my mom has anger issues, it was nice of her to get me this!''
''Wait... Your mom has what?''
''Uhhhhh, nothing!''
Molly was too embarrassed to tell Hikari what was happening in her family. She didn't want to discuss any drama, all she wanted was to spend this lovely afternoon with her.
''O-Okay... Oh no, what happened with you?'' Hikari asked, as she noticed the bandages on Molly's hands.
''Oh that? Well... Just one teeny tiny little accident, nothing to worry about...''
''That doesn't look like a little accident at all! Come on, Molly, you can tell me!''
Even if she tried a million times, it was impossible for Molly to lie to Hikari. Even if it's for something simple like stealing candy, she still wouldn't be able to lie to her.
''Well... I just tried to turn the TV on, but... I electrocuted myself...''
''What? Molly, you have to be more careful! Doing things like that could kill you, what will I do if I lose you?'' Hikari asked, as she kissed Molly's right hand.
''Awwww, don't worry, nothing will happen to me!'' Molly said, as she hugged her again.
''Haha! You know, I also have a little surprise for you''
''Really? What is it?''
''You know my mom is a hairdresser, right?'' Hikari asked with a grim smile.
''Yes?''
''Well, I booked you an appointment for a new haircut. Come on, you're keeping your hair in the same ponytail for years, you have to try something new!'' Hikari explained, as she petted Molly's head.
''Really? Uhhhh... Do you think I'll look good?''
''Of course, my mom is the best! Trust me, you'll look prettier than ever!''
''Mmmmm, I TRUST YOU! Thank you, koibito, I really appreciate it!'' Molly said, as she was now squeezing Hikari in a very tight hug.
Molly started to feel something... A pain forming in her wrists... Not only that, but she had some trouble with breathing. She thought that's probably because of how hot it was outside, so she didn't pay attention to that feeling, she just wanted to spend time with Hikari.
...
After an hour of work, June was finally done. She circled around the McGee's house many little devices with red lights.
''Okay... Here goes nothing!''
June pressed the button and all the devices activated... And an invisible shield of energy formed around the whole house.
''So... Did it work?'' Scratch asked.
''Try to go inside''
Scratch did what June said... But the moment he got closer to the house, something stopped him. It felt like there's a wall stopping him from going in. June pressed the button again, deactivating the shield, and now Scratch managed to fly around the house.
''Ha, it actually works!'' Scratch laughed.
''YES! Okay, you just press that button every night, or when you go out. This will keep any phantoms or ghosts out of the house'' June said, giving the remote to Pete.
At least now they had some sort of way to protect themselves. Now it was just left for June to install the same shield around their house. June walked inside her home, searching in her lab for the box with the same devices, while leaving the door open. While searching, she gave her butterfly a look.
''How are you doing, buddy?''
It didn't respond at all, it was just staring at the poster June had. Recently, she got a poster of a fire spider... The butterfly wasn't moving at all while staring at it, almost like it was scared to death from the spider.
''Huh... Interesting...''
''Hey, June, what kind of taste does the bleach have?'' Samantha asked from upstairs.
''WHAT? SAMMY, DON'T DRINK THAT!'' June yelled, as she immediately ran from her lab, before Samantha could kill herself.
The moment June ran from her lab... For a moment, the butterfly changed its color from bright to red...
...
Molly was at Hikari's mom hair salon. She really was a kind and smart woman, called Aimi Watanabe. It was both weird and exciting to get a new haircut. She still wanted to keep her ponytail, but this time with something different.
''So, how is the life in Brighton, Molly?'' Aimi asked, as she removed the elastic from Molly's hair to fall free.
''Well... Interesting... Honestly, it's bad...''
''Bad? Why?'' Aimi asked, as she sprayed Molly's hair with water and started to cut it with scissors.
''Most of the people here are always ungrateful and grumpy! Like, it's like they're born to just annoy people!''
''I told you, Molly, no matter what you do for some people, they'll always be ungrateful'' Hikari said, while she was sitting and waiting for her friend.
''I know, but... Even when I REALLY try to make something good for them, most of them never appreciate it! It's not fair!''
While Hikari's mom was working, Molly was telling all the problems in her life... At least the problems she could remember. For the last 15 minutes, that's all she was doing, just letting all of the accumulated grief out of her.
''And then this idiot started to count SLOWER THAN A TURTLE! I never even wanted those stupid turnips, I needed them for the festival!''
''Sheesh, I hate those kind of people! Don't pay attention to them, sweetie, they're just trying to crush your spirit. Alright... How about trying something different?'' Aimi asked, as she prepared a hair dye.
''Woah, like what?''
''I already have an Idea. Trust me, you'll love it! Just close your eyes, please''
''Uhhh... Okay...'' Molly said, as she closed her eyes.
She can hear how Hikari's mom was preparing a hair dye, and how she started to slowly and carefully dye Molly's hair. While Molly was keeping her eyes closed... She started to see something in the darkness.
A cage... A cage with a huge opened door... And sobgoblins appearing from the thin air... And a female purple ghost, holding a scythe... That was Jinx...
''We are not leaving this table, UNTIL YOU DON'T DEVOURE IT ALL!''
Molly was feeling like how she was on the verge to crying or even fainting... The worst part was there was nothing she can do.
''Okay, open your eyes!''
Molly opened her eyes... And was shocked and surprised. Her right strand of her hair was dyed purple. It was so... Unique. Molly was so shocked by how good it looked on her.
''This... This... THIS IS AMAZING!''
''Haha, proud to hear it, sweetie!'' Aimi said.
''I told you you'll look good!'' Hikari added.
''I can't believe it! Thanks Ms. Watanable! So, how much?'' Molly asked, as she got up and prepared a few bucks.
''Oh, no worries, you don't have to pay me anything!''
''WHAT? Ohohoho, no, no, no, there's no way I'm leaving without paying!''
''Molly, I swear, you don't have to pay me anything!'' Aimi laughed.
''Wh-What? But-
''Thanks, mom! Come on, we can visit the aquarium!'' Hikari said, as she grabbed Molly's hand and dragged her out of her mom's salon.
Molly was shocked to leave without paying a single penny. She tied her hair up in her usual ponytail again, with the difference it was a little shorter and she had that dyed purple right strand. Molly took out her flip phone and couldn't stop staring at her reflection.
''Hikari, your mom is a magician! The good kind of magician!''
''Haha, I know! I told you she'll make you look cute!'' Hikari said, as she wrapped her arm around Molly.
This was a really good idea Hikari had... However, Molly couldn't help but think about the weird vision she had while she was keeping her eyes closed...
...
Molly was back home. Her parents were asleep from the long day of work, while Scratch and Darryl were gone (probably discussing a plan of how to hunt her with the rest of the Ghost Friends). She went upstairs to the bathroom to see her new look.
She looked so good with that purple strand... But even while staring at it, she couldn't stop thinking about how ridiculous it was the fact she saw Jinx while she was just keeping her eyes closed.
Was this her life? Not being able to even keep her eyes closed without seeing her biggest trauma? Not having the freedom to sleep? No... Molly wasn't gonna let her nightmares win!
What if she goes to sleep with her powers? Yes... If she sleeps with her powers, she'll be able to burn that cat and Jinx. It was a plan she'll do someday, but not now. Molly also noticed something else in the mirror.
Her eyes... Were slightly glowing. It was very noticeable, but she could see how they were glowing. She wasn't in her ghost form, why are they doing that? No one will notice this, right? A person has to look carefully to see that glow in her eyes... At least she hoped no one would notice...