Chapter 38: Slave of your past
The sun was slowly going down. Samantha and the Chens siblings were preparing to go out in the woods for hunting down the skinwalkers.
''So, Molly isn't coming?'' Ollie asked.
''No... I talked with her, she's going through a lot... I can't force her...'' Samantha said.
She didn't tell the Chens about the other things that Molly said, it just wouldn't be right. They got every ghost hunting weapon they had and prepared to face the skinwalkers alone...
''So... Anyone with a plan?'' June asked.
''Weeeeeell... Not exactly... Listen, we can't use traps, they would know where they could be set. So... We'll just give everything. Fight like your life depends on it! Because it does!'' Samantha said.
It was stupid... Three kids about to face deadly creatures which can rip them apart in secods... But they had hope. Hope things may get better...
...
Molly layed down on her bed, still crying over the argument she and Samantha had earlier. For some reason, Scratch still wasn't back from the Ghost World.
This was all... So much. The way she cried out every single problem in her life was shocking and breaking for her. It felt even worse by the fact she did it in front of the girl which she hated from her soul.
Yes, Molly could've talked with someone else about those things. Only Hikari knew... And just when Molly thought about Hikari, she got a call from her. In the snap of fingers, Molly calmed herself, wiped her tears away and answered the phone.
''H-Hello? Hikari?''
''MOLLY! ARE YOU OKAY?!'' Hikari asked, worried
''Yes, don't worry. It mind sound crazy, but-
''I already read the stories. ''The Phantom of Joy saves a disabled girl Molly McGee''. You did something, didn't you?''
''Oh... Listen, I was in a very bad condition. I just wanted to save myself...'' Molly tried to explain, fighting the urge to cry again.
''It's okay, the most important thing is that you're okay now! I know this is a bit random, but... Can you come to my place? There's something you need to know...''
Hikari sounded serious. By knowing her, Hikari's voice was that low when she's about to tell something REALLY important.
''Y-Yeah, sure. Love you-
The phone closed. Weird... Hikari didn't say ''bye'' or ''love you too''. That means something isn't right...
...
The three kids were walking around the woods. Ollie and June had no idea where Samantha is taking them. The stars were already visible, the sky was still red from the sunset, while the woods were already dark.
''Samantha, where exactly are we going?'' June asked.
''I know where their place is. They hide in a abandoned hospital very deep in the forest. That's where mom trained me''
''Wait, your mom?'' Ollie asked, confused.
''Oh, sorry! Not my real mom, more like... The mom I had during my time as a skinwalker. There is a woman with a curly hair. She was my ''parent'' and the one who was training me... Actually, she was the one who even raised me as a proper skinwalker'' Samantha explained.
''What's her name?'' June asked.
''She doesn't have a name. For some reason, she never picked a some kind of a nickname''
Before the others could say anything, something moved in the bushes... Making all of them to prepare to shoot it...
''THERE'S SOMETHING!''
Ollie and June got their goo-guns and started to aggresivly shoot whatever it was in the bush. It looked like a green glue mess with leafs, and out of it a squearl fell.
''Okay, okay, falls alerm... It's just a squearl...'' Samantha said in relief.
''Ahhh, I don't like this! It's too dangerous, we should probably go back home and-
''NO! We're already almost there, we can't just go back! I know it's scary, but we have to face them! Too many people already went missing, WE'RE ENDING THOSE BASTARDS TONIGHT!'' Samantha said, as she continued to walk further into the woods.
The Chens knew she was serious. It wasn't just because of the danger... It was out of revenge for what they did to her. Turning her into a monster, forcing her to kill, and hiding the fact they weren't even real skinwalkers... Samantha wasn't gonna let all that slide.
...
Molly was getting close to Hikari's house. It was getting dark, so she had to meet her and later get home fast. There she was, Hikari waiting for Molly... With a sad face...
''HIKARIIIIIIIIIIIIII!''
Molly hugged her and Hikari hugged her back. However, she still had that sad face...
''Molly! Oh, I'm so glad you're back!'' Hikari said, as she slowly plased a loving kiss on Molly's cheek.
''Hehe, you know about my sneaky ways! So, what's up?'' Molly asked... As she noticed her dad moving boxes with their stuff in his car...
This made Molly realize what was happening... Hikari's mom was talking to the phone and it sounded like she was on the verge of the panic attack. It sounded so bad, officer Watanabe had to go back and calm her.
''Hikari... What's going on?''
''Listen, listen, I know it's surprising, but we have to. Grandpa got a heart attack, so we have to go back to New Jersey'' Hikari said, holding Molly's hands.
''W-Wait, but what about us? We just got back so recently after being separated, now you have to leave again?!'' Molly asked... As she was now on the verge of a breakdown.
''Hey, hey, hey, it's okay! You have my chat, my email, we now follow each other on FriendSpace-
''That's not the same!''
''Molly, I'm sorry, I truly am... But now we won't be separated forever again! Listen, I'm worried... Worried what would happen with you when I leave, so I want you to promise me something'' Hikari said, as she cupped Molly's cheek.
''Wh-What?''
''I want you text me everything. What's happening with you, if someone bothers you, if there's something hurting you, TELL ME! Look what happened, some weirdo put you in a hospital! I'm worried, Molly... I really don't want anything bad to happen with you!''
Molly started to tear up. There was nothing she can do... It was official, Hikari is going away. This hurt even more than the argument with Samantha. Molly started to sob...
''Okay... B-But, but, but, that's not fair... Hikari, I can't be without you!''
''I know, I'm also sad. It's okay, Molly, it's okay... Everything is gonna be fine...'' Hikari said, as she hugged her.
''Hikari... We have to go...'' officer Watanabe said, as he and his wife went inside the car.
The two girls looked at each other one last time. Molly would probably never see those beautiful eyes ever again...
''Don't worry, Molly... I trust you now... I trust you would stay out of trouble... And please, find a way to break that curse'' Hikari said, as she kissed Molly's forehead.
''Okay... Okay... B-Bye, Hikari...''
They kissed one last time... Hikari walked to the car, smiled at Molly and went inside... And the car drove, as Molly watched it drive away...
...
It was now nighttime... Finally, Samantha and the Chens kids were in front of the huge abandoned hospital...
''Woah... That placec could make a great set for a horror movie'' Ollie joked.
''So... They hide there?'' June asked.
''Yes... There are many hidden rooms and even underground tunnels where there is a kitchen and a cold room for all the hunted prey. Amarok usually hides in the office of the hospital owner'' Samantha explained.
''Listen, Sammy, we know where the hospital is, we can always go back and tell our parents before-
''OLLIE!''
''Okay, okay, we're going in...'' Ollie said, scared.
It was more than clear that Ollie didn't want to be here. They were about to face shape-shifting beasts who would surely kill them...
''We will move toghether. The main tactic of the skinwalkers is to separate the herd, so the could kill all of them easily. That's why we'll need this'' Samantha explained, as she got out a long rope from her pocket.
No one dared to question. The three kids tied the rope around their stomachs and were all holding it. Samantha got out her knife, while the Chens prepared their goo-guns.
They opened the doors... It was so dark. Good thing they bringed flashlights for that. The main room's floor was in blood...
''Looks like someone was out to hunt... Keep your guards up! Ollie, watch our backs'' Samantha said.
''Me?! But-
''Don't worry, we're tied up, no one will hurt you... I hope so'' June said.
They all started to walk around. First, they looked around the first floor and the main room... No one was here. They all were keeping the rope in their hands.
Then they went to the second floor... Absolutely nothing. No blood, no marks or tracks, nothing. Still, all the doors were opened, revealing the dark and abandoned hospital offices...
''J-June, did you bring my teddy?''
''Ugh, are you serious?'' Samantha asked, annoyed.
''Here, here...'' June said, giving Ollie his plush toy.
''No offence, Ollie, but now I see why Molly left you...''
Ollie didn't even care, he hugged his teddy as tight as possible. He was just so scared. His parents were always fearless and ready to fight evil spirits, but Ollie couldn't take intense situations like that one.
While Samantha and June were waiting for Ollie to calm down a little, their flashlights stopped working, then 5 seconds later went back on...
''Ugh, useless junk! Never buy anything from the Chinese store ever again, June! June? JUNE?!''
June was gone... Samantha and Ollie were so terrified...
''HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!''
Something pulled June in the endless darkness of the long hallway... A scene no one would even want to imagine...
''JUNEEE!''
Samantha and Ollie started to chase after the figure. Only one room was at the end... But when Ollie and Samantha went inside, there was nothing...
''JUNE?! NOOO! WHERE THAT THING GO?!''
''Hold up... I know that room... Looks like it's nothing, but there is something INSIDE!'' Samantha said, as she went to the corner where there was one plant... Behind the plant, there was a little button.
A hidden door opened inside the wall, revealing stairs going down. That was one of those hidden tunnels Samantha mentioned. She and Ollie started to walk down... Having no idea what they're about to face...
...
Molly was crying in her room. Again, Scratch wasn't back. Molly's parents were outside the attic door and they knew she was crying...
''Molly, please... We just want to talk'' Sharon said, outside the attic.
''NO! LEAVE ME ALONE!''
No matter how strong she tried to be, Molly couldn't held her saddness... Her girlfriend leaving her was next level heartbreak...
''We get that you're hurt, that's why we want to help... Please, you don't have to go alone through this...'' Sharon said.
''You don't understand... Just leave! All of you, LEAVE ME ALONE!'' Molly cried.
Pete and Sharon looked at each other. It was for the best to give their daughter her space. Better not doing anything than making things worse.
Molly was still in total shock. After everything that happened the last few days, that was just the top of the cherry. Can things get worse? Is this some kind of joke the universe is pulling on her?
''Molly... Mollyyyyy...''
''I told you to leave me alone! I don't wanna talk about it... Please, mom, just go away...'' Molly cried.
''Mollyyyyyyyyy...''
She froze... Molly immediately jumped out of her bed and opened the attic... Only to end in a destroyed maze of flames... And the huge nightmare cat, smiling in front of her.
''There's one thing you should remember about me... I never leave any mice escape from me... GET IT, MOUSE?!''
This really was some kind of a sick joke the universe was pulling on Molly...
...
Samantha and Ollie were walking in the long dark tunnel. It sure was long, because they were walking from 10 minutes without getting anywhere...
''June?! June, are you there?!'' Ollie was yelling.
''Ugh, now remember this is the one I hated the most... It goes to the training ground...''
''Training ground?''
''Yeah, there is a huge free space they use for training. Archery, camoflague, how to turn into different animals, you name it!'' Samantha explained.
They stopped... The figure that took June was in front of them... A black man with knife gloves was staring and smiling at them... Then he ran further in the tunnel...
''HEY! GET BACK HERE!'' Ollie yelled and chased after him.
''Oh no, OLLIE, WAIT-
It was too late. Ollie ran with full speed in the tunnel, ready to kill the skinwalker... But then a series of agonizing and painful screams were heard...
''AAAAAHHHHHH, SAM-AAAAAAAAAAA!''
''OLLIE!''
Samantha ran in the darkness with her knife, reaching the training ground. It was a big area with a arrows, axes, and blades. The man who took Ollie was gone... But there was someone else... The skinwalker woman... She was in the center of the training ground, smiling at Samantha...
''YOU!''
''Awww, not happy to see me?''
''NOT EVEN A LITTLE! WHERE ARE JUNE AND OLLIE?!''
''Relax, they're in safe hands... Our hands...''
''OH, YOU STUPID!'' Samantha yelled, as she jumped at the woman to stab her, but she dodged Samantha's attack and grabbed her arm.
''Oh, looks like you're still got the moves!''
The skinwalker pushed back Samantha. She didn't even want to use her ability to change her form... She wanted to toy with her...
''LET THEM GO! LET OLLIE AND JUNE GO!''
''Let them go? Why? Why would you release your prey? Ah, don't tell me you hunt just for the sport now''
''OH, I WILL... Wait... Prey?''
''Yes, darlin! We didn't hunt them down, you did!''
''What are you talking about? They're my family, NOT PREY!'' Samantha said, confused and angry.
''We didn't go out to hunt them, you brought them here! I swear, you're such a helper the last few days!''
''Hold up... Helper?!''
''Yeah! You help soooo much to our pack! We would've starve without you!''
''WHAT?! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR YOU!''
''Of course you did! We were running out of food, but we couldn't hunt because of that ''phantom'' in town. The O.A.S are such clowns, it's easy to avoid them, but her... Oh, she's quite the deal. And the Ghost Friends thing? Ugh, especially with that turtle lover...''
''Hold up... How do you know about all of this? ARE YOU SPYING ON US?!''
''Remember my quote, know your enemies even better than your friends. The phantom and the Ghost Friends were a treat... But you took it out for us!''
That's when it hit Samantha... She realized what the skinwalker ment...
''I... I...''
''There was no way to hunt with that ghost girl in town, you took her out! The Ghost Friends were also a problem, you CRUSHED their team by making them fight each other! Such a good girl, I'm so proud of you!''
All of this... Was true. Samantha beated Molly up, and the Ghost Team fell off when she tried to become their leader... Making it easier for the skinwalkers to hunt...
''No... That's not true... I didn't mean to!'' Samantha said, as she started to tear up.
''Oh, don't cry. You should be proud! I knew there's a talent in you... But no worries, we will turn you into one of us to join our pack again... And maybe even add those ''friends'' of yours! HAHAHAHAHA!''
Samantha realized what that meant... They were gonna try to turn Ollie and June into skinwalkers. Samantha ran as fast as she can to the hallway, while the woman turned into a huge spider and chased her after.
''GET BACK HERE!''
There was one hope left... Her knife. While running, Samantha threw her knife at the spider... Right in the eye, forcing her to change back to normal.
She started screaming, while Samantha reahed one left turn... That turn was to the room where they keep their prey. She ran there, saw the metal door of the room... And there they were, Ollie and June in bloody wounds.
''S-Sammy...''
''IT'S OKAY, WE'RE LEAVING!''
She got June on her back, while she helped Ollie to stand up, and then dragged them out of here. 10 fearful minutes in which Samantha was dragging them towards the end of the tunnel, then the room, and finally down to the exit.
The cold night air hit Samantha right in the nouse, as she placed June and Ollie on the grass. Without even thinking it over, she got her phone and called Ruben.
This was a bad idea... A very bad idea... How could they even try that? She knew she couldn't stop them, yet she tried.
The worst part... She really helped them. She basically served June and Ollie to them on a silver plate... Samantha started to tear up... That was the worst night ever...
...
Molly was running in the maze, desperetly trying to find the exit. The cat was getting closer and closer... But finally, she saw golden gates that were leading her out...
''OH YES, I DID IT-
''NOT SO FAST!''
The cat jumped at Molly and scratched her back, causing for Molly to collapse... And the cat got on top of Molly...
''NO! NO, PLEASE, SPARE ME!''
''Spare you? Ohohoho, no way! I won't spare you, I won't leave you... I will continue to play this game! Every nightmare, I will be here waiting for you! You can't stop me! I will chase you over, and over, and over AND OVER, AND OVER, AND OVER, AND OVER AGAIN! UNTIL YOUR LAST BREATH, WE WILL PLAY THIS GAME!''
Molly was laying in fear, as the cat started to drool on her. The most painful part happened... The cat stepped back, as a cage formed around Molly...
''NO! NO, NO, NO!''
Jinx appeared with her scythe... Followed by many sobgoblins which started to drain out Molly's energy...
''NOOOOOO! NO, NO, NOOOOO, PLEAAAAASEEEEEEE!''
Molly started to feel how she's dying inside the cage. Her freedom was taken away by Jinx once again. The sobgoblins were draining and draining... And finally, Molly collapsed inside the cage and died...
...
Molly woke up with tears in her eyes. A nightmare... Bad nightmare. She opened the attic door and saw her parents have already gone to sleep. Molly ran to the bathroom and washed her face.
She really wanted to forget that happened. She didn't need to be reminded of the same bad memories over and over.
''Hey there...''
Molly froze... Jinx was in the reflection of the mirror... Jinx, who was watching and smiling at Molly...
''No... This is impossible...'' Molly said, as she started to tear up again.
''It is possible! Look at you... Is your joy already gone?''
''Shut up!''
''Looks like my goblins still continue to drain it away!'' Jinx mocked her.
''I SAID SHUT UP!''
''Don't deny it, Molly. You will soon realize how increnibly miserable you are! With or without a curse, you'll always be a weak little girl, crying for Scratch to save her!''
''SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP!''
''You think you're free... But in reality, you're still inside my cage! And I will not let you out, until I drain the last drop of joy out of you-
''I SAID SHUT UUUUUUP!''
Molly smashed the mirror with her fist, causing her hand to bleed out. This couldn't happen.. Jinx was never here, it was just illusions from her brain. She was right... Molly was still trapped inside her cage and her goblins were still draining her joy and energy. Molly fell on the floor and started to cry... Wakening up her parents, as they heard her from their bedroom...