Chapter 33: Love

Libby was at the McGee's house and she explained everything to Scratch. The videos she saw, the photos... How the skinwalkers started. She even read a few more files...

''Let me get this straight... THEY CREATE WEAPONS OF US?!'' Scratch asked, shocked.

''Weapons, tanks, everything! They are probably even more powerful than the military! They don't just hunt supernatural creatures, they try to make them! Skinwalkers never existed, they were just legend!'' Libby explained.

''NEVER?!''

''Yes! Nothing more than just a story parents told their kids! Think about it... A human that can change their form to whatever animal they like? A perfect weapon! But just in the first test, things went wrong and the ''subject'' escaped! Those grey-eyed skinwalkers aren't natural... They're lab-created!'' Libby explained.

''Oh, sweet baby corn...''

''Scratch, we have to tell the others!''

''Oh, that's a hard no!''

''What?!''

''Libs, don't forget... Samantha is with us now. If you tell everyone that those skinwalkers are just a failed experiment, she might take it very personally'' Scratch explained.

Libby realized that Scratch might be right. Samantha really could be shocked and heartbroken. The poor girl spent 5 years of her life living in the wild, thinking she is the most terrifying creature... Only to realize, her previous kind is nothing more, but a lab-created zombies.

''Okay... Maybe we won't just tell her... But the others need to know!''

''We'll think it over...''

Libby definitely will have a word with Samantha about how she got her powers... But first, she wanted to visit Molly. She just wanted to check if Molly was awake, or if she wasn't at least to see her.

...

The O.A.S base was very dark, even though the sun was still up. Jessica was tied up on a chair... And had a blue eye, because the agents beated her up several times for not speaking up.

''FOR THE LAST TIME, I'M NORMAL!''

''The detector says otherwise! We aren't fools, Ms. Levine. For the last time, how did you become a phantom?'' The agent asked... As he prepared a taser.

''I'M NOT THE PHANTOM YOU'RE LOOKING FOR! MAYBE YOU GUYS HAVE TO FIX YOUR DAMN DETECTOR!'' Jessica yelled.

The agent got closer... It was obvious he wasn't buying it, even though she was telling the truth.

''I'm done with my patience. Last chance... Tell us for how long AND how you cursed yourself, and I might spare your next beating... Maybe...''

''You sick psycho... I'm not telling anything until my lawyer gets here... Judging by the time, he should come any moment...''

''Lawyer?''

''Yes! I called my lawyer during the break! Next time, you should think of confiscating my phone'' Jessica said with a smile.

''YOU TOLD HIM WHERE OUR BASE IS?!''

''Oh, sure I did...''

''YOU STUPID-

The agent was about to slap the crap out of Jessica. But then a man, who was holding three bottles of water, came in the room... It was Axel.

''Good evening, gentleman... Or should I say, brutalman?'' Axel joked.

''Oh, Dear God...''

''Get out of here! This is a private property!'' The agent said.

''Now, now, I wouldn't bother coming all the way here, but my... Client... Told me you guys arrested her. I have the full right to represent her innocence'' Axel tried to explain.

''That's none of your business, scumbag, get out of here!''

''Every person has their rights. Right now, you are abusing the rights of my client... You wouldn't like it if I get out of here and report that, right?'' Axel asked with a mocking smile.

The soldier realized the lawyer was right. They can't keep him here for no reason, yet they couldn't let him out. He decided to give them some time.

''No, we wouldn't. 10 minutes... You have 10 minutes'' The soldier said, as he left the room.

Axel closed the door, drank one of the bottles in one go, and prepared to have the most frustrating conversation of his life.

''I'm gonna ask this in the nicest way possible... WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU DONE?!''

''Nothing! It was just a regular day at the eatery, when those bozos came and arrested me! They think I'm some... Phantom'' Jessica explained.

''Phantom?''

''Yes! Some Phantom of Joy, or whatever it's called!''

It was now clear why his sister was here. Their device detected probably a little bit of the corruption that could be in her soul.

''Ugh, I know what it is. It's a weird spirit Scratch and his friends are trying to catch... Which reminds me, I have to check on them to see what progress they have on that case... But first, I have to get you out of here!'' Axel explained.

''Good luck with that! Those bastards are more evil than the father that thought I was a perv!''

''It's the same story, all over again...'' Axel said, as he drank a second bottle of water in one go.

''Deja vu, brother... Thirsty, eh?''

''It's very hot outside. Plus, I'm in my Aqua month''

''Aqua month?''

''For a month, us Shamans have to drink a lot of water. It helps to clean your soul from all the negative energy'' Axel explained.

''You seriously believe that?''

''It's true! There is a reason why every living thing needs water. It's the driving force of nature, it's like a magnet. Gets all the evil and bad energy that you have in your body'' Axel explained.

''So, that Aqua thing is basically you giving your soul a shower?''

''Actually, yeah, something like that. This is why you start it too!'' Axel said, as he placed the third bottle right next to his sister.

''What? Are you serious?''

''Yes! The left corruption is the reason why you're here in the first place!''

''I'm not a shaman, you know...''

''It doesn't matter, it works on every person. If you drink as much as possible, so that you can actually be free from the corruption''

Jessica was skeptical. It sounds ridiculous that something so simple as water would take all the left corruption away, but she just wanted to be out of here. And most importantly, to be a normal human again.

''Fine, Water-Men...''

''Good. I'll come back tomorrow. Just... Don't let them get to you'' Axel said, as he was looking at the black eye that the soldiers gave her.

''I'll try my best...''

...

Molly was laying on the hospital bed. She wanted to end her life... Not to live at all, just to disappear. How is she supposed to live like that? It would take months until she is able to walk again... And probably would never talk normally...

After all the heroic acts she did, after trying to bring justice in the world... That's how she ends up. This was unfair... Unfair and sad. It completely broke Molly's spirit, she wanted to just cry herself to death.

Maybe even her nightmares are better than the real world, or at least not so different... In both places, she gets abused both mentally and physically. The door slightly opened... And Molly saw it was Libby.

''Molly! You are awake!'' Libby said with a smile.

''Ugh... Great... Like I needed y-y-you...''

It was clear she still hadn't forgiven Libby. The same things repeated in Molly's head... How Libby called her a freak... And how she told her friends about the ADHD.

''The doctors told me about your condition. I just wanted to check on you'' Libby said, as she got to Molly's side.

''I'm fffff-f-fine... No, I'm not... It's n-n-n-not like you would c-care...''

''I do care! That's why I came! Molly, I was really worried about you''

Molly refused to even make eye contact with Libby. Facing this traitor was making her sick. Libby could tell that, which hurt her.

''L-Leave... I don't wanna sssssss... S-S-Se-e...''

She was about to cry again. No matter how hard Molly was trying to tell Libby to leave, her own mind was betraying her. Even though Libby understood what Molly was trying to say, she stayed.

''I know you are still mad at me... And I know you probably don't wanna forgive me...''

''Then wh-why are you h-h-heeee-re?''

''As I said, I was worried! Maybe you don't see me as a friend... But I do. I still see you as a very close person to me, Molly. Even when I tell myself that we would probably never be friends again... I can't stop thinking about you''

''Why... I-I-I don't... Care... Or f-f-feel anything towards y-you... Why are you ssss-still thinking about m-me?''

''Because... I love you too much to just let you go...''

Molly was shocked. She looked at Libby and saw the honesty. Libby really meant that she loves her. The desperate face, the sad eyes... Molly realized that Libby was still attrached to her, even after Molly made it clear that she doesn't want her.

''Y-You...You really m-m-mean it?''

''Of course. I still love you as my best friend and I don't wanna see you go through all of this alone. And even if you don't wanna see me... Well, too bad. I'm not going anywhere'' Libby said, as she gently grabbed Molly's hand.

Molly wasn't mad about this. In fact, she found it sweet how caring Libby was. it was the eyes... In the night when Libby said all of those things, her eyes weren't that showing emotion. But now, it was clear how much she wanted Molly back. This made her smile at Libby.

''I w-w-woudn't mind having you a-again... B-B-B... B-Bestie...''

This made Libby's eyes to water from joy and happiness. The way how Molly struggled to call her bestie was so sweet. It was clear that no matter how rough their friendship can get, there isn't a force that can separate the two girls.

''Can w-we h-h-hu... H-H-

Before Molly could try to say it, Libby slowly and gently wrapped her arms around her. It felt so good. That gentle touch, the soft sweater that felt like it was made for hugs, the feeling of rubbing her fingers through Libby's long hair... It felt like finding your favorite toy after you lost it. Or hearing a song years later, after you never knew the name of it as a kid.

''I love you, Molly. I promise, we'll get through this'' Libby said, as she kissed Molly's cheek.

''I h-hope so. Libby... I'm s-s-sorry about wh-when I said that I hhhh-hate you...''

''No, I'm the one who should be apologizing. I'm sorry about speaking behind your back... It was so disgusting from me...'' Libby said, ashamed.

''It-It's okay-

''No, it's not! My whole life, I had no friends until you came and became my true and only friend... And I said all those horrible things... That's not what friends do. I promise, this will never happen again'' Libby apologized, as she hugged Molly again.

''It's okay... I f-f-forgive you...''

Again, Molly saw the shame in Libby's eyes. It was clear she didn't want to say those things and was genuinely sorry. The doctor came and interrupted the sweet moment. Both Molly and Libby felt a little annoyed by that.

''Okay, it's time to leave your friend to rest, sweetie''

''Oh shell... Well, I'll see you again, Molly! Just... Keep believing. I'll always be here for you'' Libby said, as she gave Molly one final kiss and started to walk away.

Molly tried to tell her goodbye, but she just couldn't. Not only she was suffering to talk properly, now something just stopped her from talking, which made Molly a little sad. But in the same time, she was happy to have her best friend back

''You have a really good friend'' The doctor said with smile, the moment Libby was gone.

''I know... M-M-My best friend...''

All Molly was needed was rest. Being not able to talk still felt so agonizing, but at least she had a family and friends who would support her. Nothing else mattered. For now, the Phantom of Joy is taking a break... For now...