Chapter 35: One foot in the grave
Molly was in the attic. After so much struggle and pain, Scratch managed to levitate her with the wheelchair there. Molly was still... Very upset. So upset, her tears were nonstop falling from her eyes.
''Hey, it's okay... Look at the bright side, your parents called the hospital and they allowed you to spend the night here! It's good to have you back, even if it's just for a night'' Scratch tried to cheer her up.
''It was a mmm-m-mistake... I sh-sh-shouldn't have come b-back...'' Molly said, as she was watching the street out of her window.
Scratch was feeling so bad for her. What Samantha said was just... Cruel. Not just said, the fact Molly was in a wheelchair because of her was making him mad.
''Listen, kid, don't let that jerk to get to you. She isn't even a real hunter, just a brat with an ego held high to the clouds!'' Scratch said, as he gently put his hand on Molly's shoulder.
''I d-d-don't understand... I did ssss-so much for h-her... I saved her... I f-f-f-fixed her life... ALL FOR HER TO J-J-JUST H-H-H... HHHHH-H... AGHHHHH!''
Molly was so mad, she had a complete breakdown on her wheelchair. Not only she was forced to suffer, but she couldn't even express how much she's suffering. While Molly was just crying and trying to speak, Scratch wrapped his arms around her, holding her in a comforting hug.
''Molly, calm down! Take deep breaths... Come on...''
Molly hugged her best friend back and started to cry in his shoulder. This was so cruel and unfair. She saved her... She did it when everyone else wanted Samantha dead... Only at the end for Samantha to ruin Molly's entire life...
''It-It-It's not ffff-fair... I j-j-j-just wanted to hhh-hh-help her... Wh-Wh-Why does everything g-good I do just b-b-b-backfires at m-me?''
''That's not true, Moll. Everyone appreciates your efforts... She is just an idiot who has no heart for good deeds!'' Scrach said, as he was caressing Molly's head.
''If I j-j-just had my powers b-back... I wwww-would put her down...''
It was breaking Scratch's heart to see how miserable Molly is. Out of all the ghosts and people, he never wanted Molly to be down or sad.
''It's better to not have them... Remember the first meeting over the phantom?''
''Y-Yes?''
''I mentioned how the power can overtake and even kill the people who turn themselves into phantoms. We DEFINITELY don't wanna this to happen to you'' Scratch explained.
''IIIIIII-I can handle it... I'm p-p-perfectly fine... Nothing b-bad has hhhhhhh-happened to me''
''For now! I asked Axel more about phantoms. Even the strongest spirits can't handle the curse of a phantom. Since you're still a kid... Actually, doesn't matter! We will break it!''
''Wait... Whhhh-at were you going to say?'' Molly asked, confused by Scratch cutting his sentence off.
''It doesn't matter! To think about it... Why did you even curse yourself, Moll? I get it, we ghosts are cool, but I know you wouldn't make anything THAT stupid without a good reason! Look at all those bastards that are after you!'' Scratch asked, pointing to the O.A.S agents at the end of the street... It was great they weren't there when Molly and Samantha yelled at each other.
Why did she curse herself? A question no one on earth except Molly knew the answer to. Was it to become a famous hero? No. Was it because she liked the powers of ghosts that much? Also no. The real reason is... Because she couldn't take life anymore.
No matter what she did, or how much she helped, it felt like the people of Brighton were against her. The last festival is a prime example of that. The whole night, everyone was pushing Molly around, like a slave. Not just pushing her around... The way they were yelling at her... It was making Molly sick.
''You wouldn't u-u-understand...''
''What do you mean I wouldn't understand? Moll, I'm your best friend, I WILL understand. Besides, how the hell did you even do that?''
''I... I... I d-don't rrrrrr-rrrember''
It was true... Molly forgot how she cursed herself. Maybe there was some kind of page? But from where did she got it? Question Molly was struggling to answer... She really forgot she stole it from Axel's book.
''What do you mean you forgot?''
''I don't remember... I really d-d-don't... But I u-used th-th-th-this'' Molly said, as she moved her wheelchair to her bed and took the page from her pillow.
''What's that?''
''There are i-i-i... iiiii... INSTRUCTIONS! Inst-tructions on how the ritual w-w-works'' Molly said, as she gave the page to Scratch.
Scratch took the page. He could swear on his afterlife, that's from Axel's book. The pages in the book had the exact same handwriting.
How to separate your soul
Human's soul is the energy keeping the body (also known as ''shell'' in the Ghost World) alive. If the soul leaves the body, the brain won't have any senses or emotions. To separate your soul, you must have a deep desire to actually do it. It can be achieved from years of training to control your emotions and energy. But separating your soul without any training is also possible. In a blood moon, you'll need to sacrifice something you love in a church. Churches are considered special place for ghosts and humans. Not only you'll need to sacrifice the thing you love, but you'll also need approval from a ghost to do it. Without the approval, the ritual won't work.
Dangers: Separated soul is also known as ''wraith''. Becoming a wraith have the dangers of forgetting your human life, changes in behavior, getting corrupted.
''Ugh, why don't they ever put the warnings before the text? Wait a minute... Approval from a ghost? I never gave approval for such a thing!'' Scratch said.
''A-About that...''
Molly pulled out another page. This time it was a small piece of paper...
I, Scratch the ghost, give my permission for Molly to do whatever she wants with her body and soul
Signature: ScRAaaaAaTch
Scratch was shocked and confused. He never signed this! How could Molly... Hold up. He did remember how once she asked him to sign something for a sandwich. But on that day, he was too tired to care... Scratch realized what she did...
''MOLLY, YOU TRICKED ME?!''
''Th-There wasn't a-any other way!''
''YOU... YOU CAN'T PLAY WITH MY TRUST LIKE THAT! HOW COULD YOU?! UGHHHH, UNBELIEVABLE!'' Scratch said, flying around in frustration.
''I-I'm sorry, S-Scratch... I just rrrrr-r-really wanted it...''
''But that's just... UGH! Okay, no time for anger! What's been done is done! We have to find a way to break that curse.
''H-How?''
''Well, there isn't anything else written on that page... Axel also doesn't really know how to break the curse, since phantoms didn't exist until you turned into one'' Scratch explained, checking everything on the page.
''WH-WH-WHAT? AAAAA-A-A-AXEL DOESN'T KN-KNOW?!''
''Calm down, Moll, there's gotta be something we can do! I... I'll just talk with him again''
Molly was in total shock. Yes, she wanted to keep her powers, but she didn't want to die! At least not in that type of death! She wasn't gonna have a problem if she dies and becomes a ghost, but she didn't want to be completely ended.
There really has to be something. Something that could keep Molly alive, and also make her keep her powers... She did have an idea, but Molly needed to do some research.
...
Samantha was outside, watching the sun going down. She just needed fresh air to process everything that just happened.
Skinwalkers were never real? Those were lab monsters? Her whole life, she lived in a lie. Samantha believed that skinwalkers were the most dominant and terrifying species in Mother Nature, but they weren't even from nature...
Ollie came outside to check on her. After the Ghost Friends fall apart, Samantha didn't say a word. He sit on the grass next to her and gently rubbed her hair.
''Are you okay, Sammy?''
''Everything I did... It was all for nothing...''
The part that was bugging her the most was Molly. She didn't hurt her just to show how powerful she is... Well, at least that wasn't her main priority...
Wait... Actually, she sure did it because of that. On top of protecting June, Samantha wanted to prove that she is a great hunter. Both Ollie and June weren't taking her ''Princes of Hunting'' persona seriously, but she wanted to show how great she was.
''Don't say that! Listen... I'm not gonna lie, all the things you said to Molly and Libby were mean! Very mean! It explains why they're mad at you. You can't say that someone is ''worth nothing''! Especially not Molly!'' Ollie said.
''UGH, AND WHAT HAS SHE DONE?! SHE ISN'T ANYTHING SPECIAL!''
''Samantha! I understand that you're mad at her, but that's not a way to act! Molly did a lot of things for Brighton! She helps the elderly, she helped with the reconstruction of the Bandshell, and she also helps with adopting puppies!'' Ollie tried to explain.
''All those are things that the community itself could do...''
''That's the thing, only me and Molly care about improving the town! She doesn't have a reason for doing it, yet Molly helps people! This is why you have to apologize... Both for beating her up and for saying those things to her. Molly could be many things, but she isn't useless! Having the fact her family moved more than 20 times, it's impressive that Molly keeps her optimism!'' Ollie explained.
''Wait... What?''
''Yeah, it's true. Her family moved around the country. She lost friends... She didn't have a real home. Yet, Molly is very positive and joyful! That shows she isn't worth nothing, Sammy...''
That's it? That's supposed to make Samantha feel bad about Molly? Just because... She moved a lot? Is this supposed to be sad? This doesn't sound bad or sad at all.
Samantha was mad. Her parents died, she lost her sister forever, she was lied to become a skinwalker... But all Molly had in her life was moving a lot?
''SO?! She moved a lot, why do you make it sound sad?! Just because she lot a few friends?''
''Samantha, that's not-
''What I've been through is 100 times WORSE than what she has been through! And if Molly really feels so hurt by just moving around, she is a crybaby!'' Samantha said, staring at the McGee's house in anger.
''Samantha!''
''No, that's the truth! She acts like a big hero, yet she is a fraud! She doesn't do it from the heart, only to get all the hype and praise from the Media... Useless dork...''
Ollie gave up. It was clear that Samantha and Molly couldn't stand each other. Better not doing anything than making things worse...
She wasn't feeling bad at all... Samantha actually liked to see Molly like this. She caused so many problems for the Ghost Friends, she threatened June's life... Molly deserved what she got...
...
It was now 8 PM. Libby got inside the McGee's house, after Scratch let her in. After the fiasco earlier, she was so mad. How sad and broken Molly looked... How betrayed she felt... Libby had to check on her, just to see if she was okay.
''How is she?'' Libby asked, worried.
''She's good... And ummmm... She told me how she cursed herself...''
''What?! How?!''
''You know, better to let her explain it herself'' Scratch said, as he and Libby walked to the attic.
The moment Scratch opened the door of the attic, he saw the huge board Molly used when she was planning something... With many sticky notes...
''Molly!'' Libby shouted.
''LLLLL-Libby... Scratch? J-J-Just in time!''
''Moll, what's that?''
''I-I-I'll explain...''
Both Scratch and Libby were worried. Molly used this only for huge ideas... And mostly for bad ideas. It was unbelievable how quickly she pulled it up, because Scratch left her to rest for a while... And in that time, Molly started some sort of plan and set the board... While being in a wheelchair. This was rather impressive or scary...
''Moll, I was down for like 15 minutes! I swear, sometimes you're really creeping me out!'' Scratch said.
''L-Listen... I... I think I figured a way to ssss-save m-myself!''
Both Libby and Scratch went silent. So... In a matter of 15 minutes, Molly came up with a whole plan to break the curse? Now something was really wrong...
''We're listening...''
''Okay, so it-it-it looks like I c-c-cursed myself by following the b-b-b... B... B-B-B-
''The blood moon ritual?'' Scratch helped.
''Yes! By sacrifising something th-th-that I love...''
''And what exactly is that thing that you sacrificed?'' Libby asked, looking at the page.
''I d-d-don't remember... I don't even r-remember how I d-d-d-did it''
Libby was confused. Molly definitely cursed herself recently, how could she forget it? Then Libby looked again at the page... And realized something...
''Molly... When is Darryl's birthday?'' Libby asked.
''Uhhh... N-November 4th?''
''Wha, it's April 1st!'' Scratch said, shocked.
''What are the three most beautiful things you have ever seen?'' Libby asked, getting even more worried
''B-B-Brighton? Uhh... Then y-y-y-you and Scratch?''
''It's Grand Canyon, baby dear getting up, and the stupid chair Andrea gave you when we were making a horror movie!'' Scratch said.
''WWWWW-We made a horror m-movie?''
Both Scratch and Libby froze. Molly barely remembered anything... Not even things about herself or her family...
''What does your mom work?!'' Libby asked.
''A... C-C-Cook?''
''Your mother hates cooking! She uses Gig-Pig!'' Scratch said.
''Molly... What's my last name?!'' Libby asked.
''Libby... L-L-L-Libby... L-Libby... MMM-Mortenson?''
''WHAT, THAT'S MY LAST NAME!'' Scratch said, shocked.
''Do you even remember things about you?! When you're born, your age, your home country?!'' Libby asked, extremely worried.
''Of c-c-course I do! I'm Th-Thai and m-my age... Uhhh... My age is...''
''Yeeees?''
''I'm... W-W-Wasn't I 17?''
Both Libby and Scratch lost it... Molly barely remembered things about herself...
''17... 17?! SERIOUSLY, 17?! YOU'RE 15, MOLL, YOU TURNED 15 JUST A MONTH AGO!'' Scratch said, shocked and scared.
''I-I don't rrrr-remember, o-okay?''
''Oh no... This is way worse than we thought. It's even written here, the curse can eraise your memory! You'll be like Scratch when he was a wraith!'' Libby said.
''I d-d-d-didn't know it was th-that bad... But no wwww-worries, I know wh-what to do!'' Molly said, cheerful.
''What is it?!''
''As I mentioned, I c-c-cursed myself during the rrrrr-ritual. I shhhhhh-should've turned into a wraith n-n-not a phantom. That means I screwed something u-u-up'' Molly explained.
''By the look of it...''
''So... I did a r-r-research. The ritual d-d-doesn't work only on a full blood mmmm-moon! It can happen during aaaaaa-any special e-e-event. Like, a m-m-meteor shower. There is one c-c-c-coming up in a f-few days. So... If I find the p-place where I cursed m-m-myself and re-do the ritual-
''NO! A HARD NO! A VERY HARD NO!'' Scratch interrupted.
''Scratch, listen to me-
''There's no way you're doing that! It's too dangerous!'' Libby also protested.
''It's n-n-not! I w-w-will do e-everything right! I'll follow all the r-r-r-rules!''
''Okay... But let's say you mess it up again... DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT COULD HAPPEN?!'' Scratch asked.
''I won't! I kn-knoow what I am d-d-d-doing! That's the only w-way to save mmmm-myself and k-keep my powers!'' Molly tried to explain.
''Molly, the whole point of breaking the curse is you NOT being a ghost!'' Libby said.
This was so... Confusing. Why weren't they believing in her? Molly was sure this will work, why do they have to worry?
''Wh-What?''
''Even if it works, it's still a loss! We want to keep you alive, not as a soul without body!'' Scratch said.
''But... I... UGH, why?! Why d-d-d-do I have to stay as a u-useless human?'' Molly asked, angry.
''Molly, you can't just throw your life away! You have a whole future ahead of yourself, this means more than stupid ghost powers! Dreams matter more, growing up matters more!'' Libby tried to explain.
''I-I-I DON'T WA-W... W-W-W... I DON'T WANNA GROW UP!''
Both Scratch and Libby got little scared by the sudden change in Molly's voice. Not only that, but her eyes became watery...
''I mmmm-may have forgotten a-a-a lot of things, but... I do r-r-remember why I c-cursed myself... I don't w-w-wanna grow up...'' Molly said, as tears started to come out.
''I told you, Molly... Growing up can be scary, but we go through it together'' Libby said, as she got closer and grabbed Molly's hand.
''B-But... That's all I could c-c-came up with. YYYY-You don't understand... I'm not doing it j-just to keep those p-p-powers... Right now, th-this is mmm-my only chance of surviving'' Molly cried.
''Kid, we're not gonna let you die! I'll talk to Axel again, I'll talk with the Council, I'll talk with the Reaper if I have to! Everything to find a way to save you!'' Scratch said.
It was heartbreaking to see Molly so weak and helpless. It was true... No one had any idea how to save Molly. Not Axel, not Libby, not Scratch... No one.
''I... I wwww-wasn't happy with my life... I whished to d-d... D-Die. But... I didn't mmmm-mean to die forever... I don't want this... I d-d-don't want this...'' Molly cried.
It was now enough to make both Scratch and Libby tear up. What was more sad... The fact Molly admitted to be suicidal, or the fact she was dying and no one knew how to save her...
Libby slowly wrapped her arms around Molly, and Scratch also joined in. Molly was crying in her wheelchair, while her friends were hugging her. If she dies, at least to be in comfort...
No! They won't let that happen! Both Libby and Scratch will search day and night for an answer on how to break that curse! But the scary part was... When would it kill Molly? It could happen after 2 months... A month... A week... Or even tomorrow, or after an hour. There wasn't a straight answer on when the curse killed people. This was only a stronger motivation for Scratch and Libby to save her...