Chapter 14: Snowballs
It was another miserable day of January for Scratch. Two weeks after New Year's Eve, things were going downhill. But who could blame him? After what Molly put him through the last time they met, he lost all his hope in her returning home.
He could not look at the McGees again. Knowing that there was once a happy little girl who loved him as her bestie, now knowing she was gone was killing him inside.
Just like Adia many years ago, Molly turned against him. But she didn't just say it, she brought him back to life only so she could kill him again... That was the kind of rejection that would haunt him for the rest of eternity.
So, what did he do? He was working... Overtime, nonstop cleaning Lecter's house. The difference is, that he had the most dead and depressed look a ghost could have. He was, in fact, dead, but he looked like a soul that was slowly fading away... Which was annoying Lecter.
''For the Reaper's sake, Scratch! Will you just go home already?!'' Lecter asked, angry.
''Just double checking the basement again... In case there are more of the butterflies I left a few months ago... Don't want them to cause any trouble to you'' Scratch said, not even turning to Lecter.
''My gosh, this is ridiculous! You've been doing this for weeks now! Finding excuses, working with no breaks, YOU LEGIT ARE FIVE HOURS OVERTIME TODAY! The purpose of you being here is for this to be a punishment for YOU! Not me too!'' Lecter explained.
''Ugh, isn't this what you wanted? Me to struggle?!''
''NO! I wanted my pranks to make you hate being here! Hate existing! BUt THAT EMPTY LOOK OF YOURS IS RUINING MY FUN! Go! Take a break or something, I won't tell the Reaper, JUST GET OUT! Come back when you're all refreshed and happy so you could actually hate this!'' Lecter said, opening a portal to the human world.
Scratch groaned at the request and threw his broom on the ground. He didn't even have the energy to complain or stand his ground, he just started to fly towards the portal.
''Fine... Looks like I'm not wanted even here...''
Without looking at Lecter, Scratch went through it and was back at the place he hated the most at the moment, the attic. He hated seeing it and being reminded who used to be here, he hated all the pictures of Molly and her drawings.
He wasn't tired at all, yet he still went into his dollhouse and laid on the little bed inside. That's what he wanted to do... Nothing at all.
...
Molly was sitting next to the table in the kitchen, doing her homework. There was nothing more annoying than the three-page essay the literature teachear gave to the entire class.
For half an hour, she barely wrote anything. She was tapping her toe and chewing on the end of her pencil, daydreaming. After her encounter with Scratch... Things for her got pretty interesting.
She was focusing more on school. Her grades were getting up. She stood up for herself every time one of the bullies tried to pick on her. She was still keeping her joyful personality, but it was clear things were changing. She was becoming a tough girl...
''Any progress, Milly?'' Ms. Langley asked while she was painting in the living room.
''Ehhhh, I guess? Ugh, I hate literature...'' Molly muttered, annoyed.
''Ha, I've been there! Want me to help?''
''Oh, no thanks! I'm good!'' Molly smiled at Ms. Langley.
Her smile immediately disappeared right when she looked back at her notebook. Nope, there was no progress at all. All she did was draw a few unicorns in the corner of the papers, nothing else.
''Ugh... You know what, I could take a little break!'' Molly said, closing her notebook and going to where was now her room.
''No problem, hon, just make sure to finish it'' Ms. Langley said.
''Yeah, yeah, I will... Or I'd leave it for the last ten minutes before class starts...'' Molly muttered to herself, quietly enough so Ms. Langley wouldn't hear her.
What used to be the basement, was now Molly's room since she moved here. For a basement, it was pretty well actually. It was warm, there was a nice cozy bed, and even an old TV that was still working. But the most important thing, NO RATS!
She was also keeping her bunny in there. After getting a bit sick because of the cold they both were supposed to go through, Ms. Langley did take it to a vet. Thank goodness, it was just a flu. Now two weeks later, it was all better now.
''Would you look at that, It's three PM now! You know what that means, Mr. Puffles!'' Molly said, opening the cage and scooping it out.
She laid down on the bed with the bunny on her chest, and she opened MeTube on her phone. Every day at the same time, a streamer she watches would start a stream... But the interesting part was, she didn't like him. She was watching him for only one reason...
''Good day, critical thinkers, you're all very welcome to my channel's show ''The Joyful Sinister''. Now, shall we start?''
It was a rant channel... About the Phantom of Joy. Just seeing his face was annoying Molly, but she was enjoying so much to watch his constant yapping about the phantom. And the funniest thing was, he barely made any good arguments, so his own fans and chat would troll him every single stream.
''So, apperiantely, the ''joy'' of this world has been real quite these days. Why? Because people are afraid! Think about it! A Superman wannabe is floating around the world, putting marks on criminals, AND OUR GOVERNMENT DOES NOTHING! What if she goes insane?! What if she gets bored of no crime and decides to hunt down innocent people?! What if-
''Awww, poor fella is about to cry. I can just taste the salt from his tears!'' Molly said with a grin.
It was so hilarious to watch someone trying so hard to criticize her, yet he was failing so miserably. It was a pleasure for her to watch his fans nonstop making fun of him. He was losing hundreds of followers daily just over how down bad he was getting.
That was her life now. Not much, but she had no problems with it. Not that she had much before...
...
Just like Molly's school day was over, so was the schoolday in Brighton. All the teens and kids were already in their warm homes, relaxing.
Well, except Libby. She was in the snowy park with a frustrated face, building a snowman. It was a snowman with a thin body, a large smile made out of tiny rocks, and a hair that looked like it was in a ponytail.
It was a snowman of Molly... But she builded it only for one reason. After putting the sticks that were supposed to immitate the arms, Libby walked away making sure there was a good distance between her and the snowman, and cupped her arms in the snow, taking a good handful of it.
''You little, stupid, fake-hero traitor, I'd show you...'' Libby was muttering, making many snowballs.
Scratch couldn't keep a secret about what happened. Not to the McGees or Libby. Just a day after the incident, he told them what happened... Ever since then, Libby hasn't seen him at all. Not that she blamed him...
''Just when we finally became friends with him again, you... You... UGH! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO US?! YOU TRAITOR! YOU WERE MY BEST FRIEND AND YOU LEFT US!'' Libby yelled... Staring at the smile she made on the snowman. ''OH, IS IT FUNNY TO YOU?! I'D FREAKING SHOW YOU, YOU LITTLE BI-
Libby started to throw snowballs as hard as she could at the snowman. She was imagining this was the real Molly and she was getting punished for the stress she caused to them.
There was nothing Libby could defend about her anymore. She left without even reaching Libby out... She didn't send a single text, a letter, just something so Libby wouldn't have to worry... And now she made Scratch hate himself... Again.
''YOU SELF-ABSORED LUNATIC! LIAR! TRAITOR! CURSE YOU AND YOUR STUPID POWERS, I DON'T CARE IF THEY'RE MAKING YOU DO THIS!'' Libby yelled, continuing to throw snowballs. ''I thought you were stronger than this! I thought... You really loved me... That you wouldn't leave me like Matias did! BUT NO! IT WAS ALL A LIE! THE WHOLE WORLD SHOULD REVOLVE AROUND YOU! YOU CARELESS LOLLIPOP HEAD! TAKE THAT, AND THAT, AND THAT-
The more she was yelling, the angrier Libby was getting, as she continued to throw snowballs at her. She could just imagine throwing all of that to the real Molly, while she was crying and begging for her to stop.
She knew Molly probably was never gonna come back. That was it, they're done. She has no more a best friend. So... What better way to end it than throwing snowballs at the person who betrayed Libby?
After a few minutes of ranting and throwing more and more snowballs, Libby finally stopped. For a moment, she was struggling to keep her balance, feeling the cold wind. Even though she had a pretty warm coat, it sure was cold outside.
After all that wasted energy, Libby was panting. Letting her feelings about what kind of friend she used to have, now she was on the verge of crying. No one was there for her... Or at least she thought.
Out of nowhere, a snowball hit Libby's face so hard, she fell on the white snow. All the anger disappeared and was replaced with pain, as she immediately grabbed her cheek. Opening her eyes, she saw one girl in the distance... Tammy Myers.
''Being abandoned can drive people insane, am I right?'' Tammy said with an evil smile while holding snowballs.
''Ugh, of course you had to be here... Just leave me alone, Myers'' Libby said, getting up and walking away.
''Leave you alone? Mhh, but as I can see, you already are alone... Rejected by everyone! First your dear daddy, and now that bubble McGee!'' Tammy laughed.
''Can you just shut up, please?!''
''Hahahaha, awww. But I'm here to be a bit of a company for you!'' Tammy said, following Libby.
''Yeah, you're the last person I'd wanna have around!'' Libby said as she turned around.
''Be happy you have someone to notice you in the first place, freak! Because next week... Hohoho, not even your team would want you. That's right, I have a few buddies who told me about your little soccer game! Guess what... Next week, I'd wipe the field with your face, BOOM!''
Libby was shocked. To having that brat bully her around school, now following her around the park... And she'd even play against her? In a football match?
''Wh-What?! It's football, not soccer! And you don't even like it, you're a softball player!''
''Pfff, like it? No! My gosh, I'd fall asleep before a team manages to score one goal... But do you play it? Yes! Do I wanna see your miserable face failing at something you love? ALSO YES!'' Tammy laughed, as she threw another snowball at Libby.
Once again, it hit her face and she fell. This time, however, it hurt so bad, that Libby grabbed her cheek and whined in pain. This time, it was like she was hit with a rock. It was ridiculous how strong Myers was.
After slowly taking her hand off, Libby saw her glove was red... In fact, there were drops of blood on the snow. Her eyes widened and she felt something going down her face... It turned out, her cheek was bleeding.
''D-DID YOU PUT ICE IN THOSE?!'' Libby asked, terrified.
''HAHAHAHAHA! RUN AWAY FROM THE HARE, YA TURTLE!''
While laughing like a psychopath, Myers started to run in her direction and threw snowballs at Libby. Libby didn't waste a second to get up and run for her life.
Every single snowball Myers threw, it hit her... And it felt like she was getting hit with rocks. As expected, she didn't make it far before collapsing again because of how hard was to run in the snow and get shot at by iced snowballs.
The only option she had now was to curl up like a hedgehog and let Myers do whatever she wanted. She came, still laughing, and throwing the last bit of snowballs she had at Libby.
Hitting her stomach, face, head, Tammy Myers was like a wild beast ready to finish her prey. Libby had no idea what to do, she was done for. She used her hands to protect her face, feeling every snowball like a bullet going through her body.
''HAHAHA, HOLD DOES THAT FEEL, LESBO?! You're a nobody!'' Tammy said, kicking her in the stomach. ''You fatherless, friendless LOSER! There is no mommy or your girlfriend to save now, is it?! THAT'S WHAT FREAKS LIKE YOU DESERVE YOU-
A snowball hit Myers on the head out of nowhere. Confused by that, she turned around and saw... That nobody was there.
''Who did this?! Huh?!''
She took a few steps away from Libby and looked around. There really wasn't anyone around, only she and Libby were in the park... Weird. Probably a kid that goofed around?
Myers turned back to Libby... And almost jumped back when she saw another girl between her and Libby. A masked girl wearing a grey sweatshirt... No hat, a coat, gloves, just a sweatshirt in the freezing cold.
''Leave her alone...'' The girl said.
Libby took her hands off her face and looked up... That was the same girl she was seeing around school. She almost gasped at how she appeared between them out of nowhere.
''Who the hell are you supposed to be?'' Tammy asked, confused and angry.
''That doesn't matter... Leave, now...''
''Ohhh, is this your girlfriend, Libs? Aw, I'm shaking in my boots, soooooo scared! Autistic, smile-masked weirdo!'' Tammy laughed.
The girl didn't move or show any emotion. She was just standing there, staring at her... With the two eyes she didn't even have.
''I'd repeat myself... Leave her alone...''
''Oh, you think you can just tell me what to do?! Ha, WHY DON'T YOU JOIN HER DOWN THERE-
Myers threw her first to punch her... But the girl caught her arm. She didn't move or struggle, she just caught Tammy's first without any problems like it was a paper plane.
''I think you didn't quite understand me. I said... LEAVE, NOW!''
Libby was still on the ground behind them, so she couldn't see what happened... But she understood very well when a loud, snapping sound was heard.
''AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-''
Grabbing her hand, Tammy fell to the ground and started to scream in pain. She was clutching her arm and crying while tossing around the snow. Libby couldn't believe what just happened...
Without saying a thing, while Libby was watching Myers, the girl went behind Libby and picked her up from the snow. She turned around and saw them... The two voids behind that smiling mask...
''Are you okay?''
''U-Um... Y-Yeah... I guess...''
By instinct, Libby touched her bleeding cheek, feeling the pain from earlier. Tammy couldn't say a thing or even take a moment to breathe, she was still crying in pain. Oh, that must have hurt badly... But she had it coming.