Chapter 16: Past Horrors

In a desperate attempt to find a club to join, things for Molly only got worse as she embarrassed herself over a little kitten. Ava took her to the school shrink's office, which was even more embarrassing since Molly had to explain everything about why she fears cats and why she had a mental breakdown on stage.

In a desperate attempt to somehow give at least a bit of reality to her story, she had no choice but to speak the truth about Jinx... Well, at least not that she was a ghost.

''So, let me get this straight, Milly... Two years ago, that woman kidnapped you, and used a kitten parade video so you could smile against your will to look more appetizing to her? Well, no wonder why you see that cat in your nightmares! It's a PTSD attack'' The shrink said.

''M-Milly, how could you not tell anyone about this?! We're friends!'' Ava said.

''I'm sorry, I really am, I just... I-I thought if I avoided talking about it, I'd eventually forget it ever happened...'' Molly said, embarrassed.

''Milly... It's not that simple. Kidnapping from a pedophile is not something a person could just forget. You may try avoiding the problem, but it will always haunt you. The best way to solve it is to talk with someone'' The shrink explained.

Molly was feeling weak. Weak for letting her past haunt her again, and weak for having to tell people about it. God, only if they knew how more terrifying it was.

It wasn't just a predator that tortured her. It was a ghost, willing to use Molly's joy as a weapon to destroy the human world.

''I know, but it's one of those memories I'd be more than happy to forget... I don't want to go back there every time when I fall asleep... S-So, can't we just make the director of the play switch the cat with another animal? A puppy, a parrot, or whatever other animals there were on the Titanic?'' Molly asked.

''Don't push your luck, kiddo, Ms. Pantomime was a college classmate of mine, so I know how serious she is about props and animal actors. Again, avoiding the problem is gonna make your condition worse, Milly! The only way to cure it and make sure you don't have nightmares and panic attacks anymore is... Exposure therapy'' The shrink explained.

''WHAT?!''

''First, we'd need to find the video that your kidnapper used and have you watch it again, but this time in a more calm, safe, and nurturing environment. Once you're able to see the footage without freaking out, we'll repeat the process on a new level by involving a REAL cat. The only way to tackle the problem'' The shrink explained.

Molly was shocked. The only way to calm her fears... Was to face them...

...

The McGees were back home and Scratch couldn't wait to tell them about the new spirit around Libby. For half an hour, he tried so hard to avoid her, but she kept staring... Just staring at him for no reason. He was so glad when they arrived, so she could just finally leave.

''I swear, there's something absolutely wrong with her! She looks nothing like a regular ghost!'' Scratch said.

''Well, maybe she is a different type of ghost? Who knows'' Sharon said, unpackaging a bag of groceries she got on her way home.

''That's the thing, there aren't many different spirits! It's usually ghosts, demons, and... Pretty much that is!''

''If she protected Libby and hasn't shown any signs of aggression, then I think she's trustworthy. As my father loves to say, never judge a book by its cover!'' Pete said.

''Also, that mask of hers is pretty dope, not gonna lie'' Darryl said while sitting on the couch and playing on his phone.

Scratch couldn't believe he was the only one who had trust issues with Buffy. He was sure he wasn't overreacting, he simply couldn't trust a ghost who looked so... Uncanny.

''Ugh... Fine, I'd try to give her a chance... But I'm keeping an eye on her'' Scratch muttered.

''You know, I used to have that one friend in school who looked like a total creep! Already had tattoos, dyed black hair, drew skulls in his notebook, liked horror movies and hardcore rock. Yet, he was probably the nicest guy in my class. Always helped the elderly, went to church every Sunday, and loved nature. Sometimes, there's way more good on the inside if you get to know the person. In her case... I'd be more concerned why she's dead when she's still a kid rather than what kind of ghost she is'' Sharon explained.

''Perhaps, you could try investigating her past. If she couldn't recognize a modern phone, that means she's a kid of the 90s or 80s! Maybe some people around Brighton could know a bit about such a girl named Buffy'' Pete said.

''Well... I guess that's a first checkout we could do...'' Scratch said, thinking about it.

''Speaking of checks... Darryl, when will I get to see your report card?'' Sharon asked.

''Uhhh... W-Well, the teacher got sick, s-so he couldn't give them back to us, but he would give them when he's back! Oh, silly me, look at the time!'' Darryl said, nervously. ''I gotta do my homework before it gets too late, see ya!''

He immediately went to his room, making Sharon look at him suspicious. Scratch just knew what was going on, poor kid probably already had a pretty shaky report card...

''Huh, since when does Darryl care about homework? Honey, he's growing up!'' Pete laughed.

''Yeah... Sure about that...'' Sharon said, still looking suspicious.

Scratch followed Darryl to his room and, of course, he saw what he expected. Darryl panicking and searching for a place to hide his ''missing'' report card...

''Let me guess, it ain't looking good?'' Scratch asked.

''You have no idea, dude! Look at this! F in Math, D- in Geography, F in Biology, and three F's in Chemistry! If my mom sees this, you'd search for me in the GHOST WORLD!'' Darryl said.

''Uh, you have no F's in Biology...'' Scratch said, as he saw the paper.

''Yeah, but I'm about to have one! We have an assignment of a presentation about one animal chosen by the teacher which I'm not gonna do. It's a guaranteed F!''

''What? Why? It's just a presentation, you could just add a few images and a copied text! What's your presentation supposed to be about?''

Darryl just looked at the wall with widened eyes... He had that look on his face a normal person would do when they see a horrific ghost. A simple question that made him shiver in fear...

''It's... It's about coyotes...'' Darryl said.

''So?''

...

A very peaceful day. At least it was looking peaceful but not for the McGees. After moving out of their previous home, their car broke down in the middle of nowhere. Just a road and a forest in the distance.

''Don't worry, gang, we'll be back on the road in no time! At least I hope so...'' Pete said.

''Ugh, we better be, or mom won't let me hear the end of it if we don't make in time. Nor will the house owners who sold us the place!'' Sharon said, standing right next to Pete.

''No worries, honey, just... Um... Alright, I'd be honest, I have no clue what the matter with that thing is...'' Pete said, looking at the engine.

While the adults were trying to fix their already old car, little seven-year-old Molly and five-year-old Darryl were playing around the grass. The broken car was a slight bit of a break for them where they'd get to enjoy the blue skies a bit after hours on the road.

''DARRYL, GIVE ME TWINKLE SPOTS BACK!'' Molly said, chasing her brother.

''Hahaha, you want it, Molly? COME AND GET IT!'' Darryl said, running around with her toy.

As they continued to run around the grass, Molly started catching up to Darryl. In a desperate attempt to run away from her, he headed to the tall trees, then deep in the woods.

They both didn't care about the fact they were getting far from their parents, Darryl wanted to annoy his big sister, while she wanted to take her plush unicorn back.

''COME HERE, YOU LITTLE-

His plan wasn't successful, as Molly managed to run towards a tall rock, jump from the high edge of it, then tackle Darryl from the air. They both were giggling like crazy until Molly got her unicorn back.

''Victoryyyyyyyyyyy!'' Molly cheered, as she hugged her toy.

''Pff, lucky...'' Darryl muttered under her.

''Oh, really now? I'd have you know, I was always faster than you, ya little peanut!'' Molly said with a grin, pinching Darryl's cheek.

''That's not true! I'm... I'm so fast, people can't even see me!''

''If that's the case, PROVE IT! TAG!'' Molly said, as she booped Darryl's nose and started to run away.

''HEY!''

As their new game started, Darryl got up and started to chase her around the trees. They both had no idea how far they were getting away, not that they stopped to even think about it.

Darryl had only one mission now, to make his sister suffer from doubting how fast he could be. Yet, so far, she was totally embarrassing him.

He couldn't take it anymore, he finally lost his breath and got on his knees to rest. It was clear he wouldn't be able to catch Molly, she outplayed him well.

For a moment, Darryl looked at the flowers around and the butterflies around them. Nature looked so beautiful, so pretty, nothing like the crowded and ugly big cities with not a single tree in them...

''Awww, what's the matter? Someone's too slow!'' Molly said from the distance.

''Ugh, I'd get you, alright!''

''Pfff, yeah, I'm waiting! What happened, you said you were fast! Ha, all bark no bite!'' Molly said... As she sticked her tongue out at him.

''UGH! HOW DARE YOU! I'D GET YOU SO GOOD, YOU WOULD NEVER DOUBT MY SPEED EVER AGAIN!''

As Molly continued to giggle and Darryl continued to argue and point his finger at her... She stopped laughing and changed her expression from cocky to shocked and scared really fast.

''D-Darryl... Sweetie, c-come to me... But really slow...''

Darryl was a bit confused as to why Molly suddenly acted that afraid and why she wanted him to come... But then he realized when he heard a predatory grow behind him.

He turned around and saw a wild coyote in the close distance. It was keeping itself low to the ground like it was ready to jump on its prey... It didn't take long for Darryl to realize it was him and Molly.

''M-Molly!''

''Slow! Very slow... And quiet... Come to me... D-Don't lose eye contact with it!''

Darryl had no idea if she knew what they were doing, but it's not like he had any other choice but to listen to her. Very slowly, his eyes on the coyote's, he was stepping back to Molly. Confused by him getting away, the coyote seemed even more angry and it started to step foward, growling.

''Molly, I don't like how it's looking at me!'' Darryl said, terrified stepping back.

''It's just a dog, Darryl! Take it as... A-A wild... Predatory dog...'' Molly said.

It was getting closer and closer... Darryl could hear nothing but his loud and scared heartbeat. One slip, and he had no idea if it would somehow trigger it to attack... Well, one further step and loud growl from it was enough to break Darryl, as he turned back at Molly and started to run as fast as he could.

''RUN! RUN, RUN, RUN, RUN, RUN-

When he finally reached her, she grabbed him by the hand and they started to run away, with the coyote chasing them from behind.

This time, the tag game changed... With both of them running, and a wild animal being the one who chased them. The tricky part was, this time the losers were gonna be its lunch.

Darryl started screaming, as Molly was about to cry, desperately looking around the woods while running. A bit of hope, Moll saw a fallen hallow tree. Without a second thought, she rushed with Darryl there, and both quickly jumped inside.

It was one smart decision, since the coyote tried to jump after them, but couldn't fit its body... But it could fit its head and was growing and snapping its teeth, trying to bite Molly's foot.

''NH-NO, NO, NO, GO AWAY! LEAVE US ALONE, LEAVE US ALONE!'' Molly cried.

Both she and Darryl were in total crisis, having no idea what to do now. Even though it couldn't get in at first, Molly was sure it was getting closer and closer and was about to snap her foot.

''LEAVE! NO, GO AWAY, GO AWAY!''

She started to kick it in the face and nose. A desperate attempt to protect her little brother and make it go away... But it ended up badly, as the animal managed to finally snap her foot at her final kick.

''AGHHHHH, NH-NHO, NOOOOOOOOOOOO-

It got what it wanted, and without any problem, the coyote pulled her out of the tree, leaving little Darryl speechless.

Crying and while trying to fight for her life, the coyote then bit her right hip... An agonizing and painful cry was heard that would haunt Darryl for the rest of his days...

He couldn't leave her like that. There was one small rock inside behind him, so he grabbed it and threw it at the animal... A big mistake, since it stopped and looked right at him.

''GO AWAY! DON'T HURT US!'' Darryl cried.

While Molly was crying and struggling to even get up, the coyote growled at Darryl and climbed over the tree, walking around. He wasn't sure if it was because it knew he wouldn't get to Darryl, but it felt like a way of it telling him that now the coyote is the boss... That both of them would end up dead.

Blood was dropping and Molly was crying while clutching on her stomach and wounds. Darryl was looking at her with tears in his eyes, and then the coyote went back to the grass... Stepping right at her.

He froze. Darryl couldn't do anything but watch what was about to happen from his hiding spot. Molly was still crying, looking at its eyes... Those eyes that wanted to see her dead...

The coyote growled and its saliva was dropping on her... From all the pain and fear, Molly screamed and the coyote bit her once again by the right hip...

Throwing her hands at it, kicking, doing ANYTHING to make it stop, Darryl was watching how that animal was torturing his sister. By getting angrier at her still fighting, the coyote was dragging her around and sticking its teeth deeper under Molly's skin.

When he stopped dragging her, then it bit her by the arm and started dragging her again... Then it stopped, bit her at a different place, and repeated it again... And she couldn't do anything but scream and cry.

Darryl couldn't even cry, with tears in his eyes, he was watching how that monster was slaughtering his sister. She was all in blood, screaming for her life while getting eaten alive.

He was just watching... Watching another human being get played and tortured like that, his sister dying in front of him, a wild beast about to kill her and eat her... Those scenes were never gonna leave his head for years to come...

''LEAVE HER ALONE!'' Sharon came out of nowhere and hit it with a huge stick.

By the hit, the coyote freed Molly and it fell on the ground. At first, it got up and was about to jump on Sharon too, but just seeing how tall and big she was, it whined and ran away.

Pete came out and pulled Darryl out from behind, without even realizing his father was behind him.

''Molly?! MOLLY, NO! MOLLY! MOLLY, MOLLY-'' Sharon was crying, as she took Molly who passed out.

There she was... His sister, lifeless, all in blood... Almost murdered by the wild nature itself...

...

''Darryl? Darryl?! HELLOOOOOO, EARTH IS CALLING DARRYL!''

Darryl snapped by Scratch's voice. That was one memory he never wished to ever remember ever again...

''S-Sorry, uh... I just don't like coyotes, okay? Very... Wild animals...'' Darryl said, as he sat next to his desk.

''More wild than the pranks you pull? I don't think so'' Scratch said with a grin.

''Haha, very funny...''

His voice didn't even sound sarcastic... Scratch knew something was bothering Darryl and the sudden change was exactly after asking about that presentation.

''Uhh... O-Okay, kiddo... I'll leave you, okay? If I need you for anything, I'd be at the attic'' Scratch said, as he awkwardly flew away.

Darryl was sitting there, thinking... Remembering how it was just dragging Molly around like a piece of bread, while she was screaming. Oh, those screams, they were haunting him for years and nightmares to come.

Thank God, back then a family stopped when they saw their situation closed to the road and rushed Molly to the next town's hospital. If no, Darryl was gonna live with something even more traumatic... Getting his sister killed...