Chapter 1: Remember

It was sunny and warm. Many Brightonians were outside in the town's park, and a hotdog stand was open. That was a perfect opportunity for Scratch to steal food.

And he did it. With a smirk, he sneaked while being invisible and pulled a hot dog while the man on the stand wasn't looking. Then he flew close to a tree and was ready to eat the award he proudly stole.

''Hahaha, it's so easy, it shouldn't be fair! Now, come to papa'' Scratch said, looking at his hot dog like a demon. He was ready to devour it... Until he saw someone's shadow under him.

''Uh-hum...''

Just after hearing that throat cleaning, he turned around... And saw Molly with a disappointed look and crossed arms.

''Oh shoot...''

''Scratch, how many times?!'' Molly asked, angry.

''Ugh, come on! It's just ONE hot dog! Nobody is gonna notice one piece of bread and sausage missing!'' Scratch tried to defend himself.

''No! I don't care if you're a ghost or not, we're not gonna steal! Return it right now!'' Molly said.

''Ughhhh, fine... Such a boomer...''

While still mad, Molly watched her ghost friend slowly float away to return the food he stole. However, she was distracted by a small butterfly that caught her attention.

Just seeing its shining wings was enough to calm and relax Molly. She couldn't help but crack a little smile and reach her finger for the butterfly to land on it. It looked so pretty and small, that any little kid would wanna put it in a jar and take it home.

''Looking at insects again?'' Scratch returned with a grumpy expression.

''Hey, that lil guy over here isn't just an insect! Look at how pretty it is. Bye, fella!'' Molly said, as she let the butterfly to fly away from her finger.

''Hm, whatever...''

Molly noticed Scratch smiling and looking at something in the far distance. At first, she saw just a regular man walking with a sad face, but then she noticed the same hot dog placed on the ground.

''SCRATCH!''

''Ohohoho, wait, wait, wait! This guy is like a walking corpse, he never notices anything, look!'' Scratch said with a grin.

The man continued to walk without noticing the food on the floor. Molly has seen him a few times, and he always had that depressed and miserable look on his face, like something tragic happened to him. He also had a big nose, very similar to Scratch's. As expected, he stepped on the hot dog and got ketchup all over his shoe.

''HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!'' Scratch laughed.

''Oh, sweet baby corn...'' Molly said in disappointment and facepalmed.

He didn't even look mad, sad, or disappointed... He showed no expression at all, he just groaned in annoyance and continued to walk with the red sauce on his shoe.

''Scratch, what's the matter with you today? Are you trying to piss me off or something?!'' Molly asked, crossing her arms again.

''Come on, that was funny! I can mess with this guy and he'd do nothing about it!'' Scratch laughed again.

''Todd Mortenson may not be one of my favorite citizens here, but that doesn't mean you should mess with anyone!''

''Eh, it's totally worth it!''

Molly was still very annoyed with how careless Scratch was acting but didn't bother to lecture him this time. She knew he wasn't gonna change and she didn't want to ruin her morning with him.

Instead, she sat on the grass and was looking up at the clouds. He followed and sat next to her, even though he didn't get why she'd just stare up for no reason.

''What's on your mind, kiddo?'' Scratch asked.

''Oh, nothing... Just enjoying life'' Molly said with a smile.

''I don't understand how staring like a weirdo at the sky is enjoying life, but if you say so...''

''Life isn't just action and drama, buddy! It's enjoying the beauty, the very fact you're here and alive... Living the moment'' Molly tried to explain.

''Well, I'm already dead, but I think I get what you mean... Too bad there aren't skies in the Ghost World''

''No skies?''

''Nope, just land in pitch darkness'' Scratch said.

''Sheesh, that sounds enbadifying... You know, you never actually told me more about the Ghost World! What exactly does it look like?'' Molly asked with a smile, as she layed on her tummy next to Scratch.

''Trust me, Moll, nothing much. Ugh, maybe it was gonna be more ''enhappifying'' if it wasn't for the council...''

Molly became even more curious about the Ghost World. For some reason, Scratch barely mentioned anything about their ghost realm, which made Molly often wonder what it could look like.

''The council? Your bosses?'' Molly asked.

''They aren't just bosses, kid! They rule all ghosts and control scares and misery. If one ghost doesn't perform to their standards, THEY END UP IN THE-

''Yeah, yeah, yeah, the Flow of Failed Phantoms. You already made that dramatic effect a few times'' Molly said with a smile and booped Scratch's nose.

''Ugh, that's not a joke! Once you go there, there's no return! You're stuck in there for eternity, never having to see those favorite blue skies of yours!'' Scratch tried to explain.

''Oh my, that does sound back. Hmm... Can I come with you next time you have to go?'' Molly asked.

''Huh?''

''The Ghost World! To show me around that darky and grumpy place!''

''You do realize you have to be a ghost to come, right? It's the ''Ghost'' World for a reason'' Scratch said, looking like Molly asked the most stupid question ever.

''Well, isn't there a way to... Turn myself into a ghost?'' Molly asked with a smirk.

''Do I really have to explain this...''

''WITHOUT dying, I mean!''

''No! You don't just ''become a ghost'' out of nowhere! The human body works like a shell for your soul. Once there's no shell, that's when the soul is free to go. In other words, you having a puls means you won't be a ghost'' Scratch explained with the same sarcastic look.

''Ah, man, that sucks...''

''But if you insist on becoming one, I can always throw you out of the bridge'' Scratch joked with a scary grin.

''N-No thanks! I may be curious, but I appreciate my life more, thank you very much!'' Molly said, keeping a safe distance away from her ghost friend.

As Scratch was laughing, a ghost portal opened and started to pull him inside. For a second, he managed to grip Molly's arm, just for a goodbye.

''Ugh, speaking of the devils... Have fun without me, kid, see you later!''

''Bye, buddy!'' Molly smiled and waved at him.

Scratch finally let go and disappeared into the portal. It was hurting Molly that her best friend had to work for someone as terrible as the chairman, but there was nothing she could do.

She really thought about the idea of turning into a ghost. She could imagine how free she would feel without the weight of a human body, or being able to fly free in the clouds.

But she appreciated her life... At least if she ignored the bad memories of losing all her friends and her special girl back in the day, her life would be pretty good. At least it was easier to pretend she was happy with it...

...

''M-MOLLY!''

Scratch woke up and fell from his dollhouse. The reality of this just being a dream crushed him. He remembered Molly was gone for a few months now...

He checked the calendar. Another day, the beginning of November. After the whole fiasco at the failed dinner, the McGees were actually doing pretty well. Sharon was smiling and using Gig Pig again, and Pete and Darryl were happy too. They were a real family again... Without Molly.

From time to time, he would have dreams about her... No surprising, but it hurt knowing that's all they were. Just dreams and memories, when in reality she's far away from home...