Not Going Anywhere (takes place after Molly Vs. the Ghost World)
As the Chairman pointed a long, bony finger at Molly, Scratch watched in horror as glowing, green chains emerged from the ground. Before the young girl had time to scream, her joyful glow was engulfed by the darkness that was to be her punishment.
She was just a kid! Scratch didn’t care what the Council did to him, but to allow his best friend to suffer, her only crime being the most amazing, wonderful person in his afterlife. The highlight of his afterlife.
“No!” the blue ghost cried as he tried to race toward Molly.
However, a strong, invisible force pulled him back. Her jerked toward the direction of Jinx, the one ghost who was solely responsible for all his happening. She threw him a devilish grin, relishing his moment of despair and hopelessness.
“Please!” Scratched begged, as the Flow of Failed Phantoms emerged.
Trying to suck him in, he clawed the ground. He could only watch in horror, as Jinx floated toward where Molly’s imprisoned form stood. The young girl weakly struggled against her chains, then casted a pained glance toward Scratch.
Was this really the end for them? Their friendship being seen as nothing more than a thorn on some outdated “tradition”?
Both Molly and Scratch’s greatest fear was losing each other. For the former, is was possibly moving again or their friendship fading after maybe 50 years. For Scratch, the thought of losing Molly in any way possibly still frightened him; like that time she almost got hit by that truck.
The Chairman ensured his greatest nightmare was unleashed.
“Scratch!” Molly cried out, the chains burdening her golden aura. What happened to her “joyful touch”? The chains should have been licorice by now!
“Oh, don’t worry about her,” Jinx commented, failing to hide her sadism. “We’ll take good care of her. Isn’t that right, Mr. Chairman?”
The thought already agonized Scratch to no end. They were going to hurt her, he just knew it.
“Molly!” he called to her, the Flow closing in on him. “Everything is going to be okay!” he tried to assure her.
How ironic that the person who usually did the cheering up, needed cheering up.
Their eyes met for what might as well be one final time. Tears welled up in their faces. Jinx scoffed, rather unnerved by the moment.
“Okay, this is stressing me longer than it should have,” she gripped.
Scratch howled as he hands lost their grip. Molly’s cries for him echoed as he found himself further into the abyss of ghostly failure.
~
The ghost let out a yelp, abruptly emerging from the throw blanket that had now absorbed his sweat. Panting, he looked around. It was dark, but he could see not the ghoulish green interior of the Flow. But the calm, friendly colors of Molly’s room.
It took him a moment to realize it had all been a dream. A horrible dream that could have become a “what if” to a recent scenario.
What if the Chairman hadn’t sent them both to the Flow of Failed Phantoms?
What is Molly’s powerful joy had not been enough to set them free?
What if Molly’s joy-inflicted touch had not killed off the Chairman?
Remembering his best friend, Scratch whipped his head in the direction of the sleeping human.
Instead of a frightened ghost wrapped in chains, the unbothered girl was wrapped in blankets with no force daring to harm her.
Scratch let out a relieved sigh. It really was just a dream. Yet it happened so soon just after how today went.
This was already his first night after having stood before the Council. After Molly ventured the ghost world. After the Chairman allegedly send them into the Flow. After everything that transpired.
Of course, Scratch played it off cool, practically treating is as another one of his and Molly’s nonsensical adventures. But no doubt the fear still lingered even after a large plate of nachos with extra cheese.
He hadn’t dared return to the ghost world after what he and Molly just did. By now news of their friendship and the Chairman’s death had reached every spirit in the entire realm.
Sure, the Council was now powerless and no doubt Molly McGee would be recognized as “the most powerful spirit to roam the afterlife”. But what next?
There was no distressing news from Geoff, so the Council nor Jinx wouldn’t be coming for them...right?
So far, the Council were practically cowards now without their beloved Chairman. But Jinx was a whole different story.
If she was willing to scythe Molly’s head off, living or not. How far would she go since they brought down the entire status quo of the ghost world?
She’d want to kill Molly. Slowly, and painfully, right in front of Scratch just for her own sick pleasure.
They’d all want Molly dead. Even in the afterlife, they’d probably be willing to kill her again.
Scratch placed his face in his hands. What should have felt like a huge victory, felt more like a path to more consequences. He sobbed quietly to himself, not wanting to wake up the human who had been though so much in less than a day.
“Scratch?”
He jerked his head up, tears still dripping from his bulbous nose. His eyes met Molly’s, who sat upright from her bed. She stared at him, looking horrified by his depressed state.
“Molly!” the blue ghost exclaimed, trying to play it off cool as he wiped his face. “Hey, kiddo...” he greeted, forcing a smile. “Sorry, didn’t mean to wake ya! Was just practicing my...breathing exercises! Yeah, that’s it!”
She still wasn’t convinced. Leaving her blankets behind, she came over and placed a hand on his cheek.
“Scratch,” she began softly. “What’s wrong?”
His smile immediately disappeared. He gently pushed her hand away, averting eye contact rather shamefully.
“It’s nothing for you to worry about, alright?” he murmured.
Molly offered him a sweet smile. “Scratch, I willingly dumped myself out of my body, travelled all the way into a world of ghosts and outdated trends, and even killed some giant Halloween decoration with no lack of, well, anything,” she added with a chuckle. Then gave him a knowing expression. “So don’t say I shouldn’t be worried.”
Then her eyes flashed, a hostile expressing evident on her face.
“If someone from the ghost world sending threats?” she demanded, one of her hands in a fist. “I swear, if it’s that snobby, condescending Jinx-”
Scratch swallowed, seeing the fire in her eyes. For a moment, he could have sworn her powers only possible in ghost form would erupt.
“Easy, kid,” he responded carefully. “There ain’t no Council of whats-her-face sending threats. I mean, they’re afraid of you, remember?”
“And they should be!” Molly huffed. “Bunch of jerkish, joy-haters...” Then her eyes softened, looking at him. “But seriously...Scratch, what’s wrong?”
Scratch couldn’t even fake a smile this time. “Oh, you know, just some wild, crazy dream,” he rambled. “Wild...crazy...drilling into my deepest fears...”
“What?” Molly said, her eyes widening.
At that moment, he couldn’t hold it in anymore. With a desperate sob, he threw his arms around her.
“Oh, Mols...” he choked, tears dripping. “It was so real! I could have sworn the Chairman had you in his grip...Then he threw me into the Flow of Failed Phantoms...I...I...I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t...Oh, Molly, I’m sorry!”
He continued sobbing, his grip on her tightened. The last time he held her like this, he really thought she would move away. Had that “self-made influencer” not save the McGees’ house-
Molly gazed down at the seemingly broken ghost. True, it hadn’t even been one day since she nearly lost Scratch, let alone her life while venturing the ghost world. Everything seemed to have happened so fast. Being a wraith. Chased by Jinx. Being sucked into the Flow. And destroying the Chairman.
Of course, she picked herself up soon after. Not even a slight bit of remorse for just straight up killing a cold, emotionless dude dressed in black.
She should have realized the lasting effect the events were putting on her best friend. While she was dreaming pleasant things that were to come for them, her best friend was agonizing the possible next move from his home world.
There were a number of things Molly could have done at this very moment. Maybe even break into a song of assurance and unending happiness.
However, as her arms wrapped around him, allowing his tears to soak onto her shoulder, she knew exactly what needed to be said.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she promised, a single tear sliding down her cheek.
That one simple sentence was more than enough for Scratch, who genuinely smiled as he absorbed himself deeper into the embrace.
However, the moment was interrupted by the creek of the attic door. The duo were able to spot three pairs of eyes peeking from underneath.
Finally, the door flew open, revealing the McGee family. Dressed in their sleeping attire, looking quite embarrassed at being caught.
“Oh, sorry!” Mrs. McGee apologized, chuckling nervously. “We were just all taking a stroll and thought we’d check on you guys.”
“At 4 in the morning?” Scratch asked incredulously.
Before he knew it, both of them were engulfed in an even bigger hug. The entire McGee clan wrapped themselves around the duo. Almost as if to protect them, from any forces that dared try to rip Scratch from their family again.
“I had a nightmare where they forced you to watch cheesy movie parodies,” Mr. McGee confessed. “And you had NON-BUTTERED popcorn!”
“Oh, yeah, that’s way worse than the Flow of Failed Phantoms,” Scratch agreed, his mind wandering to the absolute terror of bargain bin films and popcorn not even vegans would eat.
Molly just smiled. Yup, they were definitely not leaving each other.
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A little idea I thought of after watching the season finale episode for the 100th time. Scratch really came a long way. The ending is simply beautiful.
And it makes me wonder who else if going to try and f*ck with him and Molly. I’m not asking for this show go into Amphibia or Owl House territory, but I do sort of have some expectations for season 2.
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