The chilling autumn breeze rustled the decaying leaves scattered across the cobblestone pathway. Naked branches bent down to snatch anyone who dared trespass on the neglected and ghostly estate. Eerie howls could be heard off in the distance as if to warn of the dangers that dwelled ahead.
Daphne gingerly exited the Mystery Machine and gasped softly at brisk temperature that differed greatly from the cozy warmth of the van.
I just know something bad is going to happen, Daphne predicted as she took in her foreboding surroundings. Fred just has to solve every mystery that crosses his path! With an angry huff, the red head glared at the handsome blonde. The two had argued most of the journey in regard to their latest case.
"Daphne, nothing is going to happen. You're getting upset over nothing!" Fred dismissed her fears patronizingly as he maneuvered the Mystery Machine through the deserted streets.
"Velma, Shaggy and Scooby are out of town Fred! No one will be there to watch our back. This mystery is way too dangerous to solve on our own." Daphne's voice pleaded as she laid a hand on his forearm. "Please Freddy!"
Fred's determination almost broke at the use of his nickname. It rolled so easy off her full lips and tugged at his heartstrings so much that he almost swallowed his pride and turned the van around, almost…
"Don't you think I can protect us from some goon in a mask?" Fred did not anger easily but Daphne's lack of faith in him caused him to raise his voice a few decibels. "I would think that after everything we've…"
"Seriously, Fred!" Daphne interrupted her own temper rising. "This has nothing to do with your capabilities. No one who has entered Mallory Mansion has come out again! It is idiotic for just the two of us to go in there alone, armed with nothing but your traps!"
If anything made Fred angry, it was someone questioning his trapping abilities.
"Well, I'd like to see you succeed in catching a criminal!" He lashed back, nursing his bruised ego. "At least I have a strategy! You get kidnapped and wait for me and my TRAPS to save you!" Secretly, while Fred's heart plummeted whenever she was in danger, it felt amazing to be her knight in shining armor. Whenever he rescued her and Daphne looked up at him with a look of unabashed adoration gleaming in her violet eyes… Wait, they were arguing.
"Oh please! We're lucky if your stupid traps even work; forget about saving me and catching the culprit!" Daphne despised being the damsel in distress but when they were reunited, she could clearly see the love in his cerulean blue eyes that he squelched and refused to feel.
Fred let out an indignant huff and turned down an old dirt road barely visible in the inky darkness. Distracted by their argument, Daphne was surprised when she looked up and noticed they were nearing the estate. 'Fine!' she resolved. 'I just hope when this is over, I'm still alive to say I told you so and he's still alive to hear it!'
"We'll see who ends up saving who Daphne." After that everything was quiet in the vehicle as it neared the mansion. The colorful van parked in front of the rusty gate and they both stared at the decrepit building, neither of them knowing the horrible events fate had in store for them that cold, black night.