They stopped at the sound of the cabin door being opened and breathed a collective sigh of relief when they saw Velma and Suki come out from cabin cuddling up to each other both looked rather flushed. The pair quickly cleared the mess away and took everything inside, a short while later they emerged and locked the door behind them. They were dressed for walking and each was carrying a rucksack, torch and a lantern.

"Let's go back along the shore again, I thought I saw a cave entrance" said Suki

"Possibly, though it's not on the map" said Velma as she examined a map.

"Perhaps we be finding pirate treasure arrrr" said Suki overacting

"Yes dear, never mind" said Velma patting Suki on the arm

With that the pair set off along the shore with the gang following behind keeping close to the tree-line for cover. All was going well until Velma and Suki made a sharp turn into the trees and vanished.

"Bother, we've lost them" said Fred

"No worries Fred, Scooby can find them, plus we know where they're going" said Shaggy

"Yeah, let's take our time an make sure we don't walk past them" said Dapnne

A short way from the shore, partially shielded by some trees was a cave entrance wide enough for two people to walk upright side-by-side. Velma and Suki shone their torches inside to check that all was clear then the entered.

"Wonder why this isn't on the map?" said Velma as they walked into the cave scanning the area with their torches.

"Not sure, there's a flow of air so I can't see there being a problem with gas building up. Perhaps it's too dull."

They carried on walking until they reached a junction between three tunnel, a short way down the middle tunnel there was a pool of light. Both carefully walked up to the light, looking up they could see the trunk of a tree and its canopy. Roots and detritus littered the floor with a pile of rock just under the pool of light.

"Ahh this is probably why, the ground above here is starting to fall in" said Velma

"Yep, looks like the roots from tree above have cracked open the rock and caused a bit of a cave-in. Hmm I think we could climb out this way."

"Maybe later, lets pick another one, lets try the one on the right."

"Well just another tunnel but without the skylight" said Velma as they walked down the third tunnel. Velma looked at the ground, there seemed to be less detritus on the floor unlike the one they had just been in. It almost looked as if it had been recently cleaned. She was just about to mention this to Suki when Suki topped and tapped her on the shoulder.

"Say Velma look at this" Suki pointed into a room on the right-had side of the tunnel.

"What it is? Jinkies what a lair" said Velma as she followed Suki into the room, switching on their lanterns to provide better illumination.

It was a large room with torch holders spaced round the walls and a high ceiling. The walls themselves were mostly bare with the occasional carving and some stains were water had trickled over them. In the far wall was a small alcove which held a shiny object of some kind. In the centre of the room was a carved stone dais on which was set a rectangular block of stone. There were carvings depicting a squid-like creature and what looked like the island. On top of the slab at each end was set a long metal bar, each were several inches wide, with a hinge in the middle. The part which could move had two large indentation in a few inches apart. The girls examined the area for a few seconds then they looked at each other.

"B-movie!" they said simultaneously and laughed

"I wonder which movie this all comes from?" said Velma as she examined the carvings on the wall

"Ohhh costumes!" said Suki noticing some robes hanging up on the wall so she went over to examine them "ewwww very old costumes."

Finally they got to the alcove in wall, the shiny object was found to be a dust covered glass jar with a withered brown object inside. Velma stood to one side while Suki held up the jar and closely examined the contents.

"Looks like a heart, quite an old one" said Suki

"Guess the studio decided to have some realism and use a pigs heart"

Velma studied the carvings next to the alcove through a magnifying glass "Hmmm these have been made with a metal tool, fairly recently, perhaps within the last few centuries"

"Well those robes haven't been here that long. What film do you think was made here."

"Gosh, I've seen so many bad horror films over the years that any number of them could have been filmed here. Shaggy might know he's seen more than me."

"Say Velma, how about we ask Shaggy in B-movie fashion, you lie down on that and ask him" said Suki pointing at the slab.

"OK, we can edit the clip on the laptop tonight and give it that B-movie feel" said Velma as she laid down on the slab and put her arms over her head. Suki then managed to close the bars over Velma's wrists and ankles making sure that they didn't lock shut.

"That was tough, those hinges are stiff. Hey this slab looks like this was made for you, you fit perfectly. OK Velma, and action!" said Suki filming her on her camera

"Help Shaggy, help! I can't remember what film was made here" pleased Velma with as much overacting as she could muster "the only way to save me is to remember! Suki! Stop laughing."

"Sorry Velma but you've never been one a natures actors" said Suki as she sat on the slab. She lent down and surprised Velma with a long passionate kiss.

"Cancel the film Suki, I don't want to be rescued" whispered Velma

"I guessed as much, but all good damsels need distressing"

"Distressing?"

"I know your secret Velma, I know why you never wear a bikini" whispered Suki as she pulled up Velma's shirt to reveal her stomach

"Suki, you wouldn't dare!" said Velma as Suki sat up and wiggled her fingers

"Oh I would"

"Su-KI!" squeaked Velma going a reddy-purple colour as Suki gently tickled her stomach

Velma thrashed around trying to keep her stomach away from Suki's fingers. For a few seconds Suki filmed Velma, holding the camera in one hand and ticking her stomach with the other. Despite her protests Velma was laughing, suddenly she stopped and tried to move.

"Suki, stop it"

"Never, not until you promise to do all the washing-up for a year" laughed Suki

"No seriously stop it, I'm locked in!" said Velma

"What?" Suki stopped immediately; she could tell that Velma wasn't joking

"These things are locked on, I can't move"

"Oh.. Oh.. what is it?" said Suki as she tugged on the bar securing Velma's wrists

"Jinkies?"

"No, worse"

"Jeepers?"

"No"

"Zoinks?"

"Yes that's it zoinks"

"Ro-roh Ruki?" said Velma imitating Scooby trying to lift the mood but the joke fell flat.

"Where did they go exactly?" asked Fred

"Down that spooky and dark tunnel" said Daphne

"Spooky and dark are two of our least favourite adjectives. Especially when they follow after each other... and right into a tunnel" said Shaggy

"Reah, rad rords" agreed Scooby

"You're right Shag it doesn't sound right" said Daphne

"It, it doesn't?" said Shaggy, both he and Scooby breathed a sigh of relief

"Of course, it should be dark and spooky. That rolls off the tongue much better that spooky and dark don't you agree?" smiled Daphne.

Shaggy and Scooby look at each other as their shoulders sagged, Scooby gave a little whimper. Daphne paused as something in the distance caught her attention so she took out her binoculars.

"Remember Velma hasn't come out yet" said Fred

"Well would you rather that lot get there first?" said Daphne pointing along the shore. Fred and Shaggy looked through their binoculars and saw a group of robed figures walking towards them, Scooby sniffed the air

"Rits rhem, rhe rones rafter Relma" said Scooby

"Oh boy, I suppose not Daph" muttered Shaggy, shuffling his feet.

"Right, this is the plan. You three go in and look for them. I'll be here and rig up something to pull them out of the way when they come out" said Fred

Daphne, Shaggy and Scooby rushed into the cave and headed straight down the first tunnel. This was a long tunnel it twisted and turned as it snaked into the hill, torch holders were placed along the walls at regular intervals. Finally they came across an open door. The door was metal with a small barred window set at eye hight, there were substantial bolts on the door, only accessible from the outside.

"Not good" said Daphne, Shaggy and Scooby nodded in agreement.

While Scooby stood guard Shaggy and Daphne went inside. There were no torch holders in this room and aside from the few metal rings fixed into the wall the only other object there was, on first inspection, a medium-sized dog-cage. It was made of thick metal with several points on the door to attach padlocks.

"This must be the cage they were talking about yesterday" said Daphne staring in horror at the cage.

"Man Scooby could barely fit in that let alone…"

"And they were planning to keep both Velma and Suki in that for two days? Their last two days were supposed to be spent in that! Those people are so dead if I get my hands on them" Daphne growled angrily, stamping her foot on the floor.

"Well no-one is here so let's try the other tunnels before those robed goons arrive" said Shaggy

Meanwhile in the other room Suki was struggling to free Velma.

"I'm sorry Velma I can't budge them"

"Better go and get help, after all I'm not going anywhere"

"Are you sure, I don't want to leave you like this" Suki took a few steps towards the way out

"To be honest I don't want to be left alone like this but I don't see another option"

"I'll be as quick as I can. Gosh I wish Daphne was here" with that Suki turned for the exit.

"Suki, that's it! I remembered I always keep a 'free Daphne' kit in the bottom of my rucksack"

Suki opened the bottom pocket of Velma's rucksack and took out a purple and orange striped package the size of a large paper-back book with a zip running around the edge. She unzipped the package to reveal some lock picking tools, a multi-tool, some diamond impregnated steel wire, a pair of EMS scissors, a bottle of dry graphite powder lubricant, a small can of synthetic oil, an rubber bag attached to which was attached a short length of tube which ended in a squeezable bulb.

Suki examined the bars trapping Velma with a magnifying glass

"I don't think they are locked shut just stuck."

"Right then, work the bag in the widest gap you can find as far away from the hinge as possible then spray some of the oil on the hinge then pump up the bag."

"Sounds like you've done this before" said Suki as she prepared the required items.

"Oh just once or twice over the years" smiled Velma then added "and to be fair Daphne has had to use it a few times to rescue me and Shaggy as well."

Suki worked the bag in the gap between the two bits of metal the sprayed some lubricant on the hinges. She quickly inflated the bag, they could hear the hinges creak, Suki applied some more lubricant and the restraints opened. Carefully Velma moved her wrists out of them and checked for any cuts while Suki worked to free her ankles. Suki gave a little squeal and jumped out of the way.

"Bother, had the can pointing the wrong way. There's a patch of oil on the floor so be careful when you get down" with that Suki set to work freeing Velma's ankles, a minute later they both breathed a sigh of relief as the bar began to move.

"All done these hinges are really old"

"That's better, getting chained to an altar is more in Daphne's job description. What are you thinking Suki?" said Velma as she sat up rubbing her ankles, Velma paused eyeing Suki's mischievous grin.

"I've just had an idea of what to do to you the next time you forget when it's your turn to do the washing up"

"Anything just as long as it doesn't involve tickling my stomach" said Velma as Suki helped her off the slab. They collected their things and headed out, Velma looked back into the room and felt a chill run down her spine.

"What is it Velma?" said Suki wrapping an arm around her.

"I just want to get out of here; can we get out the quick way?"

"Sure, let's go"

Fred watched with increasing concern as the group of figures grew closer but with no sign of anyone coming out of the tunnel. He was tempted to go in himself when he heard a familiar voice from behind him. He ran up the slope and peered over a shrub to see in the distance Suki helping Velma out of a hole in ground next to the roots of a large tree.

"Jinkies Suki you weren't kidding about that rock being unstable"

"Yep, don't think anyone else will be climbing out that way"

"Let's go freshen up then finish that movie"

"But we left the props behind"

"I'm sure we can improvise. What do you think, sepia, black and white or colour?"

"Colour I think"

"Talkies or silent?"

"Seeing how you acted just then, silent"

"Watch it Suki or next time you'll be the one in distress."

Fred breathed a sigh of relief; they were safe but what about the test of the gang? He rushed back to where he had been keeping watch to see the robed figures enter the cave.

"Well she's not down that one" said Daphne looking down the second tunnel"

"Reah" agreed Scooby as he sniffed around.

The trio came across the room recently vacated by Suki and Velma

"They're not here either thank goodness. This must be where they were planning to..." said Daphne unable to finish the sentence.

"But where could they be?"

"Rot rhere rany rore"

"Perhaps they went out through that opening in the second tunnel" said Daphne pacing around and tapping her chin as she thought. A reflection on the floor caught Shaggy's eye.

"Daph! Mind that patch of oil..."

"Waaah!" yelled Daphne as she slipped and fell backwards onto the dais, as she landed on the slab her arms flew over her head. The impact jarred the freshly oiled hinges of the bars which swung closed with a resounding click

"...on the floor" said Shaggy putting his hand over his eyes

"Roh rother rot again" muttered Scooby

Suddenly a group of robed figures entered the room. Both groups stared in surprise at finding each other. Daphne glanced up at Shaggy and saw a smile twitch on his face and found herself relaxing. Over the years she had come to recognise that face. No matter how bleak situation was, that face meant he had a plan. Shaggy straightened himself up and turned to face the crowd while Scooby set to work freeing Daphne.

"We represent the Damsels and Allied Peril Professionals Division of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. We're here to check your damsel holding facilities" said Shaggy

"You are?" said one hooded figure

"Yes we're conducting… unannounced inspections" said Daphne looking up, trying to convey as professional demeanour as possible for someone secured to an alter.

"Right let's see the maintenance schedule for these restraints" said Shaggy

"Emm, well they worked a century ago, I'm not sure if we have any…"

Daphne gave the leader a hard stare "What do you mean you don't have them? Look at this; it's rusty with rough edges. Someone could get hurt when locked in these. Someone like me, us damsels have delicate skin don't you know"

Scooby picked the lock and Shaggy was finally able to free Daphne's wrists. Scooby immediately set to work freeing her ankles.

"Well…" said the leader

"I hope you give any damsel you are planning to hold here a tetanus jab afterwards" said Shaggy

"We do plan to cut out her still beating heart; I think a tetanus shot will be unnecessary after that" said an elderly female voice.

"Well before then, can't be too careful. Especially if you look after the knives the same way you do everything else here" said Shaggy. Scooby picked the lock and Daphne sat up then freed her ankles.

"Hmmm OK then we'll sterilize the tools beforehand."

"That's better thought cutting out hearts is a bit old-fashioned in these more enlightened times. And that tiny cage in the dark cell is no longer up to code, you now need to give them room to move, fresh air and daylight" said Daphne

"Oh, emmm..."

"And what were you planning by way of refreshments?"

"Well nothing to be honest with you"

Shaggy and Daphne shook their head and tutted. Shaggy took a notebook from his pocket and made some notes

"This is not good; we could revoke your damsel holding licence for this"

"So we should be going for free-range organic damsels then? What would you suggest we do? The legend is pretty specific trap, cut out heart, show it to victim then place it in the alcove over there."

"Hmmmm, there is a sliding scale of things you can now do, let's see... if I recall correctly the equivalent nowadays is.." Shaggy flicked through his notebook "Ah here it is a mean wedgie. Though we'll have to get it confirmed and get back to you as these premises are not satisfactory" said Shaggy as he Scooby and Daphne headed for the exit "don't do anything till we call" he said as they entered the tunnel

"Do we run?" whispered Daphne as they walked into the tunnel

"No, not just yet" replied Shaggy quietly as they quickened their pace.

"Row?" said Scooby as the sound of a commotion from the room reached their ears, the three of them sprinted for the exit.

"Olly olly oxen free!" shouted Shaggy as the approached the tunnel entrance

As soon as they appeared at the cave entrance Fred pulled on a leaver causing a catapult to fling Shaggy Scooby and Daphne up to where he was. He then pulled on another leave which pulled the support away from a pile of rocks he had placed above the mouth of the cave causing a rock slide and blocking the entrance.

For the rest of the day one member of the gang kept a watch on each of the exits while the others kept a watch on each of the exits while the rest kept an eye on the cabin, Finally as the sun began to set the sound of falling rocks could be heard. The gang got back together to find out what was going to happen.

"That's it! Legend or no legend they both die tonight!" snarled an elderly female voice.