Chapter 7: Yet another encounter
The gang gasped when the ghost truck came into view. It was parked on the side road ahead, and the Mystery Machine pulled to a stop as it reaches the truck.
"Re-re-re-re-rhost truck!" Scooby exclaimed in fright.
"Relax, Scooby." Velma said as she turned to face him. "The ghost truck, or whoever was driving the vehicle, hasn't caught sight of us yet."
"This will be a great time to get a closer look at it." Fred suggested.
"Like, I don't know." Shaggy replied. "I'm not going anywhere near that creepy hunk of metal on wheels!"
"Yeah." Daphne agreed. "It could come alive in any moment."
"Fine, you guys stay in the Mystery Machine, then." Velma sighed as she and Fred got off and walked over to the truck.
As they did so, Shaggy decided to take the driver's seat.
"Like, we'd better be prepared in case that truck does come alive!" Shaggy says to Scooby and Daphne, who joined him at the front row and nodded.
Outside, Velma dragged her finger on the truck door and rubbed it.
"The truck has been painted recently." She said to Fred. "Clearly, whoever was driving the truck painted it this way to make it look ghostly."
"Right." Fred nodded. "And the tires are brand-new."
He then decided to climb up the ladder and get into the cab as he added, "I wonder what else can we find in the cab?"
The blonde-haired boy then climbs up the ladder and reaches for the door handle, but just as he touches it, the monstrous-sounding truck horn roared suddenly as smoke shoots out from the exhaust, shocking him.
"Yah!" Fred exclaimed as he fell backwards towards the ground, only for Velma to reach her arms in time to catch him.
Watching the whole action unfolding as the ghost trucks headlights lit up from the Mystery Machine, Shaggy swallowed. "Like, I knew that was going to happen."
"Quick!" Daphne shouted to Fred and Velma. "Let's get out of here!"
Quickly, Velma, with Fred still in her arms, raced back to the Mystery Machine and got on through the opened rear doors, with Fred quickly closing them as Shaggy quickly started the engine.
As soon as the engine started, Shaggy quickly shifted the van back to drive, stepped onto the gas pedal and made a quick U-turn and sped down the highway as the ghost truck begins to give chase.
Everyone looked at the rear view mirrors anxiously as Shaggy drove on with the ghost truck close behind.
After driving around a curve, through the left side rear-view mirror, Scooby saw that the truck has disappeared in the fog after a lightning strike.
"Ri think re've lost rit." Scooby said.
Both Fred and Velma looked through the rear windows. No sign of the ghost truck.
"Whew!" Fred remarked. "That was close."
Everyone on the van relaxed, but as Shaggy turned his attention back to the road, he saw flashes of headlights approaching them.
"Zoinks!" He shouted as everyone exclaimed in fright upon seeing the ghost truck approaching them from ahead. "Like, that ghost truck's like everywhere!"
He quickly slammed on the brakes, shifted the van to reverse and then stomps on the gas pedal, leading the Mystery Machine to speed down the road backwards as the ghost truck pursues it from the front.
Looking through the rear-view mirrors, he saw a dark area off the road with several trees as a good cover and had an idea.
"Like, hang on, gang!" Shaggy shouted as he quickly made a sharp turn, leading the Mystery Machine to back into the dark area covered by the trees off the road before slamming on the brakes, shifted the van to park and quickly shut off the engine and shut off the headlights.
"Everyone get down!" Daphne shouted as she figured out Shaggy's idea. "And don't make a sound."
Everyone complied as they get down and hide under the windshield nervously.
At that moment, the ghost truck sped down the highway, not seeing the Mystery Machine parked in the dark area off the highway.
Emerging from their hiding spots, Shaggy, Scooby and Daphne observed their surroundings after the ghost truck sped by.
"It worked!" Daphne said after several intense moments. "The driver didn't see us."
Soon, the gang arrived at the restaurant.
"Hmmm..." Daphne remarked as they entered the restaurant. "It seems like he hasn't arrived yet."
"Like, maybe he got held up by his work." Shaggy said, remembering that Daphne mentioned Rung being busy at work.
"Well, let's go find a good spot for the two of you." Fred suggested as they started searching for a seat for Daphne.
After finding a booth, Daphne sat on the seat just as the restaurant door opened.
The gang all turned and looked. It was Rung walking into the restaurant.
"Ah, there you are, Daphne." Rung said when he saw Daphne and her friends. "And I see that you have brought your friends here."
"Ah, yes, I did." Daphne forced a smile before turning to the gang and said, "Gang, I'll like you to meet Rung Ladderton."
"Like, it's nice to meet you, man." Shaggy smiled as he walked over to Rung, who offered his hand.
"Likewise, and your name is..." Rung was saying when Shaggy interjected. "Rogers. Norville Rogers, although most of my friends calls me 'Shaggy'."
"Ah, I see." Rung smiled as he and Shaggy shook hands. "You know, the way you introduced yourself reminded me of famous super spy James Bond, Shaggy."
"Oh really?" Shaggy laughed. "I guess that habit of introducing myself in a manner similar to him just came to me."
"Now that's interesting." Daphne remarked to the rest of the gang, who all nodded.
It was then that Shaggy noticed the belt Rung was wearing around his trousers (With his dress shirt tucked inside them) and commented, "Like, that's one nice-looking leather belt you're wearing, man."
"Thanks." Rung smiled. "The belt buckle is made with a special aluminum alloy produced by Stevens Metal Works."
"Like, they sure produced the best-quality belt buckles in the country." Shaggy said. "Check out the belt I'm wearing."
He then partially pulled up his shirt and revealed the belt he was wearing.
Examining the belt buckle, Rung nodded. "You sure got a good fashion sense when it comes to belt-wearing, man. What do you say we exchange our belts?"
"Like, fine with me." Shaggy nodded before proceeding to take off his belt and exchanged it with Rung.
Just as Rung put on Shaggy's belt, he received a phone call, requiring him to step out.
"Wow, I'm glad you and Rung are getting along, Shag." Daphne said as Shaggy turned to her.
"Yeah, like, he sure is one cool guy." Shaggy said. "And don't worry, I still have a collection of belts at my place."
Daphne nodded just as Rung returned and said, "Sorry, but I'm afraid our date will have to wait, Daphne."
"Oh, what is it?" Daphne asked.
"Well, I just got a call from my company manager, and he told me that something urgent has come up at the company and my presence is required." Rung replied.
"Oh, that's too bad." Daphne said. "Perhaps another time?"
"Yeah." Rung nodded before turning to the gang and added. "It was nice meeting you all."
"Likewise." Shaggy smiled as he shook his hand once again.
After Rung took his leave, the gang turned to each other.
"Well, so much for the arranged date." Daphne remarked. "What should we do?"
"Like, let's have some dinner first." Shaggy suggested before commenting on Rung. "Man, he sure is one busy fellow."
"Indeed." Velma agreed.
"Well, at least we still get to spend time together, gang." Fred said as they all took a seat.
"Yeah." Daphne smiled as she turned to Shaggy and Scooby.
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