Chapter Twenty-Five:
Colby looked herself over in the mirror. Sam had done good by her book. She was wearing a black petticoat skirt and a white linen shirt beneath a black, pin-striped jacket the cut off at her elbow with white linen cuffs. The scoop was low but the linen shirt covered her. Around her neck was a collar with the Jack Skellington tie on front. In her hair was a black bow with a skull in the center, she assumed she was posing as a gothic. She looked at Stacy. She was wearing a light blue button down blouse and a beige skirt with white heels, in her hair was a black head-band. She was made to look like an honor roll student. She was trying desperately to braid her hair.
"Here," Colby said, coming up behind her, "I'll braid your hair." She took Stacy's hair in her hands and began dividing it into three. "Thank you by the way." Colby was beginning to do the ins and outs of the twisting patterns. Stacy gained a look of understanding.
"You don't have to be so strong you know." She says quietly as Colby is braiding. Colby finishes and ties the end off with a white hairband.
"Oh, but I do." Colby says quietly as she turns to leave, the heels of her knee-high, leather boots clinking on the bathroom floor behind her as she walked. Meanwhile Sam was still watching the crowds. He saw Colby walking out of the bathroom at the same moment that he saw the man with the gleaming knife grab her and take her around the corner. He ran over and darted into the alley. His hand on the dagger that he had bought. The alley was a dead-end and deserted. He swore underneath his breath and kicked the dirt around him. He saw Stacy looking around the corner and the moment he looked at her was the moment that she covered her mouth and looked down, her braid falling to the side as silent tears streaked down her cheek.
At the headquarters in Karyon, Shaggy heard a knock on the door at three in the morning. Fred was sound asleep so he stood and tip-toed to the door. He opened it and there was Velma, looking at the floor in a satin orange robe and one arm wrapped around her stomach. "Like, hey Velms, what's the matter?" He asks.
"Shaggy, I need to talk with you. It's rather important." He nods.
"Of course, V." He steps into the hall and closes the door quietly behind him. As soon as they are alone Velma begins to cry. Shaggy, shocked, brings her into his arms and holds her tightly, rubbing her back and whispering soothing nothings. "I-It's back Sh-Shaggy. It's back." She manages to get out and he hugs her tighter upon understanding.
"It's okay Velms," He says in sweet whispers, "We'll get through this. I promise. This will just be a nightmare."
"Shaggy, I'm scared." Her voice is broken as she says this.
"No, Velma, no." Shaggy says as he continues to comfort her. "This is just another monster to unmask, you know this."
"I know Shaggy, but I'm just so afraid this time around." He nods and continues to rub her back and hold her close as her tears stain his green pajamas. She's getting tired, he can feel it in her grip on him.
"Are you going to be alright, Vel?" He asks her, pulling away to look at her face. She adjusts her glasses.
"Shaggy, could I-" He cuts her off with a nod and takes her hand, caressing it with his thumb. They laid down on his bed together in the top bunk and Shaggy held her close as she closed her eyes, still trembling slightly from the cold and her tears. He kissed the top of her head and she smiled shakily. "Thanks, Shaggy." She whispers and snuggles closer to him, wrapping her own arms around his lean frame. "I needed that."