Five silhouettes climbed down the stairway, along with the silhouettes of a dog, cat, and mouse. The only light in tunnel came from the flashlight that the leader, Fred held out in front of them.
"Like, for once could we go somewhere that doesn't have a spooky tunnel behind the wall.
"Relax Shaggy," Velma stated. "Take a look at this."
She pointed upwards to show numerous cobwebs hanging from the ceilings above.
"Doesn't look like anyone's been in these tunnels for quite some time," Fred stated.
Unbeknownst to a Tom, a small spider was lowering itself down from the cobwebs above. The moment it landed in front of him, the tom cat yelped a silent scream and flew into Scooby's panicked arms.
Jerry laughed and laughed at the sight of the cowardly cat's reaction.
"Ree-hee-hee-hee," Scooby Doo chuckled.
Tom growled at the small mouse shaking a fist at him.
"Hey gang take a look at this," Fred stated.
The gang reached the bottom of the stairs where Fred shined a light on a group of claw marks, scratched into the edge of the wall.
"I guess we know how those monsters have been getting around," Daphne stated, "They've been using these tunnels."
"Like, that's what I was afraid of," Shaggy shivered.
"Relax Shaggy," Melanie reassured. "Those creatures are probably long gone."
"Like, good," Shaggy stated, "Now let's get out of here before they come back.
All of a sudden a hand grasped onto Shaggy's shoulder.
"YeeeeeeeeeaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Shaggy shouted.
He quickly attempted to leap into the the arms of Scooby Doo. Regrettably, Scooby was still holding onto Tom who ended up being the one to catch Shaggy. The great dane quickly lost his balance and all three tumbled to the floor in a pile.
Jerry rolled his eyes at the dazed Trio.
"What in god's name is going on down here?" Colonel Archibald proclaimed by the light of a candle.
The gang was surprised to find Colonel Lakewood in the tunnels along with them.
"I think the real question is what are you doing down here?" Velma questioned.
"What am I doing down here?" the Colonel proclaimed. "Why the same thing you are of course! Trying to uncover the source of these hauntings!"
Spike stood at the colonels side. He growled viciously and Scooby and Tom, both of whom waved at him sheepishly.
"How did you even know about these tunnels?" Fred asked.
"How did I..?! All the elders of the Lakewood family know about these tunnels!" the Colonel exclaimed. "Richard and I used to play in them as boys! I think the real question is how did you know about them?"
"Relax Colonel," Melanie explained, "I helped them find the Tunnels. We think this is how these monsters have been getting around Manor."
"Well I could have told you that!" the Colonel cried out. "It was obvious!"
"Then why didn't you mention anything about it earlier," Fred pointed out.
"Well I.. That is.. I wasn't sure if I could trust you lot yet.." the Colonel exclaimed. "Frankly I'm still not sure!"
"Seeing as we're all down here together," Daphne pointed out, "What to you say we investigate together."
"Hmmmmph," said the Colonel readjusting his coat. "Very well, I suppose I could use some fresh minds on this investigation."
"Spike!" the Colonel gestured towards his bull dog, "You be sure to keep these common house pets in line.
Spike gave his master a loyal salute. He zoomed over two the trio still piled on the ground, tossed Shaggy aside, and gave Tom and Scooby a commanding bark. The cat and dog quickly stood at attention scared out their wits.
The colonel led the group down the the numerous tunnels by the light of his candle.
"It's like a maze down here," Daphne noted, "How do you know you're way around?"
"I've lived in this Manor all my life," the Colonel proclaimed proudly. "Nobody it's secrets better than I do.. Except maybe Richard of course."
"I guess that explains why you're sad to let it go," Fred said.
"Of course," the Colonel continued, "My brother and I may have had some disagreements, but he was still family. This Manor is all I have left of him.. I'll never understand why he.. Well you know.."
Tom and Jerry gave the Colonel a sympathetic look, both suddenly feeling guilty.
"Like, check it out," Shaggy stated, "There's a light up ahead!"
"Just one of the air vents," the Colonel explained many of them run above these tunnels.
"No! No! No!" a voice cried out from above. "It can't wait until tomorrow! It has to happen now!"
"What was that?" Daphne asked.
The gang, along with the Colonel and Melanie, looked up into the light of the air vent the see the green carpeting of one of the Manor's hallways. Two tacky sued shoes appeared in front them, a sleazy voice whispering from them.
"Well you're my lawyer aren't you?" Silas Lakewood whispered into a cell phone. "Figure it out! I promised some very important people that we'd demolish this heap and turn it golf course! And they won't be happy if I can't deliver!"
The gang continued to listen to Silas' conversation from down below.
"Why that greasy little Slimeball!" the colonel proclaimed his face turning red. "No sooner has his Uncle died, and he's trying to make a quick buck off his family property."
Tom and Jerry made tisking motions with their fingers.
"Reah, Rimeball!" Scooby agreed.
"Veronica said he was having money trouble," Daphne stated, "but I didn't think he'd go this far."
"Well gang," Fred exclaimed, "I'd say we have our prime suspect right in front of us."
"Hmmmmm.. Maybe," Velma stated, "I'm still not certain."
"Like, gang! Check it out!" Shaggy called out from a far corner.
The group turned to see Shaggy standing next to an old wooden door with a large iron knocker.
"This door looks a lot older than the rest of the Manor," Daphne stated as the the group gathered around it. "Where do you think it leads?"
"Only one way to find out!" Fred said with a smile.
Fred fiddled with the door for a few moment and then finally creaked it the open. The gang shined there flashlight on an ancient looking room. The walls were made of cobblestone, with brass candelabra hanging from them. Across the room numerous glass beakers and scientific instruments were set up, each one aged with dust.
"What is this place," Daphne asked aloud.
"If I'm not mistaken," Melanie stated, "I believe this Acadamius Fowler's old laboratory."
"Like the Warlock's laboratory!" Shaggy held onto Scooby tightly, both of them shaking and shivering.
"Why would they keep a place like this down here?" Fred asked.
"Lakewood Manor was built atop of the old Fowler estate," the Colonel explained, "It's only logical that some remnants of his old life would remain."
Tom examined a large glass bunsen standing up in the middle of the room. All of a sudden Jerry leapt up into it and made a funny face. Tom was so scared he leapt backward and fell into an old tesla coil, giving him a large electric shock. Jerry laughed as Tom fell to the ground smoking.
"Knock it off you two," Fred exclaimed, "this is serious."
"You have not idea just how serious it is!" a mysterious voice spook up.
The whole group looked upward. There floating high up above the laboratory was the Warlocks Ghost.