Okay, before we get started here I have a few things to clear up.
Why I wrote this story: A concept popped into my head. It was supposed to be Christina who'd gone blind but when I sat down to write it I ended up writing Shaggy instead and went with it. Seriously though, I have relatives who are blind and as odd as it sounds I was intrigued by the fact that they couldn't see.
Am I qualified to write this story? Most likely not. I'm not an expert on blindness. But I did a crap ton of research to avoid stereotypes (the all blind people see nothing is a lie BTW)
Most of my research is courtesy of the YouTuber Molly Burke who is actually blind (she has light perception that's it). The sole purpose of her channel is to help people understand. (her dog Gallop is so cute! and he helped with Scooby's actions in this and all following chapters)
So with that, let's begin!
…...
A few weeks later.
"No, she was Belle last year!" Draculaura argued, "When she helped Miss Grimwood with their Halloween party,"
Cleo nodded, "The youngest girls pleaded with her to be a Princess,"
"Well, I still think she's going to be Meg" Frankie added.
The group sat around a table in the student lounge, pictures of the most likely characters spread over it.
"Who do you think she's going as, Draculaura?" Lagoona inquired, "You do live with her. Surely you know something?"
"She might be going as Sleeping Beauty. That was her favorite movie when we were very little," Draculaura reasoned.
"Wait, I thought her favorite movie was Beauty and The Beast?" Cleo interrupted, "How many times did she wear out that VHS tape when we were little?"
"It is her favorite movie now but it wasn't always," Draculaura explained, "When she wore the tape out Daddy took the longest time replacing it and when he finally did Christina had moved on,"
"That's odd," Frankie commented.
"I know,"
"Where's Christina anyway?"
"With Shaggy,"
…...
Christina and Shaggy were seated in the very empty cafeteria. A book between them as Christina read from it. This had become her favorite way to avoid the conversation about her costume. Anytime Shaggy asked about it she redirected him asking if he would like to hear a story instead to which he always agreed. What she didn't know, however, was the reason he always agreed.
He liked the sound of her voice.
He liked the way she pulled him into the story. Made him believe he was actually there. It was pure magic,
"Like, read another one?" Shaggy begged.
"Not right now," Christina sighed, "I need a break,"
"I'll like., tell you a story then," Shaggy declared.
"Okay," Christina smiled.
Shaggy then told her stories of the mysteries he had helped solve with his friends. It was scary at times but it was fun to figure everything out.
Christina smiled ear to ear the whole time, Shaggy was gaining confidence she hadn't seen in him before and she was glad to have a small part in it.
Scooby watched them happily. It made him happy to see Shaggy so happy. He suspected that his best bud was falling in love. He approved, of course, Christina was cool and a lot nicer than some of Shaggy's past girlfriends nor was she scared away by his condition. She didn't prod for information.
She was good for him.
…...
Later that day, Shaggy came home with a giant smile on his face which Stacy took notice of right away. He had come home like that every day. Sugie followed behind him with a small smile of her own
"How was school today?" she asked.
"Good," Sugie chirped, "I did well on my test,"
"I spent free period with Christina," Shaggy grinned.
"You do every day," Stacy observed, "Anything new?"
"She's going to start teaching me piano tomorrow,"
"Piano?"
"Like, she plays and she said she'd teach me,"
"How?" Stacy asked, "You can't see the-"
"Mom, I'm not helpless! I can like, do all the things I did before-"
"No, Shaggy, you'll hurt yourself!"
Shaggy turned and walked back through the front door despite his mother's protests. She chased after him but he broke into a run and dashed into the woods running until his mother gave up. He slid to the ground and let his head drop.
'Shaggy? What's the matter?"
"Hey. Christina," he mumbled.
Christina took a seat beside her friend and pulled his hands away from his face, "What's the matter?" she repeated gently.
"Mom doesn't think I can do anything!" Shaggy sighed, "I told her you were like, going to teach me piano and she asked how since I like, can't see,"
"You're not invalid!" Christina huffed, "I can teach you, it might not be easy but I'll try!"
"It's like, not you, she just-"
"Worries?"
"Yeah,"
"I notice,"
"What are you like, doing out here?" Shaggy asked, grabbing Christina's hand.
"Just taking a walk," Christina said, "Trying to clear my head,"
"Something happen today?"
"More like someone,"
"Drew?"
"Yup,"
"Did he hurt you?" Shaggy asked, growling slightly.
"Banged my arm up pretty bad, it's bruised up, couldn't feel it,"
"Why doesn't Bloodgood do something?"
"She has but Drew's parents are members of the vampire court, it's his mother from what I've heard she doesn't think there's anything wrong with the way he treats me,"
Shaggy wanted to run this woman through no matter how awful it was. It wasn't okay for them to treat Christina like this! It wasn't okay for them to treat anyone like that! He had to take a few deep breaths and recompose himself.
Christina meanwhile, was perfectly calm, she knew what goes around comes around. One day, Drew and his mother would pay for their misdeeds. One day, she would be free of Drew and his violence. She smiled at the thought hoping it would be sooner than later. She turned to look at Shaggy. His shoulders were heaving and he was grinding his teeth. She placed a calming hand on his shoulder.
"It's alright," she whispered.
"No, it's not he like shouldn't be allowed to hurt you!" Shaggy snarled.
He was transforming right before her eyes and he didn't seem to care. Even though he told her how he disliked it although he wouldn't tell her the reason. Christina didn't pry.
"He shouldn't be allowed to do that to you!"
"I know,"
Christina didn't really know how to handle the situation. Yes, Drew and his mother were upsetting but she didn't think it would have affected Shaggy that much or she wouldn't have said anything at all. She made a mental note to ask Clawdeen tomorrow. For now, she would try to calm Shaggy down.
"Shaggy, don't worry about it okay?"
"Why shouldn't I?"
"What goes around comes around, you'll see everything good or bad has a consequence,"
"Even magic?"
"Yes, all magic comes back on itself for good or bad," Christina explained, "To put it simply all magic comes with a price,"
"Isn't that from a TV show?"
Shaggy seemed to be calming down so Christina continued.
"Yes, but it's a good way to explain things"
"Do you use magic?"
"Yes, but not very often. I mostly put on little magic shows, helps me get through my homework and such,"
"I heard you turned someone into a dog a few weeks ago,"
"Yes, as a means of defense, I didn't specifically turn her into a dog it just matched what was inside,"
"You were like, born with magic?"
"My powers came in when I was six, I had a little habit of transforming things on accident,"
"Did you turn a pumpkin into a carriage? Shaggy laughed
"No, I turned the family room into a ballroom," Christina sighed, "And my bedroom into a meadow,"
"How?"
"On accident, I was just watching a movie then poof! I was practically in it" Christina explained, "It terrified me, I just didn't understand and I-"
"felt like you were losing control?"
"Yes, exactly,"
Shaggy understood. He understood all-too-well what that was like. To have the rug pulled out from under you. Slowly, he pulled Christina closer to him, placing his arm around her protectively as if to shield her from the painful memories. He did it in such a way so she could leave but she didn't, she laid her head on his shoulder with a long tired sounding sigh.
"Want to hear a story?" he asked.
"Sure,"
He could hear the smile in her voice.
"Once, when I was like, traveling..."
…...
Sugie had ventured into the woods to find her brother before her mom called the military. Which, was something she would do if their father didn't manage to calm her down. Finding Shaggy was easier for Sugie than it was for her mother. All she had to do was find the footprints left in the dirt and follow them it took only a few moments. She crept along the path slowly, quietly even though she knew her brother would no doubt hear her coming once she got close enough if he didn't catch her scent first that is.
Sugie discovered Shaggy in a small clearing where the weak sun trickled through the trees. Christina was there with him Sugie realized as she inched closer. She stopped, ducking behind a tree, peeking out just enough to watch them. Their backs were to her hiding place, Shaggy had his arm around Christina, her head on his shoulder. They looked comfortable, it seemed right.
Then, Sugie caught sight of Christina's arm and had to stifle a yelp of shock. Her arm was a myriad of colors, purples, bordering on black, yellows, and grays. This was what she could see peeking out of the bandages that wrapped her arm from just below her shoulder to just above her wrist. She wondered if Shaggy knew and if he did, did he know how bad it was?
It looked like Sugie was about to get her answer.
Shaggy's arm brushed against the bandages, causing him to stop mid-sentence. He traced it all the way down her arm, careful not to hurt her.
"Shaggy-"
Shaggy was shaking a bit as he tried to quell the onset of burning emotions.
Drew had done this to Christina?!
This?
This!
"Shaggy," Christina whispered again, "I'm okay-"
"No!" Shaggy said, "This isn't okay!"
he shook with what Sugie presumed was anger.
"Really, I'm okay,"
"How long has your arm been like this?"
"Shaggy-"
"How long?" he pleaded.
"Since first period," Christina relented, "But, he was stopped and sent to the office,"
"This still isn't right!" Shaggy snarled finally allowing his transformation to overtake him, "You shouldn't be treated like this!"
"I know,"
The intense burning in his chest wouldn't go away but Shaggy took all his pent up energy and focused it on Christina who was still trying to downplay her injuries. He stood up, taking her by the wrist and pulling her to her feet.
"Come on, I'm like, taking you to the doctor,"
"Shaggy-"
But Shaggy wasn't taking no for an answer.
Christina shook her head.
If Shaggy thought it was this bad how would her uncle take it?
…...
Stacy was relieved when Shaggy returned. He was angrier now than when he'd left as evidenced by the fact he was in wolf-form but Stacy understood why when Shaggy showed her Christina's bandaged arm.
"She needs a doctor," Shaggy declared, "Please, Mom,"
"I'm fine," Christina protested.
"No, you aren't," Shaggy sternly replied.
Stacey had to agree with her son.
Christina sighed in defeat. She wasn't going to win this fight. So, she reluctantly gave Stacey her uncle's number before Shaggy pulled her to the couch and had her sit down.
It was only a matter of time now before Dracula saw and Christina wasn't looking forward to it.
…...
Dracula was seething when he saw Christina's arm. She'd hid it earlier. He should have known something was amiss when she didn't greet him upon getting home. Instead of coming into his study to say hello she had made her presence known before leaving for her walk without so much as a wave. Now, she was hunched over in the back of his car, a pout on her face as he drove to the doctor's office
"You should've called as soon as this happened, Christina," he lightly scolded her.
"Yes, Uncle Dracula," she mumbled, staring out the window.
"Drew did this?"
"Yes,"
"His attacks are getting worse,"
"Don't pull me out of school again," Christina pleaded.
"It's becoming dangerous!" Dracula argued.
"My friends watch out for me!"
"And what happens when they aren't there?"
"I can defend myself!"
Dracula stared at her arm, "Are you sure?"
Christina knew it wasn't a real question, "At least wait until after the dance,"
"No, you're safety comes first,"
"But-"
"No, but's young lady," Dracula cut her off, "I'll be taking you out tomorrow, understand?"
Christina hung her head, "Yes, sir,"
