Velma was curled up in the back of the van, trying to keep warm from the coolness of the outside temperature, and from the lack of a heater in the van.

Her ribs still hurt terribly, and her face was noticeably tear-stained, along with her glasses.

Her eyes darted around, this way and that. She caught sight of her legs that were covered in bruises from being dragged and forced around from different places throughout this nightmare.

After for a long time of sitting in the back, they finally stopped the van outside of another abandoned house. This one was much smaller, and appeared to be more of a lake-house. Redd turned around to face Velma, and pointed the gun to her head.

"If you try to escape while we're gone, you'll regret it," Redd growled, then he and Bill got out of the van, carrying with them some supplies they had gathered from the previous house.

Velma sat there, in the back of the van. I have to risk it, she thought as she strained to untie the ropes that bound her feet and hands together. I can't just sit here and not do anything anymore.

Velma struggled as fast as she could to free herself from the entanglements of the ropes. After what seemed like forever, Velma was finally free from her trap. She quietly opened the back of the van door and closed it lightly, trying not to draw attention to herself.

She slipped out of the van and looked around the unfamiliar area. Velma noticed a path that seemed to be hidden in the surrounding forest. I have to try to get to it and get away, she told herself.

"One…," Velma whispered softly, after taking a deep breath, "two…three!"

Velma darted to the hidden path she had spotted moments earlier. Velma hid behind a tree and looked around to make sure no one followed her. She waited for about five minutes and then quickly, but quietly, followed the path.

Velma rounded what seemed like a u-shaped corner when her wrist was caught. She was roughly turned around to face her captor, who was none other than Redd Herring.

"I told you not to try and escape!" he growled as he grabbed her other wrist.

"You're hurting me," Velma cried, feeling the tight grip he had on both wrists. She could only imagine the bruises that would form on her skin after this. Velma struggled to try and get one of her wrists free.

"Try all you might Velma, but you won't get free of this grip," Redd sneered. But alas to him, Velma wriggled one of her hands free.

With her free hand, Velma took a daring risk and punched Redd in the face.

POW!

Redd stumbled backward a bit, but what was amazing to Velma was that he wasn't hurt badly enough to let go of her other wrist.

As Velma struggled to pull free of Redd's grip, Redd recovered from the righthook. He twisted her arm behind her back, then grabbed her other arm and did the same thing. Velma yelped out in pain. Redd dragged her back to the once-abandoned house, ignoring her cries of pain.

Bill saw what happened and came outside with a pair of handcuffs in his pocket, as Redd came closer to the house with Velma.

The Mystery Machine drove in silence for a long time. Fred finally stopped the tired van.

"Are we there already?" Daphne asked groggily, waking up from a short nap.

"Yep," Fred replied.

The four companions put on their mountain boots, snow jackets, gloves, and wool hats and headed up the mountain. They started hiking, no one saying a word. After about a while, Scooby stopped short. Shaggy turned around when he realized Scooby wasn't there. He noticed that Scooby had his ears perked up.

"Like, Scoob, what is it?" Shaggy asked. Daphne and Fred stopped and turned to listen.

"Risten," Scooby said.

The four of them stood there silently, not daring to breathe or make any noise.

They started to hear what Scooby heard so easily, faint, shrieking cries for help.

"Help! Let go of me, Redd! Somebody help!"

Then there was a fearful silence. None of them moved or spoke. Shaggy broke the chain. "Like, do y-you th-think that was Velma?" he asked nervously.

"Most like," Fred replied, his voice surprisingly calm, though his facial expression betrayed him. "Let's keep going."