A.N. All I will say to you before reading this chapter is two little words: Brace. Yourself.
By the time Mystery Inc. pulled up in the grey Mystery Machine a short way from the main shipping area of the Docks, all of their phones had long been silenced, including Daphne's. Nobody had spoke in a while as they all processed the enormity of what was ahead of them and what they had all agreed to do. They were under no illusions that this was going to be the most dangerous situation they had ever walked into but they all agreed that the common goal they were all striving for was more than worth it.
Devon Blake had gone too far this time. When he first entered the lives of Shaggy, Velma and Fred, they were very different people. Fred in particular was heading down a very dark path. It was fair to see his ordeal at the hands of Devon changed him in ways unimaginable. Held captive, he hadn't suffered the same kind of physical beating that Ethan had at the hands of Devon but his trauma ran deep mentally and it took him such a long time to even begin to come to terms with things.
Immediately after recovering from his abduction, he had thrown himself wholeheartedly into their crazy new venture trapping criminals in Coolsville. On the surface, he had seemed fine. Determined to seize the opportunity afforded to him by the newly formed gang, he had enthusiastically stepped into the role of leader and he was buoyed by their early successes. On a personal level, things had taken on a hugely positive trajectory as he and Daphne explored a proper relationship together. He looked to have it all. However the newspaper headlines of their achievements masked a darker story.
Fred never quite got over killing the lackey in the factory. On the outside a head strong remarkable leader. On the inside, a jittery insecure young man who their enemies had somewhat taken advantage of. If someone got knocked out by a monster, it was Fred. If someone was trapped or even kidnapped, it was Fred. Though he tried to laugh it off as being unlucky, or unfairly targeted as the leader, the truth was far bleaker.
He was still afraid.
Every time he found himself in danger, he lost all sense of bravery and heroism, it became too easy for people to overpower him as he refused to truly try and protect himself. For almost one whole year he had grinned and beared it, given off the illusion he was completely fine. Aside from Daphne, no one knew his dreams had two things always jostling for top spot. The catwalk shove and Devon Blake.
In his worst ones he had woken drenched in sweat, with tears in the sheets where he had gripped them so hard. The routine that followed was well established. Daphne would awaken and ask if he was okay. He usually denied that he was absolutely fine, refused to talk about it, got up and poured himself a drink or three.
The denial went on until that fateful Oakland case where another terrifying ordeal finally saw him lose his head in the worst way and finally confront his fears head on but the spectre of the man that started it all had never truly gone away.
Daphne's relationship with Devon was of course far more complicated. She wasn't his daughter but she had grown up believing she was. The initial fears she had of Devon being involved with drugs that had prompted her 'snooping' were quickly exacerbated and some. She had known he had a violent streak which had been seen in past incidents but it wasn't even close to the distressing truth, truths that had changed her impression of him forever. The brutal kidnappings and treatment of two men very dear to her, barely scratched the surface. Discovering how Devon had killed both her mother and her real father in a jealous rage was absolutely horrifying to hear but there was one dark crime of his that Daphne was truly unable to comprehend and since that nightmare on the plane, the face she couldn't get out of her mind. Adelaide.
There was no more greater symbol of his sadism and truly chilling dark nature than his murder of Adelaide McKenna. Unable to find Daphne, he had murdered her 'lookalike' in cold blood for no other purpose than to further his agenda and he had never shown a shred of remorse. That was the moment that cemented in Daphne's mind what a dangerous and twisted individual he really was. He had of course then gone one horrifying step further with his sickening attack on the police and was one of many reasons why they had to put an end to this.
Despite the fact her every last instinct was telling her not to do this, that what they were going to do was just too risky, too dangerous, she knew that they absolutely must. The desire to get Devon now completely overrode any overarching fear.
Beside her in the van, Fred drove them stoicly towards the Docks, he hadn't spoken in a while, and Daphne wondered what he must be thinking right now. What they had come through during their time in China was truly mind-blowing, anyone else would have given up a long time ago but not Fred. They were all in this together now, herself, Fred, Shaggy and Velma and Scooby. A friendship that had been forged in the most unreal circumstances. She was glad they were the ones with her now as they hoped to end the nightmare once and for all.
Even though they still felt woefully under-resourced.
Daphne shook her head a little in disbelief that they really were going to rock up to the docks to confront her uncle and his reprobates, armed with nothing more than one gun and a damn monkey wrench. They had tried to bolster their defence, but Fred's plan to swing by one of the looted hardware stores on the way to 'tool up', had been foiled immediately by the fact that the looters had also taken every potential weapon in the store. Not even so much as a sniff of some gardening shears. They would have laughed if the situation wasn't so dire.
Fred turned off the engine and wielded the very same wrench now. He picked it up from the floor by the pedals and Daphne flinched at the flash of copper tinged red she glimpsed on the end of it as Fred passed it to Shaggy; instantly reminding her once again of the attack on Justin back at the base. She shuddered.
"I'm sorry not to be able to give you something more substantial," he said to his friend ruefully.
"It's OK Freddy," Shaggy said with a slight grin. "Never underestimate the power of a monkey wrench, Devon's acolyte learnt that the hard way, remember."
Shaggy was trying for bluster but his expression faltered as he reminded himself of that moment. For days after the ordeal, his attack on Devon's henchman in the control room haunted him, as he knew that it had led to his death. The postmortem confirmed that he had died of smoke inhalation but Shaggy knew that it was him rendering the man unconscious was what had prevented him trying to escape, which he still carried mixed feelings about.
On the one hand, he knew if he hadn't struck the brute so heavily, he might not have had chance to reach the grain controls in time and Freddy would have suffocated in the grain trap. He had reacted instinctively with nothing on his mind but saving his best friend's life. But on the other hand, it was never his intention to kill the guy and though the blow itself hadn't killed him, it did lead to his death. Of course Fred himself, had gone through similar, only this time, no matter how intentional, he had killed with his own hands.
In the days and weeks that followed, the two had reconnected and shared their guilt about what had happened, and over time, both men had slowly forgotten about the horror of the events at the factory, until Fred innocently handed him a monkey wrench to use as a weapon to defend himself against Devon and his honchos again.
Only this time it wasn't just for Shaggy to defend himself. He stared at her now as she sat beside him looking focused and determined. She had pushed her hair up into a ponytail, which she very rarely did but Shaggy loved the look. Swept off her face, he could see the freckles sprinkled on her cheeks clearly now and he thought they looked beautiful. Velma caught him staring and Shaggy blushed a little, things were still so complicated between them and though they had reached something of a truce and understanding, he didn't know what their current relationship standing even was any more. What he did know though, was god willing that they survived this, that he sure as hell wanted to try and smooth things over with her well and truly, and see what happened from there. He knew as he held the wrench in his hand right now that he would do anything at all to protect her from what they were about to face together.
When Fred had predictably floated the idea of splitting up to complement the plan, there wasn't much resistance but there was resignation about it. They knew walking onto the docks together would be a huge mistake in so many ways. As a five they would become an irresistible target the moment they set foot out there together. Secondly, although they had narrowed down the search area of the docks, it was still huge, like most of their cases it was prudent that they split up to cover more ground.
With the split confirmed, the final thing to do was to determine the teams. There was no question at all that the girls going off together was firmly off the table and given the earlier tension between the two friends was probably a wise decision. They all knew what the likely permutation was but with Daphne still a little distant after that moment with Fred, they all held their breaths wondering if she would insist on going with Shaggy instead.
She didn't. She offered no comment at all as Fred suggested their safe, familiar split that had served them so well over the years; there had been deviations for various reasons, of course most notably in Hawaii and some memorably awful combinations that had been disastrous. They had pretty much exhausted all possibilities by this stage in their relationship as Mystery Inc. with decidedly mixed results;
Velma and Fred. Daphne, Shaggy and Scooby – First tested in Hawaii this was a fun combination until the whole Shaggy losing Daphne misunderstanding. The bait switch up was definitely a highlight but never to be repeated.
Daphne, Fred and Scooby. Velma and Shaggy – Disaster. Velma and Shaggy spent the whole time arguing bitterly and Scooby pined for Shaggy as he became the ultimate gooseberry for the blossoming couple.
Daphne and Shaggy. Velma, Fred and Scooby – First tried out on a quiet case in Europe, this had been quite interesting. Until this point Daphne had never really spent much time alone with Shaggy and they found they got along very well. Velma, Fred and Scooby were a dynamic trio.
Fred, Shaggy and Daphne. Velma and Scooby – This split was revolutionary for the actual genius combination of Velma and Scooby. It was less memorable for Shaggy for you guessed it: Gooseberry.
Shaggy, Velma and Fred. Daphne and Scooby. - Like the previous one, Scooby teaming up with one of the girls was fun. Shaggy, Velma and Fred was obviously the original trio but strangely it seemed none of the old magic was present as they squabbled and Fred pined for/worried about Daphne the whole time.
Velma, Daphne. Scooby, Shaggy and Fred – Tried out on the decoy dognapping case, it very quickly became a girls team and a boys team. Friends for life, Shaggy and Fred got on incredibly well in a social situation but as a team up for mystery solving, it turned out they very much rubbed each other up the wrong way. This was the case where Velma and Daphne were both hurt by the Witch Doctor. After that, they agreed to always let the girls have Scooby if they split into sexes again.
Velma, Daphne, Fred. Shaggy and Scooby – This combination had a lot of potential and was repeated a fair few times. Shaggy and Scooby were a brilliant if hilarious combination and Fred and the girls together worked well finding clues and putting the pieces together. Until Velma tired of being the third wheel and there was just too much goofing off in Shaggy and Scooby's direction.
Of course with their propensity to get into trouble, these combinations were sometimes punctuated quite dramatically as they also 'temporarily' lost a member here and there but they had always safely reunited again at the end of the day and despite these little experiments of 'switching the teams up' they always reverted back to what was familiar and ingrained amongst them. Velma, Shaggy and Scooby. Daphne and Fred.
They had tested the strength of their separate unities with the biggest split they had ever taken and had all come out of it unscathed. They knew this was so different though. This was the biggest crisis they had ever faced, and it wasn't lost on anyone that it could be the final one.
With their arrangements in place and their destination reached, Fred carefully checked the bullets in their one gun. They were all psyching themselves up to leave the safety of the van when typically in his role as leader, Fred opened his mouth to speak. "Guys, I have something I want to say," he said quietly and everyone braced themselves for another outlandish rallying cry, but this wasn't at all what Fred had in mind for this moment. He looked around at his assembled friends and took a deep breath.
With Velma, Shaggy and Scooby staring at him from the backseat and Daphne giving him her full worried attention from beside him, he started to speak. "I just wanted to say that I fervently hope with all of my heart that everything does go to plan tonight and we all survive this thing. But...I know this could also be the last time we are all together as a group too."
"Oh god no Freddy, please don't do this," Daphne interrupted immediately looking pale and upset.
He reached across and squeezed her hand in reassurance.
"Sorry Daph, but this is something I need to say. I promise it won't take long."
Daphne still looked quite stricken but Shaggy encouraged him to continue. "Go ahead man."
Fred nodded at his friend, not breaking eye contact with Shaggy and Velma. "I just wanted to say that you guys have been the best friends I could ever ask for and I'm so fucking proud of everything that we've done together." He said to Shaggy, Velma and Scooby. "Thinking of all the adventures we have been on these last three years, and all of the criminals and the schemes we've stopped! God it gives me such an enormous sense of pride in myself and self-worth again and I didn't think I'd ever feel anything like that ever again. You guys actually saved me. And I know we can apply that literally to a couple of occasions..."
"Try ten," Shaggy whispered slyly to Scooby who snickered and then the pair of them orchestrated a coughing fit to cover it up.
"Okay Shag," Fred said rolling his eyes in amusement. "Maybe you have literally saved my life on a few more occasions than I would like to admit, but that's not my point. You especially gave my life purpose and made it worth living and though we don't always see eye to eye Velms, I can't imagine my life without you either. What we are about to do is the most reckless and scary undertaking we have ever have had and lord knows we have stiff competition there! I mean we've all faced terror – wizards and warlocks, gondoliers and ghosts, clowns and cavemen. We've come across some absolutely hellish situations and these 'villains' haven't been messing around, we're not in a comic strip or cartoon where the peril is mild. We've all stared death in the face. But we've come through it. This time is different though. It's not just about us. It's for the greater good, the future of our town. It's for those we've lost like Will and Stella. It's for Madelyn. It's for everyone whose lives he has tainted."
"Wow Fred, that was some speech," Daphne acknowledged. "I don't think anyone is under any illusions what we're up against here, or of the dangers we might face."
"Ah well, see Daph," he said sheepishly. "You kind of interrupted there and I wasn't quite done." All of his attention had focused on Daphne now and Daphne squirmed a little awkwardly.
"I can credit all of you with saving my life but it was you who truly turned my life around Daphne," he said with absolute sincerity and without a hint of cheese. Daphne felt tears begin to pool in her eyes as he looked deeply into them.
"Daphne, I know it's a cliché, but I knew you were special from the moment I set eyes on you."
"When you were stalking her you mean?" Velma added with a grin, unable to resist interrupting.
"Yes Velma, that just underlines what I'm saying," he said before turning back to Daphne. "Our story is not from a fairytale book. Far from it. It began with the most hideous act of desperate betrayal, that still turns my stomach whenever I think about it. I was actually heading down the darkest path I had ever been on in my life and it scares me to think about where I might have ended up." He paused now to compose himself and Daphne could detect the beginning of tears brush under his eyelids now. "But what was undoubtedly a disgraceful act, actually became the best decision of my life no matter the crazy circumstances. Because I met a girl. I met a girl who was the most beautiful I had ever seen in my life. A girl who took my breath away. But it wasn't just about her looks, it was about her heart. This girl who was reeling from the worst news; was fierce and spirited with such a gutsy resolve and courage beyond anything I had known. And I fell for you there and then in that moment and you've had me ever since Daphne Blake. You took me from darkness into light and you gave me the chance to turn my life around. Because despite everything I had already done to you, you believed in me that day, you trusted in me and you continue to do so, through every scary adventure we have been through together, you remain by my side and I couldn't love you any more."
Shaggy, Velma and Scooby looked moved when he finished but unsurprisingly it was Daphne who was struggling to speak, she had tears streaming down her cheeks now and just about managed to choke out, "I love you too Fred."
Shaggy was grinning stupidly at his friends, assuming Fred made the declaration after some bumpy ground had been crossed between the pair over the last few days and Fred just wanted to make amends. His grin rapidly faded though as he eyed the smiling Fred suddenly make a movement to put his hand in his pocket where Shaggy could make out a square shaped lump. Shaggy's own heart suddenly caught in his throat and he looked at Scooby and Velma in panic who were also eyeing Fred in alarm. Shaggy knew they had sussed out Fred's true intentions for the declaration and he wished he could do anything to stop him. Oh god Fred, don't do it, not now! Not like this!
Daphne however was completely oblivious to what was going to happen and was still flushed with love for Fred's romantic speech, though she was soon ambushed by it now as the others were also helpless captives to what was unfolding.
"Daphne," Fred started again earnestly, taking her hand now. "I've wanted to do this for so long and I had so many crazy ideas for how to do it perfectly but I realise none of that really matters to me and doing this here and now in front of our closest friends in the world actually makes perfect sense to me."
Daphne stared at him totally dumbfounded, catching onto what was happening now but was rendered completely speechless as he smiled at her nervously now.
"I mean I could try and get down on one knee, but it's a little awkward and all from the driver's seat so instead..." he reached for the box and Daphne virtually launched herself into his lap to stop him, her eyes widening in alarm, he really was going to do this!
Sitting In his lap, she pushed his arm by his side.
"Fred Jones, stop right there! Do not say another word and do NOT get that out of your pocket!" she commanded and he looked at her helplessly.
Fred dutifully froze but he had a confused and hurt expression on his face now until Daphne leaned in and he caught scent of her perfume and shampoo. She quickly pushed aside any fears he might have had about her not reciprocating his feelings by capturing his lips in a fierce lung-bursting kiss that took his very breath away and had Shaggy, Velma and Scooby getting whiplash from the speed they turned away from the very hot PDA.
When they finally came up for air again, they were both flushed and grinning from ear to ear. It was obviously a serious make-out session that was long overdue after some very tense arguments and moments between them over the last few fraught days both here and in China.
"I love you Freddy," Daphne smiled, leaning back a little and Fred opened his mouth to try again.
"So will you ma...mmpppphhh!" Daphne had reached forward again quick as a flash and placed her hand fully over Fred's mouth, preventing him from saying the next word. He looked at her indignantly but she still had a smile on her face.
"Nope Freddy, don't say it! I won't let you say it. I know what you're going to say and I absolutely won't have it."
Bhhut Daff," he tried to mumble underneath her hand and she shook her head at him keeping her hand firmly in place, much to Shaggy, Velma and Scooby's astonished amusement.
"No Freddy, not yet. You have to promise not to say it, I won't move my hand until you promise me you won't ask me that question right now!"
Still confused but very much wanting to breathe properly again, Fred slowly nodded. "I prohmmissh" he said, his words still muffled and was gratified when she finally took her hand away and he gasped in fresh air, he still looked really hurt.
"But Daphne why can't I? We both love each other."
"Yes we do, but I know why you're doing this now, and I absolutely won't have it," she told him, still sitting in his lap, her eyes shining as she explained her reasons. You're doing it because you fear you won't get another chance, and I'm telling you now to get that out of your head Freddy! I want you to ask me again properly. Not because our lives are at stake. I won't hear another mention of the 'm' word tonight. Now is not the time, you will know when it is."
She said all this earnestly, looking at him in absolute adoration and Shaggy felt his heart clench tightly. They loved each other wholly and completely. He hoped he might one day reach that stage with Velma.
"Okay," Fred reluctantly accepted and she kissed his forehead before climbing off his lap back into her own seat. With Fred's shock proposal 'aborted', they all hastily left the van together, aware of time slipping away as they gathered at the back of the Mystery Machine.
All thoughts of the embarrassing situation put aside, Fred retook his position as leader, locking the van up and looking around at his brave group. They all zipped up their jackets and he turned to them with nothing but determination in his eyes now. "So this is it," he said smiling grimly now. "We do all know the plan, right?"
He got four compliant nodding heads and carried on. "Good, make sure you're fully prepared. I still can't believe we're actually doing this, but I'm proud of us for taking this on. I firmly believe that it will be worth the risk we're taking on. Any questions?"
Nobody did, so Fred carried on with his final preparations.
Make sure you use this," he said tossing a two way radio to Velma who caught it smartly. "Remember if you find them first, CALL. Nobody is taking this on alone. Are we all clear on this? We all need to be on the same page."
The four nodded at him again and they all looked around at each other warmly; the group hug that followed was spontaneous but passionate as everyone held each other closely. Absolutely nobody wanted to vocalise the thought that this could really be the end for them but the intensity that everyone was clutched onto one another with, conveyed that desperately bleak but realistic prospect.
Eventually they broke apart and Fred and Daphne started to walk in the opposite direction on the Dock entrance to Shaggy, Scooby and Velma. "See you later," Daphne whispered, watching the three silhouettes of her friend disappear again like they had done so many times before, she didn't want to entertain that it could be for the final time.
Fred was carefully walking with Daphne hand in hand as they walked hesitantly through the docks on the hunt for any visible sign of Devon. Daphne relished being in the warm grasp of his fingertips again and she hoped she hadn't hurt him too much with how she had dramatically shut him down in the van.
"About what happened in the van," she started but Fred stopped her quickly.
"It's fine Daphne, I do understand, you're right too, now isn't the time! I guess I was just scared I wouldn't get the chance again."
Daphne nodded before turning to him with concern again as a thought came to her. "Wait, you didn't do it because it's not that you fear you won't get another chance, it was because you know you won't get another chance! You're still intent on sacrificing yourself aren't you?!"
They both stopped walking and Fred clenched his jaw hard but didn't reply.
"Fred! Please tell me I'm wrong!" she cried, abruptly breaking grip with him now as she stared him down.
"I shouldn't be here Daphne. My life should have ended a long time ago and we both know it. You know he wants me. Shaggy even told me he tried to go for me again when I was in the rehab centre! I know he blames me so I'm hoping if he agrees to...well, that he'll spare you and everybody else."
"Rehab centre? What are you talking about?"
"It was something else Ethan and Stella kept from us but it doesn't matter now. I know what needs to be done."
"I don't believe this," Daphne said, truly aghast. "After everything that we've spoken about tonight and after all what you just said in the van?!"
"I did mean all that, of course I'm proud of what we've achieved but I also realise I'm ready now."
Daphne took a step back from him angrily. "This is ridiculous Fred! I can't believe you came here tonight with that your sole intention after all! What happened to taking him down together?! I don't want to lose you!" she said frantically.
"Well, it's my decision," he told her a little defiantly.
"No," Daphne said backing away from him. "This insanity has gone on for long enough," she declared and she turned quickly away much to Fred's alarm. "I can't let you sacrifice yourself to HIM. I won't!" Daphne began walking quickly in the darkness in the direction they had just come from.
"What are you doing?!" Fred shouted in a panicked voice. "Where are you going!"
"I'm going back to the van," she said just as defiantly as Fred had declared his decision. "I'm going to get my cellphone and I'm going to call Rory and finally get us some help! We CANNOT do this alone. I just hope it won't be too late!"
Fred looked truly distraught but she was actually running now and she disappeared behind some crates. "DAPH! WAIT!" he called urgently, struggling to catch her up. "You can't go alone, it's not..."
The word safe died on his lips as to his horror, he heard her scream and then rapidly reappear in the arms of a masked man in a werewolf costume who held a knife to her throat.
"Well, well," he said jovially. "What do we have here? He did warn you darling, it wasn't safe to go out alone on here, especially not for you."
Fred stared at Daphne, looking absolutely stricken and she struggled in her captor's arms. "Fred, I'm so sorry!" she cried and she wouldn't blame him if he was cursing her for her admittedly incredibly reckless action. What absolute rotten luck to run straight into Devon's henchman!
"Looks like she is the danger prone one after all," the man said cheerily. After his initial shock at seeing her grabbed so abruptly, Fred removed his gun now and pointed it straight towards the werewolf gripping Daphne tightly.
"Let her go!"
"Can't do that champ, she's a gift for the boss isn't she."
"I said let her go," Fred demanded again but soon felt an unwelcome sensation at the back of his head.
"Two can play at this game," a second werewolf henchman said delightedly with his own gun. "Drop the gun."
Trapped between two of them, Fred had no hesitation at dropping his gun to the floor. As soon as he did, the werewolf behind him pinned him to the floor on his stomach and tied his hands behind his back, before reaching into Fred's pocket to pull out the radio.
He yanked him into a sitting position and held the radio to Fred's mouth. "Call your friends, get them here." he demanded.
Fred gave the werewolf a dirty look but one little gasp from Daphne, as her werewolf had obviously pressed the knife tighter and Fred knew he had no choice.
"Velma," he said calmly. "We think we might have found something here. West Dock, shipping containers 6 -9, come quickly."
He dropped his head in resignation at leading his friends into a trap so easily.
Twenty minutes later and things were looking quite dire for Mystery Incorporated. Velma, Shaggy and Scooby had quickly been ambushed at gunpoint by the werewolves as soon as they arrived, much to Fred's despair, and he, Velma and Shaggy were currently trussed up and lined up right alongside the edge of one of the piers with the dark and cold water ominously right behind them.
The werewolves had subdued and taken Scooby Doo away somewhere during the ambush and the first werewolf who had grabbed her was still clinging onto Daphne himself, not wanting to put her with the parade at the water's edge.
Of course they were all awaiting the inevitable to happen and it didn't take long before Devon Blake graced everyone with his sudden presence. It was the moment they all well and truly held their breaths as they all set eyes on him for the first time in 3 years. He was dressed sharply in an expensive looking suit, and had that black mask they had seen on the video, adorning one side of his face. He moved fluidly sweeping along the decking towards them. He clocked the three tied up members of Mystery Inc. lined up so invitingly on the dock's edge first and he laughed at the murderous glare Fred Jones was giving him. He surveyed the scene in delight, noting how his werewolf, Nick, was standing guard over them, clutching a hand gun.
As he moved further towards the jutting out long pier, beyond that, his other werewolf Paolo came into view and what a joyous gift he was offering. Devon smiled in satisfaction as Paolo stepped forward with a squirming Daphne in his arms at knifepoint.
"I saved her for you," Paolo said as if he was worshipping a God and Devon bit back another laugh as he went towards Paolo and Daphne first. He couldn't hold back the smile on his face and could barely believe it but his previously useless henchmen had finally come good in a huge way, capturing all of the godforsaken Mystery Incorporated and even presenting Daphne with a gift wrapped bow.
"Nick, Paolo!" he praised. "You have done EXCELLENTLY here. Even I didn't think they would literally fall into our hands quite so easily."
"Romeo and Juliet here had a bit of a quarrel," Nick replied glibly, shaking Fred's bad shoulder, getting a scowl in return. "They really messed up. After that it was just too easy."
Daphne turned her head away in a grimace, not wanting to look at her friends balancing so precariously on the edge.
"I mean werewolves Devon? How lame do you want to get?" Fred suddenly spoke and Devon grinned wider.
"Fred! I'm glad you appreciate that touch! Doesn't it all feel so delightfully full circle. The only thing missing is my costume but I couldn't get it dry cleaned in time," he said with mock sadness.
"Where's my sister!" Velma suddenly yelled, startling everybody and Devon turned his attention to the bespectacled girl who looked furious now.
"Ah Velma," he said unable to hide his amusement. "I have always maintained that you were smart! It turns out you are all incredibly foolish." His grin was as wide as the Pacific Ocean now as he stared wickedly at the three of them kneeling helplessly at the edge of the pier. "Well, here's the punchline kids, how's this for a twist! I have no fucking idea! She was never in my company at all."
He paused to see their faces, satisfied with the stunned reactions as it obviously hit them all that they had turned up to rescue precisely nobody.
"Oh I tried. It very much was my plan. But when Nick and Paolo here turned up, she and your pops were long gone. I can only guess one of the other do gooders got there first. Sure, it was a blow but I took a gamble, could I convince you all that I did have her anyway? I made sure the boys made a heck of a mess and what do you know I pulled it off. You all walked straight into my trap. I never believed you could be so gullible! Now here we all are and I have been waiting for this moment for a very long time, the complete and total destruction of the world's most righteous amateur crime fighters. Go and get the van Paolo, and get ready to load 'em all up."
The masked werewolf holding Daphne suddenly spoke for the first time since Devon arrived. "But why bother with all the risk of moving them? She mentioned something earlier about calling for help so why not just do it here instead? Here's as good a place as any. We could just shoot them now and it would be done."
Devon looked annoyed at his acolyte speaking out of turn but then turned to look at the gang lined up so obligingly on the edge, fear on all of their faces. "You know what Paolo, that's not a bad idea at all. When did you get so perceptive? I like it, I like it a lot. This could still work perfectly.
Paolo was still gripping Daphne tightly and indicated her now. "This one too?"
"No, make sure she gets a front row seat though" Devon replied sickeningly. "I want to saviour this too." Paolo forced Daphne to face the direction of her friends and Devon took a couple of tentative steps onto the pier itself but still a good distance away from the captive gang. "Start with the tall one," he instructed.
"No! Take me!" Fred instantly yelled but he could do nothing as the werewolf in front of him ignored him and Devon shook his head with a tsk.
"No Frederick, admirable to want to sacrifice yourself as always, but that's not how this is going to work. Do what I asked Nick."
There was no time for any pre amble or any victorious villain speak, there was no last minute chance to save him, before anyone could react, Nick walked back a few steps before casually shooting Shaggy in the chest and he tumbled off the edge of the pier in an instant with a splash.
There was a stunned silence as everyone struggled to take in what had just happened before Velma and Daphne screamed simultaneously.
Devon seemed a little surprised at Nick's efficacy but he was nevertheless thrilled. "That was amazing!" He enthused, bouncing on his toes like a little kid. "Far better than I had planned. Do it again!"
Velma had about half a second to register that she was next before she too was shot and disappeared into the water below. Daphne was crying now and Fred had turned to stare in pure horror at the spot where his two friends were just seconds before, before his eyes locked murderously on Devon standing a few feet away now. Fred raised his chin defiantly, obviously determined not to give Devon the satisfaction of showing him his terror. Devon smiled at his resolve.
"Ah Freddy! Stoic to the very end I see, even after what happened to your friends and in your final moments. Any last words?"
"You can fucking go to hell," he murmured.
"The star-crossed lovers doomed to die!" Devon shouted dramatically over to Daphne. "Tell me dear Daphne, how does it feel to know that you've failed? That you desperately tried to save everyone but especially HIM? But you couldn't! You're going to watch him die right in front of you finally and I'm going to enjoy every last second of it."
Devon stunned everyone by suddenly producing a lethal looking knife instead, now with a purely psychotic expression on his face. He turned to Daphne as he instructed his acolyte. "Hold it! Not this one! I have to insist it really should be me who gets to end this one after all the trouble he's caused! Don't you think Daphne?" He grinned evilly at her and she struggled to get out of her assailants arms, guessing his wicked intention. "I can think of a much more appropriate ending for Mr Jones here! A quick shot for him is barely enough! Barely enough to suffer, I want to enjoy this..."
His menacing progress as he stalked towards Fred was stopped abruptly by the sound of a gun firing and a shocked Fred dramatically pitched backwards off the edge, dropping with a splash that resonated loudly and shocked everyone.
"Noooo!" Daphne screamed and Devon looked utterly enraged as he turned on the henchman who had so suddenly shot Fred anyway while he was standing right by him.
"You idiot!" he blasted. "Why the fuck would you do that after I told you not to! You just ruined all the fun!"
The werewolf henchman shrugged at him uncaringly as Devon cast his ire on him, answering back to him calmly. "He was trying to get loose. I think he might have had a knife of his own or something. You're welcome," he glowered.
Devon frowned a little in confusion, he hadn't especially noticed Fred trying to break free but then Nick was a lot closer and he had been too focussed on Daphne's reaction as she realised what Devon had planned to do to her beloved. It was also typical of his rookie henchmen not to search them before tying them up.
Still, he realised it had all worked out as he wanted, they were finally gone, leaving just...
Daphne had dropped to her knees completely broken-hearted and defeated and Devon relished in the sight of it, walking over to her and Paolo now, as Nick also walked back off the pier and towards the absolutely distraught girl.
"Well my dear, that's it." Devon addressed her, standing in front of her unable to hide his gloating. "That ragtag surrogate family you surrounded yourself with - including your precious detectives – well, they're ALL dead now. Leaving just you. You lost."
"Kill me," she suddenly whispered, refusing to look him in the eye and he reached forward and grabbed her chin harshly, forcing her to.
"What was that?"
"I said. Kill. Me. You're right, you win Devon." She looked utterly shattered and defeated.
"Oh no I don't think you've suffered nearly quite enough yet," he said as Paolo pulled her to her feet. "You get to stick around by my side to see the final destruction." He felt Nick stand alongside him and he couldn't resist one last gloat towards her. "After all there's literally no one left to even save you is there?"
She looked distraught for a few more seconds when he was unnerved when her head suddenly shot up and there was the tiniest trace of a smile on her face now. "Oh I don't know Devon, you keep making the same mistake, there's five of us remember?"
Devon laughed knowing of exactly what she was referring to. "The mangy mutt?! You think he is enough to save you?! There's three of us, in case you haven't noticed!"
She fully grinned now and suddenly put two fingers into her mouth and whistled piercingly loud twice.
In quick succession two things happened that stunned the usually ice cool Devon Blake. The huge dog fiercely barrelling towards him and appearing from absolutely nowhere was shocking enough but that wasn't even his most pressing concern. Seconds before the Great Dane smacked into him, Nick suddenly violently smashed him in the face with a deadly elbow, and he crashed to the deck hard, caught completely off-guard by the blow and the dog knocking him clean off his feet and causing him to drop the knife. The dog was on him now but the surprise attack wasn't even over as Paolo calmly wandered over and suddenly kicked him so brutally in the ribs that he now landed flat on his stomach and it stole the very breath from him. Paolo continued to kick him mercilessly and the dog pinned down his back legs. Before he could even recover from the shocking betrayal, he was left speechless when Nick climbed on his back and smoothly cuffed his hands behind his back.
The dog continued to pin him down until Daphne, suddenly looking very calm and collected, called the dog off and he came to her faithfully. Nick yanked him up and to add insult to injury held Devon's own knife at his throat which he had retrieved. Devon watched in pure astonishment as Daphne then went to stand very comfortably next to Paolo, who put his arm re-assuredly around her shoulder. In that moment it truly dawned on him and he realised he had been spectacularly played at his own masked game. There was NO WAY these two were actually Nick and Paolo and he cursed himself for his own foolishness right now. He felt something he had never felt in a long time as suddenly he was the one with the uncertainty of what was going to happen next. He thought 'Nick' and 'Paolo's betrayal was the most astonishing aspect and his brain cells were already ticking over thinking about what could possibly have gone wrong when he caught sight of a movement in the corner of his eye and he knew his face must show the stupefaction that he felt right now. The man behind him bent down to whisper one word in his ear. "Surprise," and then Daphne was standing in front of him, smiling serenely at him now.
"How's that for a twist?" she said smugly, echoing his own taunt.
Devon Blake could stand it no longer, his expletive driven question was probably heard from every corner of the docks and beyond.
"WHAT THE FUCKING HELL IS GOING ON!?"
A.N. Indeed, Devon, indeed. All the answers are coming next chapter. It makes sense I promise. Just hold on!