"G-guys" Faybelle stammered.
"What?"
"Turn around,"
Shaggy and Scooby did so before letting out screams of terror. The demon sneered at them. Faybelle flew backward straight into and then out of the window. Shaggy only stopped long enough to turn the stove off before following suit, Scooby right on his heels as always. Darting across the courtyard and back into the building they crossed paths with Melinda and her group.
"What's up with you guys?" Melinda questioned.
The demon crashed through the window.
"Oh, I see," Melinda nodded.
"RUN FOR IT!" Shaggy ordered.
They didn't need to be told twice. Running from the ground floor they eventuality crossed paths with everyone else. Their friends joined in the mad sprint away from the monster who kept swinging his scythe like a madman
they came to a hall lined with faculty portraits and tried to blend in. The ruse worked until Scooby accidentally sneezed and the chase resumed. They then were sent tumbling down into the basement thanks to an unforeseen trap door. Hopping to there feet, they hightailed it back upstairs to the main hallway where they darted from one classroom to another in a continuous zigzag fashion with the demon ending up in front of them twice. Finally, they returned to Melinda's dorm after the demon had disappeared most likely trapped under a fallen bookcase in the library.
"Shh," Shaggy ordered upon seeing Christina was sleeping still.
"She doesn't look relaxed at all," Darling noticed.
Shaggy took a closer look realizing that Darling was correct. Christina clenched the blankets, forehead beaded with cold sweat, her face twisted with agony.
Then she started to whimper.
Shaggy had enough. She wasn't having a nightmare! Not on his watch! Pushing past the others he rushed to Christina's bedside, prying her hands from the blankets.
"Shh, you're okay, you're okay," he promised.
Christina continued to whimper.
"Shh, I promise. You're safe,"
She latched onto him in her sleep but he remained calm. Slowly, patiently, he coaxed her back into a peaceful sleep, pressing a tender kiss to her cheek once she finally relaxed.
He refused to leave her side so, Scooby plodded down to the kitchen to finish the soup for when she woke up.
"Like, did you guys find anything?"
"There's a whole network of secret passages and rooms" Dirk declared, "All over the school,"
"We like, found that out the hard way," Shaggy grumbled, rubbing the sore spot on his head.
"There were footprints leading to and from the outside passages," Melinda offered.
"That could be how he's getting around without being seen," Clawdeen nodded.
"That doesn't explain how he attacked us outside of school grounds," Faybelle snidely remarked.
"I suspect we were being followed," Duncan responded.
"Like, as soon as the rain lets up we'll like, speak to Red,"
"And we can speak with Bigs tomorrow since it's so late," Clawdeen added.
"What if the Demon comes back while we're sleeping?" Dexter inquired.
"Let me handle this," Melinda smirked, "Magical locks for everyone!"
"But what if he gets past them?"
"Then just scream,"
"Easy enough, Goodnight,"
"Night,"
…...
Christina woke to the sounds of rainfall. She smiled softly, sitting up and looking around the room. No one else seemed to have noticed she'd woken up yet. They were too busy chowing down on a late dinner.
Shaggy looked up from his dinner, wiping the food from his face before smiling at her.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Okay," she yawned.
"I have a surprise for you,"
"Do you now?" Christina teased.
Shaggy presented her with the soup which Melinda had kept warm in her favorite mug.
"Thanks,"
"You're welcome,"
Shaggy filled Christina in on their findings and their run-in with the demon while she drank her soup.
"Anyone else notice he only shows up when it rains?" Christina asked.
"And it doesn't rain here often," Melinda nodded, looking up from her work.
"So he controls the weather then?" Shaggy guessed.
"Maybe, maybe not," Christina mused, "When we were in the vault earlier I found a book on magical artifacts,"
"So you're saying..."
"It'd take a certain set but it is possible he's using talismans,"
"Smart thinkin' Christy,"
"Thanks, M. so, did you guys interview Grimm?"
"No, we wanted to wait for you,"
"First thing tomorrow then?"
"First thing tomorrow,"
…...
Christina lay awake that night, listening to the rain dancing on the roof of the school. Staring out the window she was greeted by the all-too-familiar night briers. Grimm had always insisted they were there for the protection of the students but Christina had her doubts. She smiled to herself. The students all had their own way of sneaking out herself included. These were after all the briers from the Sleeping Beauty tale, she had learned how to control them fairly quickly. But, those days were behind her now.
"Christina?"
she turned to find Shaggy watching her, "Yes?"
"Can't sleep?"
"I'm scared too,"
"Nightmares?"
"Yeah," she shuddered, "It was worse,"
"He can't hurt you anymore, Christina,"
"It wasn't just him, Shaggy, it was my mother, her corpse, staring right at me,"
A lone tear slid down her cheek, "I-I wish I hadn't left that morning. I could have protected her,"
Shaggy stood from his place on the floor and joined Christina on the bed as she struggled to hold herself together.
"I could have done something-" she choked.
Shaggy wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.
"Shh,"
Christina cried silently, bitterly, the tears soaked Shaggy's shirt but he didn't mind. Slowly, he began to rock her back and forth, rubbing circles into her back until she calmed.
"I know this case is hard for you but I promise I'm like, right here,"
"Don't leave,"
"I wouldn't dream of it,"
…...
Christina was woken by the sunlight streaming through the window being obscured by one over-protective dragon. She slid soundlessly out of bed and pushed the window open.
"Good morning, Spitfire," she laughed as the dragon attempted to lick her again, "Ready for the day?"
He wagged his tail.
"At least one of us is,"
Christina wasn't sure she could face the day ahead. More interviews, more research. The reason they were there, their mission hung over her like the darkest of clouds on the worst of days. Yet, the day was pleasantly warm, not a cloud in the sky. Further proof that this demon was no magical creature. He had no real power. Just another costumed crazy.
And I would've gotten away with it too if it weren't for you meddling kids!
Every one of Shaggy's stories ended this way and Christina doubted this would be any different.
Could she make it?
This demon was merely a distraction, a diversion to keep them from the real goal but could she handle it?
I'm standing on shaky ground. One wrong step and I'll be done for.
With this solemn thought, she crept to the cafeteria, using her magic to remain unseen, unheard by those around her. The Rebels looked worse for wear, downright spooked. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why. Melinda had brought reports back the night before that the demon was terrorizing the Rebels.
Christina had a hunch Grimm was somehow involved. He seemed troubled by the demon only when asked about it. If he had truly been worried he would have shut down the school but Ever After High remained open.
In the next few minutes alone chaos ensued as the skies turned black as night and rain began pouring. A single flash of lightning revealed the demon at the head of the cafeteria. Screams pierced the air as the monster began to purse group after group of known rebels swinging his scythe angrily.
Christina slipped out of the room and back to the dorms right and her friends were preparing to leave for their morning interview with Grimm.
"Guys, we need to focus on the Demon case right now,"
"Okay,"
No one questioned her as they connected the dots themselves.
"Where to, Christy?"
"Grimm's office, I have a feeling it's empty,"
"Lead the way,"
…...
The office was empty. Melinda volunteered to be look-out while the others looked around.
"That's the Storybook of Legends?"
"Yes, Shaggy, you didn't notice it before?" Christina responded, examining the shelves of books.
"It's huge,"
"Yes, why don't you look around it for me?"
"Okay,"
"Guys he's coming!" Melinda hissed.
Everyone quickly joined hands with Christina who teleported them back to the dorm.
"Let's try again tonight," Christina decided.
"What do we do until then?"
"We keep an eye on the students,"