Chapter One-
Shaggy remembered when the monsters weren't real. Back when he was what... sixteen? He and his friends would round them all up with some silly contraptions, tear the silicone face off of some old kook, send him to prison and bam. Another mystery bites the dust.
But there really wasn't any mystery to be solved. There was nothing mysterious to the hoards that has flooded the streets, moaning and wailing for human flesh. No the only word for that was sheer unbridled terror.
Shaggy stood near the edge of the cliff overlooking Crystal Cove. Below him, his old home rotted in the dark. Craning his neck, Shaggy realized that the usual flood of undead had tricked off the streets. This could be his chance.
—
Shaggy darted from shadow to shadow, eyes flicking constantly left to right, watching for any sudden movements. His eyes halted their endless dance only once, briefly, to linger on a familiar green and blue van. It had been parked there in front of City Hall for almost five years now. The tires hung lamely off the axels, and a red smattering of rust was beginning to eat away at the metal paneling.
Despite it all, the Mystery Machine was a sight for sore eyes. Forgetting himself, Shaggy stepped into the moonlight and traced a finger over the petals of a corroding orange flower.
It was amazingly idiotic, to waltz into the open. Shaggy knew that. But as he circled the old van, trying to drink in every minute detail, he knew that he may never see it again. As his lap around the Mystery Machine came to an end, Shaggy lingered at those familiar rear doors than he and Scooby had so often clambered through without thought.
One last time, he promised himself, Just for old times sake.
Shaggy swung the door as if it were made of glass. He sucked in a sharp breath an sat down. He was home. He closed his eyes and he could almost feel the gentle jostling of the van in motion. He could just barely hear Velma typing away at her keyboard, and smell the ghostly remnants of Daphne's perfume.
But, as Shaggy opened his eyes. It was all just memories. Sweet nothings. There was no going back there now.
But as his eyes slid shut once again, he could pretend.
—
It was a sunny Friday afternoon, the gang was piled into the Mystery Machine, all of them slouched and sleepy, and ready to kick back for a few days. Well, except for Velma, who was sitting straight as a plank her fingers drummed frenetically against the dashboard.
"Did anyone get C for that last question?" She questioned, "because I put down D, but now that I think about it, I may have gotten cellular respiration confused with—"
"Like dude, we just took two three-hour tests!" Shaggy moaned, "the last thing I wanna do right now is like, relive the whole thing!"
"Hey gang!" Fred piped up, "How about we stop by Clam Cabin? I'm sure that'll get some of our energy back."
"Like, you know Scoob and I'll never say no to the Clam Cabin! Right, Scoob?"
Scooby nodded feverishly, "Right Raggy!"
As they pulled up to the beach, something was off right away.
"Where are all the tourists?" Daphne questioned, "the beginning of June is normally peak tourist time!"
"Strange," Velma craned her neck to get a better look at the beach, "my parent's shop has had some of their best sales numbers of all time this week, so there are plenty of tourists in Crystal Cove, the question is, what's keeping them away from the beach?"
As soon as Fred swung open the door to the Mystery Machine, Velma got her answer. Stench. The putrid stench of eggs boiled in year-old gravy flooded then van.
Daphne gagged on the rotten air, "Fred!" She rasped, "Close the door!"
Fred obliged, slamming the door shut and turning up the AC in an attempt to get some fresh air. The five of them sat panting for a while, trying desperately to clear their airways of that stink.
"Well at least we know what's keeping the tourist away!" Daphne clapped her hands matter-of-factly, "now let's get out of here! Seriously Freddy, drive."
But as Fred put the van in reverse, Shaggy shot up.
"Like Fred wait!" Shaggy cried. Fred slammed on the breaks, tossing Daphne back with a soft thud. The gang turned to him expectantly.
"Like, can Scooby and I at least grab some clams before we leave?" Shaggy asked sheepishly.
And then next moment they were out on the beach, sprinting towards the Cabin while also trying their damnedest not to breath. It was a miracle their hearts didn't implode.
As they reached the counter, the owner of the Clam Cabin, Skipper Shelton, was nowhere to be seen. Feeling as if his lungs were about to pop like balloons, Shaggy hurriedly ran the bell on the counter. This did the trick as Shaggy and Scooby noticed a figure, just hidden by the shadows, meandering towards the counter.
Finally out of air, Shaggy gasped, "Like hurry up, Skipper, dude we're like dying out here!"
It was then that the figure stepped into the light, revealing itself to be a—
"Ruh-ruh ROMBIE!"
"Like, run Scoob!"
The pair made a mad dash for the van, practically diving into its doors.
"Like, Daphne was right before!" Shaggy squeaked, "Like, drive Freddy! Drive!"
As Fred obliged, Daphne and Velma turned to face their cowering counterparts.
"Jeepers!" Daphne gasped, "what did you two see out there?"
"Rombie!" Scooby whimpered, "Rombie!"
"Oh please!" Velma waved her hand dismissively, "we've dealt with zombies before, what's the big fuss?"
Shaggy shook his head, "Like dude, I don't care how many times I see one! A rotten, flesh-eating, angry monster, will always be freaky!"
"Oh lighten up you two!" Daphne grinned, "don't you know what this means?"
"We call the police and let them do their job for once?" Shaggy pleaded.
"No, that's crazy!" Fred laughed, "Means we have a mystery to solve."
"Like, I was afraid you were going to say that!"
—
Shaggy opened his eyes. And took a deep shuddering breath. The air had never stopped smelling rancid, but you got used to it after a while. He ran a hand through his hair and worked a knot out of his shoulders. He took a final glance at the interior of the Mystery Machine, and stepped back into the night. Into the shadows. Away from home.