Curse of the One-eyed Phantom
Chapter Three: The Phantom and Velma
Part One: The Phantom
I want one thing understood up front so no one misunderstands: I didn't want anyone hurt when I set that fire. All I wanted was for Mystery Inc. to disband and Velma to leave Coolsville forever.
In the past, Mystery Inc. has solved cases and unmasked any number of villains but this is one case that they will never solve, for I am a phantom; I can go anywhere, do any thing. I even walked right into Velma's hospital room and said how sorry I was that this terrible thing had happened. I nearly gagged on the words, but no one was the wiser.
I hate, hate, hate Velma Dinkley! It was always Velma! "Did you see how Velma solved that case?" or
"It was Velma that found the clue that cracked the case!" Actually, Velma is the last to know anything.
Someone finds the clue and it's Velma's computer that tells her its importance. I think I hate that computer almost as much as I hate her. I admit Velma is smart, but she's always throwing her I.Q. in the face of that group she calls 'the gang'.
Which brings up 'the gang'. Oh yeah, don't let that blond-headed idiot tell you he's the leader. He can't tie his own shoes; he wears mock boots—no laces! Velma Dinkley is the real leader, make no mistake.
And Daphne Blake? Please! That girl can't pass a mirror without stopping to look, let alone the driving test for her license.
I really don't see what she sees in Fred. I mean she falls, literally, all over herself to get him to notice her, and does he? No! He's too busy planning traps that never work to notice any girl.
It's Shaggy I feel sorry for; how much longer is he going to put up with being treated like something you'd scrape off the bottom of your shoe? I think he's as much a changeling as I am; hiding his desires and dreams the same as I do.
I lay awake at night, listening to the quietness that fills this small room in which I dream of the day when Velma Dinkley leaves Coolsville forever—and I am finally able to throw off this chameleon
cloak and declare my undying love for Shaggy Rogers. I know I shouldn't put down my feelings for Shaggy in this or any other scribblings, but I can't help myself; I must declare my love for him or go mad.
And so I languish here in my bed; my plans come to me as ghosts on the night air and whisper enticingly to me and I listen to their voices. 'It's time for another tape,' the voices say; and this time something personal.
Part Two: Velma
This was the last test; pass this test and she could go home. She was tired of just lying in the hospital bed. What she wanted more than anything she had come to realize, was to relax; watch a monster movie and share a pizza with Shaggy and the gang. Velma took a deep breath, exhaled, and then inhaled as much air as possible. Quickly inserting the plastic tube into her mouth she blew and was rewarded by the little red ball rising just past half way up the vertical cylinder with it's divisions of measurement on one side.
Her lungs burned, little black dots began to form in her vision as the ball rose higher. She felt the last of her air leave her lungs. She felt dizzy when the last puff of air came out and the ball rose to the top of the cylinder.
"That's good, you can't stop now, Miss Dinkley." The young, good looking doctor reached out to take the contraption from her. "We don't want you to pass out on us and have to spend another night in the hospital, do we?" He made the notations in her chart and placed a stethoscope in his ears. She had been through this so many times, she knew what was coming next and uncovered her shoulders, holding the gown against her body.
'Who is this 'we' you keep mentioning?' Velma thought as the doctor moved the stethoscope from point to point, giving unnecessary instruction to breath in and out, sometimes normally, sometimes deeply.
'We are the only two in here.'
'Here' was a small cubical, filled with machines that made the cubical seem overcrowded. It was even more crowded with over six feet of good looking respiratory therapist who now sat in front of her. She dared not look into those dark eyes but concentrated on the cute bottomless cleft on his chin.
"You had a very close call, Miss Dinkley." He smiled broadly. Velma felt better when her hospital gown was back where it was supposed to be. "Doctor will have to have the final say, but your lungs sound clear. Remember, rest, plenty of fresh air; and above all, no brassieres, tube tops, or any tight fitting garments. Light exercise; your boyfriend will have to wait a few days before taking you dancing."
"I don't have a boyfriend." Velma replied sheepishly. 'But you could apply for the position,' the brunette added silently. "A friend is picking me up."
-Xxxxxx
"You sure you're okay?" A concerned Shaggy helped her out of the wheelchair and into the Mystery Machine where Scooby immediately pounced on her, licking her face.
"I'm okay, Shaggy, I just want to get home. You might convince me to share a movie and pizza with you."
"We have one stop first. Everyone is staying at Daphne's for now." He informed her as he pulled into traffic.
"Why are we stopping at the park?" Velma pushed Scooby away.
"I wanted to talk to you first...alone." Shaggy found a shady parking spot. "Want to take a walk? The doctor said to get fresh air." He opened her door, helping her out before taking her hand to lead her into the grassy park. He was pleasantly surprised when she didn't remove her hand but followed his lead
to a park bench.
"What did you want to talk about, Shaggy?" Velma asked as Shaggy picked up a stick and threw it, Scooby running to retrieve it. Shaggy sat down beside her, taking her hand in both of his.
"I...I'm so sorry, Velma. I didn't go back to make sure you were okay. Later, they, the firefighters, threatened to have me arrested if I tried to go into the building after you."
"And you blame yourself? Shaggy, I don't want to hear any more of that talk. You and Fred did what was needed," her free hand caressed his cheek, "You have nothing to blame yourself for. I don't know what I'd do without you."
If a kiss was in the offering, the moment passed when Velma's ring tone announced an incoming call. The caller I D indicated the call was from Daphne.
"Hello, Daph. What's up?"
"Velma, are you out of the hospital? Is Shaggy with you?" Daphne's voice shook with foreboding.
"Yes, we're at the city park. What's going on?"
"Velma, another tape was just delivered."
"Daph, have you listened to it?"
"No, Fred and I decided to wait until you and Shaggy got here."
"Good. Don't play it until we get there." Velma disconnected the call, "You heard, Shaggy?"
"Yes. How did the Phantom know where to send the tape; we didn't tell anyone where we were.
Velma, there's something else. I called my cousins, they're here at Daphne's home too."
"I wish you hadn't done that, Shaggy. For now, they're in danger also."
Daphne and Fred met the Mystery Machine as soon as it pulled up at the Blake mansion. The four rushed into the mansion, heading to Daphne's room, meeting Colby, Pia and Jaz who awaited them.
The voice altered message was simple and direct: "This is your last warning. Velma Dinkley is to leave Coolsville forever; immediately. Mystery Inc. is to disband immediately. If you do not obey my warning, one by one, you will all die. This includes the three brats!"
At the stroke of midnight sirens again tore through the silence. When the fire trucks arrived the building was completely engulfed in flames. They could only hope to save the neighboring homes. When the fire had been extinguished, The home had been completely destroyed.
Frederick Herman Jones was homeless.